Although the only unit I can directly command at the moment is the 22nd Guards Division of Bandeleyev, it is a bit of a knife to use one division against a German ski battalion in the case of mental calculation or unintentional. Rao is like this, and I don't dare to be careless in the slightest, for fear that something will go wrong in the battle.

Therefore, when drawing up the battle plan, I did not give Bandeleyev a chance to speak at all, so I said to myself: "Comrade division commander, this ambush mission is entrusted to Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov's regiment to carry out, and in order to completely destroy the enemy, you must simultaneously send Perstian's tank battalion and Morozov's artillery battalion into the battle to ensure that the battle is resolved in the shortest possible time." ”

"Rest assured, commander," said Bandeleyev, standing up and reassuring me aloud, "our division promises to complete the task you have given us, and will never let a single Dekou slip through the net." ”

I raised my hand and pressed down on him, motioned for him to sit down, and then said, "The 22nd Guards Division has been fighting defensive battles in a very narrow strip for several months since it was formed. At present, the commanders and fighters of your division are accustomed to operating in small areas and take pride in repelling enemy attacks or capturing enemy-occupied buildings in street battles. And then, the problem facing our troops is that the future battles will be fought in field positions. The area in which we are fighting is no longer a few hundred meters narrow, but an area tens of kilometers wide. In addition to directing battalions and regiments through fields, mountains and valleys, you will even force your way across rivers and obstacles. If you still use the method of street fighting to command the battle, it is very easy to suffer a big loss. ”

"Comrade Commander is right." As soon as I finished speaking, Kirillov chimed in: "The fighting habits that our division has developed in these months. It's not something that can be adjusted in a day or two. So you have to tell the following regimental commanders about this. Let them help you with tactical adjustments. Although Kirillov had come to work in the army, when it came to the 22nd Guards Division, he habitually said "our division".

"Please rest assured that the commander and political commissar will not worry." When Bandeleyev waited for us to finish, he deliberately stood up and said to us: "When I return to the division, I will immediately gather the regimental commanders and discuss with them how to make tactical adjustments." ”

"And, General Bandeleyev." Vitkov said to him politely: "You also have to draw experienced commanders from the division and send them to the 171st and 308th divisions. Instruct them on how to build good fortifications. ”

Thinking that the Germans would not risk attacking on such a cold day, I slept soundly until dawn in the room that Vitkov had prepared for me.

At about ten o'clock in the morning, the third echelon of the Gurdiev division and artillery regiment passed through the city. Standing in front of the window and looking at the convoy of cars passing through the street, Vitkov asked me worriedly: "Comrade commander, are we going to stay here and wait for the Germans to come to the net?" ”

"Of course stay, my Comrade Chief of Staff." I replied affirmatively: "Although there are not many enemies in the farm, let them remain in our rear." There is always a threat to our shipping lines, so we have to find a way to deal with them. ”

"But if the troops can't get to the cantonment today. I'm worried that the commander of the army group will ......" Although Vitkov's words were only half said, I could already hear the concern in his words, and he was worried that our entire army would not enter the place designated by the higher authorities on time and would be reproached by the superiors.

"Comrade Oshanina," Kirillov came to me when he heard Vitkov say this, and said to me in a consultative tone: "Is it a little too fuss for the enemy to have only one battalion, and we have a division against them?" I think so, Lieutenant Colonel Shederikov's regiment and the army troops remained, and the commander of the 22nd Guards Division led by Commander Bandeleyev continued to march to the stationing site. Don't know what you mean? ”

The 22nd Guards Division and the army directly had nearly 10,000 people, and if they were all stationed in this small city, the target would be too big. Anyway, we have to deal with only one battalion of the German army, which should still be a battalion with dissatisfied personnel, and the Sederikov regiment is more than enough to deal with them, not to mention the reconnaissance battalion and guard battalion directly under the army, let alone destroy the enemy. Therefore, after thinking only for a moment, I readily agreed to Kirillov's suggestion and asked Vitkov to call Bandeleyev and ask him to lead the main force of the division to immediately advance.

By three o'clock in the afternoon, the third echelon of the 308th Division and the artillery regiment had all passed through the city, and the main forces of the division led by Bandeleyev were also moving towards their destination, leaving only Sederikov's regiment and our army troops in the city.

