Red Moscow

When Guchakov led the soldiers of the Ninth Company across the Aksay River and came to Andrei, Andrei glanced behind him and saw that there were only fifty people at most, and his face could not help showing surprise The expression on his face: "Why, Comrade Lieutenant, there are only so few people left in the Ninth Company?"

"Yes, Comrade Battalion Commander." Guchakov replied with a tired face: "We were attacked by the Germans in the town. They were equipped with six tanks and the number of infantry was roughly equal to ours. After some After a fierce battle, we destroyed all the German tanks and drove the enemy out of the town."

"Well done, Comrade Lieutenant." Andrei patted Guchakov's arm twice vigorously with both hands, and said approvingly: "You and your soldiers are doing well."

"Comrade Battalion Commander," Guchakov asked blankly, "where are we going next?"

"I think we should go to the brigade commander."

Just when Andrei hurried to the Southern Group Command with the third battalion that had withdrawn from the south bank, Cuikov was furious in the headquarters: "Damn, what a hell, the person in charge of the logistics department would actually say that there is no one on the supply list. The number of these troops refused to give us supplies. They never thought that if we did not get supplies, we would not be able to hold the Axel River defense line at all."

"Comrade General, as far as I know, whether it is the 138th Division, the 157th Division, or the 208th Division that has just entered the defensive position, they are all facing a shortage of ammunition." Sokov waited for Chuikov to calm down, and said to him: "Can you see if you can directly contact the Front Army Command and let them negotiate with the logistics department to provide us with urgently needed ammunition and supplies."

Chuikov sighed and said: "It's useless, I have already contacted Commander Gordov, but he said that the logistics department's supply of troops has already been arranged, and he has no right to change it." .”

Sokov never dreamed that the commander of the front army was such a rigid person. Under his command, it would be a strange thing for the troops to win the battle. No wonder Stalin ordered Yeremenko to succeed him a few days later. As the chief of staff of the Southern Group, Sokov must find a way to deal with the ammunition and supplies of the troops. He stared at the map in front of him and searched along the banks of the Aksai River, hoping to see a warehouse sign somewhere. , I can take the troops to carry the ammunition by myself.

However, Sokov searched on it for a long time, but could not find the so-called warehouse. He could only let out a long sigh, and said to Chuikov: "Comrade General, I don't think the Aksai River can be defended at all."

Chuikov didn't get angry when he heard Sokov say that, but asked coldly, "Why?"

"The bridge over the Aksai River has been blown up by our army. If the German army wants to cross the river, they can only choose to cross." Sokov said helplessly: "If our troops have enough ammunition, we can use firepower on the north bank Block the river and wipe out as many enemies as possible in the river. However, the situation in front of us is that our army is short of ammunition. If the last bullet in the gun is fired prematurely, when the Germans land on the shore, we The fighters can only fight them hand to hand."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I understand what you said." After hearing what Sokov said, Chuikov said with a burst of anger: "But if the superior doesn't give us supplies, I can't conjure weapons and ammunition out of thin air."

"Alas." Seeing that Cuikov was also at a loss, Sokov couldn't help but sighed up to the sky, "It seems that to defend this line of defense, we can only fill it with human lives. I'm afraid, we are exhausted, but we still can't hold this line." A line of defense enabled the Germans to swagger toward Stalingrad."

"Chief of Staff, I'm sorry." After an indeterminate period of silence, Chuikov suddenly said, "If I didn't force you to stay, as the chief of staff, maybe you are at ease in Mamayev Post right now."

When Sokov heard what Chuikov said, he couldn't help but be a bit dumbfounded. He felt a little regretful at the moment, and felt that he was meddling in his own business. The third battalion rushed to this area to look for him, but it turned out that it was hard to get off now. It is not known whether the commanders and fighters of the third battalion have successfully returned to the north bank.

Just as Sokov was thinking wildly, Klimov suddenly ran in from the outside and said a little excitedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, your third battalion is back!"

"What, the third battalion is back?" Sokov, who was downcast, suddenly became excited when he heard what Klimov said. He stood up suddenly and asked Klimov excitedly. Husband: "Where are they?"

"The troops are coming in this direction," Klimov replied, "it will be here in a few minutes."

"Comrade General," Sokov rushed a few steps towards the door, suddenly remembered his identity, stopped quickly, and turned to ask Chuikov who was sitting at the table: "Are you allowed to leave?"

