Whether the German 14th Armored Division can be prevented from crossing the river depends on whether the pontoon bridge can be successfully blown up. So Sokov made a special trip to the engineer company's station and urged them to find a small boat that could carry explosives as quickly as possible.
More than half an hour later, when six engineers carried a rubber boat to Sokov, the engineer company commander said to Sokov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, we found a rubber boat, we can use it To deliver the explosives to blow up the bridge.”
Sokov glanced at the rubber boat in front of him and felt that if he put hundreds of kilograms of explosives on it, it would not tip over if there was another person sitting on it. He nodded and said, "Not bad, okay, let's use this rubber boat." Transporting explosives to blow up the pontoon."
Seeing that Sokov was very satisfied with the rubber boat, the engineer company commander turned around and ordered his men: "Let's do it."
Upon hearing the company commander's instructions, the engineers immediately walked to a nearby low hole and moved explosives out from inside. When Sokov watched the engineers moving boxes after boxes of explosives from the cave to the outside, he was still thinking secretly: How much explosives did Major Ozor give to the engineer company to remove the explosives on the Aksay River? After two bridges were blown up, how could there be so many left?
After a while, when he saw the engineers carrying explosives to the rubber boat, Sokov quickly shouted: "Stop, everyone, stop."
In the surprised eyes of everyone, the engineer company commander walked up to Sokov and asked cautiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what can I do?"
"Comrade Company Commander," Sokov pointed to the rubber boat on the ground, then pointed to the explosives held by the engineers, and asked curiously: "You won't tell me that you plan to put all the explosives on the ground now." Is there a rubber boat?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander nodded and replied affirmatively: "Aren't you going to use this rubber boat to blow up the enemy's pontoon? So I asked the soldiers to put all the explosives in it first."
"Comrade Company Commander," Sokov interrupted him: "I want to remind you to clarify one thing." He pointed towards the Aksay River in the distance with his hand and said, "The location where the rubber boat is launched, It's at least more than 800 meters away from here. How many soldiers do you plan to let carry a rubber boat filled with explosives to walk 800 meters?"
If Sokov hadn't said anything, the engineer company commander really planned to let his soldiers carry this rubber boat loaded with more than 200 kilograms of explosives, walk 800 meters, and then throw it into Axel river. When Sokov said this, he realized how ridiculous his idea was, so he waved to the soldiers and said, "Put down all the explosives. You can go and rest first."
After Sokov and other soldiers left, he looked at the engineer company commander and asked: "Comrade commander, after the rubber boat is launched, a soldier must be arranged to stay on the boat. One is to control the direction of the rubber boat, and the other is to control the direction of the rubber boat at the appropriate location." time, igniting the fuse of the explosive."
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander nodded and said: "The task of detonating the explosives will be completed by Corporal Sokarov. He has served in the army for more than twenty years. I believe he can do an outstanding job." to complete this task.”
"Where is Corporal Sokarov?" Thinking that Sokarov was about to perform an arduous and dangerous mission, Sokov said to the engineer company commander: "I want to see him."
After a while, a short soldier in his forties with a mustache came to Sokov. Since this was a battlefield, he was worried that there might be German snipers nearby, so he did not salute Sokov, but straightened his body and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, Corporal Sokarov has been ordered to get up, please give instructions!"
"Hello, Corporal Sokarov." Sokov stepped forward and held the other person's hand, and said solemnly: "Tonight you have to perform a very difficult task. If you can successfully blow up the Aksay River, The Germans will not be able to build a new pontoon bridge in this area for a long time. However, if the task is not completed and the enemy successfully erects the pontoon bridge and the tanks successfully rush to the shore, our defense line will be destroyed. breakthrough."
After Corporal Sokarov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he immediately replied: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please rest assured that if I cannot complete the task you assigned me, I will never come back to see you alive."
"The mission must be completed, and the people must come back alive." Sokov put his hands on Sokarov's shoulders and said to him: "Comrade Sokarov, you are not young, but you are still a Named Corporal. If you can successfully complete the mission and come back, you will be promoted to Staff Sergeant. I will personally take care of this matter."
