The impromptu military meeting lasted for two hours before it ended.

As an observer, the more I listened, the more my brows furrowed, and the so-called strengthening of defense was simply the deployment of newly transferred troops to positions where there was a lack of troops. There was simply no suggestion from anyone to move the troops to the flanks of the Germans and, when they attacked our positions, to strike them hard from the flanks.

The thought of the 100,000 or so troops of the Army Group in the trenches, waiting to be bombed and shelled by the Germans, made me feel a little more worried about whether I would be able to hold the line of defense on the Kosca.

After several division commanders had left, Kolpacki said to Gurov: "Comrade Military Commissar, before you come here, I personally gave an order to the commander of the 160th Boat Bridge Battalion to build three pontoon bridges over the river overnight, one of which should be able to pass tanks and other heavy technical equipment. ”

"What, build a pontoon?" Gurov asked a little puzzled: "At this time, we will build a pontoon bridge over the river behind us, I wonder what your plans are?" ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, I think so. At this time, I ordered the Boat Bridge Battalion to erect a pontoon bridge for the sake of ......," said Kolpacchi, and inadvertently turned his head to find that I was still standing straight against the wall. He asked me curiously, "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, what are you still standing here?" ”

I said in my heart that I am your adjutant, you didn't speak, do I dare to leave? But I still have to say respectfully: "Report to Comrade Commander, I can't leave without your permission. ”

Kol Parkucci waved his hand impatiently and said to me, "It's none of your business here, you can go back and rest." ”

I was just about to leave. Gurov, who was sitting, accidentally found blood stains on my body. Asked with concern: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina." Are you injured? ”

I looked down at the blood stains on my military uniform, and when I looked up, I was about to answer Gurov, but I didn't expect that Kolpakchi had already preemptively said: "Comrade Military Commissar, don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina is not wounded, she is covered in other people's blood." At this point, he waved at me again, urging, "Go and rest." I still have important matters to discuss with the comrades of the Military Commissioner. ”

When Gurov heard Kolpakchi say this, he couldn't say anything more, so he could only politely say to me: "Comrade Oshanina, you are not needed here for the time being, you better go find a place to rest." ”

Hearing both of them say this, I guess they want to discuss some important military situation in private, and there are outsiders here, and it is difficult to say a lot of things, so they can't wait to send me away.

Since I'm not here to be seen, it's better to leave early. I saluted the two of them. Turn around and stride out.

As soon as he walked out of the headquarters, he was confronted by the most active combat staff officer during the day. As soon as they saw my face. He went straight to the point and asked, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, is the meeting in the headquarters over?" ”

I was just about to ask rhetorically, didn't you see those division commanders leaving? Suddenly remembered that before the meeting just now, out of secrecy, this staff officer and the staff officer in charge of communication and liaison were all pushed to other hiding places, so it was not surprising that he didn't know if the meeting was over. I said, "The meeting has long since ended, and several division commanders have returned to their units. ”

"And where are you going?"

"The commander told me to rest, Comrade Staff, do you know where I can rest?"

The staff officer shook his head and said, "Almost all the shelters here are headquarters or communication rooms at all levels, and there is no suitable place. If you want to take a break, I recommend getting in the car. No one will bother you there. ”

I nodded and thanked him, but was about to leave when he stopped me from behind, and he ran over, looked me up and down, and said, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, your uniform is covered in blood." I have a new set of unworn military uniforms in my luggage, so you can pick it up and put it on. ”

The staff officer took me to a jeep, opened the door and invited me to get in, then he picked up a bag from the passenger seat, pulled out a military uniform from it, handed it to me, and said, "The clothes may be a little big, so you can make do with them." It's not early, you can rest, I am still on duty tonight, so I won't accompany you. ”

I only hummed, and before I could thank him, he had already turned away.

I closed the car door, changed my clothes, and leaned back in my chair to close my eyes.

Due to the uncomfortable sleep in the car, I couldn't sleep over and over, and only tossed until dawn, and then barely fell asleep.

Unexpectedly, not long after I fell asleep, I was awakened by the sound of rumbling cannons. I looked up at my watch, it was only five o'clock in the morning. At yesterday's meeting, only how to defend was discussed, and there was no mention of the offensive, and it is estimated that the German offensive has begun again.

I hurriedly pushed the door open, jumped out of the car, and trotted all the way to the command. Now that the Germans have begun to attack, the command must be very busy, and at this critical moment, the absence of my commander's adjutant is not present, which is of a rather bad nature.

When I ran into the headquarters, Kol Pakchi was on the phone, and Gurov was sitting at his desk looking at a map. I walked up to Gurov and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Military Commissar, what's the matter?" To which of our defenses did the Germans attack again? ”

Gurov looked up at me and replied: "The sound of artillery is coming from the left side of our defensive zone, and Comrade Commander is calling General Volkhin of the 147th Division to find out if his defensive area is being shelled by German troops. ”

As he was talking, Kolpakchi put down the phone, looked at Gurov and shook his head and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, I just asked General Volkhin, and he said that his position was calm and he was neither subjected to German shelling nor German ground troops. ”

Gurov frowned and thought for a while, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, the direction you heard from the sound of artillery, could it be Comrade Chuikov's defense area, which is being shelled by the German army?" ”

"Well, it's entirely possible, the Germans attacked the 229th Division's defense zone yesterday, and then I sent a regiment from the 147th Division to support them, and at the same time provided them with sufficient artillery support. I'll call Chuikov and ask him how it's going. ”

The communications staff officer quickly helped to connect Chuikov's phone, and Kolpacchi asked straight to the point: "Hey, Chuikov?" I'm Kol Parkoch, where are you now? ”

"Hello, General Kolpakchi. I am now in the observation post, ten kilometers northwest of Nizhnechiskaya. ”

"Are you under German artillery fire there?"

"Yes, the Germans are shelling the defensive positions of the 229th Regiment of the 783rd Division of our Army. I guess they're trying to break through here and head straight for the Chir River. ”

"Did you take any action? Comrade Chuikov. ”

"Because the infantry reserves are east of the Don River, I can't reinforce the 229th Division at the moment, but I've sent two separate tank battalions to reinforce them."

"Okay, keep in touch, if there is anything you need us to ask, just ask, we will definitely do our best to provide support to your troops within our ability."

Unexpectedly, the situation was more serious than I thought, and half an hour later, Chuikov took the initiative to call Kol Pakchi and report the situation of the battle: "Old man, the situation seems to be a little bad. After the enemy's artillery preparation and air strikes were over, the infantry, under the cover of tanks, launched a charge. From my observation post, I could see more than 80 tanks attacking our positions under the cover of artillery and mortars. My main target in my analysis of them should be the dairy farms defended by the first battalion of the 783rd regiment. ”

"Comrade Chuikov, please rest assured, I will immediately let the artillery open fire and intercept and shoot at this group of enemies."

Hanging up the phone, Kolpakchi couldn't wait to ask Gurov: "Comrade Military Commissar, how many artillery units can we put into battle?" ”

Gurov looked up at him, sighed, and replied: "At most, one cannon regiment can be thrown." ”

"What, only one artillery regiment?" Korpacic shouted in surprise, his shout alarming the staff officers in the command, but everyone looked back at him and went their separate ways.

Gurov said helplessly: "In yesterday's battle, the positions of two cannon regiments were subjected to air strikes by the Germans, and the artillery was almost completely lost. And the regiment that survived also ran out of shells in the battle. Fortunately, I seized the time to replenish some of them last night, otherwise, even this regiment would not be able to enter the battle now. (To be continued......)