red moscow

Chapter 2847

When Belkin left the tent and led his men to verify the results of Regarin's battle, Karsokov could not help but express his opinion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if we want to verify the results of the battle, I think we can wait until tomorrow morning. There is no need to send the deputy brigade commander to carry out this task overnight."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov explained to Karsokov when he saw that Karsokov was skeptical about the matter, "The reason why I was in a hurry to ask the deputy brigade commander to verify the results of the battle is because the results are so amazing that they sound like bragging. If they don't verify it early, and the Germans move the bodies away overnight, how can they verify it?"

“Perhaps the enemy had already moved the bodies away when the first reconnaissance team broke out,” Karsokov said. “I’m worried that the deputy brigade commander will come away empty-handed.”

"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said confidently: "The leader of the reconnaissance team reported to us that there were more than a hundred enemies besieging them at the time. If 75 of them were really killed, the remaining enemies would not have had time to escape, so how could they have carried away the bodies?"

Sokov didn't want to get entangled with Karsokov on this matter. Seeing that he seemed to want to say something, he quickly raised his hand to stop him and continued, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have an important task for you to complete."

When Karsokov heard about the important mission, his attention was immediately diverted: "What mission?"

Sokov pulled out the infantry brigade's deployment map from the bottom of the map, pointed to the east of the defense zone, and said, "There have been quite a few German reconnaissance planes flying over our heads in the past two days. Although our artillery positions are very concealed, there is still a possibility of being discovered. Therefore, I plan to set up a few fake positions here to mislead the enemy's reconnaissance planes."

"Fake position, what kind of fake position?" Karsokov asked curiously, "Fake artillery position?"

"Yes, in addition to the fake artillery positions, we also need to build a few fake tank assembly points to make the German reconnaissance planes think that we have a large army gathering here." Sokov picked up a pencil and drew a few circles on the blank space of the defense map: "In this way, the enemy will be worried that we have a large army gathering here, and will definitely not send ground troops to attack. They can only send bombers to bomb this area."

Karsokov scratched the back of his head and said solemnly, "We set up a fake position here to attract the attention of German bombers. Will it affect the real artillery position?"

"How could that be?" Sokov curled his lips and said disapprovingly, "After the fake position is built, put a few barrels of gasoline and some ammunition. In this way, when the fake position is bombed by enemy planes, it will create the illusion that the target has been hit, causing an explosion."

"It's going to be a lot of work to build new artillery positions and tank assembly points."

Sokov laughed. "Comrade Chief of Staff, since we are setting up a fake position, we only need to place some fake artillery and tanks on the edge of the forest to confuse the German reconnaissance planes. As for the fake artillery and tanks, just cut down a few trees and put them up, and don't even need to remove the branches. In this way, after the enemy reconnaissance planes discover them, they will think that the branches and leaves that have not been removed are camouflage on the artillery."

After listening to Sokov's explanation, Karsokov finally dispelled his worries. He nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Brigade Commander, after daybreak, I will arrange for the comrades in the reserve to build fake artillery positions and tank assembly points to confuse the German reconnaissance aircraft."

After the two men discussed the construction of the fake position, Karsokov bent down and looked outside the tent, then said to Sokov, "Comrade Brigade Commander, it's getting late. You should go to bed early. I'll be on duty tonight."

Sokov nodded and was about to go back to the corner to rest, but he saw Morozova, wearing headphones, sleeping next to the walkie-talkie.

He frowned slightly and asked Karsokov in a low voice: "Chief of Staff, has Comrade Morozova been staying in the tent these days?"

"Yes." Karsokov nodded and replied, "Although the deputy brigade commander and I considered finding another radio operator to take turns on duty with her. But after finding several, none of them could compare to Comrade Morozova in terms of professional level."

Sokov agreed with Karsokov's statement. He relied on radio to maintain contact with his superiors. If a radio operator with poor skills replaced Morozova's job, mistakes might occur.

