When Seryukin and I were waiting for Belei to arrive at the division headquarters, he poured me a cup of tea and handed it to me, and then called me bitter: "Comrade commander, although our division has not been formed for a long time, in terms of equipment, you can't favor one over the other. ”

I took the hot tea and was about to drink it, when I heard him say this, I quickly put down the teacup and asked curiously: "Comrade Colonel, what equipment do you say favoritism, I didn't understand?" ”

"Comrade Commander," he said, sitting across from me, deliberately dragging out his tone for a long time, and with an aggrieved expression, "I will leave aside the fact that other divisions are equipped with a large number of assault rifles. I heard that they were also equipped with a new type of anti-tank weapon, which was better than the anti-tank rifles we use now, and it was said that at a range of 200 meters, they could easily take out enemy tanks. ”

I did not deny his statement, but nodded and said with certainty: "That's right, the 51st, 52nd, and 67th Guards Divisions now deployed in the first line of defense are equipped with a large number of assault rifles and anti-tank rocket launchers. The reason why these new weapons are assigned to them is because they ......"

Before I could finish speaking, Seryukin interrupted me and said understandingly: "Comrade commander, you don't need to say it, I understand. They were on the front line against the main forces of the German army, and we were in reserve. If it were me, I would also equip all these limited new weapons to the front-line troops. ”

The high posture shown by Seryukin relieved me, so I took a sip of tea and said slowly: "Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." There will be anti-tank bazookas, and assault rifles will have them. Other units are equipped with new weapons. Your division will have it. ”

"Great. It's great. Seryugin got up from his seat, straightened his waist, and assured me: "Comrade commander, as long as our division is equipped with new weapons, then the combat effectiveness will be increased in a straight line, and then you will be able to use our division as the main force." ”

"Comrade Colonel, isn't your division the main force now?" As I say this, I can't help but think of the brutal and bloody battle I saw. My mood couldn't help but become heavy: "Seeing the Germans attacking your position so ferociously today, I was really worried that your position would be broken through, but fortunately you held it in the end." ”

"Comrade commander, yes, we did not allow the enemy to break through our positions." Seryukin analyzed today's battle with me, "First, we made timely preparations for defense, built fortifications, and laid minefields; Second, the commanders and fighters behaved with composure. Although we had a lot of recruits, none of us wavered. There is no step back; Thirdly, our tank detachments appeared very just in time, it was they who wiped out the German armored forces, so that the infantry in the offensive positions no longer had the courage to fight......"

Before Xie Liujin finished speaking, several people suddenly walked in at the door. I recognized Bezikov and Basmanov following him, but I didn't recognize the chubby lieutenant colonel standing next to them with a smile on his face.

Bere stepped forward, straightened up and reported to me: "Comrade commander, the commander of the tank detachment, Colonel Bere, reports to you, and my tank detachment and I are waiting for your orders, please instruct!" ”

I greeted him, took his hand excitedly, and said excitedly: "Hello, Comrade Colonel! Your tank detachment arrived at a good time, and if it had been too late, the enemy might have broken through the position. ”

Berey grinned and replied: "Comrade commander, this is all what I should do. ”

"Tell me, Comrade Colonel," I asked curiously, "did you come to support you when you received information in advance that the enemy would attack the position of the 89th Guards Division?" When I said this, I deliberately turned my gaze to Seryukin, who was next to me, to find out if he had informed Colonel Berey beforehand.

Unexpectedly, Seryukin shook his head and replied: "No, Comrade Commander, I don't know at all that the colonel is operating in this area, how can I contact him." Maybe he got the information from other sources, right? ”

Seeing that I was looking at myself inquiringly, Beray hurriedly explained: "Comrade commander, no one informed me, and I didn't get any information beforehand. When we went out to search the German convoy, we suddenly found that the smoke of gunpowder had risen from the sky, and there was also the sound of heavy gunfire. I guessed that there must have been a fierce exchange of fire between our troops and the enemy, so I led my troops over to take a look. Speaking of this, he shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands to the sides, "I didn't expect to relieve the comrades-in-arms of the 89th Guards Division under the misfortune of yin and yang." ”

"Colonel, don't stand, please take a seat." After Seryukin warmly beckoned Belei to sit down, he pointed to the lieutenant colonel who was still standing next to him and said to me: "Comrade commander, let me introduce you to this lieutenant colonel Yermokhin, the political commissar of the division. He just returned to the division two days ago, so you probably haven't seen him. ”

After listening to Seryukin's introduction, I quickly got up from my seat and shook hands with the divisional political commissar. After everyone sat down again, I smiled and said, "Since the military ranks have been revised, it has been impossible to distinguish who is a military cadre and who is a political cadre from the uniform. ”

"Comrade Commander, isn't that good?" Yermokhin smiled and said to me: "You must know that we political workers are not just playing tricks and doing some political agitation work to the soldiers, but when necessary, we must also take up arms and fight like ordinary soldiers." "Although I have always had no good impression of political cadres, these words of Yermokhin made me include him in the list of people worth interacting with.

After Seryukin waited for Yermokhin to finish speaking, he looked at me and asked: "Comrade commander, what is the next task of our division?" ”

"Of course, it is here to strengthen the position and prepare for the continuation of the defense." I was deeply afraid that Seryukin would not pay attention to this matter, and I specifically emphasized: "I have received an order to build a strong defense here and resolutely block the way of the 32nd German Infantry Division to the north." Although today we have destroyed quite a few enemies, at best only one regiment of troops, their main forces are still behind. So the next battle may be even more brutal for you. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Seryugin stood up and swore solemnly: "As long as there is one person left, we will resolutely hold our position." After finishing speaking, he asked a little nervously: "Comrade commander, I would like to ask, when will our troops be able to switch to the counteroffensive?" ”

As soon as his words came out, the eyes of everyone in the room focused on me, and I waved my hand and said, "Don't worry, when it's time to counterattack, it will naturally counterattack." Your division's task now is to resolutely block the 332nd Division, which is advancing northward. After the Fifth Guards Tank Army, stationed in the Prokhorovka area, defeated the German armored forces, our counteroffensive could begin. ”

Seryugin turned his face and said to Yermokhin with a gentle smile: "Comrade Political Commissar, I will give you full responsibility for the work of conducting political propaganda among the commanders and fighters. Let every soldier understand the meaning of our holding on here, even if we sacrifice all, we must not let a single enemy pass, because the fate of the entire battle may be in our hands. The whole campaign, do you understand, my comrade commissar? ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Yermokhin replied excitedly: "I will definitely let every commander and fighter know." ”

After the two of them had finished speaking, I continued: "Colonel Seryukin, in order to strengthen your defenses, I have decided to assign Colonel Bere's tank detachment to you. At this point, I turned my head to look at Bere, and said to him with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, from today onwards, the mission of attacking the German lines of communication will be temporarily canceled. The task of the tank detachment was to stay here, to cooperate with the 89th Guards to consolidate the defense, and resolutely cut off the northward path of the German army. ”

Berey stood up from his seat and replied loudly: "Please rest assured, commander, I will fully cooperate with the defense of Colonel Seryukin and never let a single enemy pass through here!" (To be continued.) )