Chapter 1873

As soon as he put down the phone, Sokov waved his fist excitedly, and then said to Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have some good news for you. The Romanian army in Teplik took the initiative to send a messenger to see the airborne guards. Lieutenant Colonel Pinkov of the 8th Regiment of the Army said that he intends to lay down his arms and surrender to our army."

"This is really great, Comrade Commander." Knowing that the defenders in the city are about to surrender, even if it is only a part of the army, it is still a happy thing. Smirnov said emotionally: "As long as the enemy is willing to Surrender will greatly reduce the casualties of our army."

"Where is the director of the engineering corps?" Since it is only a matter of time before Japlik is captured, Sokov will naturally not waste his energy on this aspect. A wide and secure landing field, so that more troops can be received across the river.

   "Comrade Commander," hearing that Sokov was looking for the chief engineer, Smirnov hurriedly reported to him: "The chief engineer is at the bank of the Nanbug River at the moment, directing the engineers to build a pontoon bridge."

   "Can I get in touch with him?"

   "Of course." After Smirnov finished speaking, he ordered the communications corps to establish contact with the director of the engineering corps, and then handed the microphone to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, we have already contacted."

   "Comrade Director," Sokov heard the voice of the Chief Engineer from the receiver, and immediately asked directly: "How is the construction of the pontoon bridge going?"

   "It's not going well, Comrade Commander." The director of the engineering corps replied: "There are a lot of ice floes in the river water, which constantly hit the pontoon bridge we erected, which greatly delayed the speed of our bridge construction."

  Sokov heard that there were ice floes in the river, and immediately thought of Ukraine today. It is still winter, and no matter how shallow the river is, it is still impossible for the troops to ford across the river: "Then when can the pontoon bridge be built?"

   "Maybe it will have to wait until tomorrow morning." After the director of the engineering corps finished talking about the approximate time, he was afraid that Sokov would get angry, so he explained to him: "This is already the fastest speed."

   "What, you have to wait until tomorrow morning to build the pontoon bridge?!" Sokov was a little angry. The troops of the two armies had reached the left bank of the Nanbug River, but you told me that it would take another night to cross the river? "Can't the bridge-building time really be shortened?" When he said this, he suppressed the anger in his heart, and he didn't say anything like "If you can't do it, then find someone who can take over your position." talk.

  The engineer chief had been in contact with Sokov for a long time, so he could naturally hear the anger in his tone, and he quickly argued: "Comrade Commander, if you want a large army to cross the river, you don't need to wait for the pontoon bridge I erected."

  When Sokov heard that the other party seemed to have a solution to the problem that the troops could not cross the river, he asked hesitantly, "Do you have a solution?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The director of the engineering corps gave Sokov an affirmative answer: "Actually, three or four kilometers further downstream, there is a bridge that can pass not only infantry, but also tanks and armored vehicles." heavy vehicles inside."

"Is there a passable bridge three or four kilometers downstream?" Sokov quickly found the location of the Nanbug River, moved his fingers along the direction of the river, and saw an inconspicuous riverside town. , there is a highway bridge in the town, which spans the banks of the Nanbug River.

   "I found it, Comrade Chief Engineer." After finding the location of the bridge, Sokov replied a little excitedly: "There is indeed a bridge."

   "Comrade Commander," the chief of the engineering corps breathed a sigh of relief, and continued, "I suggest ordering the troops to cross the river now. Before my pontoon bridge is erected, at least two divisions can be crossed."

   "Thank you, Comrade Chief Engineer." Sokov thanked the other party and said: "I will take your suggestion."

As soon as the phone was put down here, Sokov couldn't wait to tell Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately notify the two army commanders, Melekhov and Chumakov, and say that you will go down at the position where the pontoon bridge was erected by the engineers. After walking three or four kilometers, a bridge can be seen, so they can rush to that area to carry out the river crossing operation as quickly as possible."

"Comrade Commander," Smirnov asked after hesitating for a moment after hearing Sokov's order, "Our air defense force is limited, so I don't know where to deploy Lida's women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment? Where is the pontoon bridge, or where the main force crosses the river?"

