Red Moscow

Korovin sighed softly and continued, "Captain Sokov, you should have heard the order of the chief of staff. Since it is an order from a superior, it cannot be discussed and can only be executed unconditionally."

"Comrade Captain, if we launch an attack at this moment, it is equivalent to launching an attack directly against the enemy with superior manpower and equipment." Sokov explained to Korovin, "We have no chance of winning with this kind of head-on fighting. Maybe in the end, the friendly forces are not rescued, but we are killed instead."

"What should we do then?" Korovin looked at the position still shrouded in smoke and said worriedly, "I'm worried that the anti-tank artillery company on the position can't hold out for too long."

Sokov was also thinking about this problem in his mind. If he wanted to rescue the anti-tank artillery company, he had to attack the German army immediately, otherwise those soldiers would be killed and wounded. But in this way, the casualties of the mixed battalion would not be small. But if they want to find a suitable opportunity, they can only sacrifice the artillery company and wait for the Germans to relax their vigilance before launching an unexpected attack, thus achieving great results.

"The time is not yet ripe. It is beneficial for us to launch an attack rashly." Sokov said to Korovin: "Of course, if you want the mixed battalion to be annihilated, you can unconditionally follow the order of the chief of staff and directly attack the enemy."

As a soldier, Korovin has long been prepared to sacrifice for his country, but if there is a chance to survive on the battlefield, who would not want to? He looked at Sokov and asked tentatively: "Captain Sokov, tell me, what do you think?"

"When the Germans occupy the friendly positions and continue to advance, their vigilance will be the lowest." Sokov said: "If we launch an attack at this time, we can catch the enemy off guard and cause them huge casualties."

For Sokov's statement, Korovin thought for a long time and finally made a difficult decision: "Okay, Captain Sokov, I'll go all out and do as you say."

Seeing that Korovin agreed to his proposal, Sokov was secretly relieved. He was really worried that the other side would ignore the actual situation on the battlefield and launch an attack on the German army regardless of the consequences. That would be like hitting a rock with an egg and seeking death. He said slowly: "But before that, we must be prepared for battle."

"What preparations?"

"Deploy all the anti-tank guns on the position to this position. Also, heavy machine guns and mortars should be transferred here. When the anti-tank guns fire at the enemy tanks, the mortars and heavy machine guns will fire fiercely at the enemy infantry."

"What about the tanks?" Korovin thought Sokov had forgotten that there was a tank platoon on the position, and hurriedly reminded him: "The brigade commander also equipped our battalion with a tank platoon."

"No, no." Sokov shook his head and said: "The tanks make too much noise. If we move now, it will definitely alert the enemy. The best way is to wait until we fire at the enemy, and then order the tank platoon to cover the infantry to attack and expand our victory."

"Okay, then do as you say."

When Korovin urgently mobilized the main weapons and equipment, the Soviet artillery company on the distant position was still fighting tenaciously. Although the firing speed of the anti-tank guns was slowing down, as the tanks got closer and closer to the position, their achievements were significantly increased. Even without a telescope, we can see that there are ten destroyed German tanks approaching the position.

Seeing this, Sokov couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If he were the commander of the artillery company, he would never let his men fire too early. At least let the German tanks enter the 300-meter range before starting to shoot. Firing at such a close distance can not only increase the hit rate, but also ensure that the armor-piercing shells can penetrate the front armor of the German tanks.

Before the deployment of the mixed battalion was completed, Katukov called to ask for accusations: "Captain Korovin, didn't the chief of staff order you to immediately attack the enemy and rescue the anti-tank artillery company in danger? Half an hour has passed, but according to the report from the observation post, there is no movement on your position. Explain to me, what is going on?"

Faced with Katukov's questioning, Korovin seemed a little hesitant and didn't know how to answer him. Fortunately, Sokov was right beside him, so he took the initiative to reach out to him: "Comrade Captain, give me the microphone, I will explain to Colonel Katukov in person."

