Rokossovsky put down the phone and said to Malinin with some helplessness: "Chief of Staff, at present, not only we cannot get in touch with the command of the 20th Army, but even the marshal cannot contact them. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

"So what are we going to do?" Ma Lining, who has always been cautious, asked: "Is it still attacking according to the original plan?" ”

"That's for sure," said Rokossovsky, looking at his chief of staff, "and we are about to build a new defense on the Kholm-Zhirkovsky, Yaltsevo, and Yelnya fronts, and if we can have tens of thousands more troops, our defense will become stronger." Therefore, our immediate task now is to free the troops of the 20th Army from the enemy's encirclement. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." After saying that, Malinen turned and walked towards a nearby telephone set, continuing to perform his duties as chief of staff.

As the time for the battle to start drew closer, Rokossovsky's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and he did not know whether the noose around the neck of the German army around the neck of the 20th Army could be cut with the cooperation of Lidyukov's mixed detachment. This is the last effort he has made, and if he fails again, he will no longer be able to muster enough troops to launch such an attack in the short term.

When the rumbling of artillery sounded in the night, he knew that it was Lidyukov's troops, who had attacked from the enemy's flank. But whether they destroyed the enemy's artillery positions, whether they managed to break through the enemy's defenses from the flank, these are all things that Rokossovsky desperately wanted to know.

Listening to the increasingly fierce gunfire outside, he suddenly saw Malinin walking towards him with a telegram, and Rokossovsky's heart could not help but hang in his throat, because he knew the results of Lidyukov's troops, and he was in the hands of this chief of staff.

"How's it going, Comrade Chief of Staff?" Rokossovsky looked at Malinin, who had walked in front of him, and asked with difficulty. At this moment, he even prepared for the worst, that is, the attack launched by Colonel Lidyukov's troops was met with a fierce counterattack by the Germans and ended in failure.

Malinin smiled at Rokossovsky, and then said with some smugness: "Comrade commander, good news, great news." The units of the mixed detachment, which were responsible for attacking the enemy's artillery positions, had succeeded in destroying all the enemy's artillery and were now turning around and returning to the area where the fighting was raging. ……”

Without waiting for Malinin to finish speaking, Vinogradov next to him came over and couldn't wait to ask: "How about Colonel Lidyukov's attack from the German flank?" Did it work? ”

Malinin nodded, and then reported: "Because the Germans in the defensive positions have deployed the main forces evenly in the east and west directions, the defense on the north side is relatively weak. Colonel Lidyukov's attack was on the enemy's weakest point, and it was obviously too late for them to move their forces from the east and west, because by this time our 101st Tank Division and the 38th Infantry Division had also relaunched the offensive, and the enemy had no way to withdraw forces from the front to support the attacked flank. ”

"And what about the direction of the 20th Army?" As soon as Rokossovsky waited for Malinin to finish speaking, he immediately asked: "Did they take any action?" ”

"It's a pity, Comrade Commander." Ma Linin's expression became serious again: "I didn't find any movement in the northwest direction. I don't know if the friendly forces didn't realize that we were attacking the Germans, or if the commanders at the front didn't dare to act rashly without receiving orders from their superiors. ”

Hearing Malinin tell this matter in such a tactful tone, Vinogradov suddenly became angry, "Why can't they find out about our attack?" Outside there is artillery shelling, and tank charges, even our people who are separated by several kilometers can hear it, and their troops under the nose of the enemy will not hear it? The difference is that some people are panicked and don't even dare to give orders for their subordinates to attack......"

"All right, Comrade Vinogradov." Rokossovsky was afraid that Vinogradov would say more excessively if he continued, so he hurriedly stopped him and said: "Remember, our first task at the moment is to rescue the 20th Army, and don't say anything that affects unity." ”

"But, Comrade Commander." Unconvinced, Vinogradov said: "Our warriors are bleeding and fighting stubbornly against many more enemies than they are, but what have they done with the troops waiting for us to come to their rescue? Either stand still at a critical moment, or launch a futile attack when our attack is repulsed by the enemy. Didn't he let our commanders and fighters shed blood and die in vain by doing so? ”

"General Vinogradov, I understand what you mean." Rokossovsky appeased Vinogradov, who was a little out of control, and said: "Although the combat effectiveness of the 20th Army on this day was not satisfactory, they also did their best. Do you look at how much sacrifice they made in the battles during the day? Although they haven't broken through the German defenses for the time being, it doesn't mean that they will never be able to break through?! Seeing that Vinogradov still wanted to defend himself, he hurriedly added, "I assure you that this is our last effort." After daybreak, regardless of whether or not the German defensive positions were breached, all our troops would withdraw to their positions on the west bank of the Woppy River, ready to block the enemy rushing towards the Wopi River. ”

For the sake of Avinogradov's heart, Rokossovsky also deliberately instructed Malinin in front of him: "Chief of Staff, send a message to several commanders at the front, and wait until dawn, regardless of the situation of the battle, all the troops will withdraw from the battle and retreat to the defensive positions on the west bank of the Vopi River." ”

Hearing this special order from Rokossovsky, Vinogradov's heart suddenly became much more balanced. He sat down at the table again, studying the map in front of him.

The battle went smoothly at the beginning stage, but there was no movement due to the direction of the 20th Army. In order to stabilize the precarious defensive line, the German commanders left only a few guard posts in their positions in the west, and threw most of their forces to the east and north, where the fighting was most intense.

Looking at the telegrams that Malinin brought, almost all of them were the same "the enemy has increased troops, and our army's offensive has been frustrated", Rokossovsky couldn't help but crumple one of the telegrams, slammed it to the ground, and then walked back and forth in the command headquarters with his hands behind his back.

