Sokov's voice immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"Comrade Commander!" Seeing everyone casting curious glances at him, Sokov repeated his words again: "Do you allow me to share my opinion?"
Before Rokossovsky could speak, Chernyshov frowned and said with some displeasure: "Major Sokov, don't you know that it is very impolite to interrupt a superior commander casually? What’s more, at this moment, he is still a commander of a friendly force and is reporting to the comrade commander..."
Chernyshev's words made Sokov extremely embarrassed. He was deeply irritated because of the matter-of-fact tone in which Terebinsky talked about letting women who had not been patrolled to blow up German tanks. So much so that he got so excited that he forgot that the other party was the commander of a friendly force, so he stood up and asked to speak.
"Okay, General Chernyshev, don't blame Major Sokov." Fortunately, Rokossovsky spoke up in time to save him: "Let him express his thoughts."
Seeing that Rokossovsky agreed to speak, Sokov quickly sped up and said: "Comrade Commander, I think if the 291st Infantry Regiment's attack on Maklaki Town will still be commanded by this lieutenant colonel, will it still be commanded by this lieutenant colonel? will meet the same failed outcome."
Although Sokov deliberately avoided Terebinsky's eyes after saying these words, he could still feel the hostile gaze cast towards him. If looks could kill, he would already be riddled with holes.
"Major Sokov, why do you say that?" Regarding Sokov's statement, Rokossovsky said with obvious dissatisfaction: "Don't look at Lieutenant Colonel Terebinsky as a member of the 971st Infantry Regiment. Political deputy commander, but he was also a military officer before and has rich combat and command experience. You can see this by looking at the military rank he wears."
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov immediately realized his recklessness. He actually ignored that Terebinsky, as the political deputy leader, was not wearing the military rank of a political worker, but a military chief. Officer's rank. But now that the matter has come to this, he can only bite the bullet and say: "I think his tactical thinking is too rigid. He only knows how to fight hard and does not know how to flexibly adapt to the development of the situation."
"Oh, his tactical thinking is too rigid?" Rokossovsky repeated Sokov's words and said with interest: "Major Sokov, go on, let us all listen, How should we be flexible on the battlefield?"
Now that Rokossovsky has spoken to this extent, Sokov understands that he has no way out. If he can't say something convincing, he will never be able to work in the 11th Guards Division again. Well, pushy people are not welcome in the military.
"Comrade Commander, Comrade Division Commander, fellow commanders!" Sokov politely greeted everyone before he began to express his opinion: "I just observed that most of the commanders here are We are all in our early forties, so everyone must have participated in the First World War and the war against the White Russians and foreign armed interveners, right?”
After saying this, he deliberately stopped to observe everyone's expressions. After most of the commanders, including Rokossovsky and Chernyshev, nodded in affirmation, they continued: "During the two periods I mentioned, the tactical level and maneuverability of both the enemy and ourselves The weapons and equipment cannot be compared with what they are now. Therefore, our army's commanders and fighters can win by relying on their bravery and tenacity to fight fiercely when fighting the enemy. The Germans who now occupy most of Europe, regardless of the military quality of their generals and The command ability, soldiers' technical and tactical level, weapons and equipment, etc., all far exceed our army. If we continue to use the extremely rigid offensive tactics in the battle and go head-to-head with the Germans, we will suffer a loss. They are our commanders and combatants..."
When Sokov first started speaking, several commanders cast him disdainful glances, but as he spoke, the expressions of these commanders became solemn, and they tried hard to think about what the young major had said. The problem.
"Comrade commanders," Rokossovsky waited for Sokov to finish speaking, then stood up and said to everyone: "What do you think of what Major Sokov just said?" Kosovsky asked, everyone remained silent, no one spoke.
When no one spoke, Rokossovsky continued: "Most of the commanders here must have seen the failure of the 291st Infantry Regiment's attack? The reason for their failure was not because the commanders and fighters were not brave. , on the contrary, the two captains and deputy captains took the lead in the battle, rushed to the front of the team, and died heroically in the end. This bloody fact tells us: In battle, being brave alone is not enough, you also need to be reasonable Use tactics, learn to save yourself first, and then destroy the enemy.”
Rokossovsky set his sights on Sokov, "The Istrian battalion commanded by Major Sokov performed very well in the battle to liberate the town of Popkovo yesterday. I thought I was going to capture this A village or town heavily guarded by the German army and well-defended would require at least two to three divisions of troops, and it would take about a week to occupy this important German stronghold. But Major Sokov only took a few hours and spent two hundred At the cost of many people, he successfully completed the task assigned to him by his superiors. This shows how important it is to use tactics rationally in battle."
"Comrade Commander," Chernyshov waited for Rokossovsky to speak, and suddenly said in shock: "With your permission, I would like to hand over the troops to Major Sokov and let him command the attack on Makela. The Battle of Key Town.”
"Let Major Sokov command the 11th Guards Division?" Rokossovsky pointed at a group of school-level officers in the room and said with a smile: "Let a major command a group of lieutenant colonels and colonels, right? , and you, the major general. Do you think it’s appropriate?”
"Comrade Commander, I have thought carefully." Chernyshov looked at Sokov and said to Rokossovsky: "Based on his performance in liberating the town of Popkovo, I believe that I This decision made is completely correct. Regiment commanders and battalion commanders, do you have any different opinions?" The next sentence he said was to his subordinates.
After hearing Chernyshev's words, more than a dozen regiment and battalion commanders first looked at each other in confusion, and then replied neatly: "No."
Rokossovsky pinched his chin with his fingers, thought for a long time, and finally made the final decision: "Well, since General Chernyshev said so, from now on, the 11th Guards Infantry The division will be commanded by Major Sokov until the town of Maklaki is liberated."
"Comrade Commander," Terebinsky said hesitantly after Rokossovsky finished speaking: "If you have no objection, I intend to hand over our regiment to the command of Major Sokov."
Terebinsky took the initiative to hand over the command of the troops, which surprised Rokossovsky. He stared at the opponent for a moment and then nodded in agreement. He turned to look at Sokov, who was still standing upright in the corner, and said: "Major Sokov, from now on, I confirm that you are authorized to command the battle to liberate Maklaki Town. In addition to the 11th Guards Division, Infantry In addition to the 291st Regiment, the 322nd Infantry Division is also under your command."
Sokov was surprised when Chernyshov offered to give up command and let himself direct the attack on the town of Maklaki. Then, when Terebinsky proposed to put the troops under his command, Sokov was even more surprised and speechless. At this moment, Rokossovsky also planned to put the 322nd Infantry Division under his command, so that Sokov could feel this heavy trust.
Sokov took a deep breath, took a few steps forward, came to Rokossovsky, straightened his body and assured him: "Comrade Commander, I will seize the town of Maklaki in the shortest possible time." , will never betray your trust.”
