The headquarters is located in the beautiful and magnificent building occupied by Sokov and his men. At this moment, many windows of this building are also seeing flames with black smoke. Dozens of soldiers carrying buckets, Water in the bucket is being used to extinguish the still burning fire.
"Chernyshev, come here." When Chernyshov was about to ask someone to find out where Rokossovsky was, he suddenly heard someone calling his name next to him. He turned around and saw Rokossovsky and several other members of the command were standing in an open space outside the building.
Rokossovsky couldn't help but frown slightly when he saw Sokov behind Chernyshev. After the two of them approached, he asked in a stern tone: "Captain Sokov, if you don't stay in the unknown highlands south of the city, why did you come to the city?"
Just as Sokov was thinking about how to explain to Rokossovsky, Chernyshev had already said: "Comrade Commander, I asked him to come here. As you know, his troops went to He made a sneak attack on the German camp, killed hundreds of German soldiers, and captured five howitzers. Today he personally led the team to deliver the howitzers to the car. Just when you sent someone to call me, he took it upon himself to let me know. He’s here to report to you.”
"So that's it." Rokossovsky smiled and said: "You performed well last night. Not only did you drive away the invading German troops, you also captured five heavy howitzers. These technical equipment are exactly what we have What is needed now. Okay, tell us the details of last night’s battle.”
Sokov quickly agreed, and then eloquently gave a detailed report on last night's battle to several group army leaders, including Rokossovsky.
"You fought beautifully last night and successfully defeated the German army's attempt to reoccupy the unknown heights." Rokossovsky waited for Sokov to speak and immediately said to him: "But the Germans are not willing to give in. If they fail, they will definitely launch another attack. Your task is to resolutely defend the unknown high ground. Without an order from me or Commander Chernyshev, you are not allowed to retreat even one step; at the same time, you are not allowed to take a step forward casually. Understand?"
Although Sokov still had some reservations about Rokossovsky's order, he still answered simply: "Yes, Comrade Commander."
"Captain Sokov." Kazakov came over and asked nervously: "General Chernyshev just said that you made a special trip to send a howitzer to the city. I want to ask you where the cannon is now. place?"
Sokov heard the voiceover from Kazakov's tone. He was worried that the artillery would be destroyed in the shelling. He quickly turned to look at Chernyshev and said to Kazakov: "Comrade General, all the artillery we captured have been handed over to the division headquarters."
"That's right, General Kazakov, I have all the howitzers handed over by Captain Sokov." Chernyshev explained to Kazakov: "Comrade Artillery Commander, don't worry. , the artillery pieces are now in a safe place and German shelling will not damage them."
While everyone was talking, a burly general came from a distance, followed by two soldiers carrying submachine guns. When he was still ten or twenty meters away, the general stopped and asked the soldier to stay where he was before he walked over alone. He came to Rokossovsky, raised his hand and saluted: "Comrade Commander, Major General Kiriukhin, commander of the 324th Infantry Division, is here to report. Please give me your instructions!"
"Hello, General Kiriukhin." After shaking hands with the other party, Rokossovsky pointed to Chernyshev next to him and said: "This is Major General Chernyshev, commander of the 11th Guards Division. , I think you should have met before, right?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander, I met with General Chernyshev yesterday." Kiriukhin said, stretched out his hand to Chernyshev and said friendly: "Hello, Chernyshev General Schoff, nice to see you here."
After Kiriukhin and Chernyshev shook hands, he turned to Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade Commander, do you feel that the targets of the German artillery fire are very targeted, mainly... I suspect that there are spies sent by the Germans in the city at all levels of headquarters, military camps, and other places to guide the enemy's artillery. I suggest that a large-scale investigation be conducted immediately in the city to catch this damn spy."
"Let's put the matter of catching spies aside for now." Rokossovsky waved his hand at Kiriukhin, and then said: "I called you two here today because when I was shelled, I received A telegram from the Commander of the Front.”
Chernyshev asked: "Comrade Commander, what order did our superiors give us?"
Rokossovsky looked serious and read word for word: "Order our 16th Army to hold Sushinich firmly and continue to use offensive actions to tire the enemy and make him lose the ability to hold on and accumulate strength. "After hearing this latest order, Chernyshev and Kiriukhin looked at each other, and both of them saw shock in each other's eyes.
After a pause, Chernyshov said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, with all due respect, these requirements made by the front army are very difficult to fulfill. It is one thing to tire the enemy with defensive actions, It is another thing to tire out the enemy with offensive actions.
We use defensive actions to tire out the enemy in order to achieve a balance of power. Our group army has already done this before turning to the general offensive. However, when our troops are weaker than the enemy and it is under severe winter conditions, can we use offensive operations to 'tire and weaken' the enemy? "
"You are right, Comrade Chernyshov." As soon as Chernyshov finished speaking, Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Although the German army has been repelled by us from Moscow and suffered heavy losses, A huge failure. But after suffering a series of blows from our army, their strength is gradually recovering. It is unrealistic to wipe them all out at once.
Judging from what I have learned recently, after a long period of fighting, the troops are seriously short of soldiers. Moreover, all divisions affiliated to the group army are short of machine guns, mortars, artillery and ammunition. The tank brigade also has very few tanks left. . The current situation of the Army Group forces made me realize that we were unable to achieve a decisive victory at this stage. …”
Sokov, who was observing, understood from Rokossovsky's words the current dilemma facing the 16th Army and even the entire Western Front. Don't forget that the counterattack under the city of Moscow was carried out vigorously and the Germans were defeated. But these have passed. Now the Soviet army has become at the end of its war effort, and it has become extremely difficult to move forward.
