In the blink of an eye, the day of the campaign was launched.

In the early morning of 14 January, Rokossovsky arrived at the forward observation post with the military commissar, artillery commander, armored corps commander, air force group commander, engineer chief and others of the front.

Rokossovsky walked into the observation post and saw that it was almost as arranged as his own headquarters, with operational maps on the walls, four or five telephones on a long conference table in the middle of the room, and two telecommunications soldiers wearing headphones on the wall, each sitting in front of a walkie-talkie.

Rokossovsky called General Blagoslavov in front of him and said to him with a smile: "Comrade Chief of the Engineering Corps, I really didn't expect that you would actually arrange the observation post in a way similar to the command. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Blagoslavov replied with a smile, "this observation post is made of reinforced concrete from a meter back, and it can withstand the shelling of 152-mm heavy guns. If you stay here, you will not only be able to observe the situation at the front in time, but also be able to give combat orders to the troops at any time. ”

"Thank you, General Blagoslavov!" Rokossovsky took the initiative to extend his hand to Blagoslavov and said with a smile: "Thank you for preparing such a good environment for us." ”

After Rokossovsky finished speaking, he came to an observation port, raised his telescope and looked into the distance. Although the sky was already dark, the visibility was only forty or fifty meters due to the thick fog outside, and when you looked out of the telescope, all you could see was a white expanse.

Seeing that the weather was so bad, Rokossovsky couldn't help frowning, and he instructed the staff officer standing aside: "Call the weather forecaster and ask when the fog will clear?" ”

The staff officer said yes and turned to make a phone call. Not long after, he returned to Rokossovsky's side and reported: "Comrade Marshal, I have already asked. Weather forecasters said the fog would not completely dissipate until after 2 p.m. at the earliest. ”

"Hell, our offensive is still two hours away, and I can't wait until the afternoon." After Rokossovsky finished speaking, he turned his head and asked the commander of the Air Force Army: "General Vershinin, can your aviation division be dispatched in such weather?" ”

Vershinin walked to the lookout, glanced at the dense fog outside, shook his head and said: "Comrade Marshal, our plane cannot take off in such bad weather. He was deeply afraid that his reply would make Rokossovsky angry, and quickly explained, "The visibility is too low, and even if our pilots fly into the air, they will not be able to see anything clearly, and they will not be able to provide air support to the ground forces at all." ”

According to the original plan, the Air Force was to send two air divisions to bomb the German front-line positions and destroy those exposed firing points. After the air raid was over, another hour and a half of artillery fire preparation was carried out. But the fog could not dissipate quickly, dashing the hopes of the Air Force to enter the war.

Since the Air Force could not enter the war, Rokossovsky could only pin his hopes on artillery. As soon as his eyes fell on Sokolisky, the artillery commander came over and preemptively asked: "Comrade Marshal, are you planning to let our artillery fire in advance?" ”

"Yes, that's exactly what I thought." Rokossovsky nodded and said: "When the artillery fire is ready to end and the infantry is charged, the artillery provides them with cover for the fire of the barrage, so that our tanks and infantry can smoothly reach the front of the enemy's positions." ”

Before carrying out Rokossovsky's order, Sokolsky asked with some hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, given the fact that the Germans withdrew their troops to the second line of defense every time they hid in the preparation of our artillery fire, which led to the waste of shells by our artillery in empty open spaces. Because I requested that five minutes after the artillery bombardment of the enemy's first line of defense begin, extended fire should be fired to destroy the enemy hiding in the second line of trenches. ”

"Don't bother." In response to Sokolisky's request, Rokossovsky shook his head and said: "If it were in other areas, maybe the Germans would do it." But in East Prussia, they had strong positions and a well-developed defense system, and in the event of our artillery bombardment, they could completely hide in these strong fortifications, evade the shelling of our troops, and would not easily retreat to the second line of defense. If they do withdraw, our forces will be able to easily occupy the areas they have abandoned. ”

In response to Rokossovsky's statement, Sokolsky asked with some concern: "The enemy's positions are full of fire support points and permanent fortifications with batteries, can our artillery fire destroy their defenses?" ”

"What's wrong with you, General Sokolisky?" Rokossovsky asked the other party with a smile: "As an artillery commander, have you forgotten that we have deployed 200~240 artillery pieces and mortars per kilometer in the main assault area, and with such a density of artillery fire, it is enough to pull Hitler's gangsters out of the reinforced concrete where they are hiding." We have such forces, and there are enough shells. ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal, you're right." The Minister of Logistics, General Lagunov, continued: "Our logistics crews delivered shells and mortar shells to the artillery positions in a week's time with more than two front-line ammunition bases. I believe that these shells were enough to destroy those strong fortifications of the German army. ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Sokolisky hurriedly replied: "I will have the artillery hit all these shells on the positions of the Germans, destroy the reinforced concrete fortifications where they are hiding, and cover the attack carried out by the infantry and tanks." ”

With Rokossovsky's permission, Sokolsky went to the conference table and used one of the phones to call his chief of staff. He spoke loudly into the microphone: "Chief of Staff, order the artillery to open fire immediately!" Seeing the two base shells sent by the logistics department, they hit the enemy's position without leaving a trace. Do you understand? ”

After Subotin waited for Sokolsky to put down the phone, he asked him with a smile: "Comrade artillery commander, you let the artillery run out of shells, and when our infantry and tanks attack, how do you provide them with fire cover for the barrage?" ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, please rest assured of this." Sokolsky hurriedly explained to Subotin: "On the artillery positions, as a rule, there is also a base of spare shells, and there is no problem at all to cover the attack of infantry and tanks with Xu Jin barrage fire. ”

Soon, there was a rumbling sound of cannon outside. However, due to the heavy fog, when looking out of the lookout, you can only see the red reflection of the artillery fire in the distance, and it is not clear what the specific shelling effect will be.