Red Moscow

Sokov knew very well in his heart that what he did would offend Vitkov. If the other party became his immediate boss in the future, it would be unavoidable for him to wear small shoes for him. But after carefully weighing the strengths, he felt that if Witkov remained in the position of brigade commander, then his self-made army might be ruined in the hands of the opponent. For the sake of his own interests, it is the best choice to let Witkov leave.

After hearing Chuikov's order to reassign himself as brigade commander, he was relieved, and then asked in a tentative tone: "Comrade commander, do you have anything to say to Colonel Vitkov?"

"Give the receiver to Witkov," Chuikov ordered on the phone, "I have something to say to him."

The ashen-faced Vitkov took the microphone from Sokov's hand, put it close to his ear, and said with a dejected expression: "Comrade Commander, what should I do? Should I go back to the Army Group Headquarters?"

I don't know what Chuikov said on the phone, but Vitkov suddenly showed a surprised expression on his face. He quickly turned his head and glanced at Sokov who was sitting next to him, and asked in surprise: "Comrade commander, are you sure?" Are you going to let me stay on Mamayev Kurgan? ... Well, since you say so, I will resolutely obey your orders."

When Vitkov put down the phone, the expression on his face had returned to normal. He faced Sokov and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, according to the order of Commander Chuikov, I will continue to stay on Mamayev Post. until the end of the Battle of Stalingrad."

When Sokov heard what Witkov said, his heart sank suddenly. He secretly said that Chuikov had made me the brigade commander again, but left a commander with a higher rank than me here. What is the meaning? ? If there are two commanders in an army, the problem will be complicated. If there is disagreement, who should I listen to?

However, what Witkov said next made Sokov completely relieved: "...From now on, I will serve as the deputy brigade commander and assist you in commanding the troops to guard the Mamayev Post..."

Knowing that Chuikov asked Witkov to stay as his deputy, Sokov couldn't help being taken aback, and instinctively turned to look at Sidolin and Belgin next to him, and saw the surprised expressions on their faces. Sokov turned his gaze back to Witkov, and asked curiously: "Colonel Witkov, I would like to ask, why did Comrade Commander make such a decision?"

"I don't know." Witkov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said, "Anyway, from now on, I will be your deputy brigade commander. Everything in the brigade is up to you."

Although it is not clear why Chuikov made Vitkov his deputy, Sokov did not have time to think about these issues, but looked up at Sidolin and asked: "Chief of Staff, Major Yakov has been away for a long time?" Week, did the new rockets he promised deliver to us?"

"No."

"How many pieces are left from the original batch?"

Regarding Sokov's question, Sidolin thought for a moment, and replied: "There are seven left, of which five are here on Mamayev Kurgan and two are at Sergeant Vasily's."

"Have the scouts we sent from Mamayev Post found the enemy's camp or headquarters?"

Sidolin had long understood Sokov's leaping thinking. He knew that after he had finished asking about the ammunition, he would ask if there was any enemy headquarters nearby so that he could send troops to attack him. He quickly pointed the map on the table towards him. Pushing it, he pointed to the vicinity of Mamayev Hill and said: "Comrade Brigadier, according to the report of the scouts, there is a German regiment command post to the west of Mamayev Hill, about 30 kilometers away from us. distance……"

Before Sidolin finished speaking, Sokov interrupted him: "Call Captain Goria, the commander of the 912th Battalion, and ask him to come to me immediately to accept the combat mission."

"Combat mission?!" Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin couldn't help asking curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, what combat mission do you plan to assign to them?"

"Didn't you say that there is a German regiment-level command post here?" Sokov tapped twice on the position that Sidolin had just pointed out with his finger, and said, "I called Captain Goria over, of course I asked him to Take someone to take out the enemy's regiment command post."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Witkov couldn't help interjecting when he heard this, "I think your plan is a bit too risky. The enemy's regimental command posts are usually heavily guarded, and their defense Depth. With fewer men we send, we cannot capture the German headquarters; with more men, we will be detected when we pass through the enemy's lines."

"That's right, Comrade Brigadier, Colonel Witkov is right. We can't take the risk of attacking the German headquarters." As soon as Witkov finished speaking, Sidolin expressed his support for his opinion: "Even if we send Once the battle cannot be resolved in a short period of time, the enemy who hears the news may encircle the troops we are going to attack. Therefore, I suggest that you think carefully again."

"Colonel Vitkov, Chief of Staff," Sokov waited for the two to finish speaking, and asked back: "When did I say that I was going to seize the enemy's regiment command post?"

"But, but..." Sidolin replied in a panic when he heard Sokov's question, "Didn't you just say that you planned to send Captain Goria's troops to destroy the enemy's regiment command post?"

"That's right, I said that, but I didn't say that I would carry out a strong attack?!" After Sokov said this, he saw that Sidolin and Witkovl were all bewildered. He introduced to the two of them: "Don't forget, we have a new type of rocket now. Captain Golia only needs to lead the troops to sneak into a position two or three kilometers away from the command post of the German Army, and set up a launcher. position, and use rockets to attack the enemy's command post. In this way, even if the enemy is bombed, they will not be able to figure out what happened, but Goria's troops can take the opportunity to withdraw to our army's defense line."

When Sidolin heard what Sokov said, his eyes lit up, and he said a little excitedly: "Comrade Brigadier, you are right, don't look at the size of the new rocket, it is shorter than the Katyusha rocket, But the power has not been reduced much. As long as the enemy's command post is hit twice, it is estimated that there will be no survivors."

Sidolin had confidence in Sokov's proposal, and quickly picked up the phone to contact Golia, asking him to report immediately. However, Vitkov didn't know enough about the new rockets. He frowned and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, can you hit the target accurately if you launch it at a distance of two or three kilometers from the target?"

