It took an hour for Lieutenant Rozhkov and his artillery to drain all the shells. This round of shelling, according to my estimates, destroyed at least one tank camp and two infantry camps of the enemy. In this way, after dawn, the enemy's offensive against the 62nd Army will be much weaker.

As for the cannons that ran out of shells, naturally they would not be left to the enemy, and Rozhkov was an artilleryman, so naturally he knew how to destroy these cannons better than me, so I gave him and his men the task of bombing them.

Captain Sailor and I withdrew from the artillery position with our troops, and after walking for almost a kilometer, a crisp explosion came from behind us, and without looking back, I also knew that it was Lieutenant Rozhkov and his men bombing artillery.

The lieutenant walked up to me and asked in a loud voice: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, why didn't you send a guard post when the artillery was shelling the enemy's position just now, aren't you afraid that the enemy will also come to attack us?" ”

I smiled and said disappretently: "Comrade Captain, your worries are unnecessary. The enemy camped in unfamiliar areas, and did not dare to move at night at will, for fear of encountering our ambush. It was only when I figured out this law of the enemy that I dared to stay behind and direct our artillery to bombard their camp after occupying the artillery position. "Although I seemed full of confidence, I was still a little scared in my heart, I don't know that the reason for this was because I was shaken by the sound of the huge cannon, and my brain reaction became slow, and I actually forgot to set up a guard post in the position.

At dawn, our small surprise army, after more than an hour's march, managed to reach the Don River. The captain, who was walking beside me, suddenly pointed to the ferry pier in the distance. Surprise shouted: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Look at it. Colonel Sazhin seems to be waiting for us on the docks. ”

I looked in the direction of his finger, and sure enough, I saw a group of people standing on the dock, and among them was Colonel Sazhen. Seeing that Colonel Sazhen did not cross the river with the troops, but stayed at the dock to wait for us, he immediately felt a fever in his heart, and hurriedly urged the captain: "Captain, let the soldiers speed up, let's go and join the colonel." ”

The captain agreed. Although he turned his head and shouted at the back: "Everyone listen to my orders, speed up, and get to the dock as soon as possible." ”

Our troops heading towards the docks had already been discovered by the people on the docks, and Sazhin himself led a group of people to meet us. When we were only seven or eight meters away, the procession on both sides stopped, and then the captain and I came out of the line and walked towards Sazhin, and after standing in front of Sazhen, I held back the joy in my heart. Raising his hand to salute Sazhen, he reported: "Comrade Division Commander. Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina reports to you that we have successfully completed the task of destroying the enemy's artillery and returned without a hitch. I am at your disposal and ask you to indicate the next course of action. ”

"Take a break!" Sazhin stepped forward, stretched out his hands and grabbed the arms of me and the captain respectively, and said with a smile: "Well done, comrades commanders, you are all good. It was precisely because of your tenacious and decisive actions that the main forces of the division were able to successfully break through the enemy's encirclement. ”

After saying that, he first made a fist with his left hand and lightly struck the captain twice in the chest, and then he clenched his right fist, and when he was about to pound my chest, he hesitated for a moment, turned his fist into a palm and gently slapped me twice on the left shoulder. Then he said, "All right, since you have all returned safely, let's hurry up and cross the river." Otherwise, when the enemy planes come at dawn, it will not be so easy to cross the river. ”

Sazhin and I crossed the river on the same ferry. Sazhin said with interest: "Comrade Oshanina, you are really not simple, I heard the sailors who returned from the captives in advance say that you let our artillery use German artillery to fight the Germans, what a beautiful job!" Can you tell me how the results were? ”

I felt very uncomfortable with the honorific title that Sazhin used for me, so before answering his question, I first proposed: "Comrade Division, please don't call me 'you' in the future, okay?" We still use 'you' to address each other, which doesn't seem so different. ”

"That's a good dare, then I'll call you 'you' in the future." Sazhin is not a hypocritical person, since he heard me say this, he agreed without hesitation.

I slowly replied to the question he had just asked: "Comrade Colonel, after occupying the enemy's artillery position, we captured more than 20 cannons and a large number of shells. So he had an idea and asked the captain to pick out the artillery fighters in the sailor battalion and form a temporary artillery unit, adjust the shooting coordinates according to the enemy camp marked on the captured map, and teach the enemy a hard lesson. As for the results, I can't tell you exact figures, because I can't count them, but I can only say that at least one tank camp and two infantry camps were destroyed by our artillery fire. I estimate that at least the enemy's offensive on the defensive positions of the 62nd Army will be greatly weakened today. ”

After listening to me, Sazhin gave a thumbs up and praised: "Comrade Oshanina, you are really good. I don't think even if you were an experienced commander who did it, it would never be better than you. According to our custom, it is possible that after destroying the enemy's artillery position, after blowing up the enemy's artillery, it will be quickly transferred, and it will never achieve the same results as yours. ”

The main forces of the 229th Division, which had already crossed the river with the commander of the 804th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Gogogoli, were now assembled on the left bank of the Don River. Seeing us disembarking, Gogoli ran over and asked Sazhin for instructions: "Comrade Division Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gogo, commander of the 804th Regiment, reports to you that the soldiers have recovered their strength after a few hours of rest, and I ask you to instruct you on the next move." ”

