red moscow

Chapter 2999

"Sergeant Grich!" Sokov hadn't expected to find someone like this in the city. To put it nicely, he was terrified of the Germans' power; to put it bluntly, this was a sabotage agent sent by the Germans to spread rumors and incite panic among the residents. Seeing Sergeant Grich nearby, Sokov called him over and ordered, "This is a sabotage agent. Take some men and lock him up."

“Yes, Commander of the City Defense.” Grich agreed, then gestured to the police officer beside him.

Upon seeing his gesture, the two police officers immediately rushed forward, tied his hands behind his back, and pushed him toward the police station.

“What should I do with him?” Grich asked Sokov for instructions.

"Lock him up first and interrogate him to see if he has any accomplices."

Griggs nodded and hurried after his companion.

After Grich left, Rokossovs, his face grim, asked Sokov, "Misha, how did you become the city's defense commander? How come you didn't notice the presence of these saboteurs spreading rumors and trying to incite panic among the residents?"

Just as Sokov was at a loss for how to defend himself, Lobachev spoke up to help him out: "Comrade Commander, I don't think this is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's fault. After all, as the city's defense commander, his main focus is on how to protect the city. It's understandable that he might make mistakes in some areas."

Fortunately, Rokossovsky only said it casually and had no intention of holding Sokov accountable. He waved his hand and said to Sokov, "Misha, let this matter go. I suggest you send more patrols around the city to give the residents confidence and also to guard against these malicious saboteurs."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sokov nodded quickly in agreement: "I will immediately dispatch additional patrol teams to strengthen patrols within the city."

After staying in the city for a while, Rokossovsky left by car.

Sokov turned to Karsokov beside him and instructed, "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately form ten patrol teams of twenty men each to be responsible for patrolling the city."

Having witnessed firsthand the treatment of Sokov by Rokossovsky, Karsokov naturally had no objection to the arrangement. Upon returning to headquarters, he immediately made a phone call to arrange the formation of a patrol team.

Meanwhile, Rokossovsky and Lobachev, who were on their way to Klin, also talked about Sokov and Sun Mountain.

"Comrade Commander!" Lobachev asked, "What do you think of the defenses of Sun Mountain City?"

“The city’s defenses are mainly aimed at the north side of the city,” Rokossovsky said slowly. “Judging from the overall terrain of the city, Misha’s arrangement is undoubtedly correct. But there are always exceptions. If the enemy does not choose the road to the north when attacking Sun Mountain City this time, but instead emerges from another direction through the forest, I’m afraid the defenses he deployed in the north will be of little use.”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Lobachev laughed: "Comrade Commander, if I understand correctly, you mean that the current deployment of Sun Mountain City is somewhat like the French Maginot Line. It looks like it can stop the enemy's attack, but if the Germans use tricks to bypass the heavily defended front and attack Sun Mountain City from other directions, then the current deployment will become useless?"

Seeing that Lobachev understood what he meant, Rokossovsky smiled and nodded, saying with satisfaction, "Comrade Military Commissar, you're right, that's exactly what I meant. If there are German intelligence agents in the city who can relay our army's deployment information, then Sokov and his men might suffer losses in the upcoming battles."

"Should we remind him?" Lobachev asked.

“There’s no need for that.” Rokossovsky shook his head and continued, “If Misha, as a mid-level commander, can’t even discover this problem, it means he’s not a competent commander. Therefore, we need to be cautious in how we use him in the future.”

After understanding Rokossovsky's intentions, Lobachev spoke up for Sokov again: "Comrade Commander, although Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is resourceful, he is still a young man with little experience. I think you should send someone more experienced to his side to remind him at crucial moments and prevent him from making some basic mistakes."

Rokossovsky turned to Lobachev beside him and asked politely, "Comrade Military Commissioner, do you have a suitable candidate?"

Lobachev thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, I don't have a suitable candidate at the moment. But I will try my best to find such a person in the meantime, and once I find one, I will send him to the infantry brigade to serve as Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's deputy."

The convoy soon arrived at the outskirts of Klin.

When the platoon leader in charge saw that there was a general in the car as they passed through the checkpoint, he was startled. He hurriedly took two steps back, stood at attention, and saluted the vehicle. At the same time, he used his free hand to gesture to the soldier in charge of the barrier, signaling him to quickly raise the barrier so that the convoy could pass through the checkpoint.

After entering the city, Rokossovsky quickly located Zakharov's command post.

The two shook hands upon meeting, and then got down to business.

Rokossovsky asked, "Comrade Deputy Commander, how's the situation here?"

“Not good, Comrade Commander.” Zakharov replied truthfully: “The enemy has amassed six divisions near the city, which is ten times the number of our troops, not to mention their vast amount of technical equipment. If the battle really breaks out, I don’t think our army can hold out in the city for long.”

After listening to Zakharov's report, Rokossovsky did not rush to express his opinion. Instead, he had Zakharov act as his guide and led him around the city. Midway through the tour, when they passed a church in the city center, Rokossovsky ordered the convoy to stop, intending to go up to the church's bell tower alone to observe the surroundings.

Zakharov tentatively asked, "Comrade Commander, would you like me to accompany you up?"

But Rokossovsky refused his request: "No need, I'll just go up and take a look, I'll be right back. You and Comrade Military Commissioner can wait for me outside."

In the past, after capturing a city, troops often set up their headquarters in a church in the city center. However, the recent bombing of the church in Sun Mountain City, which reduced it to ruins, served as a reminder that while churches are ideal command post locations, they are also easy targets for enemy bombing. Therefore, this church was not used as a command post, but rather as an observation post for the entire city.