For Sokarov, what Sokov said before was just some cliches. Now that he heard that he would be promoted to sergeant after returning safely, he asked with some excitement: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, if I can Will I really be promoted to sergeant if I successfully complete the mission and come back?"
"Yes, Corporal Sokarov." Sokov nodded and said affirmatively: "I guarantee with my own personality that not only will you be promoted to sergeant, but you will also receive a medal for bravery."
For Russian soldiers who love honor, being promoted to a military rank is certainly worthy of their happiness; but getting another medal will make them feel extremely glorious. Corporal Sokarov straightened his body and replied with an extremely solemn expression: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please rest assured that no matter what difficulties I encounter, I will successfully complete this task."
At about ten o'clock in the evening, Sokov, the engineer company commander, Sokarov and twenty engineer soldiers came to the river. Everyone carefully piled the explosives on the rubber boat, and then pushed the boat into the river. Before Sokarov boarded the ship, Sokov held his hand, shook it vigorously twice, and said: "Corporal Sokarov, I wish you a triumphant return!"
"Serve the Soviet Motherland!" After Sokarov said these words, he turned around and got on the rubber boat, using the oars to control the rubber boat to float downstream.
Looking at the rubber boat that was gradually blurring in the Aksay River, Sokov asked the engineer company commander in a low voice: "Comrade company commander, according to the plan, how far away from the pontoon should Corporal Sokarov disembark?"
"According to our original plan," the engineer company commander replied, "Corporal Sokarov should have lit the fuse a hundred meters away from the pontoon and abandoned the ship. But he felt that abandoning the ship too early might cause an accident. Unexpected things, such as the fuse being too short and exploding prematurely; or the rubber boat being deflected by the current, drifting downstream through the unclosed gap in the pontoon, etc..."
Seeing that the engineer company commander had been talking for a long time without getting to the point, Sokov quickly interrupted what he was saying: "Comrade company commander, tell me the point. Where does he plan to abandon the ship?"
"Fifty meters, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander quickly replied: "Sokalov feels that it is most appropriate to abandon the ship when the distance is fifty meters."
"Fifty meters?!" Sokov repeated the distance and muttered in a low voice: "After he jumps into the river, he will be swept downward by the river water for a certain distance. By the time he climbs ashore, he is probably not far away from the explosion point. Thirty to forty meters. Wouldn’t the shock wave generated by the explosion of two hundred kilograms of explosives pose a danger to his life?”
"It's hard to say," the engineer company commander heard Sokov's whisper and said quickly, "If he's lucky, he should be fine."
Sokov looked at the pontoon bridge a kilometer or two away, sighed softly, and then said: "I hope he can come back safely and alive." He turned around and asked the engineer company commander, "Arrange it well." Is there someone who responded?"
"Two soldiers are arranged upstream and downstream of the pontoon bridge." said the engineer company commander: "No matter where he comes ashore, our people can pick him up."
Ten minutes later, a huge bright orange fireball suddenly rose in the distance. The rising smoke formed a huge rolling black mushroom in the air. Then there was an earth-shattering explosion. The pontoon bridge on the Aksay River, It was like being lifted up by a big hand and flew away. In just a moment, it was blown apart in a series of explosions. The huge shock wave made the river water around the pontoon boil like a boiling pot. Countless fish and shrimps floated to death on the river surface and floated downstream along the river.
"Successful!" Seeing such a big movement in the distance, Sokov knew that the operation of blasting the pontoon bridge was successful, and quickly ordered the engineer company commander: "Comrade company commander, you immediately send someone to look for Sokarov. After you find him, , take him to the 138th Division Headquarters to find me."
Sokov hurriedly returned to the 138th Division headquarters for two purposes. One was to use the phone there to report to Chuikov that the pontoon bridge had been blown up; the other was to help the engineer company when they could not find Sokarov's whereabouts. , he can ask the 138th Division to send manpower to assist in the search.
