The next morning, Sokov woke up from his sleep. He sat up from the cot and was bending to put on his boots when he heard a surprised voice: "Comrade division commander, you're awake!"
Sokov looked up and found that at the table not far away, in addition to Sidorin and Ivanov, there was also Anisimov, the division political commissar who had not been seen for a long time. The person who greeted him was none other than Anisimov. He quickly sat up straight, nodded at the other person, and responded politely: "It's Comrade Political Commissar. I haven't seen you for a long time. How have you been lately?" ?”
"Not bad." After Anisimov replied casually, he stood up and picked up a covered aluminum lunch box on the table, walked towards Sokov, and said with a spring breeze: "Comrade Commander, I wish you the October Revolution Happy Holidays!"
Hearing what Anisimov said, Sokov was temporarily absent-minded, but he soon remembered that today is November 7, the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s great October Revolution. He quickly stood up and said to Anisimov : "Comrade Political Commissar, I also wish you a happy October Revolution Day!"
Anisimov came to Sokov, opened the lid of the lunch box, and said with a smile: "These are the Siberian dumplings we prepared for you, have a try."
Looking at the steaming dumplings in the lunch box, Sokov remembered that they had discussed some time ago to allow all division commanders to have a meal of dumplings during the festival, and even applied to the Army Logistics Department to receive the meat. He took the lunch box from Anisimov's hand, picked up a dumpling and put it into his mouth. After taking two bites, it felt so delicious. For such a long time, I ate either rusks or potatoes every day. Now I can eat a meal of hot dumplings, which can be regarded as an improvement in my diet.
After eating a few dumplings, Sokov suddenly remembered something, stopped and asked Anisimov who was standing in front of him: "Comrade Political Commissar, have all the comrades in the division eaten dumplings?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, these are the dumplings left for you." Anisimov said with a smile on his face: "As for the dumplings of other comrades, the cooking soldiers are lighting a fire to cook them."
"Chief of Staff," Sokov waited for Anisimov to finish, then tilted his head and looked at Sidorin sitting at the table, and asked: "The cooks have to cook so many dumplings, will there be a problem in the tunnel?" Lack of oxygen?"
"Don't worry, comrade division commander." Sidorin heard Sokov's question and replied with a smile: "The political commissar has already solved this problem. He found two small blowers from outside and placed them in the cooking class Near the exit of the tunnel, ventilation is constantly being ventilated to the outside, which will definitely not cause a lack of oxygen in the tunnel."
Sokov put on his boots, walked to the table, put the lunch box on the table, and asked with concern: "Chief of Staff, where is Captain Guchakov now?"
Yesterday, Sokov asked Sidorin to send a telegram to Guchakov, asking them to blow up the supplies in the station, evacuate immediately, and return to Mamayev Heights as quickly as possible. After receiving the telegram, Guchakov ordered the guerrillas to withdraw from the station, and then members of the squad detonated the explosives. Once the explosives piled in the oil barrels exploded, the entire warehouse instantly turned into a sea of flames.
After all the warehouses in the station began to burn, Guchakov led the members of his team to withdraw from the station. Instead of chasing the guerrillas who had withdrawn first, they rushed to the designated place to join Tavlin and the others. Since then, the division headquarters has lost contact with him.
Seeing that Sokov was so concerned about the whereabouts of Guchakov and the others, Ivanov quickly said: "Comrade division commander, don't worry. Captain Guchakov is also an experienced commander. He knows how to lead a small detachment from behind enemy lines." return."
"Yes, what the deputy division commander said makes sense." As soon as Ivanov finished speaking, Sidorin echoed: "Comrade division commander, don't worry about Captain Guchakov and the others. No matter what, they He is still wearing a German uniform, so if he wants to come back from behind enemy lines, there won't be much of a problem. As for their delay in contacting us, they may be worried about exposing their target on the way back. Maybe he will appear in your presence after a while. in front of me.”
Perhaps in order to ease the tense atmosphere in the headquarters, Anisimov promptly changed the subject: "Comrade Division Commander, were you in Moscow at this time last year?"
"Yes," Sokov nodded and replied: "At that time, I was still a corporal and led a garrison squad responsible for the security of the town of Khimki north of Moscow."