Chuikov had already heard the conversation between Sokov and Klimov clearly. Seeing Sokov run a few steps outside and then stop to ask himself for instructions, he waved at him and said weakly, "Go!"

Sokov followed Klimov out of the mill, and immediately asked impatiently, "Comrade adjutant, where are they?"

"There, Comrade Chief of Staff." Klimov pointed to the troops approaching in the distance, and said with emotion: "It seems that they have not suffered any losses."

Andrei, who was walking at the front of the team, saw Sokov and Chuikov's adjutant standing outside a windmill, quickly raised his right hand above his head, and said loudly: "The troops stop!" Then he ran alone In front of Sokov, he raised his hand and saluted, "Hello, Comrade Brigadier Commander, I'm back!"

Sokov returned the gift, and when he shook hands with Andrei, he asked with concern: "Comrade Captain, did the troops suffer any losses during the transfer?"

Andrei nodded and replied: "When Guchakov's Ninth Company blocked the German army in the small town, they suffered huge casualties. German tanks, and killed nearly a hundred Japanese bandits."

"Lieutenant Guchakov did a good job." Sokov said approvingly, and then asked curiously: "Lieutenant Andrey, but I think your army has at least a thousand people, unlike those who have suffered losses. look."

Hearing Sokov's question, Andrei grinned and said: "Comrade Brigadier, have you forgotten that when our battalion went to the south bank to deploy defenses, you once told me that we should take in more battered soldiers?" Scattered soldiers. To tell you the truth, I took in more than 300 people during this period."

After being reminded by Andre, Sokov remembered that he had indeed issued such an order, and he told Andre: "Comrade Captain, since the Ninth Company has suffered heavy losses, then replenish all the troops contained in it to the Ninth Company."

After Andrei nodded in agreement, he looked at Klimov who was standing not far away, then pulled Sukov aside, and said in a low voice: "Comrade Brigadier, there is a situation I want to ask you Report."

"What's the matter?" Sokov asked briefly.

"It's like this. In order to get rid of the Germans on the south bank, I led the troops to go a long way downstream before I found a suitable place to cross the river.... We got a few small wooden boats, and we can only cross one row at a time. Troop strength, so I divided the troops into ranked units..."

Sokov frowned, looked at Andrei and said coldly: "Get to the point!"

Andre laughed dryly and said: "Comrade Brigadier, don't worry, I'll get to the point right away. We waited for the ninth company to arrive, and then we headed here. The pioneers who opened the way accidentally discovered the roadside hills Warehouse in the back."

"Warehouse?" Sukov felt his heart beat faster when he heard Andre talking about the warehouse. He grabbed Andre and asked nervously, "What kind of warehouse is it?"

Andre shrugged, and said helplessly, "I don't know."

Regarding Andre's answer, Sokov was really angry and funny. He grabbed the other side's skirt and asked, "Since you found the warehouse, why didn't you go in and take a look?"

"Comrade Brigadier, it's not that I don't want to go in." Andre said with a bitter face: "The key is that there are almost two squads of internal guards guarding the door, and we are not allowed to approach at all."

"Wait here for me, don't leave." After Sokov finished speaking, he turned and ran towards the mill. He rushed into the mill, rushed to Chuikov's side, and asked somewhat angrily, "Comrade General, do you know of any warehouses guarded by internal guards nearby?"

"Warehouse, what warehouse?" Chuikov said blankly, "What kind of warehouse is there near here? I said Comrade Chief of Staff, did you make a mistake?"

"Probably not." Sokov said to Chuikov: "My third battalion commander, Captain Andrei, just reported to me that they found a warehouse hidden in the hills on the way back here. But since the warehouse is It was guarded by two squads of internal guards, they didn't dare to do anything, so they could only come back and report to me."

"A warehouse under the care of the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Chuikov stood up and said to Sokov, "Although I have never heard of any warehouses in this area, but since our troops have found a warehouse, we should go and see it. Let's go, Comrade Chief of Staff, let's go and see now."

"Comrade General," Sokov looked at Chuikov who was about to go outside, and asked curiously, "Are you planning to go there yourself?"

"That's right, I plan to go and see for myself." Chuikov said to Sokov as he walked outside: "If the internal guards firmly prevent you from entering the warehouse, my status as a general can scare them."