As soon as my words came out, they were met with collective opposition from everyone except Gaidar.

"No! Absolutely not! "The first one to jump out against it, as I expected, was Chuikov. From the perspective of loving me, he clearly objected to my whims, and he said earnestly: "Oshanina, you have to find out your own identity, you are not an ordinary soldier, but a commander, the commander of a division, how can you go to such a dangerous place casually to carry out a reconnaissance mission that soldiers can complete?" ”

"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, Comrade Deputy Commander is right. Your status is quite special, and in my opinion, you should not go on such a dangerous mission. "Lyudnikov also helped Chuikov persuade me, hoping that I would change my mind.

Titov was silent for a moment, then walked back in front of me, half persuading and half reproaching, and said: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, I can understand your feelings, it is good to actively seek battle, but you must also do what you can. Although I also participated in this reconnaissance operation, unlike yours, I am not only familiar with the area I am going to, but I also have ten or twenty years of combat experience, which is enough to deal with any contingency that may occur. ”

Even Gaidar's mouth opened a few times, as if he wanted to say something, but probably thinking of his own identity, in this case, he was not qualified to speak, so in the end he didn't say anything and obediently closed his mouth.

Several people care and love me, and I see it in my eyes and remember it in my heart. However, because this battle is the first battle after the establishment of the independent division, whether or not it can win is related to the future survival of this army, so I can't take it lightly. Only by personally going to the front line to conduct reconnaissance. Only then can we accurately grasp the enemy's situation. In order to develop a more practical battle plan.

I know it's in command. Chuikov is the decision-maker, and if he is convinced, all opposition will disappear. It was also I who smiled and said to him: "Comrade commander, you also know that the battle to recover the settlements was the first battle after the formation of the independent division. I considered what the enemy's defenses were like in the settlements, what I had seen with my own eyes. More detailed and accurate than what the scouts reported. I would like to go with Commissar Titov tonight to the forest near the settlement, and I will lurk there and take advantage of the daylight to observe it well. ”

"However, it is too dangerous for you to run near the enemy's position to reconnoitre." When Chuikov heard me say this, his tone softened, and he did not object as vehemently as he had just now.

"Comrade Commander, when I went to inspect the troops with you some time ago, didn't I encounter danger several times? Could it be that going to the front line to reconnoiter would be more dangerous than the enemy situation we encountered at that time? ”

Chuikov seemed convinced by my words. After hesitating for a long time, he held back a sentence: "Oshanina." Look, are you thinking about it again?! ”

"Don't think about it anymore, Comrade Commander." I resolutely said to Chuikov: "I have thought it very clearly, I must go to this reconnaissance in person." Speaking of this, I suddenly realized that my tone of voice to Chuikov was a little too strong, and I quickly slowed down my tone and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely come back alive and sound." ”

Chuikov looked at me and smiled bitterly: "I believe this." As far as I know, you have been seriously injured several times, and sometimes even give people the impression that you can't be saved, but until now, you are still jumping and jumping. Well, since you have been insisting, then I agree to your request. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, this is ......" Lyudnikov and Titov did not expect Chuikov to change his position so quickly, and opened his mouth to persuade a few more words, but as soon as he spoke, he was interrupted by Chuikov. Chuikov looked at them and said confidently: "I am also concerned about chaos, since Comrade Oshanina said that she will be safe, then she will definitely come back safe and sound." Comrade Titov, make a little preparation, and then let's go. It's just over two hours before dawn. ”

I was afraid of long nights and dreams, so I hurriedly took Titov's arm and dragged him out, while urging in my mouth: "Comrade Political Commissar, the commander is right, there is not much time left until dawn." If we do it any longer, when the day dawns and our whereabouts are discovered by the enemy, then it will be dangerous. ”

Titov didn't expect that I would suddenly drag him out of the command headquarters, so he had to look at Chuikov and Lyudnikov standing in the room with a bitter face, and finally explained: "Deputy commander, division commander, I will set off with Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina." Later, I'll go to the guard company and pick two clever fighters to go with me. ”

"Two is not enough, at least five!" Chuikov said coldly.

After being stunned for a moment, Lyudnikov also echoed and said: "Yes, the deputy commander is right, two is not enough, at least five." Remember, pick all the burly ones, so that if something happens, they can carry Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina back. ”

As soon as Lyudnikov's words were finished, Chuikov burst into laughter, and even Titov, who had a stern expression, grinned. I smiled and looked at Lyudnikov, who was concerned about my safety, and just when I wanted to thank him, I suddenly remembered something else, quickly stopped, let go of Titov's arm, walked back to Chuikov, and said: "Comrade commander, there is something I forgot to report to you. ”

"What's the matter?"

