Sokov asked tentatively: "General Chuikov, did Little Sidorin die?"
"No, no." Chuikov shook his head and said: "General Sokov, I did not send a death notice to my old friend Sidorin. Little Sidorin was seriously injured after being shelled by the enemy, and rescue operations are being carried out at the moment. …”
Chuikov's words confused Sokov. Since little Sidorin did not die, and you and your chief of staff, General Sidorin, are old friends, if you have anything to do, just call him directly. Why do you want to evade it? How about calling yourself in such a big circle?
"General Chuikov," Sokov thought of this and couldn't help but ask: "As far as I know, you and my chief of staff have a close relationship. This kind of thing can be said directly. Why do you have to go through such a big circle, even And alerted Marshal Rokossovsky?”
"General Sokov, what should I say?" Chuikov sighed and said with some embarrassment: "Six hours have passed since Little Sidorin was sent to the operating room, but the rescue is still continuing. I asked the doctor to ask , the hope of survival is very small.”
Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help crying or laughing. It seems that Chuikov is making preparations. If Xidorin cannot be rescued, he will have to tell Xidorin the bad news, but he can stay out of it: "General Chuikov, are you here to help me?" It’s a difficult problem. If something unexpected happens to Xiao Xiduolin, how should I explain it to my chief of staff? There are some things that you can’t say, and I’m afraid it’s even harder for me to say them.”
"I'm sorry, General Sokov. I'm a little sorry for asking you to convey such bad news." Chuikov heard Sokov's displeasure from his tone and hurriedly said apologetically: "But I didn't You know, the war is busy now, and I have endless work to deal with every day. If there is really something wrong with Xiao Xiduolin, and I tell my old friend about it, he will definitely be heartbroken. Even if you want to, you can't persuade him. But your situation is different. You and Major General Xidorin get along day and night, and it's easier for me to say some comforting words than it is for me."
"I understand, General Chuikov, I understand what you mean." After listening to Chuikov's explanation, Sokov finally understood the other party's good intentions. He hesitated for a moment and said: "If you have accurate information, remember to inform me in time. I will convey the matter to Chief of Staff Sidorin."
"Thank you so much, General Sokov." Chuikov, who had received Sokov's promise, breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I have remembered this friendship. If you need help with anything in the future, please feel free to ask. , I will definitely help you."
After exchanging pleasantries with Chuikov, Sokov put down the phone. He strolled to the door, looked outside, and saw Ponijelin and Sidorin sitting on the sandbags next to them, smoking. He walked towards them and said to them: "Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff, It’s too cold here, so let’s go back inside and smoke.”
Sidorin happened to finish smoking a cigarette. He stood up, threw the pipe on the ground, crushed it with his toes, and asked with a smile: "Commander, have you finished calling General Chuikov?"
"Well, the fight is over." Sokov was a little speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say to Sidorin.
But Sidorin did not notice Sokov's abnormality, and said to himself: "Comrade Commander, the deputy commander just told me everything that happened to you in the village. I don't think it's Odzan." Both the Ski family and the village chief’s family are questionable.”
When Sokov heard this, he immediately became interested: "Chief of Staff, tell me, why are they all worthy of suspicion?"
"The reason is very simple. There are people from both families working for the Germans." Sidorin said: "Poland has been occupied by the Germans for five years. Many people have to choose to cooperate with the Germans in order to survive. But listen According to the narration of Comrade Deputy Commander, Odzhansky's son left his hometown with the Germans, which proves that he was determined to serve the Germans. Perhaps it was because of his instructions that German scouts appeared in his home.
As for Mayor Jermont, his sons and daughters all went to the German defense zone, which shows that their family also has pro-German elements. In today's meeting, he only showed his dislike of Odzhansky. As for his views on the Germans, he did not mention it at all. "
After listening to Sidorin's analysis, Sokov recalled it carefully and found that the other party was indeed right. Everyone sat together and ate for an hour, and apart from hearing Germon constantly scolding his in-laws, there seemed to be no mention of his feelings towards the Germans, indicating that this person also had problems. Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, so you agree with me sending someone to monitor him?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I very much agree." Sidorin nodded and gave Sokov an affirmative answer: "I think we should send someone over as soon as possible to monitor both families as soon as possible and find out who they are. Was there any collusion with the Germans?”
