When Sokov walked out of the headquarters with brisk steps, Samoylov and Guchakov, who had been waiting impatiently outside, greeted him and asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander" , what important matter does the commander and the military commissioner have to ask you?"
Seeing people coming and going in the corridor, Sokov felt that it was not the place to talk, so he said to the two of them: "It's not convenient to talk here. Let's leave first and talk while walking on the road."
The three people left the building where the headquarters was located and walked not far along the street toward the outside of the city. Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice shouting next to them: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you still remember me?"
Sokov turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound, and saw two trucks parked on the roadside. An officer and several soldiers were standing next to one of the trucks. "Comrade Brigade Commander," Samoilov said close to Sokov's ear: "It's the driver Sayers who just sent us here."
"Ah ha, Sayers, my friend." Sokov raised his hand and waved towards Sayers twice, and asked curiously: "What are you doing here?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Seeing that Sokov recognized him, Sayers hurried over and said with some excitement, "I'm waiting for you here."
"Waiting for us?" Sokov asked in surprise, "What are you waiting for us here for?"
Before Sayers could answer, the officer standing next to the car walked up to Sokov, raised his hand to salute him, and reported politely: "Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I am the 753rd Lieutenant Badukhov, the leader of the transport team.”
After raising his hand in return, Sokov extended his hand to the other party. After shaking hands, he asked curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant, what are you and your men doing here?" At this point, he glanced at Thayer quickly. Si glanced at him and asked in a teasing tone, "You're not waiting for us here too, are you?"
Sokov's words aroused laughter from Samoilov and Guchakov, but after the laughter stopped, Lieutenant Badukhov said seriously: "You are right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. I and I Your subordinates are indeed waiting for you here."
"Wait for me?" Seeing that the lieutenant and Sayers said the same thing, Sokov couldn't help but curiously asked: "What are you waiting for me for?"
"That's it, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Badukhov said respectfully: "Our transport team originally belonged to the Southeast Front Army. After the designation of the troops defending Stalingrad was changed, we were incorporated into the Don Front Army, but we were not It has been performing transportation tasks within the defense zone of the Stalingrad Front. During these months of transportation, due to constant shelling and bombing by enemy aircraft, the original transportation team of sixty trucks now only has These two cars.”
Sokov only knew that in the Battle of Stalingrad, the troops fighting at the front suffered heavy losses, but he did not expect that the convoys responsible for transportation in the rear also suffered the same fate. He didn't know how to persuade the other party, so he could only say dryly: "Lieutenant Badukhov, thank you for your hard work!"
"As long as we can defeat the enemy, we will have no complaints no matter how hard or tired we are." Badukhov said with some embarrassment: "I am waiting for you here today because I have something to ask you."
"Can you ask me for anything?" Sokov thought to himself that I have no affiliation with you. What do you want me to do? Although I thought so in my heart, I still said politely: "Comrade Lieutenant, if you have any questions, just ask. As long as I can do it, I will definitely help you."
"Due to the serious losses of our transportation team, starting from mid-September, the logistics force here will no longer arrange any transportation tasks for us. Only when the transportation force is really tight, we will be temporarily assigned to help." Badukhov He said to Sokov sincerely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, my subordinates and I are all Stalingraders. We cannot stand the situation where others are working hard to defeat the enemy, while we can only stand aside and do nothing. Therefore, , on behalf of the remaining subordinates, I request you to accept us and take us to attack the enemy."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Samoilov saw that the other party actively asked to join his troops, and he quickly leaned into Sokov's ear and whispered: "Although they only have two trucks, they can join us during the next march. Please help us transport weapons and ammunition, and you can accept them."
Samoilov's proposal was in line with Sokov's wishes. They carried a lot of captured weapons, ammunition and supplies. If they could be transported by vehicle, it would reduce the burden on the soldiers during the march. Thinking of this, Sokov nodded to Bardukhov, then stretched out his hand to him and said friendly: "Lieutenant Bardukhov, welcome to join our army."
"Great, this is really great." Badukhov grabbed Sokov's hand and shook it vigorously a few times, turned around and shouted happily to the surrounding subordinates: "Comrades, you all listen Come on, from now on we are organized again.”
