"This is an amazing victory." After Yeremenko waited for Krylov to finish speaking, he said with high spirits: "We dispatched planes to bomb German airports at any time, but the effect was very limited. I really didn't expect that. A small detachment sent by Colonel Koff can achieve such huge results."
After a pause, he then asked: "How do you plan to reward commanders and fighters who have made meritorious deeds?"
Krylov did not immediately answer Yereomenko's question, but cast a questioning look at Chuikov on the side. When he saw that the other party nodded slightly and indicated that he could talk about the reward plan, he replied in a loud voice: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, Commander Chuikov and I all feel that the commanders and fighters who participated in this operation should be awarded the Order of the Red Banner. .”
Compared with the early days of the war, the awarding standards of the Order of the Red Banner at this moment have been greatly lowered. But for ordinary soldiers, receiving the Order of the Red Flag is still something to be proud of. However, Yeremenko was obviously dissatisfied with such rewards. He shook his head and said into the microphone: "General Krylov, I feel that the rewards you give these soldiers are far from being proportional to their achievements. .Think about it again, what kind of rewards can you provide them?”
"We are considering promoting the ranks of Lieutenant Guchakov and Second Lieutenant Samoilov, who command the squad."
"General Krylov, have you ever considered that in addition to awarding medals and promotions to the commanders and soldiers who performed the mission, what about the people who made the plan?" Yeremenko did not want the other party to guess the riddle, so he took the initiative to tell the answer: " The team was sent by Colonel Sokov, so what kind of reward should he get?"
When Chuikov heard what Yeremenko said, he quickly took the microphone from Krylov's hand and said respectfully: "Comrade Commander, I am Chuikov. If you think Colonel Sokov should also get In terms of a commendation, I suggest that he be awarded the Order of the Red Banner. As for promotion to military rank, I think we will wait until later, after all, he has just received the rank of colonel."
Yeremenko really had the idea of promoting Sokov to the military rank. But after listening to Chuikov's words, I felt that I had not considered it carefully enough. Less than a month after the other party obtained the rank of colonel, he was promoted to one level and directly entered the ranks of general. I am afraid many people will have objections. After all, in the army, there is no general under the age of thirty.
"Okay." After careful consideration, Yeremenko made the final decision: "According to your plan, Sokov and all the commanders and fighters of the squad will be awarded the Order of the Red Banner, and Gu will command the squad behind enemy lines. The two commanders Chakov and Samoilov were each promoted to one rank."
Yeremenko ended the call with Krylov, put down the phone and said to Khrushchev sitting opposite: "Comrade Military Commissar, little Misha has made great contributions again."
While Yeremenko was on the phone with Krylov, Khrushchev was writing information at his desk and only listened to some snippets intermittently. He really didn't know what happened. Hearing what Yeremenko said at this moment, he quickly raised his head and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, where did Xiao Misha's troops win again?"
"He sent a small team to the enemy's rear some time ago." Yeremenko said to Khrushchev with great interest: "You know this, right?"
"Yes, I know." Khrushchev nodded and said in an affirmative tone: "This team attacked Gumlak station with rockets a few days ago and destroyed the supplies the enemy had hoarded there. Why, they What important targets of the German army were attacked again?"
"In the early hours of this morning, the squad attacked a German field airport more than 100 kilometers away, destroyed forty bombers parked at the airport, and killed ninety-three pilots." Yeremenko said excitedly: "It greatly weakened the German air force. As a result, their bombing efforts on cities will be weakened."
Khrushchev agreed with Yeremenko's statement. After killing dozens of aircraft, the Germans may be able to replenish them quickly, but after losing 93 pilots, it is impossible to replenish them without two or three years. In other words, the destruction of German pilots is more significant than the destruction of enemy aircraft.
Khrushchev smiled and said: "Xiao Misha has a lot of clever ideas for fighting. Although the current situation in the city is very unfavorable to our army, he can always give us some unexpected surprises when no one expects them. If If there were more commanders like him in the city, I'm afraid the enemies attacking the city would have been repulsed long ago."
"Comrade Military Commissar," Yeremenko waited for Khrushchev to finish speaking, then suppressed the smile on his face and said with a solemn expression: "Judging from the current situation between the enemy and ourselves in the city, the Dzerzhinsky Factory cannot be defended. Live there. Do you think we need to send new troops into the city to strengthen the defense of this area?"
After hearing what Yeremenko said, Khrushchev stood up and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. After walking back and forth for an unknown number of times, he stopped, shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Commander, we cannot send new troops to the city at the moment. You know, these troops are prepared to participate in the major counterattack. If If they enter the city too early, they will be lost in the German attack. In order to replenish the troops participating in the counterattack, the base camp will have to transfer new troops from other places, which may lead to Our major counterattack is postponed."
"We sent the 45th Infantry Division to the city without asking for instructions from the base camp." Khrushchev frowned and said: "If the superiors pursue this matter, we can still use it as the situation in the city is critical and we have to Let the troops on standby enter the city in advance. But if we deploy new troops, we really won’t be able to explain to the base camp."
Yeremenko did not understand what Khrushchev said. He just saw the critical situation in the city and wanted to mobilize new troops into the city to reverse the situation. But according to what Khrushchev said, he found that sending too many troops to the city without enhancing technical equipment and gaining air supremacy would not only fail to reverse the unfavorable situation in the city, but would also cause unnecessary consequences. casualties.
Thinking of this, he nodded thoughtfully and said: "Comrade Military Commissioner, you are right. Under the current circumstances, no matter how difficult the situation in the city is, we cannot easily send troops into the city. There is no air control. and sufficient technical equipment, it is very difficult to reverse the current situation, and placing too many troops in the city will also increase the supply pressure on the logistics department."
