On the day of the rendezvous, Sokov arrived at the 122nd Regiment's position an hour early.
Seeing Sokov's arrival, Colonel Bely and Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko came out to greet him. Bely smiled and said to Sokov: "Misha, after months of hard fighting, we finally waited for the day when we will meet."
"Yes, Comrade Colonel." Sokov held the other person's hand and said, "In order to achieve this goal, thousands of our commanders, soldiers and civilians fell in this heroic city."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov directly asked Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko after entering the regiment command post: "How many people are left in your regiment now?"
"There are more than 1,400 wounded in the entire regiment." Papuchenko said with some worry: "Comrade division commander, I'm afraid this force may not be enough to attack the German positions."
"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Before Sokov could speak, Bely interjected: "I have transferred the other two tank battalions back overnight. Now we can gather more than thirty tanks, and seven or eight tanks With these self-propelled artillery pieces, in conjunction with your attack, there shouldn’t be much of a problem in breaking through the enemy’s position.”
Although Sokov was somewhat dissatisfied with Bely's move to transfer the other two tank battalions of the tank brigade without asking for instructions. However, considering that using all the tanks together would at least have the advantage of weapons and equipment in the situation, he avoided talking about the matter. Instead, he said to Papchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I have discussed it with the deputy division commander , the political commissar has agreed that before the attack begins, they will mobilize troops from the areas they are responsible for to strengthen you. In this way, you will have enough troops to launch an attack on the German positions."
Knowing that his troops would have the cooperation of the tank brigade and friendly troops during the attack, Papuchenko showed a relaxed expression on his face: "Comrade division commander, since we have the cooperation of the tank brigade and friendly troops, I believe we can break through The enemy’s position shouldn’t be difficult.”
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov gently shook his head after hearing the other party's statement: "It's not enough to break through the enemy's position. We also have to rush to join forces with the friendly forces on the opposite side. I ask you now, do you need How long will it take to break through the enemy's defense?"
"It's hard to say." Regarding Sokov's question, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko said with some embarrassment: "You know, the enemy's defenses are all facing our side. Even with the support of tanks and self-propelled artillery, I think It’s also very difficult to break through quickly.”
"There are definitely difficulties. No matter how difficult it is for you to break through the enemy's defenses, it is not easy for the friendly forces who have come to join us to break through the enemy's positions in one go." Sokov continued to ask. : "Tell me, how long will it take?"
"I think, I think," Papuchenko said "I think" twice in a row before finally holding back a sentence: "I think it will be possible to join forces with friendly forces until after noon at the earliest."
"No." Sokov was not satisfied with Papuchenko's answer. He shook his head and said, "I can't wait until noon."
"Comrade Commander," seeing Sokov rejecting his plan without hesitation, Papuchenko asked with a guilty conscience: "Then how long do you plan to give us?"
"Eleven o'clock." Sokov said without hesitation: "At eleven o'clock, we must achieve the rendezvous with friendly forces."
"Meet the troops at eleven o'clock?" Papuchenko said in embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, isn't the time too tight?"
"It's not important at all." Sokov shook his head and said, "Your regiment started attacking at half past eight. You have two and a half hours, which is enough to break through the enemy's defense."
"Comrade Commander," Papuchenko said cautiously, trying to make Sokov change his mind: "Look, can you give us a little more time..."
"The combat order has been issued, and the rendezvous with friendly forces must be achieved at eleven o'clock." Sokov said in an unquestionable tone: "If you feel that you cannot do this, I can ask your deputy commander or chief of staff to take over for you. command."
"Comrade division commander, what happened?" Ivanov's voice came from the door: "The war is coming, why do you think of changing the military commander of the regiment?"
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you are here." Sokov glanced behind Ivanov, but did not see Anisimov's shadow, so he asked curiously: "Where is the political commissar?"
"He is further away from here than me. It may take a while before he can bring the troops here." After Ivanov finished speaking, before Sokov asked again, he took the initiative and said: "I brought a full army with me." The battalion, with nearly five hundred men, can allow them to participate in the attack.”
"Very good." Sokov nodded and said, "Let them attack behind the 122nd Regiment later."
"By the way, Comrade Commander." Ivanov looked at Papuchenko standing next to him, and remembered his question just now. Before Sokov could answer him, he asked again: "What happened just now? When I walked in, why did I hear you saying that you were planning to change the military commander of the regiment?"
"That's it," Sokov glared at Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko and explained to Ivanov: "I asked Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko to join forces with the friendly forces on the opposite side at eleven o'clock. But he He said it might not be possible, so I said that if he couldn't do it, I would replace him with a commander who could do it."
"So that's it." After Ivanov figured out what was going on, he looked at the blushing Papuchenko and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade division commander, I don't think the regiment commander needs to be replaced. Lieutenant Colonel Puchenko’s ability will definitely enable him to join forces with the friendly forces coming from the opposite direction at eleven o’clock.”
In fact, Sokov was just talking angrily and had no intention of replacing Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko. At this moment, since Ivanov begged for mercy, he followed suit and said: "Okay, since Comrade Deputy Division Commander said so, then this regiment There is no need to replace the long-term position, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko will continue to hold the position."
The troops led by Anisimov arrived when the friendly forces on the opposite side launched an attack on the enemy. He walked into the command post, listened to the rumble of artillery coming from the opposite side, and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade division commander, it seems that I came just in time. The 23rd Infantry Division opposite is attacking the enemy."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov had just arranged the attack sequence. Seeing Anisimov appear at this moment, he said to him: "When we attack later, the 122nd Regiment will be the first echelon, and the 124th Regiment will be the first echelon. The second echelon, and the troops you lead are the third echelon. Do you understand?"
Anisimov felt disappointed when he heard that the troops he brought were actually assigned to the third echelon. This means that the honor of joining forces with friendly forces can only belong to the first and second echelon troops. However, his many years of military career have allowed him to develop a good habit of obedience. He quickly straightened his body and replied: "I understand, comrade division commander."
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. Seeing that there were only twenty minutes left before the attack started, he ordered Bely: "Colonel Bely, please go back to the brigade immediately and activate all the tanks and self-propelled artillery. . When the time is up, guide the infantry to attack the enemy's position."
"Comrade Division Commander," Anisimov, who arrived last, didn't know how Sokov arranged the offensive steps. But when he heard that Bely's tank brigade directly led the infantry charge, he couldn't help but said: "Should we prepare artillery fire on the enemy's position before the attack begins?"
"No, no, no." Sokov waved his hand and said, "We are only a few hundred meters away from the enemy's position. With the tanks as the first line and the infantry following behind, we can rush to the enemy's position very quickly. There is no need to waste precious energy. It’s a cannon ball.”
Shortly after Bely left, Sokov heard the roar of tank engines coming from outside. It seemed that all tanks and self-propelled artillery were activated and prepared for the attack.
"Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko," now that the tank brigade was ready to attack, Sokov ordered Papuchenko: "Immediately put your commanders and soldiers into the offensive position and wait for the three red flares to rise into the air. Immediately launch an attack on the enemy's position."
When the time came, the tanks and self-propelled artillery that had been ready to go emitted streams of black smoke from their tails, and then started one after another, forming a battle formation and heading towards the enemy's position. Behind them were more than two thousand officers and men of the Guards Division. They held weapons in their hands and walked vigorously towards the enemy's position without hesitation.
