After arranging tonight's night attack, Sokov still felt uneasy. He once again ordered the director of the communications corps to dial the phone number of the front army headquarters.
The person who answered the phone this time was no longer Zakharov, but Konev himself. Hearing the voice of Sokov, he thought that the other party was looking for the progress of the main force of the front army, so he said without hesitation: "Comrade Sokov, if there is the latest progress, I will let General Zakharov inform you in time. Don't call me casually if you have nothing to do, otherwise it will affect other important calls."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you have misunderstood." Seeing that Konev had misunderstood, Sokov quickly explained: "I am calling you because we will launch an attack on the enemy tonight and need your cooperation. .”
"Are you going to attack the enemy tonight?" Konev suddenly became interested when he heard what Sokov said, and asked repeatedly: "Where do you plan to attack the enemy, and what kind of help do you need from me? Just say it, as long as it is within my ability, I will try my best to fulfill your request."
"The assistance I request is very simple," Sokov replied: "We plan to carry out a night force crossing attack at the middle end of the Oud River. The troops currently responsible for the assault mission are moving in this direction, in order to avoid being attacked by the enemy. The reconnaissance plane has discovered the whereabouts, and I request you to send a few fighter planes to patrol the airspace there to disperse any German reconnaissance planes that may appear."
"If you only need the cooperation of a few fighter planes, then there won't be much of a problem." Konev knew that Sokov's troops would be fine if they didn't attack. Once they did, they would definitely hit the vital points of the German army. He couldn't help but ask curiously. : "Comrade Sokov, can you tell me where you plan to attack the enemy?"
Since he was reporting to Konev, Sokov naturally had no need to conceal it, so he truthfully reported to Konev the area where he planned to conduct a night raid.
After listening to the location mentioned by Sokov, Konev quickly walked to the wall and looked up at the map hanging on it. After he saw the location clearly, he returned to the table, picked up the phone and said, "Sokov Comrade Cove, the map shows that the area where you are planning to carry out the raid is several hundred meters wide. Even if the German defense on the other side is lax, how can you guarantee that you will not be discovered by the enemy when crossing the river?"
Sokov had already guessed that Konev would ask this question. He smiled slightly and then said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, have you forgotten the new river-crossing equipment in the hands of Colonel Yakov?"
"Oh, so you plan to take a hovercraft." After Konev figured out how Sokov planned to act, the expression on his face became relaxed: "If it is an ordinary river crossing equipment, these few hundred meters will be a It’s a problem, but to you, it’s nothing.”
After a pause, Konev continued: "Comrade Sokov, I will immediately order the air force to dispatch fighter planes to cover your movement from being detected by the enemy. I wish you good luck!"
"Comrade Commander," Samek said excitedly when he saw Sokov put down the phone: "I was originally worried that the 384th Division might be discovered by the enemy's reconnaissance plane while marching, thus exposing our intentions. Now the front army If the headquarters is willing to dispatch fighter planes to provide cover for our marching troops, the possibility of being detected by the enemy will be greatly reduced."
"Chief of Staff," Sokov told Samyko: "Immediately send a report to the 384th Division and tell Major General Gritsenko that the superiors will soon send fighter planes to provide them with control cover, so that they can march with confidence and boldness."
As it turns out, Sokov's concerns were entirely justified. As soon as a four-plane formation of fighters sent by the 5th Army of the Air Force arrived, a German reconnaissance plane appeared.
The fighter planes that provided air cover for the 384th Division saw the appearance of the enemy planes and rushed forward like hungry wolves on their prey. Before the German pilots could figure out why the Soviet aircraft appeared here, the reconnaissance plane had been beaten to pieces by the fighter's cannon. Seeing that his plane was completely out of control, the German pilot quickly chose to parachute.
The commanders and fighters who were marching on the ground cheered when they saw that the enemy plane was shot down by their own fighter planes. When the German pilot's parachute deployed in the air, the commander immediately sent soldiers to capture the parachuting pilot.
