Red Moscow

When the jeep was driving through the road in the forest, two soldiers wearing blue hats suddenly appeared about 30 or 40 meters ahead.

Although both of them were wearing blue-topped wide-brimmed hats, Sokov could tell at a glance that the one standing in the front was a lieutenant officer, and the one standing next to him with a submachine gun was a sergeant.

The sudden appearance of the two MVD soldiers made Sokov alert. He turned his head and said to Potapov, who was sitting in the back row: "Comrade Commander, there seems to be something wrong with the MVD personnel in front." As he said that, he pulled out the pistol from his waist and held it in his hand.

The jeep stopped in front of the two MVD soldiers. The driver opened the door, leaned out and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant, do you have anything to do?"

The lieutenant of the MVD said with a serious expression: "Check the documents, everyone in the car get out!"

Looking at the two blue hats in front of him, both wearing red armbands on their arms, the driver was reluctant, but still got out of the car and took out his documents and handed them to the lieutenant of the MVD.

Just as the lieutenant was checking the driver's ID, another private soldier wearing a blue cap rushed out of the forest. He quickly came to the co-pilot side of the jeep and pointed his gun at the jeep.

"Comrade Commander," Sokov half turned around and said to Potapov sitting in the back seat: "Do you see any problem?"

"I see it." Potapov whispered: "I will deal with the officer who checked the driver's ID. Are you sure you can deal with the other two?"

"No problem."

After checking the driver's ID, the lieutenant did not return it, but shouted at Sokov and Potapov sitting in the car: "Everyone get out of the car and accept our inspection."

"Okay, we'll get out now." Sokov agreed, raised his left hand to open the car door, and jumped out of the car directly.

While the private soldier next to the car was still in a daze, Sokov had already pulled the trigger and hit the private soldier directly in the abdomen. The sergeant standing in front of the car was stunned for two seconds when he heard the sudden sound of the gunman, and then turned the gun to Sokov.

But these two short seconds were enough to kill him. Sokov pulled the trigger again and hit the sergeant in the shoulder. When he was about to shoot again, the sergeant endured the pain and pulled the trigger at Sokov. Amid the crisp sound of gunfire, Sokov rolled on the spot and rolled directly into the ditch on the side of the road, causing the bullets fired from the submachine gun to hit the open space.

When the driver heard the gunshot, he immediately realized that there was something wrong with the MVD soldier in front of him, and turned around to go back to the car to get his weapon. But as soon as he turned around, the lieutenant raised his pistol and fired several shots at his back, knocking him down on the spot.

Potapov also took advantage of the time when the lieutenant shot at the driver, stretched his pistol out of the car window, aimed at the lieutenant and fired several shots, killing him directly. After killing the officer, Potapov opened the door and got out of the car. He bent over and ran to the hood, raised his gun and pulled the trigger at the sergeant who was half-crouching and firing at Sokov's hiding place with a submachine gun.

After the gunshot, the sergeant fell to the ground, and the shooting of the submachine gun stopped abruptly.

Potapov held the pistol and bent over to check whether several MVD soldiers were dead. At the same time, he shouted to Sokov's hiding place: "Captain Sokov, come out, I killed all the enemies."

Sokov poked his head out of the ditch on the side of the road and looked outside. He found four bodies lying next to the car. Although the face of one of them could not be seen, judging from the position of the body, it should be the driver. He slowly climbed out of the ravine, came to Potapov, and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Potapov looked at the bodies on the ground and frowned: "I really didn't expect that the enemy would infiltrate this place."

Sokov kicked the body of the fake lieutenant and said coldly: "Since August, our patrols have been equipped with Mosin-Nagant rifles, and submachine guns are used to equip the front-line troops. Before the Germans disguised themselves as our army, didn't they know about it in advance?"

Potapov looked around, He said, "The terrain here is not suitable for setting up checkpoints, but more suitable for ambushes. I heard your reminder at the time, and then observed the surrounding environment, and realized that there was something wrong with these Ministry of Internal Affairs soldiers."