"It is enough to leave an anti-aircraft artillery battalion at the position of the bridge." Sokov said to Smirnov: "The main force of the women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment should still be deployed at the position where the main force of our army crosses the river. After all, they are there. The actions of the Germans were noticed, and the air force would definitely be dispatched to carry out the bombing."

   "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will arrange the work properly."

  Melekhov and Chumakov received a call from Smirnov, so they naturally knew what to do, and Sokov didn't have to worry about the next thing.

  When the troops of the 49th Army and the 57th Army were crossing the river in batches, Marshal Konev called Sokov's headquarters. As soon as he heard Sokov's voice, he asked straight to the point: "How is it, Comrade Sokov, have Haixin and Teplik been taken?"

"Reporting to Comrade Marshal," Sokov quickly replied respectfully when he heard the call from Konev, "The enemy in Hessing retreated without a fight, and the 41st Guards Division took the city without bloodshed. Things are worse in Japlik, and the fighting continues in the city."

Konev remembered that he had reported to Sokov that the defenders of the two cities had escaped, so he frowned and asked, "Comrade Sokov, what's going on? Didn't the Air Force's reconnaissance report say that the defenders of the two cities Have the defenders abandoned the city and fled, why is the battle in Jaiplik still going on?"

Fortunately, Sokov learned the truth from Afunin, otherwise he would have been unable to answer Konev's question: "Comrade Marshal, the situation is like this. Originally, the defenders in the cities of Hessing and Teplik were all Romanians. Army. When they learned that our army was approaching the city, they decisively withdrew from the city and prepared to retreat to a safer place.

  As a result, Hessing's defenders successfully evacuated, while Jaiplick's defenders encountered German reinforcements on the way to retreat, and were forced to return to the city for defense. But our troops attacking Japrik didn't know this, so the vanguard troops that entered the city first were ambushed by the enemy and suffered certain casualties. "

   "So that's how it is." Konev figured out why Teplik was still fighting, and continued to ask, "Then when will you be able to take the city?"

"The Romanian defenders in the city have surrendered to our 8th Guards Airborne Regiment." Sokov said: "Now our army has controlled the north and west of the city, while the east and south are controlled by the Germans." The battle is still going on in the area. If everything goes well, I think the battle can be resolved before dawn tomorrow."

   "Where are the other two infantry corps?" Konev then asked: "Have they started crossing the river?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov said: "Although there were some problems with the erection of the pontoon bridge, fortunately, the engineers found a bridge across the South Bug River downstream, which is enough to pass tanks and armored vehicles. Heavy vehicles. Now the commanders and fighters of the two armies are passing the bridge in batches, entering the right bank area from the left bank area. By dawn, it is conservatively estimated that two divisions can complete the river crossing operation."

"Very good, this is really great." Konev said: "I will inform the friendly forces to speed up their actions and go out to the South Bug River as soon as possible. After the main force finishes crossing the river, we will be able to cross the South Bug River. In the vast area of ​​​​the right bank and the left bank of Transnistria, establish a large offensive starting position."

  Sokov knew very well in his heart that as long as the main force of the front army crossed the Nanbug River, the combat tasks of his own group army would be reduced accordingly, and even a short rest period would be obtained.

   "Comrade Sokov," Konev asked habitually before hanging up the phone: "Is there anything I can do for you?"

  Sokov wanted to say no, but suddenly thought of Lyudmila's matter, and said quickly: "Comrade Marshal, I have a request, and I hope to get your support."

   "Tell me, what request do you have for me?"

"That's it. I think about the next battle, there will be more and more street fighting, and the previous thinking of positional warfare needs to be adjusted." Sokov explained to Konev: "If you blindly follow the positional style of fighting , to fight urban battles or street battles, you will suffer a lot.”

   "Well, it makes sense. Keep talking." Konev said in an encouraging tone.

