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Regarding Andre's question, Sokov did not answer, but just ordered the two company commanders: "Let the troops rest where they are!"
"Yes!" The two company commanders agreed and shouted to the commanders and soldiers stopped on the road: "Rest where you are! Rest where you are!"
When the soldiers dispersed and were looking for a place to rest nearby, Rokossovsky took the two company commanders to a place a little far away from the team, found a fallen tree trunk and sat down, and then said to the two of them: "I I still feel uneasy and feel that the Germans will attack us at any time."
"Comrade Battalion Commander, since you know that the German army is going to attack, why do we still go to Susinich?" Andre asked curiously: "As soon as our two companies leave, won't the defense strength of the highlands be greatly weakened? Yet?"
"There is no way," Sokov spread his hands and said helplessly: "General Chernyshev gave me a death order. If the troops do not appear in Sushinich at three o'clock in the afternoon, we will Just remove me from my post."
"What, are you being dismissed from your post?" The two company commanders were startled by Sokov's words. Vasily raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said anxiously: "Comrade Battalion Commander, it's already half past one. If we don’t hurry up, we won’t be able to reach Susinich before three o’clock.”
"Why are you in a hurry? Just wait a moment." After Sokov said this lightly, he extended his hand to the two of them: "Which of you has a cigarette, give me one."
The two company commanders simultaneously took out a pack of seized German cigarettes from their pockets and handed them to Sokov. Sokov took out a cigarette from Vasily's cigarette case, lit it in his mouth and took a deep puff, but he choked and coughed loudly. He coughed and complained: "What the hell, what kind of cigarette do you have? It tastes like horse shit."
Vasily grinned and said: "Comrade Battalion Commander, these cigarettes are made from Turkish tobacco leaves. The smell is inevitably a bit strong, and most people can't get used to it."
Sokov threw the cigarette in the snow, stepped on it with his toes, and said to the two company commanders: "We will stay here until three o'clock. If the German army has not yet attacked the unknown heights, we will go to Sushinich." .”
"But, Comrade Battalion Commander." Vasya asked uneasily: "If you can't arrive in Susinich before three o'clock, won't you be dismissed from your post?"
"Don't worry, Captain Vasily, the division commander will not remove me from my post." Sokov said to the two of them: "He is worried that I will disobey orders and not dispatch troops to him, so he specifically said it to scare me. If three If the Germans do not launch an attack on the unknown heights before this time, then we will go to Susinich; if the Germans start to attack before this time, then I can justifiably take you back."
In the following time, the two company commanders were like ants on a hot pot, circling around the tree trunk where Sokov was sitting, and looking in the direction of the unknown highland to see if they could hear the sound of artillery or see anything. Black smoke rising. However, it was always quiet over there, with no movement at all, so that both of them were thinking: Maybe the battalion commander made a mistake. The Germans will not attack the unknown high ground for the time being, at least not today.
Seeing that the time had reached two-thirty, Andrei could no longer hold his breath. He quickly walked up to Sokov and said loudly: "Comrade Battalion Commander, it seems that the enemy will not attack. We still have to fight." Get to Susinich as soon as possible, lest you be scolded by the division commander."
As soon as Andre finished speaking, a dull explosion came from the direction of the unknown highland. The sound was similar to the sound of a car tire blowing out. It was easy to ignore it if you didn't listen carefully. He quickly looked towards the unknown highland and saw a wisp of black smoke rising over the highland.
"The German artillery is testing fire." Vasily also stopped, glanced in the direction of the unknown high ground, and said to Sokov excitedly: "Comrade Battalion Commander, it seems that their attack is about to begin. .”
"Could it be that a soldier accidentally fired the grenade?" Although he heard the explosion and saw the rising black smoke, Andre was still not sure whether the Germans would attack, so he cautiously asked Sokov : "If it was a grenade going off, that's pretty much what we heard."
"Nonsense," Vasily retorted as soon as he finished speaking: "The soldiers of the third company were full and had nothing to do with hand grenades. The movement just now was obviously a test firing by the Germans before the artillery bombardment started. I See we should return to the high ground immediately and get ready for battle.”
"Two comrades, company commanders, please be patient." Seeing that the two were about to argue at the next moment, Sokov stood up and said with a smile: "As for the explosion that just came, it was the German artillery. Whether it’s a test firing or a grenade explosion, we’ll find out in a few moments.”
Then, a series of explosions came from the direction of the high ground, and then large areas of black smoke rose. Vasily saw this scene, looked at Andre and said proudly: "How about it, Second Company Commander, did you hear clearly this time? It's not the sound of grenades exploding, but the sound of German heavy artillery bombarding the unknown heights."
"Assemble the team." Sokov said to the two company commanders: "We must return to the high ground immediately."
At this moment, in the battalion command post behind the high ground, Belkin was extremely anxious. He was walking back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, constantly mumbling: "What should I do? What should I do? I just transferred two companies. The Germans began to shell the high ground, and it seemed that they were preparing for a large-scale attack."
At this moment, the radio operator sitting in front of the radio turned to him and said: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, the division headquarters sent a telegram asking when the troops we have transferred will arrive in Susinich."
"Call back the division commander immediately." Belkin quickly stopped and said to the operator: "The battalion commander has led the second company and the machine gun company to Sushinich, and I believe he will arrive at the division headquarters soon. In addition, tell me The division commander said that the enemy has begun shelling the unknown high ground and seems to be showing signs of launching an attack."
After the radio operator finished making the call, he turned around and asked: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, if the German army really launches a large-scale attack, can we hold our position with our current strength?"
Belkin, who was holding back his anger, heard the operator ask this question and immediately got angry at him: "Comrade soldier, I remind you that you are an operator, not a battalion commander. Can you hold your position?" It’s not your turn to worry about this kind of thing. Forget it this time, next time you say something that is not in line with your identity, I will shut you up. Do you remember?”
"Remember, Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander." The operator glanced at Belgin guiltily and replied timidly.
