Looking at the backs of the commanders and fighters of the first battalion leaving, I reluctantly thought, is there really only this kind of people left in a battalion? At this time, a soldier of the guard platoon next to me cautiously asked me: "Comrade regiment commander, shall we go back to the observation post?" ”

I glared at the soldier fiercely, and said angrily: "Go back to the observation post, stay and continue to look for it, and see if there are any surviving fighters on the position." At this point, I glanced at the warriors around me and said loudly, "What are you still doing here, why don't you go find it quickly!" ”

When the surrounding soldiers saw that I was angry, they answered neatly, and then dispersed, shouting along the bombed-out trenches: "Is there anyone else?" Anyone else doesn't? ”

I sat on a mound of dirt and looked blankly at the soldiers who were looking for survivors along the bombed trenches, and I still had a hint of luck in my heart, although there were only three companies in the first battalion, but these companies were all reorganized after the troops were attacked by enemy planes by the river, and the number of people was nearly twice as large as that of normal companies, and there were more than 40 people left in the battalion of more than 400 people.

After half an hour of searching, the fighters began to return one after another, and as they passed me, they all shook their heads with sad faces, indicating that no survivors had been found. Seeing more and more guards platoon fighters returning in vain, my heart sank little by little, thinking that my battalion was finished like this?

At this moment a soldier ran over, stood in front of me and saluted, and reported breathlessly: "Comrade Regiment Commander, Senior Captain Lukin, please return to the observation post immediately. The division commander has an important call for you. ”

I stood up and took one last look at the trenches buried in the floating earth, which was essential for finding survivors. I don't have any illusions in my heart. I gritted my teeth and stomped my feet, and said to the guards platoon soldiers gathered around, "Let's go, let's go back to the observation post." Then he turned and followed the warrior who had come to call me to the observation post.

As soon as he reached the door of the observation post, he saw Lukin and Slavin greet them. Seeing Slavin here, I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. However, I thought that since Lukin had sent someone to inform me that the division commander had called me to find me, then there must be something important to order. So I didn't bother to ask him why he was here, and asked Lukin bluntly: "Comrade Captain, does the division commander have a call to me?" With that, he walked to the observation post.

Lukin nodded vigorously. As I walked into the house, he said, "Yes, Comrade Regiment Commander, the division commander just called and asked our regiment to withdraw from its position immediately. Go to the Don to set up defenses. ”

Hear this inexplicable order. I couldn't help but stop and asked worriedly: "Our regiment is about to withdraw, what should we do if the enemy comes over?" You know, a few hundred meters behind our observation post, there are still more than one regiment of weapons and equipment, are they all given to the Germans in vain? ”

Lukin replied with a wry smile: "That's how the division commander ordered. You also know that orders from superiors are not allowed to be discussed, but can only be carried out unconditionally. ”

I said, "I'll call the division commander. Ask what's going on? "Speaking of the order given by Bilyukov, I am on fire in my belly. First he ordered our regiment to hold its position at all costs, and then ordered us to withdraw from our position after the battle, and now we were ordered to withdraw to a new defense area without even seeing the shadow of the attacking enemy.

"Comrade division commander, I would like to ask why our regiment was ordered to withdraw from its positions at this time, knowing that the enemy's shelling has just ended, and perhaps the enemy's infantry will soon attack under the cover of tanks." As soon as the phone called, I complained to Bilyukov.

"Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, this is an order personally given by the commander of the army group, it is not allowed to talk about it, it must be carried out immediately and unconditionally." Perhaps thinking that his tone was too blunt, Biryukov said this, paused slightly, and continued in a relatively relaxed tone: "Your regiment only needs to hold out until dark, and then complete the task, and then cross the Don with those troops, find a suitable position on the left bank of the river and build a defensive position. ”

"What about the seized weapons and ammunition?"

