It is said that it is the implementation of the battle plan, but in fact, all the plans have already been formulated by the superiors, and the Ninth Mechanized Corps only needs to follow the orders of the superiors to put all the tank units into the battlefield and fight to the death with the German armored forces.

But Rokossovsky, as a traverser, was unwilling to do such a stupid thing. Just kidding, with the absolute superiority of the German Air Force, hundreds of tanks from two tank divisions were all driven to the plain to face the German armored forces. In the process of engaging the enemy from a few thousand meters to several hundred meters, it is a miracle that the number of tanks that can be blown up by German aircraft, destroyed by artillery and tanks, and broken down in the middle of the process can be controlled to less than one-third.

With Chief of Staff Maslov, he came to the joint command of two tank divisions, located south of the city. While inquiring from the two division commanders about the troops' readiness for battle, an officer suddenly walked in, raised his hand to salute him, and reported: "Comrade Army Commander, a general from the 22nd Mechanized Corps wants to see you!" ”

A general? After listening to the officer's report, Rokossovsky's first thought was, could it be that the chief of staff of the army, Major General Tamruch, had arrived? He hurriedly instructed the officer: "Hurry up and invite him in." ”

"Yes!" The officer said yes and walked out the door. It wasn't long before he reappeared at the door, made a gesture of invitation inside, and said to the people standing outside, "Please, Comrade General, our commander is waiting for you." ”

Rokossovsky stood up and walked briskly towards the door, wanting to say hello to Tamruch, who was about to enter. But surprisingly, it was not Tamruch who appeared at the door, but an unfamiliar major general, his face blackened by gunsmoke, his whole body looking listless, and his bandaged right arm still hanging from his chest.

The other saluted Rokossovsky with his uninjured left hand, and then said with a sad face: "Comrade General, what should we do now?" The commander of the army was killed, and the main forces of the army were scattered. Two-thirds of the tanks of my 19th Tank Division were destroyed by German planes or artillery tanks during the battle. The rest of the troops, I have shrunk them and hid them in the forest west of Dubno......"

"Comrade division commander," Rokossovsky interrupted him unceremoniously without waiting for him to finish, and asked angrily, "what are you going to do next?" ”

"While we are not yet surrounded by the Germans, the remaining troops are moved eastward." The commander of the tank division replied eloquently: "We can continue the transfer to Kyiv after receiving a replenishment of ammunition and fuel in Shepetovka......"

"Enough, comrade division commander, enough, please shut up!" When Rokossovsky heard the words of the division commander, he couldn't help but be furious, and after smashing his fist on the table, he said viciously to the other party: "You shut up for me immediately!" Stop talking about the heavy casualties of your division and the intention to retreat. The 22nd Mechanized Corps is still fighting stubbornly, and I have just come from Army Group Headquarters, where I learned that your Chief of Staff Tamruch is still commanding the troops and fighting stubbornly with the Germans. Hurry back to your troops, hurry up and support them, or any later your infantry will be crushed by the German panzers. ”

The commander of the tank division was scolded by Rokossovsky, and his face immediately turned red with shame, and after saluting with his left hand again, he turned around and strode out of the headquarters.

As soon as Novikov waited for the division commander to leave, he spat on the ground and said disdainfully: "What a panicked coward, are you worthy of the two gold stars on your collar badge?" ”

"Alright, Comrade Novikov." Maslov was afraid that everyone in the next place would denounce the panicked commander of the tank division of the friendly army, and hurriedly interjected: "Let's study when and where should we put our two tank divisions and one artillery regiment into battle?" ”

"Comrade Commander, I have just sent out a motorized battalion," Chernyaev said, pointing to a small village on the map, "to attack the German positions entrenched here." Maybe after a while, their results will be returned. ”

"Is it disguised as a German?" Rokossovsky asked curiously, for he found that the results of a sneak attack by disguising his troops as a German attack were far greater than a frontal attack, and he now preferred this tactic more and more.

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Since the corps commander likes to use the tactic of camouflage raids, Chernyaev, as his subordinate, will also use this tactic, hoping to impress Rokossovsky so that he can officially take over the post of division commander of the 20th tank division as soon as possible. "They disguised themselves as Germans, quietly approached the enemy, and then launched a surprise attack, so that they could achieve the maximum results at a very small cost."

"Well done, Comrade Colonel." Hearing him say this, Rokossovsky nodded with satisfaction, and continued: "Although the Germans have a great advantage on the battlefield, they never imagined that we would use this tactic of masquerade raids against them. I believe that the motorized battalion will be able to achieve good results. ”

As soon as his words fell, the telephone on the desk rang, and Chernyaev picked up the microphone and listened for a while, then covered the microphone and excitedly reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, the raid of the motorized battalion was successful, and more than a hundred enemies in the village were either killed or captured by my family. Among the captured officers was a German colonel. ”

"German Colonel?!" When Rokossovsky heard this, he couldn't help but secretly rejoice in his heart, and said that he could learn more about the deployment of German troops from the mouths of the prisoners. He immediately instructed Chernyaev: "Comrade Colonel, let them immediately interrogate the prisoners and find out about the disposition of the German troops and the next plan of action." ”

"Understood." Chernyaev let go of his hand covering the microphone and instructed the other party: "The commander orders that the German prisoners be interrogated immediately to understand their troop deployment and the next battle plan." ”

After about ten minutes, the commander of the motorized battalion called again, in which he reported: "A fast column of German tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and automobiles, in an hour, will move from Dubno to Rivne." ”

When Rokossovsky heard this information, he lowered his head and looked at the map for a while, then he pointed to the map and gave an order to the two division commanders: "General Novikov and Colonel Chernyaev, you immediately lead your troops here to ambush and strive to wipe out this fast column of the German army." ”

When Maslov heard Rokossovsky's arrangement, he couldn't help but be taken aback, and hurriedly opened his mouth to persuade: "Comrade commander, the task of our army is to participate in the counterattack in the Dubno area, not to block the fast columns of the German army. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Rokossovsky said, looking up at Maslov, with a serious expression, "if we let the enemy rush to Rivne, then they will directly threaten Shepetovka, and then our troops in the Dubno area will be encircled." ”

Rokossovsky's words made Maslov hesitate. Although he did not object again, he proposed: "Is it necessary to report to the command of the army group?" ”

"Chief of Staff, it's too late. Let's wait until the battle starts, and then we will report to our superiors. Rokossovsky knew in his heart that once he reported it, he would have to delay a lot of time when he came and went, and he might miss the fighter, so he ordered the two division commanders unusually simply: "Go immediately!" ”

"Yes!" The two division commanders agreed neatly.