Seeing this, a smile appeared on Rokossovsky's face. Originally, he was worried that the staff officer did not convey the order in time, or that Lieutenant Colonel Kranov did not carry out the order at all after receiving it. Now it seems that this Kranov still has a great sense of the overall situation, and he not only carried out his orders, but also carried them out well.

At the same time, the German army, which had been gathering momentum, began to move. More than 30 German tanks were divided into two rows and formed in battle formation, followed by dozens of armored transports full of soldiers and nearly 100 three-wheeled motorcycles.

Seeing this, Rokossovsky picked up the phone and dialed the command of the 326 regiment. Hearing someone speak, he did not hesitate to say: "I'm Rokossovsky, find me Lieutenant Colonel Kranov." ”

Soon, Kranov's voice came from the earpiece, and he asked in a polite and distant tone: "Hello, Comrade Commander, do you have any instructions?" ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, well done." Rokossovsky did not say that he was looking for him something, but first praised him: "I saw that you withdrew the troops in the outpost positions to the second-line positions before the start of the enemy's shelling, which greatly reduced the casualties of our troops, what a beautiful job!" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's praise, Kranov was surprised, and after a short silence, he modestly said: "Comrade Commander, you have won the award, and I also acted in accordance with your orders. ”

"But why don't you use a traffic trench to connect the two trenches together?" Rokossovsky continued: "Our fighters had to go through an open area of several hundred meters after the end of the enemy's shelling in order to enter the position. If the enemy's tanks shelled the commanders and fighters who were moving their positions, it would inevitably cause considerable casualties. ”

In response to Rokossovsky's criticism, Kranov unexpectedly accepted it: "You are right, comrade army commander, I will have two or three communication trenches dug between the two trenches later. ”

Seeing that he readily accepted his proposal, Rokossovsky nodded with satisfaction, and then asked with concern: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the Germans are rushing to the outpost with great momentum, can you stop it?" ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Kranov said confidently: "We just received a dozen anti-tank guns last night, which I believe will be enough for the German tanks." ”

As soon as his words fell, the outpost where the smoke had not yet cleared was already being fired by anti-tank guns. Seeing the shells exploding around the moving tank, Rokossovsky hurriedly said: "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, command the battle with peace of mind, if you need anything, call me immediately." ”

Rokossovsky put down the phone, came to the lookout, raised his binoculars and looked at the battlefield. The shells fired by the anti-tank guns did not hit any of the tanks, but hit an armored transport vehicle that was closely behind, and several soldiers, covered in fire, jumped out of the burning car, danced and ran around, and before they had gone far, they fell to the ground and continued to burn without moving.

The German tanks stopped their advance, took up their positions and began to return fire at the outposts. And the armored car also stopped, let the soldiers above get out of the car, sent out a loose offensive formation, and rushed towards the outpost positions of the Soviet troops.

Rokossovsky moved the lens of the telescope to the outpost where the smoke cleared, and saw that almost all the wreckage of the German tanks on the position that were used as firing points were overturned or shaken out of position by the air wave in the round of artillery fire just now. As far as the eye can see, there are only a handful of firepower points that can be used.

Although the anti-tank guns on the outposts were firing non-stop, they rarely hit the target. On the contrary, the enemy's tank guns had to be hit correctly, they found an anti-tank gun position, and immediately concentrated several tanks to continue to concentrate fire, and generally one round of fire could destroy the Soviet gun position.

Seeing this, Rokossovsky couldn't help but worry. Originally, there was not much firepower left, but I didn't expect the anti-tank guns to behave so poorly, it seems that it will be very difficult to hold the outpost. He put down his binoculars and thought about it, then walked to the middle of the room, picked up the phone, connected to Novikov's division headquarters, and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Novikov, how many tanks and artillery do you still have there that can be put into battle?" ”

"Report to Comrade Army Commander," Novikov said somewhat helplessly, "after these few days of fighting, there are only 25 tanks and 11 artillery pieces left in the division, and most of the tankers have now become infantry. ”

"The enemy is charging at the outpost of the 326th regiment," Rokossovsky, although after listening to Novikov's report, felt pain in the flesh for the huge losses paid by the troops, but for the sake of the overall situation, he still gritted his back molars and asked: "Can you send tanks to attack from the flank?" ”

"Comrade Commander, this is not the right time." Novikov carefully reminded Rokossovsky: "On several occasions when the Germans attacked, we attacked from their flanks, and although we achieved great results, at the same time allowed the Germans to figure out our tactics. If we were to use flank assault tactics again, I fear that the Germans would have a special way of dealing with them. ”

"Even if the enemy figured out our tactics, it wouldn't be helped. In this situation, we have no choice but to take risks. Rokossovsky said helplessly: "We can't watch the Germans break through the positions of the 326th Regiment and die without help, right?" ”

"Comrade Army Commander," Novikov couldn't help but ask curiously, hearing this, "why are you helping this Lieutenant Colonel Lanov of the 326th Regiment, isn't he always singing against you?" ”

"He and I sang against each other, and it was because we had a difference of opinion on business." Rokossovsky said with some displeasure: "In any case, he is my subordinate, and I will never watch him be wiped out by the Germans." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Novikov understood in his heart that this order to attack from the flank of the German army could not be changed, and he hurriedly replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will prepare the troops for an attack." As soon as you give the order, you will immediately launch a surprise attack on the enemy's flank. ”

Before Rokossovsky had finished talking to Novikov, he heard the staff officer standing at the lookout observing the enemy situation shouting: "Comrade commander, come quickly, the Germans have stormed our outpost." ”

Hearing the chief of staff shout, Rokossovsky threw the microphone on the table, rushed to the lookout with one lunge, raised the telescope and looked into the distance. A few German tanks had rushed into the outpost, but instead of shelling, they spewed flames at the firing points.

When Rokossovsky saw this, he was immediately nameless, and he scolded viciously: "Hell, it's the enemy's Spitfire tank!" The cunning Germans, who actually used it against those firing points set under the wreckage of tanks. (To be continued.) )