Red Moscow

When Yakov and others left the headquarters, Antonetta asked Sokov suspiciously: "General Sokov, you sent this colonel to negotiate with Lieutenant Colonel Abrani, it is too low-ranking." Right. I think it would be best if a general could be sent for such a negotiation.”

"General Antoneta," Sokov interrupted after him, "if he is not suitable, there will be no one who is more powerful than him."

Seeing that Antoneta was still moaning, Smirnov simply revealed Yakov's identity: "General Antoneta, I can only tell you that the surname of Colonel Yakov just now is Stalin. Do you understand me?"

"Could it be that the colonel just now is the son of your supreme commander himself?"

"That's right, and he's still the eldest son."

This time Antonetta immediately felt at ease. General Smirnov was right. No one is more suitable to be the negotiator than Colonel Yakov.

With a leader like Colonel Kostic, Yakov and Koshkin led the guard platoon and successfully entered the Romanian headquarters.

The head of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Abrani, learned that his old friend Kostic was visiting, so he was so happy that he came to the door to welcome him in person. Seeing a Soviet officer standing next to Kostic, he couldn't help asking his old friend curiously: "Kostic, who is this commander, can you introduce me?"

Smirnov only revealed Yakov’s identity to Antonetta after Yakov and others set off. Kostic naturally didn’t know Yakov’s real identity, but simply introduced: “This is Colonel Yakov, as General Sokov's negotiator, is here to discuss cooperation with you."

Seeing that the representative negotiating with him was only a colonel, Abrani couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He felt that no matter what, he had to come with a general to show that he valued himself. He took the initiative to extend his hand to Yakov and said in a friendly manner: "Hello, Colonel Yakov, welcome to Sokiriani."

When Abrani returned to his headquarters with Yakov and others, formal negotiations began.

According to Yakov's thinking, such a negotiation, even if it takes ten days and a half months, is normal. But today's negotiations are extremely smooth. This is mainly due to the measures taken by the 18th Infantry Division, which allowed Romanian soldiers to see the dawn of leaving the war as soon as possible.

If Sokov were here, he would see the terms of cooperation, and he would find that the agreement signed with the 18th Division was similar in content, except that the number of the unit changed from General Antonetta’s 18th Infantry Division to Lieutenant Colonel Abrani's 59th Infantry Regiment.

The two sides quickly signed the agreement, and then Abrani asked Yakov with some urgency: "Mr. Colonel, when will your troops be able to enter Sokiriani?"

Seeing that the other party was so looking forward to the Soviet troops entering the city, Yakov couldn't help being curious: "Lieutenant Colonel Abrani, why are you so eager to let our troops station in Sokiriani?"

"Mr. Colonel, you don't know something." Lieutenant Colonel Abrani explained to Yakov: "Yesterday, the two battalions of the Germans came to a position five or six kilometers away from the city. With the cooperation of the situation, I am afraid they will immediately enter the city and disarm my troops."

"It turns out to be like this." Yakov figured out what was going on, nodded, and assured Lieutenant Colonel Abrani: "I will immediately contact the Army Group Command and let the troops closest to here rush to Sokiri as soon as possible." Yani."

Yakov knew that time was running out, so he didn't dare to neglect, and immediately asked the accompanying radio operator to contact the headquarters, so that the troops closest to the city came to take over the defense immediately.

After receiving the call from Yakov, Sokov excitedly said to Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, good news, good news. The agreement between Yakov and Lieutenant Colonel Abrani has been signed. At this moment, the other party is asking our troops to enter the city as soon as possible."

"I don't know if Colonel Konev's 3rd Airborne Guards Division has set off yet?" Smirnov said with some concern, "If we set off now, we can cover the 20-kilometer journey in at most three hours."

"Then let Colonel Konev speed up the marching speed..." Sokov just finished his words, and suddenly realized that if he really did this, it would be tantamount to leapfrogging the command. Don't say anything, but there will be a thorn in my heart.

After trying to understand the powerful relationship, Sokov directly called Afunin and said to him: "General Afunin, I have some good news for you. The Romanian army stationed in Sokiriani has already cooperated with Our military has developed a cooperation agreement. Now they are afraid that the Germans will send troops to attack the city if they know the information.”

