The company commanders responded with a bang, stood up and prepared to return to their respective companies to prepare for the attack. But just as they were about to walk out of the command post, they suddenly heard the voice of Political Deputy Battalion Commander Belkin: "Wait a minute, comrades company commanders, please wait a minute." The company commanders guessed that he might have something to say. After saying that, they all stopped and looked at Belgin curiously.
"Comrade Battalion Commander," he called the company commanders, and Berkin turned to Sokov with a serious expression: "The information that the enemies in Sushinich are retreating was not reported by our scouts, but by several The so-called residents. I very much doubt the authenticity of this information. Maybe this is a trap set by the Germans. Those people are spies sent by the enemy specifically to lure our troops into being fooled. Therefore, I propose that all military operations be stopped immediately. .”
Belkin's words made the company commanders hesitate. They couldn't help but think in their hearts that they would launch an attack on Susinich without any artillery preparation based on just the words of a few residents. Is it too hasty?
Seeing the hesitant expressions on the faces of the company commanders, Sokov couldn't help but feel angry for no reason, thinking that this Belkin was really causing trouble for me. I had just given the order to attack, and you actually jumped out to contradict me. So, he said to Belkin with some displeasure: "Comrade Political Deputy Battalion Commander, let me remind you one thing. In the Istria camp, I have the final say in military affairs." After saying that, he Then facing the company commanders, "What are you doing here? Why don't you go back to your respective companies to prepare for battle? Our attack will begin in five minutes."
Seeing Sokov's anger, the company commanders left the command post in panic and returned to their respective companies to prepare for the attack. Seeing that the company commanders had all left, Belkin said anxiously: "Comrade Battalion Commander, I ask you to think carefully again and never make such a hasty decision. Once something goes wrong, you have to go to the police." Court-martial!”
Seeing that the attack was about to begin, Sokov did not want to have a useless argument with Belkin, but before the official attack, he felt it was necessary to report to his superiors to avoid being bombarded by his own artillery fire when the troops just entered the enemy's position. . He picked up the phone and asked the communications soldier to connect to the division headquarters, preparing to report directly to Chernyshev or Rokossovsky.
Seeing that Sokov was about to talk to the division headquarters, Belkin quickly asked with a straight face: "Comrade Battalion Commander, do you really want to report this unconfirmed news to your superiors?"
When Sokov heard Chernyshev's voice coming from the receiver, he waved his hand to Belkin to signal him not to speak, and then said into the microphone: "Hello, comrade division commander, I am Sokov Captain!"
"Captain Sokov?!" Chernyshov was startled when he heard that the person calling him was actually Sokov, and asked hurriedly: "Is there anything new going on there?"
"That's right, Comrade Division Commander." Sokov said quickly: "A few residents just came to the camp and said that the Germans were evacuating Sushinich in a panic..."
"This is impossible!" Before Sokov finished speaking, Chernyshov shouted in surprise: "Captain Sokov, you must be mistaken, otherwise the resident who reported the situation to you is Spies sent by the Germans..."
Just as Sokov was thinking about how to explain to Chernyshev, suddenly another voice came from the receiver: "General Chernyshev, what happened to Captain Sokov?"
"Comrade Commander," Sokov heard Chernyshov say respectfully to the other party: "Captain Sokov reported to me that several residents in the city ran to him to report that the Germans were evacuating. Sushinich…”
Rokossovsky stood up and took the microphone from Chernyshov's hand, and asked in a stern tone: "Captain Sokov, are you really sure that Sushinich's enemies are retreating?" he thought in his heart. He was also full of doubts about what Sokov said. According to his idea, the Germans would fortify even residential areas, let alone an important city like Susinich. Soon Sokov reported to himself that the enemy was retreating into the city. It could also be interpreted that the enemy was preparing to fight with him in street battles and could withdraw from the city. This was too unreasonable.
When Kazakov heard Rokossovsky's question, he said unequivocally to Orel next to him: "Comrade Orel, there is no doubt that this is a trick done by the Germans. They are definitely What's the conspiracy?"
When Sokov heard Rokossovsky asking himself this question, he couldn't help but feel nervous: the scouts he sent had not returned yet, and the news that the German army was about to evacuate came from several residents who escaped from the city. If it is true, sending troops to attack is the right thing to do; but if this information is not true and you make such arrogant claims, you will really be sent to a military court just like Belkin said.
"Captain Sokov, why don't you speak? Are you mute?" Rokossovsky saw that Sokov didn't reply for a long time, so he raised his voice and said dissatisfiedly: "I'm asking you, the Germans are Are you sure about this news about the retreat?"
"I can't, Comrade Commander." Sokov replied bravely: "But I personally believe that the information provided by the residents is accurate."
Rokossovsky waited for him to finish and immediately asked expressionlessly: "Then what action did you take?"
"I have issued combat orders to the entire battalion," Sokov raised his hand and glanced at the German watch on his wrist that was captured not long ago, and then said, "We will launch a full-scale attack in two minutes."
Rokossovsky was very dissatisfied with Sokov's approach of killing first and playing second, but considering that the Istria Battalion was the main offensive battalion assigned to the 11th Guards Division, if their attack was terminated at this moment, it would be inevitable It will have a negative impact on the subsequent battle. For this reason, he thought for a while and said decisively: "Captain Sokov, I order your battalion to attack Sushinich immediately. Remember, keep in touch and report to me the situation in the city at any time. . Do you understand?”
After getting Rokossovsky's consent, the stone hanging in Sokov's heart finally fell to the ground. He said to Maxim, the communications squad leader: "Comrade Corporal, send someone to bring a radio to follow me. We need Report the situation in the city to the comrade commander in a timely manner."
Sokov walked out of the command post and saw that the commanders and fighters of each company had left the trenches one after another and formed a skirmish formation in front of the position. Sokov trotted to the front of the queue, pointed the submachine gun in his hand at Sushinich in the distance, and shouted loudly: "Soldiers of the Istria Battalion, for the motherland, for Stalin! Move forward~!"
