In the evening, two unexpected guests arrived at Sokov's new headquarters.
Sokov, who was sitting at the table drinking tea with Samyko and Lunev, saw the appearance of the two men and quickly stood up from his seat. He didn't even have time to put on the military cap on the table, so he raised his hands. When he reached his forehead, he asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army and Comrade Military Commissioner, why are you here?"
When Samyko and Lunev saw Sokov suddenly jumping up, they couldn't help but were startled. But after hearing what he said next, they instinctively turned their heads and looked towards the door, and saw clearly that the people coming were Konev and Susekov. . He also quickly stood up and raised his hands to salute the two of them.
Konev stepped forward and shook hands with the three of them one by one, and said with a smile: "Comrade Sokov, I came here specially to see you. Everyone, please don't be restrained and sit down quickly."
Although Konev asked the three of them to sit down, none of them dared to sit down before he sat down.
Fortunately, Samyko was smarter and immediately ran to the side to pour two cups of hot tea, added sugar, put it down in front of Konev and Susekov, and said with a smile: "Comrade Commander, Military Commissar Comrades, please have tea!"
After everyone sat down, Susekov, as the military commissar of the front army, felt that he should say a few words first. He looked at Sokov and said with a smile: "Comrade Sokov, your 27th Army is indispensable for liberating Belgorod so quickly this time."
At this point, he turned to look at Konev and continued: "In order to commend you for your meritorious service in this battle, after discussing with Comrade Commander, I decided to report your merits to the Supreme Command so that everyone can Every commander and fighter who has made meritorious deeds will receive the honor that belongs to them."
"This is the honor you deserve." As soon as Susekov finished speaking, Konev continued: "If nothing else, at least commanders at all levels of your army can be promoted to the first rank."
Having said this, Konev couldn't help but sigh softly, and continued: "Since our Steppe Front Army is a reserve front army, its military rank is also lower than that of ordinary troops. But after the Battle of Kursk and this During the first battle to liberate Belgorod, the base camp changed its view of us and no longer regarded us as ordinary reserves, and was prepared to improve our treatment accordingly."
"I took a look at the officer roster of the 27th Army." Susekov continued: "The commanders of several infantry divisions and artillery divisions of your army, except for the commander of the 84th Division Fomenko, the commander of the 384th Division, Except for division commander Gritsenko, who is a general, all the other division commanders are still colonels. This time, if the commendation order we submit can be passed, all of your division commanders can become generals."
When he learned that his division commanders were basically promoted to the first rank, from school officers to generals, Sokov was also happy for them. He quickly stood up and raised his hand to salute Konev and Susekov: " Comrade Commander and Military Commissar, on behalf of the division commanders, I would like to express my gratitude to you!"
"You don't need to thank us, you deserve this." Konev said, raised his right hand, pressed his palm down twice, and said to Sokov: "Don't be so restrained. If you have anything to say, sit down and talk." .”
"Comrade Commander," Samyko asked Konev tentatively after Sokov sat down: "I would like to ask, when will we launch an attack on Kharkov? Also, what is the direction of our army's attack? where?"
Facing the question raised by Samyko, Konev smiled faintly, and then said: "I don't know the specific time to launch the attack on Kharkov. After all, we have just captured Belgorod, and it will take some time for the troops to arrive." Rest and wait for our superiors to replenish our troops, weapons and ammunition.
As for the direction of attack you mentioned. I consider letting you launch the attack from the west of Kharkov. There is the wide Oud River in this direction. You have advanced hovercrafts. There should not be much problem in completing the forced crossing mission. "
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," since Konev mentioned the direction of the attack on Kharkov, Sokov boldly expressed his doubts: "I wonder if the superiors have figured out the direction of the Kharkov area. What is the deployment situation of the German troops?”
