Looking at the emotional Vitkov, I didn't make any comments, but listened to his endless speech in silence. When he finished speaking, I stood up to comfort him and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, please stay calm. Although the Germans are deliberately abandoning some unimportant towns in order to achieve the purpose of shrinking troops and adjusting deployment. But for us , But not necessarily a bad thing."

"It's not a bad thing for us?!" After repeating my words, Vitkov asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, I don't understand why you say that? You know that the Germans are setting a trap for our army. I want to encircle our 6th Army, and even the entire Southwest Front Army, and then eat them all in one fell swoop."

I smiled disapprovingly and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, our army has not attracted much attention from the Germans at the moment. While they are focusing on the Voronezh Front, the Southwest Front and the South Front, we can boldly gamble.”

"Got a gamble, how is it to bet?" Vitkov asked confusedly.

My eyes were fixed on the map, and I clicked heavily on the location of the Mainstein headquarters with my fingers, and said bluntly: "The Germans must defend against attacks from three directions at the same time. With their current strength, It is very difficult to establish a complete defense system in a short period of time. Therefore, we should take advantage of this rare opportunity to find loopholes in the German defense line, boldly implement interspersed, and go straight to Zhabo, where their headquarters is located. Rosh. Can you imagine, once the German command is taken over by us, what kind of impact will it have on the German troops in Ukraine?"

Hearing what I said, Kirilov and Vitkov both put their heads together and stared at the map for a long time. Finally, Vitkov pointed to the map with concern and said: "Comrade Commander. From the map, our current position is only one hundred and seventy kilometers away from Zaporos in a straight line. In theory, it only takes one day or even ten. In a few hours, you can rush down to the city. However, in such a vast field, there is no suitable road. If we want to advance to the German command, we can only follow the existing roads and seize the towns along the way. Close to our final destination."

I have long considered Vitkov’s concerns. As soon as he finished speaking, I immediately said: "Comrade Chief of Staff. The current weather is very cold, and the average temperature has been maintained at minus 20 degrees. The cold weather, Make the original muddy land of the Great Plains hard enough to carry tanks and trucks. In this way, we can safely and boldly follow this road that no one has ever walked, and unexpectedly rush straight to the German headquarters. location."

"This plan is very bold, Comrade Oshanina." After I finished speaking, Kirilov also began to express his own opinions: "We can first send scouts to the two cities of Poloy and Kuban. , To detect the German defense in the above cities. At the same time, let the tank brigade prepare for the offensive. Once the results of the reconnaissance come out, they will immediately launch an assault. These two cities are separated from the German headquarters in Zaporos. A distance of fifty kilometers and eighty kilometers. As long as we quickly occupy any of these cities as a starting point for the attack, there will be no problem in capturing Zaporos."

After listening to Kirilov’s opinion, I couldn’t help casting a curious look at him. At the same time, I said approvingly: "The political commissar’s proposal is good, I have no opinion." Then I told Vitkov, "Chief of Staff, you immediately Send a telegram to Captain Travkin and ask him to lead two reconnaissance teams. Move westward as much as possible to investigate the deployment of the two cities just mentioned by the political commissar. Also. You have Commander Bantai Lev seize Fulda After the city, only a small number of troops were left to defend. The main force of the division immediately turned around and moved westward. It was necessary to capture Poloy in the shortest time. Andryuschenke Division followed closely and successfully captured it in our army. After Poloy, go to attack Huli Eberle, seven kilometers to the north, to ensure the safety of the right wing of the Pantai Leev Division.

"What about the 308th Division of General Na Gurdiyev?" After recording a series of orders issued by me, Vitkov stood there and asked: "Let them continue to stay in Volnovaha, make sure we Is the rear of the army safe?"

"The 308th Division will not move for the time being." For the first time to command so many troops alone to fight in such a large area, I still felt a little powerless. After reading the map again, I said slowly: "Wait for Pantai Lai. After the Yev Division and the Andryuschenko Division occupied the starting position, the 308th Division pushed westward to take over the defense of Pantai Lev, so that they could free their hands and concentrate their forces on the attack on Zaporos. "

When Vitkov went to telegraph and call, Kirilov sitting next to me suddenly said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, I have something to discuss with you."

I don't know what Kirilov meant by saying this. I looked at him unexpectedly and said: "Comrade Political Commissar, if you have anything, just talk about it. As long as it is within my ability, I will definitely agree. "

"The leadership of our army command is a bit weak. I think it should be strengthened." Kirilov took a look at me and continued: "At present, the work of Chief of Staff Vitkov is very heavy. We should find someone to do it. He will share it."

"Comrade political comrade, who do you plan to find to share his work?" I knew Kirilov would not just shove any messy people into the army headquarters, so I asked politely: "If it's a suitable candidate , I can let him take office immediately."

Kirilov nodded, and then said: "The person I want to recommend, you also know, is Akhromeyev, the chief of staff of the Pantai Lev Division. We have all worked with him for a while, you can see It can be concluded that he is a commander with both ability and rich combat experience, so he can be considered to be transferred to the army command. As for the position, I think he will be temporarily appointed as the chief of the combat department."

I have no opinion on Akhromeyev’s coming to the post of Chief of Military Operations, but I was puzzled by his abrupt recommendation, so I asked curiously: "If Major Akhromeev arrives. In the army, who will take over the post of chief of staff of the 22nd Guards Division?"

"Comrade Oshanina, you don't have to worry about this." Kirilov said confidently: "General Bantai Lev thinks that his former subordinate, the deputy commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ilya, is very suitable to serve. This position."

