Konev received Sokov's report and saw that the unit had completed its planned combat objectives and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. In the battle that ended not long ago, a total of 25 German tanks, 32 armored vehicles, and more than 100 other combat vehicles were destroyed, more than 1,240 German troops were eliminated, and more than 400 prisoners were captured.
Seeing such results, Konev couldn't help but feel happy. But the smile only stayed on his face for a moment, and then disappeared without a trace. His eyes stayed on the map on the table, and he was lost in thought.
Seeing this, Zakharov quickly asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, what are you worried about?"
Konev looked up at Zakharov and said seriously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am thinking about a question. If Sokov's troops are allowed to participate in the attack on Poltava, can you tell me whether the city has been occupied? Did we take it?"
Regarding Konev's question, Zaharov frowned and thought for a moment, and then expressed his thoughts: "Comrade Commander, it's hard to say whether we can capture Poltava. But with the first With the participation of the 27th Army, our attack on Poltava will be much smoother than it is now."
"Comrade Sokov once proposed to me that he would personally lead a part of the army to participate in the attack on Poltava, but I refused without hesitation." Konev said with a grimace and annoyance: " It would have been better if I had agreed to his request. Even if we can't get Poltava for the time being, our army's progress will definitely be much better than it is now."
Seeing that Konev had the idea of mobilizing Sokov's troops, Zakharov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, since you said that Sokov's troops participated in the attack on Poltava and have a higher chance of capturing the city, It’s better to take advantage of the fact that the situation on Kremenchug’s side is still relatively stable, transfer him over first, and capture Poltava first.”
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Konev suppressed this tempting thought in his heart and said to Zakharov: "Sokov's task now is to use all means to resolutely defend the landing site on the right bank. As long as we defeat Lemenchug and the landing ground on the right bank are in the hands of our army. Once the enemies in Poltava are eliminated, our army can successfully cross the Dnieper River and establish a wider landing ground on the right bank."
Zakharov knew that what Konev said made sense, although transferring Sokov's troops at this moment could increase the chance of capturing Poltava. But Sokov is a man, not a god. Although it can increase the chance of seizing the city, no one can guarantee that after Sokov arrives, Poltava can be liberated in a very short period of time, so it is better not to let him He came to take risks.
After a pause, Konev continued: "Chief of Staff, give Zadov and Shumilov a call and ask them to rush to the headquarters as soon as possible."
Hearing that Konev wanted to summon the two commanders of the Guards Army, Zakharov couldn't help but be startled, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, what are you asking them to do here?"
Konev sneered: "The two of them have not been successful in their attacks during this period. They have not taken Poltava so far. Should we call them over and study whether there are any problems in commanding operations?" ?”
After hearing what Konev said, Zakharov immediately felt that he should talk to the two commanders to see if there was any way to reverse the current unfavorable situation and capture Poltava as soon as possible.
After receiving the call, Zadov immediately handed over all matters in the headquarters to his chief of staff, and he took a jeep, accompanied by two soldiers and a driver, and quickly rushed to the front. headquarters.
When the car arrived, Zadov just got out of the car and saw Shumilov getting out of another car. He quickly greeted him: "General Shumilov, I really didn't expect to meet you here."
Shumilov was also surprised when he saw Zadov appearing in front of him. He was very surprised and said: "General Zadov, why are you here?"
Zadov spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and said with an embarrassed look: "No way, it was Chief of Staff Zakharov who called me, saying that Commander Konev wanted to see me in an emergency. Schumi General Love, did you receive a similar call?"
"Yes, I also received a call from General Zakharov, asking me to immediately transfer command to the chief of staff and rush here to see the commander."
Knowing that Shumilov only appeared here after receiving a call from Zakharov, Zadov muttered in his heart: "Could we be recruiting us here just to attack Poltava?" Something?"
Shumilov saw the doubts in Zadov's mind, and while walking inside with him, he said: "General Zadov, you don't have to guess. I think Commander Konev suddenly found the two of us here. , it must be about Poltava."
Seeing that Shumilov had the same idea as his own, Zadov sighed softly and said helplessly: "General Shumilov, when attacking Poltava, our commanders and fighters performed very bravely, but still Unable to break through the strong German defenses.”
"Yes," Shumilov agreed with Zadov's statement: "After the Germans occupied Poltava, they renovated the city's fortifications, adding more power to our offensive. Difficulty. When I meet Commander Konev later, I will definitely talk about the difficulties we face."
The two walked into the headquarters. Zakharov just looked up. When he saw them entering, he smiled and said: "Two comrades, generals, did you make an appointment together, or did you meet on the road?"
As soon as Zaharov finished speaking, Zadov and Shumilov answered in unison.
"Met him at the door."
"Met him at the door."
After Konev asked the two of them to sit down, he asked straight to the point: "Do you know the purpose of coming to you today?"
Shumilov asked tentatively: "Is it related to the attack on Poltava?"
"That's right." Seeing that Shumilov had guessed the reason why he called him here, Konev simply said straight to the point: "I called you two here just to discuss the liberation of Poltava."
Upon hearing that Konev indeed mentioned the issue of liberating Poltava, Shumilov and Zadov looked at each other and saw helplessness in each other's eyes. Shumilov coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and said: "Comrade Commander, it's not that our soldiers didn't perform brave enough, but that the enemy's defense fortifications in the city were too dense. Every move forward will cost a lot of casualties."