"Yes." Sokov nodded, and replied in an affirmative tone: "The accuracy of this new type of rocket far exceeds that of the rocket used by Katyusha. I believe it can be fired two or three kilometers away. There should be no problem hitting the target."

Seeing Sokov's answer so positively, Vitkov didn't bother with this question any more, but asked another question that he was worried about: "From here to the enemy's regiment command center is 30 kilometers away, our commanders and fighters have to rush there, at least It will take a day, won't it be exposed?"

Just as Sokov was about to answer, he saw Sidolin put down the phone and hurriedly asked him, "Comrade Chief of Staff, are the German armored vehicles we captured still usable?"

"No problem, as long as you refuel, you can go at any time." After Sidolin answered this question, he couldn't help asking curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, are you going to let Golia and the others disguise themselves as Germans and ride in armored vehicles?" Through the German lines?"

"That's right, that's what I thought." Seeing that Sidolin had guessed his intentions, Sokov said with a smile, "A 30-kilometer distance can be covered by an armored vehicle in two hours at most, and then the It takes up to five hours to go back and forth to establish a launch position, and Captain Golia and the others should be able to rush back to the tunnel in Beigang for breakfast."

After receiving the call, Golia hurried to the brigade headquarters. As soon as he entered the door, he saluted Vitkov who was standing by the table, and reported according to the regulations: "Comrade Brigadier, Captain Goria, the commander of the 192nd Battalion, has been ordered to come, please give instructions!"

After Vitkov raised his hand to salute him, he pouted at Sokov who was sitting next to him, and said, "Comrade Captain, it was your old brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, who called you here. Let him report."

After Vitkov reminded him, Golia saw Sokov sitting beside him, and he couldn't help showing a surprised expression on his face: "Comrade Brigadier, are your injuries healed?"

"Thank you for your concern, almost recovered." Sokov nodded at Goria, and said, "Come to the table, I will give you a combat mission." Goria heard Sokov say this, no Dare to be negligent, hurried to the table, leaned over to look at the map spread on the table.

"Comrade Captain," Sokov pointed to the position of the command post of the German army, and said to Golia: "This is a regimental command post of the German army. The purpose of my calling you here is to order you to take people to destroy it."

"Comrade Brigadier," Golia said with some embarrassment after hearing Sokov's order: "After fighting for this period of time, there are only more than a hundred people left in my battalion, and many of them They are wounded. I am afraid that with this force, it will be difficult to capture the enemy's regimental command post."

"Comrade Captain, didn't you hear my order clearly?" Sokov looked at Goria and said with a serious expression, "I ordered you to destroy it, not take it."

"I don't understand, Comrade Brigadier Commander." Goria waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and said with a bitter face: "If you don't capture the enemy's command post first, how can you destroy it?"

Sokov sneered twice, and then said: "Comrade Captain, we don't just have to be brave to fight, we must know how to use our brains. To destroy the enemy's headquarters does not mean that we must occupy it. You should know that our new equipment The army's new rockets can not only attack the enemy's target several kilometers away, but can also shift the launch position at any time..."

As soon as Sokov mentioned the new type of rocket, Golia immediately understood Sokov's intentions, and hurriedly said: "Comrade Brigadier, I understand, you intend to let us use this type of rocket to fight in the distant future." Is it close to destroying the enemy's command post?"

Sokov gave Golia a thumbs up, praised him and said, "That's right, Comrade Captain, that's exactly what I meant."

"However, Brigadier, isn't the enemy regiment's command post too far away from us?" Golia gesticulated on the map with his fingers and said, "It's about twenty or thirty kilometers away. On foot, it would take at least a day to go back and forth."

"Comrade Captain, do you still remember the armored vehicle we took when we went to Orlovka last time to pick up the friendly forces?" Sokov reminded the other party: "The personnel who went to perform the mission took the armored vehicle to pass through the enemy's Defensive line, after destroying the enemy's regiment command post, return immediately. I have roughly calculated the time, back and forth plus the time for firing rockets, it only takes five hours at most, and you can still return to the position in time for breakfast. Any questions?"

Golia hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Comrade Brigadier, how many new rockets do you plan to give us to complete this sneak attack mission?"

Sokov stretched out four fingers and said, "I can only give you four rockets."

"What, only four?" Goria thought that no matter how stingy Sokov was, he would give him at least a dozen rockets, but he didn't expect to only give him four. He muttered, "Comrade Brigadier, Is it too little?"

"A lot, Comrade Captain." Sidolin quickly explained to him: "Now there are only five of this new type of rockets left here on Mamayev Gang, and Comrade Brigadier almost gave you our inventory. gone."

Hearing what Sidolin said, Golia couldn't say anything more, but after a moment of silence, he asked, "Comrade Brigadier, when should we set off?"

"You set off at eleven o'clock in the evening. At that time, the vigilance of the German army should be relatively low, which will help you pass through the enemy's defense line smoothly. Also, don't have too many people in this operation, at most ten people, you want to go back I will arrange for people here to prepare the armored vehicles and rockets for you.” Goria agreed, raised her hand to salute Sokov, turned and walked out of the headquarters.

As soon as Goria left, Sokov told Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, immediately prepare the armored vehicles and rockets needed by Captain Goria." Added, "By the way, prepare a few more sets of German uniforms so that they can pass through the German defense lines smoothly."

Sidolin saw that Sokov was still using the old routine, and asked the commanders and fighters to put on German uniforms, disguise themselves as German soldiers, ride German armored vehicles, and sneak into the enemy's line of defense smoothly, and said with a smile: "Comrade Brigadier, don't worry, It only takes ten minutes at most for what Captain Golia wants, and I can prepare everything."