As soon as Sokov returned to the headquarters with the support of Vitkov, Sidorin came up to him and said anxiously, "Comrade Brigadier, something happened!"
"Something happened?!" After Sokov saw Sidorin's expression clearly, his heart beat faster. However, he still tried to control his emotions and asked in a calm tone, "What happened?"
"Read this telegram first." Sidorin put a telegram into Sokov's hand and gasped, "This is so outrageous!"
Sokov quickly lowered his head to read the telegram in his hand. After seeing the content clearly, he slammed the telegram on the table and said angrily, "Who gave them the right to seize the arms given to us?" ?”
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," seeing both Sokov and Sidorin looking angry, Vitkov didn't know what happened and quickly asked, "What happened?"
Upon hearing Vitkov's questioning, Sokov picked up the telegram on the table and handed it to Vitkov. At the same time, he said, "This is the telegram from Major Yakov. He said that the second batch of rockets was prepared for us." , it was originally scheduled to be transported to Mamayev Heights at noon tomorrow, but unexpectedly, it was detained by the NKVD people on the way."
"Withheld our arms?" Witkov couldn't help but become anxious when he heard this. "Why is this?"
"I don't know," Sokov shook his head, looked at Sidorin and asked, "Chief of Staff, have you called Major Yakov back and asked him why he seized our arms? You know, Mamaye now There are so few defenders in Fugang. Without the help of this new rocket, it would be difficult for us to hold our position."
Sidorin turned his head and glanced at the position of the operator, and replied, "I asked the operator to send a telegram to Major Yakov to ask what happened, but I haven't received a call back yet."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't be anxious." Vitkov is someone who has seen big scenes after all. After reading the telegram, he did not panic and flew away. Instead, he reassured the two of them, "Until the reason is understood, , it’s useless for you two to be anxious, just sit down and wait until you receive a call back, and then we’ll discuss how to handle it.”
After both of them sat down, Vitkov said softly, "According to my estimation, it must have been after Major Yakov returned to Moscow and reported the power of this new rocket to his superiors that some people became jealous. Ask people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to seize these rockets. Only when we figure out who wants these rockets can we find targeted ways to solve the problem."
After listening to Vitkov's words, Sokov felt much calmer. He knew that his arms could not twist his thighs. Even though he was a brigade commander now, his identity would not be easy to use as long as he left Mamayev Heights. , even if he knew who wanted these rockets, there was no way he could get them back.
While waiting for Yakov's call back, Sidorin suddenly said, "Comrade Brigadier, it's really strange these past two days. The Germans didn't launch an attack?"
When Sokov heard the news, he was stunned for a moment, and then he wanted to understand what was going on. "I think it may have been an attack by Golia and the others, which annihilated the German regiment headquarters and completely disrupted their deployment. I I think the Germans may concentrate their forces in the past two days to search for our troops in the rear to attack the headquarters, but they are temporarily unable to mobilize enough forces to launch an attack on Mamayev Heights."
"It is entirely possible." Vitkov agreed. "I remember that last month during the battle for the Central Railway Station, a German colonel and a major were killed by snipers, which caused chaos in the German command system. This prevents them from organizing forces to attack the station again in a short period of time."
Hearing Vitkov talking about this, Sidorin showed a smile on his face. He said quite proudly, "Comrade Colonel, you may not know yet, but the sniper who killed two enemy colonel officers was Lieutenant Colonel Vasily." scholar."
"What, Sergeant Vasily did it?" Vitkov said in surprise when he heard the news. "I didn't expect that he was so powerful. He crushed the German army's attempt to seize the station dormitory area with two shots."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," the operator sitting in front of the radio turned to call Sidorin, "Major Yakov's call back has arrived."
When he heard that Yakov's reply had arrived, Sidorin stood up and rushed to the operator's side, taking the telegram from his hand. He read as he walked, and when he returned to the table and sat down, he had finished reading the contents of the telegram. When he handed the telegram to Sokov, he said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, I have figured it out. It is General Moskalenko, commander of the First Guards Army. When he returned to Moscow to report on his work, he heard that our brigade was using this new rocket With the help of rockets, he successfully crushed the German attack, and then proposed to his superiors that if he could provide them with a batch of rockets, his group army might be able to break the German blockade and join forces with the defenders in Stalingrad. "
Sokov glanced at the telegram in his hand and saw that it contained more than what Sidorin said, so he continued to ask, "So, this is why the superiors asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to seize these rockets." Ammunition, ready to be handed over to General Moskalenko's First Guards Army?"
