Before I could answer, there was a faint sound of gunfire in the distance. It's not too loud, but for me, it's like a thunderbolt exploding around me.

I hurriedly shouted, "Stop!" ”

With my shout, the driver slammed on the brakes, and the huge inertia made my body almost hit the back of the seat in front of me. I propped up the back of the chair in front of me with my hands, listened intently to the faint sound of gunfire outside, and at the same time said to Kirillov and them: "Commissar, lieutenant colonel, you two listen, is there a firefight somewhere?" ”

Sederikov listened attentively and immediately shouted: "Oops, no, this sound is coming from Lutsk, could it be that the troops who sneaked up there were discovered by the Germans?" ”

Hearing Sedelikov say this, my heart became even more flustered, and I hurriedly raised my hand and patted the driver's shoulder, urging him: "Driver, hurry up and drive, and immediately rush to the army headquarters." ”

The driver, under the guidance of Sederikov, drove quickly along the wide street, and in a short time stopped at the entrance of the Romanov's army headquarters. As soon as the car stopped, I immediately pushed the door and jumped down, trotted into the building, and hurriedly stood at the door to salute the commanders and fighters, and I didn't have time to pay attention.

When I ran out of breath to the military headquarters, I found that there was a mess inside, and the communication soldiers on the wall, some shouting into the microphone, some were sending telegrams ticking. In front of the wooden table in the middle, there was a large group of commanders, who were nervously discussing something.

I stopped and looked at it for a moment, then walked quickly behind Romanov and asked in a loud voice: "General Romanov." What happened? ”

Hear my voice. The commanders standing at the table turned their heads in unison. I was the one who saw the visit. Romanov hurriedly walked towards me, nodded, and reported to me: "Comrade commander, after our troops entered Lutsk, they found three small patrol boats parked by the river, and they planned to go up to disarm the enemy. Unexpectedly, the troops on the ship were not the Wehrmacht in general, but the SS. So when our fighters tried to board the ship. was immediately rejected by the other party. Captain Khrushov, who led the group, was afraid of long nights and dreams, so he ordered to forcibly board the ship, and the soldiers swarmed up, ready to kill all the enemies on the patrol boat with daggers, bayonets and shovels.

When our fighters forced their way aboard, the German soldiers on guard saw the troops and immediately opened fire on our fighters. As soon as the shots rang out, our whereabouts were completely revealed, so the soldiers of the first battalion also returned fire, and soon killed a dozen SS soldiers on board.

But in this way, the sound of gunfire alarmed the German troops in the nearby barracks. The enemy immediately realized that they had been attacked by us and rushed out of the barracks. Shooting began towards our troops.

Seeing the failure of the sneak attack, Captain Khrushov decisively changed the sneak attack into a strong attack, and ordered the first company to act as a guard in other directions, and the second, third, and fourth companies organized firepower to launch a strong attack, preparing to resolutely destroy the enemy in the barracks.

The German commander saw that our army's offensive was fierce, and while directing the troops to resist stubbornly by relying on the fortifications in the barracks, he also called the nearby troops for help. After the capture of Obkoshit, we retained all the enemy's communication systems, leaving the trustworthy German defectors on guard, who had just received a distress call from Lutsk. ”

"How far is Lutsk from the nearest town?" After listening to Romanov's report, I asked angrily: "Will such a big movement by the river alarm the nearby enemy?" ”

After listening to my question, Romanov showed an embarrassed expression on his face: "Comrade commander, Lutsk is only three or four kilometers away from Blyukin, and I think that even if the SS in Lutsk did not ask for help from the defenders of Blyukin, the enemy in the town of Blyukin, as long as they are not deaf, will definitely be able to hear the sound of gunfire coming from the Lutsk River." ”

"What did you do after this happened?" I asked in a stern tone.

"Report to Comrade Commander," came out of the crowd the commander of the 2nd regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, who respectfully reported to me: "As soon as I heard the sound of gunfire coming from Lutsk, I immediately sent that battalion of Captain Trushin to the river to reinforce Captain Khrushov. ”

"Lieutenant Colonel, have you ever thought that if Bryugin's defenders sent a large force to attack our troops in Lutsk," I heard Oleg say that it was actually Captain Trushin's militia battalion that was sent to Lutsk for reinforcements, and I immediately said in an accentuated tone: "Do you think they can hold back the enemy?" My words silenced Lieutenant Colonel Oleg.

"Comrade Commander," a communications soldier quickly ran to Romanov's side and handed him a telegram he had just received.

After one glance, Romanov raised his head and said to me: "Commander, there is a small German force that has set out from Bryugin and rushed straight to Lutsk, apparently intending to reinforce the defenders of the city and flank one of our battalions. ”

"There should be a few armored vehicles in the city, so send them all out immediately." Although Romanov is now the commander of the army, at this urgent moment, I can't help but overstep the command, "With the support of armored vehicles, I believe that we can destroy Lutsk and the enemy reinforced from Bryukin in the shortest possible time." ”

"Yes, I'll arrange this immediately." After Romanov said this, he turned around and called a commander to explain the task to the other party.

After the commander who received the order left, I saw clearly that there were actually Bandelyev and Andryushchenko, as well as the newly appointed commander of the 171st Division, Colonel Gorokhov.