Krovin, who was in a dilemma, heard Sokov's words and quickly handed the microphone to Sokov.

"Comrade Colonel, I am Sokov." Sokov said straight to the point into the microphone: "It was my idea not to let the mixed battalion attack the enemy."

Katukov almost cursed when he learned that Sokov was the "culprit" who prevented the mixed battalion from taking action. But when the words came to his lips, he remembered Sokov's special identity, so he could only suppress the anger in his heart and asked with his back teeth: "Captain Sokov, then explain to me why the mixed battalion was kept on hold?"

"Comrade Colonel, this is what I think." Sokov said into the microphone: "The enemy has dispatched about a regiment of infantry, and 70 to 80 tanks to cooperate. If we rashly attack and reinforce the anti-tank artillery company on the friendly position, it will put the mixed battalion in danger."

"War is always dangerous." Katukov said sternly: "Captain Sokov, you can't let the mixed battalion stay in its position and let the friendly forces be destroyed by the enemy just because you are afraid of danger?"

"You misunderstood, Comrade Colonel." Sokov knew that in order to win, he needed Katukov's support, so he explained to him: "The reason why I suggested Captain Korovin to stay put is not because I am afraid of death, but because I am waiting for the opportunity."

"Waiting for the opportunity? Waiting for what opportunity?"

"Waiting for an opportunity to inflict heavy damage on the enemy."

Katukov heard from Sokov's words that he seemed to have some ideas, so he slowed down his tone and asked: "Captain Sokov, what are your plans?"

"Only when the enemy occupies the positions of their neighbors and continues to advance will they relax their vigilance." Sokov said: "And we can take advantage of their carelessness and launch an unexpected attack on them, catching them off guard."

"Tell me more details."

Seeing that Katukov was interested, Sokov told him in detail about the battle plan he had thought of in advance.

After listening, Katukov was silent for a while and then said: "Captain Sokov, I thought about it carefully, and your plan is feasible. But..."

"But what?" Sokov asked nervously.

"It's not easy to win the final victory even if you only rely on your mixed battalion to deal with the existing German army."

"Are you going to send us reinforcements?"

"Yes, I will send you reinforcements." Before Sokov could be happy, Katukov continued: "But not now, but after you start the battle. In other words, you have to hold on for at least half an hour before my reinforcements can arrive. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." Although the troops and equipment on the position are far inferior to the German army in the distance, it is still easy to hold on for half an hour if a real fight breaks out, so Sokov assured Katukov: "We can hold on for an hour without any problem."

See After Sokov put down the phone, Korovin asked impatiently: "Captain Sokov, what did the brigade commander say on the phone?"

"The brigade commander agreed to our combat plan." Sokov said: "At the same time, he will send us reinforcements."

"Ah, reinforcements?" Hearing what Sokov said, Korovin's face suddenly showed a surprised expression: "When will the reinforcements arrive?"

"The reinforcements can only set out after our battle starts, so as not to expose our intentions too early." Sokov explained to Korovin: "So before the reinforcements arrive, we can only rely on our own strength to deal with the Germans alone."

Knowing that he still needed his mixed battalion to deal with the large German army alone, it was impossible for Korovin to say that he was not disappointed. However, he still tried to force a smile on his face and asked, "How long will it take for the reinforcements to arrive?"

"About half an hour." After saying this, Sokov saw that Korovin's face was still full of anxiety, and added, "After all, the deployed troops are still a little far from us. It will take some time to move out after the battle starts."

As time passed, the artillery fire from the distant positions stopped. First, the German tanks rushed into the positions, and then the German infantry also poured into the positions like a tide.

"Captain Sokov," Korovin looked at the German troops occupying the friendly positions in the distance, and whispered to Sokov, "When will we start?"

"Wait a little longer." Sokov had dealt with the Germans for several years, so he was naturally very familiar with their tactics. He said to Korovin, "When we cross the positions and continue to advance, we will decisively launch an attack."

