Red Moscow

In the dead of night, a military column loaded with troops and technical equipment slowly drove into the Mtsensk train station.

Sokov, who was standing on the platform with Potapov, saw that after the military train stopped, several commanders wearing big-brimmed hats and military coats stepped out of one of the carriages. After they got off the train, , immediately there were soldiers waiting there, guiding them to Potapov.

When he saw clearly that the person in front of him was Potapov, the tall Katukov's face was filled with shock: "Comrade Commander, why are you here?"

"Why can't I be here?"

"I saw a leaflet dropped by the Germans on our military positions some time ago, saying that you have become their prisoner."

"Colonel Katukov," Sokov saw Potapov's expression changed drastically and knew that this was the thing he was most taboo about. He quickly stepped forward and spoke to help him: "That was just a way for the Germans to disintegrate our army. Military morale and morale, and the fake leaflets were forged. Now General Potapov was appointed commander of the 1st Guards Corps by the Supreme Command, responsible for commanding the defense in the Mtsensk area. "

After figuring out Potapov's identity, Katukov quickly stood at attention and raised his hand to salute him: "Comrade Commander, Colonel Katukov, commander of the 4th Independent Tank Brigade, is reporting to you that our brigade has been ordered to go ahead. Come to Mtsensk to perform a combat mission. Now the first echelon has arrived successfully. Please give your instructions!"

"The first echelon?" Potapov heard what Katukov said and couldn't help but asked curiously: "Colonel Katukov, so your brigade has a second and third echelon?"

Katukov grinned and explained: "Comrade Commander, our brigade has only two echelons. The first echelon is the organized motorized infantry battalion, the anti-tank artillery battalion and the attached mixed battalion of the 34th Regiment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The second echelon is the 4th Tank Regiment, a 37mm anti-aircraft artillery regiment, an 85mm anti-aircraft artillery battalion, and an airborne battalion. The first echelon is following me now, and the second echelon is still on the way, and will arrive as early as tomorrow afternoon. You can reach this place.”

"Judging from the intelligence we have, we are about to face Guderian's armored forces." Potapov looked at the tank fixed on the flatbed truck, frowned and asked: "Colonel Katukov, what are you bringing?" How many tanks came?"

"16 vehicles, Comrade Commander."

"16 vehicles is a bit small, but it's better than nothing."

"The whole brigade has a total of 45 tanks, most of which are old tanks." Katukov continued to report: "The 4th Tank Regiment is equipped with 29 tanks. When they arrive, we will have enough strength to compete with Germany. People's armor."

It takes time to assemble troops and unload tanks. Potapov took the opportunity to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin to Katukov: "This is Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin, commander of the 36th Motorized Regiment. In the following days, Here, his troops will fight alongside you."

"Hello, Colonel Katukov." Gu Xin held Katukov's hand and said with a smile: "I heard that on the day the war broke out, you had just completed the operation and had a 40-degree fever. He is a capable and proactive battle organizer who is good at organizing tank battles with enemy superior forces. "

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Katukov said with a smile after hearing Gu Xin's praise for him: "You are really an award. I am just fulfilling the duties of a soldier."

"This is not the place to talk. Let's go to the stationmaster's office first."

Potapov and his party arrived at the stationmaster's office.

When the station commander saw a group of officers walking in from outside, he immediately realized that they might want to borrow his office. He quickly stood up and said to Potapov: "Comrade General, you must want to borrow this office. I will make room for you right away." ”

After the station commander left, a staff officer spread the map on the table, and Sokov also took the opportunity to close the door to prevent anyone from coming in and disturbing him.

"Colonel Katukov," Potapov said to Katukov: "Now Lieutenant Colonel Guxin's 36th Motorized Regiment and the garrison in the city, as well as comrades from the Tula Artillery School, have already arrived in M A defense line has been built in the west of Censk City. In other words, if your brigade's defense line should be built far away from the city, so as to form a certain depth of defense. "

Hearing what Potapov said, Katukov did not show an expression of annoyance on his face. On the contrary, he also took the initiative to say to Potapov: "I think the city of Orel may have fallen into the hands of the Germans, so I plan to move the defense line as close to the city as possible, along the line from Orel to Tula. Block the Germans on both sides of the road."

