As early as the German convoy began to enter Factory No. 4, Briski discovered it. He observed it with a telescope for a while, then called the artillery regiment commander Major Savage over and said to him: "Comrade Major, look. , the Germans have sent reinforcements to Factory No. 4, do you think you can shoot them a few times?"
Regarding Briski's proposal, Savage pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Captain, the several artillery positions we have now cannot bombard this German convoy."
Perhaps he was worried that Brischi would misunderstand his answer. Before Brischi could speak, he explained in detail: "Comrade Captain, Factory No. 4 is a full 2,300 meters away from us, and the factory There are still a lot of ruins in front of us, which affects our shooting range and makes it impossible to shoot at the enemy."
"Comrade Major, you don't have to say it. I understand everything." Briski interrupted Savage and said with a wry smile: "Just now the infantry was sneaking into the factory and was discovered by the enemy inside. When the firefight broke out, didn't we just because The distance is too far, and there are a lot of ruins blocking the artillery's sight. In order to prevent accidental injury to our own people, we didn't dare to fire in the direction of Factory No. 4."
In order to ease the embarrassing situation, Briskey promptly changed the subject: "Comrade Major, you have been at the barricade factory for a long time. Do you often see German reinforcements at night?"
"No, the Germans have never reinforced at night before." Savage shook his head and replied: "After all, they have air superiority over the city, and they have much more tanks and artillery than we do. Even if we find them The reinforcement operations are also powerless against them, so the enemy chooses the reinforcement time during the day."
"What, the enemy has never reinforced at night before?" After hearing Savage's words, Briski immediately realized the seriousness of the problem, "This matter needs to be reported to the division commander immediately."
A few minutes later, Briski returned to the regiment command post, called the division headquarters, and reported what he discovered to Sokov. He finally said: "Comrade Division Commander, I just asked Sokov Major Vicky, he said that the enemy’s reinforcements were carried out during the day in the past. This is the first time for reinforcements at night.”
"Captain Belkin has already reported to me about the enemy's reinforcements." Sokov had been waiting for Belkin's reconnaissance information. At this moment, he received a call from Briski and heard that the other party also mentioned the German reinforcements. The troops asked tentatively: "Can you figure out the enemy's number?"
"I'm sorry, comrade division commander, although we can see the enemy, but because the distance is too far, we can't figure out the enemy's number at all." Brisky heard Sokov's question and replied with some embarrassment: "I'm afraid we can only rely on Comrades from the first battalion, come and find out the number of this enemy reinforcement."
Before ending the call, Sokov suddenly remembered something and asked quickly: "Captain Briski, I just heard from Commander Belkin that the troops who attacked Factory No. 4 were also discovered by the enemy. After a firefight, less than half of the soldiers escaped. I want to ask you, why didn't you support them with artillery fire?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Briski showed a bitter expression on his face. He turned his head and glanced at Savage standing next to him, and replied in a difficult tone: "Comrade division commander, it's not that we just ignore death." , but the No. 4 factory building is too far away from our artillery position, and there are a lot of ruins in the middle, which affects the sight of the artillery observers and prevents them from accurately calculating the impact point. If we had fired rashly at that time, the enemy might not be able to hit it. As a result, the shells fell on our own people’s heads.”
"I understand." Sokov said casually, and hung up the phone before Brischi could speak again.
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Lyudnikov on the opposite side asked curiously: "Colonel Sokov, the troops who sneaked into Factory No. 4 were discovered by the enemy and exchanged fire. Did your subordinates tell you why they didn't?" What about artillery support?”
"The artillery position is too far away from Factory Building No. 4, and there are a lot of ruins in the middle." Sokov pointed to the map on the table, sighed and explained to Lyudnikov: "If they fire rashly, it is possible that He will hit his own people."
After figuring out the reason why the artillery could not fire, Lyudnikov began to think about the enemy reinforcements in Factory No. 4: "Colonel Sokov, my troops have been stationed here for such a long time, and I have never seen the German reinforcements at night. situation. Tell me, what is the reason why the enemy suddenly and abnormally increased its troops to Factory No. 4?"
