Hearing me say that I was going to rush back to the headquarters of the army group overnight, Bukov's face became extremely ugly. We came to the jeep parking lot, and just as I opened the car door and was about to sit in the co-pilot's seat as I had come, Bukov seemed to have suddenly made up his mind, rushed over and grabbed the car door, and said to me with a serious expression: "Comrade commander, for your safety, I will still sit in this co-pilot's position." You and the guards sit in the back. ”

I smiled and shook my head, and reached for the car door again, but Bukov didn't let go of the car door. When I saw that I couldn't get into the car, I restrained the smile on my face and said to him solemnly: "Comrade Major, what position do I want to do, do I still need to ask you for instructions?" ”

Bukov had a bitter face, and his words took a tone of pleading points: "Comrade commander, on our way back, we may encounter the Germans who broke through the defense line of our army. I sat in the front row and was able to spot the enemy in time and take countermeasures. You sit in the back row with the soldiers of the Guard Regiment, and we will protect you to return to the headquarters safely, even if there is any danger. ”

I couldn't bear to refuse Bukov's kindness on the spot, after all, he was also thinking about my safety. After thinking about it for a long time, I looked up at him and said, "Okay, Comrade Major, since you say so, I won't embarrass you anymore, then I'll sit in the back row." With that, I turned to the rear door, raised my hand to pull the door open, and bent down into the car.

Bukov couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw that I was not stubborn, but took the initiative to sit in the back seat, and immediately ordered the two guards: "You guys also get in the car, remember to keep an eye on the movement outside the car, and report to me in time if there is any trouble." After the two fighters said yes, they got into the car from both sides of the car and sat on my left and right. Caught me in the middle.

Not long after our car approached and drove through the second line of defense, we suddenly saw a large group of men and horses driving in front of us. My hand instinctively reached for the holster around my waist, ready to pull it out. Bukov, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat, turned his head to look at me and said: "Comrade commander, it's our troops. ”

Hearing that it was our own troops, I withdrew the hand I had just put on the holster. casually asked, "Major, do you know which part of the troops came from the front?" ”

After shaking his head, Bukov replied to me: "Comrade commander, everything will be worked out. After saying that, he raised his hand and patted the driver on the shoulder, and ordered: "Comrade driver, drive the car into the marching column, and I will ask them which part they are." ”

The jeep drove forward a few dozen meters further. He stopped in an open area. I looked out the window and saw that there were commanders and fighters lining up in queues or in single rows on the road and on the side of the road, and behind them were tanks, trucks full of commanders and fighters, and artillery trucks pulling artillery. Although I did not know the number of this force, I could see a marching column with a huge number of infantry, tanks and artillery. My mood gradually became cheerful.

Bukov jumped out of the car and stopped one of the commanders. Ask him about the troops. After a while, he ran back to the car and reported to me: "Comrade commander, I have asked, they belong to the 10th Tank Army and are currently preparing to go to our second line of defense. ”

I looked out the window at the passing procession, thinking that the troops of the 10th Tank Army had arrived. I believe that the troops of the 5th Guards Tank Army are also about to arrive, and what I can do is to hurry up to the headquarters as soon as possible and discuss defense matters with the commanders of these two tank corps. Thinking of this, I decisively ordered Bukov: "Major, get in the car." We need to rush back to the headquarters immediately. ”

Before dark, we finally rushed back to the headquarters. As soon as I walked into the headquarters, I saw several people sitting around the table in the middle of the room, and when I heard the sound of me entering the door, they all turned around in unison. When I saw that it was me, I immediately got up from my seat. Danilov walked up to me quickly, reached out to hold my hand, and said excitedly: "Comrade commander, I have finally brought you back." Come, come, I'll introduce you to a few commanders of friendly forces. ”

After saying that, he pulled me to the table, pointed to a burly general and introduced me: "Comrade commander, this is Lieutenant General Kravchenko, commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army. ”

Seeing that the other party was of the same rank as mine, I hurriedly raised my hand to salute him, then stretched out my hand to shake his hand, and said with a smile: "Welcome, General Kravchenko, after you and your troops come, we will have a greater chance of defeating the German invasion." ”

"Hello, General Oshanina." Kravchenko also responded with a smile and said: "It is not only my honor to be able to fight side by side with such a successful general as you, but also the honor of our entire 5th Guards Tank Army." ”

Kravchenko's flattering words made me feel happy after listening to them. The heart said that this general is very good at talking, and it seems that it must be a very easy and pleasant thing to cooperate with him in the future. Then he pointed to several colonels beside him and introduced me: "Comrade commander, allow me to introduce you to my men. This is the commander of the 20th Guards Tank Brigade...... Captain; Commander of the 21st Tank Brigade...... Colonel, commander of the 22nd Tank Brigade...... Colonel, commander of the 6th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment...... Lieutenant Colonel. ”

Every time Kravchenko introduced one, I smiled and stretched out my hand, shook their hands politely, and said a few polite words. Judging from the appearance of these commanders, they should all be veterans of a hundred battles. can mix in the current position, I believe their personal ability is still quite strong.

