Together with the commanders and fighters of the 38th Division, Tarasov walked through the dense forest and returned to the headquarters on foot. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

When Rokossovsky saw Tarasov who had walked into the headquarters, he couldn't help but be startled, only to see that his military uniform was in tatters, there were a lot of blood stains, and his face was also blackened by gunsmoke. Hurriedly asked with concern: "Chief of Staff, what the hell is going on, why are you so embarrassed?" ”

Tarasov grinned at Rokossovsky and pretended to be relaxed: "On my way to the second line of defense, I was bombed by enemy planes, and the communication staff and driver who passed were killed, and my life was great, and I was only slightly injured, and there was nothing serious." ”

"Someone, someone." Rokossovsky walked to the door and shouted twice.

Soon a soldier walked up to Rokossovsky, straightened his back and asked: "Comrade commander, do you have any instructions?" ”

Rokossovsky pointed at Tarasov, who looked very embarrassed in the house, and said: "Comrade soldier, go and fetch a basin of water, so that the chief of staff can wash his face well." ”

"Yes!" The warrior said yes, turned and ran away.

Hearing that Rokossovsky cared so much about himself, Tarasov's nose couldn't help but sour for a while, he walked up to Rokossovsky and said politely: "Comrade commander, thank you, in fact, you don't have to ask about this matter personally, I will wash my face myself when I have time later." ”

"Alright, stop talking nonsense." Rokossovsky raised his hand and patted Tarasov on the shoulder, and said in a friendly manner: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you are my chief of staff, how can you assist me in directing the battle in the command headquarters with a dark face?" ”

The fighters quickly approached the command with a basin of water, placed the basin on an empty bench, and handed Tarasov the towel that was on his shoulder. After thanking him, Tarasov began to wash his face. Seeing that the chief of staff had finished washing his face, the soldier did not wait for anyone to give orders, and took the initiative to walk out of the command headquarters with water.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, come to me." Rokossovsky called Tarasov to the map hanging on the wall, pointed to him and said: "When you were just going to the second line of defense, I received a comrade from the command of the front that a unit would be assigned to our command, and that they would be able to reach Vyazma by this evening. If, in the evening, the enemy does not attack, then we can go and meet this new force. ”

After hearing this, Tarasov did not have much joy on his face, because after a long battle, many troops were weakened, and even if it was a division, there might be only a few hundred people left. Especially the two divisions that arrived a few days ago combined with less than five hundred people, barely equivalent to an infantry battalion, so he asked lightly: "Comrade commander, I don't know how big this army is?" ”

"It's the 7th Mechanized Corps of Major General Vinogradov." Rokossovsky looked at the map and said: "According to the command of the Front, they are basically fully equipped, and the whole army is about 30,000 people, and it is said that the equipment is not bad. ”

"Great, that's great." Originally, Tarasov thought that there would be at most one division, and even if the attrition in the battle was not serious, the total strength would not exceed 5,000 people, but he did not expect that there would be 30,000 people, which really gave him an unexpected surprise. "In this way, we will have enough troops to strengthen the second line of defense east of Yaltsevo."

"That's right, that's what I thought about it." Although at heart, Rokossovsky is not willing to fight such a brutal and protracted war of attrition, in the current situation, he can only follow the local customs. The mechanized corps that was about to arrive, although it had a lot of troops, had to launch a counterattack against the enemy without air supremacy, that is, it would hit the stone with eggs, because he could only find ways to deploy these troops to the existing positions. "According to the normal establishment, the Seventh Mechanized Corps should have two tank divisions and a motorized division, as well as a motorized infantry regiment. Then we will be able to use one of these tank divisions to strengthen our first line of defense. ”

"So we have a tank division, a motorized division, and a motorized infantry regiment deployed in the second line of defense," Tarasov suddenly felt much more confident when he heard this, "plus Colonel Lidyukov's mixed detachment, then our defense force will be enough." ”

"But Colonel Lidyukov's mixed detachment, after a long battle, there are only a few dozen people left, and these are worth it for you and me." Rokossovsky, apparently not as optimistic as Tarasov, made a point of referring to the current situation of the mixed detachment: "Even if they can integrate the small detachments that have retreated from the front into their units, the number of additional troops will be limited." I guess in the next battle, the mixed detachment will not play a role. ”

"Comrade Commander, there is something that I haven't had time to report to you yet." Tarasov said with a smile: "I gave Colonel Lidyukov a suggestion, one that would allow them to quickly expand their strength. ”

Hearing Tarasov say this, Rokossovsky also became interested, and he asked curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, can you tell me what rationalization proposal you gave to Colonel Lidyukov?" ”

"I told him that between Yatsevo and Vyazma there were quite a few small towns and collective farms. In these places, in addition to many newly established militia organizations, there are also many young and middle-aged people who have not withdrawn. Tarasov truthfully reported to Rokossovsky: "So I suggested that Colonel Lidyukov send people to recruit these militias and conscript the townspeople and collective farm workers into the army." ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, your suggestion sounds quite reasonable." After listening to this, Rokossovsky immediately pointed out to Tarasov the irrationality of his proposal: "What is needed on the battlefield is not simple numbers, but people with combat effectiveness. The militia organizations have some military common sense, and it is reasonable to co-opt them. But the inhabitants and the members of the collective farms, who had neither any military training nor any combat experience, would dilute the combat effectiveness of the troops once they were integrated into the troops. ”

"Comrade Commander, I have taken into account everything you said." After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Tarasov did not feel the slightest annoyance, but explained to him: "I suggest that Colonel Lidyukov mix the combat backbone with these recruits, and let the veterans guide and train the recruits, I believe that it will not be long before the troops will be able to form combat effectiveness." ”

