Red Moscow

Regarding Bely's concerns, Sokov said confidently: "Colonel Bely, don't worry. We can open up a row of platforms on the north slope where tanks can be parked, and then build two platforms for tanks to attack." Passage. What do you think?"

Unexpectedly, Bieley shook his head after hearing this, frowned and said, "Comrade Brigadier, without large-scale construction machinery, it will take at least three to five days to complete the platform you mentioned with only a thousand of us."

"What, it will take three to five days?" Sukov really didn't expect that it would take three to five days to build a platform on the north slope where tanks can be parked. If it really took such a long time to fix it, the daylilies were cold, and the Germans would not have given themselves such a long time to strengthen the fortifications. He asked anxiously: "Colonel Bely, if we go all out, how long will it take to complete the construction of the platform?"

"Comrade Brigadier, I'm not pouring cold water on you. To complete such a project, large-scale machinery such as excavators and bulldozers must be indispensable." Bely still insisted on his point of view: "Even without these construction machinery, there can be a batch of explosives It’s okay, we can try blasting first, and then clean up the accumulated soil at the blast point, which can also speed up the construction.”

Sokov's troops just broke through here, not to mention the large construction machinery, even the explosives were used up, neither of the two plans mentioned by Bely could be adopted, and Sokov suddenly turned like a deflated ball. Get listless. He looked at Bely and asked, "Colonel Bely, what good way do you have to reduce the loss of our tanks during enemy shelling?"

"There is a way." Bieley said thoughtfully: "Anyway, we only have a dozen tanks. If we put them scattered, even if the Germans bombard our positions, we won't lose all of them."

"It seems like this is the only way to go." Sokov said a little dejectedly: "Since it is impossible to build a platform for tanks to hide on the north slope, let's build more anti-gun holes. When the enemy's shelling starts, soldiers can Go inside the cave to escape the shelling."

Regarding Sokov's arrangement, Gurdiyev was quite happy to complete it. In any case, it would be beneficial for his troops to suffer fewer casualties under the enemy's artillery fire. He immediately called Swerin and said to him: "Comrade Commissar, I am in charge of the construction of the frontal fortifications. You take a regiment and follow Lieutenant Colonel Sokov to the north slope to dig the anti-gun holes."

When Swerin led the soldiers to dig the artillery holes on the north slope, Sokov stood in the trench, raised his binoculars, and silently looked at the First Battalion and the Guard Battalion who had successfully crossed the river and were moving north with the wounded. . Belei walked to his side and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Brigadier, our strength is limited, do you think we should let the first battalion or the guard battalion come back to help defend?"

Sokov asked Yakov to lead two battalions to escort the wounded to transfer, but it was actually selfish. In any case, Vanya's 1st Battalion was his team, and in this battle, he lost four-fifths of his troops, which made his heart bleed. That's why he asked Vanya to leave with the troops in the name of assisting the transfer of the wounded, so that he could keep more seeds for himself. Hearing Bely's suggestion at this moment, he quickly waved his hands and said, "No need, Colonel Bely, there are not many remaining troops in these two battalions. If one of the battalions is sent back to help defend, who will escort them?" wounded?"

For Sokov's high-sounding reason, Bely really couldn't refute it. He glanced at the soldiers busy on the north and south sides of the hill, sighed softly, and said, "Comrade Brigadier, I am worried that if this battle continues, there will not be many people left in the 308th Infantry Division."

Sokov looked around, and saw that besides himself and Bely, Guchakov and his trusted radio operator were standing not far away, and the rest of the soldiers were standing far away, unable to hear him at all. say. Seeing this situation, he boldly said to Bely: "Colonel Bely, whether we stay here to fight the Germans or not, Colonel Gurdiyev's troops will also be withdrawn to the rear for replenishment. If the first battalion in Niah stays to help defend, once the troops are exhausted, the battalion will be revoked by the superiors."

After listening to Sokov's explanation, Bely finally understood why the other party asked Yakov to bring two battalions to transfer the wounded. It turned out that it was to preserve the seeds of his troops. But this approach is understandable. Given the situation in Stalingrad, even if the superior sends new troops into the city, Sokov's infantry brigade will not get priority supplies. adopted the default attitude.

After Sokov explained the truth to Biely, he couldn't help but sweat in his hands. He was deeply afraid that Bieley would argue with him for this matter, and it might be difficult to step down by then. Fortunately, his luck was not bad, the situation that he was most worried about did not happen, Biely just nodded and said: "During the two days of fighting, the first battalion did suffer a lot of losses, let them retain more troops and join forces. The battle that came down is still very helpful.”

"Comrade Brigadier," Guchakov, who was standing beside him silently, suddenly called out to Sokov, "Look, there seems to be someone coming from the other side of the river."

After Sukov stopped talking with Bely, he raised his binoculars and looked across the river. He saw a jeep driving in the distance, passed by the transferred troops, and stopped by the river. After the car stopped, an officer and two soldiers with submachine guns got out of the car. They boarded a wooden boat parked on the bank and headed towards the south bank of the river.

"It's a captain." Guchakov has good eyesight. Even without a telescope, he can clearly see the military rank mark on the opponent's collar badge. He leaned close to Sokov's ear and said, "Comrade Brigadier, will you Is it the liaison officer sent by the friendly army?"

"It's possible." Sokov nodded, suddenly thinking of the guard platoon leader Samoilov who never looked back, he couldn't help saying to himself: "Damn, Samoilov has been gone for a long time." Why don't you come back?"

After the three commanders landed, they walked up the hillside. But after walking not far, he was stopped by soldiers from the 308th Division for questioning. I don't know what he said. The soldiers blocking the way immediately gave way to him and pointed to the hillside, as if they were showing him the way.

