Hearing that we were going to stay here to rest, the regimental chief of staff hurriedly beckoned someone to bring steaming black tea and some simple food. After the soldiers had neatly placed their things on the table in front of us, the regimental commander waved them away with a wave of his hand.

I picked up the teacup, smelled the sweet aroma of tea, took a sip gently, and then asked the regimental commander who was standing at the table nervously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, has your regiment built fortifications nearby?" ”

Hearing my words, the regimental commander did not immediately answer, but turned his eyes for help to Kazakov next to him. When General Kazakov saw the reaction of his subordinates, he immediately understood what was going on, after all, neither Apanashchenko nor Kazakov had introduced me to him just now, and he didn't know my identity, so he didn't dare to answer casually about such a matter involving military secrets.

Kazakov smiled at him and said understandingly: "This is General Oshanina, a commissioner from the base camp, who is responsible for supervising and inspecting the construction of fortifications in our defense area, so you can report to her." ”

After receiving permission from Kazakov, the lieutenant colonel gave me a dry smile twice, and then said politely: "Comrade General, it is better for my chief of staff to report to you, and he has always arranged this work as a whole. ”

"Yes!" I nodded with a smile, turned my head to look at the major standing next to me, and asked politely: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the regiment, I wonder if you can tell me about the construction of your fortifications?" ”

The tall regimental chief of staff, who was in stark contrast to the stocky lieutenant colonel next to him, straightened his waist and said clearly after hearing my question: "Report to Comrade General, the 1st and 2nd Battalions are building fortifications on the south side of our regiment's defense area. …… Relying on the terrain, we dug several semi-circular trenches on the hills. A number of covered firing points were built in the trenches......"

After the regimental chief of staff finished briefing the situation, Apanashchenko said thoughtfully: "Maybe in the near future, we will have to fight a defensive battle with the Germans here, and the strength of the fortifications determines how long we can hold out here." ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Kazakov asked with a smile, "do we need to go and see it on the ground?" ”

Without waiting for Apanashchenko to answer. The lieutenant colonel waved his hand again and again and said: "No, no, comrade general, the situation there is very dangerous, and the enemy's artillery will fire cold artillery there after a while." ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Apanashchenko sneered at the commander of the regiment who dissuaded us, and said in a mocking tone: "Why, were you frightened by the enemy's cold artillery?" ”

Seeing that Apanashchenko was showing signs of anger, Kazakov hurriedly came out to play a round: "Comrade Deputy Commander." You have misunderstood what the lieutenant colonel meant, he is worried that we will be in danger if we go there. ”

"Yes, Comrade General, that's what I'm going to say." Seeing that the commanders of the group army were all talking for themselves, the red-faced lieutenant colonel hurriedly said: "If you want to know about the situation at the front, you don't need to go in person, I will call the commanders of the two battalions." I will report to you in detail, and the effect will be the same. ”

"Nope. No way. As soon as I was about to say a few words, Apanashchenko preemptively said what I was going to say: "I will personally go to the front to see the fortifications built by the soldiers. ”

Seeing that Apanashchenko was so stubborn, Kazakov had no choice but to say helplessly: "Since this is the case, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front, when I finish eating, I will accompany you on a trip." ”

Who knows after Apanashchenko listened. But he waved his hand at him and said, "No need, General Kazakov, just let the chief of staff of the regiment show me and General Oshanina later, you better go back to the army group headquarters." There's got to be a lot of things to take care of. ”

"Well, since that's the case, I'll obey your orders." Kazakov may really have something to do in the army group headquarters, and when he heard Apanashchenko say this, he did not shirk it, so he readily agreed.

After eating, Apanashchenko took the last sip of tea, put the teacup next to him, and looked up at the major who was standing straight at the table: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the regiment, let's take us to see what you have built here," Speaking of this, he turned his head to Kazakov next to him, and added: "I hope that the fortifications you have built will not make your comrades the commander of the group army lose their faces." ”

The three of us came out of the regimental command post, and Apanashchenko saw Yushchenko with the fighters of the guard squad surrounding him, and specially asked for my opinion: "Comrade Oshanina, let's walk to the forward fortifications and have a look, okay?" ”

Just as I was about to answer, the regimental chief of staff suddenly interjected and said, "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I am afraid that it will not be possible to walk here, so I have to take a car." From here to the garrison of the first and second battalions, it is seven or eight kilometers. ”

"Okay, then get in the car!" Almost at the same time as Apanashchenko gave the order, Yushchenko also heard this, and he immediately stopped and ordered the guards around him to get into the car.

