Seeing the 180-degree turn in the attitude of the residents present, Lyapkin narrowed his smile to a slit. He took the loudspeaker from Sokov's hand and raised his voice and shouted: "Comrades, We need two hundred people to repair the water supply system in the city that was damaged by the Germans. If you are willing to participate, please line up at the small table on the left. Our comrades will divide you into groups according to your expertise and arrange accordingly. work."
Seeing the residents rushing towards the direction where the small tables were set up, Lyapkin continued: "Comrades, our work is not free. Each person who participates in the restoration work can receive 500 grams per day. Bread, and two pickled tomatoes…”
Seeing that the problem here had been solved, Sokov had no time to listen to what Lyapkin was saying. Instead, he walked to Lunev and asked him in a low voice: "Comrade Military Commissar, are you following me?" Should we go back to the headquarters together, or should we stay here and help our local comrades continue their work?"
Lunev glanced at the beaming Lyapkin, thought for a moment, and then said decisively: "Comrade Commander, I know that the war is coming, but I can't help you by your side. I think, I still can't help you." Stay here, restore water and electricity supply to the city as soon as possible, and let factories resume work and shops open this morning..."
Sokov did not force anyone to make things difficult for him, so he simply said: "Okay, Comrade Military Commissar, then you can stay." He looked left and right, and then waved to Serelkov, who was standing not far away. , ordered him: "Comrade Lieutenant, I have entrusted the safety of the military commissar to you. You must promise me that you must ensure the safety of his life just like you protect your own eyes."
"Comrade Commander, please rest assured." Serelkov quickly glanced at Lunev, and then said in a firm tone: "We will definitely protect the safety of comrade Military Commissar."
After explaining the task to Serelkov, Sokov extended his hand to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, we will see you after we liberate Kharkov. I wish you good luck!"
…………
As soon as Sokov returned to the headquarters, Samyko came up to him and reported excitedly: "Comrade Commander, good news."
"Good news?!" Sokov raised his eyebrows and asked casually: "Caught the German pilot?"
"You guessed it right, Comrade Commander." Sameko replied with a smile: "Our soldiers finally found the parachuting pilot after repeated searches in the forest."
"He didn't try to resist?"
"No, he was seriously injured and had lost the ability to resist." Sameko reported: "When our soldiers found him, he was lying unconscious under a tree. After our soldiers carried him back to the station , after examination by the military doctor, it was found that his legs had been broken, a broken rib was inserted into his lung, and he also lost a lot of blood. Our military doctors are giving him first aid, and it is still unknown whether he can survive."
"Oh, he was seriously injured?" Sokov frowned slightly and continued: "Where did our soldiers find him?"
"Here," Samyko pointed to a location on the map and said to Sokov, "it is only one kilometer away from the starting position of the 384th Division."
"Are any Germans looking for him?"
Unexpectedly, Sokov's words actually stopped Sameko from asking: "This...I don't know about this. I guess...it probably doesn't exist."
Sokov stared closely at the map on the table, frowning and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, let me ask you, if our plane is shot down by the enemy in the defense zone, will you send someone to search for it?"
"Needless to say, of course we have to look for it. Your plane was shot down last time, and we sent out personnel to search in time..." What Sameko blurted out came to an abrupt end at this point, and he suddenly realized that he said He let it slip that he was shot down by a German plane while checking the terrain on the battlefield. This was Sokov's embarrassment. If he said it now, he might make the other party angry. So Sameko quickly defended himself and said, "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I didn't mean to target you..."
Unexpectedly, Sokov's mind is not on this matter. He is considering that if the German army finds out that the reconnaissance plane has been shot down, they will definitely send troops to search. If the whereabouts of the pilot cannot be found, I am afraid the German army will become suspicious. In order to avoid this worst case, If something bad might happen, some actions must be taken in other areas to divert the Germans' attention.
Thinking of this, he raised his head and asked Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, where is the main force of the 98th Guards Division now?"
"They have all arrived at the Oude River and are stationed in the forest on the west bank." Samyko didn't know why Sokov suddenly thought of asking about this, so he asked with some surprise: "Comrade Commander, why are you asking about this? "
"Is the phone line connected?"
"Yes, the phone line is open."
"Put me through the headquarters of the 98th Guards Division immediately. I want to speak to Colonel Chuvashov."
Although Samyko didn't know why Sokov was eager to talk to Chuvashov, he still ordered the communications soldier to quickly connect Sokov to the headquarters of the 98th Guards Division.
Sokov put the microphone to his ear: "Hello, is this Colonel Chuvashov? I'm Sokov!"
"Hello, Comrade Commander." Colonel Chuvashov's respectful voice came over the phone: "Do you have any instructions?"
"Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask, can your troops go into battle now?"
"Come into battle now?" Chuvashov asked in surprise: "Didn't Chief of Staff Samyko just give us the task to temporarily rest by the river and wait until the time is right before launching an attack on the enemy?"
"Yes, I did ask Samyko to give you such an order." Sokov said expressionlessly: "But now the enemy situation has changed, and you need to launch an attack from the direction of the landing site to reconnoiter the German defenses. Condition……"
Chuvashov did not question the order issued by Sokov. He waited for Sokov to finish speaking and immediately replied: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will immediately issue the order to the 299th Guards Regiment." Battle orders, let them go into battle."
"Comrade Colonel, I will send the 85th Independent Tank Battalion to assist your attack." Sokov said into the microphone: "Now you are ready to attack, and when the time comes, launch an attack on the enemy."