Not long after, the three commanders climbed up the hillside, jumped into the trench, and walked towards Sokov's position. Guchakov hurriedly stood in front of Sokov, and asked vigilantly, "Stop, what part do you belong to?"

The leading officer hastily raised his right hand, signaled the two soldiers behind him to stop, and then said to Guchakov: "Comrade Lieutenant, I am Captain Asker, Deputy Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 995th Regiment, 292nd Infantry Division. , was ordered to come to see Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."

Guchakov did not relax his vigilance because of the other party's few words, but stretched out his hand to the other party and asked, "Comrade Captain, where is your military ID?"

Asker did not get angry because of Guchakov's aggressiveness, but quite cooperatively took out his military ID card from his pocket, handed it to Guchakov, and said politely: "Comrade Lieutenant, this is my military ID."

When Guchakov was interrogating Asker, Sokov thought to himself: Although he had demoted Guchakov to a corporal, he still wore the rank of lieutenant, so that people who did not know thought he was Or lieutenant. It seems that after returning to Mamayev Post, he should be changed to the rank of corporal, so as not to make mistakes again.

After checking the documents, Guchakov turned his head and said to Sokov behind him: "Comrade Brigadier, there is no problem, it is one of our own."

Sokov stepped forward, took the military ID card from Guchakov, flipped through it, handed it back to Asker, and said in a friendly tone: "Hello, Captain Asker. I don't know if you came to my position, what's the matter?"

"That's right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Since he was on the battlefield, in order to prevent the target from being exposed, Asker did not salute Sokov, but straightened his body and replied: "I am the commander of the division, Korogotsky. Colonel's order, I came to contact you. The teacher asked me to tell you that our division is moving here, and we will reach the river in about three hours. He wants you not to give up this position until we arrive. .”

"Captain Askel," Sokov said in a joking tone to the commanders and fighters who were busy on the north and south sides of the hillside with his hands, "Don't you see that our commanders and fighters are building fortifications?"

"I see." Asker came up from the north side of the hillside. If it wasn't for Sokov's guidance, he hadn't paid attention to the south side of the hillside. There are also a large number of commanders and fighters digging fortifications. He couldn't help asking curiously: "China Comrade school, are you planning to build defenses here?"

"That's right, Comrade Captain, as you can see, we are building fortifications here." Sokov replied: "Although we have occupied this enemy position, I don't know where the troops should go next." Therefore, they stopped here, while sending people to find friendly forces, while improving and consolidating the fortifications here, in preparation for resisting the enemy's attack."

Askel waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and suddenly said unexpectedly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, thank you! On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 292nd Infantry Division, thank you and your subordinates!"

"Why should you thank us?" Askel's words confused Sokov, he thought to himself, I don't seem to have dealt with the 292nd Division, why should they thank me? With this question in mind, he asked curiously: "Captain Askel, we don't seem to have any intersection before. Is there anything worthy of your gratitude?"

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Asker saw Sokov's blank expression, guessing that he must not understand the battles that took place here before, so he said truthfully: "To tell you the truth, a division of our army group , I launched an attack on this highland a few days ago, but after a fierce battle, the infantry division in charge of the attack did not achieve any results, and only a dozen soldiers survived."

Askel's words surprised Sokov. He didn't expect that his analysis was not far from the real situation. Before he could speak, Askair continued: "According to the order of the superior, if we continue to clear the garrison in the city, then tomorrow, our division will launch an attack on this high ground. And you successfully Seizing this high ground has saved most of our division's commanders and fighters from the fate of sacrifice. Shouldn't we thank you?"

Sokov laughed dryly twice, and asked, "Comrade Captain, I would like to ask, how many people are there in your division?" His purpose of asking this sentence was very simple. limited, then it is entirely possible for the superior to let his troops stay for defense.

Fortunately, Askel's words put Sokov's heart back into his stomach: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, our division has more than 8,000 people, and we are also equipped with anti-tank gun batteries and mortar batteries, which are enough to block the attack." German offensive of any size."

Sokov knew in his heart that although the offensive level of the Soviet army was worrying, when it came to defensive warfare, they usually performed well. If this position is handed over to the 292nd Division, maybe they can really stop the German attack. Thinking that it would take three hours for the friendly troops to arrive here, Sokov couldn't help feeling extremely anxious. He was worried that if the German army launched an attack before the friendly troops came to take over the defense, the troops on the position would be unable to withdraw if they wanted to.

However, he did not show this anxiety on his face, but pretended to be nonchalant and asked: "Captain, did the superior only send one of your divisions to defend here?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Asker replied politely to the question raised by Sokov: "At my level, I can't know more about the situation. As for whether there are other troops to assist in the defense , you can confirm it to him personally after you see our teacher.”

"One more question," Sokov couldn't help asking, thinking of Samoilov who hadn't returned for a long time, "I sent a second lieutenant and a few soldiers to look for your troops north. So far, they have not come back, I wonder if you have seen them?"

"No." Askel replied simply: "I brought people here to contact you after receiving a call from the head of the regiment. As for the people you mentioned, I don't know them. where."

"Comrade Brigadier," Bely, who was standing aside, was worried that Sokov would not stop asking, so he quickly interrupted him, and said, "It seems that Captain Askell doesn't know much, so don't make things difficult for him. " As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed at the busy commanders and fighters on both sides of the hillside, and asked, "Since we will soon hand over our defense to friendly forces, do we still need to continue building fortifications?"

"That's for sure, Colonel Bely." Sokov said hastily: "The terrain in the south is not conducive to defense. If we don't build up the fortifications before the enemy appears, once the enemy launches an attack, we won't be able to wait." When we recovered, their tanks would rush in front of us, drive us down the hillside, and drive us to the river to kill us."