The regimental chief of staff sat in the sidecar of a motorcycle and opened the way in front. The jeep in which Apanashchenko and I were in followed, followed by the truck in which Yushchenko and the soldiers of the guard squad were riding.

On the way, when I saw that there were no outsiders in the car, I asked Apanashchenko curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, do you still get along well with the commander of the Front Command?" ”

Although Apanashchenko was surprised that I would ask such a question, he answered truthfully: "It's okay." The commander, General Vatutin, was very kind to people, and when he spoke to anyone, he always had a smile on his face. As for Comrade Khrushchev, "when he said this, he stopped, and I nervously pricked up my ears, eager to learn more useful information from him about the future number one."

After glancing out the window, he continued: "Although Khrushchev was a member of the Military Council of the Front Army and had the rank of general, he mainly maintained the demeanor of a party worker in his dealings with others, and never used the word 'rank' or 'please report.'" Anyway, he is also a relatively easy colleague to get along with. ”

After listening to Apanashchenko's evaluation of Khrushchev, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief in my heart, and it seems that if I have the opportunity, I still have to deal with the future leader more, leave a good impression on him, and wait for him to reign in the world. My days should be a little more mixed.

We were still far from the fortifications, and our car stopped. I looked out the window and saw two lieutenants standing on the side of the road, talking to the regimental chief of staff who had just gotten out of the sidecar.

Through the introduction of the regimental chief of staff, I learned that these two lieutenants were the commanders of the first and second battalions, and that they had received a call from the regiment commander. Knowing that we were coming to inspect, they came to the side of the road to wait for us.

After shaking hands with the two lieutenants, Apanashchenko said expressionlessly: "Take us to see what you have built to see if it is satisfactory." ”

We inspected the fortifications of the 2nd Battalion first, with the 2nd Battalion Commander leading the way, Apanashchenko and I following him, the regimental chief of staff and the 1st Battalion Commander five or six paces behind us, and Yushchenko and the soldiers of the guard squad in the distance.

After the commander of the second battalion led us to visit the fortifications built by the second battalion, we came to the defensive area of the first battalion. Let's be honest. Although I was ordered to inspect the construction of the fortifications, I am a layman, and it is okay to see the excitement, and I really can't say what problems exist with the fortifications.

But fortunately, with Apanashchenko's help, I have a lot of peace of mind. He not only stood on the ground level to inspect the various firing points, but also walked into the trench and measured the height and width of the trench with his own figure. From time to time, he also knocked the wood of the fortifications with his fist to see if it was firmly fixed.

The inspection is almost done. Apanashchenko stopped and said to the commander of the first battalion, who was the guide: "Comrade Captain, your battalion and the second battalion are in good repair, not bad, very good. ”

I stood on the south side of the trench and looked into the distance, trying to see the German positions in the distance. As a result, apart from the wide plains, there was no trace of German fortifications at all. I beckoned to the regimental chief of staff, and when he stood beside me, I pointed to the distance and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I wonder how far this is from the German lines?" ”

"At least five kilometers apart. Comrade General. The regimental chief of staff replied very sharply.

I looked left and right, and there was a small dirt slope 100 meters away in front of the left, with a height of only twenty or thirty meters, a frontal width of only about 100 meters, and a depth of seventy or eighty meters.

Apanashchenko walked up to me and asked curiously: "Comrade Oshanina, what are you looking at?" ”

I pointed to the dirt slope I was looking at and said to Apanashchenko: "No, comrade deputy commander, there is a small dirt slope there, and it seems that the comrades of the 1st battalion are planning to convert it into a fire support point. ”

Apanashchenko glanced over there, and then said: "That's right, I also saw that it could be a fire support point, and when the enemy attacked the main position of the first battalion, he would inflict heavy casualties on the enemy from the flank." ”

After listening to Apanashchenko's words, I slowly shook my head and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't think it's wise to use this place as a firepower support point. ”

"Why?" Hearing me say this, Apanashchenko's brows furrowed, and he asked in confusion: "Comrade Oshanina, can you tell me your reasons?" ”

