When Kirillov and Bandeleyev and I walked out of the headquarters, we found that hundreds of commanders of all levels had gathered outside, and when they saw us coming out, Akhromeyev, who had come out a little before us, immediately shouted at them loudly. After waiting for these commanders to form a neat phalanx, he left the ranks and walked quickly in front of us, raised his hand and reported to me: "Comrade division commander, the commanders of the regiments participating in the battle have been assembled. ”

I nodded and walked briskly to the front of the group. I did not feel any nervousness in the face of the black oppressive phalanx, and I stood in the center, my eyes slowly swept from right to left, and made the necessary stops at the head of each column. The reason why I did this was because when Bandeleyev privately taught me the skills of leading troops, he said that the silent communication of eyes must be taken seriously, and whether a commander looks at his subordinates or not has a great impact on the psychology of his subordinates. Before he told me this trick, I didn't understand the mystery of eye contact, I often stood in the middle, my eyes only looked at the three or five rows of people in the middle, and I habitually added the word "please" in front of the command to take a break, how to establish my authority? People who don't come into my sight will feel left out; And the people I watched were afraid that their military appearance would be untidy and that they would be looked down upon, and the whole team was actually loose and collapsed mentally. But after receiving the true biography of Bantai Leyev, my gaze swept like this, as if I had given the phalanx chicken blood, and all the commanders straightened their backs, and their eyes moved with me.

After walking two times in front of the phalanx, I stopped and shouted to the commander in front of me: "Comrades. I think it's clear to everyone. The situation in Stalingrad is bad at the moment. Very bad, especially the brutal fighting in the factory area, which has not stopped for more than a week. ”

"Comrade division commander, give the order." As soon as I said this, someone in the team suddenly said loudly: "All of our commanders and fighters are ready for battle and can enter the battle at any time. ”

I looked over to the place where the voice came from, and saw that it was Major Terenkov, the acting commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Regiment, who was speaking. Knowing that it was because he did not understand the situation that he mistakenly thought that I was going to lead them into the city, he hurriedly corrected him and said, "Major Terenkov, we are going to fight, but not to the city, but to turn north." ”

"Going north?!" My words were like sprinkling a handful of salt on a hot pot, and the phalanx suddenly became lively, "Go north, what are you going north for?" You know, the fiercest battles are fought in the city. ”

"Yes, the north side of Mamayev Hill is full of enemies. If we go north in such a hurry, isn't that going to death? "The one who said this. I could not have guessed that it must have been the commanders of the first or third regiments, because they had all held on the high ground to the north and knew some about the enemy.

Seeing that the scene was getting out of control, Pantai Laiev walked quickly to my side and shouted at the top of his throat: "Quiet, quiet, everyone quiet!" When the voices in the queue became quieter, he angrily criticized the commanders, "Comrade commanders, please pay attention to your identity. They are all people who lead troops, don't they know that when their superiors speak, they should be quiet at all times? ”

After seeing that the team was silent again, I said unhurriedly: "The regimental commander has come out of the ranks, come to me, and I will convey today's task to you." ”

Following my command, the commander of the 1st regiment, Sederikov, the deputy commander of the regiment, Ilya, the commander of the 3rd regiment, Godunov, the deputy commander, Vatorak, and the six battalion commanders under their command all rushed to my side. After glancing at the commander beside me, I said in a stern tone: "Comrades, the higher authorities ordered our division to transfer troops to the north in order to join forces with the troops of the Don Front going south, and to force the enemy, who was attacking the factory area, to have to transfer troops to stabilize their rear. ”

"But what about the enemy from the north?" Godunov asked worriedly: "In the past, there were three divisions on the front of our division, and even if they were all transferred, there would be other troops, and we were two undertrained regiments with no heavy weapons. ”

I stared at the grumbling Godunov and said coldly: "Comrade Major, I think you should know that the fighting style of our independent division has always been different from that of other troops, and my aim has always been: if you can fight, you will fight, and if you can't fight, you will leave. In an area as large as the north, the enemy's forces are limited, and it is impossible to deploy them everywhere, so we have to find ways to penetrate through the gaps in their defenses. ”

"However, comrade division commander, if we are discovered by the enemy's armored troops, the troops will not be able to block the attack of the enemy's tanks in the open steppe." When Godunov learned of the task, he seemed to feel frightened, and he vigorously emphasized in front of me the difficulties that he might encounter.

I glared at him dissatisfied, and suddenly I heard someone shouting at me in the distance: "Commander, commander!" ”

The voice was so familiar and loud, but I couldn't remember who it was in a hurry.

