Chapter 2217

  How to identify the correct direction in the smoke? This problem really stumped Sokov. He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, thinking about the solution in his mind. Both Sidolin and Lunev knew that Sokov was thinking about a problem, and no one bothered him. They just moved their eyes back and forth with him, waiting for him to come up with a good solution.

  I don’t know which staff officer was smoking in the room, because he was right by the window, and when the wind blew, the smoke drifted towards Sidolin’s position, making Sidolin choke and cough. "Who is smoking here? Didn't you see that the commander was thinking about something?" Sidolin scolded impatiently, "Hurry up and pinch the cigarette."

  The staff officer who was smoking was taken aback. He didn't expect that he just smoked a cigarette as usual, which actually aroused the dissatisfaction of the chief of staff. He trembled in fright, and then threw the cigarette **** in his hand out of the window.

   And Sokov, who was pacing, also saw the smoking staff officer after hearing Sidolin's voice. Just as he was about to tell Sidolin not to vent his anger on the staff officer, he saw the cigarette **** in the staff officer's hand flying out, tumbling with sparks, and disappearing out of the window. At this moment, a flash of inspiration flashed in Sokov's mind, and he immediately thought of a good solution.

"Yes." He walked back to the table quickly, and said to Sidolin and Lunev: "I thought of a good way, so that our commanders and fighters can find the correct attacking position in the smoke, so as not to get lost. .”

  While Sokov was pacing, Sidolin and Lunev were also thinking about this issue. However, the two racked their brains and still couldn't come up with the best solution. Now that Sokov said that there is a solution, the two couldn't help but their eyes lit up, and then asked: "Quickly tell me, what is a good solution?"

   "New rocket launchers and rocket launchers." Sokov said: "We can use these two weapons in the smoke to indicate the correct attack route for commanders and fighters."

   After listening to Sokov's words, the two looked at each other and shook their heads slowly, expressing that they did not understand. Sidolin said: "Comrade commander, can you explain in more detail, how should we use rocket launchers or rocket launchers to indicate the correct direction of attack for our commanders and fighters in the smoke?"

Seeing that the two didn't understand what he meant, Sokov quickly took out a pen and paper, and while drawing a sketch, he explained to the two: "For example, we are at the edge of the smoky zone, and we arrange one every one or two hundred meters. The single-tube launching tube of the new rocket launcher, after measuring the correct position of the German position with a compass, starts to launch the rocket. The flame tail and heat of the rocket during flight can draw a channel in the smoke, and our commanders and fighters will You can rush to the enemy's position along this passage."

"It's great, it's really great." Lunev slapped the table vigorously, and then gave Sokov a thumbs up: "Misha, you are really a genius, even thinking of such a good way It’s amazing to come out.”

"Actually, I was also inspired by the staff officer who was smoking just now." Sokov was not proud, but truthfully stated the source of his inspiration: "When he threw the cigarette **** out of the window, I saw the cigarette **** with sparks on it." Tumbling in the air, I came up with this good idea.”

   After finishing speaking, Sokov picked up the cigarette case on the table, came to the staff officer, and said enthusiastically, "One?"

   "No, no." The staff officer said in a panic, "Thank you, Comrade Commander, I don't smoke."

"You're welcome, I saw you smoking at the window, and you were criticized by the chief of staff." Sokov stretched out the cigarette case in front of the other party again and said, "Come on, smoke one! The chief of staff's attitude was not good just now." , I apologize to you on his behalf."

"Comrade Staff Officer," Sidolin said with a grin after hearing what Sokov said, "It was my bad attitude just now, I apologize to you, I'm sorry! Since it is Comrade Commander who invites you to smoke, you take That’s it, he doesn’t just invite people to smoke casually.”

   Having said all this, the staff officer didn't dare to delay any longer, and quickly took out a cigarette from the cigarette case in Sokov's hand. However, he didn't ignite it, but clamped it directly to his ear, and said with a smile, "Comrade Commander, I'll smoke it later."