I pointed to the dirt slope in the distance and said to Apanashchenko: "Comrade Deputy Commander, look at it, the slope of that dirt slope is gentle and the area is narrow. The forces on it were less and could not play the role of striking at the flanks of the German army; If you put too many troops, you will suffer heavy casualties in enemy fire or bombardment. Since it is such an easy to attack and difficult to defend terrain, there is no need to build defensive positions on it. ”

"But, Comrade Oshanina." Apanashchenko retorted dissatisfied: "Do we just watch the Germans occupy it and turn it into a starting point for an offensive and do nothing?" ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, please listen to my explanation." Seeing not only the disgruntled expression on Apanashchenko's face, but also several other commanders gathered together and whispered to each other. I coughed and said loudly to them: "Although there is no need to build any fortifications on such small high ground that is difficult to defend at the front line, you can send a small force to carry automatic firearms such as submachine guns and machine guns to defend it. When the enemy attacks us, first kill the enemy as much as possible with firepower, and then disperse and conceal to withdraw to the main position. ……”

When I said this, I noticed that Apanashchenko's constricted brow was relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face, so he struck while the iron was hot: "When the enemy occupies a position and has not yet gained a firm foothold, then cover the high ground with heavy artillery fire, and then recapture the high ground with a counterattack." In such repeated tug-of-war, a large amount of the enemy's living forces are consumed. ”

"I see, I see." After hearing my words, the commander of a battalion next to him couldn't help but cry out excitedly.

The regimental chief of staff hurriedly came over and slapped him the back, and at the same time reprimanded him: "What are you calling blindly! ”

However, Apanashchenko waved his hand at the regimental chief of staff disapprovingly, and asked the battalion commander with a smile: "Comrade Captain, what do you understand?" Let's hear from all of you. ”

The commander of the first battalion glanced at us and said with some embarrassment: "The reason why Comrade General did not suggest that we build fortifications on the small high ground just now was because he was afraid that after the German army occupied the high ground, they would use these fortifications to put up stubborn resistance, thereby increasing the casualties of our counterattacking troops. ”

"That's right, Comrade Captain." I waited for the first battalion commander to finish speaking, and immediately gave him a thumbs up, while adding: "Although when the enemy attacks, we can only defend." However, we must not simply defend for the sake of defense, but also take advantage of various favorable opportunities to counterattack the enemy. Do you understand? ”

"Got it!" The regimental chief of staff and two battalion commanders replied neatly.

"Now that you understand, what are you doing here?" Apanashchenko apparently accepted my proposal, and immediately ordered the commander of the first battalion: "Comrade Captain, you still haven't sent someone to withdraw the soldiers who are repairing the fortifications, they have been busy for so long, and I believe they are also tired, so let them rest first." As for that dirt slope, you can leave a squad on guard. ”

"Yes, I'll give the order right away." The commander of the first battalion said yes loudly, then turned and left.

Apanashchenko walked up to the chief of staff of the regiment and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you have heard the words of General Oshanina. Seeing that the other party nodded in approval, he continued, "Since I heard it, I will immediately promote this new type of defensive deployment to all battalions, and abandon the fortifications on the small high ground that are not easy to defend at the front." ”

The regimental chief of staff waited for Apanashchenko to finish speaking, first nodded his head to show obedience to the order, and then complained to him: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front, because our unit has not been formed for a long time, the equipment is very poor, although every soldier has a weapon in his hand, but there are very few automatic weapons such as submachine guns and machine guns, I don't know when the superiors will be able to change our equipment?" (To be continued.) )

PS: Bow and thank the book friend for the bad OnLine, liup8, standing and soaring, colin_? , Poor Road Flying Bear, xxxxxxjj, _C_J_ children's shoes two votes support! Thanks to the book friends Africa back cat, zxx479, a kui, trance fish, wzzhnag68, xxxxxxxjj, jackkk2007, Mu Yan ABC, Liu Dapeng, hypp1014, Luoxia's lonely bird, old godfather, allih children's shoes for the valuable vote! Thanks to the book friend He Ba Zixin, Beizhen Fu Commander, HYPP1014, Liu Dapeng, Trance Fish, *囗口囗*, L599XL Children's Shoes Tips!