Just as Babkovsky was waiting for the arrival of the Air Force, suddenly an unfamiliar voice came from the radio: "Hey, isn't it the 109th Tank Brigade?" ”

"Yes, I'm Colonel Babkovsky, commander of the 109th tank brigade." Babkovsky thought that the Air Force was in contact with him, and hurriedly asked: "Are you from the Air Force Liaison Office?" ”

"Hell, what Air Force Liaison Office?" Hearing Babkovsky's answer, the other party said in confusion: "I am Colonel Potapov, commander of the 97th Tank Brigade, and my tank brigade is moving at full speed towards your position, you remember to say hello to your subordinates, don't misunderstand." ”

"Great, that's great." Babkovsky was overjoyed when he heard that friendly forces were approaching in his direction: "Our troops are blocked by the Germans at the water's edge and cannot continue to advance for the time being, and I have asked the air force to come to support." Now with your support, I am confident that we will be able to defeat the enemy who stands in our way and continue to move forward. ”

"Comrade Colonel," Potapov asked, somewhat puzzled, "according to the map, where you are located, is a plain, where are there any rivers?" ”

"Colonel Potapov, you're mistaken, we weren't blocked by the river." Seeing that the other party had misunderstood, Babkovsky hurriedly explained: "Yesterday, after the Germans broke through the junction of the 81st and 15th divisions of the 13th Army and rushed to the depth of our army's defense, our army flooded their way in order to block the way of the Germans. ”

"I see." After listening to this, Potapov said with some concern: "Since even the German tanks cannot pass through the flooded area, can our tanks pass?" ”

"Judging from the current situation," said Babkovsky worriedly through the lookout, looking at the water surface nearly a thousand meters wide in the distance, "the tanks will definitely not be able to pass, so they can only let the infantry carry out the bare-bones, and then the tanks or artillery will provide them with artillery support at the water's edge and suppress the German fire on the opposite side." ”

"I see." Potapov said helplessly: "I will immediately lead the troops to join you." ”

Soviet bombers, escorted by fighter planes, rushed to the vicinity of the waters where the battle was taking place, and before they could attack the Germans on the ground, the German air force arrived. Hundreds of planes from both sides immediately launched a thrilling aerial struggle in this relatively small airspace.

From time to time, Soviet or German planes in the air burst into flames, dragged a long smoke ribbon to quickly reduce their altitude, and after falling to the ground and making an earth-shattering explosion, they began to burn.

Bombers from both sides hurriedly dropped bombs on each other's positions, and huge explosions rang out one after another, and thick gunpowder smoke filled both sides of the water. The bombs destroyed the German tanks and turned the German artillery into a pile of scrap metal; At the same time, there were Soviet tanks that were blown up, and Soviet artillery turned into a pile of black scrap metal that was burning.

When Potapov's 97th Tank Brigade arrived, only one tank had been shelled at the water's edge and on the opposite bank, and its tracks had been blown off, leaving it in place for use as a stationary battery.

After Potapov and Babkovsky met, they spread a map on the grass next to the tank and studied from what direction to attack. Babkovsky, who arrived first, pointed to the map and said: "Colonel Potapov, I propose to put tanks and artillery at level and carry out suppressive fire on the enemy, while our motorized infantry abandon their motorcycles and cross this water area on foot to attack the Germans. ”

Potapov glanced at the wide water area and said worriedly: "Comrade Colonel, this method of yours looks quite good. But have you thought about it, our infantry has to pass through this water, and they can't carry heavy weapons at all, what if they encounter the German armored forces on the other side? Neither rifles, submachine guns, nor machine guns could deal with the tanks of the Germans. ”

"I have understood," replied Babkovsky, "that in these areas occupied by the Germans, there were also commanders and fighters of the besieged 81st and 15th divisions, who were also armed with some anti-tank weapons, and as long as our troops managed to cross the river and relieve them, then the troops would have anti-tank capabilities." ”

"Okay then." Potapov said briskly: "I will order the 288th Tank Battalion and the artillery company to establish positions in the open area near the water to cover our infantry to carry out the forced crossing. ”

……

……

When the troops of the Central Front carried out a counterattack on the breached sector, Rokossovsky, who had just entered the underground headquarters, received a call from the base camp. On the phone, Antonov told him: "Comrade General, I would like to inform you of a piece of good news. ”

"Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff," Rokossovsky suddenly felt his eyes light up when he heard the good news, and immediately asked: "Is the base camp ready to send me reserves?" ”

"General Rokossovsky, you are really smart, you guessed at once." Antonov said with a smile: "In order to strengthen the forces to the north of the Kursk arc, Comrade Stalin decided to transfer an army group from the base camp reserve to you the 27th Army under the command of Lieutenant General Trofimenko. ”

"It's great." When fighting, no commander thinks he has too many troops, and Rokossovsky is no exception. After a brief moment of agitation, his mood returned to normal: "I wonder when they will reach the Kursk region?" ”

"The unit was already on the ground at three o'clock in the morning." Antonov said to Rokossovsky: "I estimate that by noon at the latest, their vanguard will be able to reach your defense zone." In order to prevent them from straying into the German area, you better send someone to meet them. ”

"Thank you, Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff." Rokossovsky, having expressed his sincere thanks to Antonov, hung up.

When Rokossovsky and Antonov were on the phone, Malinin and the others were also sitting next to them, and they vaguely heard something, but they didn't really hear it. Therefore, as soon as Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin immediately asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, are the superiors ready to send us reserves?" ”

"That's right," Rokossovsky nodded, smiling, "Comrade Antonov informed me that the base camp was ready to transfer the 27th Army under the command of Lieutenant General Trofimenko to our command, and they were on their way here at the moment. Chief of Staff, send a few staff officers to meet them, lest they lose their direction in an unfamiliar area and rush headlong into the German defenses. ”

"Understood, I'll arrange it." Malinin stepped aside, called several staff officers of the Operations Department, told them the news of the imminent arrival of new troops, and appointed one of them as the person in charge, and told them to set off immediately to meet the troops.

