Red Moscow

"I said, Comrade Deputy Commander, the order given to us by our superiors is to defeat the German invaders." Sokov looked at Trofimenko and said, "If we gave Bogdanov an order to defend, it would be tantamount to defeating the German invaders." Said, we give up the initiative in the battlefield, but stay in the existing position to carry out the passive defense."

"Comrade commander, you have misunderstood me. I don't want the Second Tank Army to conduct a passive defense." Trofimenko hurriedly explained to Sukov: "I just think that the defense should be carried out first, and then rely on it to defend." The fortifications have exhausted the enemy's vital strength, and it will not be too late to launch a counterattack."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, the situation today is different from before, so we have to adopt different tactics to deal with the German attack."

"It's different from the previous situation, and we need to adopt different tactics to deal with the enemy's attack?" After repeating Sukov's words, Trofimenko said rather puzzledly: "Comrade commander, can you say that?" Can you be more specific? I don't quite understand."

"It's very simple. Now the German army is on the strategic defense, while our army is on the strategic offensive." Sokov explained to Trofimenko: "And we are not just launching a powerful offensive against the German army on one front. This is It means that if the German army does not want the defense line to collapse completely, it must use the main force to defend instead of attack."

Trofimenko couldn't help interrupting Sokov when he heard this: "But, Comrade Commander, you mentioned not long ago that the Germans might encircle our troops entering Romania. Your words have changed."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, it's not that my statement has changed, but that the situation on the battlefield has changed. As commanders, we must adjust our combat deployment in a timely manner according to the changes in the situation on the battlefield, so that we can win as soon as possible. "Sokov said: "I was just worried that when the enemy cut off the logistical supply line behind, they didn't know that Ponejerin's battle group had all entered Romania. Now we can adjust our tactics appropriately."

"If we take the initiative to attack the enemy, once the enemy's reinforcements arrive, isn't our attacking force likely to fall into the encirclement of the German army?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Commander." Sokov said confidently: "Now on the north side of our front, that is, on the right wing, there is a powerful assault group mainly composed of the Ponejielin Battle Group and the 2nd Tank Army. I intend to let General Bogdanov's troops launch an active offensive against the Germans, while Ponederin's battle group will expand the results of the battle in Romania."

Seeing Trofimenko's worried expression, Sokov comforted him and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, don't forget that on our right wing are the troops of the First Ukrainian Front under the command of Marshal Zhukov. A full-scale fortification of the German army is being launched in the Vinnytsia area. If it is tight, the troops attacking Chernivtsi will definitely be transferred."

"Besides, there is another possibility. Once the German commanders see that our army has launched an active offensive in the Chernivtsi area, they are worried that the troops in this area may be annihilated or severely damaged by our army, so they will definitely Draw this force back to Vinnytsia to help resist the powerful offensive of Marshal Zhukov's troops."

Trofimenko stared at the map for a long time, and finally had to admit that the situation that Sokov said completely existed. He thought for a while, and then added: "Comrade Commander, I have another idea, I don't know whether to say it or not."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, if you have any thoughts, just say it." Sokov urged: "There is nothing to say or not to say."

"Look," he said to Sokov, pointing to the southeast of Chernivtsi, "my 27th Army has deployed three infantry divisions in this direction. The attack carried out by the 2nd Army is not going well, and I can transfer the troops here for reinforcements."

"That's a good idea." Sokov looked at the three divisions on the map that he had originally included in the reserve team, thinking that since Trofimenko offered to use this force, he would be disrespectful: "Comrade Chief of Staff , then according to the deputy commander’s intention, issue a battle alert to these three divisions, and let them enter the battlefield through the breach if the second tank army’s attack fails.”

At noon, Bogdanov personally called Sokov and said respectfully: "Comrade Commander, the troops of our army have launched an attack on the enemy's hastily built field fortifications half an hour ago. Before that, we carried out artillery preparations for 40 minutes and had already destroyed most of the enemy's fortifications. I believe that it will not take long before we can break through the enemy's defenses and penetrate into their depths."

"Good job, General Bogdanov." After listening to the other party's report, Sokov couldn't help but beam with joy. Originally, I was worried that if I rashly ordered the tank army to launch an attack, it might be difficult to achieve the desired results due to insufficient preparation. But now judging from Bogdanov's report, breaking through the enemy's defensive positions is just a snap of the fingers. Therefore, he did not hesitate to praise: "When this battle is over, I will ask my superiors for your credit."

Before putting down the phone, Sokov remembered an important matter, and quickly asked, "By the way, General Bogdanov, where is Major Lyudmila's sniper team now?"

"Comrade Commander, I am planning to report this matter to you." Bogdanov said: "Since I received your order to let Major Lyudmila return alone, in order to prevent the enemy from being noticed, I have specially recruited A female soldier, let her pretend to be Lyudmila and stay in the sniper team. As for the real Lyudmila, I asked her to disguise herself as a woman from a collective farm, and under the protection of a squad of soldiers, she was able to fight as fast as possible. speed back to Otac."

"General Bogdanov, you are very thoughtful." When Sokov ordered Lyudmila and others to return, he deliberately left the sniper team there to confuse the enemy, but he never thought that if the sniper team If you can't see Lyudmila for a long time, it's still easy for others to find your flaws. And General Bogdanov's approach just made up for his lack of consideration. But he still asked a little worriedly: "However, are you sure that the enemy will not see through the disguise you arranged?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Bogdanov said to Sokov with a smile: "I found a drama actor who was about the same size as Major Lyudmila. They are very similar. Moreover, the sniper team is a special group, they don’t have to show their faces in front of people all day long, and it’s not so easy for people to see their flaws.”