When the German reconnaissance plane appeared, Major General Gritsenko could not help frowning, and quickly ordered the radio operator to call the headquarters to report the presence of the German reconnaissance plane in the sky.
Sokov learned that the troops encountered a German reconnaissance plane during the march, and he felt panicked. If the reconnaissance plane discovered the troops marching on the ground and fed back the news, then his battle plan tonight would probably be affected. Make appropriate adjustments.
Therefore, the first thing he did when he put down the telegram was to tell Sameko: "Chief of Staff, call Major General Gritsenko back. If you have any latest situation, report it to me in a timely manner."
Just when Samyko agreed and was about to ask the radio operator to send a message to Gritsenko, a communications staff officer hurried over and reported excitedly to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is from the 384th Division. According to the telegram, the enemy reconnaissance plane that appeared above the marching team has been shot down by our fighter planes." After saying that, he handed the telegram in his hand to Sameko.
While Samyko was reading the telegram, Sokov looked at his staff and asked: "Did the enemy's reconnaissance plane crash? Is the pilot on board dead or alive now?"
Fortunately, the staff officer had read the contents of the telegram and was able to answer Sokov's question: "The enemy plane was shot down by our fighter plane. The pilot has parachuted. Now the ground forces have sent out manpower and are conducting a search."
The staff officer had just finished his report, and Sameko had also read the contents of the telegram. He nodded to Sokov, indicating that what the staff officer said was correct. Although the German reconnaissance plane was shot down, as long as the pilot is alive and dead, he will always be a huge threat. Maybe the opponent saw the marching troops on the ground. As long as he escapes back to the German defense zone and reports this information to the superiors, the enemy will know that Sokov's troops may be in a certain area and will take military action. Strengthening the defense there will make the battle plan fail.
It was with this in mind that Sokov told the staff with a serious expression: "Comrade staff, call back and tell Major General Gritsenko that once the German pilot is found, report it to the headquarters immediately."
"Yes!" The staff officer agreed resoundingly, turned around and returned to the communication area, preparing to send a report to the 384th Division.
"Comrade Commander, don't worry too much." After the staff left, Samyko comforted Sokov: "Although the enemy pilot parachuted, he might have an accident during landing, such as falling into a swamp. Drowned, or directly hit a big tree and was killed. Even if he landed safely, the 384th Division has sent personnel to search where he landed. It will not be easy for him to escape."
Sokov disagreed with Samek's statement. He thought that a few days ago, his plane was shot down by an enemy plane. Shortly after the forced landing, a large group of German troops came to search, but they were repelled by themselves. If this German pilot was as good at fighting as he was at that time, it was still unknown whether he could be caught.
When Sokov and Samyko were looking sad, Lunev's voice suddenly came from the door: "Comrade Commander, are you here?"
Sokov quickly stood up and said to Lunev who had just walked in the door: "Comrade Military Commissar, I am here, what can I do?"
"That's it, Comrade Commander." Lunev complained to Sokov: "I cooperated with local comrades to take over the management of the city and found that there are many problems that urgently need to be solved."
"what is the problem?"
"The water and electricity in the city have been cut off." Lunev said to Sokov: "Without electricity, you can still light candles for lighting. But if there is no water, it will have an adverse impact on the lives of the residents in the city. Therefore. , I plan to second the engineering troops to repair the pipelines damaged by the Germans, so that the city’s water supply can be restored as soon as possible.”
"Comrade Commander, the engineering troops have more important tasks to perform. I'm afraid they won't be able to spare manpower to repair the pipelines damaged by the enemy." Samyko was a little embarrassed and Sokov said: "Look, how to solve this problem?" What's the matter?"
"No, the engineering troops cannot be mobilized at this time." After Sokov finished saying this, he saw a puzzled expression on Lunev's face, and quickly added: "They will soon set up installations on the Oud River. Bridges, if there are not enough manpower, the pontoon bridge cannot be erected in the shortest time.”
