Red Moscow

Sokov was not a bloodthirsty person. The reason why he did not keep any prisoners was to allow the militia fighters in the factory to avenge their comrades-in-arms and achieve the purpose of boosting morale; Almost all of the wounded were missing arms and legs. Even if they were given medical treatment, the chances of being saved were not high. Instead of allowing these wounded German soldiers to die in agony due to lack of medical care and medicine after being captured, it would be a merit to give them a good time.

When the militiamen finished cleaning the battlefield and returned to the workshop with the seized guns and ammunition on their backs, Sokov said to the elated Cousteau: "Comrade workshop director, except for a few observation posts, the rest of the people will go to the basement." Bar."

When Cousteau heard Sokov say this, he couldn't help asking in surprise: "Why is this, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel?"

Sokov smiled lightly and replied: "Our anti-aircraft guns destroyed five German tanks and killed hundreds of soldiers. Do you think the Germans will let it go after suffering such a big loss? If I guessed correctly, They will soon be firing here, and if the workers and militiamen are not concealed, there will probably be great casualties."

After hearing Sokov's words, Cousteau did not express his opinion immediately, but looked around, and then asked, "Where is Balshak, where has he been?"

"The major is resting in the basement." Sokov knew what Cousteau was worried about, so he comforted him and said, "The enemy will bombard here soon, you lead people to evacuate to the basement, I think Major Balshak should won't say anything."

Seeing that Sokov guessed what was on his mind, Cousteau smiled a little embarrassedly, arranged for five soldiers to observe in the factory building, greeted other workers and militiamen, and walked towards the entrance of the basement.

Seeing that the workers and militiamen in the factory had almost evacuated, Briski asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Brigadier, the workers and militiamen have almost evacuated, shall we also evacuate into the basement?"

"Comrade Captain," Sokov didn't answer the question immediately, but asked instead: "Have the observation posts been arranged?"

"Yes, Comrade Brigadier, everything has been arranged!" Briski reported to Sokov: "In addition to the observation post, I have also placed a machine gun in the permanent fire points in the northeast and northwest directions of the factory building. In this way, even if the Germans touch it while shelling, they can resist it for a while."

"Very good, Comrade Captain, you've done a good job." After listening to Briski's report, Sokov praised him without hesitation, and then ordered him to say, "Take people to evacuate to the basement first. "

"What about you, Comrade Brigadier?" Seeing that Sokov was still standing there, Brisky asked with concern, "When are you going to the basement?"

Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and replied: "I just called the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion on the roof and ordered Lieutenant Ulanova to withdraw with her men. It's not too late to go to the roof. They should come down soon."

While talking, there was a sound of female soldiers talking and laughing from the direction of the stairs leading to the roof in the distance. Sokov and Briski looked in the direction of the sound, and saw the female soldiers of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion. Go down the stairs. "Comrade Captain, carry out the order and take people to the basement first." After Sokov finished speaking, he walked towards the female soldiers.

He went up to the group of female soldiers, looked into the crowd, but did not find Ulanova, and asked curiously, "Girls, why didn't you see your battalion commander, Lieutenant Ulanova?"

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," the female soldiers immediately stood at attention when they saw that it was Sokov who was asking the question. Oksala took a step forward and reported to Sokov, "Lieutenant Ulanova is still on the roof."

"What, still on the roof?" Sokov couldn't help frowning: "Didn't I order everyone to evacuate to the basement? Why didn't Ulanova follow my order?"

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't be angry." Oksala quickly explained: "Ulanova was worried that we would all go to the basement, and the technical equipment on the roof would be unattended, so she insisted on staying."

"Nonsense, it's just nonsense." Sokov said a little angrily, "Your anti-aircraft guns are deployed on the roof. Who would go to the roof to do sabotage in boredom? Is it a spy sent by the Germans to us?"

Seeing that Oksala seemed to be saying something, Sokov waved at her and said, "Okay, Comrade Oksala, you don't need to say anything, go to the basement with your comrades , I went to the roof to find Lieutenant Ulanova."

Sokov went upstairs along the roof, and when he was about to go out from the stairwell, he suddenly heard a shout from outside: "Who, stop, don't come near our military equipment."

"It's me, Lieutenant Ulanova." Sokov recognized that the person calling was Ulanova, and quickly replied, "I'm Sokov, and I have something to tell you."

Sokov walked out from the stairwell. Ulanova, who was standing outside with a gun in hand, quickly lowered her gun and stood up to salute Sokov: "Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel."

"Comrade Ulanova, why have you forgotten again? I told you not to salute your commander on the battlefield." Seeing Ulanova solemnly raising her hand to salute himself, Sokov said with some embarrassment : "Do you really want me to be a target for the Germans?"

Hearing what Sokov said, Ulanova couldn't help sticking out her tongue playfully, and said embarrassingly: "I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I really forgot. Don't worry, there will be no similar situation next time." occur."

"Fortunately, we are on the roof. The German sniper wanted to kill me, but he couldn't see the target." Of course, Sokov would not criticize Ulanova for such a trivial matter, but said jokingly: " If you salute me on flat ground, you are probably helping me collect the body at this moment."

Ulanova was amused by Sokov's words, and she asked with a smile on her face: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, didn't you order everyone to hide in the basement? Why did you come to the roof?"

"Lieutenant Ulanova, you still know that I gave the order." Sokov said to Ulanova with a straight face, "Why don't you carry out my order and continue to stay on the roof."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Ulanova saw Sukov's serious expression, and quickly argued, "The girls in the battalion have all gone to the basement. I was worried that the military equipment left on the roof would be damaged, so I kept it here." come down."

