After Boroda gave the order to mobilize the troops, he asked me worriedly: "Comrade division commander, what do you think the scale of the enemy we are going to block this time will be?" ”

I thought about it, then shook my head and said, "I don't know. We alarmed the Germans when we rescued the prisoners of war, and they sent a company of troops to pursue us. After being blocked by the second company on the edge of the swamp, the air force was dispatched to retaliate against us. Based on these circumstances, they had at least one division of troops stationed near the village of Pyatnitsa, otherwise their air force would not have been dispatched so quickly. If the Germans had not figured out what we were doing and had only attacked tentatively, they might have sent only one infantry battalion with tank cover. If the Germans wanted to destroy us, maybe they would send a regiment. As for how many German attacks we will eventually face, it all depends on the final decision of the German commanders. So, I can't say exactly how many enemies we're going to stop. ”

Boroda stubbornly asked: "If the Germans put in a regiment of troops, plus the cooperation of aircraft and tanks." So, will our army be able to hold the existing positions? ”

I waved my hand and said categorically: "If you can't keep it, you have to keep it!" If we were to be broken through by the Germans here, the flanks of the main forces of the army group would be completely exposed in front of the enemy's attacking forces. The other divisions, after a series of fierce battles, were already exhausted, and they were anxiously waiting for the higher authorities to replenish their troops, weapons and ammunition, and they could not stop the German attack at all. So we have to hold on. When the tank company arrived, one company was arranged on the position as a fixed battery, and the other company lay in ambush in the woods in front of the position, waiting for the enemy to attack. Sudden attack from behind. Disrupt the enemy's offensive steps. ”

Boroda still said uneasily: "If it's really as you say." The Germans dispatched the strength of a regiment, which could not be stopped by just two battalions on the position. You see, do we need to contact the commanders of the other two regiments and ask them to assemble the troops first, and if necessary, they can come and reinforce us. ”

Hearing him say this, I nodded and said, "That's a good idea. Immediately call the commanders of the other two regiments and ask them to draw two battalions of troops each, quickly move closer to the location of the division headquarters, Comrade Chief of Staff, when the troops arrive, leave them as division reserves, to the south of the village, and then decide when to put them into battle according to the changes in the situation on the battlefield. ”

Boroda agreed, and immediately got up and went to call the other two regimental commanders.

At this time. Captain Gusev entered the house with a report, saluted me and reported: "Comrade Division Commander. We're back. ”

I stood up and saluted him and said, "Come with me, I have a task for you." With that, he took the lead and walked outside the headquarters.

Walking outside the headquarters, I saw that almost all the soldiers had already gotten out of the car and were helping the health workers carry the wounded to the medical station. Seeing the chaotic team, I frowned slightly, turned my head and asked Gusev, who was standing behind me: "Comrade Captain, do you still have extra weapons and ammunition in the guard battalion?" ”

When Gusev heard my question, he was stunned for a moment, but then he immediately came back to his senses, looked at the busy soldiers, and replied to me: "The division headquarters has replenished a new batch of weapons and ammunition a few days ago, which is enough to arm them. Speaking of this, he added: "The truck that came to pick us up just now carried a lot of food, and they have already been allowed to eat." ”

"That's good! You immediately take the second company to get the weapons and ammunition and arm these fighters. We're going to have a war soon, and one more person is going to have more strength. ”

Gusev agreed, ran out of the city and shouted: "Second company, urgently assemble." Following his command, the soldiers of the second company, who were mixed in the crowd, quickly ran out and formed a neat queue in front of him. Seeing that the troops had been assembled, he gave the order to go to the left and walk in unison, and led the troops to the place where the munitions were stored.

Seeing that many of the wounded were being taken to the medical station, I was concerned about Vaskov's injuries and walked through the crowd and into the medical station. There were stretchers everywhere in the medical station, and with the constant stream of fighters inside, I couldn't see where Vaskov was at all. Since I couldn't shout loudly here, I had to keep pulling the hygienists who passed me and asking them if they had seen Lieutenant Vaskov, and they all told me no.

