Rokossovsky was also overjoyed to hear that he had been awarded the fourth Order of the Red Banner. But after a while, he realized that something was wrong, why was it only the commanders and fighters of the Mechanized Ninth Army who received medals, but not the commanders and fighters of the 109th Division? Thinking of this, he hurriedly asked: "Comrade commander, I want to ask, why no commanders and fighters of the 109th Division have been awarded medals, you must know that in these two days of fighting, the commanders and fighters have shown great tenacity, and they bravely blocked the frantic attack of the Germans." ”

After patiently listening to Rokossovsky's account, Lukin replied with a smile: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander. I have seen their performance in battle, and when the enemy's attack is completely repelled by us, I will award medals to all the commanders and fighters who have participated in the battle. Speaking of this, he paused for a moment and asked with some concern: "Judging from the current situation, it is almost impossible for us to get a supplement from the formed troops. Do you think we can hold off the enemy's attack with our existing troops, and the stragglers and recruits we have recruited? ”

Thinking that in two months, the entire Southwestern Front would be completely annihilated by the Germans in Kiev, Rokossovsky couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head, but he said something else to Lukin: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, as long as we have one person alive, we will definitely not let the Germans swagger through our defense zone." ”

"Comrade Commander, can you be specific?" Lukin was obviously not satisfied with Rokossovsky's panacea-rata reply, and asked: "I would like to hear your plan to block the Germans, and not this kind of routine reply to your superiors." ”

Rokossovsky frowned and thought for a while, and then said: "Comrade commander, the tactics adopted by the enemy are nothing more than aircraft bombardment, and then tanks will lead the infantry to attack. Our defensive operations, to be precise, are anti-tank operations, and as long as they can hold back the enemy's armored forces, they simply cannot move forward. ”

"According to my recent observations, the enemy's offensive tactics are basically consistent with what you said." Lukin asked worriedly: "If you want to hold off the German tank assault on the plains, you need strong fortifications and well-equipped, well-trained, and combat-ready troops to hold on." What do we have now? Although the 109th Division was considered to be strong in combat within the scope of our army group, its defensive positions were hastily constructed and were still on the open plains. In such fortifications, it was very difficult to hold back the enemy's attack. ”

"Comrade commander, this is how operations are in the plains, the terrain is neither conducive to defense nor to attack." Rokossovsky truthfully stated his opinion: "The commanders and fighters who stay in the fortifications will be shelled and bombarded by the enemy; In the same way, when the enemy attacks, he will be killed by our mortar and machine-gun fire. ”

"When you say that, I feel relieved." Lukin knew that Rokossovsky was a senior commander with rich combat experience, and since he swore that he could hold the position, he would definitely be able to hold it, and finally he habitually asked: "Is there anything else you need my help with?" ”

Rokossovsky was about to hang up the phone, but when he heard Lukin ask, he hurriedly said: "Comrade commander, I just said that the success or failure of anti-tank operations is the key to determining whether our commanders and fighters can hold their positions. At present, we urgently need anti-tank equipment and are lacking, I wonder if the army group command can provide us with it? ”

"What do you want?" Lukin asked briefly.

Rokossovsky thought about it, the 40 rocket launcher had not yet come out at this time, and there must be no place to get it, so it was better to order common anti-tank weapons. He thought for a moment, then replied: "I urgently need anti-tank guns, anti-tank rifles, anti-tank grenades, anti-tank mines, ......"

"Stop, stop!" Lukin heard Rokossovsky report a long list of supplies, and hurriedly stopped him: "What you need, you can open a list to Colonel Marankin, and he will prepare everything you need for you." Okay, I still have something to do here, so I won't say more. Wishing you good health! After saying that, he immediately hung up the phone.

As soon as Rokossovsky had finished calling the acting division commander Podoprigora and asked him to arrange for men to go to Malankin to collect the necessary anti-tank equipment, he saw the commander of the 116th Tank Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Lyon, walk in from outside. He hurriedly put the headset on the telephone base, walked around the table towards the other party, and at the same time took the initiative to stretch out his hand and greeted him in a friendly manner: "Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, welcome to my headquarters. ”

"Hello, Comrade Commander." After shaking hands with Rokossovsky, Lyon said politely: "I have come today because I have an urgent matter to report to you. ”

"Please be seated, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please sit down and tell me something about it." Rokossovsky waited for Lyon to sit down before asking, "I don't know what is important?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Liao En unconsciously glanced at the door, and then said: "My reconnaissance unit met a small detachment withdrawn from the front line, and after interrogation, the commander who led the team said that it was your subordinate, so I brought him here." ”

"My subordinates?!" Rokossovsky couldn't help but be stunned, and said in his heart that he hadn't received a report that the tank division or motorized division had been defeated by the Germans, so where did this squad come from? Thinking of this, he hurriedly asked Liao En: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, where is that commander?" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's question, Lyon got up from his seat and shouted out the door: "Hey, Comrade Captain, come in and let your commander see who you are." ”

Before Lyon could finish speaking, a captain with a German-made submachine gun strode into the headquarters, came to Rokossovsky, raised his hand to his ear and saluted him.

Rokossovsky hurriedly glanced at the ragged, bearded captain and asked with some displeasure: "Comrade Captain, what part are you?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," the captain replied respectfully, "I am Captain Peripe, the commander of the first company of the motorized battalion of the 20th tank division, and after we have successfully completed the mission, we have successfully broken through the enemy's defensive ......."

"Let's escape!" Rokossovsky said with some anger: "You must know that the 20th Tank Division is now holding the road from Dubno to Rivne, and even if you want to retreat, you should retreat in the direction of Rivne, not here in Shepetovka." ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander," replied Captain Fripp, somewhat flustered, "that my unit has completely lost contact with the division, so I don't know that the unit is stationed here now." And my troops got lost in the forest. If it weren't for the Lieutenant Colonel," he said, he glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Liao En, who was standing next to him, and said gratefully, "If it weren't for the reconnaissance unit sent by this Lieutenant Colonel, we might still be wandering around the forest right now." ”

"Someone," Rokossovsky yelled outside. When he saw Kochetov and another soldier appear at the door, he pointed his hand at Captain Felip and ordered: "Ensign, take this coward down and lock him up." (To be continued.) )