"We used artillery fire to repel the enemy's attack. They will definitely not give up. I guess they must be planning a large-scale attack." Based on the intelligence he had, Sokov analyzed to Lyudnikov: "I It is estimated that the enemy is increasing its troops tonight in preparation for a large-scale attack during the day tomorrow."
"No way." Lyudnikov expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "Judging from the situation reported below, the enemy reinforcements for Factory No. 4 will not exceed one battalion. Although we have not yet I know the number of this unit, but with just such a small number of people, I think it is simply impossible for them to break through our last line of defense."
"You are right. It is simply impossible for the enemy to break through our defense line with just a few hundred men." After agreeing with Lyudnikov's statement, Sokov reminded him: "But The enemy is cunning. They may have studied the location of our artillery positions and confirmed that they are sending more troops to Factory No. 4. It is difficult for our artillery fire to hit them, so they are so blatant. But what about in other directions? Maybe there are other There are a few enemies who are quietly sneaking into other locations, but we have not discovered their whereabouts for the time being."
After listening to Sokov's words, Lyudnikov stared at the map and studied it for a long time, then raised his head and said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, this is just a guess. I don't think that under the current circumstances, How many more troops can the Germans have to quietly deploy in factories?"
"Comrade Colonel, you must not take it lightly." Seeing that Lyudnikov showed signs of underestimating the enemy, Sokov reminded him again: "I suggest that you immediately send reconnaissance personnel to conduct reconnaissance of the German defense areas in the factory area, and thoroughly Find out if the enemy has other reinforcements in other directions."
Lyudnikov was unwilling to believe that the enemy would increase his troops on a large scale at night without exposing the target. But seeing Sokov speaking so seriously, he nodded and said a little reluctantly: "I immediately sent scouts to conduct reconnaissance in the German defense areas in the factory area."
Just as the scouts sent by Lyudnikov left the defense line and set off towards the enemy-controlled area, Paulkosky returned to the regiment command post and reported to Belkin dejectedly about the performance of the mission.
After hearing this, Belkin immediately realized the seriousness of the problem and said to Paulkosky: "Comrade Captain, you come with me to the division headquarters immediately and repeat what you just said to the division commander. "
Paulkoski followed Belkin to the division headquarters not far away. When he saw Sokov sitting in the room, he quickly stepped forward and saluted. Before he could speak, Sokov, who was sitting at the table, spoke first and asked: "Comrade Captain, if I remember correctly, you should be Captain Paulkoski, the commander of the first company!"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov recognized himself, Paulkoski suppressed the excitement in his heart and tried his best to reply in a calm tone: "I am Paulkoski."
After Sokov asked Belkin and Paulkosky to sit down, he asked: "Comrade Captain, can you tell me why your whereabouts were exposed?"
When Paulkoski, who had just sat down, heard Sokov's question, he immediately stood up from his seat, straightened his body and replied: "Comrade division commander, we originally wanted to follow the sewer and enter the No. 6 factory building. Teach the enemy a lesson. Unexpectedly, the dispatched combat team accidentally stepped on a mine when approaching the factory, exposing the target. ... If there was no sudden artillery support, we would probably have more people coming back. Not coming."
"Landmines, the enemy has laid mines outside the factory?" Lyudnikov heard this and couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Comrade Captain, I remember that there is a trench about a hundred meters away from Factory No. 6. Is it possible that there is a trench in the trench?" Are there no Germans?”
"No, Comrade Colonel." Although Paulkosky had never met Lyudnikov before, seeing that the person asking the question was a colonel, he guessed the identity of the other person and quickly replied respectfully: "There is no enemy in the trenches outside. They are all hiding in the factory building to warm themselves by the fire."
"The enemy's laying of mines around the factory is indeed a headache for us." Lyudnikov looked at Sokov and asked: "Colonel Sokov, do you have any solution?"
Sokov did not speak, but picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette from it, held it in his mouth and lit it. After taking two puffs, he turned to Belkin, who had been silent, and asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, your Are there any engineers in the troops directly under the regiment?"
