Sokov's idea is simple. Even if Christopher's physical condition is not suitable for carrying out missions, it is urgent to rebuild the reconnaissance company. In any case, professionals are more reliable when conducting reconnaissance behind enemy lines.
Just when Christopher was about to leave, Ivanov, who was silent next to him, stopped him, then turned to Sokov and said: "Comrade division commander, I don't think it is necessary to rebuild the reconnaissance company."
"Why?" Sokov asked curiously.
"There is a ready-made reconnaissance company in the division." Ivanov explained to Sokov: "Although there are only more than thirty people left, and all company and platoon-level commanders have died, it is still a complete organization. Soldiers They are all veteran scouts with rich experience, and as long as they are assigned new commanders, they will be able to play their role again soon."
"Is there a ready-made reconnaissance company in the division?" Sokov turned to look at Sidorin and asked in confusion: "Chief of Staff, isn't Lieutenant Christopher's reconnaissance company completely lost? When was the reconnaissance company rebuilt? , How come I don’t know about this?”
Hearing Sokov's question, Sidorin shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and replied with a wry smile: "Comrade division commander, I really can't answer your question, and I don't know the deputy division commander either." The reconnaissance company mentioned came out of nowhere."
Seeing Sokov and Sidorin looking confused, Ivanov coughed heavily and then explained to them: "Division Commander, Chief of Staff, the reconnaissance company you mentioned was lost. , belongs to the 73rd Infantry Brigade; and the reconnaissance company I mentioned belongs to the troops directly under the 41st Guards Division."
After Ivanov's explanation, Sokov and Sidorin understood that they had commanded the 41st Guards Division for so long and did not know that there was a reconnaissance company in the division's direct troops. However, since there is a ready-made reconnaissance company, there is really no need to reorganize it. Anyway, Ivanov just said that all the company and platoon-level commanders in the company have been sacrificed, and they are in a leaderless state. After Christopher passes, he can naturally Be the company commander.
Thinking of this, Sokov said to Ivanov with a smile: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, since this is your old unit, then you can see if you can take Christopher there in person and let him and the company's Meet the soldiers?"
"No problem, I'll take the lieutenant there right now." Ivanov readily agreed to Sokov's request, walked to Christopher's side, shook his head at him, and said, "Let's go, Lieutenant." Comrade, I will take you to meet your new subordinates."
After solving the problem of the reconnaissance company, Sokov suddenly felt much more relaxed. He pointed at the map and said to Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, after Guchakov's team returns from the enemy's rear, send a reconnaissance company out to conduct reconnaissance deep into the enemy's rear. The area where they operate should be based on the factory area. Focus on the west and figure out the deployment of German troops in these areas."
Regarding Sokov's order, Sidorin showed a surprised expression on his face. He asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, why are you sending a reconnaissance company to conduct reconnaissance in these areas?" He pointed at Mamaye with his finger. He put forward his own views on the front of Fugang and the south of the city, "I think that even if a reconnaissance company is sent to perform tasks, it should be active in these areas. After all, this is the defense zone of our division."
"Chief of Staff, look further ahead. Don't always focus on the area in front of you." Sokov knew very well that during the November counterattack, the old city in the south of the city was the activity area of the 64th Group Army. , sending people to conduct reconnaissance there is equivalent to helping others make wedding clothes. He tapped the map twice with his palm and continued: "Although the enemy is now heavily concentrated in the west of the factory area, it won't be long before our division is likely to penetrate deep into that area and fight with the Germans. Let’s start a fierce battle.”
After hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin suddenly thought of a possibility, and quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, have you heard any gossip from your superiors?"
"No, Chief of Staff, I haven't heard anything." Of course Sokov would not tell Sidorin. He knew the combat areas of the 62nd and 64th Group Armies from history books, so he could only speak vaguely. Said: "I analyze based on the situation between ourselves and the enemy."