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Ten minutes later, the German army, as Sokov said, crossed the occupied position and continued to advance.

Because the Germans did not find the mixed battalion position hidden a few hundred meters away, they did not remain vigilant enough when they passed the occupied position. The tanks were moving slowly in front, and the infantry lined up in neat rows and moved forward with the tanks.

"Comrade Captain." Seeing this, Sokov immediately said to Korovin: "The time is ripe, we can start."

As the order was issued, the anti-tank guns, mortars and heavy machine guns deployed on the position opened fire.

The target of the anti-tank guns was the German tanks. At this time, the German tanks were moving slowly, which was simply the best target for the anti-tank gunners. The first round of four shells fired directly hit two tanks, one of which was destroyed on the spot. The other one drove forward for a distance and stopped and began to burn.

The infantrymen following the tanks were bombarded by mortars and machine guns, and fell down directly. The rest were also hit and confused. They were like ants on a hot pot, running around aimlessly.

After Sokov and other anti-tank guns fired two more rounds and defeated three German tanks again, they said to Korovin: "Comrade Captain, while the enemy is in chaos, let our troops launch an attack immediately, let the four tanks of the tank platoon lead the way, and the infantry follow closely behind to charge the German army in the distance.

"Okay!" Korovin agreed loudly, and then issued an order to his three company commanders over the phone: "Company 1 holds its position, and Company 2 and Company 3 follow me to attack!"

After the order was issued, Korovin pulled out the pistol from his waist, climbed out of the trench with his hands and feet, and then turned halfway and shouted to the officers and soldiers in the trench: "Comrades, for Stalin! For the Soviet motherland! Follow me!"

Although his voice was drowned out by the sound of gunfire, few people could hear what he was shouting. But seeing the battalion commander personally leading the charge, the officers and soldiers didn't understand what it meant, and they also scrambled to climb out of the trenches and rushed up shouting.

Sokov found that except for the anti-tank gunners, mortar gunners and heavy machine gunners, the rest of the officers and soldiers followed Korovin to launch a charge, and he was left alone in the trench, which seemed a bit out of place. In desperation, he could only pull out his pistol and climb out of the trench, cursing in his heart while trotting to chase the troops in front.

After running forward two or three hundred meters, Sokov saw that the troops led by Korovin had already rushed into the position occupied by the German army and started close combat and hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

Sokov now only had a pistol in his hand. If he rushed forward like this, he would become a lamb to be slaughtered once the bullets in the gun were used up. He quickly slowed down, put the pistol in his waist, then bent down and picked up a rifle with a bayonet from the ground, and then accelerated forward again, ready to participate in the ongoing hand-to-hand combat.

When he passed a T-3 tank with broken tracks, he heard someone calling him: "Captain, Comrade Captain."

Sokov stopped and looked up. He saw the hatch of the tank turret was open and a tank soldier was shouting at him: "Comrade Captain, my tank track is broken. Can I abandon the vehicle and join the infantry battle?"

Although it is not uncommon for tank soldiers to take up weapons and use them as infantry because their tanks were destroyed since the outbreak of the war, Sokov felt that it was a waste to use excellent tank soldiers as infantry. Hearing the tank soldier's words, he immediately asked back: "Do you still have ammunition?"

"Yes, Comrade Captain." The tank soldier nodded and said: "Not only are there enough shells, but there are also a lot of bullets left."

"Since you have enough ammunition, why do you abandon the car? Isn't this a waste?" Sokov gave orders to the other party with a stern face: "Tell your tank commander to bombard the enemy's tanks with tank guns and use machine guns to shoot the enemy's infantry. Even if your tanks cannot move, you can use them as fixed firepower points."

Soon, the tank fired at the German tanks in the distance. As people often say, tanks are the best anti-tank weapons. This tank destroyed a German tank with two shots, and the machine gun swept down more than a dozen German soldiers.

At this time, the tank soldier jumped off the tank with a sledgehammer in his hand: "Comrade Captain, let me see if I can fix the track!"