"Division commander, isn't that the commander of the third regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Koska, his injuries are healed?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, is it the original commander of the Third Regiment?" Akhromeyev and Bandeleyev, including Kirillov, who were next to him, had never seen Kosgaard, so he asked Basmanov, who was cheering, curiously: "Captain, is it the commander who walked in front?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commissar, that's Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard." After Basmanov finished speaking, he shouted together with several guards around him: "Hey, Commander Koska, we are here!" ”

I fixed my eyes and saw that the commander who was walking up the traffic trench was indeed Cosgaard, and he was followed by two lieutenant officers. Seeing my subordinates return from injury, I was excited, excited, and surprised at the same time.

After a while, Kosgaard came to me, raised his hand and saluted, and said politely: "Report to Comrade Division Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, the commander of the Third Regiment, has returned from injury, please instruct!" ”

I didn't return the salute, but stepped forward and grabbed his hand, and said excitedly, "Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, this is such a surprise, I thought you were still recuperating in the military hospital." You fell from the sky, didn't you? ”

Kosgaard replied with a smile: "Comrade division commander. I didn't fall from the sky. I was discharged from the hospital and came from the east coast by ferry. At this point, he looked around, then lowered his voice and asked, "Is there a combat mission?" ”

"Yes, our division will soon send troops north to join forces with the troops of the Don Front going south." After a brief introduction to the mission, I asked with concern. "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, are all your injuries healed?"

"Okay, all right, thank you for your concern." Speaking of this, he suddenly stopped, pointed at Kirillov and them, and asked strangely: "Commander, who are these people?!" ”

When I heard this, I remembered that he and Kirillov didn't know each other, so I took the initiative to introduce him: "Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard." You don't know them yet, do you? Come, let me introduce you. This is Comrade Kirillov, the political commissar of the division, who turned out to be the director of the political department of the group army; This is the deputy division commander, Colonel Bandeleyev, from the new division; This major is Comrade Akhromeyev, who is from the Volkhov Front and is currently the chief of staff of the division. ”

After listening to the introduction, Kosgaard hurriedly stepped forward to salute and greet several people one by one. When he was done, he walked back to my side and pleaded in a sincere tone: "Comrade division commander, I have been idle in the hospital for a month or two, since I have caught up with the troops to carry out the mission today, can you let me go with me?" ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, your injury is just not long ago, and you can't exercise vigorously," Akhromeyev politely rejected Kosga's request on my behalf, out of concern for his health: "I think you should stay and rest more." ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can't say that." Listening to Akhromeyev's words, Kosgaard became a little anxious, and he tried his best to retort, "Although I have just left the hospital, my injuries have long healed, and it will definitely not affect the battle." Speaking of this, he turned his gaze to me for help, "Commander, what do you think?" ”

For Kosgaard's request, I secretly thought in my heart, although he had been away from the team for a while, but the control of the third regiment was still quite high, especially the commanders of the first and second battalions, which had more veterans, were almost all promoted during his tenure as regimental commander, and his prestige was much higher than that of Major Godunov, the acting commander of the regiment, and besides, I was very dissatisfied with the timidity and hesitation that Godunov had just expressed in his words, since someone was willing to take his place, why should I not do it? So I went along with the boat and said, "Well, Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, since you are bent on taking part in the battle, then I will grant your request, and you will continue to be the commander of the third regiment, and lead your troops to set off with me." ”

"Division commander, division commander," Hearing that I had reappointed Kosgaard as the commander of the third regiment, Godunov was a little anxious, and he hurriedly reminded me: "Comrade division commander, I am now the commander of the third regiment, if Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard is reinstated, then what should I do?" ”

After glaring at Godunov, I replied: "Comrade Major, if the 1st and 3rd regiments leave, the settlements will be empty, and if the enemy takes advantage of the opportunity to sneak attack, not only will a wedge be inserted in the rear of our division, but at the same time the security of the Volga docks will be threatened at any time." So I decided to let you stay with three battalions and take care of the defense of the settlements. Do you understand? ”

"Got it!" Godunov feebly agreed, then saluted me, returned to the phalanx, took the commander of the third battalion, and went down the hill in disgrace.

After briefly explaining the tasks to several regiment and battalion commanders, I continued: "Comrade commander, are the tasks clear? ”

"Clear." Everyone replied neatly.

