After Asiya and others entered the Soviet position, two trucks carrying the corpses of German officers and soldiers, escorted by four three-wheeled motorcycles, headed to the location where the German armored vehicles were parked.
Asiya originally wanted to stay and watch the exchange ceremony, but Lieutenant Colonel Goryachkin, the leader of the 546th Regiment, came over and said to her: "Comrade Asiya, there is going to be a war here soon, I will let you I'll take you back to the headquarters. I think Comrade Commander must still be worried about your safety at this moment."
Now that Goryachkin had spoken for this reason, Asya knew that if she stayed, it would definitely affect the subsequent military operations, so she nodded and agreed to Goryachkin's proposal.
Seeing that Asiya agreed to return to the headquarters immediately, Goryachkin called Zhelya to him and ordered him: "Comrade Captain, you immediately lead a platoon to escort Asiya and several other health workers to the headquarters. .You have to promise me that you will protect their lives as much as you care for your own eyes."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Zheliya vowed: "I will definitely send Comrade Asiya to the headquarters safely. If I don't complete the task, I will not come back to see you."
"Comrade Captain, I hope you can return as soon as possible." Goryachkin said with a smile: "I also hope you will lead your company to achieve more meritorious deeds in the following battles."
Asiya and others got into a truck without a tarpaulin and drove in the direction of the headquarters. Along the way, seeing the oncoming soldiers and the artillery towed behind the truck, the female health workers all started talking excitedly: "Look, it's our troops. They are moving towards the front. Are they preparing to deal with the Germans?" "
Hearing the discussion of her companions, Asiya did not speak, but turned to look at Zelia sitting aside, hoping to get some useful information from him. After Zelia understood what Asiya meant, she said to everyone: "Girls, please be quiet! You guessed it right, we are about to launch an attack on the enemy, and now the superiors are mobilizing troops."
Knowing that the troops would soon launch an attack on the enemy, these girls who had just escaped from the clutches of the enemy suddenly became excited: "It's great. We can take revenge for us by wiping out all the bad guys who captured us. "
"Zelia," while the girls were cheering, Asiya asked Zelia with concern: "Although we are all out of danger now, we were captured by the Germans after all. Will we be censored after we go back? ?”
Hearing Asiya's question, Zheliya hesitated obviously. After a long time, he said in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Asiya, reviewing you is a necessary procedure and cannot be avoided. Yes. But the time you were captured was short, so I believe the review will be over soon."
Sokov received a call from Goryachkin and learned that Asya and several female health workers had returned to the headquarters under the escort of Zhelia. From that moment on, Sokov became a little absent-minded. From time to time, he stopped what he was doing and listened to the noise coming from outside. Occasionally when a car passed by outside, he would look out the window to confirm whether it was the car Asiya was riding in.
Lunev saw Sokov's absent-mindedness, so he came over and said to him: "Comrade Commander, you must be tired after staying up all night. Why not go to sleep for a while first, so that you can have the energy to direct the battle." After waving to him, Cove added, "Don't worry, I will wake you up when Asia arrives."
Sokov didn't have much time to sleep during this period, and what happened to Asya last night made him even more exhausted. Since Luniev said he would wake him up in time, he did not insist on his opinion. Instead, after giving some instructions to Samyko, he came to the corner and lay down on the cot.
Because he was too tired, he fell asleep within two minutes of lying down. In order not to affect Sokov's rest, Samyko and Lunev both ordered the communications soldiers and staff officers in the headquarters to keep their voices and steps softer so as not to wake up Sokov.
About half an hour later, a staff officer hurried in from outside and reported to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to the report from the observation post, the truck Asiya and the others are riding in will reach us in a few minutes. here."
Knowing that Asiya's car was about to arrive, Lunev was about to step forward to wake up Sokov, but saw him suddenly stand up from the cot and run out of the command post impatiently. Lunev thought that according to the usual practice, all captured personnel would be subject to special review when they returned. Although he and Sokov had a good personal relationship, the necessary procedures could not be skipped. He shook his head gently and then walked out.
As soon as he went out, Lunev saw Sokov standing next to the truck, putting his hand on Asiya's armpit and helping him get out of the truck. He knew that the two of them had not seen each other for a long time and must have a lot to say, so he stopped and did not come forward to disturb them.
Don't see Asiya acting particularly strong when she was trapped in the enemy camp, but when she saw Sokov, her tense nerves immediately relaxed. She hugged Sokov tightly, her whole body trembling like chaff, and she couldn't say a word.
Seeing that Asiya was still intact in his arms, Sokov finally let go of the huge stone in his heart. His hand gently patted Asiya's back, comforting her and saying: "Asiya, don't be afraid, everything is over, you are back to me again. I promise you, those who captured you People will be punished soon."
Asiya's body was still trembling. She heard clearly what Sokov said, and she felt particularly moved. She wanted to say a few words, but it was as if something was stuck in her throat and she could not speak.
"Comrade Asiya," Lunev stood in the distance for a while. Seeing Sokov and Asiya hugging each other tightly and not parting for a long time, he took a few steps forward and coughed twice. , and then said: "It's great to see you come back safely."
Hearing Lunev's voice, Asia quickly pushed Sokov away gently, wiped the tears on his face with his hand, and said to Lunev with some embarrassment: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar, can you I am also happy to see you alive."
"Comrade Asiya, you have been wronged." Lunev stepped forward and held Asiya's hand, comforting her and saying, "Don't worry, we will seek justice for you soon."
