Red Moscow

On the day of the meeting, Sokov arrived at the position of the 122nd regiment an hour earlier.

Seeing Sokov's arrival, Colonel Bely and Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko greeted him. Bely smiled and said to Sokov, "Misha, after months of hard fighting, we finally have the day to join forces."

"Yes, Comrade Colonel." Sokov shook the opponent's hand and said, "In order to achieve this goal, we have tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, all of whom fell in this heroic city."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov asked Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko directly after entering the regiment command post: "How many people are left in your regiment?"

"Including the wounded in the whole regiment, there are more than 1,400 people." Papchenko said with some concern: "Comrade commander, I am worried that this force is not enough to attack the German positions."

"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Without waiting for Sukov to speak, Bely interjected, "I have transferred the other two tank battalions back overnight. Now we can gather more than 30 tanks, and seven or eight tank battalions. Self-propelled artillery, with your attack, there shouldn't be much problem breaking through the enemy's position."

Although Sokov was a little dissatisfied with Bely's transfer of the other two tank battalions of the tank brigade without asking for instructions. However, considering that using all the tanks in a concentrated manner would at least take advantage of the weapons and equipment in the situation, he avoided talking about this matter, but said to Papchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I have already communicated with the deputy division commander. , The political commissar has agreed that before the offensive begins, they will transfer troops from the area they are in charge of to strengthen you. In this way, you will have enough troops to launch an attack on the German positions."

Knowing that his troops will receive the cooperation of the tank brigade and friendly troops during the attack, Papchenko has a relaxed expression on his face: "Comrade commander, since we have the cooperation of the tank brigade and friendly troops, I believe that we must break through The enemy's position should not be difficult."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov shook his head slightly after listening to the other party's statement, and said, "It is not enough to break through the enemy's position, we have to rush to join forces with the friendly troops on the opposite side. I am asking you now, what do you need? How long will it take to break through the enemy's defenses?"

"It's hard to say." Regarding Sokov's question, Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko said with some embarrassment: "You know, the enemy's fortifications are all facing our side, even with the support of tanks and self-propelled artillery. It’s also very difficult to break through quickly.”

"There must be difficulties. No matter how difficult it is for you to break through the enemy's defense, even if the friendly troops who came to meet us, it is not easy to break through the enemy's position in one go." Sokov continued to ask : "Tell me, how long will it take?"

"I think, I think," Papchenko said two "I think" in a row, and finally choked out a sentence: "I think it will not be possible to join forces with the friendly army until after noon at the earliest."

"No." Sokov was very dissatisfied with Papchenko's answer. He shook his head and said, "I can't wait until noon."

"Comrade Commander," Papchenko asked with a guilty conscience after seeing Sokov vetoing his plan without hesitation, "Then how long do you plan to give us?"

"Eleven o'clock." Sokov said without hesitation: "At eleven o'clock, we must meet with our friendly forces."

"Meet at eleven?" Papchenko said in embarrassment: "Comrade commander, isn't time too tight?"

"It doesn't matter at all." Sokov shook his head and said, "Your regiment started to attack at 8:30, and you have two and a half hours, which is enough to break through the enemy's defense."

"Comrade Commander," Papchenko tried to change Sokov's mind, and said cautiously: "Look, can you give us some more time..."

"The combat order has been issued, and the rendezvous with the friendly forces must be realized at eleven o'clock." Sokov said in an unquestionable tone: "If you feel that this cannot be done, I can ask your deputy commander or chief of staff to replace you command."

"Comrade commander, what happened?" Ivanov's voice came from the door: "The war is imminent, why do you think of changing the military chief of the regiment?"

"Comrade deputy division commander, you are here." Sokov glanced behind Ivanov, but he didn't see Anisimov's shadow, so he asked curiously, "Where's the political commissar?"

"He is farther from here than I am, and it may take a while before he can bring the troops over." After Ivanov finished speaking, without waiting for Sokov to ask again, he took the initiative to say, "I brought a full squad The battalion has nearly 500 people, and we can let them participate in the attack."

"Very good." Sokov nodded and said, "Let them attack behind the 122nd Regiment later."

"By the way, Comrade Commander." Ivanov looked at Papchenko who was standing next to him, and remembered his question just now, before Sokov answered himself, he asked again: "What happened just now? When I entered the door, why did I hear you talking about changing the military chief of the regiment?"

"It's like this," Sokov glared at Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko, and explained to Ivanov: "I asked Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko to join forces with the friendly troops on the opposite side at eleven o'clock. But he Said it might not be possible, so I said if he can't do it, I'll replace him with another commander who can do it."

"It turns out to be like this." After Ivanov figured out what was going on, he looked at the red-faced Papchenko and smiled at Sokov: "Mr. With the ability of Lieutenant Colonel Puchenko, he will definitely be able to join forces with the friendly troops coming from the opposite side at eleven o'clock."

Sokov was actually just speaking out of anger, and he didn't think of replacing Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko. Now that Ivanov pleaded, he said smoothly: "Well, since Comrade Deputy Commander said so, then the regiment There is no need to change the position of commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko will continue to hold the post."

The troops led by Anisimov arrived when the friendly forces on the opposite side were attacking the enemy. He walked into the command post, listened to the rumble of artillery from the opposite side, and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade Commander, it seems that I came just in time. The 23rd Infantry Division on the opposite side is launching an attack on the enemy."

"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov had just arranged the attack sequence, and seeing Anisimov appearing at this moment, he said to him: "When we attack later, the 122nd Regiment will be the first echelon, and the 124th Regiment will be the first echelon. The second echelon, and the troops you lead are the third echelon. Do you understand?"

Hearing that the troops he had brought were assigned to the third echelon, Anisimov felt disappointed. This means that the honor of joining forces with friendly forces can only belong to the first and second echelon troops. However, his years of military service had formed him into a good habit of obedience. He quickly straightened his body and replied, "Understood, Comrade Commander."

Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. Seeing that there were only 20 minutes left before the offensive began, he ordered Bely: "Colonel Bely, please go back to the brigade immediately and let all the tanks and self-propelled artillery be activated. .When the time comes, lead the infantry to attack the enemy's position."

"Comrade Commander," Anisimov, who came last, did not know how Sokov's offensive steps were arranged. But when he heard that Bely's tank brigade directly led the infantry to charge, he couldn't help but said: "Should we prepare for artillery fire on the enemy's position before the attack begins?"

"No, no, no." Sokov waved his hands and said, "We are only a few hundred meters away from the enemy's position. With tanks as the lead and infantry behind, we can quickly rush to the enemy's position. There is no need to waste precious There's a cannonball."

Soon after Bely left, Sokov heard the roar of tank engines coming from outside. It seemed that all the tanks and self-propelled artillery were activated and ready to attack.

"Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko," Sokov ordered Papchenko now that the tank brigade was ready to attack: "immediately put your commanders into the offensive position, wait for the three red flares to rise into the air, Immediately launch an attack on the enemy's position."

When the time came, the tanks and self-propelled artillery, which had already been ready to go, spewed out puffs of black smoke from their tails, and then started one after another, forming a battle formation and driving towards the enemy's position. Behind them, there are more than 2,000 commanders and fighters of the Guards Division. With weapons in their hands, they walked vigorously towards the enemy's position without hesitation.