Zakharov was very efficient and called Sokov in less than a quarter of an hour: "Misha, I have reported your suggestion to Marshal Malinovsky, and he also very much agrees with you. I feel that sending airborne troops to drop behind enemy lines can effectively speed up the process of the battle."

When Sokov heard what Zaharov said, he couldn't help but feel ecstatic. Since the head of the front army agreed to his plan, he could start preparing for the airborne landing. Thinking of this, he quickly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, when can we airborne behind enemy lines?"

"Misha, don't be anxious." Unexpectedly, Zakharov said calmly after hearing this: "I think even if we want to implement airborne operations behind enemy lines, we will have to wait a week."

“Ah, we still have to wait a week?” Sokov was secretly surprised after hearing this: “Wouldn’t that delay the fighter plane?”

"Misha, to be honest, after listening to your battle plan just now, I can't wait to send airborne troops to the enemy's rear to airborne in the next second, and engage in a pincer attack with our frontal attacking troops." Zaharov said: "But it can't be done. Ah, Misha. You know, there is still a lot to prepare for airborne operations, such as the number of transport planes and gliders we use for airdrops; whether the troops participating in the airborne need short-term training to ensure that they do not jump when parachuting from high altitudes. As for non-combat attrition..."

Zakharov’s words gave Sokov a wake-up call and made him realize that he had thought of the problem too simply. Yes, General Afnin's 18th Guards Army has two Guards Airborne Divisions, but the officers and soldiers of these two divisions have been used as ordinary infantry in the past two years, and no one has actually participated in parachute jumping. how much is left? If they are deployed to airdrop behind enemy lines without explanation, many commanders and fighters with no airborne experience are likely to have various accidents when they land, resulting in a large number of non-combat attrition.

"I understand, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." After thinking clearly about the current problems of the army, Sokov said into the microphone: "I will immediately withdraw the troops preparing to participate in the airborne battle and find a place for them to carry out corresponding operations. training to reduce unnecessary non-combat attrition.”

"Well, I'm relieved if you can think about this clearly." Zakharov said briefly: "Seize the time to train the troops. If you complete the training one day earlier, we will be able to complete the airborne operation behind enemy lines one day earlier."

 After finishing the call with Zakharov, Sokov ordered someone to get through to Afunin's army headquarters. Hearing Afunin's voice, Sokov said straight to the point: "General Afunin, I am Sokov. I now order: the 4th Guards Airborne Division to be withdrawn from the battle immediately, and General Konev's The 3rd Division came to take over their operations."

Afnin was dumbfounded when he heard Sokov's order. He asked in confusion: "Comrade Commander, the 4th Guards Airborne Division fought very well, why should they be withdrawn from the battle?" ?You know, if there is no reasonable reason, it may affect the morale of the troops."

Sokov considered that he was a layman in airborne operations. In order to successfully complete the airborne mission in a large city behind enemy lines, it was inseparable from professionals like Afnin, so he said truthfully: "General Afnin, I just A combat plan was submitted to the front army headquarters, which is to send an airborne force to parachute near the large cities occupied by the enemy, seize these cities as our new offensive starting point, and cooperate with the frontal offensive troops to attack the enemy front and rear."

At first Afunin thought that something happened to Ye Liaoming and angered Sokov, so he was removed from the front line. At this moment, he was overjoyed to learn that Sokov planned to carry out airborne landings behind enemy lines. After all, as an airborne commander, he did not want to see his airborne troops being used as infantry for a long time. That was simply a waste. He quickly said: "Comrade Commander, this is really great. If Major General Ye Liaoming knew about this, I don't know how happy he would be. You know, as airborne troops, we have been used as ordinary infantry for a long time. Everyone has no emotions, that is impossible. If we can really have the opportunity to parachute behind enemy lines, I don’t know how happy everyone will be."

"General Afunin, we may carry out airborne operations against the enemy-occupied cities in a week." Sokov was worried that Afunin was rushing to send troops to fight, and specifically explained to him: "Because for a long time, our The airborne troops are all used as ordinary infantry. After the casualties of airborne experienced commanders and fighters, they are replaced by ordinary infantry, thus making the airborne division unworthy of its name."

