red moscow

Chapter 3006

After Zakharov ended his call with Sokolovsky, he called Sunhill City directly and found Sokolovsky.

"Comrade Commander!" After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zakharov got straight to the point: "The Front Chief of Staff, Sokolovsky, just called and said he has something important to discuss with you. He wants you to call him back when it's convenient for you."

"I understand, I will call him back as soon as possible."

Rokossovsky put down the receiver and turned to ask Sokov, who was standing next to him, "Misha, can you call the front headquarters directly?"

Sokov shook his head upon hearing this: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, we can't make calls to the Front Headquarters from here. If you want to contact the Front Headquarters, you'll have to go to the post office; the staff there will help you get through."

"It seems like this is the only way."

Before Rokossovsky and Lobachev could reach the post office, the sound of artillery fire could be heard outside.

Upon hearing the sudden sound of artillery fire, Sokov frowned, picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said into the receiver, "This is Sokov! Major Vasya, what's going on with that artillery fire outside?"

"Comrade Brigade Commander," Vasya replied hastily upon answering the phone, "the enemy is shelling the defensive positions on the northern outskirts of the city!"

"Yes, I understand." Sokov nodded. "Report to me immediately if there are any updates."

The enemy appeared to be preparing for a large-scale attack on the city, hence their heavy artillery fire.

The intense artillery fire destroyed the barbed wire fence erected in front of the position, and explosions echoed throughout the minefield as buried mines were detonated by exploding shells. Except for a few observation posts, everyone else on the position took refuge in artillery shelters.

Listening to the booming cannon fire outside, Lobachev tentatively asked Rokossovsky, "Comrade Commander, shall we go to the post office to make a phone call now?"

Before Rokossovsky could speak, Karsokov said anxiously, "Comrade Commander, although the enemy's shelling is currently concentrated in the northern suburbs of the city, no one can guarantee that they won't suddenly shell the city. So it's best to wait until the shelling has completely stopped before making the call."

But as soon as Karsokov finished speaking, Rokossovsky shook his head and said, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since the enemy is not shelling the city at the moment, I should hurry up and go to the post office to make a call. The front headquarters must have something very important to tell me."

Sokov, who was standing nearby, knew Rokossovsky's character and that once he made a decision, it was difficult for others to change his mind. So he did not try to persuade him, but instead tentatively asked, "Comrade Commander, do you need me to send someone to escort you to the post office?"

“There’s no need for that,” Rokossovsky waved his hand and said, “I know where the post office is, and besides, our troops are everywhere in the city, so there’s no need to worry about encountering any danger.”

Sokov saw that Rokossovsky did not need anyone to accompany him, and did not insist, after all, his most important task at present was to command the troops to resist the German attack.

Rokossovsky and Lobachev went to the post office, found a clerk, and said bluntly, "We need to contact the front headquarters immediately. Could you please help us get on the phone?"

When the post office staff saw that the person making the call was actually a general, they dared not delay and immediately connected him to the army headquarters as quickly as possible.

Upon hearing Sokolovsky's voice on the receiver, Rokossovsky cut to the chase, asking, "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is Rokossovsky. I wonder what important matter you're calling me about?"

“That’s right,” Sokolovsky explained, “General Zhukov is very worried about the situation there, so he asked me to call you and ask if you have the ability to hold Sunhill and Klin?”

Upon hearing Sokolovsky's question, Rokossovsky remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Comrade Chief of Staff, if you want to hear the truth, I can tell you frankly. With our current troop strength and technical equipment, it is basically an impossible task to hold Sun Mountain and Klin City."

Sokolovsky was taken aback by Rokossovsky's blunt answer and was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he asked with difficulty, "Comrade Rokossovsky, are these two cities really beyond our control?"

“I’m telling the truth,” Rokossovsky replied honestly. “My army group suffered heavy losses in the counterattack last week. With our current strength, we simply cannot hold two cities. All our efforts now are merely to postpone the fall of the cities.”