Sokov returned to the table and said to Sidolin and Lunev: "I just said that there is a distance of one or two hundred meters, and a rocket launcher is placed. Do you think this distance is too close or too far? "

"I think it's a bit close." Sidolin said: "If too many rockets are launched in the same area, it may disperse a large area of ​​smoke, so that the Germans can see clearly the possibility of our army. So I think the separation distance is Whether it is close or far, the distance should be kept at 300 to 400 meters."

"Okay, then the distance of the rocket launcher tube is set at 350 meters." Sokov said to Sidolin: "We must measure the approximate distance between the launch site and the German position in advance, so that Shoot accurately."

  As soon as they finished discussing business matters, Asya and Koshkin hurried in from the outside.

   Koshkin raised his hand and saluted Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I have escorted the military doctor Asia back safely!"

   "Thank you, Comrade Captain." Sokov nodded at Koshkin and said gratefully: "You must be tired after running back and forth, go back and rest first."

  After Koshkin left, Sokov poured Assia a cup of hot tea, and said softly, "Assia, I'm so sorry for making you run back and forth for so long."

"It's okay, Misha." After taking a sip of tea, Assia said, "Yasha is our mutual friend. If you know the news of his accident, even if you don't send me to visit, I will find a way to go there." of."

   "Tell me, how is Yasha's injury?" Sokov asked, "Are you really all right?"

"Well," Assia nodded, and continued: "I read all the doctor's examination reports, and I can completely rule out the possibility of internal injuries. At best, I suffered a slight concussion injury when I was shelled. It's not a big deal. No problem, just two days of training will be fine."

   "What about General Cherniakhovsky?" Lunev asked, "How is his injury?"

"When I was looking for Yasha, I broke into the operating room by accident." Asiya said: "From the situation in the operating room, there was no problem during the operation. Although I don't know Chernyakhov How exactly is General Ski's injury, but in general, it should not be life-threatening."

Hearing Assia's words in such an affirmative tone, Sokov began to ponder in his heart: In real history, Cherniakhovsky would die of his injuries two days later, but he did not. Thinking that because of the appearance of this butterfly, many things have changed. Yakov, who was supposed to die in a German prisoner-of-war camp, is still alive and well, and even became a general and the deputy chief of staff of the Belarusian Third Front. Since Cherniakhovsky happened to be next to him when he was shelled, it may be because of his existence that history has deviated here. Maybe Cherniakhovsky will survive in the end. .

As soon as this idea came up, Sokov thought more and more about the possibility. Among other things, the Chief of Staff Sidolin who was sitting opposite him at the moment died on the banks of the Volga River in the early days of the Stalingrad Defense War. , is also living well now. It seems that with my appearance, the fate of many people has changed. It turned out that the history I am familiar with may have more deflection in the coming days.

   Lunev looked at Sokov and asked, "Misha, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about General Cherniakhovsky's injury?"

"That's right, Comrade Military Commissar, I'm indeed considering this matter." Sokov nodded and said, "Once something happens to General Cherniakhovsky, the Belarusian Third Front may lose the The unified command led to confusion in the original offensive plan. If they cannot successfully capture the East Prussian area according to the instructions of the Supreme Command, I am afraid that our troops will have to turn around again and cooperate with their actions to liberate East Prussia.”

   "Yes, if this kind of thing really happens, it will bring a series of bad consequences." Lunev stood up and said to Sokov, "I'll go out and make a call, and I'll be right back."

  Asiya looked at the back of Lunev leaving, and asked Sokov curiously: "Misha, where did Comrade Military Commissar go?"

"He may have gone to a nearby communication room and called Moscow." Sokov explained to Asiya: "Some of his calls involve confidentiality, and we are not qualified to listen in, so we specially prepared them for him." A telecommunications room so that he can make secure calls at any time."

   "Oh, so that's the case." Assia nodded, and then said, "Misha, I'm still busy with work. If you don't have anything else to do, then I'll go back first."

