Red Moscow

Facts have proved that Sokov's estimate of the situation was too optimistic. The soldiers sent by the three regiments lay in the snow all night. Except for a German corporal who sneaked over to surrender in front of the 122nd regiment's position, the other two regiments had no gains at all.

At dawn the next day, after receiving the report from Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko, Sidolin said to Sokov with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, more than thirty of our soldiers are in different places, risking frostbite, After lurking for a whole night, only one German soldier came to surrender. Do you think it is necessary to continue tonight?"

"No need." Seeing the unsatisfactory results of the anti-Fasi Temple alliance's shouting, Sokov thought to himself that he was too hasty, and should wait for the shouting to last for a few more days before sending people to meet the defectors. German officers and soldiers, perhaps more people will come over. Thinking of this, he said to Sidolin: "There is no need to send people to perform such tasks for the time being."

Political commissar Anisimov said: "Comrade commander, I think the Germans are very stubborn, and they still have a glimmer of hope that the troops of Manstein and Holt will come to rescue them soon, so they We will continue to fight tenaciously.”

"Time will break their hopes." Sokov said to Anisimov with a smile: "Today's enemies are indeed very tenacious, but as time goes by, they find that the reinforcements promised to them by their superiors, If you haven't shown up for a long time, you will definitely be shaken in your heart. In addition, the anti-Fasi Temple alliance led by Ulbricht will continue to shout, which will make many German soldiers change their minds, from the original firm resistance to hesitation , and even ran over in groups to surrender to us."

"Comrade Commander," Anisimov asked unconvinced, "How long do you think the situation you mentioned will be realized?"

"I'm definitely ten days at most," Sokov said in his heart that Paulus would surrender at the end of the month, so he said confidently: "When our friendly forces narrow the encirclement and completely cut off the enemy's connection with the outside world, they will become You have to panic, and if you try to persuade them to surrender at that time, there must be a lot of enemies who surrender.”

Although Anisimov didn't believe Sukov's words, he couldn't find a reason to refute for a while, so he could only smile and shut his mouth wisely.

Sokov said to Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, I estimate that the enemy's attention is now concentrated on their rear, because our friendly forces are advancing step by step, narrowing their encirclement, maybe in a short time, yes They will not take the initiative to attack us."

"If the enemy doesn't attack, can we take the initiative to attack?" Ivanov interrupted and asked.

"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Division Commander." Sokov said to Ivanov, "Our troops are not strong enough. Even if we counterattack and seize some positions, we won't be able to hold them."

Seeing that Sokov is still clichéd, Ivanov can't laugh or cry, and refute it deliberately, what Sokov said is the same thing. He could only smile wryly, and looked down at the map in front of him, pretending to study the troops' next combat move.

Sokov calculated the time in his mind. It was only two weeks before Paulus surrendered. The downsizing regiment deployed on the right wing could also be quietly mobilized. If the troops of the 64th Army took the lead, it would have taken him so long The layout is tantamount to making wedding clothes for them.

Thinking of this, he said to Sidolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you still remember the reason I said a few days ago to keep troops in the city?"

"Remember, remember." Sidolin dreamed that he wanted the honor of captive Paulus to fall into his division, so he still remembered what Sokov said. Hearing Sokov's sudden mention at this moment, he immediately realized that Sokov might want to use the troops deployed on the right wing, and quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, are you planning to secretly transfer all the downsized regiments into the city? "

"Yes, that's what I thought about it."

Seeing that Sokov affirmed the matter, Ivanov also became interested: "Comrade commander, I would like to ask, you transferred the one or two thousand commanders and fighters of the downsizing regiment to the residential area in the south of the city and the central area, and plan to deploy them Where is it?"

"We still don't know whether Paulus has moved his headquarters to the Central District." Sokov specially told Sidolin before he gave the order: "In order to avoid alarming the enemy, when the downsizing regiment is mobilized, The concealment must be ensured so that the enemy cannot detect the movement. If Paulus finds out that we have placed such an army under his nose, I think he will definitely choose a new place to establish his headquarters for safety reasons. .”

What Sokov is most worried about now is that because of his appearance, a lot of history has been deviated. If Paulus really found out that he had deployed an army in the city and was going to take down his headquarters, he would definitely change his mind and move the headquarters to another location. If Paulus did, it would be difficult for Sokov to find his hiding place. If you don't even know where the German command is, how will you capture Paulus then?

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will never let the enemy perceive our intentions." Sidolin continued to ask: "Then where should we place the Belkin Regiment?"

"In my opinion, let's put it where the third battalion is now." Sokov said thoughtfully: "The area controlled by the third battalion is relatively large, even if one or two thousand people are hidden, I'm afraid they won't be discovered by the enemy. "

"Okay." Sidolin said excitedly, "I'll call Commander Belkin immediately. He must have been waiting for this good news." After finishing speaking, he picked up the phone and said to the receiver: "I am Sidolin, get me the shrinking regiment and find Captain Belkin."

After the call was connected, as soon as Sidolin heard Belkin's voice, he said excitedly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I have some good news for you. The division commander has just issued a combat order to your regiment, so that you will not be defeated by the Germans." When people noticed it, they secretly turned in the direction of the third battalion."

"Turn to the position of the third battalion?" Belkin asked in surprise when he heard the order, "So, is the division commander planning to attack the enemy in the city?"

Regarding Belkin's question, Sidolin did not answer immediately, but turned to look at Sokov and said to him: "Comrade commander, I think it is up to you to personally explain the task to Commander Belgin."