Hearing what Sokov said, Afunin immediately understood what was going on, and quickly expressed his position to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, don't worry, I will urge the 3rd Guards Airborne Division to let him lead the troops." Enter Sokiriani as soon as possible, and take the time to consolidate the defenses to ensure that the city does not fall to the Germans."

But Colonel Konev received an order from Afunin to speed up his march, and he must enter Sokiriani in the shortest possible time to ensure that the city will not be occupied by the Germans.

Colonel Konev, who received the order, immediately called Lieutenant Colonel Fritzman, head of the 2nd Guards Airborne Regiment, and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the Romanian army in Sokiriani has already Choose to start cooperation with our army. You immediately take the lead to go to the city and take over the jurisdiction of the city from the Romanians."

After Fritzman returned to the regiment, he immediately ordered all the means of transportation to be handed over to the first battalion, and they rushed to Sokiriani as soon as possible to take over control of the city from the Romanian army.

The only dozen or so three-wheeled motorcycles in the regiment were gathered and handed over to the first battalion and one company. When half of the soldiers of the whole company got on their motorcycles, they immediately drove towards the city's defense line at the fastest speed. The commanders and fighters who could not get into the car trotted behind the motorcycle team.

Three wheels are faster than two legs, and it took less than half an hour for the motorcycle team to reach the outskirts of the city. Fortunately, the defenders were notified first, knowing that they are now out of combat with the Soviet army and have started a cooperative mode. Therefore, the Romanian officers and soldiers were extremely friendly to the Soviet troops who appeared in front of them.

When it was learned that it was only a part of the leading company, the Romanian commander even took the initiative and sent more than a dozen trucks along the road to pick up the lagging commanders and fighters.

Fortunately, the company commander who led the team was more thoughtful and arranged for two soldiers to accompany him, so as not to cause misunderstandings with his own troops.

Facts have proved that the company commander's worries are not unreasonable. When the Soviet troops marching along the road saw more than a dozen trucks driving towards them, they all stopped and looked for a nearby place to hide.

The convoy stopped at a distance of more than 50 miles from them. The cab doors of the two cars in front opened, and a warrior jumped out of each of them, running towards their position.

With the soldiers in front of him, he immediately recognized the two soldiers who were running towards him, and they were the people who advanced into the city on a motorcycle. Now that the convoy in the distance has stopped, and it is our own people who are coming, although everyone is still hiding in their hiding places, they have put down their weapons so as not to accidentally injure their own people.

The leader here is a deputy company commander. He can call out the names of the two soldiers. After calling them over, he tentatively asks, "What's going on? Why did the enemy's truck appear?"

"It's like this, Comrade Deputy Company Commander." An older soldier replied: "Our vanguard entered the city and joined the Romanian defenders. They heard that less than half of us even entered the city, and the rest were still walking behind, so they took the initiative to send more than a dozen trucks to pick you up. The company commander was worried about a misunderstanding, so he asked the two of us to come back with the car. You see, there was almost a misunderstanding just now. '

After the deputy company commander figured out what was going on, he quickly ordered the soldiers behind him to come out of the hiding place, boarded the trucks sent by the Romanians one after another, and drove to Sokiriani.

After the lead company met in the city, the Romanian officer led them to the regiment headquarters. Here, they saw both Lieutenant Colonel Abrani and Yakov who came to negotiate.

Seeing a colonel here, the company commander hurried forward to report to Yakov and asked for instructions on the next step.

"Comrade Captain," Yakov said to the company commander: "As far as I know, there are German troops stationed in the southwest of the city. The task of your company is to take over the defense zone of the Romanian army. But I think you have too few people. It’s a little bit, and more troops need to be added.”

"Comrade Colonel," the company commander said with some embarrassment when he heard Yakov say this: "The troops don't have enough means of transportation. It is basically impossible to speed up."

Yakov knew that a Romanian officer had just sent a convoy privately to pick up the Soviet troops who were marching on foot. Now that the two sides have launched a comprehensive cooperation, it is logical for them to provide transportation to transport the troops behind.