Vinogradov looked at Rokossovsky, who was gradually becoming anxious, and said a little angrily: "Comrade commander, according to intelligence, at present there are only a small number of alert troops of the German army in the west, and their main forces are fighting fiercely with our troops in the east and north of the defensive line. Moreover, the enemy to the west and southwest of us also showed signs of imminent movement, and if they attacked overnight and flanked the Germans who were holding their positions, the 38th Infantry Division and the 101st Tank Division would be in danger of total annihilation. Once again, Comrade Commander, I make a request to you to immediately stop this senseless offensive and withdraw the troops! ”

Rokossovsky paused and quietly pondered what Vinogradov had said. That's right, the fighting was raging on their side, while the 20th Army in the encirclement remained still, as if they didn't care if they were surrounded by the Germans.

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Kazakov echoed: "If the friendly forces in the encirclement had attacked the enemy from the west at the same time as we attacked, perhaps they would have broken through the enemy's defenses long ago." But now they are holding their ground, and as a result, our troops are left to bear the pressure of the enemy on their own. I am afraid that if we continue to fight like this, the two divisions and one mixed detachment that we are involved in the battle will soon be abolished. ”

Kazakov's words made Rokossovsky doubt the decision he had made for the first time. He asked himself: "Did we do a mistake in letting our troops attack the enemy's positions and cover the breakthrough of friendly forces?" ”

"Comrade commander, give the order, let them withdraw while our troops are not yet exhausted." Seeing the hesitant expression on Rokossovsky's face, Vinogradov hurriedly persuaded: "These commanders and fighters are all combat backbones with rich combat experience, and if they are exhausted in this situation, it is really not worth it at all." ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander, give the order." As soon as Vinogradov's words were finished, Kazakov and Malinin also echoed: "We can't let our elite troops fight all out here." ”

Faced with this choice of life and death, Rokossovsky groaned for a while, and then spoke: "Before giving the order to retreat, I think I should call Comrade Marshal again and ask him to find a way to contact the 20th Army. If we can't get in touch anymore, we, who have done our best, will be able to withdraw from the battle with peace of mind. ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky had the intention of retreating, Malinin hurriedly dialed the phone of the Front Command, and then respectfully handed the microphone to Rokossovsky's hand and said: "Comrade Commander, the phone with the Front Command is connected, you can speak." ”

On the other end of the phone came Bulganin's voice, who politely asked: "Hey, is it Comrade Rokossovsky?" ”

"Yes, it's me, Comrade Bulganin." Rokossovsky politely responded: "Is Comrade Marshal there, please?" I have important information to report to him. ”

"Well, Comrade Marshal," Bulganin replied with some embarrassment when Rokossovsky asked about Timoshenko: "I'm sorry, Comrade Rokossovsky, the marshal is not in the command, he went to inspect the grassroots troops, and it is uncertain when he will be able to return, just tell me if you have anything." ”

"Comrade Bulganin, it's still about the 20th Army." Rokossovsky said helplessly: "After my troops launched the attack, although they once occupied the advantage on the battlefield, because the 20th Army did not move for a long time, the German troops transferred all the troops defending the west and launched a fierce counterattack against our attacking troops. At present, all the units in which I have participated in the war have suffered heavy casualties, and I would like to ask Comrade Marshal if I can temporarily withdraw my troops from the battle. ”

"No, no, Comrade Rokossovsky." Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Bulganin was frightened into a cold sweat, and he hurriedly emphasized: "If you withdraw from the battle at such a time, then the 20th Army, which is in the encirclement of the German army, may be completely annihilated by the enemy." So, I beg you, you must continue to fight no matter what. ”

"Comrade Bulganin," Rokossovsky did not follow the other side's wishes, but resolutely expressed his attitude, "at present one of my infantry divisions and one tank division are almost exhausted, and if we continue to fight, by the time dawn we will have these two units abolished." ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky said that the situation was so serious, Bulganin was also embarrassed, but unfortunately Timoshenko was not at the command, and he did not have the right to make a final decision, so after a period of silence, he said in a consultative tone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, do you think this is good, your troops should continue to attack the enemy's positions; As for me, I will continue to make contact with the 20th Army, and once in that connection, I will order them to attack the enemy's defensive positions immediately. ”

After Rokossovsky put down the phone, he issued his own order to several commanders standing in front of him: "It seems that the command of the front army cannot be counted on, everything can only be relied on by ourselves. In this way, the troops will continue to attack for another hour, and when the time comes, we will withdraw from the battle regardless of the success of the 20th Army's breakthrough. Do you understand? ”

"Understood!" Several commanders replied in unison.

Rokossovsky waved his hand and said weakly: "Since you understand, let's go and give orders." ”

Colonel Lidyukov, who was directing the battle on the battlefield, found that the enemy's defensive positions on the ground had become empty because he had withdrawn all the troops defending in the direction of the 20th Army against himself and two other divisions. Seeing this, he decisively made a bold decision, he called Major Sakhno over and instructed him: "Major, at the moment the western side of the enemy's defensive position is empty, you immediately turn to the west with ten tanks and two infantry companies, and from there launch an attack on the defensive depth of the German army." ”

Sakhno looked at the map in front of him, immediately understood that Lidyukov's decision was correct, hurriedly agreed, and led his troops to the west where the German troops were empty.

When Sakhno and his troops arrived to the west and attacked the enemy's defensive positions, they found that it was simply an undefended area, and that there were no more German soldiers to be found except for forty or fifty soldiers who were on guard. In less than ten minutes, his troops managed to occupy a defensive position on the western flank of the German army. (To be continued.) )