Sazhin didn't answer him immediately, but looked at me with his eyes and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, what do you think our division should do next?" Will you stay where you are, or will you withdraw to Stalingrad? ”

I said in my heart, didn't you throw me the hot potato, Stalin had just given Order No. 227, and you dared to commit a crime against the wind and withdraw to Stalingrad with the troops that had protruded from the encirclement, and you were not going to die yourself. But since he asked, I can't help but answer. So I chose to hand over the contradiction to the way I handled: "Comrade Division Commander. I think you should report to Commander Chuikov. Listen to his opinion. ”

When Saren heard me say this, he nodded again and again: "That makes sense, I'll contact the commander and ask him for instructions on what to do next." As he spoke, he was ready to call the signal corps to come and set up the radio station by the river to contact the headquarters.

I hurriedly stopped his actions and persuaded: "Comrade division commander, it's already dawn. Perhaps enemy planes will come soon, and so many of our troops are crowded by the river, and they can easily become targets for enemy planes. In this way, a little further on, it is the defense of the 678th Regiment of the 214th Division, let's take the troops there to hide first, and then contact the headquarters. ”

Sazhin took my advice, gave Gogoli the task of assembling troops, and with a few guards and signal soldiers, followed me to the defensive position of the 678th regiment.

It didn't take long to go. I saw the village where the regimental headquarters was located. At this time, a few people came out of the village and walked towards us unhurriedly. Although it was far away, I couldn't see the appearance of the people coming, but I could still guess that it was Lukin and them.

As we got closer, the person on the other side apparently saw us clearly, quickened his pace, and almost trotted over. As they got closer, I could see that it was Lukin, Slavin, Acting Commissar Kokunov, and a few fighters.

Several people ran up to me, raised their hands collectively in salute, and shouted neatly: "Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. ”

Seeing this scene, Sazhin was slightly stunned for a moment, and then pointed to them and asked me: "Comrade Oshanina, is this your original subordinate?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." I walked up to Lukin and the others, turned around, and said to Sazhin, "Allow me to introduce you. This is the acting commander of the 678th regiment, Captain Lukin, the acting commissar Kokunov, and the commander of the 7th company, Captain Slavin. Then I pointed to Sazhin and introduced them to Lukin: "This colonel is Colonel Sazhin, the commander of the 229th Division. ”

Lukin and Kokunov stepped forward, saluted Sazhin and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Colonel. This is not the place to talk, let's go back to the regimental headquarters. ”

I called Slavin aside and told him, "Captain Slavin, I want to ask you for something. ”

Slavin unequivocally agreed: "Please give me orders, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I promise to complete the task well." ”

I nodded with satisfaction at his reaction, and told him: "The troops of the 229th Division will be coming in a moment, probably more than a thousand people, and dozens of German prisoners, and you are responsible for bringing them to our defensive positions." After this was done, the commander of the 804th regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Gogogli, was brought to the regimental headquarters. ”

Slavin hurriedly straightened up and replied loudly: "Please rest assured, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I promise to complete the task well." ”

I walked up to Sazhin's side and said to him: "Comrade division commander, I have already arranged for someone to meet the troops, and he will take them to a safe place and hide them, and when the troops are settled, Lieutenant Colonel Gogoli will rush to the village." ”

As soon as he walked into the wooden house that served as the regimental headquarters, Sazhin couldn't wait to let the communications soldiers set up the radio and start contacting Chuikov. We were lucky enough to get in touch with Chuikov at once.

When Chuikov heard the voice of Colonel Sazhin, he immediately asked impatiently: "Comrade Colonel, how are the troops, have they jumped out of the enemy's encirclement?" ”

Sazhin was in a good mood, and he replied with a smile: "Please rest assured, Comrade Commander, that the remaining more than 1,000 people of the whole division have successfully broken through the enemy's encirclement, have successfully crossed the river, and entered the defense area of the 678th Regiment. ”

"How's Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina?" When Chuikov heard that the troops had successfully broken through, he suddenly asked me.

"She's very good, and she has made a great contribution in this breakout."

"Great achievement? What's going on, Comrade Colonel. You've confused me. ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sazhin is not a greedy person, he reported to Chuikov how we were discovered by enemy scouts in the process of breaking through and attracted enemy artillery interception, and how I led my troops to eliminate the enemy's artillery positions.

After listening to this, Chuikov didn't say anything superfluous, only said: "Let Oshanina come and talk to me." When Colonel Sazhin heard this, he didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly handed me the microphone.

I took the microphone, took a deep breath, and then politely said, "Hello." Comrade Commander. ”

"Well done. Oshanina. You're so good. I wonder what you did after you took out the enemy's artillery positions? "Because Colonel Sazhin just briefly mentioned that I led people to take out the enemy's artillery position, and how to end it, he was vague, and such a report aroused Chuikov's curiosity, so he asked me about this person.