Only Sidolin, Ivanov, and Anisimov knew about Sokov's deployment. As the head of the downsizing regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Belkin needed to know about this, so he walked up to Sidolin, took the microphone in his hand, and said: "Comrade my political commissar, the situation is like this. According to According to my analysis, Paulus' troops will definitely shrink into the city after being hit hard by our army. And Paulus's headquarters is likely to be located in the residential area in the south of the city, or in the central business district. I put you The purpose of placing them there is to prepare to choose the right time to launch a fierce attack on the enemy's headquarters. Whether you can capture Paulus alive depends on your luck."

Knowing that his troops had a chance to capture Paulus alive, Belgin's adrenal glands immediately secreted, and he said excitedly: "Misha, don't worry, as long as Paulus's headquarters is really located in a residential area or somewhere in the central area position, I assure you, the honor of finally capturing Paulus alive must belong to our division."

Belkin's words reminded Sokov that he had been used to treating the three guard regiments differently from the reduced regiment so far. Hearing what Belkin said at this moment, he said with some embarrassment: "That's right, that's right, the honor of capturing Paulus alive must belong to our 41st Guards Division."

After a short pause, he went on to say: "I think it is necessary to remind you that your regiment cannot be detected by the enemy during the transfer process; moreover, after entering the new station, do not launch any large-scale attack on the enemy for the time being." , even if your troops have an absolute advantage in some areas."

"Don't worry, Misha." Belgin and Sokov took the ride for a long time, and knew his character well. Now that he heard his repeated warnings, he also realized the seriousness of the problem, and quickly expressed his position: "I It will make the commanders and fighters pay attention to concealment during the transfer process, and will never let the enemy notice."

After expressing his attitude, he suddenly remembered another important thing: "Misha, our regiment has moved, who will take over the vacated position? If the enemy finds that our position is empty, they will Will notice our transfer."

"I'll ask Comrade Commander for instructions immediately," Sokov said into the microphone, "It would be great if he can spare troops to take over your defense. If I really can't find troops to take over the defense, I can only go to Please, Factory Manager Peter, ask him to send some militiamen to your position."

After Sokov ended his conversation with Belkin, he immediately asked the communications soldier to connect to the army headquarters. Since Chuikov was on the phone with Batov, it was Krylov who answered the call: "I'm Krylov, Colonel Sokov, what do you want?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff." Although the person who answered the phone was not Chuikov, Krylov still had some things to decide. Sokov didn't go around in circles, so he said bluntly: "I want to ask if the group army can send troops to Take over the defense zone of our division's downsizing regiment?"

"What, send troops to replace the defense area of ​​your division's downsizing regiment?" Krylov frowned and asked in puzzlement, "Why?"

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov knew that if he didn't communicate with Chuikov and Krylov about this matter, he might not be able to get the troops to defend him, so he said euphemistically: "Based on the current situation, I will After analysis, I think the Germans are very likely to transfer their headquarters to the city. Therefore, they plan to transfer Belkin's drawdown regiment to the city, and prepare to strike the enemy by surprise when necessary."

"Give the enemy a surprise blow." Hearing what Sokov said, Krylov pursed his lips and said disapprovingly, "How many enemies do you think you can kill by then? One thousand, two thousand or five thousand? Colonel Sokov, it's not that I'm pouring cold water on you, if you want to eliminate so many enemies, I'm afraid your reorganized regiment will be wiped out."

"No, Comrade Chief of Staff, you have misunderstood me." Sokov quickly argued, "I transferred the downsizing regiment to the south of the city, not because I want them to destroy many enemies, but because I have more important tasks."

"A more important task, what task?"

Before Sokov could answer, he heard Chuikov's voice from the receiver: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is Sokov calling?"

"He intends to transfer Belkin's downsizing regiment into the city, and asks the army to send him troops to take over the defense area of ​​the downsizing regiment."

"Give me the phone, and I'll ask what's going on." Chuikov answered the phone, frowning and asked, "Colonel Sokov, why did you think of transferring the downsizing regiment to the city? Tell me about your situation." reason."

"Comrade Commander, according to my judgment." Sokov could only repeat his reasons: "After being hit hard by our army, the enemy will definitely shrink to the city of Stalingrad, and the German Army Command will also It will also retreat into the city. After my repeated thinking, Paulus is most likely to set up his headquarters in the residential area in the south of the city or in the central area. I transferred the Belkin Regiment into the city, intending that when the time is right, Launch a surprise attack on his headquarters. Even if Paulus cannot be captured alive, as long as a group of senior German generals are killed, the German army will fall into chaos because of the loss of unified command, and the next battle of our army will become chaotic. easy."

"Colonel Sokov, you are so easy to say." Chuikov said with a sneer: "Do you really think that Paulus moved his headquarters into the city, and you will find it easily? What's more, it's just you It is even more unreliable to judge.”

From Chuikov's tone of voice, Sokov sensed a hint of ominousness, and he asked tentatively, "What do you think, Comrade Commander?"

"Even if Paulus moved his headquarters to the city, whoever said it would definitely be located in the residential area in the south of the city or in the central area." Chuikov said displeasedly: "Wouldn't he have set up the new headquarters in the factory area?" Is it? You know, the territory here is vast and there is a lot of room for movement, even if it is attacked by our army, it can be transferred at any time."

If Sokov didn't know the real history and where Paulus was captured, maybe Chuikov's statement would shake him. Not only is there a lot of stone buildings in the central area, but also many places in the factory area have solid stone buildings. Paulus can definitely set up the headquarters in the factory area.

It was precisely because he knew the exact answer that Sokov said stubbornly: "Comrade commander, please believe in my judgment. With Paulus' character, he will never set up the new headquarters in the factory area. It can only be in the residential area in the south of the city or in the central area. If we don't send troops into this area as soon as possible, once the troops of the 64th Army come from the south and capture the honor of Paulus alive, our 62nd Army may be wiped out Over the shoulder."