Potapov stared at the map for a while, then nodded slowly and said approvingly: "Colonel Katukov, you are very thoughtful. If your brigade's defense line is deployed near Orliol, our defense The depth can be as long as tens of kilometers, which is enough to delay the enemy for a long time. "

After Gu Xin waited for Potapov to finish speaking, he said with a complicated expression: "Comrade Commander, if the Independent Tank Brigade deploys defenses near Orliol, it is not too far from our existing defense line. If the Germans make a detour If we get behind them, the tank brigade is in danger of being surrounded."

"It doesn't matter, Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin." Unexpectedly, Katukov said with a smile after hearing this: "We are a tank brigade with relatively strong mobility. Even if the Germans detour back to the rear, our tanks can attack as soon as they attack. "Tear apart their blockade."

"Katukov, after the unloading work is completed, you will set off overnight." Potapov said to Katukov: "Try to arrive at the designated area as early as possible, so that there will be enough time to build a new line of defense."

"No problem, Comrade Commander." Katukov remembered an important matter and quickly asked Potapov: "How do we contact the military headquarters?"

"Captain Sokov." Potapov waited for Katukov to finish speaking, then turned around and called Sokov in front of him and began to assign work to him: "You bring two communications soldiers and a radio to liaise with the officer. Identity, follow Katukov's tank travel, understand? "

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Potapov arranged for him to follow Katukov's tank tour, Sokov was very happy. In this way, he could see with his own eyes how Katukov In the defense battle of Mtsensk, he became a god in one battle.

Sokov wanted to follow Katukov's troops, but Katukov was unwilling to bring Sokov with him. Based on his past experience, these officers from the headquarters had no skills at all, and they just knew how to give random orders and mess up the troops.

"Comrade Commander," Katukov said awkwardly, "I think there is no need to set up any liaison officers. We have ways to keep in touch with the military headquarters at all times."

After hearing what Katukov said, Potapov turned to Sokov and said: "Captain Sokov, it seems that Colonel Katukov doesn't want you to serve as a liaison officer and follow him. What did you think about it?"

Sokov knew that the battle in Mtsensk was a good opportunity for him to gain experience points, so he was naturally unwilling to give up easily. He quickly said: "I ask you to allow me to go to the 4th Independent Tank Brigade and work side by side with Colonel Katukov. Fight."

"You see, Colonel Katukov." Potapov said to Katukov with a smile: "Captain Sokov very much hopes to go to your unit. I see you don't refuse. I'm here. Just a reminder, you may thank me for my decision in the future.”

Now that Potapov has spoken to this extent, if Katukov still objects, it would be an act of ignorance. In desperation, Katukov could only nod and said insincerely: "Then let Captain Sokov serve as the liaison officer and station in our tank brigade."

"By the way, there are a few tanks in the city. They are all old-fashioned T-26s. You can take them with you by the way."

Hearing what Potapov said, Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin quickly interrupted and said: "Comrade Commander, those tanks are placed on the position as fixed firepower points. If they are transferred to the tank brigade, then our defense The strength will be weakened.”

"Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin, I knew Colonel Katukov before the war. He is an excellent tank commander." Potapov looked at Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin and said earnestly: "Put these tanks The old tanks will be more effective if left to his command, right, Captain Sokov?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." In order to dispel Katukov's resistance to him, Sokov deliberately followed Potapov's words: "I believe that with the addition of the tank brigade, we will be able to block the enemy's advance. footsteps."

When Sokov followed Katukov out of the station commander's office, he deliberately approached the livid-faced Katukov and said with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, from now on, we are comrades fighting side by side. Hold on first Give me your hand." He said, extending his hand to the other party.

Two hours later, the first echelon of the tank brigade moved west along the road from Tula to Orliol.