When I heard Kirilov say this, I suddenly understood that what I was worried about was still happening. The contradiction between Bantai Leyev and Akhromeyev has become irreconcilable. So much so that he would use his own person to replace the post of chief of staff. But this is not a bad thing, for me, Akhromeyev is a good deputy. Otherwise, I would not scornfully take General Meletkov from the hands of General Meretskov and ask him and the ensign training team to come over. He was transferred to the army command to assist Vitkov in his work. The efficiency of many things can be improved.

Thinking of this, I immediately said to Kirilov: "Comrade Political Commissar, please call Commander Bantaiyev in person and ask him to send Major Akhromeyev to the army headquarters to report. As for the candidate for the new division chief of staff, just do what he wants."

Seeing Kirilov's cheer, I added: "After Major Akhromeyev arrives, he can also take up the post of Director of Intelligence in addition to the post of Chief of Operations. Let him join the army as soon as possible. All the troops in here are assigned appropriate personnel. Enrich these two places."

When Kirilov happily went to call Pantai Lev, I sat at the table and thought. When the fighting was the cruelest, everyone was still able to think about one place and move one place. Now the situation has just become favorable to our army, and private intrigues and repelling attacks have begun to appear. If this situation is allowed to spread, the combat effectiveness of the troops will be greatly affected. After this battle is over, if I can continue to stay in the position of commander of the army, I must work hard with Pantai Leyev. Talk about it.

After receiving the transfer order, Akhromeev. He immediately rushed to the army headquarters and formally exercised his rights as the director of intelligence and the director of operations at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day.

In the evening, Kirilov and Vitkov and I were discussing how to ensure the logistics and transportation of the troops. Akhromeyev's voice came from the door: "Report!"

"Come in!" I stared at the map in front of me and shouted without looking up.

As soon as Akhromeyev took office, in order to obtain the latest intelligence in time, in addition to leaving us with a wired telephone and a walkie-talkie, he concentrated all the wireless communication equipment in the military command into the communication room next door. If there is any latest report or notice, he will arrange manpower to send it to us in time. But at this moment he actually came to send the information personally, which proves that this information is very important. So when I heard Akhromeyev's footsteps come to me and stopped, I stood up straight and turned around to look at him and asked, "Comrade Major, do you have any latest information?"

"Yes. Comrade commander." Akhromeyev replied blankly: "I just received a report from the forward reconnaissance team that the deputy commander of the reconnaissance battalion, Captain Travkin, unfortunately died."

"What?!" Akhromeyev said. Not only did I surprise me, even Kirilov and Vitkov jumped up from their seats. Vitkov also grabbed Akhromeyev's arm. Nervously asked: "Major, Captain Trafkin sacrificed. What is going on? What does the report say in the telegram?"

Akhromeyev did not answer his question immediately. Instead, he set his sights on me. Seeing me nodding in acquiescence, he picked up the telegram and said: "...when our reconnaissance team approached the periphery of Huli Eberle. At time, traces of German fortifications were found far away. The captain said that in order to figure out the enemy’s deployment, he needed to grab a “tongue”. After that, before dark, he left the reconnaissance team and started to attack the enemy. He ran away in the trenches. He dived into the deep snow and stomped forward very cleverly in the snow. Because the white camouflage suit he was wearing was exactly the same color as the snow, it took only a moment to watch his movements. Comrades can no longer see him.

But when he was only about 20 meters away from the enemy's position, the accident happened. The captain raised his head slightly, probably because he wanted to see the enemy's deployment clearly, but was spotted by a German soldier in the trenches. We heard a burst of gunfire, and then the captain opened his arms and fell backward. Then, before the German trenches, there was another silence.

The sky gradually darkened, and we could clearly see his motionless body, still holding his hands high, lying where he fell. Several Germans jumped out of the trenches, trying to get close to his body, but we decisively opened fire and beat them back. "

"Comrade Major," Trafkin’s sacrifice made my nose feel sore. After sucking my nose vigorously, I asked Akhromeev loudly: "Can’t Captain Trafkin’s body lie in Germany In front of the human trench, let the reconnaissance team take back the body of the captain at all costs."

After I said this, I turned my head and asked Vitkov: "Chief of Staff, who is the person in charge of the reconnaissance team you sent besides Captain Trafkin?"

After thinking about it for a moment, Vitkov ~lightnovelpub.net~ replied decisively: "Second Lieutenant Greteka, and Second Lieutenant Greteka, who is surrendered. He is the second person in charge of the reconnaissance force."

"I understand." I heard that the other person in charge was Greetka, and my heart felt a lot more at ease. Although he was a surrendered German officer, his loyalty was not a problem, so I turned my head to Ahero. Meyev said: "Major, immediately send a telegram to Lieutenant Gretka and let him take over the command of the entire reconnaissance force. In addition to taking back the body of Captain Travkin, the reconnaissance of the enemy's defensive positions will continue. Go on."

"Yes!" After Akhromeyev replied loudly, he turned and walked out of the army headquarters.

Regarding Travkin’s sacrifice, Kirilov couldn’t help sighing: “Oh, what a good commander this is. As long as he fought two more battles, he would be fine even if he became a major. What a pity!"

"Yes, Comrade Political Commissar." As soon as he finished speaking, I immediately continued: "When I led the troops northward, Trafkin and his reconnaissance team were surrounded by German troops on a small mound. The situation was really true at the time. It is extremely critical. As long as our support arrives even a few minutes late, they will all die. Unexpectedly, he would die heroically in such a reconnaissance mission." (To be continued)