Red Moscow

Sokov followed Vasily into the basement. With the help of the gas lamps on the roof, he saw a middle-aged man in casual clothes half lying on a bench against the wall. Seeing everyone coming in, the other party just stood up slightly, and said weakly: "Hello, comrades, welcome to the Vasily Building."

Sokov glanced at other locations in the basement, and saw that most of the soldiers and residents were sitting on the ground with their backs against the wall to rest, or sleeping on a mattress on the ground, so he was very concerned about this person sleeping on the bench. The middle-aged man felt a trace of dissatisfaction in his heart.

Vasily found that Sokov looked unhappy, and quickly explained to him: "Comrade commander, let me introduce you. This is Comrade Shulka. He used to be a worker in a flour mill. Since we entered this building Every day, he took more than 20 residents to a nearby flour mill to help us get flour and drinking water."

Knowing that the middle-aged man he looked down on had done so many things for the Vasily Building, Sokov felt that he had wrongly blamed the other party. Since he had made such a great contribution, he rested on such a bench. It is also understandable. But before he could speak, Vasily on the side added: "Comrade commander, when Shulka led people into the flour mill the day before yesterday, he was discovered by the Germans passing by accidentally. In order to cover the safe retreat of the residents, he stayed alone to block Enemy, unfortunately wounded in battle."

"Comrade Shulka," Sokov realized only now that Shulka was lying on the bench not to enjoy any privileges, but because he was injured while covering the retreat of the residents. The bench is not as wet as the ground, and lying on it is also good for his recovery from the injury. Sokov bent down and held Shulka's hand, and said with a smile: "You are doing well. When I return to Mamayev Post later, someone will take you back for treatment. You Just rest assured."

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Shulka shook his head like a rattle: "No, Comrade Colonel, don't take me to Mamayev Post. I want to stay here and see with my own eyes that our soldiers defeated German."

"Sergeant Vasily," Sokov straightened up, turned his head and asked Vasily, "How is his injury?"

"Twice bullets in his leg," Vasily replied, "the health worker has bandaged his wound, but the bullets haven't been taken out yet. There is no problem for a short time. If it takes a long time..."

"Sergeant Vasily, you don't have to say anything, I know how to do it." Sokov interrupted Vasily's words, bent down and continued to Shulka: "Comrade Shulka, you should know that if you don't Take out the bullet, and the wound will fester over time. When gangrene appears, the only choice is amputation. I think you don't want to see the worst situation like this happen."

Shulka originally wanted to stay in the Vasily Building, but after hearing what Sokov said, he couldn't help but become hesitant. Seeing that Shulka's attitude was no longer so resolute, Vasili quickly said while the iron was hot: "Comrade Shulka, the teacher is right. If you don't perform the operation as soon as possible, this leg may be amputated."

"Okay," Shulka nodded and agreed to Sokov's proposal after thinking about it: "Comrade Colonel, when you return to Mamayev Post, you must take me with you. I don't want to be disabled. Not avenging my family."

"Revenge for your family?" Shulka's words made Sokov feel a little confused. He asked inexplicably, "Your family members died in Stalingrad?" According to his thinking, maybe Shulka's family members , was killed in several major bombings by the German army, that's why Shulka said such things.

"No, Comrade Colonel." Shulka said without waiting for Vasily to speak: "My wife and daughter were evacuated to the rear in August, and my son is from the Southwest Front. Killed near the river."

"Oh, I understand." Sokov nodded after figuring out the other party's family affairs, "Comrade Shulka, after your injury is healed, you can come back and continue fighting with Sergeant Vasily. Fight the Germans and avenge your dead son."

"Really, Comrade Colonel, are you telling the truth?" Shulka was a little dubious about Sokov's statement. He waited for the other party to finish speaking, and immediately asked: "You really won't Will someone send me to the east bank of the Volga?"

"No, Comrade Shulka." Sokov said to him with a smile: "As soon as your injury improves, I will let you return here immediately. I promise you on my honor."

