Less than five minutes later, a strange screech was heard in the air, followed by an arrow-like flash of fire that pierced the sky. I knew that this was the Guards rocket artillery battalion that opened fire on the enemy. Although rocket artillery was still a strictly secret weapon in this era, I knew better than anyone else how powerful it was.

The rockets and artillery shells streaked a beautiful rainbow in the air, and then disappeared into the ranks of the enemy attack in front of our positions, and then a terrible rumble sounded there. Dozens of rockets blasted a sea of fire within a radius of several hundred meters, and not only the German infantry was blown to pieces, but even the tanks were overturned and torn apart in the violent explosion like papier-mâché toys, turning them into piles of burning scrap metal.

"It's amazing!" A voice suddenly sounded next to me, and when I turned my head, I saw that the two hygienists who had helped Lelyushka bandage were standing next to me, also admiring the masterpiece of rocket artillery, and I couldn't help but call out for a while.

"How's the situation with the commander?" I asked the two fighters in front of me with a straight face, and at the same time glanced at Lelyushonka, who was lying on the marching bed. Seeing his ruddy complexion and steady breathing, it seemed that there should be no danger to his life.

"Report Comrade Major." One of the hygienists replied: "Comrade Commander's wound has been bandaged, and the bleeding has stopped. We just injected him with morphine, and it won't be life-threatening for the time being. However, for the sake of his health, he should still be sent to the rear hospital for treatment as soon as possible. ”

"Well, when the battle is over, I will arrange a few soldiers to send the commander to the rear with you."

"Yes!"

"Major Leda." Lelyushka's weak voice came from the side, his eyes half-open, and he slowly raised a hand. I hurried to his bedside, half-squatted beside him, grabbed his raised hand, and said with some excitement: "Comrade Major General, are you awake?" Do you hear the rumbling of cannons? That's our new rocket launcher. ”

"Well," he said, nodding with difficulty, "I hear you." I've heard of this kind of powerful artillery for a long time, but unfortunately I haven't seen it, this is a strictly secret technical equipment, in order to keep Borodino, the command has invested a lot of money. ”

The phone on the desk rang, I stood up, picked up the microphone, and said, "I'm Major Oshanina, the commissioner, where are you?" ”

"Report to the commissioner, I am the commander of the 230th Reserve Regiment, the German troops in front of the position have been crushed by the artillery fire just now, can we attack?"

"Who's calling?" Without waiting for me to answer the other party, General Lelyushchenka next to me preemptively asked. I covered the microphone with my hand and whispered to the general: "It's a call from the commander of the 230th Reserve Regiment, and he asks if he can take the opportunity to attack." ”

"Major Leda, what do you mean?" Instead of directly expressing his own meaning, Lelyushzyenka asked me a rhetorical question.

"I can't attack for the time being." I explained: "I just ordered the Guards rocket artillery battalion to make two salvos, which completed the first round. Although the power of rocket artillery is great, it is just that it takes too much time to reload, and it is estimated that it will take half an hour before the second salvo can be fired. ”

"Understood." The general nodded, closed his eyes and continued, "Then you will take full command on my behalf." I'm tired and want to take a break. ”

"Yes!" I agreed, let go of the hand covering the microphone, and gave an order to the commander of the reserve regiment: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't attack for the time being. However, it is better to let the soldiers be ready, and wait for the second round of artillery fire of our army, and then attack on all fronts. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Commissioner." After speaking, the other party put down the phone.

I put down the phone and stood in front of the lookout hole to check the situation on the battlefield, although the shelling just now contained the German offensive, but they still showed no signs of retreating, if only the 230th Reserve Regiment was sent to attack with a large number of casualties, it would be difficult to receive results, on the contrary, they might be wiped out by the superior German army.

I thought twice about it, walked over to the table, grabbed the crank of the phone and shook it vigorously a few times before picking up the microphone. The voice of the female operator came from the microphone: "Hello, where do you want?" ”

"Pick me up Colonel Porosuhi." After a while, Colonel Porosuhi's voice came from the other end of the telephone line: "I am Colonel Porosushi, who are you?" ”

"Hello, Comrade Colonel, I'm Major Oshanina." I first identified myself with him, and then gave him the battle order: "I have taken over the command of the army group. In another half an hour, we will carry out a round of artillery fire on the Germans. As soon as the shelling is over, you immediately lead your troops in a counterattack on all fronts. Do you understand? ”

Listening to my words, the other party was silent for a moment, and then replied decisively: "Understood, Comrade Major. ”

Then I gave the same battle order to the commander of the 4th Tank Brigade, Colonel Karrotov, and to the commanders of several other units.

