Red Moscow

"Pornegelin's troops are now rushing towards Murovani Kurilivchi." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Smirnov: "After the 18th Guards Army of General Afunin carried out the assault, , the first city to conquer is Sokiriani."

"These are two small cities, and the population before the war was only 50,000 to 60,000. Now that the war has been going on for three years, we don't know what has changed in the city and how many residents are left."

"But if we attack the city directly, the Germans can hide in residential buildings and fight us in the streets. At that time, the situation on the battlefield will change from favorable to our army to unfavorable. Therefore, we must find a way to On the outskirts of the city, wipe out most of the active forces of the German army, so that the next battle will be easier to fight."

"The Germans are not fools," said Smirnov, frowning. "If the situation is not good, they will definitely give up their outer positions and retreat into the city, occupying residential buildings and fighting us in the streets. At that time, our soldiers will be full of worries. and suffered huge losses.”

"So we have to find a way to draw the enemy out of the city." Sokov said: "My idea is that after our army has captured the outer positions, we will continue to attack the city. If the situation we are worried about really occurs , order the troops to withdraw from the city in time, and attract the Germans to join us in a decisive battle outside the city.”

"Comrade Commander, I have an idea." After pondering for a while, Smirnov said to Sokov: "Since General Antoneta can cooperate with us, other Romanian officers may also cooperate with us. You see, should we talk to General Antoneta, maybe with his help, we can reduce unnecessary casualties."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said is very reasonable." Sokov asked back: "Do you think we should come to talk to General Antoneta, or invite him to come to us?"

"Of course let him come to us." After listening to Sokov, Smirnov said without hesitation: "Even if Romania stops the state of war with us in the future and joins our camp, it must be cooperation. When our army fights, everything should be decided by us.”

Smirnov's implication is that even if Romania joins the camp of the Allied Powers and participates in the battle against the Axis Powers, they are just insignificant allies, so their own side must find a way to dominate.

After obtaining Sokov's consent, Smirnov connected to the command of the Romanian division: "Hello, is this General Antoneta? I am General Smirnov, our commander, General Sokov I want to chat with you, do you have time?"

When Antoneta heard that Sokov wanted to see her, how could she dare to be negligent, and hurriedly asked: "Mr. General, is it now?" After receiving a definite answer, she added, "I'll go right away."

Ten minutes later, Antonetta, with a neat military appearance, appeared in Sokov's headquarters.

"Hello, General Sokov!" He shook hands with Sokov and said respectfully, "I am here on your order. If there is anything, please give instructions!"

Sokov asked Antoneta to sit down, put a map in front of him, and asked politely: "General Antoneta, I don't know what you think about Murovani Kurilivzi, and Sokir Are the two cities of Yani familiar?"

"Familiar, of course." Hearing Sokov's question, Antonetta nodded vigorously and replied, "At least in mid-February, my 18th Infantry Division was still stationed in these two cities."

Hearing what Antoneta said, Sokov's eyes lit up: "General Antoneta, can you tell us about the situation in the city?"

"There are 30,000 residents in the city of Murovani Kurilivchi, and the main pillar industry is leather shoe production. Most of the workers are in two or three leather shoe factories in the city." Antonetta didn't hide Privately, he told Sokov everything he knew, and finally said: "...When we moved our defense, there was a German battalion and a Romanian regiment stationed in this city. "

"What about Sokiriani?" Sokov felt more at ease when he learned that there was only one battalion of the German army and one regiment of the Romanian army in the city of Murovani Kurilivchi. With the strength of Ponegelin's Department, eliminating the German army in the city is not much more difficult than crushing an ant to death.

"The number of residents in Sokiriani is about the same as that in Murovani Kurilivchi. But since their main industries are fishing, animal husbandry and logging, almost a quarter of the residents live in the suburbs."

Hearing that a quarter of Sokiriani's residents lived in the suburbs, Sokov felt that this city was like a tasteless city to the Germans. How many troops will be stationed. "Then how many troops are stationed in this city?"