After hearing what Sokov said, Shulka stared at him for a long time, finally nodded slightly, and said, "Okay, Comrade Colonel, I believe you."

After chatting with Shulka a few more times, Vasily took Sokov to a single room not far away. Looking at the several phones on the table in the room, Sokov tentatively asked: "Sergeant Vasily, is this your command post?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." After Vasily gave Sokov an affirmative answer, he pointed to several telephones on the table and explained to him: "The telephones are connected to each floor separately. With the help of these telephones, , even if I stay here and don’t go out, I can keep abreast of what’s going on outside.”

"You did the right thing, Comrade Vasily." Sokov said approvingly: "With these phones, your various combat orders can be communicated to every combat soldier in the shortest possible time."

After Sokov, Andrei and the others sat down, they looked at Vasily and asked, "Comrade Sergeant, I heard that every day you leave a few people to stand firm in the building, and the rest go outside to snipe the enemy. Is that the case?"

"That's right, Comrade Commander, there is such a thing." Vasily glanced at the alarm clock on the table from the corner of his eye, and said to Sokov: "Usually the sniper team sets off at 3:30 in the morning to select Take cover in suitable sniper positions. After dark, quietly return to the building."

"Comrade Sergeant, I want to ask you." Seryozha, who was ignored by everyone, suddenly asked: "If the enemy launches an attack on the building when you go out to carry out the sniper mission, what troops do you have left behind?" , Can you block the enemy's attack?"

Hearing Seryozha's question, Vasily did not answer immediately, but turned his questioning gaze to Sokov. Sokov knew that Vasily was asking for his own opinion, so he nodded, indicating that he could answer truthfully.

After obtaining Sokov's permission, Vasily said: "Comrade Lieutenant, the small number of troops I mentioned refers to regular troops, and the residents and militia in the building are not counted. If the enemy really takes advantage of the main force in the building When they go out, they attack the building, and they can use the cover of the minefield and rely on the terrain to resist until we rush back."

"If the building falls before you rush back." Seryozha was dissatisfied with Vasily's answer, and continued to ask: "What will you do then?"

"Comrade Lieutenant, I don't think your assumption is valid." Vasily said confidently: "After the enemy launches an attack, it will take at least two or three hours to clear the mines that we and they have planted outside the building, and it is still a Without any interference. If when they are clearing mines, our snipers hidden in the building will only attack their engineers, do you think their demining work can continue.”

"That's enough, Seryozha, don't talk about it." Sokov worried that Seryozha and Vasily would raise an argument, so he came out in time to stop them: "Even if the worst happens, the building is occupied by the Germans, Do you think Sergeant Vasili has no intention of retaking the building?"

After listening to Sokov's words, Vasily laughed twice, and replied: "Comrade Commander is right, even if the enemy occupies the building, we can re-enter the building through the sewer, compete with them, and save the building." The unsteady enemy drives out of the building."

While several people were chatting, a voice suddenly came from the door: "Sergeant Vasily, can you come in?"

"Come in, Lieutenant Afanasyev." Vasily said hurriedly towards the door.

"Comrade Sergeant, we are ready to go..." A lieutenant walked in outside the door and asked Vasily as he walked. But as soon as he finished speaking, he found that there were quite a few people sitting in the room. He was taken aback for a moment, but soon recognized Sokov and Andrei, raised his hand to salute them, and asked in surprise: "Master, Battalion Commander, why are you here?"

Seeing a lieutenant asking the sergeant for instructions, Sokov felt that the scene was a bit inconsistent. Just as I was about to ask what was going on, I suddenly remembered that in order to guard the Vasily Building, I had issued an order to the troops. As long as you entered the building, no matter what your military rank was, you had to accept Vasily's command. Therefore, there will be a situation where a lieutenant asks the corporal Vasily for instructions.

He looked up and down the lieutenant who was saluting himself, and then recognized him, but just to be on the safe side, he still asked tentatively: "Comrade Lieutenant, if I remember correctly, you are the machine gun platoon leader Afanasiye Lieutenant Husband. Right?"