Sokov walked forward, bent down and patted Morozova on the shoulder.

Morozova, who was dozing off, was immediately awakened. She turned her head and looked behind her. She saw clearly that the person who tapped her shoulder was Sokov. She wanted to stand up immediately, but the antenna of the headphones on her head pulled her and she was unable to stand up in time.

"Comrade Morozova, there's no need to stand up." Sokov quickly held her shoulders to prevent her from standing up again: "Just sit down."

Morozova sat down again after hearing this and asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you have any instructions?"

"Comrade Morozova, I see that you lie down next to the telegraph machine to rest every day. If you do this for a long time, you may suffer from lumbar muscle strain." Sokov said in a concerned tone, "I'll have someone prepare a bed for you next to the telegraph machine. You can lie down and rest after dark."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, this is inappropriate."

"Nothing is inappropriate." Sokov said in an unquestionable tone: "You are the best radio operator in the infantry brigade. If you collapse from lack of rest, who do you think can take over your job?"

"Comrade Brigade Commander, thank you for your kindness." Faced with Sokov's kindness, Morozova seemed very embarrassed: "I am still young and my body can bear it. If I am really too tired, I can just lie on the table and rest for a while."

"No." Sokov knew that Morozova was embarrassed. Even if he continued to talk, she would probably not accept his kindness easily. So he turned to Karsokov and said, "Chief of Staff, immediately have someone prepare a bed on the floor so that Comrade Morozova can lie down and rest after dark."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

While Karsokov was out looking for someone, Sokov said to Morozova again: "Comrade Morozova, the bed is right next to the telegraph machine, so when a telegram comes in at night, you can get up at any time to send and receive telegrams. You don't have to refuse anymore, this matter is settled."

Seeing Sokov's firm words, Morozova said with gratitude: "Thank you, Comrade Brigade Commander! I will live up to your trust and work hard."

……

Sokov originally thought that Belkin would be back in two or three hours at most after going to investigate the site. However, he waited and waited until dawn before returning. When he saw Belkin walk into the tent, Sokov, who was sitting at the table looking at a map, immediately stood up to greet him and asked eagerly, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, what are the results of the investigation?"

"Comrade Brigade Commander," Belkin said with a tired face, "We arrived at the scene and after a careful investigation, we found 78 German bodies in the forest."

"Hmm, 78 German bodies?" Sokov asked in confusion, "Didn't they say 75 Germans were killed? Where did the other three bodies come from?"

"I think he was killed by other members of the reconnaissance team."

Karsokov, who had just laid down, heard Belkin's voice and immediately stood up and walked over: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, you are back!"

"Yes, I'm back." Belkin nodded to Karsokov and continued to report to him: "After our careful inspection, 75 German soldiers were shot in the head and should have been killed in one shot; the other three soldiers were shot in multiple places and it seems that they were hit by bullets in the melee."

Sokov and Karsokov both gasped when they heard Belkin say that. You know, it is basically impossible to kill 75 enemies in the forest with low visibility at night, even in the daytime, and every shot is in the head. And Regarin can do this, he can be described as a monster.

"My God," Karsokov said in astonishment, "Lieutenant Zhegarin's shooting skills are simply too amazing. I thought that even if he could kill 75 enemies, he would probably shoot each of them several times, but he shot them directly in the head and killed them with one shot."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Regarin is no ordinary man." Belkin suggested to Sokov, "I think we should keep him in the guard company. That way, even if the enemy attacks the brigade headquarters, with his ability, he can easily repel the enemy."

Sokov was thinking at the moment, it seems that this Regarin is really not simple. After the special company completes the night attack mission tonight, let Zaryakin and Regarin select a group of elite soldiers from the reserve team to form a special combat force with extremely strong combat effectiveness.

You know, the Soviet army's most powerful troops are usually airborne troops. Unfortunately, these troops are used improperly. They are airdropped to the enemy's rear during counterattacks to cut off the enemy's retreat. Using an elite force as an ordinary force is simply a waste of resources.