"I think snipers will become an indispensable role in street fighting." Seeing that Konev was willing to listen to his opinion, Sokov specifically mentioned snipers: "But although there are many sharpshooters in my army, they can There are not many commanders who become snipers. Therefore, I hope you can hire two sniper instructors for my subordinates to train them."

After listening to it, Konev felt that Sokov's proposal was not too much, so he said reasonablely: "Isn't it just to find two sniper instructors? Don't worry, this is just a trivial matter, and it will be on me. "

   "Comrade Marshal, I do have two candidates for sniper instructors." Sokov asked cautiously, "I wonder if you can come forward and say hello to your superiors and let them come to my army to train snipers."

   "Tell me, which two people are they?"

"One is Vasily Zaitsev. During the Battle of Stalingrad, he used to be my subordinate. He led a small army to defend the famous Vasily Building. The Germans attacked it for several months. After a long time, we still haven’t been able to win this building.”

  The Vasily Building that Sokov mentioned is the Pavlov Building that everyone is familiar with in real history. However, due to the appearance of Sokov, a little butterfly, many things went wrong. The famous sniper Vasily took over the building instead of Pavlov, and under the siege of the German army, he held on for a full two years. month time.

"Vassily Zaitsev," Konev nodded after recording the name in the notebook, "I have an impression of him, but he seems to be blinded in one eye by stepping on a landmine." , and then arranged to retire."

   "What, Vasily was arranged to retire?" Sokov asked in surprise: "Then where is he now?"

   "I don't know." Konev shook his head and replied truthfully: "I don't know, but I can ask someone to ask you. By the way, who is the other sniper instructor you fancy?"

   "Lyudmila!" Sokov said very quickly: "She is a female sniper who once killed 309 German officers and soldiers on the battlefield..."

"My God, it's really amazing to kill 309 German officers and soldiers." Konev wrote down Lyudmila's name in his notebook, and asked casually: "Do you know where she is now?" ?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade Marshal, I don't know." Sokov didn't know where Lyudmila was at the moment, so he could only shake his head and said, "It is said that after she was wounded, the Supreme Commander himself was alerted, and then she was arranged to leave in a submarine. Leaving Sevastopol, went to Moscow to recuperate.

   Later, it is said that he also participated in the youth delegation to the United States, and was received by the President of the United States, Mr. Roosevelt and his wife. After returning to China, she was awarded the rank of Lieutenant Commander of the Navy. As for where she is now, I don't know much. "

"Comrade Sokov, I will help you find the two people you mentioned as soon as possible." Although Konev agreed to Sokov's request, he still felt that the other party should be vaccinated: "But I just want to You can do your best, as for whether you can find them, or whether they are willing to go to your army to teach snipers after you find them, you can only rely on luck."

   "Comrade Marshal," Sokov knew very well in his heart that it might not be an easy task to invite two great snipers to his group army to serve as sniper instructors. But he still expressed his gratitude to Konev: "Regardless of whether these two instructors can come in the end, on behalf of the commanders and fighters of the entire army, I would like to express my gratitude to you!"

  Smirnov, who was sitting next to him, had a shocked expression on his face after hearing the conversation between Sokov and Konev. He naturally knew that Sokov wanted to invite Lyudmila, but he felt that the chance of success in this matter was not high. Since Lyudmila is a model that has been established, it is obviously unrealistic for her to return to the dangerous frontier and continue to be a sniper.

   And another Vasily, who is said to have killed more than 400 German soldiers, may be even more difficult to get him to serve as a sniper instructor.

  Based on this consideration, he saw Sokov put down the phone and immediately said: "Comrade Commander, do you think we should consider hiring other snipers to serve as instructors in our army?"

  Sokov didn't know that it would be hell-level difficulty to invite these two people to serve as instructors for the sharpshooters in his army. But in any case, it may not be possible to succeed if you try; but if you don't try, there is no chance of success at all.

Therefore, in the face of Smirnov's concerns, Sokov said confidently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, we can't give up our efforts. If we can really invite both of them, then our troops A large number of excellent snipers will be born here. With these excellent snipers, we will take the lead in the next urban street battles."

  (end of this chapter)