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov could call out his own name, Afanasyev was very excited: "I am Afanasyev."

Sokov glanced at Vasily who was standing upright beside him, and asked Afanasyev with a smile: "Comrade Lieutenant, what can you do with Sergeant Vasily?"

"It's like this. The sniper team of our platoon is ready," Afanasyev explained to Sokov. "I came here on a special trip to ask the sergeant if the sniper team can go."

Although Sokov can do this kind of ordering, but out of respect for Vasily, he still looked at the other party and said: "Comrade Sergeant, if the time is up, let the sniper team go."

Vasily nodded after hearing this, and said to Afanasyev: "Comrade Lieutenant, since your sniper team is ready, let them go. Remember, the weather has become colder and colder recently, and the soldiers lurking The time is too long, so keep warm to prevent frostbite."

"Understood." Afanasyev agreed, and was about to turn around and leave.

"Wait a minute, Comrade Lieutenant." Sukov suddenly had an idea when he heard Vasily's words, he quickly stopped Afanasyev, and asked, "Did you have any difficulties while lurking?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." In fact, Afanasyev wanted to ask Sokov some difficulties just now, but he never found a chance to speak. Now that Sokov asked at this time, he said smoothly: " It has started to snow these two days, and the clothes worn by our soldiers are very eye-catching in the snow. I wonder if you can provide us with a batch of white camouflage uniforms, so that the snipers can better lurk under the noses of the enemy ?”

"White camouflage suit?" Sokov really didn't have what Afanasyev proposed. He shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Sorry, Comrade Lieutenant, I really can't provide you with white camouflage at the moment." You know, you can’t find one of these things in the whole division.”

Hearing Sokov's answer, Afanasyev couldn't help showing a disappointed expression on his face. He whispered: "I understand." Then he straightened his body and raised his voice and asked, "Comrade commander, allow Shall I leave? I want to go back and inform my subordinates so that they can leave immediately."

"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov walked up to Afanasyev, and said thoughtfully, "Although I don't have a white camouflage suit right now, I will immediately apply to my superiors. You can get it in a maximum of two days." New white camouflage suit." After saying these words, he paused for a moment, and waved his hand at Afanasyev, "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant, it's almost time, go back and let your soldiers go."

After Afanasyev left, Sokov couldn't help asking Vasily curiously: "Comrade Sergeant, isn't Lieutenant Afanasyev the platoon leader of the machine gun platoon? Why can a sniper team be formed in his platoon?"

"Comrade Commander, we stood firm in this building and attracted many stragglers who were scattered. With their participation, the strength of the defenders in the building has been greatly strengthened." Vasily replied: "And Afanasi Lieutenant Yev's machine gun platoon has also grown from seven people with a heavy machine gun at the beginning to the current thirty people with one heavy machine gun and nine MG34 general-purpose machine guns."

Vasily's words made Sokov feel that many things here are not only about himself, but even Sidolin, who often communicates with Vasily, doesn't know much about it, so he hurriedly asked: "Sergeant Vasily, I want to ask you, How many people are there in Vasily's building today?"

"There are one hundred and sixty-seven people, of which the number of residents and militiamen is fifty-three." Vasily reported to Sokov with some pride: "After this period of fighting, our strength has not only not weakened, but It has been greatly strengthened. Not only are there more than a dozen light and heavy machine guns of various types, but the number of mortars in the mortar group has also increased from the initial two to six..."

Hearing the series of data reported by Vasily, Sokov couldn't help being a little dumbfounded. After finally waiting for the other party to come to an end, he couldn't help asking in wonder: "Sergeant Vasily, I want to ask, where did you get so many people and equipment from?"

Vasily grinned and replied: "Comrade commander, we seized all the equipment from the Germans. As for the personnel, they are some friendly soldiers scattered in the city. They heard that the battle is still going on here." , and rushed over to join us.”