After giving the order, I looked at General Lelyushonka, who was lying on the marching bed with his eyes closed, and felt that it was a little inappropriate to make his own decisions on such a big matter, and it was better to ask for his opinion, so I walked up to him and whispered to him: "Comrade Major General, I plan to organize a counterattack, do you think it is appropriate?" ”

"Now you are in command of the group army, everything is up to you, and I will support you unconditionally." Although he said that he supported me, I still had no bottom in my heart, thinking that this would not be another impulse, so it was better to call Zhukov to ventilate and be safe.

I dialed Zhukov's phone, and when I heard his familiar voice, I couldn't help but be nervously speechless. He didn't hear someone talking here for a long time, and he couldn't help but be a little impatient: "Who the hell is it, speak!" ”

"It's me, Comrade General!" I replied timidly.

"Oh, it's Leda." Zhukov's laughter came from the other end of the microphone, and he teased me: "Have you seen the power of rocket artillery?" Did the huge explosion freak out you? ”

"Georgy Konstantinovich!" I called Zhukov the honorific title and said solemnly: "I have something important to report to you, and I would like to hear your opinion." ”

"If there's anything, just say it." When he heard me say this, his tone became serious.

"I intend to organize a counterattack by the troops of the army group and restore as many lost positions as possible."

After listening to my words, Zhukov was silent for a long time, so long that I thought he hung up. I asked tentatively: "Comrade General, are you still there?" ”

"Tell me your reasoning?" He said dryly.

"I feel that we should change the existing combat mentality, we cannot hide in the trenches as before, and we will be happy if the Germans do not attack; When the Germans attacked, we resisted to the death and did not retreat a single step. I think we should have resisted when the Germans attacked. If the Germans do not move and stop the attack, then we do not have to wait passively, do not rejoice when there is a chance to catch their breath, and take the initiative to look for fighters to attack the enemy. ……”

"Well said," Zhukov said very dryly. "Since you have such an opinion, then go ahead and do it, and I will support you. Also, I have sent an ambulance to you to take General Lelyushinka to the hospital in the rear. ”

As soon as I put down the phone, General Lelyushchenka opened his eyes and asked me with concern: "What does Comrade General say, does he support your plan?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Major General. General Zhukov has already agreed to my battle plan. I replied very happily, and then conveyed to him what Zhukov meant: "Comrade General has specially sent an ambulance to pick you up, and it will be there soon." Then I instructed the two hygienists: "You two should take care of General Lelyushka responsibly, and when an ambulance comes, escort him to the rear." Do you understand? ”

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!" The two hygienists replied in unison.

"Then let's see you again, Comrade Major General. And I," I grabbed General Lelyushonka's hand, shook it gently, and said, "I'm going to the front and personally direct this counterattack." ”

"Huh?!" Hearing me say this, Lelyushchenka was taken aback, grabbed my hand tightly, and persuaded me: "Lida, you are a commander, you can't just run to the front line, it's too dangerous there." ”

"It's because of the danger that I should go. As a commander, you should take the lead and charge ahead, so as to boost the morale of the soldiers. Seeing that my attitude was so resolute, he knew that no matter what he said, he would not make me change my mind, so he let go of my hand and said with concern: "Be careful, we will see you again after the war." ”

"See you again, Comrade Major General." I straightened up, saluted him, turned and ran out of headquarters.

Before going to the forward positions, I went to the place where Lelyushchenka was wounded and looked for the submachine gun that was lost there. Although the Soviet army was equipped with a large number of Bobosha submachine guns in the latter part of World War II, this weapon has only recently appeared, and a total of only 100 units have been produced.

As luck would have it, as soon as I got to the burning German tank, I saw my submachine gun on the ground. Hurriedly stepped forward a few steps to pick it up, hung it around his neck, and then turned around and strode towards the position of the 230th regiment.