Rokossovsky returned to the temporary headquarters west of the city and saw that the staff officers of the 109th Division were nervously busy, giving a sense of chaos and busyness. Rasnoretsky, on the other hand, sat at a square table in the middle of the room, smoking a cigarette while reading information.

Seeing Rokossovsky walk into the house, Rasnoretsky hurriedly threw the cigarette butt on the ground, stepped on it with his foot, stood up and greeted politely: "Comrade commander, you are back." ”

Rokossovsky nodded at him, and then asked: "Comrade Colonel, have the casualties been counted?" ”

Rasnoretsky nodded and replied: "Yes, Comrade Commander, the casualties are counted. The 325th and 326th regiments suffered a third of the casualties, the 327th regiment suffered about a quarter of the casualties, and all the anti-aircraft artillery battalions were killed. The 116th Tank Regiment lost 41 tanks, and General Novikov's tank division suffered ...... casualties"

Hearing this, Rokossovsky waved his hand impatiently: "Okay, Comrade Colonel, don't report these casualty figures to me again." I ask you now, what measures have you taken? ”

"Measures, what measures?" Confused by Rokossovsky's words, Rasnoretsky looked at the other party with a blank look and asked: "Our troops are busy repairing fortifications and helping citizens in the city to extinguish the burning fires. ”

"It's not enough to do that." Rokossovsky said a little impatiently: "Comrade Colonel, don't you think that the location of our defensive positions is too close to the city? If the enemy shells us before the attack, their shells will not only fall on the outskirts of the city, but also in the center of the city. ”

"But, Comrade Commander." Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Rasnoretsky defended himself with some grievances: "Our fortifications were originally built on the basis of the city, and if the battle situation is unfavorable, our troops can quickly retreat into the city and fight street battles with the enemy. ”

"Colonel, there are no solid stone buildings in this Izyaslav city where we are located, and it is impossible to build a complete defense system at all." Rokossovsky said, grabbing the map on the table, and after looking at it for a moment, he pointed to Rasnoretsky and said: "We must push the line of defense two or three kilometers further west. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's order, Rasnoretsky's brows furrowed suddenly, and he said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, you must know that we have only two regiments in the west of the city, and I think it is an impossible task to build such a large amount of fortifications overnight. ”

"It's not about pushing the defensive positions of both regiments forward." Rokossovsky looked at Rasnoretsky with his eyes and said: "In front of the defensive positions of our troops, there are debris of German tanks and armored vehicles. You send a full battalion to build new fortifications in this area overnight. ”

As for Rokossovsky's deployment, Rasnoretsky actually listened, but he said: "Comrade commander, can we only send a battalion to build fortifications here, can we stop the German attack?" ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel, this battalion is not alone." To reassure Rasnoretsky, Rokossovsky explained to him: "When they are attacked by the enemy, we can provide them with the necessary artillery support." As long as this outpost remains, the enemy will not dare to rush towards us with impunity. In addition, there are quite a few wrecks of tanks and armored vehicles in this area, and our fighters can completely set their fire points under these wreckage, so it will not be easy for the enemy to destroy them. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." After figuring out what was going on, Rasnoretsky's expression became relaxed, and he immediately picked up the phone, called the commander of the 326th regiment, and ordered: "Hey, comrade lieutenant colonel, I order you to immediately send a full battalion to the area where the wreckage of the destroyed German tanks is located, and build a new fortification. ”

The lieutenant colonel who received the call was stunned for a moment, and then complained to Rasnoretsky with a sad face: "Comrade division commander, our regiment has suffered one-third of its strength killed and wounded in the bombing just now, and if one more battalion is withdrawn, the strength of the regiment's defensive zone will become weak. ”

Rasnoretsky was also a little embarrassed when he heard his subordinates say this, and he covered the microphone with his hand and turned his eyes to Rokossovsky for help, hoping that he could come up with a good way to get the best of both worlds.

Rokossovsky guessed what was going on with the embarrassed expression on Rasnoretsky's face, and casually ordered: "Comrade Colonel, later you will give an order to the regiments to organize containment teams and go outside to contain those scattered detachments. When he said this, he suddenly remembered that he saw that there were still many young men in the refugee ranks, and he added, "If this replenishment of soldiers is not enough, we can call on the refugees who have withdrawn to the rear, so that they can stand up bravely and take up arms to fight stubbornly against the Germans." ”

Regarding Rokossovsky's arrangement, Raskoletsky said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, is it appropriate for us to recruit new recruits without going through the Selective Service Bureau?" ”

"Comrade Colonel, there is nothing inappropriate, you know, this is a time of war." Rokossovsky confidently said: "Let these civilians who have been forced to leave their homes because of the Germans join us in resisting the invaders, and I believe that they are still willing to do their part." ”

When Rasnoretsky heard this, a smile appeared on his face, and he then asked: "So how many recruits can we recruit?" ”

"We can recruit as many as we can, anyway, there are many military warehouses in Shepetovka, not far behind us, and the weapons and ammunition can fully meet the needs of the newly formed troops." Rokossovsky, remembering that he had been in this era for so long and had never seen a female soldier, made a point of emphasizing: "In addition to adult men, young women of appropriate age can also be drafted into our ranks." ”

"What, conscription of female soldiers?" Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Rasnoretsky almost threw out the phone in his hand, and after he was stunned for a while, he cautiously said: "Comrade commander, we have recruited new soldiers without authorization, and in the future we will be blamed from above, and we still have enough reasons to reluctantly pass it on." But you are a female conscript......"

Rokossovsky gave Rasnoretsky a serious look and continued: "Don't worry, Colonel. In the war to defend the motherland, there is only a difference between military and non-military personnel, and there is no distinction between men and women. Feel free to pass on my orders boldly, and if your superiors blame me in the future, I will take all the responsibility. ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky was so confident, it was difficult to refute anything, and quickly let go of the hand holding the microphone and conveyed the new order to his troops.