When Ponedelin criticized Yinsmeilov for not paying attention, he instinctively glanced at his watch. Eight minutes had passed since the staff officer left. He was worried that the staff would not be able to come back and report to him what happened within the stipulated time.
Fortunately, what he worried about did not happen in the end. The door was pushed open from the outside, and the staff officer hurried in, came to Ponejelin, straightened his back and reported to him: "Comrade Deputy Commander, It’s all figured out!”
"What's going on?" Ponejelin said to the staff officer: "Speak louder, don't be like a young couple whispering."
Hearing what Ponejelin said, the staff officer raised his voice and said: "A soldier reported to the company commander that he saw two German soldiers carrying backpacks in the nearby forest. He suspected that the other party might want to do something nearby. What destruction..."
"Okay, I understand the situation." Ponejelin then asked the staff officer: "Did you ask the company commander to take any measures?"
"I asked him to send a platoon of troops to search the area and make sure to find the whereabouts of the two German soldiers."
After hearing this, Ponejelin nodded and said to the staff: "I understand. You continue to keep an eye on it. When the company commander has eliminated the enemy, he will report to me again."
After the staff officer left, Ponyjelin said to everyone with a smile: "You have heard it, but two enemies have sneaked into our defense area. Even a company commander can handle such a small matter. There is no need to report to the division at all."
When he said this, Ponijelin couldn't help but think of his old self. If he had been in a meeting before and heard someone report to him that traces of Germans were found nearby, he would definitely end the meeting immediately and rush over with a group of people to find out what was going on.
Now that I have been with Sokov for a long time, I have gradually learned a lot of his style of handling affairs. For example, today, after encountering this incident, I did not end the meeting in a hurry. Instead, I arranged for someone to handle it. I still stayed here to assign tasks to the commanders who participated in the meeting.
"Comrades, today's meeting is over." Ponejelin said to everyone: "Let everyone go back to their respective units. Let's have a good rest today so that we will have enough energy to fight tomorrow."
The place where Ponedelin is located is Yinsmeilov's division headquarters. The other commanders who attended the meeting left, but Yinsmeilov will stay here to continue commanding operations.
"Comrade Colonel, I think it is necessary to talk to you." Ponedelin asked Yinsmeilov to sit down and said to him: "Do you really feel that the German army has increased its troops again?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander." In response to Ponejelin's question, Yinsmeilov nodded vigorously and gave him an affirmative answer: "According to the number of German troops on the battlefield, there is definitely more than one division."
"With our current strength, do you think we can deal with them?"
Yinsmeilov thought for a while and replied: "If we only defend, we should be able to withstand their attack. But if we attack, the strength will be a little thin."
"Comrade Colonel, I want to remind you one thing. The combat mission of your two divisions is to relieve the cavalry army trapped in the fortified area." Ponjelin said seriously: "In other words, you must ask the Germans People launch an attack. Didn't you notice that the tasks I assigned to everyone at the meeting were to attack in a certain area, not to defend?"
Although Yin Smailov was somewhat absent-minded during the meeting, he still heard most of what Ponedelin said. He nodded and said, "Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, I heard everything."
Seeing Yinsmeilov's anxious look, Ponedelin comforted him and said: "Comrade Colonel, don't worry. You are not fighting alone. You will receive support when necessary. There are people stationed in Bures nearby. There are three infantry brigades in the city; far away, there are troops of the 65th and 70th Group Armies."
"What, the troops of the 65th and 70th Group Armies?" Yinsmeilov asked in surprise: "When do they plan to enter the battle? If they really participate in the war, the Germans will have no choice but to retreat if they do not want to be annihilated by our army. "
"The specific time to join the war is unclear." Ponejelin said to Yinsmeilov: "The reason why I didn't mention this in the meeting just now is that I don't know when they will be able to participate in the war."
"It's better to get better and better." Yinsmeilov said: "Now the cavalry army is trapped in the fortified area. Even if it can obtain supplies through airdrops, over time, it will still have an adverse impact on the combat effectiveness of the army. .”