…………
In Sokov on the Mamayev Kurgan, I didn’t know what was happening in the front headquarters on the other side of the Volga River. He had just finished talking to Krylov and was happily saying to Sidorin and Ivanov: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, I just received a call from General Krylov. The awards for Cove and the others have already been received.”
"Oh, so fast?" Ivanov asked in surprise: "I wonder how the superiors plan to reward them?"
"All members of the squad were awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Guchakov and Samoilov, who served as commanders, were promoted to a first-class military rank while receiving the medal." Although Sokov himself also received A medal of the Red Flag, but he was worried that the news would cause the two of them to feel disappointed, so he deliberately avoided the topic.
"It's great. I won the Order of the Red Banner in just one trip and was promoted to a first-class military rank." Ivanov waited for Sokov to finish and said jokingly: "I heard the superior commended the small team. , I want to lead an army deep behind enemy lines."
"Chief of Staff." Sokov ordered Sidorin: "Immediately send a telegram to Guchakov and others to tell them the good news and convey it to them, hoping that they will guard against arrogance and impetuosity in the next battle and achieve greater success. Big results.”
"Okay, Comrade Division Commander." Sidorin said with a smile: "I immediately asked the radio operator to convey the good news to Lieutenant Guchakov... No, he is now a captain."
…………
Guchakov and others returned to the village and saw several unfamiliar faces in the barn.
Seeing Guchakov and others returning, Samoylov quickly came up to him, introduced him with a smile: "Comrade Lieutenant, let me introduce to you, this is Comrade Platonov, the captain of the guerrillas. Shortly after you left, Ruzsky returned to the guerrillas in person and invited him over."
"Hello, Comrade Platonov." When Guchakov stretched out his hand to shake hands with the other party, he couldn't help but feel a little in his heart. He thought to himself that the guerrillas knew that the people living in the barn were their own people disguised as enemies, so what would happen? Will the news leak out? Although he was worried, he pretended to be nonchalant, held the other person's hand, and said with a smile: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the squad, welcome you and your subordinates!"
Platonov saw that Guchakov was not sincere in what he said, but he did not expose the other party. Instead, he also smiled and said: "Comrade commander, please forgive me for sending people to attack your place before I can figure out the situation." . Fortunately you discovered it in time and it didn’t cause any negative consequences, otherwise I would feel guilty for the rest of my life."
"Comrade Captain," seeing that the other party took the initiative to bring up this matter, Guchakov solemnly told the other party: "We may have to stay here for a while. In order to avoid exposing your identity, we ask you and your subordinates to keep it secret for us. .”
"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant." As soon as Guchakov finished speaking, Ruzsky said first: "I have already told the captain about this matter. So far, no one knows the news about you here. More than seven people. And all of them are comrades who can be completely trusted. Before you leave here, no information will be leaked. "
Ruziski's words gave Guchakov reassurance. If the other party could really keep it secret, he would not have to consider changing the hiding place. Even though everyone in my group is wearing German uniforms, it is still unrealistic to move freely in the enemy's area.
"Comrade Lieutenant." Samoilov waited for Guchakov to finish greeting with the guerrilla comrades, and asked curiously: "What was the result of your attack this time?"
"Comrade Second Lieutenant, you are fortunate to have fulfilled your duty." Guchakov replied with a smile: "We successfully attacked the German field airport this time and destroyed all the aircraft parked on the airport. I believe that in the next few months , the Germans can no longer use that airport?”
Samoilov thought that the only radio station was taken away by Guchakov during his mission, so as soon as he finished speaking, he quickly asked: "Then did you report the results of this victory to the division headquarters?"
"Needless to say, Comrade Second Lieutenant." Guchakov said with some pride: "For such a big thing, even if we don't report it, the superiors can learn about it from the intercepted enemy telegrams. So on the way back here , I asked the radio operator to report the results to the division headquarters."
Having said this, Guchakov quickly looked around, looking for the voice of the operator. When I saw the other party sitting in a corner of the barn and setting up a radio station, I quickly walked over and told the other party: "The division headquarters may be sending a telegram. Pay attention to receiving the message."
"clear!"
Samoilov walked to Guchakov's side, touched the other's arm with his shoulder, and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Lieutenant, tell me, what will our superiors give us after they learn of the results we have achieved?" What kind of award?"
"I think the superiors will award medals to each soldier after verifying the results of the battle." Guchakov said in an uncertain tone: "If the division commander continues to argue with reason, even if you and I get the Red Banner Medal, it will be completely possible."
"Comrade Lieutenant, you are too conservative." After Samoylov waited for Guchakov to finish speaking, he immediately shook his head and said: "With such great results, how can the superior's commendation only give some medals. According to my experience, you and I may be promoted to military rank."
"No way?!" Guchakov was startled by Samoilov's guess. He felt that it would be great to get a medal, and he couldn't imagine such a good thing as being promoted to a military rank: "The superior is willing to Give us such a commendation?”
"I dare not say about other troops," Samoilov said conclusively regarding Guchakov's doubts: "But based on my understanding of the division commander, he will definitely strive for the maximum award for us. As for If my guess is correct, you will know when the call back from the division headquarters arrives."
However, after waiting for almost two hours, there must be no movement from the radio station. Guchakov said mockingly: "Well, it seems that the superiors are still verifying our results. When the results come out, they will call us back."
As soon as he finished speaking, the radio station light suddenly flashed. Guchakov's eyes immediately lit up and he ordered the operator: "Hurry up, it's the division headquarters calling back. Hurry up and prepare to receive the message."
