As soon as Koida entered the door, Sokov said bluntly: "Comrade Colonel, I just received a call from the commander. He said that the flanks of the offensive troops of the 39th Guards Division were counterattacked by the German army and are currently facing being defeated. The danger of interception ordered us to immediately organize forces to go to support."
Hearing the news, Koida showed an expression of surprise on his face: "Comrade Brigade Commander, so you plan to send our regiment to attack?"
"The task of reinforcing friendly forces will be completed by me personally leading the first battalion and the tank battalion." Unexpectedly, Sokov poured cold water on him: "I called you here just to ask you to lead the troops to stay. Stay here and ensure that the enemy does not occupy the assembly workshop while we are away."
The smile on Koida's face gradually disappeared, and he said reluctantly: "Comrade Brigadier, the hundreds of soldiers under my command all have rich combat experience. I feel that we are completely confident in completing the tasks assigned to us by our superiors. Task."
"Comrade Colonel, I know that the soldiers you lead have rich combat experience and are very brave on the battlefield." Seeing that Koida was a little unwilling to obey his orders, Sokov could only say in a more serious tone: "But this alone is not enough. In addition to the infantry, the reinforcements we sent this time also included two companies of tanks. My soldiers all know how to cooperate with the tanks, and a kind of friendship has been formed between them. There is a tacit understanding, if I change people rashly, I am worried that there will be unnecessary confusion during the battle."
Sokov's words were very rude, but Koida had nothing to say. According to his idea, tanks are a kind of technical equipment to cover infantry attacks. They can just stop where they are and fire. There is no need for tanks. Infantrymen fight together. Since he could not refute, he could only bite the bullet and reply: "Okay, Comrade Brigade Commander, since you say so, I will stay and hold my position."
Half an hour later, Sokov, Yakov, Bely, Vanya and others set off with the tank battalion and the commanders and fighters of the first battalion, rushing to reinforce the friendly forces at the main gate to prevent their positions from being breached by the Germans.
As soon as Sokov left, Mashkov said to Koida unconvinced: "Comrade division commander, our superiors sent us here to strengthen the defense here, not to look at him. You know, you are the division commander, He is the brigade commander; you are the colonel, and he is just a lieutenant colonel, so how can he be qualified to tell you what to do?"
Koida was originally a little uncomfortable with Sokov's arrangement, but when he heard what Mashkov said, he felt even more inexplicably angry. After walking back and forth in the command post twice with his hands behind his back, he stopped and said to Mashkov: "Comrade Political Commissar, you are right. We cannot tolerate this kind of cowardice. I will call Comrade Commander immediately." Call and report this matter to him.”
After speaking, Koida walked to the telephone, cranked it twice, picked up the phone and put it to his ear, and said into the phone: "Get me to the Army Headquarters and ask for Commander Chuikov."
Due to the fierce fighting in various places, the headquarters' phone has been unable to be connected for a long time. Koida waited for a long time and found that the call was still not connected, so he got angry at the operator: "What happened? Why hasn't the call been connected after so long? If important things are delayed because of this, I will shoot him." you."
The female operator was so frightened by Koida's stern tone that she turned pale, but she still tried to control her emotions and explained in a calm tone: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, the lines at the Army Headquarters are busy, and our place is for civilian use." line, there is no priority access."
After waiting for almost ten minutes, the call was finally connected. Chuikov's furious voice came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, didn't I order you to reinforce the 39th Guards Division? Why haven't you set off yet?"
Koida held the microphone further away from her ears to prevent Chuikov's voice from shattering her eardrums. After Chuikov's words came to an end, he said cautiously: "It's me, Comrade Commander, I'm Colonel Koida."
Hearing that the person speaking was Koida, Chuikov's tone became much kinder: "It's Colonel Koida. Where is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov now?"
"He led the first battalion and the tank battalion to reinforce the friendly forces." When Koida spoke, he raised his hand to look at his watch, and then added: "It has been about twenty minutes since they set off."
"Since Sokov personally led the attack, he must have handed over the defense task of the assembly workshop to your mixed regiment?" After Chuikov told his analysis, he asked with some confusion: "Colonel Koida, listen to the operator Say, you’ve been calling me all the time, is there anything important?”
"That's it, Comrade Commander." Koida heard Chuikov ask him, and quickly reported the fact that he wanted to lead his troops to rescue friendly forces, but was rejected by Sokov. He reported to Chuikov one after another, and finally said: "I think the reason why Lieutenant Colonel Sokov asked us to stay here is because he was worried that we would take away their credit!"
"Stealing their credit?" After Chuikov repeated Koida's words, his tone became extremely sharp: "Comrade Colonel, do you think you can block the enemy's attack if your mixed regiment and the tank battalion are allowed to attack together? "
"I think, I think," Koida did not expect that Chuikov would suddenly ask himself this. He seemed a little flustered for a while. After a while, he said hesitantly: "I think we should be able to block the enemy's attack. You know , the soldiers in the mixed regiment are all veterans with rich combat experience, and they also performed bravely on the battlefield."
"Colonel Koida, do you think that soldiers with rich combat experience and bravery can definitely win?" Chuikov said rudely on the phone: "Please forgive me, although you are an excellent commander Comrade, but you do not understand modern warfare, and the tactics used in battle are too old and rigid. If you are really asked to lead troops to reinforce friendly forces, I am worried that your entire army will be destroyed." Koida never dreamed Thinking that Chuikov would say this about him, he was stunned for a moment.
Seeing that there was no sound in the receiver, Chuikov guessed that his tone might be too strong, which Koida could not accept, so he softened his tone and said: "Comrade Colonel, although Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is still very young, as a commander, The time is not as long as yours, but he has a unique side in the use of tactics, otherwise we would not be able to put so many important troops under his command. Listen to me, if you still want to stay on the front line to fight the enemy , just learn more from him. Do you understand?"
Although Koida's heart was full of dissatisfaction with Sokov, Chuikov was speaking for him at this moment. He could no longer refute and could only bite the bullet and replied: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will try my best to tell him Learn, learn how to use new tactics in battle to hit the enemy hard."
"That's right, Comrade Colonel." Chuikov could tell from Koida's tone that he was genuinely dissatisfied, but he did not point it out. Instead, he told him: "I believe you and Lieutenant Colonel Sokov After getting along with him for a while, you can understand why he is trusted and valued by his superiors.”
After Koida put down the phone, he sat at the table and lit a cigarette. After taking two puffs, he looked up at Mashkov sitting opposite and asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, am I really behind the times? Even Are you no better than a young man half my age in commanding and fighting?"
Mashkov, who had encouraged Koida to complain to Chuikov, had heard some of Chuikov's words, and he was very conflicted in his heart. He couldn't help but secretly wonder: Could it be that his views on Sokov were always wrong? Otherwise, how could the commander be so partial to him?
Hearing Koida's question at this moment, he smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade division commander, hearing is false and seeing is believing. What is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's ability? Let's see how he goes in this battle to reinforce friendly forces. call taxi."