"Come here," Sokov called to a staff officer who was passing by and told him: "Go and call Captain Koshkin!"
When the staff officer saw that the person calling him was Sokov, he didn't dare to neglect him. He trotted to the room where Koshkin was staying and said to Koshkin who was warming himself by the fire: "Comrade Captain, the commander is looking for you!"
"Comrade Commander is looking for me?" Koshkin asked: "Where is he?"
"He is at the gate of the headquarters." After the staff officer finished answering, he felt that he did not give enough details, so he quickly added: "The deputy commander and chief of staff are also there."
Hearing that Sokov and the other three were waiting for him at the entrance of the headquarters, Koshkin thought something big had happened. He hurriedly put on his boots, put on his military coat, and ran out in a panic behind the staff. .
When he arrived in front of Sokov, Koshkin had already buttoned his military coat. After raising his hand in salute, he asked politely: "Comrade Commander, what are your instructions?"
"Have you done everything I asked you to do?"
Koshkin was stunned for a moment, then understood what Sokov was talking about, nodded vigorously, and said: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I have arranged manpower to attack Odzhansky and Djemon Village. The two families will be under surveillance."
"We must arrange more manpower." Sidorin reminded from the side: "If there are too few manpower, I am afraid that the necessary surveillance effect will not be achieved."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can rest assured about this." Koshkin turned to Sidorin and said: "I sent a total of 15 people, divided into three groups, and changed shifts every eight hours. In other words, these two pictures of people are all They are under our surveillance 24 hours a day, so even if a mouse enters their home, the people I send to monitor it will be able to find it immediately."
"A team of five people, wouldn't the target be too big?" Although Koshkin's arrangement sounded fine, Sidorin still worriedly said: "If the villagers find out, it may attract unnecessary attention." Trouble."
"Chief of Staff, I believe Koshkin." Sokov interrupted: "He comes from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and surveillance of targets is his strength. I believe that since he dared to make such an arrangement, he must have carefully considered it."
Seeing Sokov trusting him so much, Koshkin was quite touched. After he waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he explained to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, when I followed the commander to leave the village, I carefully observed the surrounding terrain and found that there was a hillside nearby, where I could clearly see everything in the village. , the people responsible for surveillance are hiding there. My people have been specially trained. If they want to hide, ordinary villagers will not be able to find them. "
Sidorin was very satisfied with Koshkin's answer. He raised his hand and patted the other party's shoulder and said with a smile: "Captain Koshkin, no wonder the commander thinks so highly of you. You are indeed capable. "
Since they had to study the troops' preparations for attack next, Sokov and others returned to the headquarters.
As soon as he entered the door, a staff officer called Sidorin aside and reported to him the intelligence he had just received. While Sidorin was explaining the matter to his staff, Ponedelin touched Sokov's arm with his elbow and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, what exactly does General Chuikov want to talk to you about? Can you tell me?" ?"
"This, this?!" Ponedelin's words made Sokov embarrassed. Logically speaking, it didn't matter even if he told Ponedelin about this matter. If Sidorin was not present just now, he might not have told Ponedelin. Jaelin avoids. He said "this" several times in succession, but never said the following.
Ponedelin saw the embarrassment on Sokov's face and couldn't help but smile. Then he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, if I guess correctly, what General Chuikov said must have something to do with Staff Sergeant Sidorin." It has something to do with the appearance, maybe it’s about his son Little Cisterin. Am I right?”
Seeing that Ponedelin had guessed correctly and Sokov didn't hide anything, he nodded and said softly "Yeah".
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin came over with two pieces of intelligence and said with a somewhat serious expression: "I just received the intelligence from the scouts. The enemy's troop strength in some areas has changed. It seems that they are preparing to take some measures." What action.”