"I would like to ask you, did your unit participate in the Red Square military parade at that time?"
Anisimov's question is also what Sidorin and Ivanov want to know. Although they were not qualified to participate in the military parade last year, it would be a matter of pride for them if their immediate superiors had participated in this historical parade. So everyone turned their attention to Sokov, eager to hear his answer.
Seeing the three of them looking at him, Sokov couldn't help but smile bitterly and replied: "Unfortunately, I was not qualified to participate in that great military parade. After all, the number of troops used for defense in various places in the city was tight at that time and could not be mobilized. Participating in the military parade.”
The three of them were somewhat disappointed to learn that Sokov did not participate in last year's military parade. Anisimov even sighed and said with regret: "That's such a pity. Not only will there be many more military parades in the future, but none of them can be compared with last year's military parade. That was a military parade that saved the entire world." The country’s grand military parade.”
"I heard that as soon as the troops participating in the military parade left the Red Square, they were transported directly to the front line in trucks parked by the Moscow River." Even though the people present were all division-level commanders, there were some things that they were no better than those at the grassroots level. The commanders and fighters knew better. Sidorin said with emotion: "It is precisely because of this military parade that inspired people's hearts and morale that it strengthened the confidence of the army and the people to defeat the enemy."
A sentence immediately popped up in Sokov's mind and he instinctively said it: "For the Soviet soldiers and civilians, this military parade is unexpected and exciting. Although it is a traditional military parade in form, The meaning is completely different. It shows the Soviet people's contempt for Faxi Temple. Although victory is still far away, the people have already seen the dawn of victory. For Faxi Temple elements, this military parade is like a bolt from the blue. "
"This is a very good thing to say." Anisimov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, who said this? Why have I never heard anyone else say it?"
"It was said by General Rokossovsky, the commander of the Don Front." As soon as the words came out, Sokov remembered who the words came from. He said to Anisimov: "The forces he commanded at that time The 16th Army, stationed northwest of Moscow, tenaciously resisted the enemy's ferocious attack."
When he mentioned Rokossovsky, Ivanov said with emotion: "Comrade Division Commander, without the strong support of General Rokossovsky this time, I think Captain Guchakov would have been unable to successfully occupy both sides. I’m afraid it’s not an easy task to get to the station.”
"According to the intelligence we have, in order to successfully attract the attention of the German army, Rokossovsky first sent the air force to bomb the front line of the German 113th Infantry Division, then shelled the positions of the 60th Motorized Division, and also dispatched Two infantry divisions launched an attack." As the chief of staff, Sidorin naturally knew a lot of details: "It was the series of actions he took that caused the Germans to misjudge, thinking that our army was preparing to attack them again. , and hurriedly mobilized troops to go north to deal with the threat from the north."
"What a pity, what a pity." Hearing this, Ivanov shook his head and said: "Although the fight was quite lively, it was still a feint attack. We don't know when the real counterattack will start. "
"Don't be anxious, my deputy comrade." Sokov knew that it was less than two weeks before the start of the major counterattack, so he smiled and said to Ivanov: "I think at the end of the month, what you said A major counterattack will officially begin."
Sokov's words made the three people's eyes light up. Anisimov pulled Sokov and asked impatiently: "Comrade Commander, did you hear something?"
"I haven't heard anything." Sokov naturally would not tell the three people the truth, but pointed to the map on the table and pretended to analyze: "I made a guess based on the actions of the Don River Front. "
Seeing the blank expressions on the faces of the three people, he continued: "Look, the two German positions that were breached should be staffed by elite German troops, right? Think about it, how can friendly forces attack in such a short period of time?" What does inner breakthrough mean?”
"What does it mean?" Anisimov asked instinctively.
"Being able to break through the enemy's defense in such a short period of time shows that our army has assembled sufficient attack power on the enemy's front." Although Sokov knew the day when the counterattack started, he did not know the counterattack forces everywhere. He could only continue according to his own thoughts: "And before attacking the front line of the 113th Infantry Division, General Rokossovsky even sent out the air force to carry out bombing. This shows that they now have the ability to attack the German army." The basis for implementing a counter-offensive. Based on this, I analyzed that the major counter-offensive of the superior organization will be officially launched in the near future."