Although Sidorin felt that Sokov's explanation was too far-fetched, he was still willing to believe it. After all, many of Sokov's previous judgments were almost always correct, and this time would be no exception. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but asked curiously: "Comrade division commander, can you tell me when will our army launch a major counterattack?"
"Chief of Staff, I believe you also know that at least two infantry divisions have been assembled on the east coast." After Sokov finished saying this, he paused for a moment. After the other party nodded to express his understanding, he continued: " The reason why the superiors did not send them into the city immediately was probably because they were preparing to keep them as the main force of the counterattack. To defeat the enemies attacking the city, infantry alone is not enough. Artillery, tank troops and air force are also needed. And gathering these troops , and hoarding combat supplies will definitely take a certain amount of time, which means that the counterattack against the enemy will not be launched until at least a month later."
"Comrade Division Commander, I think you should also be very clear about the situation in the factory area. The troops standing at the Barricade Factory and Dzerzhinsky Factory, facing the enemy's powerful offensive, can only continue to reduce the defense area and try their best Slow down the enemy's advance to the Volga River." Sidorin said with a grimace: "I'm afraid they won't be able to sustain it for a month."
"The friendly forces holding on to the factory area are indeed fighting hard." Sokov stared at the map on the table and said thoughtfully: "But in order to defend this city named after the Supreme Commander himself, they will continue They will fight tenaciously. It will not be easy for the Germans to eliminate them."
What Sokov said was not without purpose. Although the German army, which has superior strength and firepower, may defeat the defenders in the ensuing battle just like in real history, they will never be able to capture the city. He led his troops to firmly occupy Mamayev Heights, which had completely disrupted the German offensive deployment. Now, he has dispatched a small team led by Guchakov to carry out activities deep behind the enemy's rear. This will turn the enemy's rear upside down, forcing the enemy to be unable to attack the factory area with all its strength, thereby fighting for the friendly forces standing there. to precious respite.
"Chief of Staff, call Captain Andre, commander of the third battalion, to find out about the situation in the south of the city." Sokov told Sidorin: "See if they need our assistance."
The call was quickly connected. After Andre heard Sidorin's voice, he immediately admitted his mistake: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you know everything, right? This matter is all my fault, and it was caused by this." I am willing to take responsibility for all consequences."
"Comrade Captain, what are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean." Sidorin was confused by Andre's words. He asked in confusion: "What are you talking about?"
Sokov guessed that something must have happened in the third battalion, otherwise Captain Andrei would not have taken the initiative to admit his mistake to Sidorin, so he took the microphone from Sidorin and asked: "Comrade Captain, what happened?" What happened?"
"That's it, Comrade Commander." Hearing that the person talking to him was replaced by a division commander, Andre couldn't help but secretly groan in his heart. He hurriedly explained: "Didn't you inform me yesterday that the Ninth Company Commander led someone to disguise himself? Are the Germans going to pass through our defense zone and go deep into the enemy's rear?"
"Yes, I did inform you." Sokov asked, "Did something happen?"
Andre said with some guilt: "Yesterday, when the armored convoy passed through the defense area of the 9th Company, it was discovered by a soldier hiding in the ruins. He thought that the enemy had appeared, so he shot and threw grenades at the convoy."
"What are you talking about, Comrade Captain? The armored convoy led by Guchakov was attacked by our own people when it passed through the ninth company defense area?" Sokov was startled and asked quickly: "What on earth is going on? What’s going on? Didn’t I ask you to notify the following to avoid misunderstandings? Why would something like this happen again?”
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, it's all my fault." Andre said: "After I received your call, I immediately sent someone to convey it. But some soldiers scattered in the ruins did not get it in time. Notice. If the soldier who fired the gun hadn't come back to report, I wouldn't have known about it."
Sokov did not bother to blame Andre, but asked with concern: "Comrade Captain, are any of the soldiers in the convoy injured?"
