After receiving the call, Brisky appeared in front of Sokov in less than two minutes. He respectfully asked: "Comrade Brigadier, what are your instructions?"
"Comrade Captain," Sokov said with a straight face, "What were the casualties of your battalion in the battle just now?"
"Twenty people were sacrificed and thirty-five were injured." Briski said with a somewhat depressed expression: "If this kind of battle happens twice more, my troops will be exhausted."
"From now on, only one company of troops will be left on the position," Sokov waited for him to finish, and then immediately continued: "The rest of the troops will be withdrawn as reserves."
"What, put only one company on the position?" Hearing Sokov's arrangement, Brisky's eyes widened in surprise, "Comrade Brigadier, if we put only one company in a trench several hundred meters long, how many people will there be?" Would it be too little?”
"I will ask Major Bolshak to mobilize the soldiers of the annihilation battalion to assist you in your defense." Sokov has already figured it out at this moment. He cannot not use this unit just because the combat effectiveness of the annihilation battalion is poor, and let his own The troops are responsible for all defense work. The result of this is not good for the annihilation battalion, but harming them. If an army does not pass the test of blood and fire, how can it grow rapidly? He was deeply afraid that Briski would raise objections, so he emphasized: "Although they have not received systematic military training, they can always shoot, right? Even if their marksmanship is not accurate, when the Germans attack, they hide in the trenches and fire volleys of guns." , it can still cause huge casualties to the enemy."
"It makes sense, Comrade Brigade Commander, what you said makes sense." Briski agreed: "If the reorganized fighter battalion never participates in the battle, then it will be difficult to improve their combat effectiveness."
"For the troops who have withdrawn, let them take time to rest." Sokov continued: "I plan to let them perform an important mission tonight."
"Important mission?!" Briski's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard what Sokov said. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you plan to let them sneak attack the enemy tonight?"
"Yes, that's how I think about it." Sokov nodded and said, "Since the Germans can sneak attack us, why can't we sneak attack them? Then let the soldiers bring a few rockets and try to win the battle with one fell swoop. Destroy the enemy's headquarters."
"Understood." Briski agreed loudly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I will arrange for the troops to withdraw immediately."
"Wait a minute." Seeing Briski preparing to leave in a hurry, Sokov stopped him and warned: "When the troops retreat, carry the wounded to the basement and let Asiya help treat the wounds. Injuries If it's heavy, arrange for someone to take it back to Mamayev Heights as soon as possible."
Briski knew very well that due to the German blockade of the Volga River, it was also very dangerous to allow the wounded to ride to the rear. On the contrary, although the medical conditions in the health team at Mamayev Ridge are not very good, the seriously injured are treated there and have a high chance of recovery.
"Don't worry, Comrade Brigade Commander." Briski expressed his position to Sokov: "I will immediately arrange manpower to send all the wounded to the basement."
After Briski left, Sokov saw that all the components of the anti-aircraft gun had been lowered from the roof, so he ran to Cousteau and asked him: "Comrade workshop director, I want to ask when will you be able to These anti-aircraft guns were reassembled."
Cousteau glanced at the anti-aircraft gun that had become a part, and replied: "Comrade Major, it will take at least two hours to complete the assembly, and then add debugging, etc., it will take five hours anyway."
"Okay, comrade director of the workshop, please ask the workers to speed up the assembly." Sokov felt that after the anti-aircraft gun was reassembled, it would definitely not be able to be used directly and would have to be debugged first, so he decided to go find Ulanova. Ask her to arrange for female soldiers to participate in debugging. "As for the debugging work, I will arrange for people to complete it."
Before Sokov went to the basement to find Ulanova, Ulanova ran out of the basement first. When she saw the anti-aircraft guns being assembled, she immediately said emotionally: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, it seems that it won't be long before we have anti-aircraft guns to use again. As long as the German planes don't come, as long as they appear in From the sky above the factory building, I will definitely shoot them down."
"After the anti-aircraft gun is assembled, it may need to be debugged. I hope you can personally lead the female soldiers to complete this work." After Sokov said these words, he was silent for a moment, and then continued: "Ulanova Lieutenant, I think your anti-aircraft guns are not very effective if they are used for anti-aircraft defense. They might as well be used to attack tanks."
Ulanova did not object to Sokov's statement, but replied very readily: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I resolutely obey your order!"
From the corner of his eye, Sokov saw many wounded soldiers slowly heading towards the entrance of the basement with the support of their comrades. Seeing this situation, Sokov asked Ulanova hesitantly: "Comrade Lieutenant, I would like to ask, what is Asya doing now?"
"What else can she do?" Ulanova heard Sokov's question and said with some displeasure: "You knew that there were many wounded people, but you only brought her a health worker. Although there are factories in the basement There are doctors, but they can treat headaches and fever, but they don’t know how to treat the wounded. So to this day, Asiya is doing everything by herself."
"Really?" Sokov learned that Asya was too busy by herself, and he couldn't help but want to go over and help her, but in front of Ulanova, he still tried to pretend as if nothing had happened. Looks like: "It seems that I need to find a few more assistants for them."
Seeing Sokov's anxious look, Ulanova couldn't help but smile, and then said to Sokov: "Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, there are so many female soldiers in the basement. Seeing Asya How could they stand idly by when they are so busy? Now they are busy helping Asiya take care of the wounded."
"That's good, that's good." After learning that there were female soldiers from the anti-aircraft artillery battalion helping Asiya, Sokov said gratefully to Ulanova: "Comrade Lieutenant, please express my gratitude to your subordinates on my behalf. Thank you, thank you for everything they have done to help Asiya."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I think you seem to be quite nervous about Asiya?" Ulanova saw that Sokov seemed to care about Asiya, so she asked tentatively: "Are you interested in her?"