When Abrani learned that the Soviet army was marching into the city, he was very cooperative: "Colonel Yakov, there are more than 30 trucks and 70 or 80 buses in the city. These can be used to transport troops." Yes, if you need, I can send these vehicles to pick up your people."

"Great, this is really great." After listening to Abrani's statement, Yakov said excitedly: "In this way, the troops can enter the city in a short time and race against time to consolidate the fortifications to fight against the enemy. A possible attack by the Germans."

In this way, more than 50 trucks and 70 to 82 buses formed a mighty army and went to the Dnieper River to meet their troops.

Worried that the convoy would misunderstand the oncoming troops, Yakov ordered a red flag to be prepared and tied to the rearview mirror of the first truck. In addition, the deputy company commander also traveled with the vehicle, ready to communicate with the troops behind at any time.

It is precisely because of the active cooperation of the Romanian army that Colonel Konev's 3rd Guards Airborne Division was stationed in Sokiriani in less than two hours.

When Sokov received a call from Afunin and learned that the 3rd Airborne Division had entered Sokiriani and successfully took over the defense of the Romanian army, he was still shocked: "What is a soldier?" Speed ​​is precious? The actions of the 3rd Airborne Division can only be described as the speed of soldiers."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Smirnov was also full of admiration for such a fast marching speed of the 3rd Airborne Division: "According to the distance calculation, they should have just walked halfway at this moment. I really didn't expect that Colonel Yakov actually We will come up with a way to requisition vehicles in the city to transport our troops, thus greatly increasing the speed of marching."

"Since the 3rd Airborne Division has entered the city, the marching speed of the 4th Division can be slowed down a little bit." Sokov said: "Even if the German army finds something is wrong at this moment and launches an attack on the city, with the combat power of the 3rd Airborne Division, it should be carried for a day. There is no problem."

"What about the tank brigade?" Smirnov asked. "Does it need to be deployed to Sokiriani as well?"

"No rush, no rush." ​​Now that Sokiriani has been captured, it is unlikely that a battle will occur in a short period of time, so Sokov has not planned to deploy the tank brigade in that direction for the time being, but concentrates on dealing with it. Enemy in the upper reaches of Murovani Kurilevtsi area. "Our tank brigades are limited in number and cannot be scattered and put into battle. Let's help the Ponejelin's troops take down the city first."

As soon as Ponejerin was mentioned, Sokov naturally thought of Murovani Kurilivchi. As long as this city was captured, the combat group he commanded would form a new battle group in Moldavia. The salient poses a greater threat to the German army.

"Did Murovani Kurilivzi's attack go well?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, it went very well." Smirnov reported to Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Pornedelin, according to your instructions, when the troops enter the city, once they are counterattacked by the Germans, immediately Get out of Chengcheng, and use artillery fire on the outskirts to destroy the enemies who rushed out of the city."

"At the beginning of this method, the effect must have been good." Sokov worried that Smirnov would underestimate the enemy, and explained to him: "The Germans are not fools. If they suffer losses twice in a row, they will see our army When retreating, we will no longer rush out foolishly. At that time, we will have to fight them in the street again."

Speaking of street fighting, Sokov realized that the next battle would be difficult, and quickly added: "Remember, there are tens of thousands of residents in the city, so when fighting in the street, you can't bombard the city with heavy artillery, so as not to cause casualties to the residents. .”

"Comrade Commander, without using heavy artillery, what should we do if we encounter a solid German firepower point?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, let me remind you one thing." Sokov said to Smirnov: "I just said that heavy artillery cannot be used, and not all artillery fire can be used! Facing those solid firepower points, artillery can use cannons The bayonet tactic is to direct fire at the enemy's firepower within the range of vision."

"This is a feasible solution." Smirnov nodded after hearing what Sokov said, "I'll call Pornegerin immediately and tell him the tactic you just came up with."

"It's not too late, let's fight quickly." Sokov worried that if the delay was too long, his troops would suffer losses, so he urged: "Be sure to finish at Murovani Kurilivchi before four o'clock in the afternoon. battle in the city."