"We have figured out the enemy's general troop deployment." Konev nodded and said: "The enemy's deployment in the west ear is the 11th Army of the Kef Battle Group, also known as the Rouse Army. And what we have to deal with It was the 42nd Army of the Kef Battle Group and Hoth's 4th Armored Army; the Voronezh Front dealt with the 7th Army of the German 2nd Army..."
When Sokov listened to Konev's introduction to the enemy's situation, he couldn't help but murmur to himself: shouldn't this be the deployment of the German army in Belgorod in real history? How did it become Kharkiv? Is it because of the existence of this time traveler that history has shifted here?
"Comrade Sokov," after Konev finished speaking, seeing Sokov in a daze, he couldn't help but curiously asked: "What are you thinking about?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," hearing Konev asking himself, Sokov quickly straightened up and replied: "I was thinking that since the enemy was outside Belgorod and was caught off guard by our hovercraft, then Will they set up targeted obstacles on the Oud River outside Kharkiv this time so that our hovercraft cannot pass!"
"This is very possible." Konev agreed with Sokov's concerns. He added: "Before we came here, Comrade Military Commissar and I had already sent out scouts to carry out operations in the Kharkov area. Reconnaissance, I believe they will be able to feed back the enemy’s situation soon.”
"If the enemy has deployed various anti-tank obstacles in front of the river position to deal with our hovercraft." Sameko asked tentatively: "I wonder what help our superiors are prepared to provide us?"
"General Samyko, you don't have to worry about this." Konev comforted Samyko: "Before the attack, we will carry out long-term artillery preparations for the enemy's positions. As for the area you are planning to break through, I can send aircraft Bombing and destroying various anti-tank obstacles in front of enemy positions."
Konev's words gave Sokov reassurance that if artillery and bombing were used to destroy various obstacles in front of the enemy's position before the attack, it would be possible to open up a channel for the hovercraft to travel.
That night, the scouts dispatched sent back reconnaissance information.
After reading the telegram, Samyko said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the situation is the same as your analysis. The enemy has deployed a large number of anti-tank triangle cones and triangle brackets in front of the riverside position, and has pulled up barbed wire. , laid minefields, I think it is simply impossible for our hovercraft to rush in front of the enemy unexpectedly, just like the attack on Belgorod."
"I know." Sokov was thinking in his mind. Although shelling and bombing can clear the triangular pyramids and triangular supports deployed by the German army in front of the position, the roads will also be completely destroyed by then, and all kinds of debris piled up in front of the position will be destroyed. Rotten copper and iron will also hinder the forward path of the hovercraft. "Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, is there any way to open a passable path for hovercrafts without shelling and bombing the enemy's positions?"
"Yes." Sameko said without hesitation: "We can send people to the other side to blast the obstacles in front of the enemy's position. This can also clear a passage."
"This method won't work." Lunev said unexpectedly: "If we can all send them to the other side to blast the enemy's obstacles, then why use hovercrafts? Isn't it easier for the troops crossing the river to simply rush into the enemy's position? What?"
"If you cannot use hovercrafts and only use ordinary river crossing equipment to carry out forced crossings, you will inevitably pay huge casualties." Samyko said to Sokov: "I heard Colonel Koida say that during the battle to liberate Belgorod During the mission, when they were assisting the friendly forces to cross the river, they saw that the friendly commanders and fighters were intercepted by enemy mortars and machine gun fire while crossing the river, resulting in heavy casualties. If they had not been ordered by you to attack the enemy's positions along the river , to cover the friendly troops crossing the river, maybe even if the division is exhausted, it will be impossible to force the crossing successfully."
"Yeah, if you can't use the hovercraft and can only use ordinary river crossing equipment to cross the river, our assault troops will inevitably pay huge casualties." Sokov frowned and tapped lightly with his fingers: "I want to think of a It’s a good idea to clear the obstacles in front of the enemy’s position so that our hovercraft can reach the enemy’s position smoothly.”
"Misha, what are you talking about?" Just when everyone was helpless, Sokov heard Yakov's voice.