Seeing that there was no movement, Vitkov was a little out of breath, and he walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. Seeing that he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, Kirillov couldn't help but be happy, and shouted at his back: "Hey, I said Comrade Chief of Staff, what are you doing walking back and forth in the house?" ”

Vitkov stopped and said to Kirillov anxiously: "Comrade commissar, it's afternoon, but that Uncle Matvey hasn't moved at all." Do you think he lied to us? ”

Kirillov shook his head and analyzed for him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are thinking too much. In my judgment, what Uncle Matvey said should be true, and if he had any intentions, he would not have ventured to come to the city to meet us. Wait, maybe there's good news soon. ”

As soon as I said this, the phone on the table actually rang miraculously. I grabbed the phone and put it to my ear and asked, "I'm Oshanina, where are you?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander." Shederikov's excited voice came from the earpiece: "Someone from the farm is coming!" ”

"Someone from the farm?!" The moment I heard the news, I breathed a sigh of relief, and said that the old hunter really didn't lie, and really came back to deliver a letter to us. "Is that the old hunter Uncle Matvey?"

"Uncle?! Not an uncle. Sederikov continued excitedly: "Comrade Commander, my subordinates and Captain Travkin found a little boy in the forest. By the time the child was taken to my command post by the captain, he was exhausted and frozen. As soon as he came to his senses. The news that the Germans had set out was immediately reported to us. ”

"What's the child's name?" Although I think that nine times out of ten this boy is Matvey's grandson Vasha. But to be on the safe side. also deliberately asked: "Have you asked him what the relationship is with Uncle Matvey?" ”

"I asked, Comrade Commander." Sederikov replied respectfully: "He said that his name was Vasha, and that he was the grandson of the old hunter Uncle Matvey. ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since this is the case, then you should immediately arrange for people to arrange an ambush circle." After speaking, I also specially added: "Also, send someone to send the child to me." ”

After about seven or eight minutes, the boy named Vasha was led by Travkin. Came to our headquarters. Seeing so many senior commanders standing in front of him, Vasha looked extremely nervous, and he stood silently in front of us, rubbing the shaggy and worn sheepskin hat that he had just taken off his head, and looked at us with a wary gaze.

I walked over, grabbed his cold little hand, and led him to the table and sat down. Without waiting for me to speak, the quick-witted Vitkov rushed to pour a cup of hot tea, placed it in front of Vasha, and said kindly: "Child. Warm up with a cup of hot tea. ”

After Vaxia drank a few sips of hot tea. I asked him in a gentle tone, "Son, did your grandfather ask you to come?" ”

The boy nodded vigorously and replied, "My grandfather told me to take the path to inform you, and he will take the Germans around in circles in the forest." ”

"Son, if your grandfather and the Germans were to go around in circles in the forest, how long would it take to reach the ambush place that your grandfather assigned us?" Seeing that the boy nodded again, Vitkov raised his wrist, moved the watch in front of the child, and asked, "I hope you can give me an accurate time." ”

Unexpectedly, Vaxia shook his head and said, "I don't know the watch." But I can sue you. The road my grandfather took them on was at least five kilometers or so farther than the road I took. ”

Hearing Vasha say this, Vitkov immediately calculated to himself the time it would take for the German army to pass the five kilometers of Guò. After a long time of calculation, he said to me with full certainty: "Comrade Commander, if I am not miscalculated, the Germans will have to wait at least two hours before entering our ambush circle. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, only a mere five kilometers." Kirillov was clearly not satisfied with Vitkov's calculations, and he retorted: "At the pace of the march of the German army, it will be reached in an hour at most." ”

"Comrade commissar, if the Germans were marching on flat ground, then in an hour they would have been able to cover five kilometers." Vitkov explained to Kirillov: "But it was not easy for them to march in knee-high forests in full armor, not only over snowdrifts, through ravines and frozen streams, but also through the bushes to reach our encirclement in two hours, so we now had plenty of time to prepare." ”

I waited for Vitkov to finish speaking, and asked Kirillov with a smile: "Comrade commissar, do you want to go and see how the Shederikov regiment fought this battle?" ”

My words immediately struck Kirillov's interest, and he agreed without hesitation: "Okay, Comrade Oshanina. Even if you don't say it, I want to check it out. In the past, every time we watched the Germans attack, we defended; Today, too, I want to go and see how our valiant fighters attacked. ”

Seeing that the two of us were going to watch the battle, Vitkov was a little anxious, he got up and stopped in front of us, and persuaded: "Army commander, political commissar, you can't take risks." Bullets don't have eyes on the battlefield, and if something happens to you, then our army's command system will fall into chaos. ”

"Don't worry, my chief of staff." I am not a person who does not know the severity of the severity, like today's ambush battle, after a long march, the Germans are estimated to have long been exhausted and incapacitated, and under the sudden blow of our army, most of the soldiers have not even opened the bolt of their guns, and they have been wiped out. It was precisely because I was thinking that the battle would turn into a one-sided massacre, so I confidently asked Kirillov to see the excitement, and when I saw that Vitkov wanted to stop us, I raised my hand and patted him on the shoulder, smiled and comforted him, saying: "I watched this battle with the commissar in a very safe place." We'll be back as soon as the battle is over. As for you, you will stay in the headquarters for the time being, and take command of the other troops in my place. ”

Kirillov and I came with a platoon of guards to the location of the temporary command post of Sedjerikov, and we found the lieutenant colonel in a building surrounded by chest height without a roof. See us appear. He was taken aback. After raising your hand and saluting. Surprised, he asked, "Commander, political commissar, why are you here?" ”

I raised my hand in return, walked over to the snow wall, raised my binoculars and looked into the distance to see how well the commanders and fighters were hidden. But in my telescope, there was a white expanse everywhere, not a single figure could be seen in the distance, and only an outline could be seen in the deep ditch covered with snow. Next to it was an open field with no obstruction, and if the Germans were really concentrated here, it would be beneficial for our machine gunners and artillery to use their firepower.