"Don't worry, Comrade Ulanova, no one will go to the roof to destroy these military equipment, you should follow me to the basement." Sokov worried that the German shelling would start at any time, so he urged: "Don't leave , it will be too late."

"According to the regulations, we can't just throw away military equipment." But Ulanova didn't seem to have any plans to follow Sokov downstairs. She plausibly said: "As the supreme commander of the antiaircraft artillery battalion, if I leave, even violated the rules."

"That's enough, Lieutenant Ulanova." Seeing Ulanova's stubbornness, Sokov couldn't help but get angry: "The Germans will bombard here soon, and if the shells cause the roof to collapse, the people left on the roof No one can live. I don't want to see you die inexplicably, so you have to leave with me."

After saying these words, seeing Ulanova still standing there motionless, Sokov walked to her side and said in a slow tone: "Lieutenant Ulanova, the anti-aircraft guns are lost, we can ask the superiors to come back again." Add to us; but if you or any soldier in the Women's Flak Battalion dies, there will be no more life."

Hearing that Sokov was thinking of herself both inside and out, Ulanova was quite moved, so she no longer insisted on her own opinion, but nodded vigorously, obediently carried the gun, and followed Soko The husband's back left the roof.

The basement of the workshop is very spacious. The rooms on both sides of the corridor are next to each other. Looking in from the open door, some rooms are where a group of soldiers sit smoking and chatting, and some rooms are piled up with various supplies. Standing at the door of a room, Cousteau saw Sokov and Ulanova approaching, and hurriedly greeted Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you are here."

"Comrade workshop director, you are waiting for us here." Seeing Cousteau's anxious look, Sukov asked quickly, "Did something happen?"

"No, nothing." Cousteau shook his head like a rattle and said, "Major Balshak is in the room. He wants to talk to you about the next battle plan."

"Oh, Major Bolshak is here." Sokov pointed to the room and said to Cousteau, "Let's go, Comrade Workshop Director, I happen to have something to look for him."

Walking into the room, Sokov saw that there was actually a rectangular table in this room, with several long benches placed around the table. Balshak was originally sitting at the table in a daze, but when he saw Sokov and the others walk in, he hurriedly got up to greet him, and said flatteringly, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you are here!"

"I'm here, Major Balshak." Sokov politely responded to the other party, and made a gesture of invitation with his hands: "I heard that you have something to ask me, please sit down and talk slowly."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I want to re-organize the destroyer battalion." As soon as Balshak sat down, he said straight to the point: "I hope to get your support!"

"With my support?" Sokov replied with some surprise when he heard Balshak say this: "To rebuild the destroyer battalion, you should not turn to me, but to your factory director, Comrade Peter, who will give You replenish enough troops."

"The matter of soldiers is easy to handle. I can incorporate all the militiamen under Comrade Cousteau into the team." Balshak said with some embarrassment: "With soldiers, we can't do without a commander. Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you should know , My first company commander and second company commander were killed in the battle, and the third company commander was unfortunately injured during the retreat and was unable to continue to command the battle."

Even though Balshak didn't explain what he said, Sokov already understood what he meant, so he asked first: "Comrade Major, do you want me to draw officers and combat backbones from the army to enrich your army?" In the rebuilt destroyer battalion?"

Seeing that Sokov had guessed his true thoughts, Balshak nodded vigorously, and said affirmatively, "That's right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, that's how I think about it. I wonder if you can promise me?"

According to Balshak's thinking, as long as he made such a request, Sokov would agree in all likelihood out of face. Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head after he finished speaking, and refused without hesitation: "I'm sorry, Major Balshak, I cannot agree to your request."

"Why?" Hearing Sokov's reply, Balshak's face suddenly turned livid: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we are friendly troops, why can't you agree to such a small request."

"Major Bolshak, I want to remind you that we are only here temporarily to help defend. Once the reinforcements from the other side of the Volga River arrive, we will retreat to Mamayev Post." Sokov tactfully He said: "After more than two months of fighting in our brigade, the cadres and soldiers suffered heavy casualties, so we cannot provide you with officers and combat backbones. Please forgive me for that."

After Sokov finished speaking, seeing Balshak's disappointed expression, he felt somewhat unbearable, and quickly comforted them and said, "Major, don't worry, the reinforcements will arrive within two or three days at most." , when you ask the commander of that unit to send officers and combat backbones to enrich the newly formed destroyer battalion, I think they will definitely not refuse your request."

Balshak never dreamed that Sokov would refuse his request so simply. Fortunately, what Sokov said next made him feel a little better. He smiled bitterly and said, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, it seems that I really have to wait for the reinforcements to arrive before I tell the new commander Make your own request and hope it doesn't hit a wall when the time comes."

"Comrade Major," Sokov didn't want to get entangled in this matter any longer, so he said to Balshak, "I suggest you call the director of the factory Peter immediately and report the situation here to him, so that he can understand the situation here. situation can be understood.”

"You are right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Cousteau, who had been silent after entering the door, finally found a chance to speak, and he quickly said to Balshak: "Comrade Balshak, I think you will follow the instructions According to Lieutenant Colonel Koff's proposal, first ventilate the factory."

"Wait a little longer," Balshak felt a headache at the thought of reporting the situation to the factory director Peter, so he could only perfunctorily say to Cousteau's suggestion, "Wait until I reorganize the destroyer battalion." Get up, and it’s not too late to report this to the factory manager.”

"Major Balshak, I don't recommend you to do this." Seeing that Balshak tried to deceive others, Sokov said bluntly: "If you don't report to Director Peter in time The actual situation, then he cannot designate a defense plan based on the real situation on the battlefield. Do you understand?"

After hearing this, Balshak was silent for a long time, then nodded, and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you are right, I will call Factory Manager Peter and report everything that happened here to him in detail. "