One enemy plane was shot down, and the remaining three enemy planes quickly pulled up, climbed to a certain height, and began to circle in the air. Perhaps it was the sudden downing of their companion's plane without warning that they were so frightened that they flew over the Don for half a day and did not dare to dive-bomb or strafe our positions again. The three planes circled in the air for a few more minutes before finally turning around and heading south.

Colonel Sazhin looked outside and said lightly: "The enemy plane has finally flown away. Comrade Political Commissar, Oshanina, let's go, the three of us go to the front and take a look at the sailor soldier who shot down the plane. ”

I saw that Panchenko nodded in agreement, so I did not object, and silently followed the two of them, walking along the traffic trench to the forward position. After all, the appearance of senior commanders on the positions had just ended a battle was also an encouragement to the morale of the commanders and fighters.

We quickly passed through the second line of defense and walked into the traffic trench leading to the first line of defense. As I walked, I suddenly noticed that the traffic trench in front of me had disappeared out of thin air, and I couldn't see any shadow at all, and if I hadn't walked through it several times, I would have thought I was in the wrong place. Now this section leading to the position is more than a foot deep of empty soil, and a few of us have to step on the accumulated soil, one foot deep and one foot shallow.

Seeing that the traffic trench was blown up, Panchenko couldn't help but scold angrily: "Hmph! These damned Germans have flattened this trench with shells and bombs, and they still don't know what the trenches on the front of the road have been blown up again. ”

Colonel Sazhin, who was at the forefront, turned to him and said: "Comrade Political Commissar, although the enemy has attacked our position with such heavy fire, they have not been able to advance a single step. Their frantic attacks were all repulsed by our valiant warriors. ”

I finally walked more than 200 meters of dirt road. Came to the trenches of the sailor barracks. Many places of the trenches here have been blown up. The sailors are hurrying to repair the fortifications. Seeing our arrival, the sailors stopped their work one after another, stood up straight, their backs against the wall of the trench, and raised their hands to salute us. As soon as we passed, they continued to swing their tools and get busy.

We walked along the trench for a while before we came to the command post. At this time, the sailor captain was staying in the house with several of his men. Something is being discussed. As soon as we walked into the command post, the sharp-eyed captain spotted us and quickly stood up while shouting: "All stand up." Then he ran to Colonel Sazhen, saluted him with a snap, and reported: "Comrade division commander, the sailor battalion is in the process of summarizing the post-war and is waiting for your instructions." ”

Sazhin nodded, walked straight to the table and sat down, and beckoned me and Panchenko to sit down. Then he pressed his hands to the bottom of the bow and beckoned everyone: "Commanders, comrades." You're welcome, sit down. ”

After everyone sat down, Sazhin asked the captain of the sailor with a pleasant face: "Comrade Captain, let's talk about it." What was the outcome of the battle that just ended? And how many casualties did our troops have? ”

The captain wanted to stand up and answer, but as soon as he got up, he was stopped by Sazhen, who raised his hand and pressed it again and again, and told him: "Comrade Captain, you don't have to stand up, just sit down and talk." ”

After the captain sat down again, he replied earnestly: "Comrade division commander, in today's battle of our battalion, our troops lost 48 people and 115 were wounded. Although our casualties were not small, the enemy's casualties were greater than ours, and the corpses of the enemy left in front of our positions alone exceeded a hundred, and if we add those who were killed by our artillery near the pier, the enemy casualties were about three hundred. At this, the lieutenant's eyes moved to me and said gratefully: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, fortunately you gave the order for the troops to retreat in time, otherwise, the attacking troops would have suffered heavy casualties." ”

Sazhin nodded with satisfaction, praised the captain and said: "Good job, Comrade Captain, you fought very well and deserve to be praised by the whole division." By the way, I also saw that you shot down an enemy plane, I wonder where is the hero who shot down the enemy plane? Invite him to the command post, I want to meet him. ”

The lieutenant hurriedly stood up and said, "Comrade division commander, please wait a moment, I will send someone to call him immediately." Then he walked to the door and shouted outside, "Herald, herald." ”

As he shouted, a young voice from outside replied, "Comrade Captain, what instructions do you have?" ”

"Go and call Sergeant Kruglov. You tell him that the division commander wants to see him, and tell him to rush to the command post immediately. ”

"Yes!" The warrior replied loudly, and then I heard footsteps in the distance.

The lieutenant turned around and reported to Sazhin: "Comrade division commander, I have already asked him to call him, and I believe that he will soon be able to rush to the command post after receiving the order." ”

"Let's wait for him here. By the way, Comrade Captain, a few of us came here, didn't you even give you a cup of tea? ”

The lieutenant smiled embarrassedly, and hurriedly ordered one of the commanders to carry the teapot, and he took three clean teapots and placed them in front of us. After his subordinates brought the teapot, he personally poured the tea into the cup in front of us.

