Red Moscow

"This is a remarkable victory." After Krylov finished speaking, Yeremenko said vigorously: "We dispatched planes to bomb the German airport at any time, but the effect was very limited. I really didn't expect it. A small detachment sent by Colonel Cove can achieve such a huge result."

After a short pause, he then asked: "How do you plan to reward the commanders and fighters who have made meritorious deeds?"

Krylov did not immediately answer Yeremenko's question, but cast a questioning look at Chuikov who was standing aside. When he saw that the other party nodded slightly, indicating that he could talk about the reward plan, he replied loudly: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, Commander Cuikov and I both think that the commanders and fighters who participated in this operation should be awarded a Red Banner Medal. .”

Compared with the early days of the war, the award standard of the Red Banner Medal at this moment has been greatly reduced. But for ordinary soldiers, it is still a matter of pride to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner. But Yelymenko was obviously dissatisfied with such rewards. He shook his head and said into the microphone: "General Krylov, I think your rewards for these soldiers are far from being directly proportional to their achievements. .And think again, what kind of rewards can you offer them?"

"We consider that Lieutenant Guchakov and Second Lieutenant Samoilov, who are commanding the squad, can be promoted to military ranks."

"General Krylov, have you considered, besides awarding honors and promoting military ranks to the commanders and fighters who performed the mission, what about the person who made the plan?" Yeremenko didn't want the other party to guess the riddle, so he took the initiative to say the answer: " The squad was sent by Colonel Sokov, so what kind of reward should he get?"

When Chuikov heard what Yeremenko said, he quickly took the microphone from Krylov and said respectfully: "Comrade Commander, I am Chuikov. If you think Colonel Sokov should also get As for the award, I suggest that he also be awarded the Order of the Red Banner. As for the promotion to the military rank, I will wait until later, after all, he has just obtained the rank of colonel not long ago."

In Yeremenko's heart, he really had the idea of ​​being promoted to the rank of Sokov. But after listening to Cuikov's words, he felt that he hadn't thought carefully enough. The other party had been promoted to the rank of general less than a month after he obtained the rank of colonel. I'm afraid many people would have objections. After all, in the army, there is still no general under the age of thirty.

"Okay." After careful consideration, Yelymenko made the final decision: "According to your plan, award Sokov and all the commanders and fighters of the squad with the Order of the Red Banner. Two commanders, Tsarkov and Samoilov, were each promoted to one rank."

Yeremenko finished talking with Krylov, put down the microphone and said to Khrushchev who was sitting opposite him: "Comrade Military Commissar, Misha has made great contributions again."

When Yeremenko was on the phone with Krylov, Khrushchev was writing materials at his desk, and only listened to some clips intermittently. He really didn't know what happened. Hearing what Yelymenko said at this moment, he quickly raised his head and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, where did Misha's troops win again?"

"He sent a small detachment to the enemy's rear some time ago." Yeremenko said to Khrushchev with great interest: "You know this, right?"

"Yes, I know." Khrushchev nodded, and said with affirmative tone: "A few days ago, this squad attacked the Gumrak station with rockets and destroyed the supplies the enemy had hoarded there. Why, they What important target of the German army was attacked again?"

"In the early hours of this morning, the squad attacked a German field airport more than 100 kilometers away, destroyed 40 bombers parked on the airport, and killed 93 pilots." Yelymenko said excitedly: "Greatly weakened the German air force, so that their bombing of the city will be weakened."

Khrushchev agreed with Yeremenko's statement. If dozens of planes were killed, the Germans might be able to replenish them soon, but they lost ninety-three pilots. If they wanted to replenish them, it would take two or three years. In other words, the elimination of German pilots is more significant than the elimination of enemy aircraft.

Khrushchev said with a smile: "Misha has a lot of tricks for fighting. Although the current situation in the city is very unfavorable to our army, he can always give us some unexpected surprises when people don't expect it. If With a few more commanders like him in the city, I am afraid that the enemies who attacked the city would have been repulsed long ago."

"Comrade Military Commissar," Yeremenko waited for Khrushchev to finish speaking, then suppressed the smile on his face, and said solemnly: "Judging from the current situation of the enemy and ourselves in the city, the Dzerzhinsky factory cannot be defended." Live. Do you think we need to send new troops into the city to strengthen the defense of this area?"

Hearing Yeremenko's words, Khrushchev stood up and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. After walking back and forth for an unknown number of times, he stopped, shook his head and said, "No, Comrade Commander, we cannot send new troops to the city at the moment. You must know that these troops are prepared to participate in a major counter-offensive. If If they enter the city too early, they will be lost in vain in the German attack. At that time, in order to replenish the troops participating in the counter-offensive, the headquarters will have to transfer new troops from other places, which may lead to The time for our big counterattack is postponed."

"We sent the 45th Infantry Division to the city without asking for instructions." Khrushchev frowned and said, "If the superiors pursue this matter, we can use the critical situation in the city and have to Let the troops on standby enter the city ahead of time. But if new troops are dispatched, there is really no way to explain to the base camp."

Yeremenko did not understand what Khrushchev said. He just saw the critical situation in the city and wanted to send new troops into the city to reverse the situation. But listening to what Khrushchev said, he found that sending too many troops to the city without enhancing technical equipment and gaining air supremacy would not only fail to reverse the unfavorable situation in the city, but would cause unnecessary trouble. casualties.

Thinking of this, he nodded thoughtfully, and said, "Comrade Military Commissioner, you are right. Under the current circumstances, no matter how difficult the situation in the city is, we cannot easily send troops into the city. There is no right to control the air." And sufficient technical equipment, it is very difficult to reverse the current situation, and placing too many troops in the city will also increase the supply pressure on the logistics department.”