"You are right, Comrade Commander." Afunin was actually worried that Sokov would order his troops to immediately participate in the airborne operation. After listening to his worries, he quickly echoed: "Today's airborne division has The number of commanders and fighters with experience in airborne operations is limited. If they rush into combat, I am afraid it will be counterproductive. If they are withdrawn and put into training, I think one week is enough for everyone to master the skills of airborne operations, thus reducing the non-combat problems that occur when the troops are airborne. Attrition.”

“General Afunin, please immediately arrange for the two divisions to switch defenses.” Sokov told Afunin on the phone: “Complete the training one day earlier, and you will be able to participate in the airborne operation one day earlier.”

“Don’t worry, Comrade Commander.” Afunin assured Sokov, “I will complete the defense change of the two divisions as soon as possible.”

When Afuning called Division Commander Ye Liaoming, the division happened to be engaged in a fierce battle with a regiment of the Kwantung Army. Although the tanks and artillery of the Little Devils were not as good as those of the Soviet army, and they had no air cover, they still relied on the fortifications built in advance to tenaciously block the attack of the 4th Guards Airborne Division, and the battle entered a stalemate.

When Ye Liaoming received a call from Afuning and learned that his division was ready to withdraw from the battle, he immediately became anxious: "Comrade Commander, my men are fighting to the death with the enemies of the Kwantung Army outside. At this time, you Let’s get out of the fight, I don’t understand!”

Faced with Ye Liaoming’s dissatisfaction, Afuning explained to him unhurriedly: “Commander Ye Liaoming, don’t you want to know who gave the order to change defenses?”

"What's more?" Ye Liaoming felt like a mirror in his heart. This kind of order was definitely not Afuning's original intention. It must be an order from the group army headquarters. He said angrily: "Isn't it possible that our division's performance in the past two days has not been good? Why, we must withdraw our division at this time. How do you want me to explain to the commanders and soldiers below who shed blood and sacrificed their lives?"

Unexpectedly, Afuning laughed after hearing this and said: "Commander Ye Liaoming, you guessed that this order was issued by Commander Sokov, but have you ever thought about why he suddenly issued such an order?"

Ye Liao Ming didn't bother to guess the riddle, so he asked directly: "Why?"

"Comrade Commander just told me that he submitted a new combat plan to the Front Army Headquarters, which is to send an elite force to parachute behind the enemy lines, seize the cities occupied by them from the Kwantung Army, and establish a new starting point for the attack. Operations of frontal offensive forces.”

Hearing what Afuning said, Ye Liaoming's eyes suddenly lit up: "Comrade Commander, if I guess correctly, does the headquarters intend to let our division carry out this airborne mission?"

"Yes, it is indeed like this." Afuning continued: "But considering that your troops have been used as ordinary troops in recent years, and there are not many commanders and fighters who know how to airborne operations, if you rush into the battle, I am afraid that in the future The process of airborne landing will cause a large number of non-combat attrition."

"Yes, Comrade Commander, you are right." Ye Liaoming agreed with Afuning's statement: "To be honest, in the past few years, we have been used as ordinary infantry by our superiors, so much so that there have been airborne After the casualties of veterans with combat experience, they have not been replaced in time. To put it bluntly, if our division is ordered to airdrop behind enemy lines now, I am afraid that a large number of commanders and soldiers will break their legs or even be killed directly during the airdrop process. . By then, without even starting a battle with the enemy, more than half of our troops will be killed or wounded."

"Commander Ye Liaoming, after your division withdraws, you must immediately carry out corresponding training." Afuning said: "Veterans with airborne combat experience should be allowed to impart relevant knowledge to the new recruits and guide them to quickly master airborne skills. .”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Ye Liaoming said confidently: "You give me a month, and I promise to train these infantrymen with the title of airborne troops to become qualified airborne soldiers." Unexpectedly As soon as he finished speaking, Afuning poured cold water on him: "Commander Ye Liaoming, you don't have a month, only a week. Comrade Commander ordered that you be given a week to conduct airborne training. When the time is up, , we must airdrop behind enemy lines to seize the city."

“Ah, one week?” After hearing the deadline given to him by Afuning, Ye Liaoming said hesitantly, “The time is too short.”

"Commander Ye Liaoming." Hearing Ye Liaoming's complaint, Afuning said seriously: "If you think your division cannot complete the training mission, then you can tell me now so that I can discuss with the commander comrade to replace Major General Konev's immediate The 3rd Guards Airborne Division is here to perform this glorious mission."

