By daybreak, calm had temporarily returned to the battlefield. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

In the new headquarters in the village of Klyukovo, Chief of Staff Malinin read the telegram and muttered in a low voice: "Comrade commander, you see, the defense of the 16th Army is like a bandage, and this bandage is in danger of breaking at any time, so we have to be careful everywhere in case the line is broken, and as soon as we find a crack somewhere in the line of defense, we should quickly look for countermeasures, or figuratively find a small patch to patch it." ”

After hearing Malinin's description of the defensive line, Rokossovsky couldn't help but be happy, and he smiled and said: "Chief of staff, this metaphor of yours is really like this, isn't our current defense line like this." It's a linear defense, as long as one point is broken through by the Germans, and we don't block it in time, our defense line will collapse. ”

The frightened Lobachev said on the side: "Our forces have been used to the limit, and if the Germans really break through our defense line somewhere, it is estimated that there will really be no troops to fill it." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the director of communications, Maximenko, held the microphone and called Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, your phone call is from General Zhukov. ”

Hearing Zhukov's call, Rokossovsky couldn't help but chuckle in his heart, he guessed that it must be for yesterday's failure to capture the city of Sun Hill, so he put the earpiece to his ear and said nervously: "Hello, comrade general, I'm Rokossovsky, what instructions do you have?" ”

"Why can't your headquarters' phone get through?" Zhukov asked dissatisfiedly: "Do you know that I called you several times, but I didn't get in touch with you, what the hell is going on?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Zhukov." Rokossovsky heard that Zhukov was about to get angry, and hurriedly excused himself: "Last night my command was attacked by German tanks, and the staff officers and communications officers in the command headquarters were engaged in the battle. ”

Without waiting for Rokossovsky to finish, Zhukov nervously asked: "Is the situation serious?" ”

"The German tanks were approaching my headquarters, but fortunately an anti-tank artillery battalion arrived in time and destroyed several tanks before the enemy's attacking forces were forced to retreat." Rokossovsky heard Zhukov's tone soften, and continued: "However, more than half of the staff officers and communications officers in my command have suffered casualties, and in order to prevent another German attack, I moved my command to the village of Klyukovo. ”

"Tomorrow at eight o'clock, an important military meeting will be held at the headquarters of the front army." Zhukov asked with some hesitation: "Can you come then?" ”

Hearing Zhukov say that a military conference was going to be held, Rokossovsky was overjoyed, even if he was no longer familiar with the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, he knew that the Red Army would launch a major counteroffensive against the German army under the city of Moscow on December 6, and he asked in surprise: "Our great counteroffensive is about to begin?" ”

"A major counteroffensive cannot be talked about for the time being." Zhukov, for reasons of secrecy, after hearing Rokossovsky's question, could only say vaguely: "But the offensive forces of the German army are obviously exhausted, and their offensive in all directions has been suppressed by us." ”

Although Zhukov's words were vague, Rokossovsky knew in his heart that this was exactly the great counteroffensive he had been waiting for. However, he did not take this lightly, and thinking of the dangerous situation in his army group's defense area, he said bluntly: "Comrade Zhukov, at present, our army group's defense area is empty of troops, and since the German army launches another frantic attack, I am worried that our troops will not be able to stop it. ”

After hearing this, Zhukov hesitated for a moment and then asked tentatively: "Is there no reserve at all?" ”

"No, Comrade Zhukov." Rokossovsky knew that in this situation, it would be possible to get the reserves he wanted only by truthfully reporting his plight to Zhukov: "The reserves have long been depleted, and at the moment all the troops in my hands are on the front line to fight the Germans. If you can't send me reinforcements, once one point in our defense zone is breached, the whole line of defense is in danger of collapsing. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky explain the matter so seriously, Zhukov held the microphone, stared at the numbers of various units on the map in front of him, pondered for a moment, and then said decisively: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I understand that the situation there is very critical. I'll send you reinforcements right away. ”

"Comrade General," Rokossovsky couldn't help but be surprised when he heard that Zhukov agreed to send reinforcements to him, because he had mentioned the matter of reinforcements many times, but Zhukov ruthlessly denied it. He asked tentatively, "Could it be that the base camp has sent you reinforcements?" ”

"Where are the reinforcements?" Zhukov said angrily: "The headquarters of the Front, like you, has no reserves. I am throwing a part of my forces from the temporarily safe position to the area where your army group is located, which is the most difficult place at the moment. He finally said, "I have a request. ”

At present, Rokossovsky has reached a state of rushing to the hospital because of the lack of troops, and when he heard Zhukov say that there are conditions, he immediately said without hesitation: "Comrade General, if you have any requests, just mention them, and I promise that I will not disappoint your trust." ”

"You have to use the forces I have given you to counterattack the enemy who broke through Lyalovo, and you must destroy them." When Zhukov said this, he suddenly fell silent, and after frowning and thinking for a while, he added, "If you can't destroy them, at least drive them back to the original point of attack." Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade General." In fact, even if Zhukov doesn't say it, Rokossovsky is ready to use the newly acquired reinforcements to carry out a response to the German army to avenge last night's revenge.

Although Zhukov's headquarters had retreated into Moscow, since Rokossovsky's defense area had also reached the outskirts of Moscow, Zhukov's promised reinforcements arrived two hours later. There was an infantry regiment, a separate cavalry regiment, a cannon artillery regiment and an anti-tank regiment, in addition to fifteen T-34 tanks.