The sound of artillery explosions came from outside, indicating that the enemy was preparing to launch a ground offensive, and the artillery fire extended into the city.

A post office worker rushed in and said urgently to Rokossovsky, "Comrade General, enemy shells have landed and exploded not far from the post office. You should move quickly, or you may be in danger."

Seeing the anxious staff member, Rokossovsky gave them an apologetic smile: "I'm sorry, I haven't finished my call yet, I'm afraid it will take a little longer..."

Before he could finish speaking, a huge explosion rang out. A shell landed outside the post office and exploded, shattering all the windows. Countless shards of glass flew into the building, but fortunately, Rokossovsky and the others were far enough away from the windows that, although they were covered in glass shards, no one was injured.

Rokossovsky wanted to say a few more words, but found that there was no sound from the receiver, presumably because the line had been blown up.

Left with no other option, he put down the microphone, thanked the staff, and left the post office with Lobachev.

Sokov, who was directing the battle from his command post, noticed that the enemy's artillery fire had spread and that shells were exploding in the city streets. He immediately cried out in alarm. Fearing that Rokossovsky and his men were in danger, he ordered his men to summon the guard company commander, Bobrikov, even though he knew Rokossovsky had a large number of guards.

“Comrade Captain,” Sokov said to Bobrikov with a serious expression, “the commander and the military commissar have gone to the post office to make a call. The enemy is currently shelling the city, and I am worried that they may be in danger. You must immediately take a guard platoon to meet them and make sure they are brought back safely.”

Upon learning that Rokossovsky and Lobachev were in danger, Bobrikov, who was originally from the army group's guard unit, became anxious. He immediately assured Sokov, "Comrade Brigade Commander, rest assured, I will definitely bring the Commander and Military Commissioner back safely."

After Bobrikov left, Sokov turned to Karsokov and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, has there been any change in the situation outside the city?" "Reporting to Comrade Brigade Commander," Karsokov replied, "Because the enemy has prepared artillery fire and destroyed the minefields and barbed wire in front of our positions, the enemy infantry, under the cover of tanks, has now rushed to our positions. A fierce battle is currently underway."

"Where is the deputy brigade commander?"

"He has arrived at Major Vasya's command post and is directing the battle from there."

Hearing that Belkin had arrived at Vasha's command post, Sokov felt much more at ease. Although there were many troops in the north of the city, with Belkin's unified command, there shouldn't be any problems.

"Comrade Brigade Commander," Karsokov paused for a moment before asking Sokov for instructions, "The enemy tanks have reached the front of our positions. Should we order the artillery to open fire immediately and destroy the enemy tanks?"

But Sokov thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "If our artillery fires now, it will be spotted by the German artillery. Once they turn their fire on our artillery positions, our only artillery may be wiped out."

Seeing that Sokov disagreed with firing the artillery, Karsokov was not discouraged. He picked up the phone and contacted Belkin, who was at Vasya's command post, to inquire about the situation at the front.

While Karsokov was on the phone, Sokov kept glancing towards the door, eagerly anticipating the return of Rokossovsky and the others.

Fortunately, Rokossovsky and Lobachev appeared at the door not long after.

Seeing the two men looking disheveled and disheveled, Sokov quickly went up to them and asked with concern, "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissioner, are you alright?"

"It's alright, we're alright." Rokossovsky sat down at the conference table and said self-deprecatingly, "What bad luck! The phone line was cut off by enemy fire before we could finish the call."

Sokov had already made a decision in his mind. He could no longer put Rokossovsky in danger, so he decisively said, "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissioner, it is too dangerous in Sun Mountain City now. You can't stay here any longer. You should leave as soon as possible."

Before Rokossovsky could speak, Lobachev echoed Sokov's suggestion: "Comrade Commander, I think Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is right. We should leave the city as soon as possible to avoid making him worry about us and affecting his command of the troops."

