With the cooperation of German officers, Shukin intercepted the convoy carrying grain to Betulf, captured 102 trucks, and captured 280 drivers and soldiers escorting them. Hundreds of tons of grain were captured, and both Shukin and Bratash felt that this was a great victory, so they reported it to General Panfilov by radio.

When Panfilov learned the news, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, knowing that this was the first time that such a large-scale grain had been captured since the formation of the tank army, and he hurriedly reported the matter to Rokossovsky. After the report was completed, he respectfully asked: "Comrade Marshal, what should we do with this batch of grain?" ”

"General Panfilov," Rokossovsky heard Panfilov's question, and after being silent for a while, he asked rhetorically: "You just said that this batch of grain captured by the 3rd Guards Tank Brigade was prepared by the Germans to be transported to Betov?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal." Although Panfilov did not know the purpose of Rokossovsky's question, he still answered truthfully: "The convoy captured by our troops is indeed carrying grain to the Betuv region, do you have any instructions?" ”

Rokossovsky, having received an affirmative reply, said unexpectedly: "Comrade General, I now order: after collecting the weapons of the German troops in the escort cars, let them continue to transport grain to Betov." ”

"What, let the enemy deliver grain to Betul?" Hearing Rokossovsky's order, Panfilov was immediately dumbfounded: "Comrade Marshal, how can the grain that we have captured with great difficulty be easily returned to the enemy?" ”

Bogolyubov, who was standing in Rokossovsky's office, also said anxiously: "Comrade Marshal, returning the captured rations of our army to the Germans is tantamount to an act of financing the enemy. ”

Bogolyubov was also in a hurry, so he would say such heavy words without choosing his words. As soon as the words came out, he immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing, and quickly apologized to Rokossovsky: "I'm sorry, Comrade Marshal, I was unintentional. ”

Rokossovsky did not care what Bogolyubov said to himself, but continued to speak into the microphone: "General Panfilov, maybe in two or three days, Betuv will be occupied by your troops. If the food is returned to the inhabitants of Betulf today, it is tantamount to telling them with facts that we are not invaders, but as liberators, to help them get rid of the tyrannical rule of ***. Do you understand what I mean? ”

"But, Comrade Marshal." Panfilov was still worried, and said: "What should we do if after this batch of grain arrives in Betulf, and the enemy does not distribute it to the inhabitants of the city, but uses it as rations for the troops?" ”

"Didn't I tell you to put all the soldiers back in the car?" Rokossovsky explained to Panfilov: "When the soldiers returned to Betuff, they would certainly tell people who knew what was happening on the road, which would help our army to create a positive image among the inhabitants of Betuv." It will also be very helpful for us to take the city in the future. ”

Rokossovsky's words did not completely convince Panfilov, but because of his identity, Panfilov had no choice but to bite the bullet and say: "Understood, Comrade Marshal, I will let go of the enemy's grain convoy and the soldiers who are carrying the grain." ”

After the end of the call with Rokossovsky, Panfilov gave orders to the 3rd Guards Tank Brigade. When Shukin heard this order from Panfilov, he immediately jumped up from his seat: "Comrade commander, why is this? Why should we send back the military rations that we finally captured from the Germans, what is going on? ”

Panfilov knew that such a thing would not be clear for a while, and did not want to explain Shukin, so he simply said: "Comrade Colonel, this is an order from Marshal Rokossovsky himself. Don't you know that the orders of your superiors can only be carried out, not discussed? ”

In the face of Panfilov's tough attitude, Shukin had no choice but to answer with a bitter face: "Understood, Comrade Army Commander, I immediately ordered someone to release the grain convoy and leave." ”

The soldiers in charge of the convoy and the soldiers in charge of the escort were all under Colonel Bratash, and when they heard that the enemy's grain convoy was to be released, there was an uproar. Bratash specially ran over to Shukin, pulled him aside, and asked in a reproachful tone: "Colonel Shukin, what are you doing, why did you let go of the enemy's grain convoy?" ”

"Colonel Bratash, do you think I want to let go of the enemy's grain convoy?" Shukin smiled bitterly and said to Bratash: "This order was given by Marshal Rokossovsky, not to mention that I am a small brigade commander, even if it is the commander of Panfilov, I dare not disobey this order of my superiors." Colonel, after your men have collected all the weapons of the German officers and men, let them return to Betuff with the convoy. ”

Although Bratash desperately did not want to let go of the German grain convoy, he heard that this order was given by the marshal himself, and as a subordinate, he could only obey it unconditionally. He called a communications soldier and told him to inform the officer in charge of the German prisoners and ask them to release all the prisoners.

The prisoners who were in the custody of the Soviets stood in a daze when they heard the interpreter say that they were going to let them go. The Soviet officers who received the order to release the German prisoners, when they saw that the translator's words were conveyed, the prisoners stood stunned and did not move, and suddenly they were nameless, and they hurled and kicked at the prisoners, while cursing them in the most vicious language.

The vast majority of German soldiers did not understand what the Soviet commanders and fighters were saying, but when they saw the soldiers driving them into the car with guns and the obstacles on the road were removed, they believed that the release of their departure was real. The soldiers, who were anxious to return to Betuff, were driven by the officers to return to the trucks in which they had been traveling, and waited tightly for the convoy to depart.

The German convoy, laden with food, slowly drove over the bridge controlled by the Soviets and headed in the direction of Betov. Looking at the distant convoy, Bratash sighed, and then asked Shukin: "Comrade Colonel, what should we do next?" ”

"The order given by the commander to our brigade is to resolutely hold this bridge after occupying it and hold out until the main forces arrive." Shukin replied with a blank face: "Colonel Bratash, let your soldiers dig trenches on the opposite side of the bridge, so that even if the Germans attack, our troops can rely on field fortifications for defense." ”