After receiving these commanders, Rokossovsky called Colonel Orel over and said to him: "Comrade Colonel, you are the head of the armored tank and mechanized corps of the army group, and these units are under your command. An hour later, a counterattack was launched against the Germans who had broken through the Lialovo Line, driving them all back to their original starting point, if not all of them. Do you understand? ”

After Orel received the battle order, he asked Rokossovsky with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, the higher authorities have also replenished us with 15 tanks, which tank brigade should I assign these tanks to?" ”

"Chief of Staff, come to me." After listening to Oryol, Rokossovsky shouted at Malinin, who was busy not far away. When he came to him, he immediately asked: "Chief of Staff, where is the 1st Guards Tank Brigade of General Katukov at the moment?" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's question, Malinin immediately replied: "The Katukov brigade is currently in the area of the Istrian reservoir and is cooperating with the commanders and fighters of the 9th Guards Division for defense. After he finished his report, he saw Rokossovsky frowning and thinking about things, so he asked tentatively, "Comrade commander, are you going to assign all these tanks to the Katukov brigade?" ”

Rokossovsky did not immediately answer his question, but asked: "And what tank brigade is there near Lyalovo?" ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Lemizov's 27th Tank Brigade, just southwest of Lyalovo, is less than five kilometers from the gap that was broken through by the Germans." Malinin guessed Rokossovsky's intention to replenish the tanks to the tank brigades closest to the breakthrough, so that the troops could be put into battle as soon as possible, so he said empathetically: "Comrade commander, if the tanks are replenished to Lieutenant Colonel Lemizov, their brigade will be able to participate in the counterattack launched in an hour." ”

Seeing that Malinin understood his intentions, Rokossovsky nodded with satisfaction, and then said to Orel: "Comrade Colonel, did you hear that? Replenish all 15 tanks to Lieutenant Colonel Lemizov's 27th Tank Brigade, and when our artillery bombardment of the Germans is over, let the tanks guide our infantry and cavalry to attack the enemy who has broken through our lines. ”

The counterattack on the enemy at the breakthrough officially began an hour later. However, just after 10 minutes of the shelling, German planes appeared in the sky and dropped bombs and strafed the Soviet artillery positions on the ground, so that the shelling that had been planned for 40 minutes had to be suspended.

Orel prepared artillery fire before the attack, which was interrupted by German aircraft, and without delay, immediately ordered the tank brigade to guide the cavalry and infantry and launched an attack on the German positions at the breakthrough. To be on the safe side, he also ordered the anti-tank artillery regiment to move forward as well, so that it could be used in the event of an encounter with German tanks.

After the Germans broke through the Soviet defense line in Lialovo last night, they reinforced the defensive positions they occupied, and at this moment saw the Soviet cavalry and infantry, guided by tanks, launched a charge to their positions, and the German commander immediately ordered the soldiers to enter their respective firing positions and block the Soviet troops that rushed over.

Although the attacking units of the Soviet army showed bravery, regardless of the T-34, which was hit by anti-tank shells, rushed to the enemy's positions with raging fire; Or a cavalryman wielding a saber, how to show his horsemanship. But under the intensive fire of the Germans, the counterattack commanded by Orel ended in failure.

But when Malinin reported the news to Rokossovsky and Lobachev, Lobachev was simply stunned, he stood up with his palms pressed on the table, and asked in surprise: "What, we launched an attack on the German positions with a cavalry regiment and an infantry regiment, and we were also supported by artillery and tanks, and we were not able to occupy the German positions?" ”

After waiting for Lobachev to finish speaking, Malinin shook his head and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, these reinforcements we have received are nominally regimental formations, but the actual strength is only two companies at most. With such a small number of troops, attacking an enemy who has an advantage in strength and equipment is tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg. And in the course of their attack, they were bombed and strafed by enemy aircraft......"

"Alright, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't say any more." When Rokossovsky heard that the offensive had failed, he knew that it was impossible to destroy the enemy who had broken through to Lyalovo, so he hurriedly stopped Malinin from continuing, and instead ordered him: "Let Colonel Orel stop the offensive and go on the defensive in the same place." Even if we can't retake our positions, we won't allow the Germans to extend their gains. ”

"Comrade Commander," Lobachev was a little anxious when he heard Rokossovsky's order to Malinin to go on the defensive, and he hurriedly persuaded: "General Zhukov gave us the order, but to destroy the enemy who broke through Lyalovo, even if it cannot be eliminated, to drive them back to the original point of departure of the offensive. I think we should continue to attack until we have completed the orders given to us by our superiors. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, if we continue to fight, we will soon exhaust all the reinforcements that we have been able to get so hard." After Rokossovsky said this, he urged Malinin again: "Chief of staff, go and give an order to Colonel Orel, tell him to immediately stop the offensive and move to the defense in place." ”

After Malinin left, Rokossovsky looked at Lobachev with a depressed face and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, because the enemy is too strong, we cannot destroy them in a short time, so we must adjust our tactics in time and switch from offensive to defensive. Just stopping them from moving forward is a great victory. When the time comes, we will launch a new offensive and completely destroy the enemy who has broken through the Lyalovo Line. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, if we continue to fight, we will soon exhaust all the reinforcements that we have been able to get so hard." After Rokossovsky said this, he urged Malinin again: "Chief of staff, go and give an order to Colonel Orel, tell him to immediately stop the offensive and move to the defense in place." ”

After Malinin left, Rokossovsky looked at Lobachev with a depressed face and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, because the enemy is too strong, we cannot destroy them in a short time, so we must adjust our tactics in time and switch from offensive to defensive. Just stopping them from moving forward is a great victory. When the time comes, we will launch a new offensive and completely destroy the enemy who has broken through the Lyalovo Line. ”

"Comrade commander," Lobachev said with a wry smile on his face after listening to Rokossovsky's words: "You always say that we are going to counterattack and counterattack, and several months have passed, but our army has been retreating. I don't know when the counteroffensive you are talking about will come? ”