Samyko waited for Sokov to put down the phone and asked somewhat unexpectedly: "Comrade Commander, the 296th Regiment of the 98th Guards Division is fighting the German attack on the east bank of the Oude River. Is it right to launch an attack on the enemy at this time? Isn’t it a bit inappropriate?”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I know that my order is a bit sudden, but I also have my own considerations in making such a decision." Sokov explained to Samyko: "Look at the position where the German pilots parachuted. , only one kilometer away from the starting position of the 384th Division's night attack, the enemy will definitely have doubts. Why did our fighter jets shoot down their reconnaissance aircraft in this airspace?
If the enemy becomes suspicious due to this matter and strengthens defenses in the area, it will have an adverse impact on the 384th Division's operations tonight. In order to divert the enemy's attention, we need to make some noise in other areas to attract the enemy's attention. "
"Comrade Commander," Samyko put forward his own different opinions on Sokov's consideration: "The reconnaissance plane was shot down by an enemy plane. This kind of situation is common on the battlefield. We don't need to make a fuss. Are you going to carry out an offensive operation here on the bridge? You must know that the consequence of this is the loss of our physical strength." Seeing the attitude of the residents present turning 180 degrees, Lyapkin narrowed his smile. He took the loudspeaker from Sokov's hand, raised his voice and shouted: "Comrades, we need two hundred people to repair the water supply system in the city that was damaged by the Germans. There are comrades who are willing to participate, Please line up at the small table on the left, and our comrades will group you according to your expertise and arrange corresponding work."
Seeing the residents rushing towards the direction where the small tables were set up, Lyapkin continued: "Comrades, our work is not free. Each person who participates in the restoration work can receive 500 grams per day. Bread, and two pickled tomatoes…”
Seeing that the problem here had been solved, Sokov had no time to listen to what Lyapkin was saying. Instead, he walked to Lunev and asked him in a low voice: "Comrade Military Commissar, are you following me?" Should we go back to the headquarters together, or should we stay here and help our local comrades continue their work?"
Lunev glanced at the beaming Lyapkin, thought for a moment, and then said decisively: "Comrade Commander, I know that the war is coming, but I can't help you by your side. I think, I still can't help you." Stay here, restore water and electricity supply to the city as soon as possible, and let factories resume work and shops open this morning..."
Sokov did not force anyone to make things difficult for him, so he said smoothly: "Okay, Comrade Military Commissar, then you can stay." He looked left and right, and then waved to Serelkov, who was standing not far away. , ordered him: "Comrade Lieutenant, I have entrusted the safety of the military commissar to you. You must promise me that you must ensure the safety of his life just like you protect your own eyes."
"Comrade Commander, please rest assured." Serelkov quickly glanced at Lunev, and then said in a firm tone: "We will definitely protect the safety of comrade Military Commissar."
After explaining the task to Serelkov, Sokov extended his hand to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, we will see you after we liberate Kharkov. I wish you good luck!"
…………
As soon as Sokov returned to the headquarters, Samyko came up to him and reported excitedly: "Comrade Commander, good news."
"Good news?!" Sokov raised his eyebrows and asked casually: "Caught the German pilot?"
"You guessed it right, Comrade Commander." Sameko replied with a smile: "Our soldiers finally found the parachuting pilot after repeated searches in the forest."
"He didn't try to resist?"
"No, he was seriously injured and had lost the ability to resist." Sameko reported: "When our soldiers found him, he was lying unconscious under a tree. After our soldiers carried him back to the station , after examination by the military doctor, it was found that his legs had been broken, a broken rib was inserted into his lung, and he also lost a lot of blood. Our military doctors are giving him first aid, and it is still unknown whether he can survive."
"Oh, he was seriously injured?" Sokov frowned slightly and continued: "Where did our soldiers find him?"
"Here," Samyko pointed to a location on the map and said to Sokov, "it's only one kilometer away from the starting position of the 384th Division."
"Are any Germans looking for him?"
Unexpectedly, Sokov's words actually stopped Sameko from asking: "This...I don't know about this. I guess...it probably doesn't exist."
Sokov stared closely at the map on the table, frowning and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, let me ask you, if our plane is shot down by the enemy in the defense zone, will you send someone to search for it?"
"Needless to say, of course we have to look for it. Your plane was shot down last time, and we sent out personnel to search in time..." What Sameko blurted out came to an abrupt end at this point, and he suddenly realized that he said He let it slip that he was shot down by a German plane while checking the terrain on the battlefield. This was Sokov's embarrassment. If he said it now, he might make the other party angry. So Sameko quickly defended himself and said, "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I didn't mean to target you..."
Unexpectedly, Sokov's mind was not on this matter. He was considering that if the German army found out that the reconnaissance plane had been shot down, they would definitely send troops to search. If the whereabouts of the pilot could not be found, I am afraid the German army would become suspicious. In order to avoid this worst case, If something bad might happen, some actions must be taken in other areas to divert the Germans' attention.
Thinking of this, he raised his head and asked Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, where is the main force of the 98th Guards Division now?"
"They have all arrived at the Oude River and are stationed in the forest on the west bank." Samyko didn't know why Sokov suddenly thought of asking about this, so he asked with some surprise: "Comrade Commander, why are you asking about this? "
"Is the phone line connected?"
"Yes, the phone line is open."
"Put me through the headquarters of the 98th Guards Division immediately. I want to speak to Colonel Chuvashov."
Although Samyko didn't know why Sokov was eager to talk to Chuvashov, he still ordered the communications soldier to quickly connect Sokov to the headquarters of the 98th Guards Division.
Sokov put the microphone to his ear: "Hello, is this Colonel Chuvashov? I'm Sokov!"
"Hello, Comrade Commander." Colonel Chuvashov's respectful voice came over the phone: "Do you have any instructions?"
"Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask, can your troops go into battle now?"
