Less than half an hour later, the operator handed over a newly received telegram to Romanov. Seeing that Romanov's face was blue and his hands were shaking incessantly after reading the telegram, an ominous premonition suddenly rose in my heart, and I quickly stood up, walked up to him, and asked nervously: "Comrade General, what happened?" At the same time, he reached out to pick up the telegram in his hand.

Romanov glanced at me, handed over the telegram, and said, "The information is from the troops we sent to the town of Stunned. As far as we learned from our interrogation of the prisoners, ten kilometers southwest of the city, there was a town called Stunned, in which a company of the Eastern Battalion was stationed, and I sent a battalion of the 171st Division, disguised as Germans, to disarm them. ”

I didn't look at the phone handed to me by Romanov, handed it to Kirillov casually, and asked: "Did the enemy see through the troops we went to disarm?" ”

After hearing this, Romanov shook his head and said: "I think there should be none, according to the commander below, as soon as they entered the town, the sentries on the street opened fire to warn, and the two firing points at the entrance of the town also opened fire, wounding seven or eight of our soldiers. ”

"Comrade General, do you mean that the defenders of the town, as soon as they spotted our troops, decisively opened fire?" When I heard him say this, I thought something was a little strange, and I began to ask for details: "Did our soldiers shout at them and report their disguised German numbers?" ”

Hearing my question, Romanov took off his hat, scratched the back of his head, and then replied: "After the enemy opened fire, our commanders and fighters immediately took cover and reported to them the number of our camouflage, but the other side not only did not stop firing, but the fire was more fierce anyway, and even used mortars." ”

"Could it be that the camouflage of our troops has been seen through by the enemy?" Kirillov after reading the telegram. Puzzled, he asked, "But I don't think it's like it, as soon as our troops appeared, the enemy opened fire on them." What the hell is going on? ”

I sat down at the table, trying to think about this strange thing, and felt that the reaction of the Eastern Battalion was too unreasonable. When they saw other troops appearing, they opened fire. It is also possible that the sentinel is nervous and sends the wrong signal. But their next actions were even more abnormal, especially after our commanders and fighters reported the fake German numbers, their shooting was even more violent, and even mortars were used.

After thinking about it for a long time, a strange thought suddenly popped up in my mind: The reason why this unit saw the appearance of the German army and opened fire was because it saw that the current situation was unfavorable to the German army. Do you have any plans to fight against the water in private? As soon as this thought came to me, my heart beat faster consciously.

I stood up and said to Romanov: "Comrade General, please immediately send a telegram to the commanders in the town of Stunned and ask them to show the enemy who we really are. ”

"What? Showing who we really are? Romanov was stunned by my earth-shattering news, and he was stunned for a while before he hesitated and asked: "Comrade commander, are you really sure you want to do this?" ”

"Execute the order. Comrade General. I nodded, and said to Romanov in a steady tone.

"Leda. Be cautious in this matter! Seeing that Romanov turned to carry out my order, Kirillov hurriedly stopped him, and then persuaded me: "Do you want to think again?" ”

"I've thought it through, Comrade Commissar." Although I thought that it would be unexpected to report our true numbers to the enemy, I couldn't explain it to the two of us for a while. So he waved his hand at Romanov and urged him: "Go and send a report, and when you shout to the enemy, tell them the number of our troops." ”

But Romanov nodded and went to send the news. Kirillov grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to sit down while whispering, "Leda, you're crazy." We are now trying to hide our whereabouts, but you have to tell our true name to a group of enemies who have betrayed our homeland. Is this appropriate? ”

"Comrade Commissar, our troops and the enemy in the town have exchanged fire, so even if we don't report the real number, then the battle will continue." At this point, I shrugged my shoulders and said disapprovingly, "In that case, why don't we gamble that this unit is firing at our troops, just because it wants to turn back." ”

"Anti-water?" When Kirillov heard my statement, he was stunned for a moment, and then retorted: "No. Although there were two troops of the Eastern Battalion who had surrendered to us before, this unit in the poor and remote areas probably had never heard of us, so how could they have the idea of opposing the water? ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, don't be impatient." Seeing the Romanovs walking towards us, I quickly diverted the subject and said: "Let's wait a little longer, we will soon know the answer, and now we must first find out how many towns around Obkoshiv have fallen into our hands quietly." ”

While waiting for a call back from the front, Romanov patiently told us about the towns around the city, which we had successfully occupied, how many defenders there were, which force it was, and so on.

When I waited for him to finish his report and was about to ask him which division he was going to arrange for the main force to attack Kyiv, the operator came to his side quickly and handed him the newly received telegram.

I knew that this telegram must have something to do with Stunned Town, and I hurriedly stared at Romanov nervously, trying to judge what the situation was over there from the change in expression on his face. Romanov quickly read the telegram, first with a look of astonishment on his face, and then quickly read the telegram with a look of joy on his face.

Seeing the joy on his face, I knew that the matter of Stunned Town might have been properly handled, so I asked with a smile: "Comrade General, is there any information about Stunned Town?" ”

Hearing my question, Romanov hurriedly handed the telegram to Kirillov and replied with a smile: "Yes, Comrade Commander. You've guessed it, it's news from Stunned Town. ”

Although I guessed that the enemy might have stopped resisting and surrendered immediately knowing the true number of our army, I still tentatively asked, "Has the enemy disarmed and surrendered?" ”

Romanov nodded again and again, and said excitedly: "When our commander shouted at the town that we were General Oshanina's troops, the enemy in the town immediately stopped resisting. And under the leadership of their company commanders, they came out to surrender to our troops. ”

Kirillov, who finished reading the telegram, waited for Romanov to finish speaking, and then said with a smile: "I didn't expect that Leda's reputation on the enemy's side is so big, as soon as her name is reported, the enemy will immediately disarm and surrender." ”

I was smiling. Listening to Kirillov say this, but his heart was very uncomfortable. My name was known to many mid- and high-ranking German commanders in the German army, but not much on our own side was known, so much so that every time I came into contact with a new commander, I had to introduce myself again and again.

