Sokov followed Vasily into the basement, and with the help of the lighting from the rooftop gas lamp, he saw a middle-aged man in casual clothes, half lying on a bench against the wall. When the other party saw everyone coming in, he just stood up slightly and said feebly: "Hello, comrades, welcome to the Vasily Building."
Sokov glanced at other locations in the basement and saw that most of the soldiers and residents were sitting on the ground and resting with their backs against the wall, or spreading a mattress on the ground to sleep, so he was very concerned about this careless man sleeping on a bench. The middle-aged man felt a sense of dissatisfaction in his heart.
Vasily noticed that Sokov looked unhappy and quickly explained to him: "Comrade division commander, let me introduce you. This is Comrade Shulka. He used to be a worker in a flour mill. Since we entered this building , he took more than 20 residents to the nearby flour mill every day to help us get flour and drinking water."
Knowing that the middle-aged man he looked down on actually did so much for the Vasily Building, Sokov felt that he had wrongly blamed him. Since he had made such a great contribution, lying on such a bench to rest, It is also understandable. But before he could speak, Vasily on the side added: "Comrade division commander, when Shulka led people into the flour mill the day before yesterday, he was discovered by the Germans who were passing by by accident. In order to cover the safe retreat of the residents, he stayed alone to stop them. The enemy was unfortunately wounded during the battle."
"Comrade Shulka," Sokov realized at this moment that Shulka was lying on the bench not to enjoy any privileges, but to be injured while covering the retreat of residents. The bench is not as wet as the ground, and lying on it is also good for his recovery from injuries. Sokov bent down and held Shulka's hand, and said with a smile: "You are good. When I return to Mamayev Heights later, I will have someone take you back for treatment. You Just don’t worry.”
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Shulka shaking his head like a rattle: "No, comrade colonel, there is no need to take me to Mamayev Heights. I want to stay here and see our soldiers defeat the enemy with my own eyes." German."
"Sergeant Vasily," Sokov straightened up and turned to ask Vasily: "How is his injury?"
"Two bullets hit his leg," Vasily replied: "The hygienist has bandaged his wound, but the bullet has not been taken out yet. There will be no problem for a short time, but if it goes on for a long time..."
"Sergeant Vasily, you don't have to say it. I know what to do." Sokov interrupted Vasily's words, bent down and continued to say to Shulka: "Comrade Shulka, you should know that if you don't Take out the bullet, and over time, the wound will suppurate. When gangrene appears, the only option is amputation. I think you don’t want to see this worst-case scenario happen."
Originally Shulka wanted to stay in the Vasily Building, but after hearing what Sokov said, he couldn't help but become hesitant. Seeing that Shulka's attitude was no longer so resolute, Vasily quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Shulka, the teacher is right. If you don't perform the operation as soon as possible, this leg may be amputated."
"Okay," Shulka nodded and agreed to Sokov's proposal after thinking about it: "Comrade Colonel, when you return to Mamayev Heights, be sure to take me with you. I don't want to be disabled. There is no revenge for my family."
"Avenge your family?" Shulka's words made Sokov feel a little confused. He asked in confusion: "All your family members died in Stalingrad?" According to his idea, maybe Shulka's family , was killed in several major bombings carried out by the German army, so Shulka said such words.
"No, Comrade Colonel." Shulka said before Vasily could speak: "My wife and daughter were evacuated to the rear in August, and my son is from the Southwestern Front. He was in Donton in July. Killed near the river.”
"Oh, I understand." Sokov nodded after figuring out the other party's family, "Comrade Shulka, after your injury is healed, you can come back and continue fighting with Sergeant Vasily. Fight the Germans and avenge your dead son."
"Really, Comrade Colonel, are everything you said true?" Shulka was a little skeptical about Sokov's statement. He waited for the other party to finish speaking, and immediately asked: "You really don't know how? Will someone send me to the east bank of the Volga River?"
