After sending Fei Daoqi away, Sokov suddenly remembered the missing Kristoff, and asked Belkin: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, did you have any conversations with Kristoff during my absence?" The reconnaissance team got in touch?”
"No, we didn't get any news about them." Belkin shook his head and said solemnly: "I'm worried that their entire army has been destroyed."
As there was no news from Christopher, Sokov's heart was full of guilt. If he hadn't sent him this mission, maybe they wouldn't be like now without seeing anyone alive or dead. But there is no medicine for regret in the world. Now that something has happened, it will not help if you regret it again.
Sokov tried his best to get rid of his guilt for Christopher and reminded himself that the current top priority was to guard the unknown high ground and prevent the German troops coming from the south from overstepping their boundaries. He looked up at Belkin and asked: "Deputy battalion commander, have the fortifications built by the third company on the north slope completed?"
"Yes, it has been completed." After Belkin briefly answered Sokov's question, he asked with some confusion: "Comrade Battalion Commander, the defense focus of the third company is on the south. You asked them to repair on the north slope. What do the shelters and bomb shelters do?”
Sokov did not answer the question immediately, but asked instead: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, do you think our defensive position on the top of the mountain can withstand the German heavy artillery bombardment?"
Belkin frowned and thought seriously, then shook his head and answered truthfully: "No!"
"Before the German attack, they only bombarded by aircraft and artillery, and then used tanks to cover the infantry charge." Sokov explained to Belkin: "If the defenders suffer all casualties under the enemy's artillery fire, then the enemy will When they charge forward, who will stop them? The reason why I ordered the Third Company to build fortifications on the north slope is to have a place to hide when the enemy shells."
"There is still a distance of two to three hundred meters from the fortifications on the north slope to the fortifications on the top of the mountain." Although Sokov had made it clear, Belkin still said with concern: "I am worried about our troops. , unable to quickly enter the position after the bombardment is over."
"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander." Sokov said confidently: "The enemy's infantry will charge after the shelling. It will take at least ten minutes to approach our position. Our soldiers have enough time to enter their positions. Fighting position.”
While the two were discussing the defense of the high ground, Maxim, the communications squad leader sitting next to him, suddenly exclaimed: "Comrade Battalion Commander, someone is sending us a report!"
Sokov thought it was a telegram from the division headquarters or the group army headquarters, so he didn't pay attention to it. He just said casually: "Comrade Corporal, receive the telegram immediately!"
A few minutes later, Belkin took the translated telegram from Maxim's hand. Before handing it to Sokov, he glanced at it casually. Seeing that it didn't matter, he actually shouted in surprise: "This is impossible!"
Seeing Belkin making such a fuss, Sokov asked somewhat displeasedly: "What happened?"
"Comrade Battalion Commander, look at the signature of this telegram." Belkin said loudly: "It's a telegram from Christopher."
"Christopher?!" Upon hearing this familiar name, Sokov snatched the telegram from Belkin's hand and carefully checked the signature below. That's right, the signature is "Crow", the contact code Sokov temporarily assigned before setting off with the reconnaissance team.
Thinking that Christopher must have something important to send him a telegram at this time, he quickly browsed the contents of the telegram. This sight shocked him into a cold sweat. After reading the contents of the telegram twice, he handed it to Belkin and said with a serious expression: "Christopher reported that the German army's two artillery companies, an infantry battalion and a tank company are on the way. Heading towards the unknown highlands."
Sokov handed the telegram to Belkin and ordered Maxim: "Ask Christopher why it took so long to contact us." He said this with a burst of anger. If Now that Christopher was in front of him, he would definitely get scolded.
After reading the telegram, Belkin's expression became serious. He put the telegram on the table and asked Sokov: "Comrade Battalion Commander, what should we do? What if the Germans attack with such a force?" It may be very difficult for us to hold our position. Do you think we should ask for help from the division?"
"Asking for help from the division?" When Sokov thought that there were only two incomplete infantry divisions in the city, he shook his head and said, "We can report this enemy situation to the division and let General Chernyshev do it. We know it well. But if we want to hold the high ground, we can only rely on ourselves, and the division headquarters cannot send any reinforcements at all."
Christopher's answer came quickly. It turned out that when they were sneaking behind enemy lines, they encountered a German patrol and a firefight broke out. During the battle, the radio operators were carrying was damaged, and they lost contact with the camp. In order to report the detected situation to the battalion, they took the risk to attack a German outpost today and seized a radio from there. Only then did they re-establish contact with the battalion.
"Comrade Corporal, call Christopher back immediately." After reading the contents of the telegram, Sokov immediately ordered Maxim: "Tell him that the Crow Team's reconnaissance mission has ended and order them to immediately withdraw to the unknown heights. .”
"What happened, Comrade Battalion Commander?" Seeing the anxious look on Sokov's face, Belkin asked curiously: "I see that you are quite anxious."
"Christopher and the others are behind enemy lines. Once they attack the enemy's outpost, they will be exposed." Sokov said anxiously: "If they don't retreat as soon as possible, they will easily be surrounded by the German army. Then they will just want to Even if we withdraw, we can’t withdraw.”
After the telegram asking Christopher to retreat was sent, Sokov asked Maxim to contact the division headquarters. Since the matter was urgent, he reported the situation to Chernyshev in plain language: "Comrade Division Commander, we have just received a report from the reconnaissance team. A large number of enemies are heading towards the unknown highlands. Their strength is …”
Chernyshov was also shocked by this shocking news. After he waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he frowned and thought for a while, and then said: "Captain Sokov, I will report this matter to the commander immediately. Report and let him find a way to help you. Remember, you are not allowed to take a step back until you get an order."
"Understood, comrade division commander." Sokov knew that it was the tradition of the Soviet army in defensive warfare to not give up an inch of ground, so he readily agreed: "As long as one of us is alive, we will never let the enemy get away from us. Pass on the battlefield!"