"Comrade Commander, this is the case." I gathered my thoughts and reported back to Chuikov as if I were telling a story. "Since we approached the enemy's positions without being detected by the enemy's artillery, our attack went smoothly and the enemy's positions were captured at a very small cost. It would be a pity to see that all the cannons and shells had been captured by us, and it would have been a pity to blow them up, so I ordered the commander of the sailor battalion to draw out the former artillery from the battalion, form an artillery detachment, turn the muzzles, and fire at the enemy's camp. Because we set the shooting yuan based on the captured map. Although it is impossible to count the results, I estimate it. After an hour of shelling, at least one tank camp and two infantry camps, already incapacitated, it is believed that their attack on the 62nd Army today will weaken. ”

"Well done, Comrade Oshanina." After hearing this, Chuikov said excitedly: "I will ask the front headquarters for credit for you, and at the same time I will report this matter to the Supreme Command." By the way, do you have any requirements? As long as I can do it, I will fulfill your request. ”

I turned my head to look at Colonel Sazhin, who was standing next to me, then at Lukin and them, and then resolutely asked, "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask what is the next task of our troops?" Will you stay and hold on to the left bank of the Don, or will you move towards Stalingrad? ”

Chuikov was silent for a moment, and said slowly: "It is obviously unrealistic to let you withdraw to Stalingrad now, you must know that the 62nd Army is still in the enemy's encirclement, and if they break through, they still need troops to respond." You should stay in the defensive positions of the 678th Regiment and merge Captain Lukin's regiment into Colonel Sazen's 229th Division. ”

"However, we do not have enough troops and ammunition, and it may be difficult to undertake the breakthrough of the 62nd Army." At such a critical juncture, I can only tell the truth to Chuikov, lest I fail to complete the task in the future, and it will not end well.

As soon as I finished speaking, Colonel Sazhin came over, took the microphone from my hand, and said to Chuikov sincerely: "Comrade commander, Comrade Oshanina is right, our troops, if they encounter a strong attack by the enemy, will not be able to withstand it at all. ”

"Comrade Colonel," said Chuikov in an unhappy tone, "I have no reserves, and I only have a few signal soldiers with me now, do you want me to send them all to you?" ”

Hearing what Chuikov said, Colonel Sazhin became a little flustered and hurriedly explained: "Comrade commander, I didn't mean that. After a long battle, our commanders and fighters were almost depleted of ammunition. Today, before crossing the river, I asked Lieutenant Colonel of the 804th Regiment to count the soldiers, and there were generally only two or three rounds of ammunition in their guns. If a fierce battle breaks out, the soldiers must not be allowed to use their bayonets to compete with the German tanks. ”

After listening to Sazhin's complaints, Chuikov's tone softened a lot: "Regarding the ammunition, I can report to the Chief of Staff of the Front, General Nikishev, and ask him to quickly mobilize a batch of ammunition and send it to you." As for the soldiers, you'll have to figure it out for yourself. ”

"Comrade Commander, please think of a way to replenish my troops no matter what."

"So be it," Chuikov, perhaps annoyed by him, gave him an idea bluntly: "You and your division will remain in the defensive positions along the Don River, and you will leave behind and replenish your troops with all the scattered troops that pass through your defense area, whether they are the 62nd Army or the 64th Army, so that your division will be fully loaded in a short time." ”

"Comrade Commander, this suggestion of yours is really good, I will immediately order the following to carry it out." Hearing Chuikov's idea, Sazhin suddenly became excited, "I believe that it won't be long before our division can return to its original size." ”

After finishing the call with Chuikov, Lieutenant Colonel Gogol arrived just in time. As soon as he entered the door, he asked loudly: "Comrade division commander, have you contacted the headquarters of the group army?" What is the next step for our division? ”

Saren was smiling and talking to Lukin and his new subordinates, when he heard Gogoli ask, he turned his head and said to him, "Lieutenant Colonel, you are here." It just so happened that the commander had just assigned a task to our division, and I wanted you to go and convey it to Luxia. ”

"I don't know what kind of order you have?"

"The commander said that because he doesn't have any reserves in his hands, we can only figure out how to replenish the troops."

"Figure it out yourself?!" Gogol rolled his eyes and said, "If the higher authorities don't send reserves, where will we find someone to replenish the troops?" ”

Saren walked over, raised his hand to shine on his big-brimmed hat, and said, "Why are you a dead brain, if your superiors don't send reserves, you won't figure it out yourself." ”

Gogoli muttered, "Is there any way to think of it?" There was a deep resentful expression on her face.

"The commander said that from today onwards, our division will be a temporary containment team, and all troops that pass through our defense area, whether they are from the 62nd or 64th Group Army, will be left behind and incorporated into our division. Do you understand? ”

When Gogol heard Colonel Sazhin say this, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said excitedly: "Is that really what Comrade Commander said? That's great, I'll go and convey it to the troops right away. With that, he turned and ran out of the headquarters. Before we could come to our senses, he jumped in through the door again, raised his hand to salute Sazhin, and ran out again. His funny performance immediately caused a burst of laughter. (To be continued......)