When Lemusev returned to his battalion command post, his three company commanders were already waiting here. As soon as they saw him entering, the company commanders asked one after another: "Comrade battalion commander, when will we attack?"
"What are you doing here?" Lemusev suddenly became angry when he saw the company commanders gathered around him: "Have you finished repairing all the fortifications you were asked to build? The brigade commander will come to inspect it later. If If it’s not finished, you’ll have something to look at.”
The company commanders were confused by Lemusev's attitude. Not long ago, the battalion commander sent someone to inform them to prepare for an attack. Unexpectedly, after a trip to the brigade headquarters, his attitude changed 180 degrees. Not only did he not talk about the attack, but he urged them to build fortifications.
The first company commander scratched the back of his head and asked in confusion: "Comrade Battalion Commander, wasn't the mission we originally received was to recapture the lost station from the Germans? How come it turned into holding the position in the blink of an eye?"
"The brigade commander said it," Lemusev said with a hint of anger: "He has overall arrangements for when to launch the attack, so we don't have to worry about it. The first priority of our battalion now is to defend the current position."
"Hell," the second company commander heard this and couldn't help complaining: "We sailors have always been offensive and don't know what defense is. Rather than letting the soldiers consume a lot of energy while repairing fortifications, we should organize them immediately Attack and take the station back from the Germans as quickly as possible.”
The words of the second company commander aroused the echo of the other two company commanders. The third company commander said: "Yes, we sailors have our own way of fighting. It was a mistake to let the army command us. Since he is unwilling to attack, Then we will attack on our own. When we take the station, let’s see what the army commanders have to say!”
Lemusev had long been dissatisfied with Tanasorov's delay in holding back his troops. Now that he saw that the company commanders were all eager to fight, he couldn't help but feel excited. After thinking for a moment, he decided to take a risk, which was better than doing nothing now. So he took out the map, spread it on the table, and discussed the details of the attack with the company commanders.
The sailors' equipment is very poor. Except for a few light machine guns, they are almost exclusively equipped with rifles. Therefore, when attacking, they cannot get the support of mortar fire. Even the machine guns that provide fire support cannot attack the enemy. firepower to implement effective suppression. The only tactic is to use the warrior's bravery and skilled technical and tactical skills to break through the enemy's defense line with flesh and blood.
A battle plan was quickly drawn up, and three companies took turns attacking the station. When the first company is exhausted, the second company is used up; when the second company is used up, the third company is used up. All three companies were exhausted, and Lemusev led the troops directly under the battalion headquarters to launch the final attack.
Lemusev put away the map on the table and said to the three company commanders: "The mission has been clarified. You all go back and make preparations. The attack should start in half an hour." The three company commanders agreed with a bang, Prepare to turn around and walk out of the battalion command post.
At this moment, a soldier ran in from outside and reported to Lemusev: "Comrade Battalion Commander, a group of army commanders are coming towards us."
"It is estimated that the brigade commander came to inspect our defense." Lemusev heard the soldier's report and said with a wry smile: "Follow me and go out to meet him."
Unexpectedly, when he walked out of the door, he saw that it was not Tanasolov and the others, but Klimov, who had met him once. Lemusev stepped forward and held Klimov's hand, and asked curiously: "Comrade Captain, why are you here?"
"Comrade Battalion Commander," Klimov asked curiously while shaking hands with Lemusev: "If I remember correctly, your battalion should have arrived at this position at noon. It is almost dark now, why are you still here?" No attack?"
"Attack?!" Hearing Kerimov's question, Lemusev replied with a wry smile: "The superiors have not given us an attack order until now, how dare we act rashly."
Klimov asked in surprise: "Why, your brigade commander hasn't given you an attack order yet?"
"No," Lemusev shook his head and said, "He said that if the troops were not ready to attack, a hasty attack would inevitably cause heavy casualties, so he just ordered us to build defenses and wait for the right time. "
"How can we keep waiting?" Klimov heard this and said anxiously: "If we wait any longer, the enemy's defense will become stronger, and if we want to capture the station, we will pay a heavier price."
Since Lemusev did not know the details of Kerimov, he naturally would not tell him that he planned to disobey military orders and organize troops to attack the station privately. Instead, he pretended to be helpless and said: "Oh, no. Method, even if the orders from our superiors are wrong, we must execute them unconditionally."