When he learned that the enemy was mobilizing troops, Sokov couldn't help being surprised, and then asked: "Where is it?"
Sidorin looked down at the map in front of him, then pointed to one of the positions and said: "It's right here. It seems that they have been conducting reconnaissance on our defense area a lot. The location where they increased their troops happens to be where our army's defense is weakest. The place."
"Comrade Commander, Brajinski's 109th Infantry Division has just completed its replenishment," Ponedelin looked up and said to Sokov after seeing the position clearly: "Their main forces have been transferred to the second line for training, and the frontline There is only one regiment left. If the Germans really break through from their defensive zone, it may disrupt our offensive deployment."
After listening to what the two said, Sokov did not answer immediately. Instead, he continued to stare at the map in front of him, thinking about a suitable solution.
After a few minutes, he looked up at the two men and said: "From the intelligence point of view, the enemy's troop movements are carried out secretly, which proves that the enemy does not intend to take offensive actions against our army for the time being, so I think the best way is to Just maintain the status quo and not add troops to the front-line positions of the 109th Infantry Division."
"If we don't increase our troops, what should we do if the German army launches an attack?" Sidorin reminded Sokov: "Once the defense line of the 109th Infantry Division is breached, there will be a huge gap in the defense line of our group army. "
"Comrade Chief of Staff, when I say maintain the status quo, I don't mean that we take no action." Sokov said to Sidorin: "Now in areas where the enemy has increased its troops, don't we have scouts? As long as we let the scouts The soldiers closely monitor the enemy's movements. Once we find that they have signs of attack, it will not be too late for us to transfer Brajinski's main force from the second line to the front. Now it is better to let him train the troops with peace of mind. After all, the trained troops , only then can we exert stronger combat effectiveness on the battlefield.”
"Okay." Now that Sokov has said this, Sidorin can't refute anymore, but he still adds his own opinion: "I think we should talk to Brakinsky and ask him to send someone Deploy additional observation posts at the front so that if the enemy makes any movement, he will be able to detect it as soon as possible."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, your phone number." A communications staff officer sitting in the corner stood up and called Sidorin: "It's the commander of the 109th Infantry Division, Brakinski."
Hearing that the call was from Braginsky, Sokov was happy. He said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think Braginsky also discovered something was wrong with the enemy opposite his position and took the initiative. I called you to report. Hurry up and answer the phone and tell him our arrangements."
"Okay." Sidorin agreed and walked quickly towards the staff officer.
As soon as Sidorin walked away, the phone on the table rang.
"This is Sokov." Sokov grabbed the phone and asked, "Where are you?"
"I am Chuikov!" Chuikov's voice came from the receiver: "General Sokov, I have good news for you!"
Although Sokov knew that the good news Chuikov mentioned was related to Little Cidolin, he still urged: "General Chuikov, tell me quickly, what is the good news?"
"The operation is over." Chuikov said with some emotion: "The attending military doctor told me that all the shrapnel in Xiao Xiduolin's body has been removed. If nothing happens, he will be able to wake up before dawn tomorrow."
When Sokov heard that Little Sidorin's operation was over and that people might wake up before dawn the next day, he couldn't help but glance at Sidorin who was answering the phone in the distance, and tentatively asked Chuikov: "Then I Can you tell my chief of staff about this?"
"Yes, yes." Chuikov said urgently: "Little Sidorin is out of danger. Now you can tell my old friend the news."
When Sokov put down the phone, Sidorin came over with two pieces of paper, which seemed to be the phone records he had written.
When Sidorin walked in front of him, Sokov said before he could speak: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to tell you some news. I hope you can be mentally prepared."
】
Sidorin was not an idiot. He had already guessed that Sokov must be hiding something important from him when he asked himself and Ponedelin to avoid him during the phone call between Sokov and Chuikov. Sokov obviously won't let himself avoid official matters, so it can only be a private matter. What private matters do you need to avoid? That is undoubtedly related to his son. He asked tremblingly: "Comrade Commander, is there any news about my son?"