"Okay, now that the mission is clear, let's go back and gather troops." When I said this, I looked up at my watch and added, "We'll leave in twenty minutes." The marching column consisted of the first and second battalions of the third regiment in the front, the troops of the first regiment in the rear, and the troops of the fourth regiment and the third battalion of the fourth regiment in the middle. ”

But when the others had left, Kosgaard and the two lieutenants who had come with him stood still. I asked him curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, who are they?" ”

After looking back, Kosgaard explained to me with a smile: "Report to the division commander, they are the commanders of the 51st Army, the troops were crushed in the battle and were withdrawn to the rear for reorganization, and they wanted to come to the battlefield, so they came with me. ”

After hearing what Kosgaard said, I looked at the two young commanders curiously and asked, "What are your orders?" ”

The two men stepped forward in turn and reported:

"Captain Rosenberg, former company commander of the 51st Army."

"Captain Dubrovsky, commander of the 51st Army in situ."

Hearing the ranks and positions of the two, I nodded with satisfaction, and then said to Kosgaard: "Very well, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. After the death of the commander of the first battalion of your regiment, this position has always been held by Major Godunov, and now let Senior Lieutenant Dubrovsky be the commander of the first battalion. As for this Captain Rosenberg, you also find him a position in the first battalion, and if there is a vacancy in the post of company commander, let him be the company commander; If there is no position, he will be wronged to be a deputy company commander first. ”

Hearing my arrangement, the three of them were overjoyed, raised their hands in salute, and turned to leave. I looked at their backs and saw that something was wrong, Captain Rosenberg seemed to be walking with a slight limp, and I quickly stopped them: "Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, wait a minute." ”

The three of them stopped and looked at me blankly, and Kosgaard asked in surprise: "Comrade Division Commander, do you have anything else?" ”

I held out my hand to him and said in a businesslike tone, "What about your discharge certificate?" Show it to me. ”

Hearing the "discharge certificate" from my mouth, the three of them suddenly became a little flustered, and their actions made me even more suspicious, and I asked solemnly: "Did you sneak out of the hospital before your injuries were healed?" As I spoke, I pointed to the uniforms of Dubrovsky and Rosenberg, "Although Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard is wearing a lieutenant colonel's uniform, the two of you, one wearing a second lieutenant's uniform and the other wearing a lieutenant's military uniform, can't it be someone else's military uniform that you took with you when you slipped away?" ”

Kosgaard, who had been torn apart by me, laughed embarrassedly, lowered his voice and explained to me: "Comrade division commander, all the commanders and fighters of the division are fighting tenaciously against the fascist invaders, how can I, as a regiment commander, lie in the hospital all the time?" Every day, listening to the rumbling of artillery outside, I was eager to immediately return to my unit and direct the fighters to destroy the fascist bandits who rushed to the city. ”

I could understand Kosgaard's eagerness to fight, but I didn't know if his body could adapt to the next long run, so I couldn't help but hesitate. At this moment, Kirillov's voice sounded in my ears: "Comrade Oshanina, since Comrade Kosgaard's mind is no longer in the hospital, even if you send someone to send him back, it is estimated that in a few days, he will try his best to sneak out again." ”

Seeing Kirillov stand up to help Kosgaard speak, I dismissed the idea of letting them go back to the hospital to continue recuperating from their wounds, and only asked with concern: "Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, we will have a long march in the coming days, are you sure your body can handle it?" And the two of you, are you okay with your body? "The last sentence I asked Dubrovsky and Rosenberg.

When the three of them heard my question, they nodded again and again, and expressed their determination to me one after another: "Comrade division commander, please rest assured that we have no physical problems at all, and we promise not to hold the troops back." ”

"Well, in that case, you can go back and gather your troops."

After all the commanders had left, Akhromeyev walked up to me, handed me a map, and said: "Comrade division commander, according to the information fed back by the reconnaissance detachment, I have found that there is a fortification that our army built before on the south side of the city of Gorodyche, which is not currently guarded by the Germans, and you can get through Guò from here. ”

I took the map, looked at the location he had marked, and casually asked, "How far is this fortification from the enemy's garrison south of the city?" ”

"It's about two kilometers, and if the troops are in the dark, it is not easy for the enemy to find out." After answering my question, Akhromeyev offered to build a yì: "I feel that after the passage of the large army, a small force should be left to occupy the position and go into a defensive position in order to prevent the return of our army from being cut off by the enemy. (To be continued......)

PS: Sincerely thank the book friend for the two votes of the dead piggy children's shoes! Thank you book friends for voting for children's shoes!