"This city is irrelevant to the Germans. How many troops can they station?" Antoneta shrugged and continued: "There are only two battalions of troops, and all of them are Romanian troops."

But when Sokov and Smirnov learned that there were only two battalions of the Romanian army in the city of Sokiriani, they couldn't help but glanced at each other, and they both saw joy in each other's eyes.

Sokov coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and asked tentatively, "General Antoneta, how is their combat effectiveness?"

"Are you talking about the troops in Sokiriani?" Antoneta asked tentatively. Seeing Sokov nodding, he continued, "These two battalions were established relatively early. The troops are well-equipped and their combat effectiveness is naturally not bad. With equal strength, the Germans cannot break through them." defense."

Knowing that the Romanian army stationed in the city of Sokiriani is more capable of fighting, Sokov began to wonder whether it is necessary to provide them with the necessary artillery support when the 18th Guards Army launches its attack so that they can quickly break through Defense of the Romanian army on the outskirts of the city.

"General Sokov," Antoneta saw that Sokov was lost in thought, and asked tentatively, "Are you considering what kind of force to use to capture this city?"

Seeing that Antoneta guessed what was on his mind, Sokov didn't hide anything, but nodded and gave the other party an affirmative answer: "That's right, I'm thinking about how to capture Sokiriani."

"General Sokov, if you want to take Sokiriani, you don't necessarily have to use force." Antoneta said to Sokov with a smile: "Since we can reach a cooperation here in Otac , then Sochiliani, it might be possible to replicate the same model."

Antoneta's words made Sokov feel ecstatic, but out of caution, he asked tentatively: "General Antoneta, can you find a way to make the defenders in Sokiriani surrender to us?" ?"

"General Sokov, I think it is very inappropriate to use the word surrender." Unexpectedly, as soon as Sokov finished speaking, Antoneta's face changed, and he said with a straight face: "We Romanian soldiers Those who never surrender, only choose special forms, cooperate with former enemies, and become comrades-in-arms on the same front."

Although Sokov felt that Antoneta's words were a bit self-deceiving. Surrender is surrender, so why both parties have some form of cooperation. However, in order to take into account the other party's face, he still followed the other party's wishes and said, "General Antonetta, I don't know what we should do to achieve cooperation with this unit?"

"Colonel Kostic, the commander of my 53rd regiment, is very familiar with the commander of the city's defenders." Antonetta said to Sukov: "If you can send an officer, go with him Sokiriani, maybe we can reach a new cooperation agreement with the other party."

After hearing this, Sokov thought to himself, thinking that this is a good idea. But who to send, made him feel embarrassed. If Ponegerin was here, he would definitely send Ponegerin there without hesitation. After all, the opponent's ability is sufficient for this job.

But now Ponejerin is commanding three divisions to advance towards Murovani Kurilivchi. At this critical moment, it is naturally impossible to withdraw him from the front line and go to Sokiriani for negotiations .

"Comrade Commander," Smirnov approached Sokov, and said in a low voice, "Now that Colonel Yakov is at our headquarters, how about letting him go to Sokiriani on your behalf to negotiate with the Romanian army?"

When Sokov heard it, Smirnov's proposal was not bad. In any case, Yakov is his good friend, and he can be completely trusted. Moreover, he could really persuade Sokiriani's defenders to stop resisting and surrender to his troops, which might help him get a general star.

Thinking of this, he quickly called a staff officer and ordered: "Go to Colonel Yakov and tell him that I need his help in an urgent matter, and ask him to come to the headquarters as soon as possible."

After the staff officer left, Sokov looked at Antonetta and asked, "General Antonetta, I want to ask, if I really send someone to negotiate with Sokiriani, will there be any danger?"

"No, General Sokov." Seeing that Sokov had such concerns, Antonetta quickly assured him: "The Romanians today are not willing to fight. If you take the initiative to send people to contact them, they will I wish I could. Besides, Colonel Kostic, the head of the 53rd Regiment, will accompany us this time, so there will be no risk."

