Red Moscow

"Understood." Knowing that Starcha had wiped out the enemy, Sokov said with a normal expression: "In the future, there will be a small group of enemies appearing, there is no need to ask for instructions, just kill them directly, and then report to the division headquarters. Understand?"

From Sokov's tone of voice, Starcha heard the other party's dissatisfaction, and seemed to have doubts about his own ability, and quickly replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander. In the future, there will be enemies in our rear , I will immediately organize troops to destroy them."

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Sokov put down the phone, looked at Ivanov and said helplessly, "Your old subordinates are brave in battle and have rich command experience, but unfortunately they lack subjective initiative and have not received orders from their superiors. At present, I don’t know how to adjust the deployment in time according to the situation on the battlefield. Fortunately, the enemy has nothing to do with our defense at Mamayev Post. If we change to other locations, the commander lacks the ability to make a decisive decision, and it is easy to suffer a big loss of."

If Sokov had said this when the Guards Division and the Infantry Brigade had just merged, Ivanov would have argued with him. But at this moment, hearing what Sokov said, he blushed and replied: "Comrade commander, you are right. All my former subordinates have such problems. However, they have been in the army for more than ten or twenty years. , what they received was the education that they must obey their superiors unconditionally, and suddenly changed to a superior commander with a completely different style, they still need a process of adaptation.”

"I understand, Comrade Deputy Division Commander." Sokov knew that what Ivanov said was true, and it was a taboo in the military to take action without an order from his superiors. The bad result of this phenomenon is that in the early days of the Great Patriotic War, the enemy was almost rushing to the front, but some troops did not take any measures, but just stayed where they were and waited for the order from their superiors. The enemy is wiped out. So Sokov said reasonably: "The war will last for a long time, and I can give them time to adapt slowly."

After chatting a few more words, Ivanov suddenly remembered the detachment operating behind the enemy, and hurriedly asked Sidolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Guchakov operating behind the enemy, do you have any latest news?"

"No." Sidolin shook his head and replied, "I haven't gotten any news about them since yesterday and daytime." He paused for a moment when he said this, and glanced at Sokov secretly. The reporter was staring at the map on the table, and went on to say, "Since they attacked the Gumrak station, it seems that there have been no major results. I guess that Lieutenant Guchakov may be looking for valuable The goal."

"Comrade commander, I want to ask." Ivanov waited for Sidolin to finish speaking, looked at Sokov and asked tentatively: "Do you need to send a telegram to Lieutenant Guchakov to urge them to take action as soon as possible?" ?”

Regarding Ivanov's proposal, Sokov pondered for a long time after listening to it, and finally shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Deputy Commander, we don't know what the situation behind the enemy is at all. Tsarkov's command may not be good for their next battle."

…………

Guchakov, who was missed by Sokov and the others, led his team around the enemy's rear for two days before entering a small village. It is about 20 kilometers away from the mobile supply point of the German army. In addition to more than forty households in the village, there is also a German corporal and 20 soldiers under his command.

The German corporal learned that three armored vehicles were driving into the village, so he came to inquire in person. After saluting Taflin who had just got off the car, he asked politely, "Mr. Second Lieutenant, may I ask which department you belong to? Is there anything you need to do here?"

"We are from the search team of the 100th Jaeger Division. We were ordered to come here to search for guerrillas operating nearby." After Tavlin replied carelessly, he raised his chin at the soldiers standing not far away and asked: "Corporal , why do your subordinates look so lazy? Like them, how to deal with the guerrillas."

"Mr. Second Lieutenant, please forgive me." Hearing Tavlin's question, the corporal blushed quickly and explained: "Don't look at them wearing our uniforms, they are actually Ukrainians from the Eastern Battalion."

"What, a Ukrainian?" Tavlin was startled into a cold sweat. He never dreamed that he would meet a Ukrainian scum who was serving as a lackey for the Germans here. He thought to himself, he will secretly remind everyone later, don't show any flaws. He pretended to be calm and asked: "Corporal, are you not afraid of danger when you stay with a group of Ukrainians? What if the guerrillas approach you and shoot your black gun in the back?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Second Lieutenant." The German corporal thought that Tavlin was really concerned about his own safety, so he said carelessly: "These Ukrainians have been strictly screened by the Gestapo and are completely reliable people. What are you worried about? , will definitely not happen.”

"Corporal, we are going to stay in the village for two days." Guchakov felt that in such cold weather, letting the squad spend the night in the forest would easily cause frostbite to the soldiers, so before entering the village, he and Taf Lin agreed that everyone should be settled in the village without revealing their identities. Tavlin asked the corporal, "Can you find us a suitable place?"

"Mr. Second Lieutenant," the corporal replied respectfully, "you are so many that you can live in the barn. As for you, there is a log cabin next to it, which can be used as a place for you to rest."

Seeing that all the commanders and fighters got out of the vehicle except the driver of the armored vehicle, Tavlin winked at Guchakov and Samoilov, and said to the German corporal: "Okay, corporal, quickly take us Let's go."

The corporal didn't dare to neglect, and personally guided Taflin and the others to the barn.

Tavlin went into the barn and looked at it. It was quite spacious inside, with hay on the floor, and it would be no problem to accommodate forty or fifty people. He came out and said to the corporal, "Okay, corporal, we will live here. It's nothing to you, you can leave. If we need anything, I will send someone to find you."

Although Tavlin's move was a bit like crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, the German corporal dared not speak out, and he said to Taflin with a smile on his face: "Mr. Second Lieutenant, I am willing to help you at any time. Just send someone to call me."

After the German corporal left, Tavlin hurriedly called Guchakov and Samoilov to him, and said to them with a serious expression: "Comrades, two commanders, things are a bit troublesome. The troops stationed in the village, except for the Except for the German corporal, the rest are Ukrainians."

Neither Guchakov nor Samoilov understand German. Just now when they saw Tavlin and the German corporal having a lively chat, they were anxious like ants on a hot pot, because they couldn't understand these two people at all. What is said.

"What, those enemies at the entrance of the village just now are all Ukrainians?" Guchakov and Samoilov both cast a shadow on their faces after listening to Tavlin's narration.

After a long time, Samoilov asked Guchakov: "Comrade Lieutenant, in order to prevent exposure, shall we kill all the enemies in the village?"

"No." Regarding Samoilov's proposal, Guchakov immediately vetoed it: "The number of enemies is about the same as ours. If we do something, not only will the squad suffer casualties, but our identities will also be exposed. .”

"Then what to do?"

"Let's stay here for the time being, and let the soldiers pay attention when they speak, and don't let those Ukrainians find their flaws." After thinking about it, Guchakov replied: "If there is anything that needs to be dealt with, let the tower Sergeant Flynn came forward. Remember, unless we have to, we must not reveal our identities, understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Lieutenant." Samoilov nodded and replied, "I will remind the soldiers to pay attention."