"Engineers?!" Belkin was stunned for a moment when he heard this question, and then nodded and replied, "Yes. There are currently more than 20 people in Lieutenant Vasya's engineer platoon, all of whom have rich combat experience. Engineer. Misha, are you planning to assign any combat mission to them?"
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov said bluntly to Belkin: "You call Lieutenant Vasya immediately and ask him to come to me. I have an important task to give to them."
Ten minutes later, Vasya hurried over after receiving the notice. After saluting Sokov, he asked carelessly: "Comrade Commander, do you have any important mission for bringing me here?"
"Lieutenant Vasya, tell me, how many people are there in your engineer platoon?"
"27 people, comrade division commander."
"Are they all experienced engineers?"
"Yes."
Sokov then asked: "Can you clear mines at night?"
"Demining at night?!" Hearing what Sokov said, Vasya asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, do you plan to let us open a path for the sneak attack troops in the minefield?"
"It's not about opening a channel, but moving the mines." Sokov said with a smile: "I want you to move the mines from where the enemy laid them to the channels where the enemy usually walks."
"Use landmines to block the enemy?" Vasya's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard what Sokov said. He immediately thought of the previous battles and asked quickly: "Just like a few months ago, using landmines to blockade the enemy?" Is the enemy trapped in front of our position?"
"Yes, the situation is similar to that time." When Sokov recalled the past few months ago, when he used landmines to block the enemy's retreat and wiped out all the invading enemies, a knowing look appeared on his face. Smile. "After you raise the mines, bury them on the path that the enemy must pass every day, and blast them off their feet."
When Sokov assigned tasks to Vasya, Lyudnikov, who was sitting opposite, opened his eyes in surprise. He did not expect that the battle could be fought like this. This means that every time the engineers go out to perform a mission, in addition to the tools and self-defense weapons they carry, they do not need to carry a bunch of landmines. They only need to dig out the mines originally buried in the ground and bury new ones. The location can achieve the purpose of blocking the enemy.
After Belkin and others left, Lyudnikov curiously asked Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, is the method you mentioned really effective?"
"Of course it works, Comrade Colonel." Sokov could propose such a method because he had such a successful battle, so he replied confidently: "The enemy will never dream of it. When they wake up, they originally used The landmines used to protect our troops actually appear in places where they usually pass."
"Using landmines to deal with the enemy is a common tactic used by guerrillas." Lyudnikov said thoughtfully: "Even if you change the mine to bomb the enemy, how much damage can it cause to the enemy?"
"Comrade Colonel, we have moved the mines and don't expect it to really kill many enemies." Sokov explained to Lyudnikov: "As long as the enemies are bombed in different places, they will be killed." Fear arises, not knowing where we have laid mines. Under the current situation, it is unrealistic to send a large number of engineers to clear mines, so for the sake of safety, they can only reduce the scope of their activities. In this way, This will reduce the pressure you are under. After waiting for another ten days, we will have enough power to deal with them..."
Sokov was so happy that he even said about the counterattack inadvertently. Although he discovered the mistake and stopped in time, it aroused Lyudnikov's curiosity: "Colonel Sokov, do you have any inside information about when our army will launch a counterattack?"
Lyudnikov's question made the communications soldier sitting in the corner prick up his ears, wanting to hear whether there would really be a major counterattack. Sokov rolled his eyes and immediately came up with a good reason: "Comrade Colonel, you really like to joke. You don't even know about the counterattack plan. How can I know about it?"
"But you just said clearly that in more than ten days..."
"Oh, that's what happened." Sokov said, pretending to be enlightened: "The transportation on the river has been interrupted recently because there are too many ice floes on the water. In another week, the river will When it freezes, supplies and troops from the east coast will be able to continuously enter the city through the ice, and then we will have enough troops and materials to launch a counterattack against the enemy."
"So that's what happened." Sokov's words were so accurate that Lyudnikov believed them without any doubt. He said with some disappointment: "I thought you knew about the counterattack."