Biryukov was silent for a moment, and then replied: "I will immediately send a battalion to receive your defense area, and you let Captain Lukin stay and take charge of the handover of weapons and ammunition." ”

Seeing that the matter had come to this point, I could only reluctantly agree: "I understand, Comrade Division Commander." I asked Comrade Lukin and the guard platoon to stay, and then I took the 7th Company to the Don River to join the main forces of the regiment. ”

Putting down the phone, I called Lukin to the front and ordered: "Comrade Captain, the division commander said that a battalion would be sent to take over our defense area immediately. You and the guard platoon stayed behind to liaise with them and hand over the weapons and ammunition we had captured, understand? ”

Lukin nodded vigorously and said loudly: "Please rest assured, Commander, I promise to complete the task." ”

When Slavin and I left the observation post, I couldn't help but ask: "Comrade Captain, what are you doing when you don't command the troops from your position, but come to the observation post?" ”

Slavin smiled embarrassedly and replied: "Comrade Regiment Commander, when you were away just now, Captain Lukin called me and asked me to come to the observation post to accept the mission. After the 1st and 2nd Battalions withdrew from their positions, I was ordered to lead the 7th Company to continue to stay in the third line of defense, and without an order, I was not allowed to retreat a single step. Unexpectedly, as soon as he was halfway through speaking, the division commander called and asked us to withdraw from our positions. ”

I took Slavin and his seventh company, and after a half-hour march, came to the new defensive zone. Seeing that everyone was busy digging trenches, I left the 7th Company to assist in repairing the fortifications, and I took two soldiers to the river.

When I came to the river, it was getting dark, and I saw that beside the bushes along the river, under the blown out birch trees, in the craters and trenches, there were hundreds of people sitting everywhere, but it was very silent, and no one could be heard talking loudly.

The iron bridge over the Don was broken in half in the middle, and the iron bridge near our side was not blown up, and there were still four holes left, but the left bank of the Don was completely blown up and submerged into the river. The pier at the ferry mutinied, with a number of wrecked boats and a motorboat that had been broken through the side of the ship.

A motorboat slowly approached the dock, and the commanders and fighters sitting on the ground near the dock quickly got up from the ground when they saw a ship coming, and rushed over like a tide.

At this time, a group of political workers appeared out of nowhere, shouting loudly, directing the commanders and fighters who were crowded together to board the ship. Under their organization, the originally chaotic scene quickly became orderly, and the commanders and fighters lined up in a neat queue and boarded the motorboat in turn.

I was curious about the political workers who maintained order, and wondered if they were the leading cadres from various regions that General Biliukov had mentioned, so I walked over to them.

Coincidentally, a chubby political worker saw my appearance and also came over with two fighters. Still far away, he asked loudly: "Is Comrade Oshanina coming from the other side?" ”

Hearing the political worker on the other side call out my name, I couldn't help but be stunned, and looked at the other party carefully for a long time, as if I had never seen each other. Looking at the other party's collar badge again, it was actually a regiment-level political commissar, and he hurriedly quickened his pace, walked in front of him and saluted, and said respectfully: "Hello, comrade regiment-level political commissar." I am Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, Acting Commander of the 678th Regiment of the 214th Infantry Division, and I am at your disposal. ”

The regimental political commissar returned the salute and then extended his hand to me. He shook one hand with me, patted the back of my hand affectionately with the other, and said with a smile: "Comrade Oshanina, you may not know me yet." Let me introduce myself, I am Kirillov from the Central Committee, the new head of the political department of the 62nd Army. ”

The affectionate behavior towards him made me feel a little uncomfortable, but it was difficult to break free of his hand, so I had to smile awkwardly and said, "I'm sorry, comrade political commissar at the regimental level, I don't seem to have seen you before, I don't know how you recognized me?" ”

Kirillov replied: "You have been to the Kremlin twice before, and I met you at that time. You know, there are not many female officers in the army, and I've been told that you'll lead your troops to cover our crossing. So as soon as you appeared, I recognized you. (To be continued......)