After Kirillov and I took their seats, we beckoned the rest of the commanders to sit down. After everyone was seated, I turned to Romanov and asked, "Comrade General, what are your plans when the defenders of Lutsk are completely annihilated by us?" ”

"What's going to be?" Romanov was stunned by my abrupt question, and after a while he said to me tentatively: "Because our army has had a fierce battle with the enemy's defenders in the battle to capture Lutsk. In this way, there is no need for us to continue to hide in Obukokhiv. I propose to take advantage of the fact that the enemy is not yet fully prepared. Launched an offensive on Kyiv overnight. ”

"Comrade Commander." As soon as Romanov's words were finished. "I think General Romanov is right when he says that we should launch an attack on Kyiv as quickly as possible and take Kyiv from the hands of the enemy before they come to their senses." ”

After listening to Bandereev's words, I couldn't help but sneer, and then said: "General Bandereev, I would like to draw your attention to one thing, which is in the city of Kiev. The Germans had 5,000 defenders and 70 tanks, and with the current strength of our army, even if we carried out a sneak attack, do you think we have a chance of winning? ”

Seeing the old man's deflated expression, Kirillov was a little unbearable, and hurriedly came out to play a round and said: "Lida, at present, the enemy has discovered our actions in Lutsk, and the defenders of Kiev are bound to strengthen their defenses. If so, even if General Rybalko's troops reach the designated place of attack. The Germans probably wouldn't have easily drained the defenders of the city. ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, don't be so pessimistic. There is still room for things to turn around. When I had said this, I saw that all the faces were surprised, and without waiting for them to ask, I took the initiative to speak: "General Bantaireev, in a moment you will personally call Captain Khrushov and tell him that once the enemy has been destroyed, he must find every means to seize the enemy's radio or other communication equipment. If there is a call from the Kiev side, Captain Grams's subordinates will answer them. ”

Romanov, hearing me say this, seemed to guess what I was thinking, and he asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, do you mean that we can make a fuss about it when the enemy calls or sends a telegram to ask what is happening in Lutsk?" ”

"Yes, Comrade General." Seeing that he understood my intentions, I nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "When the enemy asks, our fighters tell them that Lutsk has been attacked by a small group of guerrillas, and that after being reinforced by the Bulyugin troops, the invading partisans have been completely annihilated. ”

"Great, that's great." After listening to my idea, Romanov couldn't help but be amazed, and he said in a loud voice: "In this way, the German troops in Kyiv will not put too many troops in the defensive zone towards us." And as soon as General Rybalko's troops attack Bruvaria, the enemy will move forces from Kyiv to the area to resist the onslaught of our troops. After saying this, he turned sideways to a messenger and asked him to send what I had just said to Khrushov in the form of a telegram.

Since Romanov was now the commander of the 79th Infantry Corps, I could not overstep my responsibilities at will, so I entrusted him with full responsibility for commanding the battle.

When Kirillov and I were the only two people left at the table, he looked left and right for a moment, and then whispered to me: "Lida, do you think it is appropriate for your superiors to appoint General Romanov as the commander of the 79th Infantry Corps?" ”

I saw Romanov standing next to a walkie-talkie, talking to the commander below, and I lowered my voice and asked, "General Romanov was already a general at the beginning of the war. If he hadn't been captured halfway, but had stayed in the army, he might have become the commander of the group army a long time ago, and he would have been awarded the rank of lieutenant general at worst. ”

"I just wanted to talk about his capture," Kirillov said in a lower voice, "Don't you know that those commanders and fighters who have been captured must be examined?" This time he can be promoted to army commander, it is estimated that Marshal Zhukov made such a decision for the sake of your face. Have you never worried that he would defect when the situation was dangerous? ”

After listening to Kirillov's suspicions, I quickly shook my head in defense of Romanov: "Comrade commissar, you are thinking too much. Although I have not known General Romanov for a long time, I absolutely trust him. "When I said this, I was secretly saying in my heart that if the Romanovs had been traitors, in real history, they would not have been killed by the Germans in 1943. By the way, to dispel Kirillov's doubts, I also said in an accentuated tone: "Comrade Political Commissar, we have been together for a long time, you should understand how I see people." I am absolutely not wrong when I say that General Romanov was an excellent commander and that his loyalty to the Motherland is unquestionable. Please don't judge an important commander in a hypothetical tone in the future, which will chill him. ”

I heard Kirillov nod his head again and again: "Lida, I know you very well." Since you say so, then I will trust General Romanov unconditionally, just like you in the future. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Romanov walked briskly back to the table. I looked up at him and asked, "Comrade General, is there any good news for us?" ”

"Yes, yes, yes! Comrade commander, there is indeed good news. "According to the report of Captain Khrushov, with the help of Captain Trushin's battalion, they eliminated the enemy in the Lutsk barracks, and then turned around and annihilated the enemy reinforced from Bryugin. None of the captives escaped, and they managed to capture all their communications equipment. ”

"The enemies of Kyiv, have they been in contact with the enemies of Lutsk?" As soon as Kirillov waited for him to finish, he immediately asked nervously.

Romanov nodded again and replied: "I have been contacted, and Captain Khrushov, in accordance with your instructions, replied to the enemy, saying that there was a pro-German partisan detachment, and I don't know why there was a rebellion, and as a result, after a fierce battle, this unit has been completely annihilated. ”

"This Captain Khrushov is in good shape," I immediately praised Khrushov after listening to Romanov's report: "I believe that his answer will not arouse the suspicion of the Germans." While waiting for General Rybalko, the enemy will not find out about our main forces hidden in Obkoshive. By the way, is there any news for General Rebalco? ”

"Operator," Romanov straightened up, turned his head and shouted behind him, "do you have any news of General Rybalko there?" ”

The operator he called hurriedly took off his headphones, got up from his seat, and truthfully reported to him: "Report to Comrade Commander, for the time being, we have not received a message from friendly troops. ”

"Comrade operator, keep working." Romanov waved his hand at him and ordered: "As soon as there is news, report it to me immediately." (To be continued......)