"Floating bridge, what floating bridge?" Lunev didn't know what Sokov and Samyko meant, and asked strangely: "Hasn't the bridge on the Oud River been occupied by our army? Why are we sending engineers? What about building another floating bridge?”
"Comrade Military Commissar, in addition to several infantry divisions, our group army also has tank corps and artillery divisions. With so many troops, if we only cross the river through one bridge, it will definitely cause congestion on the bridge." Sokov explained: " Once the enemy discovers that our army is crossing the bridge and launches a dense artillery attack, it may cause huge casualties to our army."
When Sokov explained this, Lunev immediately understood what he meant. However, he still asked reluctantly: "Comrade Commander, if the engineering troops cannot be used, who will repair the damaged water pipes in the city and restore the water supply to the residents in the city? You know, not everyone can think There is a way to find the water source.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar." Seeing Lunev's anxious look, Sokov quickly comforted him and said, "Although our engineering troops cannot be mobilized, you can mobilize the residents of the city. I believe there must be some among them. There are a large number of plumbers, and they are probably more suitable than our engineering troops to repair damaged water pipes." Sokov disagreed with Samek's statement. He thought of what happened a few days ago. , his plane was shot down by an enemy plane. Shortly after the forced landing, a large group of German troops came to search, but they were repelled by themselves. If this German pilot was as good at fighting as he was at that time, it was still unknown whether he could be caught.
When Sokov and Samyko were looking sad, Lunev's voice suddenly came from the door: "Comrade Commander, are you here?"
Sokov quickly stood up and said to Lunev who had just walked in the door: "Comrade Military Commissar, I am here, what can I do?"
"That's it, Comrade Commander." Lunev complained to Sokov: "I cooperated with local comrades to take over the management of the city and found that there are many problems that urgently need to be solved."
"what is the problem?"
"The water and electricity in the city have been cut off." Lunev said to Sokov: "Without electricity, you can still light candles for lighting. But if there is no water, it will have an adverse impact on the lives of the residents in the city. Therefore. , I plan to second the engineering troops to repair the pipelines damaged by the Germans, so that the city’s water supply can be restored as soon as possible.”
"Comrade Commander, the engineering troops have more important tasks to perform. I'm afraid they won't be able to spare manpower to repair the pipelines damaged by the enemy." Samyko was a little embarrassed and Sokov said: "Look, how to solve this problem?" What's the matter?"
"No, the engineering troops cannot be mobilized at this time." After Sokov finished saying this, he saw a puzzled expression on Lunev's face, and quickly added: "They will soon set up installations on the Oud River. Bridges, if there are not enough manpower, the pontoon bridge cannot be erected in the shortest time.”
"Floating bridge, what floating bridge?" Lunev didn't know what Sokov and Samyko meant, and asked strangely: "Hasn't the bridge on the Oud River been occupied by our army? Why are we sending engineers? What about building another floating bridge?”
"Comrade Military Commissar, in addition to several infantry divisions, our group army also has tank corps and artillery divisions. With so many troops, if we only cross the river through one bridge, it will definitely cause congestion on the bridge." Sokov explained: " Once the enemy discovers that our army is crossing the bridge and launches a dense artillery attack, it may cause huge casualties to our army."
When Sokov explained this, Lunev immediately understood what he meant. However, he still asked reluctantly: "Comrade Commander, if the engineering troops cannot be used, who will repair the damaged water pipes in the city and restore the water supply to the residents in the city? You know, not everyone can think There is a way to find the water source.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar." Seeing Lunev's anxious look, Sokov quickly comforted him and said, "Although our engineering troops cannot be used, you can mobilize the residents of the city. I believe there must be some among them. There are a large number of plumbers, and they may be more suitable to repair damaged water pipes than our engineering troops."
"Comrade Commander," Lunev asked tentatively: "Can you follow me to the scene to see the actual situation?"