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov saw Lunev's appearance and realized that the other party might start the review process, so he took the initiative to say: "Asia and the others have just returned from the enemy. According to regulations, they should conduct a review. This I’ll leave it to you to take charge.”
"Comrade Commander, I will review Asya and the others according to normal procedures." Lunev comforted Sokov and said, "Don't worry, it won't take long for the review to be completed."
When Lunev took Asya and others nearby for review, Sokov returned to his headquarters. As soon as he entered the door, Sameko reported to him: "Comrade Commander, both artillery divisions have been deployed."
"Where are the tank corps and the attacking troops?" Sokov asked with his hands behind his back: "Have they all arrived at the designated position?"
"The tank army is still on the march. It is estimated that it will take another forty minutes to an hour to reach the designated attack position." Sameko reported: "Do I need to urge them?"
"No need," Sokov shook his head and said, "They can definitely catch up with the attack."
He then asked: "Is the exchange ceremony with the enemy over?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko said: "We have handed over all the corpses of the German soldiers who died in the field hospital to the enemy on the opposite side."
"Very good." Sokov raised his hand to look at his watch and said to Samek: "Call the two commanders of the artillery division and order them to bombard the targets provided to them in fifteen minutes. "
"Comrade Commander, how long do you plan to let them shell for?"
"At least forty minutes." Sokov said: "When the bombardment is over, the tanks of the tank army should have entered the designated positions. At that time, the infantry can be mounted on the tanks to launch an assault on the enemy's defense area."
Although Sameko knew that this battle with the 19th Armored Division was inevitable, it seemed a bit too much to shell their positions and launch an attack just after the exchange ceremony with the Germans today. He carefully reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, as soon as we completed the exchange ceremony with the enemy, we bombarded their positions and launched a ground attack. Is this appropriate? Otherwise, we change the attack time to tomorrow?" "
"Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that the last time we used the corpse of the commander of the 6th Armored Division to exchange captured personnel of our army, the enemy also launched a fierce shelling on us after the exchange ceremony." Sokov said He said with a straight face: "If the enemy can do this, why can't we fight an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?"
"I understand, Comrade Commander." After Sokov's reminder, Sameko immediately remembered the exchange ceremony that took place not long ago. If Sokov hadn't been clever at that time, he deliberately delayed the German representatives who came to negotiate. , then the troops may suffer heavy casualties. "I immediately notified the two artillery division commanders and ordered them to prepare for artillery bombardment."
A quarter of an hour later, the Soviet artillery group began to show its power, and countless shells fell on the German position and exploded. In a short time, the German position was enveloped in smoke and fire. The German officers and soldiers on the position acted quickly and hid in bomb holes or shelters; those who responded slowly were either blown to pieces on the spot, or were killed by the shock wave of the explosion.
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov saw Lunev's appearance and realized that the other party might start the review process, so he took the initiative to say: "Asia and the others have just returned from the enemy. According to regulations, they should conduct a review. This I’ll leave it to you to take charge.”
"Comrade Commander, I will review Asya and the others according to normal procedures." Lunev comforted Sokov and said, "Don't worry, it won't take long for the review to be completed."
When Lunev took Asya and others nearby for review, Sokov returned to his headquarters. As soon as he entered the door, Sameko reported to him: "Comrade Commander, both artillery divisions have been deployed."
"Where are the tank corps and the attacking troops?" Sokov asked with his hands behind his back: "Have they all arrived at the designated position?"
"The tank army is still on the march. It is estimated that it will take another forty minutes to an hour to reach the designated attack position." Sameko reported: "Do I need to urge them?"
"No need," Sokov shook his head and said, "They can definitely catch up with the attack."
He then asked: "Is the exchange ceremony with the enemy over?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko said: "We have handed over all the corpses of the German soldiers who died in the field hospital to the enemy on the opposite side."
"Very good." Sokov raised his hand to look at his watch and said to Samek: "Call the two commanders of the artillery division and order them to bombard the targets provided to them in fifteen minutes. "
"Comrade Commander, how long do you plan to let them shell for?"
"At least forty minutes." Sokov said: "When the bombardment is over, the tanks of the tank army should have entered the designated positions. At that time, the infantry can be mounted on the tanks to launch an assault on the enemy's defense area."
Although Sameko knew that this battle with the 19th Armored Division was inevitable, it seemed a bit too much to shell their positions and launch an attack just after the exchange ceremony with the Germans today. He carefully reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, as soon as we completed the exchange ceremony with the enemy, we bombarded their positions and launched a ground attack. Is this appropriate? Otherwise, we change the attack time to tomorrow?" "
"Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that the last time we used the corpse of the commander of the 6th Armored Division to exchange captured personnel of our army, the enemy also launched a fierce shelling on us after the exchange ceremony." Sokov said He said with a straight face: "If the enemy can do this, why can't we fight an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?"
"I understand, Comrade Commander." After Sokov's reminder, Sameko immediately remembered the exchange ceremony that took place not long ago. If Sokov hadn't been clever at that time, he deliberately delayed the German representatives who came to negotiate. , then the troops may suffer heavy casualties. "I immediately notified the two artillery division commanders and ordered them to prepare for the artillery attack."
A quarter of an hour later, the Soviet artillery group began to show its power, and countless shells fell on the German position and exploded. In a short time, the German position was enveloped in smoke and fire. The German officers and soldiers on the position moved quickly and hid in bomb holes or shelters; those who responded slowly were either blown to pieces on the spot, or were killed by the shock wave of the explosion.