Hearing what Yinsmeilov said, Ponedelin suddenly remembered something and asked quickly: "By the way, can you get in touch with the fortification area?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, we can get in touch." Yinsmeilov nodded and said: "My communications troops found a telephone line that can connect to the fortification area, so they can talk directly to General Pliyev. "
"That's great." Ponedelin told Insmailov: "Get the call in the fortification area immediately. I want to talk to General Pliyev."
After the call was connected, Ponejelin first identified himself to the other party, and then said bluntly: "General Pliyev, you have obviously seen our army's attack during the day."
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, I did see it."
"The relief operation we carried out was not very successful, so you may have to wait two more days to get rid of the German siege."
"I understand, Comrade Deputy Commander." Pliyev asked tentatively on the phone: "Look, when you launch an attack on the enemy tomorrow, do we need to dispatch troops to cooperate?"
Regarding Pliyev's proposal, Ponedelin thought for a while and finally rejected it: "I think it is still unnecessary. You have to conserve your strength and stay put for the time being."
Shortly after the phone call was made to Pliyev, the staff officer hurried in, raised his hand to salute Ponedelin's friend Yin Smailov, and reported: "Comrade Deputy Commander, that company commander They called and said that their search force found two German soldiers two or three kilometers away from the position. After a battle, one of them was shot dead, while the other was wounded and captured."
"Has the prisoner been interrogated?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, I have already interrogated you." The staff officer nodded and replied: "According to the prisoners' confession, they sent six sabotage teams tonight to prepare to go deep into the city of Brest to carry out sabotage. The plane they were traveling in was hit by anti-aircraft fire from our army on the way. Except for the two of them who bailed out in time, the rest of the group were wiped out along with the plane."
When he learned that the German army had dispatched six sabotage teams and was preparing to parachute to Brest to carry out sabotage, Ponedelin couldn't help but look livid: "How many people are there in a sabotage team?"
"Eight people." The staff officer repeated what he had just said: "But according to the prisoners' account, except for the two of them who successfully parachuted, the rest of the people crashed with the plane."
"Six sabotage groups," Ponejelin said solemnly, "that is to say, there are 48 airborne troops. Even if one of the sabotage groups is eliminated by us, the enemy will still have five sabotage groups and 40 people left. , the threat is not small.”
Soon, Ponejelin ordered the communications troops to connect the phone to the army headquarters. He planned to tell Sokov directly about the matter and ask him to take precautions as soon as possible.
Sokov heard Ponedelin's voice on the phone and asked him with a smile: "Comrade Deputy Commander, is the military meeting over?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, the military meeting has ended, and all those who should be arranged have been arranged."
Sokov heard something was wrong in Ponedelin's voice, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Deputy Commander, has something happened? I think there is something wrong with the tone of your words."
"Comrade Commander, not long ago, a company of the 284th Division captured a German airborne soldier." Ponejelin said: "According to his confession, the German army dispatched six sabotage teams tonight and took planes to prepare for the attack. Airborne near Brest, then entered the city to wreak havoc.
The plane on which one of the airborne groups was flying was intercepted by our army's anti-aircraft artillery fire during the flight. Except for two people who parachuted, the rest were wiped out with the crashed plane. Each of their sabotage groups has eight people. Even if one of the sabotage groups is lost, that means they still have five groups of 40 people who will enter Brest tonight to carry out sabotage.
Comrade Commander, for the sake of your safety, I think we should take better precautions to avoid being taken advantage of by the Germans. "
】
When he learned that a German sabotage team was preparing to airborne near the city, Sokov's expression became solemn. After thanking Ponedelin, he hung up the phone directly, and then called Koshkin. He said to him: "Captain Koshkin, I just received a call from Comrade Deputy Commander."
"What did Comrade Deputy Commander say on the phone?"