"This tea is good, it's delicious." After taking a sip of tea, Saren said with a smile, "It's just that there is a little too much sugar." ”

Without waiting for the captain to reply, suddenly there was a shout of "report" outside, and the captain walked over, and after a while, he led Sergeant Kruglov over. Colonel Sazhin was introduced: "Comrade division commander, this is Sergeant Kruglov, who used an anti-tank gun to knock down the enemy's planes. ”

Kruglov raised his hand and saluted Sazhin: "Hello, Comrade Division Commander. After saluting, he stood still, with a sincere smile on his face, his head slightly bowed, his eyes staring at his feet, and he looked very restrained.

"Hello, Comrade Kruglov," Sazhin stood up and took his hand and greeted him affectionately, "it was you who brought down the enemy plane, amazing, amazing!" ”

Then Panchenko also stepped forward to hold his hand, shook it vigorously and said: "Comrade Kruglov, you played well today." We all saw in the observation post that after you shot down the enemy planes, the remaining enemy planes were scared away. ”

Kruglov's face immediately turned red. He may not have received such a high-level commander's face-to-face praise. In a hurry, I couldn't find the right words to answer. So he opened his mouth a few times, but he couldn't speak.

Seeing that he was a little restrained, Sazhin hurriedly turned his gaze to me and ordered: "Comrade Oshanina, I think it is up to you to announce the commendation decision we just discussed. ”

I stood up, walked up to Kruglov, looked at him with a smile and said, "Comrade Kruglov, there is a heroic performance of you in today's battle. and the great results achieved. At the suggestion of the division commander, Colonel Sazhen, the political commissar agreed. Feel unusually promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. ”

As soon as these words came out, except for me, Sazhin, and Panchenko, the rest of the people were taken aback. I looked at the stunned Kruglov in front of me and deliberately asked with a straight face: "What's the matter, Comrade Ensign." Don't you know what to say after Lu Dao is promoted? ”

Only then did Kruglov come back to his senses, he hurriedly stood upright, raised his hand to give me a solemn military salute, and shouted loudly: "Serve the Soviet Motherland." Always loyal! ”

Panchenko struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Ensign, I hope you are in the future battle." can make new contributions to the motherland. ”

When Panchenko finished speaking, the onlookers of the sailors gathered around and stretched out their hands to Kruglov to congratulate him on becoming an officer.

In a joyful atmosphere, Kruglov also seemed a little more natural than just now. At the beckoning of Colonel Sajen, everyone sat down around the wooden table again. Sazhin continued the topic just now, and said with great interest: "Commanders, please be quiet, I think it is better to ask Second Lieutenant Kruglov to talk about his experience in fighting planes!" ”

"Yes, Comrade Ensign, talk about your experience." Panchenko echoed in.

I thought of the special meaning of jerking off in the afterlife, and I couldn't help but laugh. Sazhin turned his head, glared at me dissatisfied, and urged Kruglov: "Tell me, Comrade Second Lieutenant. ”

"I, I'm ......" Kruglov was already close to normal, but I laughed at him, and became nervous again, he stammered for a long time, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then held back a sentence, "I, I don't have any experience." ”

"Second Lieutenant Kruglov, don't be nervous, just talk about it." I knew that he was very nervous, so I interjected next to him, "The people sitting in front of you are your commanders, and if you think of anything and say anything, even if you say something wrong, no one will blame you." ”

Hearing me say this, Kruglov seemed much calmer, he thought for a while, and said: "When the enemy plane swooped down on me, I didn't think about anything else, I just thought that I couldn't let the enemy plane be too arrogant, and I pulled the trigger with an anti-tank gun at the enemy plane, but I didn't expect it to be knocked down like this." ”

Panchenko excitedly asked again: "Comrade Kruglov, if the first shot misses, will you shoot the second one?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commissar." Kruglov smiled innocently again and said, "I just think that the enemy's planes are too arrogant, flying almost close to the ground." Even if I don't fight, maybe some other fighters will open fire. ”

Everyone listened to what Kruglov said with relish. Panchenko said to everyone: "You see, because of Comrade Kruglov's resourcefulness and bravery, he was able to shoot down the enemy plane with an accurate grasp of the fighter. I hope that everyone will learn from Comrade Kruglov and use more brains in battle to better destroy the enemy. I'm done talking. ”

As soon as the words ended, the room burst into warm applause.

Sazhin stood up, raised his hand to look at his watch, and said, "Okay, comrades commanders, let's stop here." I, the commissar and Comrade Oshanina and I should go, and you can continue the meeting. ”

Returning from the front line to our observation post, I said to Sazhen: "Comrade division commander, I have an idea, I don't know whether to say it or not? ”

"Tell me, I'll hear what's going on."

"I think we should report the results of the battle just now to our superiors."

