Red Moscow

When the guide sent by the division headquarters took Sokov's battalion to the designated location, it was already eleven o'clock in the evening.

It was pitch black everywhere. In order to prevent accidentally breaking into the firepower of the German army, Sokov stopped the troops, followed the guide himself, and carefully advanced to the position of the 972nd regiment with the help of flashlights.

"Are the troops from the city?" The two were walking forward when a deliberately low voice suddenly came out from the darkness.

"Yes, we are from the city!" asked the guide in a low voice. "Where is Colonel Sergeyitch?"

"The colonel sent me here to wait for you," replied the other party: "Come with me!"

"Wait a minute," Sokov said softly, "My troops are still nearby."

"Don't worry, I will send someone to settle them down." After the other party whispered a few words to a person beside him, he said to Sokov and the others: "Everything is arranged, let's go!"

Sokov and the guide followed the man who didn't know whether he was an officer or a soldier, and walked forward along a traffic trench, with one foot deep and one foot shallow. Finally, they came to a relatively hidden semi-underground shelter door not far away. A sentry stood at the door. With the help of the light from the side of the curtain at the door, after seeing the guide clearly, he quickly lifted the curtain and lowered his head. Said loudly: "Go in, the head of the group is waiting anxiously inside."

"Comrade commander, come with me." The man led Sokov into the shelter. After entering the shelter, Sokov finally saw clearly that the lead was a lieutenant, and the colonel he had seen during the day was sitting at a wooden table with two other commanders.

Sokov hurriedly stepped forward and saluted Sergey: "Comrade Colonel, Istria Battalion Commander Captain Sokov reports to you that our battalion has been ordered to support and cooperate with you to seize the enemy's stronghold."

"Cooperate?!" The colonel frowned when he heard the word Sokov used. "So, isn't it under our command?"

"Yes, Comrade Colonel." As the saying goes, enemies are extremely jealous when they meet each other. Seeing the colonel in front of him who has won the honor of the Istria Battalion, Sokov's teeth itch with hatred, and he can't wait to raise his hand to give The opponent slaps twice. But at this moment, he still tried his best to control his emotions and said: "We were ordered to come here, only to cooperate with your regiment's attack, not under your command."

"Comrade Captain," Sergeyitch asked Sokov with narrowed eyes, "it looks a little familiar, have we met somewhere?"

"Yes, Comrade Colonel, we have met." Sokov nodded his head and said affirmatively: "I also talked to you a few words during the day in the central square of Susinich City, next to the statue of Peter the Great. What about words?"

"Oh, so it's you, Comrade Captain." Hearing what Sokov said, the colonel suddenly became enthusiastic: "Stop standing, sit down."

After Sokov sat down, the colonel said to a major sitting across from him: "Commander of the Third Battalion, tell the captain... by the way, what's your name? I didn't catch it clearly just now." Cove.

"Sokov!" Sokov replied hastily.

After hearing Sokov's name clearly, the colonel continued: "Commander of the Third Battalion, please introduce the situation to Captain Sokov so that he can know what's going on."

"Lieutenant Sokov," the battalion commander on the opposite side stood up, pointed out a location on the map with his hand, and said to Sokov: "The target we want to attack is here. The German army is building on the hillside. Although the slope It is flat, but since there are no trees to cover it, the enemy's machine gun fire has blocked the entire hillside, exposing our attacking forces to the lethal range of fire...."

After waiting for the major to finish speaking, Sokov turned his head and asked Sergeyitch: "Comrade Colonel, didn't you use artillery to suppress the firepower of the enemy's position when you attacked?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Sergeich said with a wry smile: "The mortars in our regiment have long since run out of shells. Even guns and ammunition are in short supply. Many soldiers only have a dozen rounds left." Bullet out."

Sergeich's words made Sokov understand that the reason for the failure of the 972nd Infantry Regiment's offensive was not only the favorable terrain occupied by the Germans, but also the lack of ammunition. If they had enough ammunition, they would have taken the German positions long ago. Thinking of this, he asked again: "Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask, when do you plan to attack again tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, our regiment will attack the German army again." Sergeyitch said sullenly: "The division ordered us to take down this German stronghold before noon tomorrow. We must hurry up."

"Comrade Colonel," thinking that the 972nd Regiment was short of ammunition, and if they forced an attack, it would be tantamount to sending the soldiers to their deaths. Considering this, Sokov couldn't help but soften his heart. So, he took the initiative to say to Sergeyitch: "I think tomorrow's attack should be handed over to our battalion."

"How many people are there in your battalion?" Another captain, who had never spoken, asked coldly.

"Our battalion is a reinforced battalion," Sokov said slowly, looking at the other party, "the whole battalion has three infantry companies, one machine gun company, and several directly subordinate troops. The total strength of the whole battalion is 700 people."

Hearing the figures mentioned by Sokov, Sergeyitch couldn't help but said in surprise: "The number of people is really quite a lot. How is your weaponry?"

"Because our battalion seized a lot, the commanders and fighters of the whole battalion are basically equipped with German-made weapons. Half of the soldiers use submachine guns. In addition to the twenty machine guns of the machine gun company, each squad of the infantry company has There is an MG34 general purpose machine gun."

Hearing this, Sergeyitch showed an envious expression on his face: "The number of remaining commanders and fighters in our regiment is not as large as your battalion, let alone weapons and ammunition. By the way, what time do you plan to launch an attack tomorrow?" ah?"

"Comrade Colonel, I plan to launch an attack after dawn!" After Sokov finished speaking, Sergeyitch frowned. He immediately understood that the dawn in winter was late, at least nine o'clock. The sky can only be fully lit, and the opponent thinks that it is too late to attack. Therefore, he specifically explained: "I have to wait for dawn and see the surrounding terrain clearly before I can formulate a corresponding attack plan."

Although Sokov had made his words very clear, Sergeych still had a disappointed expression on his face. He thought for a moment, and said to Sokov: "Captain Sokov, I think so. To be on the safe side, our regiment will attack the enemy's position according to the original time. If our attack does not go well, you can launch another attack." It's not too late to attack."