Perhaps from the beginning of the war, the German air force, because it had never encountered the Soviet air force, thought that the Soviet planes were all destroyed on the ground in the bombing before their attack, so it became more and more arrogant, so that when the bomber formation was dispatched, it did not send fighter escorts at all.

When Rokossovsky looked at the bombers in the sky, he also cried bitterly, and while he kept cursing his colleagues in the damned German Air Force, he also kept complaining about General Putukhin in his heart, saying that because of my prior reminder that you should have saved so many planes that should have been blown up by the Germans, can't you send a few fighters to teach the Luftwaffe a hard lesson?

When Rokossovsky was complaining, he did not expect that the formation of fighters, which had finally gathered enough fuel and ammunition by General Putukhin, was flying towards Shepetovka.

The German bomber formation reached the sky over Shepetovka, immediately lowered its altitude and carried out dive bombardment towards the exposed Soviet fortifications. Even the forest area where the 35th Tank Division was hidden was bombed by seven or eight enemy planes.

In addition to the bombing of Soviet defensive positions, Shepetovka also became the focus of German bombing. As the enemy bombers dived again and again, countless bombs fell from the sky and landed in the city to explode. When the enemy planes bombed, a strong wind was blowing, and the wind helped the fire to borrow the fire, and the fire dragons devoured houses and streets. Countless buildings collapsed with the sound of bombs, and the inhabitants who had not had time to evacuate fled in confusion from the collapsed or not yet completely collapsed buildings, running in panic in all directions.

After a fierce ideological struggle, Rokossovsky resolutely picked up the telephone set in front of him and prepared to call the anti-aircraft artillery battalion hidden in the nearby fortifications, so that they could use artillery fire to drive away the enemy planes that were bombing the city with impunity.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he picked up the phone, Krasnoretsky, who was standing next to him, rushed over, grabbed his hand holding the microphone, and pleaded bitterly: "Comrade commander, please calm down." I know you can't bear to see Shepetovka being bombed by the enemy, but the anti-aircraft artillery battalion is the only air defense force we have, and as soon as they are exposed, the German planes in the air will dive down and blow them to pieces. ”

When Rokossovsky heard Krasnoretsky say this, he couldn't help but hesitate, and he also understood in his heart that it was almost impossible to destroy or drive away more than 30 German bombers in the air with only nine anti-aircraft guns. And as Krasnoretsky said, as soon as they reveal their position, they will be blown to pieces by shells falling from the air in an instant.

While hesitating, a shell exploded nearby, and after a loud sound, countless clouds of dust fell from the cracks in the logs at the top of the observation post, landing Rokossovsky and Krasnoretsky on their heads.

Rokossovsky shook his head and gently patted the earth that had fallen on his shoulder with his hand, and at this moment he finally made up his mind that no matter how strong the enemy's air force was, he could not watch them bomb cities and fortifications, and hide in the fortifications as a turtle with a shrunken head and nothing to do. So, he gently removed Krasnoretsky's hand, put the microphone to his ear, and decisively gave his order: "Anti-aircraft artillery battalion, aim at the fascist snitches in the air, fire!" ”

After giving this order, he put down the phone, looked at Krasnoretsky standing in front of him, and said solemnly: "Comrade Colonel, don't forget our identity. We are soldiers, and our responsibility is to defend our homeland and country. Now that we are watching our people being bombed by enemy planes, but we are indifferent, are you still worthy of this military uniform on my body? ”

Rokossovsky's words made Krasnoretsky, who was a little frightened by the bombing of enemy planes, reinvigorate, he tidied up his military appearance, raised his hand to salute Rokossovsky, and said with a solemn expression: "Comrade commander, you are right, if we can't protect our people, then where are we qualified to wear this military uniform." Don't worry, even if the anti-aircraft artillery battalion is exhausted, we will rebuild it soon. ”

Just as the rumbling anti-aircraft guns outside sounded, suddenly a staff officer in the observation post exclaimed: "Plane, look, our plane, it's our fighter!" They are rushing towards the enemy bombers! ”

Hearing the shouts of the staff officers, Rokossovsky and Krasnoretsky glanced at each other, and both saw surprise in each other's eyes. In the next second, the two of them rushed to the lookout in unison, pushed away the staff officer who was still shouting, and raised the telescope in his hand to look into the air.