Tepunov was eager to know how many partisans there were, and the squad leader's answer surprised him.

"I can't believe that there are more than 400 people hiding in that swamp not far away! I'm glad that you're right under the noses of the enemy, and that you're still able to assemble a team of such numbers. ”

"Really?" Ivaniko smiled bitterly: "We are indeed four hundred, but there are only about sixty people who can really fight. ”

"What?! That's all? ”

"Yes! We are numerous, but we are very short of young people. You should be well aware of the emergency conscription that began in April last year. We are Ukrainians, the young people of the village are all in the army, and men in their thirties like me are not included in the conscription. Even now, people like me can still fight the enemy.

Of the 400 people who survived, many were old people, children, and women. However, there are two biggest reasons that restrict our combat effectiveness: we lack food and we are seriously short of weapons! ”

"You lack weapons? Didn't you blow up the railroad! ”

Ivaniko explained again.

"I can't believe that you still have the courage to go to the city of Loyev to steal arms?!" Tepunov was violently excited.

"It's true, so the enemy was surrounded by you and hit hard, and basically had no power to fight back, which is a matter of course. But it is also easy for them to attack us who lack weapons.

We are so hungry! We lack fishing tools and grow extremely low yields of potatoes! We stole explosives to attack enemy trains for food. ”

"Now you've completed the mission of attacking the train and have won. Your face is a little ugly. How? With so much flour seized, you're still frustrated. ”

Ivaniko nodded, and now he became bold: "Comrade Brigade Commander." You see, your soldiers have taken me and my men down, and it's the next day now. I have indeed had enough to eat in your barracks. However, there are still 400 Soviet compatriots, who are struggling on the line of life and death, and if you do not have special circumstances, I wish I could carry a few bags of flour and send them to the camp in the swamp, so that no one will starve to death again. ”

When Tepunov first arrived, he had never considered such a problem, and since the squad leader had raised it, it had to be resolved.

Moreover, this squad leader has revealed a lot of military value in a few words, and with only some analysis, Tepunov believes that he should report to his superiors and apply for an emergency transfer of troops.

He asked Ivanico to sit down and talk, and he sat cross-legged himself.

He patted Ivaniko on the shoulder, looking like a brother.

"Comrade! You and your people should carry a lot of flour back! Not only that, but we swoop up some potatoes and you take these back for others to be saved.

As a soldier, I have to not only support you, but also help you. Now tell me, how exactly did you get to your current location by crossing the Sori River? ”

"It's a dripping water." Ivaniko's words were calm, but the brigade commander stood up in surprise, much to his surprise.

Tepunov said excitedly: "If we are like this, I will immediately organize people to follow you to that swamp, and you and your people will lead the way." What do you think? ”

"It's wonderful! I can't ask for it. ”

"Then don't delay the time, let's get out quickly!"

Tepunov's sudden decision made the deputy brigade commander and brigade commissar very nervous.

In particular, the brigade commissar Zalasky, who came over to directly reiterate the commander's decision, but Tepnov decided to take a risk this time.

"Dear Zalasky, you don't have to stop me in this matter. Our guerrilla commander said that the journey would not be far, and he showed me the way, and we had to bring in food to save our compatriots who were dying of starvation. During the time I left, the deputy brigade commander took my post. ”

Zalasky asked on the spot: "Do you have to go yourself?" ”

"Shouldn't it? You think about it, our paratrooper brigade saved four hundred Soviet citizens, and that's not a big credit? There will be no battle tonight, but everyone from the commander to the grassroots soldiers is sure that a big war is indispensable! There are still hundreds of civilians in that small swamp to the north of us, and I can't sit back and watch them die if they are left on the battlefield! With all that in the way, are you still going to stop me? ”

This escalated to a moral level, and Zalasky immediately retorted: "Of course I hope they all survive, but you must at least inform the commander about it!" It's still too late for you to report. Your reasons are very good, but if something happens to you, you will be punished. Without the order of the commander, you left the defense zone without authorization, and I could only scrupulously abide by my duties and report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. ”

"You ......" Tepnov was speechless for a while, and after more than two months of mixing with Yang Mingzhi, he learned a lot of knowledge about guerrilla warfare, and also learned the so-called "generals will not be subject to the fate of foreign kings." His general commander had never been dogmatic in directing a war, and the combat process had to be very flexible and the results had to be perfect.

Tepunov knew that as long as he could convince the commander, he would not only be able to break away from the current defense line tonight, but even the defense line would have to move to another place!

It doesn't really get dark until after 9 p.m. local time.

Yang Mingzhi's dinner was a few potatoes, he didn't want to eat anything more advanced, a few potatoes were enough. His mind was entirely on the distant battlefield of Loyève, commanding the troops by radio remote control, and constantly correcting the positions of the wooden blocks that symbolized the army on the large map in the command room.

The paratrooper brigade began to build a defensive line when it arrived at its destination, and then they routinely sent a number of telegrams to report on their current situation.

Yang Mingzhi put the empty wooden plate aside, wiped the corners of his mouth, and looked at the map again.

At this time, the female signal soldier hurriedly came, and instead of holding a telegram, she called out in a crisp voice: "Comrade Commander! It's a paratrooper brigade, and the brigade commander has urgent military affairs to discuss with you! ”

"Haha! It seems that the enemy appeared from the side of the Sozh River? Yang Mingzhi frowned excitedly, and also asked Yevlov and Fuming, who were concerned about the battle situation, to come over.

Yang Mingzhi and other senior officers hurriedly ran into the communication room, Yang Mingzhi quickly put on a headset, held the walkie-talkie, and made sure that the other side was Tapunov himself, so he directly asked: "Now tell me, did the enemy appear from your side?" I order you, don't show mercy, and fight if you find out! ”

"Nope! No! The enemy doesn't show up, but there is an important fact that you can't ignore! ”

What Tepunov is emphasizing is the fact that there are a large number of civilians in the Deni Prazer area.

"What? There are hundreds of civilians? We need to get them out, your current position is almost destined to be a battlefield in the future, and I will not allow even a single civilian on the battlefield! ”

The Commander's loud reply was very pleasing to Tapunov, who at one point felt that he had to explain the matter to the Commander, but now it seemed unnecessary.

"Comrade Commander, I think so too! I don't think we should simply bring civilians out on this issue. They were able to survive in that swamp for nearly a year, and 400 people survived after being surrounded by the Germans. This fully shows that there is an ambush for people there, and if you can ambush 400 people, you will definitely be able to ambush 4,000 people! ”

"What do you mean, do you mean to arrange an ambush?" Yang Mingzhi asked tentatively.

"Yes! Comrade Commander, I beg of you, I plan to personally lead a battalion into the swamps, and in addition to taking away the civilians there, I will also personally inspect them. I think that if we can ambush all the paratrooper brigades there, we should place the paratrooper brigade there and act as a surprise force. ”

Hearing this, Yang Mingzhi's excited body trembled a little! Now is the time to test the quality of a general, when the judgment continues to suffer from the chaos, Yang Mingzhi did not say anything, and simply replied: "You leave at least one battalion in the current camp, in addition, give full play to your subjective initiative as much as possible!" No matter how risky your decision is, I won't blame you! ”