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Kirillov's voice sounded next to him, and he asked Shedelikov in a kind tone: "Where are our fighters hidden, how come I can't see any of them?" ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, our commanders and fighters are all disguised, and you can't see them here." After a brief debriefing, Shederikov came to my side with Kirillov, pointed to the front and said: "Look at the east side of the ravine. There was an ambush of Nikolai's battalion, and on the west side was an ambush of the Sherebryan battalion. The third battalion served as a reserve for the whole regiment. In addition, Perstian's tank battalion and Morozov's artillery battalion were concealed on the north side of the hill, and as soon as the Germans came into range, they covered the area with fire. ”

I turned my head to look at the little boy who had followed us here, and then ordered Shedelikov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, tanks and artillery cannot open fire without my orders later. Do you understand? ”

Shederikov was clearly prepared for my sudden order, and after glancing at Vasha, who was standing nearby, he decisively repeated my order: "Understood, tanks and artillery cannot open fire without your order. ”

We waited anxiously for more than an hour, and suddenly Sedelikov, who was next to us, said excitedly: "Comrade commander, here you are, here the Germans are!" ”

In fact, even if he didn't say anything, I could see figures swaying in the forest, and although the overwhelming majority of Germans wore white camouflage cloaks, they still stood out in the white snow-covered forest. Perhaps the long march in the forest had exhausted their bodies, and the vast majority of the soldiers staggered forward with heavy steps. From time to time, because of fatigue, they were knocked into trees, or tripped over snow-covered bushes, and they fell and got up, and the marching ranks became disorganized.

When they appeared on the open ground in front of the deep ditch, the soldier was so tired that he couldn't stand it, so he took the lead and sat down on the ground. With the one taking the lead, there were immediately imitators next to them, and more and more soldiers who came out of the forest sat in the snow. Some of them sat on the ground gasping for air, while some soldiers took out cigarettes, lit them in their mouths, and smoked wildly. Some of the non-commissioned officers stood at the edge of the forest, shouting at the soldiers who had straggled, to assemble in the open field.

Seeing that the Germans had entered our ambush circle as expected, I lowered my binoculars and turned to Shedelikov with a nod of my head. Sederikov, who understood this, immediately turned around and walked to a telephone, and after picking up the phone, decisively announced: "Fire!" ”

With his order, the sudden crisp sound of machine-gun fire overshadowed the shouts of the German non-commissioned officers. Strings of bullets were fired from several directions towards the Germans' concentration, setting off columns of snow on the ground. Before many soldiers could figure out what had happened, they collapsed in terror on the snow, blood pouring from their bodies quickly covering the snow beneath them.

When the Germans came to their senses and were about to flee into the forest, the weapons in the hands of the commanders and fighters who emerged from the deep ditch also opened fire fiercely. The soldiers screamed in terror, threw away what they thought was a burden, and ran out into the forest.

Seeing the fierce battle ahead, I carefully searched for the figure of the old hunter Matvey. After looking for a long time, I found him standing on a small mound next to the forest, the hat on his head had long been gone, and the wind blew his long black hair. He stood motionless like a carved villa, gloating at the fleeing German soldiers.

Seeing the old man standing on the hill and not moving, I was so anxious that I stamped my feet, and said to myself, why didn't he find a safe place to hide, what if he was hit by a stray bullet?

At this moment, out of nowhere, a German officer wearing a large-brimmed hat appeared and rushed to the old man with a pistol, pointing a gun at the old man as if he was saying something, but unfortunately it was too far away for me to understand at all. Just as I was considering whether to send a sniper to kill the officer, the old man suddenly fell on his back.

"Oops!" I couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

The officer who had knocked down the old man turned around and was about to run when a volley of bullets flying from behind hit him. He leaned back, his hands high in the air, as if trying to grasp something, but couldn't. After holding this position for more than ten seconds, he fell to the side and fell directly into the snow.

"Grandpa! Grandfather!! Suddenly there was a heart-rending cry around me, and then the dwarf Vaxia climbed over the wall of snow and stepped on the thick snow to rush to where the old man had fallen. (To be continued......)