"Hahaha," Sokov giggled a few times and said to Ulanova with some embarrassment: "Lieutenant Ulanova, to tell you the truth, Asya is my wife."
After hearing Sokov's reply, the smile on Ulanova's face gradually disappeared. She asked in surprise: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you said Asya is your wife, is this true?" Although Sokov had already said this, Ulanova still felt that he was Bragging, so go out of your way to ask seriously.
"Yes, it's all true." Sokov nodded and said in a positive tone: "We registered our marriage at a marriage registration office in the city center before the Germans rushed into the city."
After learning that Sokov was already married, Ulanova showed a disappointed expression on her face. She coughed lightly, then lowered her head and asked Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, are you allowed to go back to the army to code? Now the anti-aircraft guns are being assembled. I'm afraid I won't be able to complete this work for a while. I still have many things to do." If you want to do it, don’t waste time here.”
Sokov is such a smart person. After seeing Ulanova's performance, he immediately understood that maybe the other party had a crush on him. Now that he heard that he was married, his mood couldn't help but become depressed. Sokov deliberately changed the subject and said: "Lieutenant Ulanova, since you still have so much work to do, go back first. After the anti-aircraft guns are assembled, I will send someone to call you." Ulanova The baby raised her hand and saluted Sokov, then turned around and left silently.
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." As soon as Ulanova was sent away, workshop director Cousteau hurried over and said to Sokov: "I just received a call from the factory director. He asked me to Immediately arrange manpower to transfer those tanks that have not yet been assembled to other workshops, and we must not let these technical equipment fall into the hands of the enemy."
"Comrade workshop director, are you thinking too much?" Sokov reminded Cousteau kindly: "The Germans simply cannot storm into the factory, so why do you have to worry about these technical equipment falling into the hands of the enemy. "
When Cousteau heard what Sokov said, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you really think that the enemy cannot break into the factory?"
"Yes, that is indeed the case." Sokov nodded and said: "But I still suggest that you put up a barbed wire fence in front of the position to prevent German soldiers from quickly rushing to the fortifications. In any case, it is densely packed The barbed wire can still get entangled in the tracks of the tank."
"What about the landmines?" Cousteau heard Sokov talking about pulling up the barbed wire fence and asked tentatively: "Do we need to build another minefield outside the barbed wire fence?"
"There is no need." Sokov simply rejected his proposal and explained: "Our mines are limited. Even if we bury them all, we will not be able to block the wide defensive front. And the Germans will definitely attack before attacking. After the shelling is over, how many mines do you think will be left, and what kind of threat will they pose to the enemy?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov was discussing the mine laying with Cousteau. Bolshak returned to Sokov again, looked at him and asked: "I heard that my troops are to be arranged in Is this happening in the trenches?"
Sokov was eager to know the true intention of the other party, so he said straight to the point: "Yes, this order was given by me. Your annihilation battalion has just been reorganized and has little combat effectiveness, so I plan to let them participate in the battle. Only by experiencing life and death personally can the combat effectiveness of the troops be improved."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since you know that they are untrained soldiers, is it appropriate to put them into battle so easily?" Bolshak asked tentatively: "I'm worried that many of these soldiers will be shocked when they see them. The enemy was rushing toward them, and their feet were so frightened that they couldn't even think of shooting."
"Comrade Major, I don't want to hide it from you." Sokov felt that he should make it clear to Bolshak to avoid him having any concerns: "I will not place the annihilation battalion alone in the trench, beside them, There are also the commanders and fighters of the fourth battalion that I trust most, they can serve as the backbone of the battle, allowing the soldiers to learn how to save their lives on the battlefield, etc..."
"Oh, I understand." After Sokov's narration, Bolshak finally nodded vigorously, expressing his approval of Sokov's statement: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I will immediately mobilize a company of troops to go Strengthen the direction of the fortifications there.”
"No, the number of people in a company is too small." Sokov explained to Bolshak: "The annihilation battalion has just been rebuilt, and it is almost entirely composed of militiamen. They have little combat effectiveness. When they see the enemy rushing towards them, Come on, maybe there are still people who are so scared that they wet their pants. If there are more people, when the enemy attacks, they can use volley fire to cause huge losses to the Germans."
"You are right, Comrade Brigade Commander." Bolshak agreed with Sokov's statement: "I am worried about the marksmanship of the militia soldiers, but if we use the method of discharging guns, To destroy the enemy’s vital forces, I think this is very correct.”
Seeing that Bolshak understood his intention, Sokov nodded and said to him: "Now that you understand what I mean, then rush back to the unit as soon as possible to arrange offensive operations."
At dawn, the rumble of artillery was heard in the distance. It seemed that the enemy was preparing for artillery fire elsewhere. The workers arranged by Cousteau and some soldiers of the Fourth Battalion left the trenches and walked towards the area full of German corpses, preparing to collect weapons that could still be used from them.
The officer leading the team was a lieutenant. He kept urging the soldiers loudly: "Comrades, move quickly. If the Germans find out that we are collecting their weapons, they will definitely fire at us. Come on, we must do it. Complete the collection of weapons before the enemy fires."
Before the weapons were collected, Sokov received a call from Guryev. The commander of the Guards Division said anxiously on the phone: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, my scouts found that there is about a battalion of German troops." The infantry is advancing in your direction, and I hope you can prepare for battle as soon as possible to avoid being caught off guard by the Germans."
Sokov raised his telescope and looked at the soldiers who were collecting weapons and ammunition. He felt that their work was almost completed, so he said into the microphone: "Thank you, Comrade General, thank you for alerting us. All we need is In a few minutes, our comrades who are cleaning the battlefield will withdraw to the fortifications."