Sokov looked up and saw Yakov coming in from the door. He tried his best to put a smile on his face and greeted him politely: "Yasha, you are here. Have you had dinner?"
"Already eaten. But I can have some tea at your place."
Sokov personally poured a cup of tea for Yakov, put it down in front of him, and asked casually: "Yasha, in a few days, we will launch an attack on Kharkov. Can your hovercraft be used?" ?”
Two days ago, Yakov said that the hovercraft needed repairs and could not be used temporarily. Sokov asked this because he wanted to find out whether these hovercrafts could be used in the battle to liberate Kharkov.
"No problem." Yakov nodded and said, "After simple maintenance, all hovercrafts have been restored to their best condition, and you can use them again at any time."
"General Samyko, you don't have to worry about this." Konev comforted Samyko: "Before the attack, we will carry out long-term artillery preparations for the enemy's positions. As for the area you are planning to break through, I can send aircraft Bombing and destroying various anti-tank obstacles in front of enemy positions."
Konev's words gave Sokov reassurance that if artillery and bombing were used to destroy various obstacles in front of the enemy's position before the attack, it would be possible to open up a channel for the hovercraft to travel.
That night, the scouts dispatched sent back reconnaissance information.
After reading the telegram, Samyko said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the situation is the same as your analysis. The enemy has deployed a large number of anti-tank triangle cones and triangle brackets in front of the riverside position, and has pulled up barbed wire. , laid minefields, I think it is simply impossible for our hovercraft to rush in front of the enemy unexpectedly, just like the attack on Belgorod."
"I know." Sokov was thinking in his mind. Although shelling and bombing can clear the triangular pyramids and triangular supports deployed by the German army in front of the position, the roads will also be completely destroyed by then, and all kinds of debris piled up in front of the position will be destroyed. Rotten copper and iron will also hinder the forward path of the hovercraft. "Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, is there any way to open a passable path for hovercrafts without shelling and bombing the enemy's positions?"
"Yes." Sameko said without hesitation: "We can send people to the other side to blast the obstacles in front of the enemy's position. This can also clear a passage."
"This method won't work." Lunev said unexpectedly: "If we can all send them to the other side to blast the enemy's obstacles, then why use hovercrafts? Isn't it easier for the troops crossing the river to simply rush into the enemy's position? What?"
"If you cannot use a hovercraft and only use ordinary river crossing equipment to carry out a forced crossing, you will inevitably pay huge casualties." Samyko said to Sokov: "I heard Colonel Koida say that during the battle to liberate Belgorod During the mission, when they were assisting friendly troops to cross the river, they saw that friendly troops were intercepted by enemy mortars and machine gun fire while crossing the river, resulting in heavy casualties. If they had not been ordered by you to attack the enemy's positions along the river , to cover the friendly troops crossing the river, maybe even if the division is exhausted, it will be impossible to force the crossing successfully."
"Yeah, if you can't use the hovercraft and can only use ordinary river crossing equipment to cross the river, our assault troops will inevitably pay huge casualties." Sokov frowned and tapped lightly with his fingers: "I want to think of a It’s a good idea to clear the obstacles in front of the enemy’s position so that our hovercraft can reach the enemy’s position smoothly.”
"Misha, what are you talking about?" Just when everyone was helpless, Sokov heard Yakov's voice.
Sokov looked up and saw Yakov coming in from the door. He tried his best to put a smile on his face and greeted him politely: "Yasha, you are here. Have you had dinner?"
"Already eaten. But I can have some tea at your place."
Sokov personally poured a cup of tea for Yakov, put it down in front of him, and asked casually: "Yasha, in a few days, we will launch an attack on Kharkov. Can your hovercraft be used?" ?”
Two days ago, Yakov said that the hovercraft needed repairs and could not be used temporarily. Sokov asked this because he wanted to find out whether these hovercrafts could be used in the battle to liberate Kharkov.
"No problem." Yakov nodded and said, "After simple maintenance, all hovercrafts have been restored to their best condition, and you can use them again at any time."