I turned to Romanov and said: "Comrade General, since the troops of the Vostok battalion have surrendered, then inform our commanders. The officers and men of this company were dispersed into their units. By the way, and the company commander, immediately send someone to send him to me, I want to talk to him. ”

"Yes!" Romanov smiled and agreed, and walked over to the operator again, and instructed him to send a telegram to the commander of the town.

This time, Kirillov gave me a thumbs up as soon as the Romanov walked away. Heartily complimented, "Lida, you're amazing." I actually knew that as soon as the enemy heard our call, he would lay down his arms and surrender. Can you tell me how you figured it out? ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, this matter is very simple." Anyway, the dust had settled, and I had the leisure to explain to Kirillov why I had made that decision: "You may remember the original telegram. As soon as the town sentries spotted our troops, they fired warning shots, and the fire points outside the town opened fire. ”

"Yes, I remember it was written in the telegram." Kirillov nodded as he listened, urging me: "You go on with your judgment. I'm listening. ”

"If it was the initial firing, it was because of a misunderstanding. But when our troops reported a false number, and it was the number of a unit that had just been wiped out by us. In this case, the enemies in the town will not be able to judge whether the number is true or false. After hearing the report, I boldly judged that since the enemy still did not cease fire after hearing the call, and even increased the investment of firepower, then there was only one possibility left, that is, they were ready to fight back. ”

"Yes, Leda, you have a good point." When Kirillov heard me say this, he immediately came to his senses, and took the initiative to add to me: "No wonder you are so confident in ordering General Romanov to inform the troops to report the true number of our army to the enemy. ”

Romanov, who returned to the table, was about to smile and surprise, both Kirillov and I. Kirillov couldn't help but ask: "General Romanov, what is the happy event that makes you happy like this?" ”

"Commander, political commissar, it's really a great joy." Romanov put the telegram in his hand in front of us, and then said: "The company commander of the defection took the initiative to tell our commander that in the forest near the town, there was a hidden military warehouse left by our army in those years, and took the initiative to act as a guide, but our commander went to check it. ”

Romanov's words reminded me that when I led a small detachment to reconnoiter behind enemy lines, I also discovered a huge warehouse and armed four or five hundred rescued commanders and fighters with the weapons in it. Thinking that the war has been going on for almost two years, in the rear of the enemy, there are still our military warehouses.

I took a deep breath and asked Romanov in as calm a tone as possible: "Comrade General, what weapons and equipment are there in this hidden warehouse?" ”

"Comrade commander, if we equip our troops with these weapons, then the overall strength of the troops will be greatly enhanced." After Romanov said these words, in order to give Kirillov and me a more vivid understanding, he picked up the telegram and read the equipment data on it for us: "...... All the underground warehouses we found were full, fifty armored vehicles alone, thirty tanks, and two hundred trucks, all unused. Cannons, anti-tank guns, mortars, light and heavy machine guns, submachine guns, rifles. After a preliminary count, these weapons should have been equipped according to the standards of our two infantry divisions. The number of bullets, shells and grenades is currently being counted because they are too many. ”

After listening to the telegram, I suddenly got up from my seat and hurriedly ordered Romanov: "Comrade General, immediately send more troops over, and transport all this batch of weapons and ammunition as soon as possible." Especially tanks and armored vehicles, that's a good thing, when we attack Kyiv, if we have these technical equipment, then the process of the battle can be greatly accelerated. ”

After listening to my instructions, Romanov immediately reported his thoughts to me: "Comrade commander, I plan to send the 171st Division to receive this batch of equipment, and at the same time send the 22nd Tank Brigade over, after all, not everyone can drive tanks. Do you see anything else to add? ”

"What do you want to add?" Having repeated Romanov's words, I said jokingly: "Comrade General, have you forgotten that there are still all kinds of artillery in the warehouses? It just so happened that the artillery regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Kaverin did not have enough artillery, and it was just in time to hand over the captured artillery and anti-tank guns to them. This time, let's go to the troops that are ready to receive them, and then add Lieutenant Colonel Kavilin. ”

Romanov nodded, picked up the phone on the table, dialed the number one, and said into the microphone: "Hey, the headquarters of the 171st Division?" I am General Romanov, please call your division commander to answer the phone, I have an important task to give him. ”

Ever since hearing the Romanov report on the barrage of seizures, Kirillov was so excited that he grabbed my arm and shook it vigorously and said, "Great, Leda, this is wonderful." If our troops had this batch of equipment, even if they were in the enemy's rear for another month or two, it would be no problem. ”

"Comrade Commissar, haven't you been in the rear of the enemy enough?" I smiled and said to him: "What we have to do now is to seize Kyiv as quickly as possible, wedge a nail in the depth of the enemy's defenses, and keep them at peace day and night." As long as we can hold Kyiv, then the Voronezh Front and the Southwestern Front, which are in Ukraine, will be able to quickly rush over and join us. With Kyiv as a foothold, we will be able to send more troops over in a steady stream. In that case, the purge of the German army on the territory of Ukraine will be just around the corner. (To be continued......)