…………

Sokov on Mamayev Konk did not know what was happening at the front headquarters across the Volga. He had just finished talking with Krylov, and he was happily saying to Sidolin and Ivanov: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, I just received a call from General Krylov, and the Army Group Command is in charge of Gucha. Cove's rewards have come down."

"Oh, so fast?" Ivanov asked in surprise, "I don't know how the superiors plan to reward them?"

"All members of the squad were awarded a Red Banner Medal. Guchakov and Samoilov, who served as commanders, were promoted to a higher rank while receiving the medal." Although Sokov himself also received A Red Banner Medal, but he was worried that the news would cause the two of them to be disappointed, so he deliberately avoided this topic.

"It's really great. I won the Order of the Red Banner and was promoted to a first-class rank after I went out." Ivanov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and said jokingly: "I heard the commendation from the superior for the squad , I want to lead an army deep into the enemy’s rear.”

"Chief of Staff." Sokov told Sidolin: "Immediately send a telegram to Guchakov and the others, tell them the good news, and pass it on to them, hoping that they will guard against arrogance and impetuosity in the next battle and achieve better results." Great results."

"Okay, Comrade Commander." Sidolin said with a smile: "I immediately asked the operator to pass the good news to Lieutenant Guchakov... No, he is now a captain."

…………

Guchakov and others returned to the village and saw several strange faces in the barn.

Seeing Guchakov and the others return, Samoilov hurriedly greeted him, introduced him with a smile: "Comrade lieutenant, let me introduce you, this is Comrade Platonov, the captain of the guerrilla team. Not long after you left, Rudzky himself returned to the partisans and invited him over."

"Hello, Comrade Platonov." When Guchakov reached out to shake the other party's hand, he couldn't help but thumped in his heart, thinking that the guerrillas knew that the people living in the barn were their own people disguised as enemies, so would it be wrong? Will it leak? Although he was preoccupied, he pretended to be nonchalant, held the opponent's hand, and said with a smile: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the squad, I welcome you and your subordinates!"

Platonov saw that Guchakov was insincere, but he did not expose the other party, but also said with a smile: "Comrade commander, please forgive me for sending someone to attack you before I figured out the situation." .Fortunately, you discovered it in time and did not lead to bad results, otherwise I will feel guilty for the rest of my life.”

"Comrade Captain," Guchakov told the other party solemnly when he saw that the other party brought up the matter, "We may have to stay here for a while. In order to avoid revealing our identities, please keep it secret for us. .”

"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant." As soon as Guchakov finished speaking, Ruzsky said first: "I have already told the captain about this matter. So far, no one knows the news about you here. More than seven people. And all of them are comrades who can be completely trusted, and you will never leak the slightest word before you leave here."

Ruzsky's words gave Guchakov a reassurance. If the other party can really keep it secret, he doesn't have to think about changing the hiding place. Even though my group of people are all wearing German uniforms, it is still unrealistic to move freely in the enemy's area.

"Comrade Lieutenant." Samoilov waited for Guchakov to finish his greetings with the comrades of the guerrillas, and then asked curiously, "What is the result of your attack this time?"

"Comrade Second Lieutenant, fortunately you did not disgrace your life." Guchakov replied with a smile: "This time we successfully attacked the German army's field airport and destroyed all the planes parked on the airport. I believe that in the next few months , the Germans can no longer use that airport?"

Samoilov thought that the only radio station was taken away by Guchakov during his mission, so after he finished speaking, he hurriedly asked: "Then did you report the results to the division headquarters?"

"Needless to say, Comrade Second Lieutenant." Guchakov said with some pride: "Even if we don't report such a big event, the superiors can learn from the intercepted enemy's telegram. So on the way back here , I asked the radio operator to report the results to the division headquarters."

Having said that, Guchakov looked around quickly, looking for the voice of the operator. Seeing the other party sitting in a corner of the barn and setting up the radio station, he hurriedly walked over and told the other party: "The division headquarters may be sending a telegram, pay attention to receiving the telegram."

"clear!"

Samoilov walked up to Guchakov's side, touched Guchakov's arm with his shoulder, and asked in a low voice: "Comrade lieutenant, tell me, what will the superior give us after learning about the results we have achieved?" What kind of reward?"

"I think the superior will award honors to every soldier after verifying the results of the battle." Guchakov said in an uncertain tone: "If the teacher goes to argue for reason, even if you and I get the Red Banner Medal, it is completely worthless." possible."

"Comrade lieutenant, you are too conservative." Samoilov shook his head immediately after Guchakov finished speaking, and said, "With such great achievements, how could the rewards from the superiors be just medals. According to my experience, maybe you and I will be promoted to the military rank."

"No way?!" Guchakov was taken aback by Samoilov's guess. He felt that it would be good to get a medal, and he couldn't even imagine such a good thing as being promoted to the military rank: "The superior is willing to Give us such a reward?"

"I don't dare to say anything about other troops," Samoilov said convincingly about Guchakov's doubts, "but based on my understanding of the division commander, he will definitely strive for the greatest reward for us. As for I'm guessing right, you'll know when the reply from the division headquarters arrives."

However, after waiting for almost two hours, there must have been no movement on the radio station. Guchakov said mockingly: "Well, it seems that the superiors are still verifying our results. When the results come out, they will call us back."

As soon as he finished speaking, the lights of the radio station flickered suddenly. Guchakov's eyes lit up immediately, and he told the operator: "Hurry up, it's the division headquarters calling back, hurry up and get ready to receive the message."