"No, Comrade Shulka." Sokov said to him with a smile: "As soon as your injury improves, I will let you come back here as soon as possible. I promise you with my honor."
After hearing Sokov's words, Shulka stared at him for a long time, and finally nodded slightly and said, "Okay, comrade colonel, I believe you."
After chatting with Shulka for a while, Vasily took Sokov to a single room not far away. Looking at several phones on the table in the room, Sokov asked tentatively: "Sergeant Vasily, is this your command post?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." After Vasily gave Sokov a positive answer, he pointed to several telephones on the table and explained to him: "The telephones are connected to each floor. With the help of these telephones , even if I stay here and don’t go out, I can still understand what’s going on outside in a timely manner.”
"You did the right thing, Comrade Vasily." Sokov said approvingly: "With these phone calls, your various combat instructions can be conveyed to every fighting soldier in the shortest possible time."
After Sokov, Andrei and others sat down, they looked at Vasily and asked: "Comrade Sergeant, I heard that except for a few people to guard the building every day, the rest of the people go outside to snipe the enemy. Is that what happened?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander, this is indeed the case." Vasily glanced at the alarm clock on the table from the corner of his eye and said to Sokov: "Usually the sniper team sets out at 3:30 in the morning to select Take cover in a suitable sniper position. After dark, quietly return to the building."
"Comrade Sergeant, I want to ask you." Seryosha, who was ignored by everyone, suddenly asked: "If the enemy launches an attack on the building when you go out to perform a sniper mission, with the few troops you have left, , can it block the enemy’s attack?”
Hearing Seryosha's question, Vasily did not answer immediately, but turned his questioning eyes to Sokov. Sokov knew that Vasily was asking for his opinion, so he nodded, indicating that he could answer truthfully.
After obtaining Sokov's permission, Vasily said: "Comrade Lieutenant, the small number of troops I mentioned refers to regular troops. The residents and militiamen in the building are not included. If the enemy really takes advantage of the main force in the building, When they go out and attack the building, they can use the cover of the minefield and rely on the terrain to resist until we rush back."
"If the building falls before you rush back." Seryosha was dissatisfied with Vasily's answer and continued to ask: "What will you do then?"
"Comrade Lieutenant, I don't think your assumption is valid." Vasily said confidently: "After the enemy launches an attack, it will take at least two or three hours just to clear the mines we and they have planted outside the building, and it's still... Without any interference. If we hide our snipers in the building while they are clearing mines and attack their engineers, do you think their demining work can continue."
"That's enough, Seryosha, stop talking." Sokov was worried that Seryosha and Vasily would argue, so he came out in time to stop them: "Even if the worst happens and the building is occupied by the Germans, Do you think Sergeant Vasily has no intention of retaking the building?"
After listening to Sokov's words, Vasily laughed twice and replied: "Comrade Division Commander is right. Even if the enemy captures the building, we can re-enter the building through the sewers and start fighting with them. Enemies who are not yet secure are driven out of the building.”
While several people were chatting, a voice suddenly came from the door: "Sergeant Vasily, can you come in?"
"Please come in, Lieutenant Afanasyev." Vasily said quickly towards the door.
"Comrade Sergeant, we are ready to go..." A lieutenant walked in outside the door and asked Vasily as he walked. But just in the middle of what he said, he found that there were many people sitting in the room. He was stunned at first, but soon recognized Sokov and Andrei. He quickly raised his hand to salute them and asked in surprise: "Division commander, battalion commander, why are you here?"
Seeing a lieutenant asking for instructions from a sergeant, Sokov felt that the scene was a bit inconsistent. Just when I was about to ask what was going on, I suddenly remembered that in order to guard the Vasily Building, I had given an order to the troops. As long as you enter the building, no matter what your rank is, you must accept Vasily's command. Therefore, a lieutenant asked the corporal Vasily for instructions on the mission.
He looked up and down the lieutenant who was saluting him and recognized him. However, just to be on the safe side, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Lieutenant, if I remember correctly, you are the machine gun platoon leader Afanasie." Lieutenant Husband. Right?”
