Red Moscow

With the help of Vitkov, Sokov just returned to the command post when Sidolin greeted him and said anxiously, "Comrade Brigadier, something has happened!"

"What happened?!" After seeing Sidolin's expression clearly, Sokov couldn't help beating his heart faster, but he still tried his best to control his emotions, and tried to ask in a calm tone: "What happened?"

"Look at this telegram first." Sidolin stuffed a telegram into Sokov's hand, panting and said, "It's just too shameful!"

Sokov hurriedly looked down at the telegram in his hand, and after seeing the content clearly, he slammed the telegram on the table and said angrily: "Who gave them the right to confiscate it to us?" arms?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Seeing the angry faces of Sokov and Sidolin, Vitkov didn't know what happened, and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Hearing Vitkov's questioning, Sokov picked up the telegram on the table, handed it to Witkov, and said at the same time: "This is a telegram from Major Yakov. He said that the second batch of rockets prepared for us The bomb was originally scheduled to be transported to Mamayev Gang at noon tomorrow, but it was detained by the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs on the way."

"Detained our ammunition?" Witkov couldn't help becoming anxious when he heard this: "Why is this?"

"I don't know," Sokov shook his head, looked at Sidolin and asked, "Chief of Staff, have you called Major Yakov back and asked him why he seized our munitions? You know, Ma Ma now There are so few defenders in Yevgang, without the help of this new type of rocket, it would be difficult for us to hold our position."

Sidolin turned his head and glanced at the position of the operator, and replied: "I asked the operator to send a telegram to Major Yakov to ask what happened, but I haven't received a reply yet."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry." After all, Vitkov is someone who has seen the big scene. After reading the telegram, he did not panic and fly away. Before, it was useless for the two of you to be anxious, just sit down and discuss how to deal with it after you receive a call back."

After both of them sat down, Vitkov said softly: "According to my estimation, it must be that Major Yakov returned to Moscow and reported the power of this new rocket to his superiors. We will find someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to seize these rockets. Only when we figure out who wants these rockets can we find a targeted solution to the problem.”

After listening to Witkov's words, Sokov's mood calmed down a lot. He knew the truth that his arms couldn't twist his thighs. Although he is now a brigade commander, once he leaves Mamayev Post, his status will be in jeopardy. , even if he knew who wanted the rockets, he would have no way to get them back.

While waiting for Yakov's call back, Sidolin suddenly said: "Comrade Brigadier, these two days are really strange. The Germans didn't launch an attack?"

When Sokov heard the news, he was taken aback for a moment, and then he figured out what was going on: "I think it might be the attack by Goria and the others, which annihilated the German regiment headquarters and completely disrupted their deployment. I think the Germans may concentrate their forces in the past two days to search for our troops attacking the headquarters in the rear, but they cannot mobilize enough forces for the time being to launch an attack on Mamayev Post."

"It's entirely possible." Witkov echoed: "I remember that in the battle for the Central Railway Station last month, a German colonel and a major were killed by snipers, which caused chaos in the German command system , making it impossible for them to organize forces to attack the station again in a short period of time."

Hearing Vitkov talk about this, Sidolin showed a smile on his face, and he said proudly: "Comrade Colonel, you may not know that the sniper who killed the two school officers of the enemy was Vasily Sergeant."

"What, Sergeant Vasily did it?" Witkov said in surprise when he heard the news, "I really didn't expect him to be so powerful. Two shots smashed the German army's attempt to seize the dormitory area of ​​the station."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," the operator sitting in front of the telephony machine turned to call Sidolin: "Major Yakov's call has arrived."

Hearing that Yakov's call back had arrived, Sidolin got up and rushed to the operator's side with one stride, taking the telegram from him. He read as he walked, and when he sat down at the table again, he had finished reading the contents of the telegram. When he handed the telegram to Sokov, he said: "Comrade brigade commander, I have figured it out. It is General Moskalenko, the commander of the First Guards Army. With the help of rockets, he successfully smashed the German offensive, and proposed to his superiors: If he can provide them with a batch of rockets, his army troops may break the German blockade, and the defenders in Stalingrad will be killed. Join us."