Konev received Sokov's report and saw that the unit had completed its planned combat objectives and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. In the battle that ended not long ago, a total of 25 German tanks, 32 armored vehicles, and more than 100 other combat vehicles were destroyed, more than 1,240 German troops were eliminated, and more than 400 prisoners were captured.
Seeing such results, Konev couldn't help but feel happy. But the smile only stayed on his face for a moment, and then disappeared without a trace. His eyes stayed on the map on the table, and he was lost in thought.
Seeing this, Zakharov quickly asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, what are you worried about?"
Konev looked up at Zakharov and said seriously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am thinking about a question. If Sokov's troops are allowed to participate in the attack on Poltava, can you tell me whether the city has been occupied? Did we take it?"
Regarding Konev's question, Zaharov frowned and thought for a moment, and then expressed his thoughts: "Comrade Commander, it's hard to say whether we can capture Poltava. But with the first With the participation of the 27th Army, our attack on Poltava will be much smoother than it is now."
"Comrade Sokov once proposed to me that he would personally lead a part of the army to participate in the attack on Poltava, but I refused without hesitation." Konev said with a grimace and annoyance: " It would have been better if I had agreed to his request. Even if we can't get Poltava for the time being, our army's progress will definitely be much better than it is now."
Seeing that Konev had the idea of mobilizing Sokov's troops, Zakharov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, since you said that Sokov's troops participated in the attack on Poltava and have a higher chance of capturing the city, It’s better to take advantage of the fact that the situation on Kremenchug’s side is still relatively stable, transfer him over first, and capture Poltava first.”
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Konev suppressed this tempting thought in his heart and said to Zakharov: "Sokov's task now is to use all means to resolutely defend the landing site on the right bank. As long as we defeat Lemenchug and the landing ground on the right bank are in the hands of our army. Once the enemies in Poltava are eliminated, our army can successfully cross the Dnieper River and establish a wider landing ground on the right bank."
Zakharov knew that what Konev said made sense, although transferring Sokov's troops at this moment could increase the chance of capturing Poltava. But Sokov is a man, not a god. Although it can increase the chance of seizing the city, no one can guarantee that after Sokov arrives, Poltava can be liberated in a very short period of time, so it is better not to let him He came to take risks.
After a pause, Konev continued: "Chief of Staff, give Zadov and Shumilov a call and ask them to rush to the headquarters as soon as possible."
Hearing that Konev wanted to summon the two commanders of the Guards Army, Zakharov couldn't help but be startled, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, what are you asking them to do here?"
Konev sneered: "The two of them have not been successful in their attacks during this period. They have not taken Poltava so far. Should we call them over and study whether there are any problems in commanding operations?" ?”
After hearing what Konev said, Zakharov immediately felt that he should talk to the two commanders to see if there was any way to reverse the current unfavorable situation and capture Poltava as soon as possible.
After receiving the call, Zadov immediately handed over all matters in the headquarters to his chief of staff, and he took a jeep, accompanied by two soldiers and a driver, and quickly rushed to the front. headquarters.
When the car arrived, Zadov just got out of the car and saw Shumilov getting out of another car. He quickly greeted him: "General Shumilov, I really didn't expect to meet you here."
Shumilov was also surprised when he saw Zadov appearing in front of him. He was very surprised and said: "General Zadov, why are you here?"
Zadov spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and said with an embarrassed look: "No way, it was Chief of Staff Zakharov who called me, saying that Commander Konev wanted to see me in an emergency. Schumi General Love, did you receive a similar call?"
"Yes, I also received a call from General Zakharov, asking me to immediately transfer command to the chief of staff and rush here to see the commander."
Knowing that Shumilov only appeared here after receiving a call from Zakharov, Zadov muttered in his heart: "Could we be recruiting us here just to attack Poltava?" Something?"
Shumilov saw the doubts in Zadov's mind, and while walking inside with him, he said: "General Zadov, you don't have to guess. I think Commander Konev suddenly found the two of us here. , it must be about Poltava."
Seeing that Shumilov had the same idea as his own, Zadov sighed softly and said helplessly: "General Shumilov, when attacking Poltava, our commanders and fighters performed very bravely, but still Unable to break through the strong German defenses.”
"Yes," Shumilov agreed with Zadov's statement: "After the Germans occupied Poltava, they renovated the city's fortifications, adding more power to our offensive. Difficulty. When I meet Commander Konev later, I will definitely talk about the difficulties we face."
The two walked into the headquarters. Zakharov just looked up. When he saw them entering, he smiled and said: "Two comrades, generals, did you make an appointment together, or did you meet on the road?"
As soon as Zaharov finished speaking, Zadov and Shumilov answered in unison.
"Met him at the door."
"Met him at the door."
After Konev asked the two of them to sit down, he asked straight to the point: "Do you know the purpose of coming to you today?"
Shumilov asked tentatively: "Is it related to the attack on Poltava?"
"That's right." Seeing that Shumilov had guessed the reason why he called him here, Konev simply said straight to the point: "I called you two here just to discuss the liberation of Poltava."
Upon hearing that Konev indeed mentioned the issue of liberating Poltava, Shumilov and Zadov looked at each other and saw helplessness in each other's eyes. Shumilov coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and said: "Comrade Commander, it's not that our soldiers didn't perform bravely enough, but that the defense fortifications in the enemy's city are too dense. Every move forward will cost a lot of casualties."