Lobachev's words made Rokossovsky realize that staying there was indeed not the right choice. Not only would it make Sokov worry about his safety, but it would also put pressure on Sokov, making him hesitant and timid when commanding the battle.

Having understood this, Rokossovsky stood up and said to Sokov, "Alright, Misha. Since you put it that way, let's leave Sunhill City immediately."

Sokov escorted Rokossovsky and Lobachev to the parking lot outside and watched their convoy leave. He finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that as long as Rokossovsky could leave Sunhill City as soon as possible, he would be out of danger.

Just as he turned to walk into the command post, he saw several vehicles rush in from outside. The lead jeep even pulled up right next to Sokov.

As soon as the jeep came to a stop, the passenger door opened, and Bobrikov got out. With a serious expression, he reported to Sokov, “I’m sorry, Comrade Brigade Commander. When we arrived at the post office, the staff told us that the Commander and the Military Commissioner left shortly after the shelling began. I searched several places in the city with my men, but we couldn’t find any trace of them. We had no choice but to come back and report to you.”

When Sokov first saw Rokossovsky and Lobachev appear, he was so preoccupied with their safety that he didn't notice that Bobrikov, whom he had sent to look for them, was missing. Only now did he realize that the two had missed each other somewhere.

Seeing Bobrikov's dejected look, Sokov patted him on the shoulder and said, "Comrade Captain, don't worry. The commander and the military commissar returned to the brigade headquarters shortly after your men left."

Bobrikov, who had been looking dejected, perked up immediately upon hearing Sokov's words and eagerly asked, "Where are the commander and the military commissar now?"

“It’s too dangerous in the city. I’ve already asked them to leave,” Sokov said. “Their convoy had barely left the parking lot when you came back. You must have missed them somewhere again. Alright, your mission is complete. Go back and rest.”

After saying that, Sokov turned and walked back to the command post.

Just ten minutes or so after Sokov saw Rokossovsky and the others off, the situation at the front changed again.

Upon seeing Sokov return, Karsokov immediately rushed to greet him, his face full of anxiety, and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, Major Vasya reports that the enemy has broken through our first line of defense. Although we promptly dispatched troops to charge, both sides are still engaged in bayonet fighting in the trenches, and we have not yet driven the enemy out."

Listening to the rumble of artillery fire outside, Sokov began to ponder whether he should risk ordering the artillery to fire and destroy the German tanks covering the infantry advance. He reasoned that once the Germans lost their tank cover, they wouldn't be able to hold out for long.

Seeing that Sokov remained silent for a long time, Karsokov became somewhat anxious: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what should we do next?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said with a serious expression, "it seems we have no choice but to use the artillery. Call the artillery battalion commander immediately and have him use an artillery battery to fire on the enemy and destroy the German tanks covering the infantry advance, so that our commanders and soldiers can drive the enemy out of the trenches."

"Only one artillery battery?" Karsokov asked cautiously. "Wouldn't that be a bit too few?"

“The enemy’s shelling of the city has not ended. If our artillery fires, the enemy will soon pinpoint the location of our artillery positions. Soon, they will concentrate some of their fire to destroy our artillery positions,” Sokov explained to Karsokov. “Even if we lose all of our artillery batteries, it won’t have a significant impact on us.”

After understanding Sokov's intentions, Karsokov immediately called the artillery battalion commander and instructed him: "Comrade Battalion Commander, the brigade commander has ordered that an artillery battery be used immediately to bombard the German tanks approaching the northern positions of the city."

"What, only one artillery battery?" The artillery battalion commander was also a little surprised when he heard the order. "It is obviously unrealistic for one artillery battery to destroy so many German tanks."

Karsokov didn't have the patience to explain much to him. Instead, he said sternly, "Comrade Battalion Commander, this is the brigade commander's order. You just need to carry it out. There's no need to discuss whether the order is correct or not. Understand?"

(End of this chapter)