"That's good, that's good." Sokov was completely relieved when he heard it: "General Bogdanov, thank you so much, you helped me solve a difficult problem."

"Comrade Commander, you don't have to be polite, it's just a little effort."

Bogdanov's approach provided Sokov with an idea: Since Lyudmila's sniper team can send a drama actor to pretend to be her to confuse the enemy, then Vasily and the old man's sniper team can also do it Do you paint a gourd according to the ladle?

As soon as the phone was put down here, Sokov called Sameko and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you contacted Vasily and the old man?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, we have been contacted." Sameko nodded and said, "They will return at noon, but in order to confuse the enemy, the sniper team will continue to move towards Wengen."

"If the two of them withdraw, relying on the few remaining members of the sniper team, it will be easy for the Germans to see their flaws." Sokov intends to copy Bogdanov's method to deceive the Germans: "The staff Long, you send them a report and ask them to find two promotions to pretend to be them before they leave."

When Sameko heard this, his eyes lit up immediately, "Comrade Commander, you have a good idea. Snipers usually hold their heads and wrap their faces with cloth. If they are of similar stature, as long as they don't tear off the cloth, they will be fine. There is no flaw. I will send a report to Vasily and the old man right now, and let them find two substitutes to pretend to be me, and it will not be too late to come back."

"Comrade Commander," Trofimenko tentatively asked Sokov when Sameko turned to send a telegram: "After Lyudmila, Vasily and the old man come back, how do you plan to arrange them?"

"It must be to let the three of them hide first, so that the enemies lurking in the city cannot be discovered." Sokov explained to Trofimenko: "I will order them to conduct a secret investigation, and correctly find the hidden man as soon as possible." enemy."

"Comrade Commander, why don't we change the headquarters to another city?" Trofimenko asked Sokov with some puzzlement: "In this way, if the ace snipers of the German army want to kill us, they will have to start over again." Familiarize yourself with the surrounding environment and find a suitable location for sniping."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, have you ever considered that if we do go to other cities, there will be a period of confusion at first. If the German snipers seize this opportunity and shoot us decisively, do you think we Is there any chance of surviving?"

Sokov's words hit Trofimenko like a heavy hammer, and he couldn't help shaking. After thinking about it carefully, he remembered that when a new headquarters is established, there is usually a period of chaos. The security force of the headquarters happened to be the weakest at this stage. If the German snipers chose to attack at this time, it would be really hard to guard against.

"Well, Comrade Commander, you are right." After Trofimenko thought it over, he no longer insisted on his opinion, but said smoothly: "Then let the headquarters stay in this city." Bar."

The two were talking, when Sokov turned his head, he was surprised to find that Smirnov was standing at the door, he quickly got up and greeted him, and said from a long distance away: "Comrade Chief of Staff, there is something on your body." What are you doing here at the headquarters instead of taking good care of your injury in the hospital?"

Smirnov said with a chuckle: "Comrade commander, you also know that I am restless. If I lie on the hospital bed every day and do nothing, even a good person will I got sick. You better not let me lie in the hospital anymore, even if I come here every day just to sit and sit, my heart will be much more at ease. "

"Comrade Chief of Staff, did you come here alone, or did the sanitation staff come with you?" When Sokov said this, he looked over Smirnov's shoulder and looked towards the door to see if there were any sanitation staff. stand there. But to his disappointment, there was no one at the door. Obviously, Smirnov walked into the headquarters alone.

"The hygienist sent me to the entrance of the headquarters, and I asked her to go back." Smirnov obviously saw the displeasure on Sokov's face, and quickly explained to him: "After all, the headquarters is a military important place, not someone can come in."

When Sokov heard it, Smirnov said it was very reasonable. Some of the medical staff in the field hospital came from the army, and some came from the local area. Who knows if there are any secret agents of the enemy mixed in there. It would be inappropriate if they were allowed to enter and leave the headquarters casually.

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said kindly after helping Smirnov to sit down at the table, "if you think of the headquarters in the future, remember to call in advance, and I will send Koshkin to pick you up at the door." Yours. You are still injured, if you walk in alone, if something happens, we won't be able to find out in time. "

"Okay, Comrade Commander." Faced with Sokov's kindness, Smirnov could not refuse, he nodded and said: "Before I come tomorrow, call Captain Koshkin and ask him Meet me at the door."

"Did anything happen during my absence?"

Sokov thought that there was nothing important at the moment anyway, so he simply told Smirnov in detail that there might be a German ace sniper lurking in the city. Finally said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after careful analysis, we found that the Germans must have some big conspiracy, so we must be more vigilant in the near future to avoid being succeeded by the enemy."

After listening to Sokov's narration, Smirnov was stunned for a long time, finally nodded slowly, and said: "I really didn't expect that the Germans would actually set up such a big game. I thought they caught Ellie Ya, completely destroyed the sniper team sent by the German army to Otatz, I didn't expect that this was just the appearance we saw."

"Then when will the old man and the others come back?" Smirnov asked anxiously: "The Germans are really cunning enough to trick our best snipers out of the city in this way. , they won’t be afraid to encounter opponents who give them headaches when carrying out sniper missions.”

"Don't worry, I have tried to notify them and let them return to Otac as soon as possible." Sokov said: "Now Lyudmila is on the way, and she will be able to return to the city when it gets dark at the latest. "

Before Sokov could finish talking about the old man, the phone on the table rang, and he casually grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear: "I'm Sokov, where are you?"

Zakharov's voice came from the receiver: "It's Comrade Sokov, I'm Zakharov, and I have something important to ask you."

"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask."

"Tell me the truth," Zakharov asked sternly, "where is the old man now?"