"Okay, General Antoneta, since you said so, I will believe you once." Sokov nodded slightly, and said with some anxiety in his heart: "I will send an officer to accompany you later." The troops went to Sokiriani together and negotiated with the defenders there on how to cooperate."

"Then I'll call Colonel Kostic and ask him to come here as soon as possible!"

Not long after, Yakov walked in from the outside.

As soon as he entered, he asked Sokov, "Misha, what do you want from me?"

"Yasha," Sokov did not immediately answer Yakov's question, but pointed to Antoneta who was sitting on the side and said, "Let me introduce you, this is the Romanian 18th Infantry Division." Major General Chang'an Dongneta."

"General Antoneta, this is my good friend, Colonel Yakov!"

When Antoneta shook hands with Yakov, he asked with a smile, "Mr. Colonel, I don't know which army you served in, and what position did you hold?"

"I'm from the weapons and equipment department," Yakov replied briefly, "I was ordered to go to the front to collect some data on the use of weapons and equipment, and I'm staying here temporarily."

Knowing that the other party is from the Weapons and Equipment Department, and that he has come to the front to collect data on the use of weapons, Antonetta inevitably had some thoughts in his heart, saying that you are not a member of the combat force, so why not participate? But because of Sokov's face, he couldn't say anything, so he could only hold his nose and bear it.

After waiting for another ten minutes, Colonel Kosdik, the head of the 53rd regiment, appeared in the headquarters.

After explaining the upcoming mission to Kostic, Antonetta asked, "Colonel, how high do you think the chances of success in this negotiation are?"

Since the 18th Division started cooperating with the 53rd Army, Kostic has also been in private contact with other units in private. For their cooperation with the Soviet army, many officers in the Romanian army are very envious. Some people even wrote back, implying that if there is such an opportunity, they must put themselves in front of the Soviet army.

I didn't expect the time to come so soon. After listening to Antonetta's question, he nodded and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Abrani, who is stationed in Sokiriani, is my classmate in the military academy. Two days ago, he gave I wrote a letter expressing my willingness to cooperate with the Soviet army. If we go to him at this time, it will be very easy to reach a cooperation agreement.”

"Colonel, this Soviet colonel will go to Sokiriani with you to start negotiations with Lieutenant Colonel Abrani." Antoneta told Kostic: "During the time in Sokiriani , you have to promise me that you must ensure the safety of this colonel just like you protect your own eyes."

"Don't worry, sir." After Kostic answered Antoneta carelessly, he looked at Yakov and asked tentatively, "I wonder if this colonel has the right to decide the details of the negotiation?"

Before Yakov could speak, Sokov rushed to say: "He is my plenipotentiary representative. In other words, he has the right to represent me and reach any agreement with the Romanian defenders."

Seeing that Sokov came out to endorse Yakov, Kostic couldn't say anything more, but turned his attention to Antoneta again: "Mr. Sir, when can we set off?"

"Of course, the sooner the better." Antoneta said to Kostic: "If you can't reach a cooperation agreement with the Soviet army earlier and wait for the German troops to enter Sokiriani, it will be too late."

Worried about Yakov's safety, Sokov specially called Koshkin and told him in a low voice: "Comrade Lieutenant, Yakov is about to go to Sokiriani to start negotiations with the Romanian defenders. You personally bring two A guard platoon, go with him. If anything happens, even if all the soldiers in the guard platoon die, you must promise to bring Yakov back to me. Do you understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Commander." As a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Koshkin naturally understood the importance of Yakov, and quickly expressed his position to Sokov: "I will definitely bring him back intact."

Seeing that Koshkin understood his intentions, Sokov nodded with a smile, and then told Koshkin: "Comrade Lieutenant, go back and pick a suitable candidate, Yakov and the others are leaving soon. "