When Kravchenko had introduced everyone to me, I raised my hand and beckoned everyone to sit down. After everyone was seated, I looked at Kravchenko and asked, "Comrade General, may I ask what is the task assigned to you by your superiors for the tank army?" ”

Perhaps Kravchenko did not expect me to ask such a question suddenly, and after a moment of hesitation, he replied: "Report to Comrade Commander, our tank corps has received an order to be deployed in the rear of your second line of defense, ready to deal with a possible ferocious attack by the Germans. ”

Although not many people knew about the battle plan I had drawn up, I did not hide it in front of this tank general of the same rank as me, but truthfully explained my plan to him. Seeing him nod his head, I knew he understood what I was saying. I then added, "Comrade General. I think that with the current pace of the German attack, they will advance to Prokhorovka in two or three days. Therefore, I advise you to put the most elite tank brigade not here. As soon as the Germans did not know whether they were alive or dead, they would forcibly attack us. Then we can teach them a hard lesson here. ”

After listening to me, Kravchenko immediately got up from his seat, straightened up and said: "Please rest assured, Comrade Commander, I will deploy the most elite tank units there." If the Germans don't come, if they do, then I will give them a lesson that will last a lifetime. ”

Danilov, hearing the conversation between me and Kravchenko, interjected with some concern and asked: "Comrade commander, as far as I know, we currently have the most armed T-34 in our troops. It was simply not possible to deal with the newly launched Tiger tanks of the German army. If we had a tank battle with the Germans at Prokhorovka, would we have suffered a big loss? ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are too worried." In response to Danilov's pessimism, Kravchenko said with a smile: "The German Tiger tank weighed 56 tons and had a front armor plate of 100 mm. The tank guns equipped with the T-34 and KV-1 of our army could no longer penetrate from the front. And now the German Tiger tanks, with their 88-mm tank guns, can destroy all our tanks at a distance of a thousand to two thousand meters. ”

"Hubris. It's just too arrogant. Danilov asked indignantly: "Don't we have tanks that can restrain the Germans?" ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, who said that there is no such technology." I am deeply afraid that Danilov will also be afraid of the enemy. Hurriedly comforted him and said: "The new tank we have newly prepared is the nemesis of the German Tiger tank." ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander is right." Kravchenko promptly echoed me: "We have little confidence in the victory over the Germans until the new tanks are equipped with the troops. But as soon as the new tank entered the barracks, everyone's perception of it changed. With this batch of new tanks, it is believed that our army will engage in street battles with the Germans. The certainty of winning is even higher. ”、

"General Kravchenko is right." After I waited for him to finish, I immediately added: "The appearance of the Tiger tank has put an end to the superiority in tank firepower and defense capability that our army has always maintained so far. However, fortunately, our superiors provided us with new tanks, otherwise we would have been really at a loss in the face of the German tank troops. ”

Kirillov, who had been listening to him for a long time, suddenly interjected and asked, "General Kravchenko." Do you think that our tanks, capable of defeating the German tanks? ”

"There is no doubt about it, Comrade Military Commissar." Kravchenko replied respectfully: "The German Tiger tank is almost like a child's toy compared to our new tank." If the Germans don't take the initiative to attack, as long as they dare to act rashly, we will completely destroy him. ”

"Comrade General, although our new tank is superior to the German Tiger tank in all technical indicators, we should not take it lightly." I was afraid that Kravchenko would take it lightly because of pride, so I reminded him: "Although the German tanks are no match for our new tanks, don't forget that the German heavy artillery and aircraft can turn our tanks into burning wreckage." ”

Hearing me mention the German heavy artillery and air force, Kravchenko's original exuberant expression disappeared and was replaced by a solemn expression. After frowning and thinking for a while, he said worriedly: "Comrade commander, what you said is really a problem, if we don't solve the enemy's air force, I am worried that our tank units will be killed and wounded in the bombing of enemy aircraft." At this point, he looked at me pitifully and said, "Can you ask your superiors for instructions to help us fight with the Air Force?" ”

I thought about it and felt that this matter was really difficult, and I was at the same level as the commander of the Air Force Group Army, and I couldn't command each other at all. Therefore, I can only vaguely say to Kravchenko: "Comrade General, I can only do my best in this matter, anyway, I assure you that in two days at most, your troops will be able to get the strong cooperation of our air force in the process of attacking or defending." ”

"Great, this is wonderful," Kravchenko was overjoyed when he heard my promise, and he said excitedly: "Comrade commander, as long as we can get the cooperation of the air force, then no matter how many armored troops the Germans come, we can defeat them." ”

Although I know how many new tanks are equipped in the tank units, I don't know how many of them, so I asked curiously: "Comrade General, how many tanks do you have?" ”

"Three tank brigades, each with thirty vehicles. Together with the ten tanks of the army command, the total is a hundred. When Kravchenko said this, a wry smile appeared on his face, "Comrade commander, you don't know, in order to get these 100 tanks, I went to the weapons and equipment department at least 20 times. Since there were so many people asking for this batch of new tanks, I thought we were out of play, but who knows that Comrade Stalin personally inquired about it, and he said that it was necessary to meet the needs of the front-line troops as much as possible. In this way, the Ministry of Weapons and Equipment opened the net and provided us with a hundred new tanks, as well as matching ammunition. ”

"How's the fight?" This is my second concern.

To my question, Kravchenko cautiously replied: "Immediately after receiving this batch of new tanks, we organized the combat backbone to familiarize themselves with the new tanks. After more than half a month of training, our tank crews have mastered the operation of tanks proficiently. ”

"Do your tankmen have enough combat experience?" Before I could ask this time, Danilov had already preemptively asked: "When they see hordes of enemy tanks appear in front of them, they don't retreat in panic, do they?" ”

"No, Comrade Deputy Commander." In response to Danilov's questioning, Kravchenko blushed, and at the same time involuntarily raised his voice: "Our tank soldiers have experienced a hundred battles, and all of them are good. There will never be anyone who panics at the sight of an enemy. ”

"Alright, Comrade Deputy Commander." I saw that the two of them continued to talk, and I didn't think that there would be a fight because of a disagreement, so I hurriedly stood up and played a round: "Don't forget, General Kravchenko's tank army, but the Guards tank army, I think his tank corps is all very heroic, and there will never be cowards." (To be continued.) )