After several staff officers had left, Malinin walked back to Rokossovsky's side and asked him: "Comrade commander, where do you plan to deploy the new army group units when they arrive?" ”

"At present, the main direction of the German attack is in the position of the defense of the 13th Army." Rokossovsky pointed to the map and said: "As long as we have gathered superior forces in this area, we can consume as much of the German army's living forces as possible, so that the time for us to switch to a full-scale counteroffensive will be greatly reduced." ”

But there were many good things, and just as Rokossovsky and the others had made all the preparations for receiving the new troops, Antonov's new call came. He said apologetically in the microphone: "I'm sorry, Comrade Rokossovsky, things have changed, and the 27th Army can't give it to you." ”

"What, the 27th Army can't give it to us?" Rokossovsky was taken aback when he heard this, and then asked: "How is the base camp going to house them?" The reason he asked this was because this army group was marching towards the Kursk region, and even if it could not be assigned to him, he would definitely not be transferred, because doing so would cause unnecessary confusion.

"Comrade Rokossovsky, the situation with the Voronezh Front is bad." Antonov said in a serious tone: "In view of the dangerous situation that arose in the Oboyan area, the base camp decided to immediately send the 27th Army under the command of the Voronezh Front. In other words, to repel the German attack on you, you can only rely on your own strength. ”

"Understood, Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff." Rokossovsky said in a disappointing mood: "We will do our best to crush the German offensive from the north." ”

Antonov waited for Rokossovsky to finish, and then continued: "Comrade Rokossovsky, there is one more thing, I think I need to remind you. ”

Rokossovsky's heart couldn't help but tighten, realizing that the situation on the battlefield was more serious than he imagined, and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, is there anything else important?" ”

"According to the judgment of the base camp," said Antonov, "it was decided to temporarily impose on you a difficult task - if the enemy breaks through from the south, that is, from the Voronezh Front, the defense of the Kursk region will be carried out independently by your Central Front." ”

Seeing that Antonov said so seriously, Rokossovsky couldn't help but gasp and asked cautiously: "Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, is the situation on the Voronezh Front really bad like this?" "Since Zhukov left for the Bryansk Front early in the morning, Rokossovsky could not keep up to date with the latest situation on the Voronezh Front.

"Yes, Comrade Rokossovsky." Antonov affirmed: "Since the German offensive was much more fierce than expected, Vatutin was forced to cancel the planned counteroffensive and place part of the tanks of the 1st Tank Army, which was planned for the counteroffensive, behind the line to support the infantry for defense, and part on the flanks to strike at the Germans." ”

"I understand, Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff. I will adjust the deployment according to the situation on the battlefield. ”

When Rokossovsky put down the phone, he suddenly had a feeling of emaciation, he felt that what Vatutin did was simply a pig teammate, if he hadn't forgotten to take the initiative to attack the Germans, how could his troops have suffered heavy casualties in the retaliatory shelling launched by the Germans; If the troops of the front line did not suffer heavy casualties in the shelling, where could the Germans easily break through his two lines of defense?

Seeing Rokossovsky's depressed look, Malinin knew that an accident had happened, and hurriedly and cautiously asked: "Comrade commander, what happened?" ”

"The higher authorities decided to place the 27th Army under the command of the Voronezh Front." Rokossovsky looked at Malinin and said, "You immediately call back those staff officers we sent." ”

"But, Comrade Commander, why is that?" Regarding the backlash in the base camp, Ma Lining asked puzzledly: "Didn't you say that the 27th Army would be assigned to us?" Just two hours later, how could it be assigned to the Voronezh Front? ”

"There is no way, the Voronezh Front is suffering from unexpected difficulties." Rokossovsky said in a depressed mood: "From all indications, General Vatutin's defense line is in danger of being broken through by the Germans. Therefore, we must not only defend against the enemy from the north, but also prepare for the German army from the south. ”

"But where should we mobilize these troops?" Malinen asked.

"We can only weaken the army group at the top of the Kursk salient and transfer troops from there to threatened positions." After looking at the map a few times, Rokossovsky instructed Malinin: "Immediately transfer a division from the reserve of Chernyakhovsky's 60th Army and strengthen it to the reserve of the Front." At the same time, from the reserves of the front, the 9th tank army was drawn to the fiercest part of the fighting. ”

At this point, Rokossovsky paused for a moment, but quickly continued: "In order to strengthen the junction between the 13th Army and the 70th Army, I am ready to transfer two tank regiments from the 65th Army. ”

When Malinin heard Rokossovsky say this, he couldn't help but purse his lips and asked carefully: "Comrade commander, if you want to transfer two tank regiments from the 65th Army, I am afraid that General Batov will have an opinion. ”

"The situation is urgent, so I can't take care of it so much." Rokossovsky waved his hand and said: "As a commander of an army group, Batov should know what it means to obey the overall situation. ”

After speaking, Rokossovsky turned his head and shouted to Maksimenko, who was busy: "Comrade Chief of the Communications Corps, immediately take over the headquarters of the 65th Army for me, find General Batov, there are 100,000 urgent matters!" ”

Hearing that 100,000 people were in a hurry, Maksimenko naturally did not dare to slack off, and immediately ordered his communications to contact the 65th Army. After less than two minutes, he straightened up and turned his head to Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade commander, the command of the 65th Army has been connected, and General Batov is on the line and is waiting to call you. ”10