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov could actually call his name, Afanasyev was particularly excited: "I am Afanasyev."
Sokov glanced at Vasily, who was standing straight next to him, and asked Afanasyev with a smile: "Comrade Lieutenant, do you have anything to do with Sergeant Vasily?"
"It's like this, our platoon's sniper team is ready," Afanasyev explained to Sokov: "I came here specifically to ask the sergeant if the sniper team can be set off."
Although Sokov could do this for him, out of respect for Vasily, he still looked at him and said, "Comrade Sergeant, if the time comes, let the sniper team set off."
Vasily nodded after hearing this and said to Afanasyev: "Comrade Lieutenant, now that your sniper team is ready, let them set off. Remember, the weather has become colder and colder recently, and the soldiers are lurking The time is too long, so please keep warm to prevent frostbite.”
"Understood." Afanasyev agreed and was about to turn around and leave.
"Wait a minute, Comrade Lieutenant." After hearing Vasily's words, Sokov suddenly had an idea in his mind. He quickly stopped Afanasyev and asked, "Did you have any difficulties while you were lurking?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." In fact, Afanasyev had just wanted to raise some difficulties with Sokov, but he never found a chance to speak. Now that Sokov took the initiative to ask, he just said: " It has started to snow in the past two days, and the clothes our soldiers wear stand out in the snow. I wonder if you can provide us with a batch of white camouflage clothes so that the snipers can better hide under the enemy's noses. ?”
"White camouflage uniforms?" Sokov didn't really have what Afanasyev proposed. He shook his head with a wry smile and said, "I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant, I really can't provide you with white camouflage at the moment." Accept it. You know, you can’t find this thing in the entire division.”
When Afanasyev heard Sokov's answer, he couldn't help showing a disappointed expression on his face. He whispered: "I understand." Then he straightened his body and raised his voice and asked, "Comrade division commander, with permission." Shall I leave? I want to go back and inform my men so that they can leave immediately."
"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov walked up to Afanasyev and said thoughtfully: "Although I don't have a white camouflage uniform now, I will apply to my superiors immediately. You can get it in two days at most. New white camouflage uniform." After saying these words, he paused for a moment and waved to Afanasyev, "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant, it's almost time, go back and let your soldiers go."
After Afanasyev left, Sokov couldn't help but curiously asked Vasily: "Comrade Sergeant, isn't Lieutenant Afanasyev the leader of the machine gun platoon? Why can he also form a sniper team in his platoon?"
"Comrade Division Commander, we stood firm in this building and attracted many scattered soldiers. With their joining, the strength of the defenders in the building has been greatly strengthened." Vasily replied: "And Afanasy Lieutenant Yev's machine gun platoon has also grown from seven people and one heavy machine gun at the beginning to thirty people, one heavy machine gun and nine MG34 general-purpose machine guns."
Vasily's words made Sokov feel that not only himself, but also Sidorin, who often contacted Vasily, didn't understand many of the situations here. He quickly asked: "Sergeant Vasily, I want to ask you, How many people are there in the Vasily Building now?"
"There are one hundred and sixty-seven people, including fifty-three residents and militiamen." Vasily reported to Sokov with some pride: "After this period of fighting, not only has our strength not weakened, but it has It has been greatly strengthened. Not only are there more than a dozen light and heavy machine guns of various types, but the number of mortars in the mortar group has also increased from the original two to six..."
Hearing the series of data reported by Vasily, Sokov couldn't help but be dumbfounded. After finally waiting for the other party to come to an end, he couldn't help but asked in confusion: "Sergeant Vasily, I want to ask, where did you come from with so many people and equipment?"
Vasily grinned and replied: "Comrade Division Commander, the equipment was all captured by us from the Germans. As for the personnel, they are some friendly soldiers scattered in the city. They heard that fighting is still going on here. , so they rushed over to join us."