"I asked Lieutenant Guchakov, and he said that two people were injured, but the injuries were not serious. They were just scratched by shrapnel from the grenade." Andrei reported to Sokov: "Fortunately, the soldier who fired the gun was injured. He is a worker who has just been incorporated into the army, and his marksmanship is not very accurate, otherwise the casualties of the small team will definitely be huge."
"Thank God. Fortunately, the soldier's marksmanship was not accurate." After learning that only two soldiers were slightly injured, Sokov felt much more at ease. He said happily: "Otherwise, we would not know what kind of damage it would cause to the team. How many casualties are there?”
"How is the situation in Chengnan recently?" Although Sokov knew that the fighting in Chengnan was not intense, he finally called Andre and couldn't help but ask: "Is the fighting intense?"
"Fortunately, we have only had small-scale exchanges of fire with the enemy recently." Hearing Sokov ask about the war in the south of the city, Andre said proudly: "We killed more than 400 enemies in three days."
"More than 400 enemies were killed in three days?" Sokov was still surprised by the results achieved by the third battalion: "Comrade Captain, didn't you say that there was no big war, how could so many enemies be wiped out?" According to Sokov's idea, without a big war, it is impossible to destroy the enemy on a large scale, so Andre's results surprised him.
"Comrade Division Commander, in fact, most of the battle results were achieved in the Vasily Building." Andrei heard Sokov ask and quickly explained to him: "Sergeant Vasily left enough manpower to hold on to the building, and he Then he took several sniper teams and went deep into areas where the enemies were concentrated to strike cold shots, and he was able to achieve the result of wiping out fifty or sixty enemies every time."
Sokov originally thought that letting Vasily lead his troops to defend the famous building would affect his sniper performance. Unexpectedly, Vasily would lead his men to achieve such remarkable results in just a few days.
"Vasily is really amazing." Sokov nodded and said, "I didn't expect that he could achieve such significant results in such a short period of time. Tell him that I will do it at the right time. Go to the Vasily Building to find him."
"Comrade Commander," when he learned that Sokov was coming to the old city in the south of the city again, Andrei quickly stopped him and said, "It's too dangerous here. I think you'd better not come."
"Why, Comrade Captain." Sokov knew that Andrei said this out of good intentions, so he said jokingly: "Soldiers are not afraid of danger. How can I, as a division commander, be greedy for life and afraid of death?"
Now that Sokov has spoken to this extent, Andrei knew that it would be meaningless to object any more, so he could only say helplessly: "Okay, comrade division commander, when you plan to come, please inform me in advance. Arrange someone to pick you up to avoid another attack on the team."
"If possible, I think it will be tonight." Sokov thought for a moment and then replied: "I haven't been to the old city for a long time. I want to see with my own eyes what the situation is like there."
"Understood, comrade division commander." Knowing that Sokov would come to inspect in the evening, Andrei quickly said: "I will personally take people to pick you up."
"No need, Comrade Captain." Sokov refused Andre's kindness: "If you come to greet him, the target will be too big. If there is a German sniper hiding nearby, the two of us will become him results."
Seeing that Sokov refused his request to welcome him, Andrei felt a little disappointed. He said: "Well, comrade division commander, since you said so, I will wait for your arrival at the command post."
"Comrade Commander." Sidorin waited for Sokov to put down the phone and asked tentatively: "Are you really planning to go to the Old City tonight?"
"Understood, comrade division commander." Knowing that Sokov would come to inspect in the evening, Andrei quickly said: "I will personally take people to pick you up."
"No need, Comrade Captain." Sokov refused Andre's kindness: "If you come to greet him, the target will be too big. If there is a German sniper hiding nearby, the two of us will become him results."
Seeing that Sokov refused his request to welcome him, Andrei felt a little disappointed. He said: "Well, comrade division commander, since you said so, I will wait for your arrival in the command post."
"Comrade Commander." Sidorin waited for Sokov to put down the phone and asked tentatively: "Are you really planning to go to the Old City tonight?"
