As soon as the colonel's division commander sent men to the rear to rush to repair the fortifications, the German artillery bombardment of the positions began. If www.biquge.info had changed, the commanders and fighters would have had to huddle in the trenches and resign themselves to the end of the German shelling. However, since he had received a face-to-face instruction from Rokossovsky, the division commander naturally knew what to do, and he ordered all of them, except for a dozen fighters to serve as observation posts, to withdraw to the second line of defense, which had not yet been completed.

In response to his order, a regiment commander who ran behind him was puzzled: "Comrade division commander, what if our troops are withdrawn to the rear and the Germans take the opportunity to rush up?" ”

The division commander kicked the regiment commander and scolded with a smile: "Aren't there still so many observation posts left on the position?" As soon as they find the enemy coming, they will immediately blow the whistle to alert us, and after hearing the alarm, our troops can rush back to the trenches to join the battle as soon as possible. ”

"That's a good idea." After the regiment commander figured out what was going on, he couldn't help but say with emotion: "The person who came up with this defense method must be a genius, and he must be an excellent commander who has experienced a hundred battles." ”

"That's right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you're right." The division commander walked forward briskly, and said to the regiment commander next to him: "This method was conceived by the commander, and according to his method, even if the first line of defense does not have enough anti-artillery holes, we can minimize losses when we are shelled by the enemy." ”

Rokossovsky, who was in the command headquarters, became depressed when he heard the rumbling of artillery in the distance. Although he tried hard to change everything in front of him, and thought of all the ways he could think of to change the situation of the battle, in the end he found that the troops still could not escape the fate of defeat.

Seeing Rokossovsky's absent-minded look, Carmela next to him asked with concern: "Koschika, what's wrong with you, are you uncomfortable?" Do you need me to call a military doctor to check you out? ”

Rokossovsky drooped his eyelids, waved his hand, and said: "Thank you, Comrade Carmela, I'm fine, maybe I didn't rest well last night, and I'll be fine in a while." ”

"Koschika," Carmela affectionately called Rokossovsky by his nickname, leaning closer to him and whispering, "If we weren't old friends who we've known for more than twenty years, I really suspect that you were someone else's fake?" ”

Rokossovsky sighed after hearing this, and then asked rhetorically: "Comrade Carmela, why do you think so?" ”

"I can't tell you this, maybe it's a feeling. Although I didn't spend much time with you in the exercises, after this period of interaction, I found that your combat style is very different from before. Speaking of this, Carmela glanced at Vinogradov and Malinin, who were looking at the map, lowered her voice and said: "Also, even on formal occasions, Koschika will not call me Comrade Carmela, but my real name - Ivan!" ”

Seeing the flaws in his body, after being noticed by Carmela, Rokossovsky couldn't help but be a little flustered, and his mind was spinning rapidly, thinking about what words to use to respond to Carmela's suspicions. After thinking for a long time, he replied stubbornly: "Dear Ivan, the reason why you feel that my style of commanding operations has changed is because in this month's fighting, I have found that in order to defeat the Germans, it is necessary to constantly improve the original tactics, that is, to learn war in war. As for the nickname I haven't called, maybe it's because the commanders I've dealt with recently are all unknown or unfamiliar with me before, so I'm a bit more formal in terms of address. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's explanation, Carmela grinned, and then said: "Koschika, I'm just joking with you, see the sweat on your head is down." ”

After hearing this, Rokossovsky smiled bitterly and didn't speak, but he muttered in his heart, "It's strange that you found a flaw, so it's no wonder if you're not nervous." ”

Fortunately, at this time Malinin came over to relieve the siege, and he said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, I just received a call from Colonel Lidyukov, who said that now there are twenty tanks, and fuel and ammunition are also very sufficient, is it possible to allow his mixed detachment to launch an attack on the enemy?" ”

"No, no, no, this is definitely not going to work." Before Rokossovsky could speak, Carmela hurriedly said: "Although the mixed detachment has twenty tanks, their infantry is too small, only seventy or eighty people. If their tanks did not have enough infantry cover, then they could easily be killed by the German anti-tank fighters one by one. ”

After listening to Carmela's instructions, Malinin was about to call Lidyukov back, but was stopped by Rokossovsky. Rokossovsky looked at Carmela with his eyes and said: "Ivan, although the number of infantry in the mixed detachment is small now, if you take advantage of the Germans to relax their vigilance and give them a sudden come, maybe they can still achieve unexpected results." ”

"Comrade Commander, where are you going to let them launch an attack on the German army?" Carmela asked with a serious expression, "If they can't achieve great results, there is no point in such an attack. ”

"Don't worry, Ivan." Rokossovsky walked to the map, pointed to Smolensk to the west of Yaltsevo, and said: "According to our intelligence, General Lukin's troops have been driven out of the city by the Germans, and are currently building fortifications to the east of the city, preparing to continue the battle with the enemy. ”

"What, Smolensk lost?" Hearing this, Carmela was taken aback, and he immediately asked nervously, "Where is the battle report you saw, why didn't I see it?" ”

"The city cannot be considered lost, because there are still a few of our small forces in the city who continue to fight." Rokossovsky deliberately avoided the topic of the source and said to himself: "And according to reliable information, Marshal Timoshenko has rushed to the command of Commander Lukin. With what I know about the marshal, he will definitely order General Lukin to take Smolensk back at any cost. ”

"Smolensk cannot be lost." Vinogradov, who had always been silent, suddenly said: "If the Germans are allowed to occupy the city, then they will have a starting point for an offensive attack on Moscow, which will absolutely not be tolerated." ”

"Don't worry, Comrade General." "Our commanders will never give the city to the enemy, and they will fight stubbornly even if they are left alone," Carmela said. ”

Seeing that the two of them kept talking word by word, Rokossovsky stared at the map and thought: more and more German troops were gathering around Smolensk one after another, and the supply of so many troops would be very difficult to complete by railways and bad roads. In this way, the Germans will definitely establish a supply base near Smolensk, and if Colonel Lidyukov's mixed detachment can carry out a surprise attack on this supply base, it will cause great problems for the German army, and at least for a long time, the German offensive will be weakened by the lack of supplies.