"Comrade Asia, how can you go back like this." Who knows that just after she finished speaking, Sidolin said with a smile: "You have come to us with great difficulty, how can you go back like this, at least Let's have a meal before leaving."

   Facing Sidolin's persuasion, Asiya hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll eat and leave. I've been running for a long time, and I'm hungry."

   As soon as the cooking soldiers brought the food, Lunev walked in from the outside. Judging by the expression on his face, it seemed that he had received some unexpected information from Moscow.

After Lunev sat down, Sokov pushed a plate of salad in front of him, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Military Commissar, have you heard any new news? If it does not involve confidentiality, can you tell me?" us?"

"There is nothing confidential." Lunev said: "General Cherniakhovsky's operation has been completed. The operation was successful and he is fine. However, his current condition may not be able to recover within a few months." Command the troops again. By tomorrow night at the latest, the Moscow side will send a plane to take them to the best military hospital in the city for treatment."

Knowing that Cherniakhovsky was going to be sent to Moscow for treatment, this was expected by Sokov. What he was concerned about was who would replace Cherniakhovsky after he left. his duties. Will it be replaced by Marshal Vasilevsky like in real history, or will there be someone new. With such doubts, he asked: "Comrade Military Commissioner, I wonder who the superiors plan to send to replace General Cherniakhovsky and command the Belarusian Third Front Army to continue fighting?"

   "The Supreme Command has just held an emergency meeting." Lunev said: "It was unanimously decided that Marshal Vasilevsky will replace General Cherniakhovsky."

"Oh, it would be great for Marshal Vasilevsky to command the Belarusian Third Front Army." After Sidolin finished speaking, he said to everyone: "Do you remember? Last year, the commander of the First Ukrainian Front Army After General Vatutin was injured, Marshal Zhukov took over his command; now that General Cherniakhovsky was injured, Marshal Vasilevsky took over from him. What a coincidence, the two generals Injured, the two marshals took over their command..."

"Chief of Staff, don't say such things." Sokov heard this, and quickly interrupted Sidolin's words, "Last year, General Vatutin died because of postoperative infection. It was a huge loss for our army. We do not want such a huge loss to happen again."

  Sidorin is also a smart person. Hearing Sokov say this, he immediately realized that he had made a slip of the tongue. Although everyone here is acquaintances, no one will take out what he said, but in case any of the staff officers and communication personnel in the room overhear what he said, and when they are chatting with outsiders, , Disapprovingly spread these words, I am afraid it will bring unexpected troubles to myself.

"Comrade Commander is right." Sidolin hurriedly followed Sukov's meaning: "Now we have the best anti-inflammatory drug - penicillin, I believe it will definitely prevent postoperative infection from happening. I believe It will not be long before General Cherniakhovsky is back in command."

   After lunch, Asiya stood up again and said to everyone: "It's getting late, I'm going back to the field hospital."

  Sokov did not keep Assia this time, but got up and said to her, "Assia, I will send you back."

   The two walked out of the headquarters and walked forward along the street. Koshkin, who got the news, followed behind with a dozen soldiers. In this way, the chat between the two will not be disturbed, and when Sokov is in danger, he can step forward in time to make a rescue.

   "Misha," Assia asked softly, "How long do you think this battle will last?"

   "What?" Sokov did not answer the other party's question immediately, but asked instead: "Are you tired of this war?"

"How could this happen." Assia shook her head and said, "I see so many wounded being sent to field hospitals every day. Although most of them are saved, there are always a few sacrificed on the operating table, or died of Postoperative infection. Although I am used to seeing life and death, I still feel very sad to see the living beings disappearing in front of me. I am even worried that one day I will die because I cannot bear all this. Collapse." As she spoke, she raised her hand to wipe away her tears.

Sokov hurriedly took out his handkerchief to help her wipe away her tears, and comforted her: "Assia, don't worry, judging from the current situation, this war won't last long. At most half a year, we can completely defeat the German invaders." .”

  (end of this chapter)