"Yes, that's true." Sidorin nodded, and continued, "The rockets are now being held in Kamisin, which is less than ten kilometers away from the station of the First Guards Army."
"It's less than ten kilometers away from the First Guards Army," Sokov said while looking for Kamishin's location on the map. "Well, I found it. It's north of Stalingrad, on the right bank of the Volga River, not far from us. It’s more than a hundred kilometers.” After seeing clearly where Kamishin was, Sokov almost fell into despair. To get from Mamayev Heights to Kamishin, he first had to cross the river from the ferry to the left bank, and then take a bus. Go north, and after arriving near Kamisin, take the ferry back to the right bank. Perhaps while they were still struggling on the road, Moskalenko had already arranged for manpower to transport these rockets back to his defense area.
Just when Sokov was desperate, he suddenly heard Sidorin say: "Major Yakov said that he would rush to Kamishin as soon as possible to try to persuade the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to let them go, and to rearrange manpower to send these rockets Transported to Mamayev Kurgan.”
"If Yakov can come forward, then things will be easier to handle." Knowing that Yakov will personally come forward to mediate, Sokov regained hope. "But before that, we have to send someone to guard these rockets. Don’t let the men of the First Guards Army take it away.”
"But, Comrade Brigade Commander, who should be sent?" Hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin said in embarrassment, "Even if you and I go out personally, the other side only needs a general to take away these rockets." , we are helpless."
As soon as the flame of hope emerged in Sokov's heart, it was ruthlessly extinguished by Sidorin's basin of cold water. He stared at the map in front of him, gritting his teeth and thinking, "What should I do? If Yakov cannot arrive in time, these rockets will be taken away by Moskalenko's people. Once the rockets are taken away, It’s simply impossible to come back.”
"Don't be anxious." Seeing Sokov and Sidorin looking extremely anxious, Vitkov comforted them and said, "How about I go to Kamishin? Maybe we can stop the First Guards Army." People take the rockets away."
"What's the use of your going..." Sokov was halfway through his words when he suddenly remembered that Vitkov also has the identity of deputy chief of staff of the group army. In addition, he is now his deputy brigade commander. It is up to him to come forward. It's perfect to receive this batch of rockets. Sokov quickly held Vitkov's hand and said emotionally, "Comrade Colonel, it would be great if you could take action. With your status, even if General Moskalenko takes action himself, you can't." Take these rockets away."
Seeing that Sokov did not object to his proposal, Vitkov raised his hand and looked at his watch and said, "I will go to the army headquarters first to inform the commander of the matter and let him know what is going on. In this way, even if there are any changes, He can help with that too.”
Sokov waited for Vitkov to finish speaking, and immediately shouted "Seryozha!" outside.
Following Sokov's shout, Seryosha came in from outside. He came to Sokov, straightened his body and asked, "Comrade Brigadier, what are your instructions?"
Sokov pointed at Vitkov and said to Seryosha, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander is going to perform an important task. I will leave his safety to you. You must immediately mobilize elite troops to attack him." Protect him. Even if he loses a hair, I can't spare you, do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Brigadier." Seryosha originally wanted to leave the task of protecting Vitkov to other officers of the guard company, but when he saw Sokov ordering him so solemnly, he immediately realized the problem. He quickly glanced at Vitkov who was standing next to him, and then replied resoundingly, "I will protect the safety of comrade deputy brigade commander just like I want to protect my own eyes." After that, , he saluted Sokov and turned back to the guard company to select men.
As soon as Seryosha left, Sokov held Vitkov's hand again and said emotionally, "Comrade Colonel, I leave everything to you. The Chief of Staff and I are waiting here for your good news."
"Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." Vitkov replied with a smile, "As long as I am here, I will never let those arms belonging to us fall into the hands of others."
After the two men let go of their hands, Sidorin also stepped forward to shake hands with Vitkov. "Comrade Colonel, please be careful along the way. We are waiting for your safe return."
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