Rokossovsky heard Tarasov say this, just nodded, and then asked Carmela, who had not spoken: "Comrade General, how is your artillery prepared?" Is it possible to intercept the attacking enemy with artillery fire? ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Carmela said in a businesslike tone: "Although my artillery lost half of the fighting during this time, the remaining commanders and fighters still showed tenacity. I believe that as soon as they found out that the enemy was in their range, they immediately opened fire and taught the Germans a hard lesson with shells. ”

While the men were talking, the phone on the desk rang. After Tarasov picked it up and listened to it for a while, he handed it to Rokossovsky, and at the same time whispered: "Comrade commander, it was the marshal himself who called." ”

As soon as Rokossovsky put the earpiece to his ear, he heard Timoshenko's loud voice coming from inside: "Hey, Comrade Rokossovsky, what are you doing now?" ”

"Report Comrade Marshal," Rokossovsky replied respectfully, "I am arranging how to defend against the enemy's offensive. ”

"Has the enemy attacked you?" Timoshenko asked.

Rokossovsky listened attentively to the movement outside, and found that there was no major movement except for the sporadic sound of artillery, and hurriedly replied: "Report to the marshal, at present the enemy has not launched an offensive for the time being. ”

Timoshenko instructed: "Since the enemy has not attacked, then you hand over the command to your deputy as soon as possible, and then you will take people to Vyazma to meet the troops of the 7th Mechanized Army." ”

"Comrade Marshal, I understand, after I hand over the command to the Chief of Staff, I will rush to Vyazma and meet with the commander of the 7th Mechanized Army."

"What, to transfer command to the Chief of Staff?" When Timoshenko heard Rokossovsky say this, he immediately objected, "When you meet with friendly forces later, whether you want to go, your chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov, must also go with you." ”

Although he did not understand why Timoshenko asked Tarasov to go to Vyazma with him, he replied in a proper manner: "I understand, since the command cannot be transferred to the chief of staff, then I will let General Carmela take command in my place, and he is now the head of artillery of the combat group." ”

"General Carmela, I know him." Timoshenko said with a big grin: "Since you think he is suitable, then hand over the command to him as soon as possible, and then rush to Vyazma to join General Vinogradov's 7th Mechanized Army." ”

When Rokossovsky and Tarasov drove to Vyazma, in order to prevent being powerless to fight back when they were attacked by enemy planes on the road, they also brought a quadruple anti-aircraft gun towed by a car. Tarasov, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat, saw the anti-aircraft gun following behind him from the rearview mirror of the car, and couldn't help but nod his head, and then said lightly: "Comrade commander, with such an anti-aircraft gun, then our road will be much safer." ”

It is not known whether it was Rokossovsky's luck, or the German pilots, who wandered around the sky for a day, went back to rest because they were too tired, anyway, when they reached the west of Vyazma, there was no trace of enemy aircraft.

Four or five kilometers from Vyazma, Rokossovsky's car was stopped at a makeshift checkpoint on the road. It was not regular soldiers on duty, but militiamen in civilian clothes or blue overalls, and an elderly militiaman walked up to the window where Tarasov was, knocked on it, and then politely asked: "Comrade commander, where are you going?" ”

"Comrade warrior," Tarasov did not know what his specific position was, since the old militiaman did not have any rank markings on his clothes, and then said: "We are going to Vyazma to meet the newly arrived troops, I wonder which part of you you are?" ”

After listening to what Tarasov said, the old militiaman hurriedly raised his hand and saluted, and replied: "Report to Comrade Commander, we are workers of the factory in the western district of Vyazma, and we are on guard duty here. But there were no regular troops in the city except for the militia and residents! ”

"Comrade Commander," Tarasov said, turning his head to Rokossovsky in disappointment, "it seems that we came early, and General Vinogradov's troops have not yet arrived. ”

"Since General Vinogradov has not arrived, then you ask the old militia and see where you can find their leader." Rokossovsky said: "If we want to build a defense here, it is necessary to communicate with local comrades. ”

Tarasov turned his head, looked at the old militia and asked politely: "Comrade soldiers, I don't know where to find your leader?" ”

"Comrade commander, if you drive along this road, about two kilometers, you will see that fortifications are being built there." The old militia enthusiastically replied: "Our district head is right there to direct the work." ”

"Thank you, thank you, comrade warrior." After thanking the old militiaman, Tarasov turned around and instructed the driver: "Drive!" ”

Soon after the car drove along the road, it saw a scene of excitement, about thousands of people on both sides of the road, wielding shovels digging trenches. Seeing this situation, Tarasov couldn't help but say in surprise: "Comrade commander, look at how many people are resting outside, at least three or four thousand." ”

Rokossovsky looked ahead, then nodded, and said: "That's right, it is estimated that this is the strongest lineup that Vyazimasi can send." He saw a long row of wooden houses behind the trenches, so he raised his hand and patted the driver on the shoulder, pointed to the wooden houses in the distance, and ordered: "Comrade driver, drive the car to the wooden houses." I guess their head is in the cabin. ”

The jeep stopped about ten meters away from the wooden house, and Rokossovsky and Tarasov got out of the car one after another. As soon as I approached the wooden house, I heard a woman's shrill voice coming from inside, as if she was shouting at someone.

Hearing this, a displeased expression appeared on Tarasov's face, and he muttered: "Hell, when is it now, there are still people arguing in the command of the construction site." ”

Although Rokossovsky was in the same mood as Tarasov, he did not say anything, but walked straight over, pushed open the hidden door, and asked loudly: "Is there anyone inside?" ”

Hearing his voice, the voice of the woman who was cursing in the room suddenly stopped. (To be continued.) )