Carmela chatted with Vinogradov for a while, and when she saw Rokossovsky staring at the map in a daze, she immediately remembered that Rokossovsky had just finished speaking, so she continued to ask: "By the way, you haven't finished what you just said, where are you going to let the mixed detachment launch a surprise attack on the German army?" ”

Rokossovsky stared at the map on the wall and asked without looking back: "Ivan, if you were the commander of the German army, when a large number of troops were gathered near Smolensk and supplies became difficult, where would you build a logistics supply warehouse?" ”

"It's definitely not okay to build in a city, because the narrow streets of the city make it extremely difficult to replenish supplies; Of course, you can't do it in a place that is too remote, because it will waste too many troops to defend. Carmela replied with a big grin: "If it were me, I would definitely build a logistics supply base on both sides of the road where the troops are advancing." In this way, not only will it be very convenient for me to receive materials, but at the same time, the troops will also be able to get due supplies when they pass by. As soon as he said this, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then asked in surprise, "You don't plan to let Lidyukov's troops attack the German supply base, right?" ”

Rokossovsky did not refute Carmela's speculation, but nodded his head, indicating that he agreed with his speculation. Then he continued: "But near the enemy's base, there must be heavy guards. If we were to rush over with a swagger, not to mention that there were only twenty tanks, even two hundred tanks, it was estimated that they would not be able to get close to the supply base of the German army. ”

The hope that had just been ignited in Carmela's heart was extinguished by Rokossovsky's basin of cold water. He asked reluctantly: "But we can't just watch the Germans build a logistics base and not do something." If the enemy advances the supply base to Smolensk, then they have enough forces to quickly advance towards Moscow. ”

"The raid on the German supply base must be carried out." After setting the tone, Rokossovsky continued: "But the conditions are not yet ripe for us to act rashly. First of all, it is necessary to send scouts to the vicinity to conduct reconnaissance and find out where the enemy's logistical supply base is. Secondly, it is necessary to seize the time to replenish the mixed detachment of Colonel Lidyukov and make them combat effective in the short term. ”

"I agree with you." After Carmela said this, she turned around and instructed Malinin: "Chief of Staff, please convey the words of the commander to Colonel Lidyukov, so that he should not be in a hurry, seize the time to replenish and train the troops, and strive to re-form the troops in the shortest possible time." ”

"I understand," Malinin agreed, walked over to pick up the phone, dialed Lidyukov's command post, and conveyed Rokossovsky's meaning to the other side.

And in Lidyukov's command post, in addition to Lidyukov, there were two of his right-hand men, Major Sakhno and Major Shebelyuk. Seeing that his colonel put down the phone, the look on his face was a little wrong, and Sakhno hurriedly asked, "Colonel, how is the situation?" ”

"Our request was denied." Lidyukov said to the two with some disappointment.

"What?" When the two majors heard the news, they couldn't help but be taken aback. Then Sakhno asked: "Comrade Colonel, why did the superiors refuse our request?" You must know that if we attack the Germans at this time, it will definitely disrupt the enemy's disposition. ”

Lidyukov waved his hand and said to Sakhno: "Major, the situation is not what you imagined. Chief of Staff Malinin conveyed the commander's order to do everything possible to expand the troops and to build up combat effectiveness in a short period of time. At the same time, reconnaissance personnel were sent to reconnoiter the surrounding German forces to find out whether the enemy had established a logistics supply base. If anything, it will be the main target of our operations. ”

After Lidyukov had finished explaining, Major Shebelyuk, who had always been serious, said: "I see, it seems that we are wrong to blame Comrade Commander." He didn't let us attack now, because he didn't want us, who were weak in troops, to run around like headless flies, lest we not disrupt the German offensive deployment in the end, but be annihilated by the enemy. ”

When Lidyukov heard his subordinates say this, he couldn't help but smile and nodded, and said with satisfaction: "Major Shebelyuk, I didn't expect you to guess the intentions of your superiors. Since this is the case, the two of you should work hard, hurry up and recruit new soldiers, and quickly expand the strength of our mixed detachment. Do you understand? ”

"Got it!" The two majors rose from their seats and replied in unison.

Just as the mixed detachment began to start the recruitment work in full swing, in the command, Vinogradov asked Rokossovsky with some concern: "Comrade commander, you refused the request of Colonel Lidyukov, will he have an opinion of you in his heart?" ”

"Probably not." Rokossovsky said casually: "If he can't understand my intentions at all, then the post of commander of this mixed detachment is not suitable for him, and I should consider replacing him." If he can grasp my intentions and make all preparations in the hurry, then I will put a heavier burden on him in the future. ”

The phone on the desk rang. Malinin picked it up and listened to it for a while, then put down the phone and came over and reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, the division commander of the left flank line called and said that at the time of the German artillery bombardment, he, in accordance with your orders, withdrew his troops to the second line of trenches to avoid enemy artillery fire. Now that the German artillery fire had ceased and they had returned to their positions, after inspection, there were no casualties among the commanders and fighters of the division, except for a dozen or so observation posts who were wounded. (To be continued.) )