"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff." Sokov looked at the two and said, "When the special company returns from its mission, I plan to draw more personnel from the reserve to form a reinforced company to carry out sabotage activities behind enemy lines."

"Comrade Commander," Karsokov questioned as soon as Sokov finished speaking: "We have many guerrillas behind enemy lines. They can harass the enemy. Why do we need to organize a regular army to go deep behind enemy lines?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right. We do have many guerrillas operating behind enemy lines, but how strong are they?" Sokov asked this question and gave the answer without waiting for Karsokov to answer: "Although there are many scattered commanders and fighters in the guerrillas, most of them are residents of nearby towns or collective farm members in the village. They have not received special military training and have little combat experience.

Such troops, apart from scouting the enemy, destroying railways and roads, attacking isolated German soldiers, or guarding against lax facilities, can play a small role. To put it bluntly, if they were asked to cooperate with the regular army to launch a counterattack, perhaps the entire guerrilla force would be wiped out in one battle. "

Karsokov, who had wanted to oppose Sokov, nodded when he heard this. He felt that Sokov was right and that the guerrillas were indeed useless. He humbly asked Sokov, "Comrade Brigade Commander, according to your opinion, the special company we have formed can play a significant role behind enemy lines?"

Sokov didn't say anything, but just nodded to show that he agreed with the other party.

"By the way," Belkin heard Sokov mention the special company again and again, and couldn't help asking, "Has the special company that carried out the night attack mission returned?"

"Not yet." Sokov sighed softly and said, "The sound of gunfire outside never stopped last night, and the sky was dyed red by the flames, so we have no idea whether the special company's action was successful or not."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, why don't we send a telegram to the headquarters and ask them if they know anything?" said Karsokov.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, what's the matter with you?" Before Sokov could speak, Belkin said, "We sent the special company, and we didn't get any information. Do you think the headquarters, which is ten kilometers behind us, can get any information?"

"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, you don't understand what I mean." Karsokov explained to Belkin, "This is what I think. Regardless of whether the special company's night attack is successful or not, the enemy will report to their superiors through the radio. And as far as I know, the headquarters has a communication team that specializes in monitoring enemy radio stations. Maybe they can get information about the special company's surprise attack on the supply point in Popkovo from the German telegrams they intercepted."

Sokov thought what Karsokov said made sense, so he turned around and shouted to Morozova, who was still sleeping on the floor: "Morozova!"

Hearing Sokov's shout, Morozova, who had been awakened by the voice, immediately sat up and answered, "Here!"

"Comrade Morozova, send a telegram to the headquarters immediately, saying that we have sent a troop to carry out the mission deep behind enemy lines, and there have been no problems so far." Sokov said to Morozova, "Ask them if there is any information about this troop in the intercepted German telegrams?"

Morozova did not dare to hesitate. She immediately stood up and sat in front of the walkie-talkie, put on the headphones and started sending the message.

A few minutes later the infantry brigade's telegram was placed before Rokossovsky.

After reading the contents of the telegram, Rokossovsky turned around and called Maximenko over, handed him the telegram in his hand, and asked directly: "Comrade Signalman, in the telegrams you intercepted, is there any report about the German supply point in Popkovo being attacked by our army?"

Maximenko shook his head and replied, "No, Comrade Commander, there is no such telegram." Perhaps because he was worried that Rokossovsky would not believe him, he emphasized, "If we really intercepted such a telegram, I would report it to you as soon as possible."

Rokossovsky was somewhat disappointed after hearing this, and could only helplessly say to Maximenko: "Comrade, Chief of Signal Corps, if you intercept such a telegram, please report it to me in time."

After Maximenko turned and left, Malinin said to Rokossovsky with a worried look on his face: "Comrade Commander, do you think this small force that went deep into the enemy's rear to launch a surprise attack has been completely wiped out in the night battle?"

(End of this chapter)