Sokov glanced at the telegram in his hand, and saw that there was definitely more content than what Sidolin said, so he continued to ask: "So, it is because of this that the superiors made the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs detain these batches. Rockets, to be handed over to General Moskalenko's First Guards Army?"

"That's right, that's true." Sidolin nodded, and continued, "Now the rockets are being held in Kamisin, less than ten kilometers away from the station of the First Guards Army."

"It's less than ten kilometers away from the First Guards Army," Sokov said while looking up Kamysin's location on the map: "Well, I found it. It's north of Stalingrad, on the right bank of the Volga River. It’s more than a hundred kilometers here.” After seeing the location of Kamysin clearly, Sokov almost fell into despair. Go north by car, and after arriving near Kamisin, take a ferry back to the right bank. Perhaps while he was still tossing about on the road, Moskalenko had already arranged for manpower to transport the rockets back to his defense zone.

Just when Sokov was in despair, he suddenly heard Sidolin say: "Major Yakov said that he would rush to Kamysin as soon as possible, try to persuade the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to let them go, and re-arrange the manpower to take the rockets to Kamisin." The ammunition was transported to Mamayev Kurgan."

"If Yakov can come forward, then things will be easy." Knowing that Yakov will personally mediate, Sokov saw hope again: "But before that, we have to send someone to guard the rockets. , don’t let the people of the First Guards Army take it away.”

"But, Comrade Brigadier, who should be sent?" Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin said in embarrassment: "Even if you and I go out in person, the other side only needs a general to forcibly take away the rockets." After all, we have nothing to do."

As soon as the flame of hope appeared in Sokov's heart, it was mercilessly extinguished by Sidolin's basin of cold water. Staring at the map in front of him, he gritted his teeth and thought: "What should I do? If Yakov can't arrive in time, these rockets will be taken away by Moskalenko's people. Once the rockets are taken away, It's simply impossible to come back."

"Don't worry." Seeing that Sokov and Sidolin were extremely anxious, Witkov comforted them and said, "Why don't I go to Kamysin? Maybe the First Guards Army The people took the rockets away."

"What's the use of you going..." Sukov was halfway through his words when he suddenly remembered that Witkov was also the deputy chief of staff of the army group, and now he was his own deputy brigade commander. It is perfect to receive this batch of rockets. Sokov quickly took Vitkov's hand, and said emotionally: "Comrade Colonel, it would be great if you could go out. In your capacity, even if General Moskalenko goes out in person, it would be great." There is no way to take these rockets away."

Seeing that Sokov did not object to his proposal, Vitkov raised his hand and looked at his watch and said, "I'll go to the Army Group Headquarters first and report this matter to Comrade Commander so that he knows what's going on. That way even if there are any variables , he can also help solve it."

Sokov waited for Vitkov to finish, and immediately shouted outside: "Seryozha!"

Following Sokov's shout, Seryozha came in from the outside. He came to Sokov, straightened his body and asked, "Comrade Brigadier, what instructions do you have?"

Sokov pointed to Vitkov and said to Sergesha: "Comrade deputy brigade commander is going to perform an important task. I will entrust his safety to you. He protects. Even if he loses a hair, I can't spare you, understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Brigadier Commander." Seryozha originally wanted to leave the task of protecting Vitkov to other officers of the guard company, but seeing Sokov ordering himself so solemnly, he immediately realized the problem He quickly glanced at Vitkov who was standing beside him, and then replied loudly: "I will protect the safety of Comrade Deputy Brigadier Commander just like protecting my own eyes." Said After finishing, he saluted Sokov, turned around and went back to the guard company to select personnel.

As soon as Seryozha left, Sokov took Vitkov's hand again, and said emotionally: "Comrade Colonel, I leave everything to you. The chief of staff and I are here waiting for your good news."

"Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." Witkov replied with a smile: "As long as I am here, I will never let the batch of munitions belonging to us fall into the hands of others."

Sidolin waited for the two to loosen their hands, and then stepped forward to shake hands with Witkov, "Comrade Colonel, be careful along the way, we are waiting for your safe return."