Zubachev's conclusion made Fomin increasingly suspicious of the authenticity of the telegram. It is incomprehensible that the telegram told them to break through to the north or east, or even to the south full of forest swamps, but it made sense that the telegram told them to break through to the west, the heart of the German army.

However, for the sake of the fate of the hundreds or thousands of commanders and fighters of the fortress, Fomin did not immediately make a final conclusion, but took the telegram and walked to Lieutenant Filagradov, who was sitting in the corner, to ask his opinion again.

After reading it, the lieutenant asked in confusion: "Comrade political commissar, I don't understand, why did the other side ask us to break through to the west?" You must know that the west is full of Germans, and if you break through in that direction, isn't it self-defeating? ”

Seeing that the two commanders agreed with him, Fuming almost decided in his heart that this was a conspiracy of the Germans to trick the defenders out of the fortress and destroy them. Just as Fuming was about to tear up the telegram, Lieutenant Karelin next to him suddenly said: "Comrade commissar, can you let me see it?" ”

Fuming nodded and handed him the telegram in his hand. Karielin quickly skimmed through the contents of the telegram, stunned for a moment, and then read it carefully again. After reading the whole thing, he couldn't help but frown.

Seeing that after reading the telegram, Fu Ming did not have the kind of reaction he imagined, but was thinking with a tight brow, so he asked curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant, what do you think of this telegram?" ”

Karelin shook the telegram and said thoughtfully: "Under normal circumstances, we should all break through to the east or north, so from these two directions we can quickly move closer to the main forces of our army. At this point, he paused for a moment, saw Fuming nodding in approval, and then continued: "But I saw in the air that the east and north were full of Germans, and even if we were lucky enough to break through the fortress, we would soon fall into the encirclement of the German army." Although the west is the lair of the German army, I find that it is extremely empty now, so if we break through to the west, we will have a higher success rate of getting out of trouble. ”

Karelin's words made Fomin ponder: was this telegram true, or was it a conspiracy of the Germans?

And Zubachev, who was standing next to the radio, saw that Fumin had not returned for a long time, so he came to look for him. After coming to Fuming's side, he squatted down and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Political Commissar, what should we do with this fake telegram?" ”

"Comrade Lieutenant," said Fomin, looking up at Zubachev, "judging by all indications, this telegram may be true. ”

"What's wrong with you, Comrade Commissar." Zubachev was confused by Fomin's attitude, and he anxiously reminded the other side: "Don't you see from the above that this is a fake telegram from the Germans?" Let's concentrate all our forces and break through to the west, isn't that sending the commanders and fighters into the tiger's mouth? ”

"Comrade Captain, now let's find out what's going on!" Fuming got up and walked back to the radio station, bowed his head and said to the operator: "Comrade operator, please call the other party back, the troops cannot carry out the breakthrough operation at six o'clock, can the time be delayed." Also, to be on the safe side, ask the other person to identify themselves. ”

When Rokossovsky, based in Lublin, received Fomin's telegram, he had just made a bold decision: the 20th Tank Division of Colonel Chernyaev would remain in Lublin, while he would lead the 35th Tank Division and the 45th Infantry Division north to meet the defenders of the breakthrough at the Brest Fortress.

Seeing the telegram handed to him by the telegrapher, Rokossovsky couldn't help but laugh dumbly, and said in his heart that this commissar of Fumin was really cautious, and he was afraid that he would fall into the trap of the Germans, so in addition to proposing to delay the breakout time, he also wanted to identify himself. After thinking about it, he instructed the telegrapher: "Call back: Since the fortress is heavily besieged by the Germans, the effect of the breakthrough is similar during the day and at night, so I cannot agree to your request to postpone the breakthrough time. Major General Rokossovsky, commander of the 9th Mechanized Army! After dictating the telegram, he waved his hand and said decisively, "Send the telegram immediately." ”

After the operator had left, Rokossovsky said to Scherstyuk, who was standing in front of him: "Comrade General, you will later select 2,000 people from the rescued prisoners of war and incorporate them into your unit. And you," he said the latter, to Chernyaev, "Comrade Colonel, the remaining thirteen hundred and a few hundred wounded are left to you." Before receiving my order to retreat, you must make full use of the forces you have at your disposal and hold Lublin firmly. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander!" Chernyaev replied crisply, "I will organize the rescued prisoners of war and strengthen the defense of the city." ”

"Let's all go back and prepare," Rokossovsky raised his hand and looked at his watch, and gave another order: "Our troops, at one o'clock in the afternoon, will set off on time and march along the road towards the Brest Fortress." ”

After receiving Rokossovsky's callback, Fomin called the other three commanders to him, and after reading the telegram to them, asked: "Which of you knows this General Rokossovsky?" ”

After hearing this, the three of them shook their heads in unison, and Captain Zubachev said with a bitter face: "I'm sorry, Comrade Political Commissar, I have never heard of this general. ”

"Do you think it's going to be a conspiracy?" Lieutenant Filagradov asked cautiously.

"Whether it's a conspiracy or not, we're all going to take the risk." As he spoke, Fuming folded the telegram and put it in his military pocket, and then asked, "Is there any news from the soldier sent to deliver the letter?" ”

Zubachev shook his head and replied: "The road leading from us to the other fortresses is within the range of the German machine-gun fire, and it is estimated that the two of them are more than lucky." ”

"Pick two more men to send orders to other forts," Fu Ming instructed the lieutenant, "and make sure that all the troops of the other forts withdraw to us before our breakout begins." ”

"Well, Comrade Commissar." To Fomin's order, Zubachev replied somewhat helplessly: "I will immediately send a message to the defenders of the fortresses of Terespol and Volyn, so that they can transfer their troops before six o'clock." ”

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Rokossovsky left his corps headquarters and came to the square where the troops were assembled. He saw a group of soldiers in brand new German uniforms in front of a row of trucks. Judging from their restrained performance, these commanders and fighters who have not been rescued for a short time should all be recruits who have just joined the army.

As Rokossovsky walked towards them, he heard a loud voice say, "...... When the bombs of the enemy planes are flying straight at you, you should lie still; Under mortar fire, lying still and running forward are just as dangerous. …… Don't be afraid to see enemy tanks, which tend to crush those who always want to run away; Also, when the German submachine gunners were seen firing at a distance of two hundred meters, most of the time it was not to kill people, but to frighten people......"

"Well said!" Hearing this, Rokossovsky couldn't help but shout hello loudly, and then separated the fighters who were blocking him and walked into the crowd.

"Hello, Comrade Commander." Songjik, dressed in the uniform of a German second lieutenant, raised his hand to salute Rokossovsky, and then stood there straight.

Hearing that the person who came to his midst, it was actually a military commander, and the soldiers around him were immediately in awe. After raising his hand to greet everyone, Rokossovsky said loudly: "Comrades, Lieutenant Songjik just said very well, what he told you is some knowledge that looks very ordinary, but can help you survive on the battlefield. As long as you keep these things in mind, then I congratulate you on how much better your survival rate on the battlefield! ”

After speaking to the fighters, Rokossovsky turned to Songjik with a smile and said: "Comrade lieutenant, if you do not object, I would like to appoint you as their commander. You don't have an opinion, right? ”

"No comments!" While saluting, Song Jike replied in a loud voice: "Comrade General, please rest assured that I will definitely not fail to live up to your trust in me. ”

Rokossovsky nodded in satisfaction, then waved his hand and announced loudly: "All board!" ”