"He said that the German army dispatched six sabotage groups tonight, preparing to airborne near Brest, and then enter the city to carry out sabotage." Sokov said to Koshkin: "Although the plane on which one of the sabotage groups was on the way, It was shot down by our army’s anti-aircraft fire, but there are still five sabotage teams that may have sneaked into the city at night to carry out sabotage.”
"Comrade Commander, I would like to ask how many people there are in a German sabotage team?"
"A sabotage team consists of eight people. Five means forty people." Sokov said with emotion: "Their strength is not weak. You must not take it lightly to avoid suffering big losses."
Knowing that forty members of the German sabotage team were about to sneak into the city, Koshkin suddenly became vigilant: "Comrade Commander, there is something I would like to ask you. Can you mobilize manpower from the three infantry brigades to assist?" Our night patrol job?”
Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would disagree, he specifically added: "You know, there is only one guard regiment to protect the army headquarters. If I take too many people away, it will affect the security of the headquarters; But if there are fewer people, it won’t be able to play the necessary role.”
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin interrupted before Sokov could speak: "How about I call the three brigade commanders now and ask them to allocate a company of troops from each brigade to participate in the night search efforts.”
Sokov thought that although Brest was not a big city, if only one or two battalions were dispatched to search, it might not be effective. If the enemy resists stubbornly, this small force may not be able to do anything to them. So after thinking for a while, I agreed to Sidorin's proposal: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will do as you said. Let each of the three infantry brigades send out a company and give it to Captain Koshkin to command. Be sure to We must eliminate the sabotage team that sneaked into the city."
However, after Koshkin left, Sokov gave him two final words of advice: "Koshkin, since this night operation involves several units operating at the same time and they are not familiar with each other, it is very likely that the enemy will take advantage of them." . In order to avoid this situation, you must take night identification measures in advance, do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Koshkin nodded and said, "As long as the Germans enter the city, I will never let them leave alive."
After Koshkin left, Sokov told Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, inform the director of the security department that Germans may sneak into the city at night to cause damage, and ask him to strengthen the headquarters' precautions. Do not Let the Germans destroy our home base."
Hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin couldn't help but smile: "Comrade Commander, I believe that no matter how powerful the German sabotage team is, there is no way to deal with my headquarters. I think you are overly worried."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, that's not what you said." Sokov reminded Sidorin: "Don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the worst. If we relax the security precautions of the headquarters and really let the Germans get in, I'm afraid We will pay a high price. Once the headquarters is destroyed by the Germans, the entire army will fall into chaos because of the loss of unified command.
You know, we are now fighting in two directions at the same time. If there is a problem in the headquarters, it will also have a negative impact on the troops on the front line. Maybe both combat directions will end in failure by then. "
Seeing that Sokov said so solemnly, Sidorin did not dare to take it lightly and said quickly: "Okay, Comrade Commander, I will immediately call the Director of the Security Department and ask him to send someone to strengthen the arrangements near the headquarters. , to prevent Germans from infiltrating."
Sokov's mind suddenly recalled a scene from a movie: a group of German soldiers robbed a truck and rushed to the local headquarters at full speed. While the vehicle was driving, although defenders kept rushing out to intercept it, they were all robbed and beaten into a hornet's nest by the soldiers in the carriage.
In order to avoid this kind of tragedy from happening, Sokov also specifically emphasized: "It is best to arrange a few more machine gun fortifications inside and outside the building, so that even if the German army launches a strong attack on the headquarters, our soldiers can stop them."
Sidorin felt that Sokov's arrangement was obviously a bit neurotic. Today, there are at least fifty officers and soldiers on duty outside the headquarters. Even if the German sabotage team gathers together and launches a storming attack on the headquarters, the commanders and soldiers outside are fully capable of blocking them.
However, since Sokov had already explained this, Sidorin conveyed his intention to the director of the security department and told him to add more machine gun fortifications inside and outside the building to prevent the enemy from jumping over the wall and launching a storming attack on the headquarters.