As soon as he walked into the 138th Division headquarters, Lyudnikov stepped forward and hugged Sokov, saying repeatedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is great, it's great. I didn't expect it to explode so easily." The German pontoon bridge was destroyed. I have sent people to check it out. Only about 40 to 50 meters of the pontoon bridge is left. The rest of the blown parts either sank to the bottom of the river or were washed downstream by the river. In a word In other words, the German pontoon bridge is finished."
Sokov nodded, picked up the phone on the table, and said to Lyudnikov: "Yes, the comrades of the engineer company did a good job. I will report this news to General Chuikov immediately."
After the call was connected, Sokov said into the microphone: "Comrade General, I have good news for you. We have successfully blown up the German army's pontoon bridge on the Aksay River. They could only cross the river in a short time. "
"Great, this is really great!" Chuikov was very happy when he heard the news. He asked with a face: "What are the names of the soldiers who blew up the pontoon bridge? I want to take credit for them~!"
"Comrade General, Corporal Sokarov of the engineer company that blew up the pontoon bridge," Sokov said into the microphone: "Before he set off, I told him that as long as he could successfully complete the task, I would personally promote him He has the rank of sergeant, and he will also be awarded a medal for bravery. Comrade general, I can make the final decision on the matter of promotion, but the issue of awarding the medal can only be made by you."
"No problem." Chuikov heard what Sokov said and replied very readily: "For such a hero, just a medal for bravery is not enough, I think. We also need to inform him of his deeds. To the commanders and fighters of the entire army, calling on everyone to learn from him. By the way, where is he now?"
"Comrade General, the situation is like this. Corporal Sokarov took a rubber boat carrying two hundred kilograms of explosives, lit the fuse fifty meters away from the pontoon, and then abandoned the ship." Sokov replied: " Now that the task of blowing up the bridge has been successfully completed, I have sent comrades from the engineering company to look for him."
"What, he abandoned the ship fifty meters away from the pontoon?" Chuikov, who was originally very excited, became serious after listening to Sokov's report: "It's too dark tonight, there's nothing in the sky Moon, visibility is very low, can you confirm that Corporal Sokarov lit the fuse fifty meters away?"
When Sokov heard the question raised by Chuikov, he thought to himself: Ginger is still too old. He only thought that Sokarov abandoned the ship fifty meters away from the pontoon, but he forgot that because it was too dark, the visibility was poor. Limited, Sokarov may not be able to light the fuse at the exact location and then abandon ship.
As soon as the phone was put down, the engineer company commander ran over breathlessly and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, my men have searched upstream and downstream, but they have never found Sokarov. "
Sokov asked anxiously: "Is it possible that it was too dark and you couldn't see clearly, so you didn't find it?"
"No." The engineer company commander shook his head and said, "The remaining pontoon bridge is still burning, illuminating the surrounding river very brightly. The soldiers I sent to respond have searched back and forth twice after the explosion. But Sokarov's whereabouts are still not found. Comrade Chief of Staff, what should we do?"
Fortunately, Sokov's other purpose in going to the 138th Division Headquarters was to ask Lyudnikov to dispatch troops to help search for Sokarov's whereabouts if necessary. Originally this was just a backup plan of his, but now it seems that asking Lyudnikov to send troops is imperative.
Lyudnikov saw Sokov's eyes glancing towards him, and without waiting for the other party to speak, he said first: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to say anything, I understand what you mean. I will send two platoons of soldiers immediately , let them assist the engineer company in finding the whereabouts of Corporal Sokarov."
"Comrade company commander, have you heard everything?" Sokov said to the engineer company commander: "Colonel Lyudnikov is going to lend you two platoons. Later, you will take these soldiers to the pontoon bridge. Downstream, search carefully for me. If you want to see people alive or dead, you must find the whereabouts of Corporal Sokarov, do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander nodded and said, "Corporal Sokarov is my subordinate, and I will definitely try my best to find him."