"Comrade Captain," Klimov looked at Lemusev and said solemnly: "I am now the liaison officer sent by the Army Group Headquarters. On behalf of the commander, I order you to immediately launch an attack on the station."
Learning that Klimov was the liaison officer sent by Chuikov, Lemusev showed a surprised expression on his face: "Comrade Captain, are you saying that even if we launch an attack on the station immediately, it will not be considered a disobedience to the military order?"
"How can you be considered a violation of military orders when you attack the enemy entrenched in the station?" As soon as Klimov finished saying this, he suddenly thought of a possibility and asked tentatively: "Comrade Captain, don't you want to memorize it?" Use the brigade headquarters to launch an attack on the station?"
"Yes, that's right." Seeing that Klimov guessed his intention, Lemusev did not hide it, but answered truthfully: "If you had come a little later, our attack on the station would have been delayed. It’s time to begin.”
"How do you plan to attack?" Klimov asked.
"Comrade Captain, please come inside." Lemusev felt that it was inappropriate to discuss how to attack the station in public, so he invited Kerimov to the command post to discuss it in detail, and also called several company commanders. Go up: "The company commanders are also coming in."
Arriving at the command post, Lemusev took out the map again, spread it on the table, and introduced the offensive steps to Kerimov in detail. After hearing this, Klimov frowned and said: "Comrade Captain, you are just taking human lives to pay for it. Have you ever thought about what to do if the whole battalion is exhausted but the station is still not captured?" ?"
Don't look at Lemusev's plan, which said that the first company will fight all the second company, and the second company will die and it will be the turn of the third company, but in fact he believes in the combat effectiveness of his men very much, and feels that at best one-third of the effort will be given. At a price, the troops can storm the station. After hearing Klimov's doubts at this moment, he realized that he had thought of the problem too simply. Fortunately, he did not act stubbornly, but humbly asked Klimov for advice: "Comrade Captain, do you have any good suggestions?"
"Vasily," Klimov turned to look at Vasily who came in with him, and said to him: "You are most familiar with the terrain there. We want to hear your opinion on how to attack."
Seeing that the eyes of all the commanders in the room were focused on him, Vasily smiled shyly, then pointed at the map and said to everyone: "If you want to seize the station, you must first capture the station building. But the enemy is there. The defense force is strong. If we attack from the front, we will suffer huge casualties..."
"Sergeant Vasily, we all understand the situation you mentioned." Before Vasily could finish speaking, Klimov interrupted him and said impatiently: "Let's get to the point."
Vasily grinned, pointed to a location not far from the station building, and continued: "There is a two-story building here, which was originally a nail factory building, located on the side of the station building. The enemy's defense The focus should be on the front of the station. The defense on the sides is relatively weak. If we send troops to occupy the nail factory and then launch an attack on the station building from there, we may be able to attack the station at a very small cost. , capture the station building..."
"This is a good idea." Lemusev nodded and said, "I can send a company to use the cover of the ruins to quietly approach the nail factory, eliminate the enemies inside by surprise, and then launch an attack on the station building from the side. attack."
However, when Lemusev assigned the task, the second company commander raised objections: "Comrade Battalion Commander, there are ruins everywhere. We are not familiar with the place. It is easy to get lost if we enter that area rashly."
Before Lemusev could make a request to Kerimov, he took the initiative and said: "Comrade commanders, you don't have to worry. Sergeant Vasily is a sniper of our brigade. He has performed operations at the station and nearby areas. He has done many sniper missions and is familiar with the terrain. He can act as a guide for you and lead your assault troops to seize the nail factory building."
"This is really great." Hearing Klimov say this, Lemusev was overjoyed. He shook hands with Klimov first to express his gratitude. Then he held Vasily's hand and said with some excitement: "Comrade Sergeant, as long as you can successfully occupy the nail factory with your company, then our battalion will definitely be able to capture the station."
After arranging the combat mission, the first company commander who was responsible for the sneak attack asked Lemusev: "Comrade Battalion Commander, we will launch an attack on the station soon. Do you think we should continue to keep it secret from our superiors?"
"No need." Before Lemusev could speak, Klimov rushed to say: "Before I came here, the actions you were going to take were unauthorized actions. But now the situation is different. You are acting under orders. , I will report the detailed situation to Colonel Tanasolov when I arrive at the brigade headquarters later."