Katukov sat in the same jeep with his chief of staff and political commissar.

"Comrade Brigade Commander," the Chief of Staff saw Katukov looking unhappy and couldn't help but curiously asked: "Are you still worried about that liaison officer?"

"Yes." Regarding the statement of the Chief of Staff, Katukov did not deny it, but nodded and said: "I don't know what Comrade Commander of the Army thinks about it. If a grassroots officer who doesn't know anything must come to me, If the battle plan I formulated is vetoed by him, will the plan be implemented or not? Even if we get the support of the commander through the liaison tool, it will probably delay the fight. "

Check out the 16-9 book bar and see the correct version!

"How about we discuss with Comrade Commander, whether to remove this liaison officer?"

But as soon as the Chief of Staff said his words, he was immediately opposed by the political commissar: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if the Army Commander could be persuaded by us, he would not send this liaison officer here. Now that he is here, we have to deal with him Maintain the necessary respect, and as long as you coax him well, you don't have to worry about him ruining our battle plan."

"The political commissar is right." Katukov agreed with the political commissar's statement: "Let's do it this way. At least be polite to him on the surface and prevent him from doing anything wrong."

Early the next morning, the first echelon arrived at the designated area.

When the troops began to build fortifications on the spot, Katukov summoned officers above the company level for a meeting to discuss what to do next.

After the meeting began, the chief of staff introduced the current situation to the commanders present. Perhaps in order to make Sokov look bad, he deliberately asked him: "Captain Sokov, you are the liaison officer sent by the military. I don't know." What do you think of the next combat deployment?”

Originally, Sokov planned to just listen but not speak. He did not expect the chief of staff to let him talk about the next combat deployment. He was stunned at first, but then he thought that this was a good opportunity. As long as the plan he made was approved by Katukov, he would have a firm foothold in the tank brigade.

Thinking of this, he said: "From the intelligence we have, Orel has fallen into the hands of the Germans. We are building fortifications here to prevent sudden attacks by the Germans. In order to avoid this situation, I suggest sending two reconnaissance teams to the direction of Orel..."

"Captain Sokov," the chief of staff heard this and interrupted Sokov's words: "You mean the reconnaissance team?"

"No, not the reconnaissance team, but the reconnaissance team." Sokov shook his head and continued: "I just said that the Germans may have occupied Orel. Sending only two reconnaissance teams is not very useful. But if we send a reconnaissance team, even if we encounter a large number of enemies, we can still fight."

"Comrade Brigade Commander," the chief of staff felt that he could no longer refute Sokov, but I can look at Katukov for help: "What do you think?"

I thought Katukov would help me smooth things over, but he nodded and said unexpectedly: "I think Captain Sokov's proposal is very good. We should indeed send two reconnaissance teams to the direction of Orel to prevent a sudden attack by the Germans."

Then Katukov began to give orders: "Captain Gusev, you take an infantry company and ten tanks to immediately rush to the direction of Orel for reconnaissance. Once you find any movement of the enemy, immediately build defenses and block them."

Captain Gusev, who was called by name, immediately walked out of the crowd and answered loudly: "Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander."

Katukov nodded and called the name of another commander: "Captain Burda."

"Here!" A short captain came out.

"Your mission is the same as Captain Gusev's. Carry eight tanks and an infantry company and conduct reconnaissance near Orel." Katukov said with a serious expression: "If you find any unusual movement of the enemy, you must be prepared to block it on the spot. Do you understand?"

"Got it!"

Katukoff said to the two commanders: "Time is urgent. You should go back and gather your men immediately and prepare to set off."

After the two left, Katukov continued: "If there is no accident, our current position is the defense zone where our brigade blocks the German army. Everyone should return to their respective units immediately and urge the soldiers to repair the fortifications as soon as possible. You must remember that the Germans have little time left for us."

After the meeting, Katukov looked at Sokov and said in an approving tone: "Captain Sokov, I can't believe that your idea coincides with mine. I misjudged you at the station. I apologize to you here and beg for your forgiveness."