As Rokossovsky ascended the spiraling stone steps to the bell tower atop the church, two soldiers who were observing the situation saw a general appear before them and immediately turned to salute him. Rokossovsky nodded to them and casually asked, "Have you spotted any enemies?"

"Yes, Comrade General," the observation post replied. "According to our careful observation, there is a large number of German troops gathered two or three kilometers away from our front. It seems that they are ready to launch an attack on the city at any time."

After learning some information from the two lookouts, Rokossovsky turned and left the church.

Upon seeing Rokossovsky emerge, Zakharov stepped forward and asked, "Comrade Commander, have you seen the enemy in the distance?"

“I see, my deputy commander,” Rokossovsky said to Zakharov. “As far as I know, after the 30th Army was subjected to a fierce attack by the German army, it was forced to retreat northeastward because it could not withstand the attack. The infantry and tank divisions left in Lücheng are now basically an isolated force. You need to find a way to get them to come closer to us. If you are too late, they may not be able to get here.”

Zakharov agreed with Rokossovsky's statement: "Since those two units have lost contact with the main force, we should indeed send people to contact them and get them to move closer to us as soon as possible to avoid being encircled by the German army."

"Then you should send someone to Green City to contact them as soon as possible." Rokossovsky said with some regret, "It's a pity that we can't contact them by phone or telegram, otherwise we wouldn't have needed to send a communications soldier to make contact with them."

“Comrade Commander, on your way here, I sent someone to Green City to make contact with them.” Zakharov explained, “Now we no longer need to send signalmen to communicate with them; we can do so directly through the radio.”

Upon hearing Zakharov's words, Rokossovsky immediately became interested: "Oh, you can already contact each other via radio? Comrade Deputy Commander, I think you should immediately arrange for someone to send a telegram to the garrison in Green City, instructing them to decisively abandon the city and come to join us before the enemy completes the encirclement."

"Isn't it a bit too early to have them come and meet us now?"

"It's getting late, Comrade Deputy Commander." Rokossovsky said with a serious expression, "The main force of the 30th Army has been forced to abandon its existing positions under the continuous attacks of the German army, and the two troops left in Green City have basically become isolated. If we don't take advantage of the fact that the road between the two cities is still basically under our control before the enemy completes the encirclement, we must get the defending troops to move towards us as soon as possible, otherwise everything will be over."

Zakharov agreed with Rokossovsky's point. Upon returning to his command post, he immediately summoned a communications officer, dictated a telegram, and instructed him to send it to the garrison in Green City, ordering them to abandon the city as soon as possible and join his troops in Klin.

After doing all this, he tentatively asked Rokossovsky, "Comrade Commander, do you think we can hold the city?"

“Based on my observation, Klin is not defensible.” Rokossovsky’s smile faded, and he said with a grave expression, “But we should still organize a resistance to stop the enemy from advancing toward Dmitrov and Yakhroma, and to prevent the possible collapse of our army’s defensive line.”

"But with our current forces, even with the addition of friendly troops from Green City, it will still be very difficult to defend the city."

“Comrade Deputy Commander, I will have Kazakov send over several artillery units,” Rokossovsky said. “With the assistance of artillery, your chances of holding the city will be greatly increased.”

"That's good." Zakharov asked tentatively, "I wonder when the artillery will be in position?"

Rokossovsky raised his hand to check the time, and then said, "As per my agreement with Kazakov, in half an hour, an anti-tank regiment with 16 cannons will be stationed at your positions north of the city."

“What? Only 16 cannons in an anti-tank gun? That’s far too few,” Zakharov said somewhat dejectedly. “With just these few cannons, it’s simply a pipe dream to stop the German armored divisions from attacking.”

“Comrade Deputy Commander, 16 anti-tank guns are indeed a bit few, after all, the German army has three armored divisions,” Rokossovsky continued. “But soon more artillery units will be stationed near Klin. In addition, with the two units that will soon join you, you will be able to completely hold off the enemy’s offensive.”

"I hope so."

A few minutes later, the communications officer came to report to Zakharov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the garrison in Green City has sent a telegram back."

Upon learning that the telegram was from Green City, Zakharov was overjoyed and quickly snatched the telegram from the other party's hand, rapidly scanning its contents.

After reading the contents of the telegram, Zakharov's expression turned serious.

After noticing the change in his expression, Rokossovsky realized something was wrong and quickly asked, "Comrade Deputy Commander, what did they say?"

“The enemy has set up two lines of defense between Klin and Green City.” Zakharov looked at Rokossovsky and said dejectedly, “In this way, our communication with those two forces has been completely cut off.”

"Comrade Staff Officer!" After figuring out what was going on, Rokossovsky said directly to the communications officer, "You immediately send a telegram back to the garrison in Green City, ordering them to move towards us at all costs. If the action is delayed, we are very likely to be surrounded."

Seeing the communications officer turn to leave, Zakharov quickly called him back, while casting a puzzled look at Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, the road between us and Green City has been cut off by the Germans. Even if we get them to come and join us now, it will probably be difficult."

Rokossovsky glanced at Zakharov and said unhurriedly, "Although the roads have been cut off, the Germans haven't had time to build any fortifications due to the urgency of the situation. If the troops in Green City don't move closer to us quickly, they will face encirclement and even annihilation."

Zakharov was convinced by Rokossovsky's words. He nodded and then winked at the communications officer, signaling him to send a telegram to the garrison in Greentown as instructed by Rokossovsky, telling them to move closer to Klin as soon as possible to avoid being surrounded by the German army.

"Comrade Deputy Commander!" Rokossovsky also specifically reminded Zakharov: "If the defenders of Green City encounter fierce resistance from the German army on their way to us, I hope you can send troops to reinforce them and help them open a passage in the enemy's defensive positions."

(End of this chapter)