Just when I was about to despair, I suddenly heard Ulanova's voice: "Leda, are you looking for someone here?" ”

When I saw that it was Ulanova, I was overjoyed, grabbed her clothes, and couldn't wait to ask: "Ulanova, I'm looking for a wounded man named Vaskov, I wonder if you've seen him?" ”

"Vaskov?" When Ulanova heard this name, she was visibly stunned for a moment, then shook her head and said: "There are so many wounded today that I can't figure out whose name is what. By the way, Leda, what does he look like? ”

I recalled Vaskov's features and described it to Ulanova: "He had an old complexion, looked like he was in his forties, and had two big beards. ……”

Before I could go into more detail, Ulanova suddenly said, "So you're looking for him, I saw him just now." Was he a lieutenant with a wound in the back? ”

Listening to the details of what Ulanova said, I shook her shoulder again and again and asked, "Great, so you really met him." Do you know where he is now? ”

Ulanova pointed to the middle of the medical station and said, "He has just been admitted to the operating room, and the military doctor is operating on him." ”

I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when I heard that Vaskov had entered the operating room. Seeing this, Ulanova asked curiously: "Lida, are you familiar with this comrade lieutenant?" ”

I nodded and replied, "Yes, I'm familiar with him." When I was an ordinary warrior, I used to be his subordinate. He took good care of me and even saved my life. He is not only my benefactor, but also my brother. Speaking of this, I gently patted Ulanova on the shoulder and softly begged her: "The army is about to fight, and I may go to the front to command, so I ask you to take good care of him for me." ”

Ulanova knew about my friendship with Vaskov, so she agreed very cheerfully: "Don't worry, Lida, I will take care of him." ”

Then I went to visit Bulda, who had been wounded in the leg, and when he heard that there was going to be a war, he insisted on staying in the infirmary to treat his wounds, and found a cane and limped after me out of the infirmary.

Gusev was very efficient, and by the time Burda and I came out of the medical station, he had already returned with the second company with munitions, and placed guns and ammunition in the open space.

I nodded at Gusev with satisfaction, and then ordered him: "Comrade Captain, let all the soldiers who are not wounded come and assemble." ”

Gusev agreed, and immediately asked his subordinates to gather all the rescued fighters. From a certain point of view, the Soviet army is indeed a well-trained unit, although everyone belongs to different units, but as soon as they see a commander giving orders, the effect of the usual queue training is immediately apparent, and in just a few minutes, more than 400 soldiers are lined up in a neat phalanx.

I was very satisfied to see how quickly the troops had assembled together. I walked to the front of the line and glanced at the soldiers standing in the line, and saw that they had passed by the truck for a short rest and replenishment, and their morale and spirit were very different from a few hours earlier.

I shouted at them and asked, "Comrades, did you feel humiliated when you were taken prisoner by the enemy?" ”

As soon as these words came out, the soldiers standing in front of me lowered their heads one after another, and some of them were bold, and they secretly looked up at my face, trying to find out what I meant by asking this.

At this time, Gusev quietly came to my side, leaned close to my ear and whispered: "Comrade division commander, if you say this, it will affect the morale of the soldiers." ”

I nodded, and whispered to him, "I know that this is what I want from them." Then I raised my voice and said to the soldiers, "Now there is an opportunity to wash away your shame, I wonder if you are willing to grasp it?" ”

"Comrade Major," said one of the fighters in the ranks, "as long as you can wash away the shame of our captivity, you can let us do whatever we want." ”

One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and his words immediately resonated, and the soldiers in the queue shouted in a chaotic manner: "Yes! Comrade Major, you can let us do whatever we want. ”

I raised my hands and pressed them down, and when no one spoke, I continued: "In a few hours, this place may be attacked by the Germans, and in order not to become prisoners of the Germans again, I beg you to take up arms again and fight the fascist bandits who are armed to the teeth." Remember, it's not just about defending our homeland, it's about your honor! Seeing that there were already people in the queue eager to try, I said in a loud voice: "Brothers, in order to wash away your shame, for the honor of the Soviet army, and for the immortal feats you are about to establish, go to the clearing and take up your weapons!" ”

"Ulla!" I have to say that the slogan shouted by Captain Gusev at this time made people's blood boil at once, and those soldiers all rushed to the open space, lined up in a neat long line, and received their respective weapons from the hands of the soldiers of the second company.

Seeing this new force, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief in my heart, turned to Gusev, and said: "Comrade Captain, after these fighters are organized into a battalion, you will send all the deputy positions of the guard battalion at all levels to the newly organized unit, the deputy battalion commander will be the battalion commander, the deputy company commander will be the company commander, the deputy platoon commander will be the platoon commander, and the deputy squad leader will be the squad leader, understand?" ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Gusev excitedly agreed, and ran towards the ranks of fighters who had received their weapons. (To be continued......)

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