"Comrade Commander, based on my experience." Sokov said, "If these are Germans who have infiltrated, they must have their radio stations hidden nearby."

"Then let's hurry up and look for them to see if we can find their radio stations."

The two searched the forests on both sides of the road. Sokov focused on the area where the last private appeared. Sure enough, he found a huge backpack here, opened it, and there was indeed a radio inside.

"Comrade Commander, we found it." Sokov came to Potapov with a backpack and reported to him: "This is the German radio station."

"It seems that our guess is correct." Potapov was originally worried that he had killed the wrong person, but when he saw the backpack in Sokov's hand, his heart was finally put back in his stomach: "Let's continue on our way."

Sovkov looked at the bodies beside the car and asked Potapov: "Comrade Commander, how do we deal with these bodies?"

"Drag them to the side of the road first." Potapov said: "Take away all the weapons on them, and send people to deal with them after we arrive in Mtsensk."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a roar of motorcycles in front of him, and it seemed that there were many motorcycles heading in this direction.

Because they couldn't figure out whether the people coming were their own people or Germans disguised as Soviet soldiers, Sokov and Potapov hid in the ditch on the side of the road.

Soon, the motorcycle came closer.

Hiding in the ditch, Sokov heard someone outside say: "This seems to be the commander's car!"

"Yes, it's the commander's car!"

"What's going on with these bodies? Did the commander have an accident?"

"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and look around for the whereabouts of Comrade Commander."

Hearing the people outside talking about the commander, Sokov immediately understood that the people outside must be his own people. He quickly whispered to Potapov: "Comrade Commander, it seems that our people have arrived. Do we need to go out and contact them now?"

"Wait a minute, Captain Sokov." Potapov reminded Sokov: "They must be in a state of high tension when they see so many bodies lying around my car. If we stand up rashly, some soldiers may shoot at us in panic."

"Then I will not show up for the time being and shout a few times outside."

"Okay. Let's do it."

After the two discussed it, Sokov shouted to the outside: "Hey, comrades!"

Hearing Sokov's shout, the outside suddenly became quiet, but soon someone shouted to this side: "Don't move, put down your weapons, and slowly walk out from your hiding place." Then, there was a sound of pulling the bolt outside.

"Comrades, don't shoot, I'm out!"

Seeing Sokov holding a submachine gun in both hands and slowly standing up from the ravine, everyone's guns were pointed at him.

But the next moment, a voice shouted: "Put down your guns, he is the adjutant of the army commander."

After the soldiers put down their guns, a second lieutenant ran to Sokov and asked with concern: "Comrade adjutant, where is the commander?"

"I'm here." Seeing that everything was fine outside, Potapov also stood up from the ditch.

The lieutenant called his men to help Sokov and Potapov climb out of the ditch, and then asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, what happened here?"

Potapov pointed to the three bodies dressed as soldiers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the ground and said: "These three people were disguised by the Germans and tried to ambush us here. Fortunately, Captain Sokov saw through them, and we took the initiative to kill them all. Unfortunately, my driver died in the battle."

Sokov said to the lieutenant: "Comrade Lieutenant, the commander and I have to continue our journey, you guys deal with this."

"Okay, comrade adjutant." The lieutenant agreed: "Leave it to me."

Sokov drove to the city of Mtsensk, found the headquarters of the motorized regiment, and met the commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin.

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Seeing that the uniforms of Sokov and Potapov were covered with dust, Gu Xin couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade Commander, why are your uniforms dirty?"

"Oh, don't mention it. We encountered the Germans on the road and had a little battle."

Hearing Potapov say this, Gu Xin was immediately shocked and broke out in a cold sweat: "Comrade Commander, you are not injured, right?"

"No." Potapov shook his head and said: "Captain Sokov and I are fine. We have eliminated all the enemies. Only my driver was unfortunately shot and killed."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Soko After Potapov finished speaking, Sokov added: "After we eliminated the enemy, your patrol arrived there. After some communication, they are now staying there to deal with the aftermath."

"Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin, what is the situation here?" Potapov asked Gu Xin: "Have your troops deployed?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, our regiment has deployed to the west of the city and is building fortifications in time."

When Gu Xin pointed to the map and introduced the situation to Potapov, Sokov stared at the map on the table in a daze.

According to the history he knew, starting from the end of September, the German Army Group Center, which was composed of the 2nd, 4th, and 9th Army Groups and the 2nd and 3rd Tank Groups, launched assaults on Kalinin City, Vyazma, Orel, and Tula from the north, west, and southwest in the three areas of northeast Smolensk, Roslavl, and Shostka, attempting to first divide and annihilate the Kalinin Front in the Vyazma area and the Western Front and reserve in the Bryansk area, and then use a powerful fast group to surround and capture Moscow from the north and south.

The German Southwest Assault Group, composed of Guderian's 2nd Tank Group and Weichs' 2nd Army, broke through the defense of the Soviet Bryansk Front, and its tank group advanced to the Orel area on October 2, directly endangering the safety of Tula and forming a situation of bypassing Moscow from the south. In order to block the German attack, the Soviet High Command urgently organized the 1st Guards Infantry Army, assigned several reserve units including the 4th Independent Tank Brigade to the army, and deployed them in the Mtsensk area to build a defense line.

After completing the report, Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin said to Potapov with a bitter face: "Comrade Commander, now in and outside the city of Mtsensk, except for my motorized regiment, there are only joint forces composed of local garrisons and militias, with a total strength of no more than 1,000 people, of which there are less than 200 regular troops. I think with our current strength, we can't stop the Germans at all."

"You are right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Potapov agreed with Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin's statement: "We have too few troops at our disposal to stop the powerful Germans. However, Don't worry, this phenomenon is only temporary. I believe it won't be long before the reinforcements sent by our superiors will arrive in a steady stream. "

"I don't have high hopes for other reinforcements." Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin said, "But it would be good for us if the troops from the Tula Artillery School arrived early. As long as we can get the necessary artillery fire during the battle, With support, we will be able to block the German attack."

"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. The artillery school will arrive tonight at the latest." Potapov said: "They have enough ammunition to provide you with powerful artillery support on the battlefield."

"If so, that would be great."

While the two were talking, the phone on the table rang.

The nearest regiment chief of staff picked up the phone and listened for a while, then handed it to Potapov: "Comrade Commander, this is your phone number."

Potapov answered the phone, and a strange voice came from inside: "Is it General Potapov?"

"Yes, I am Potapov."

Just when Potapov wanted to ask who the other party was, the other party had already said first: "I will now officially inform you that the train carrying the equipment of the 4th Tank Brigade will arrive at the Mtsensk train station at 11 o'clock tonight. Please You arrange for someone to pick up the car.”

Before Potapov could say anything, the other party hung up the phone.

"Comrade Commander, who called?" Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin asked curiously.

Potapov turned to look at Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin and said with a smile: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, this is good news. The 4th Tank Brigade assigned to me by my superiors will arrive at Mtsensk by train at 11 o'clock tonight. Stop, let me arrange someone to pick up the car!”

Hearing what Potapov said, Gu Xin was overjoyed: "Comrade Commander, this is really exciting news. If you don't object, I want to follow you to the train station to see where the 4th Tank Brigade is. What kind of tanks are equipped?”

"No problem, I'll ask you to go with me then." Potapov turned to look at Sokov: "Captain Sokov, you also follow me to the train station."

Sokov was also ecstatic when he learned that Katukov's 4th Tank Brigade was about to arrive in Mtsensk. The Mtsensk tank battle not only successfully blocked the German offensive, but also made Katukov famous in the battle. The 4th Tank Brigade he commanded was awarded the Guards Tank Brigade by the Supreme Command a month later. The honorary title of 1st Brigade.

At this moment, when he heard Potapov asking him to follow him to the train station to greet the arrival of the 4th Tank Brigade, he immediately replied loudly: "Yes!"

"Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin," Potapov ordered Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin after arranging things for the evening: "You immediately contact the garrison commander in the city and ask him to come to my place. I want to officially take over. his troops."