Ivanov was dubious about Sokov's statement. He stared at the map for a long time, then looked up at Sokov and asked: "Comrade division commander, I don't understand. You said that the major counterattack will be launched at the end of the month. How did you come to this conclusion?"
"It's very simple." Sokov pretended to be innocent and pointed at the map and said to Ivanov: "I just said that the troops of the Don River Front already have the strength to counterattack the enemy. I believe that our Stalin The Gullah Front's counterattack troops also completed their assembly on the east bank.
The reason why I said it might be at the end of the month is because the Army Headquarters has not notified us to hold a meeting yet. As usual, ten days or even a week before the start of a major counteroffensive, commanders at all levels will be called to the headquarters for a meeting to assign everyone their respective combat tasks. "
After Sokov's analysis, Ivanov was convinced. He nodded and said: "Comrade division commander, you are right. If such a large-scale military operation is to be carried out, combat mobilization and arrangements must be carried out in advance. Combat mission. And the headquarters has not notified us of the meeting until now, indicating that it will not launch a counterattack against the enemy in the next few days."
After chatting for a while with the three of them, Sokov picked up the lunch box on the table and said to them: "While there is no war now, I will go to the health team first, and I will leave you with the work here."
The three of them all knew that Sokov went to the health team to see Asya, so they nodded in unison, and Anisimov said: "Go, Comrade Commander, we are here, you don't have to come back in a hurry, You can spend more time with Asiya in the health team and talk to her."
Before leaving, Sokov also emphasized: "Remember, leave some dumplings for Guchakov's team so that they can feel the festive atmosphere today when they come back."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Anisimov replied with a smile: "I have left enough dumplings for them, enough for the whole team to eat."
Sokov came to the health team and found Asiya who was resting. He handed over the lunch box in his hand and said to her with a smile: "Asiya, these are Siberian dumplings made by the teacher. I brought them here specially." Here’s something to eat for you.”
Asiya opened the lunch box, grabbed a dumpling with her hand, and after taking a bite, she repeatedly said it was delicious: "It's delicious, it's so delicious. I didn't expect that I could actually eat dumplings stuffed with meat. Other comrades knew it." , I will definitely be jealous to death.”
Sokov was stunned when he heard what Asya said. He had asked Anisimov before. The latter said that every commander and fighter in the division had dumplings to eat. Isn't what he said correct? Even the wounded in the health team couldn't eat dumplings? Thinking of this, he asked Asiya tentatively: "Asiya, didn't you eat dumplings here today?"
"Eat!" Asiya asked in surprise: "Did I tell you that we didn't eat dumplings today?"
"But, what you just said..." Sokov didn't know how to reply to Asiya for a moment: "I thought you didn't have any dumplings to eat."
"Before you came, the cooking soldiers brought us dumplings." Asiya saw that Sokov had misunderstood, and quickly explained to him: "But since the meat dumplings are limited, the captain made a decision, all Dumplings stuffed with meat are given to the wounded. And we medical staff eat dumplings stuffed with mashed potatoes."
Sokov originally thought that today was a holiday and the whole teacher would eat dumplings, all of which were dumplings mixed with meat fillings. Unexpectedly, there were quite a few mashed potato dumplings. Everyone had been eating potatoes for several months in the tunnel, and they were probably tired of eating them. Now they were finally looking forward to the festival, thinking they could have a meal of meat-filled dumplings, but in the end, they were still eating mashed potato dumplings.
Seeing Sokov's eyes staring ahead without focus, Asiya raised her hand and patted him on the shoulder, asking curiously: "Misha, what are you thinking about? What happened?"
Sokov woke up from his thoughts, looked at Asiya and said: "Nothing, I just thought that you didn't have meat dumplings to eat, and I was distracted for a moment. I will go back and ask the political commissar later to see if I can make another batch. Let someone bring you meat-filled dumplings. We can't all eat meat-filled dumplings, while the medical staff in our division eat mashed potato dumplings that taste much worse."
"Misha, you are so kind!" Asiya quickly kissed Sokov on the cheek and said excitedly: "On behalf of all the medical staff of the health team, I would like to express my gratitude to you!"