"Report to your superiors?!" Sazhin lowered his head in contemplation and did not speak, but Panchenko hesitated and said, "We have only destroyed less than three hundred enemies, is it worth reporting to the superiors of Lu on this point?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commissar." I said categorically, "Due to the recent poor situation of our army, it can be said that it has lost everywhere, and the morale of the commanders and fighters has inevitably been affected. Now the higher authorities urgently need a victory to achieve the goal of stabilizing the morale of the army and boosting morale. ”

Hearing me say this, Panchenko was also a little moved. He turned his head and asked, "Comrade Division Commander." I think Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina has a point. We should report our results to our superiors immediately. After all, our troops held their positions under the double blow of the enemy's aircraft and artillery, and destroyed more than twice as many enemies as them, and I think such a result is acceptable to the superiors. ”

Sazhin nodded, stood up, and shouted outside, "Signal soldier! Signal Soldiers! ”

With his shout, a young communications soldier ran in. After raising his hand and saluting, he asked in a hoarse voice: "Comrade division commander, do you have any instructions?" ”

"Move the walkie-talkie here immediately, and I want to contact Comrade Commander."

The communications soldier agreed, turned and ran out of the command post. After a while, he and another soldier carried a walkie-talkie into the observation post.

After contacting Chuikov, Sazhin, who was barely persuaded by me and Panchenko, hesitated. Chuikov probably couldn't hear the voice, and shouted angrily, "Hey, Colonel Sazhen. Colonel Sazhin, are you there? Can you hear me? Speak! Feed. Feed! ”

Panchenko walked over and gently pushed Sazhin, who was in a daze, with his hand, and when he came back to his senses, he quickly agreed: "Hello, Comrade Commander. It's me, I'm Colonel Sazhen. I can hear you. ”

"I didn't say anything just now." Chuikov asked dissatisfied. Without waiting for Colonel Sazhin to reply, he continued: "Is there anything to report to me?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sazhin's mood quickly stabilized, and he reported clearly, "I would like to report to you the results of our division in today's battle. ”

"The result?! What kind of results. "Don't tell me that your troops have managed to withdraw from their positions after stubborn resistance." I remind you that any form of retreat without the permission of the higher authorities is not allowed, after Order No. 227 from the Supreme Commander himself. The commander who gave this order would be likely to be disciplined on the battlefield without trial. ”

Sazhin didn't care when he heard Chuikov speak to himself in this tone, but reported to Chuikov the results of the battle just now according to the advice I gave him. He said in a calm tone: "Comrade commander, not so long ago, the troops of our division, after fierce battles, crushed the attempts of the Germans to force their way across the Don. ”

Chuikov slowed down his tone and asked, "What are the results?" ”

"The enemy who landed on the left bank of the Don River, except for a few who fled back by ferry, the rest were wiped out by us, according to incomplete statistics, more than three hundred enemies were killed, and at the same time the soldiers shot down one of the enemy's fighters."

After hearing this, Chuikov was silent for a moment, and suddenly shouted excitedly: "Good job, Colonel Sazhen, what a good job!" You've done a great job! After shouting twice, he asked with some surprise: "I remember that your division doesn't seem to be equipped with any anti-aircraft weapons?" How did you get the enemy planes down? ”

"Anti-tank guns, Comrade Commander, were shot down with anti-tank guns." Sazhin calmly replied, "When the enemy planes bombed our positions, because they found that there was no anti-aircraft fire on the ground, they arrogantly strafed our positions with airborne machine guns against the ground. In a moment of rage, a sailor fighter fired an anti-tank gun at a low-flying plane. I didn't expect such a coincidence, and hit the enemy plane in one fell swoop. The hit enemy plane, dragging a long smoke ribbon, tried to flee the battlefield, but did not fly far before crashing on the right bank of the Don River and crashing a tank that was shelling our positions. ”

"How are you going to commend this fighter who shot down an enemy plane?"

Sazhin's eyes looked at me and Panchenko, and he replied with his mouth: "Comrade commander, in recognition of the great results achieved by this soldier, the proposal of the new division commissar Panchenko: to promote this soldier to officer. After being seconded by Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, I have personally promoted this soldier to the rank of second lieutenant. ”

"Excellent! Comrade Colonel, you are doing the right thing. Chuikov praised Saren again, and then added, "Since your division has been very tenacious since joining the war, you have achieved great results. A few days ago, having repelled several attacks by the enemy in front of them, they managed to jump out of the encirclement and break through to the left bank of the Don, reserving a considerable number of backbone forces for the army group. After studying, the command of the group army decided to give your division a verbal commendation. If you can maintain this momentum in the subsequent battles and achieve more results, then your division will be awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the glorious title of Guards Division. ”

"Guards Division?!" Hearing this honorary title, Sazhin was extremely excited, and his voice changed a little, "Please rest assured, Comrade Commander, our division will definitely strive to obtain this glorious title." ”

After Chuikov drew a big pie for Colonel Sazhen, he began to ring the alarm bell for him again: "Colonel Sazhen, the encircled troops of the 62nd Army have lost contact with the front army headquarters, and their fate is uncertain. I want to tell you that new and more severe tests are yet to come, and the situation on the battlefield will become more and more critical and worrisome because the enemy has the advantage in the number of aircraft and tanks. You have to be mentally prepared for any trial. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." (To be continued......)

PS: Bow and thank the book friends: the counterattack of the atomic nucleus, hzhang, @@@@@@@@, the Ocean Guard, and Marshal Linlin's monthly ticket support.