"Hello, comrades! Let me introduce myself. I am Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade." Sokov let go of Badukhov's hand and said to the surrounding car soldiers: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the infantry brigade, I welcome you to join us."
Seeing Sokov surrounded by car soldiers, Samoylov couldn't help but murmured in a low voice: "Did Comrade Brigade Commander make a mistake? He is obviously a lieutenant colonel, why did he tell others that he was a colonel? "
Guchakov, who has never spoken, considers the problem much more comprehensively than Samoilov. He sneered, and then whispered to Samoylov: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, don't you understand that our brigade commander must have just been promoted to colonel? Didn't you see him walking out of the headquarters? , with a smile on his eyebrows.”
After Guchakov's reminder, Samoylov felt that it seemed reasonable. Sokov would never lie about this kind of thing. Otherwise, when these auto soldiers arrived at Mamayev Heights, they would inquire about it. When Sokov was not a colonel, but just a lieutenant colonel, it had an impact on his reputation.
After getting two trucks, it would be much easier for Sokov and the others to return to Red October Town. In less than ten minutes, the truck stopped at the location where the troops were gathering. After Sokov got out of the car, he shouted to Bely who was standing not far away: "Colonel Bely, ask the soldiers to put all the extra weapons and ammunition on the truck."
When Bely heard Sokov's order, he quickly ran over and asked with some concern: "Comrade Brigadier, is it appropriate to put all the extra ammunition on the truck? What if they received some transportation mission on the way?" , we still have to unload the ammunition again."
"Don't worry, Colonel Bely, what you are worried about will not happen." Sokov said to Bely with a smile: "These two trucks are the property of our infantry brigade."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, what is going on?" Bely heard Sokov say this, with a puzzled expression on his face: "Why do you say these two trucks belong to us."
After Sokov proudly told Bely the origin of the truck, he lowered his voice and said: "Colonel Bely, I have one more thing to tell you. In recognition of my military exploits, my superiors not only awarded me a red flag. Medal, and also promoted my military rank. Now I am a colonel like you."
"Is this all true?" After learning that Sokov had been promoted to military rank and received a medal, Bely was sincerely happy for him. He quickly extended his hand to him and said with a smile: "Comrade Brigadier, please accept me. Congratulations on receiving a higher military rank and a precious Order of the Red Banner."
"Colonel Bely," Sokov couldn't help but feel a little guilty when he thought that Bely had made many meritorious deeds during this period of battle, but had not received any rewards. He said apologetically: " I feel that this medal and military rank are well deserved. The reason why we have achieved such great results is all thanks to the vast number of commanders and soldiers..."
Before Sokov could finish speaking, Bely interrupted him and said, "Comrade Brigadier, I can't say anything else. If it weren't for your command, it would be impossible for us to achieve such great results. I have carefully recalled every battle you commanded, and I feel that even if I were to command myself, I would never be able to do better than you. Therefore, you deserve the medals and military ranks awarded to you by your superiors."
While the two were talking, Shamrih ran over and asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I would like to ask when our troops will set off?"
Sokov pointed to the truck not far away and replied: "When the soldiers put all the extra ammunition on the truck, we can set off. Try to reach the next ferry before dark, so that we Then we can cross the Volga River at night and enter Mamayev Kurgan.”
Shamrih looked at the location of the truck and saw that there were already a lot of weapons and ammunition piled on it. Knowing that he would not be able to wait long before setting off, he quickly said hello to Sokov and ran back to gather the team to prepare for departure. .
After the excess weapons, ammunition and supplies were piled on the trucks and the troops were assembled, Sokov immediately waved his hand and said loudly: "Let's go!"
When the troops lined up in four columns and marched neatly along the streets, Sokov was preparing to march with them on foot. But the transport captain Badukhov pulled him and begged: "It's still more than ten kilometers from here to the next river crossing. You'd better take our car."
Of course it is a good thing to have a car to sit in, but all the commanders and soldiers are marching, and as the supreme commander, I am riding in a car, which feels a little inappropriate. Bely, who was standing aside, saw Sokov's dilemma and took the initiative to come to his rescue: "Comrade Brigadier, I have rheumatism. My legs and feet have been so painful when I walked these past two days. I want to march in a car. I wonder if you can Agree? By the way, I still have something to discuss with you, why not take a ride together?"