Hearing Afunin say that he should let Konev's 3rd Division replace him, Ye Liaoming quickly waved his hands and said: "No, Comrade Commander, please don't let the 3rd Division replace us. I assure you, it will definitely Within a week, complete the airborne training for all soldiers."

 “Is one week enough?” Afnin asked deliberately.

"enough!"

 “I won’t embarrass you too much, right?”

"It's not difficult at all." Ye Liaoming expressed his determination to Afuning: "Although time is very tight, as long as the whole division works together, we should not have much problem completing this arduous task."

"Okay, let's see your training results in a week." Although Afuning felt that Ye Liaoming could complete this arduous task, before hanging up the phone, he still warned the other party: "If I find that the desired effect is not achieved, Then you are wasting the opportunity to fight and just wait to go to court-martial."

"Comrade Commander, please rest assured about this." Ye Liaoming patted his chest and assured Afuning: "If I fail to complete the training mission by then, you don't have to send me to any military court. I will shoot at you with a gun. He shot himself in the head."

After putting down the phone, Ye Liaoming immediately asked his chief of staff to call the three regiment commanders, ordering them to stop attacking the Kwantung Army and come to their division headquarters, saying that they had something important to announce to them.

　　After receiving the call, the commanders of the 9th and 15th Airborne Regiments appeared at the division headquarters in less than five minutes, waiting for Ye Liaoming to announce important matters to him. Only Colonel Kravtsov, commander of the 12th Regiment, has not yet arrived.

 The division chief of staff raised his hand and looked at the time, and then asked Ye Liaoming for instructions: "Comrade division commander, only Colonel Kravtsov is not here now. Should we have a meeting first?"

"Wait a little longer." Ye Liaoming waved his hand and said, "I know Kravtsov. He may have seen that the troops were unable to break through the Kwantung Army's defense, so he went to the forward position to direct the battle himself."

Ye Liaoming's words were quickly confirmed. Kravtsov, whose face was blackened by gunpowder smoke, appeared in the division headquarters. Seeing Kravtsov's bare head, Ye Liaoming specifically asked: "Comrade Colonel, where is your hat?"

Kravtsov raised his hand and touched his head, and said with some embarrassment: "Maybe he was hit by a stray bullet on the battlefield."

 His words immediately caused a burst of laughter.

After the laughter subsided, Kravtsov hurriedly explained: "The force we were fighting against was not weak in combat effectiveness, and they shot at us from a distance of two hundred meters. Some of the soldiers who died were shot in the head. My marksmanship is pretty good, but it is still a bit difficult for me to hit a moving target two hundred meters away. But those Kwantung Army soldiers used their 38-gai to shoot at two hundred meters away, causing us a lot of damage. There were hundreds of casualties."

Ye Liaoming frowned and asked: "Colonel Kravtsov, I have ordered the troops to stop attacking, why are you still fighting the Kwantung Army?"

"Comrade division commander," Kravtsov said urgently: "So many of our commanders and soldiers died in front of the enemy's positions, and I want to avenge them. The battle is going on fiercely at the moment, and it cannot be stopped if we want to. .”

“Colonel Kravtsov, no matter what method you use, you must stop your troops immediately and return to the original starting point of the attack.”

Hearing what Ye Liaoming said, Kravtsov muttered with some dissatisfaction: "What other combat mission can be more important than the current battle with the Kwantung Army?"

"Comrade Commander said that our current attack speed is too slow. Maybe we will still be marching halfway when the friendly forces have reached the big cities occupied by the Kwantung Army."

None of the three regiment commanders spoke. They felt that what Ye Liaoming said was true. The friendly troops on the left and right wings marched through various vehicles, and only the commanders and fighters of their 4th Division marched on foot. How could two legs catch up with four wheels? It would be strange to not fall far behind friendly forces.

But Baryshev, the commander of the 15th Regiment, heard an overtone in Ye Liaoming's words, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Division Commander, do you have any important combat mission in calling us here?"

Kravtsov, who was about to continue complaining, heard what Baryshev said and quickly agreed: "Yes, comrade division commander, there is a war now. Why are you so anxious to find a few of us?" important things?"