"My guard squad, the one you sent me, is out on standby. I want them to be under your command for the time being, and when I return from my reconnaissance mission, you will return them to me. ”

Chuikov nodded without hesitation and said, "Okay, I'll send someone to settle them later, and when you return along the way, let them escort you back to the independent division." ”

"Thank you, Comrade Commander." After saying that, I raised my hand and saluted him Chuikov.

Chuikov took my hand, shook it vigorously, and said with concern: "Oshanina, I will always be here for you. Promise me that you will come back alive! ”

Although the scene felt a bit of life and death, it did not shake my determination in the slightest, and I nodded vigorously and replied confidently, "Please rest assured, commander." I will definitely come back safely. "Let go of Chuikov's hand. I shook Lyudnikov's outstretched hand again. Shake it vigorously.

Out of the command headquarters, when Titov went to the guard company to pick out the accompanying soldiers, I deliberately came to the place where the guard squad was located. I said to Vera, "Vera, I'm out on an important mission, and I may not be back until tomorrow night. ”

Hearing me say this, Vera became a little flustered, and she asked nervously, "Leda, if you leave." So what are we going to do? ”

Vera's reaction. I was disappointed in her again, perhaps because she was too young to take on a position of independence. When I come back, I'll consider changing someone to be the head of the guard squad.

I gently patted her on the shoulder and comforted her, saying, "Vera, don't worry. General Chuikov will send someone to settle you, and when I return from my mission, you will accompany me back to the independent division. ”

As he was talking, he heard Titov's voice from a distance: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, are you ready?" If it's good. It's time for us to go. ”

I hurriedly promised in the direction from which the voice came: "Comrade Commissar, you are ready." I'll be there right away. After saying that, I pulled Vera over, hugged her gently, and said softly, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon." ”

I, Titov, Gaidar, and five fighters of the guards company came along the communication trenches to the first trench of the division. A lieutenant greeted me and, after one look at me, raised his hand to salute Titov and reported: "Comrade Political Commissar, I have received a call from the division headquarters, and I have been ordered to meet you. ”

Titov shook his head at the lieutenant and said, "Time is pressing, let's talk as we go." With that, he walked along the trench.

I heard Titov ask: "Comrade lieutenant, how is the situation?" ”

"It was quiet in front of the position, there was no movement at all. The outposts we put out did not find any traces of the enemy in the vicinity. Comrade Political Commissar, I think it should be safe to cross the front line at this time. ”

Titov patted the lieutenant on the shoulder and said with satisfaction: "Well done, comrade lieutenant, it seems that you have done a good job of preparation." If this mission can be completed smoothly, I will definitely praise you in public. ”

After walking a little further, the lieutenant who led the way stopped first. Pointing to the front of the trenches, he said to Titov: "Comrade commissar, in this area neither the enemy nor the enemy has sent patrols. From here, you keep walking forward, and after walking for about an hour, you will reach the forest. ”

"Thank you, Comrade Lieutenant." Titov shook hands with the lieutenant, then turned around and said to our group in a low voice: "All right, comrades, climb out of the trenches here. ”

There were quite a few craters on the road leading from our trenches to the forest, but fortunately the moon was good tonight, and the view was very open, so we were able to ensure that we did not fall into these craters without lighting.

On the march, I walked with Titov. Looking at the bright moon in the sky, I couldn't help but ask with some concern: "Comrade commissar, we will not be discovered by the enemy if we walk on the road with such a swagger, right?" ”

Titov waved his hand and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, rest assured that although the enemy occupies the settlement, they seem to be lax in their vigilance in the vicinity. ”

"Why?" Titov's words puzzled me very much, knowing that the enemy army is stationed not far from our defense line, and if the defense is lax, is it not afraid that our army will counterattack them when it is unexpected?

Titov pointed to the north and said with feeling: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, in fact, this has something to do with you. Since the division carried out your order to conduct a non-stop attack on the enemy with small units, the enemy's attention is now drawn to the north by the troops of our division. It was the junction of our Army Group and the 62nd Army, and it was also the area where the fighting took place most frequently. ”

As we spoke, we unwittingly came to the lurking place. From the outside, the forest area here is no smaller than the one where the independent division is stationed. Seeing a forest of this scale, I feel a lot more at ease, not to mention that there are only eight of us, that is, eighty people, if it is not too big, it is not easy to be found by people hundreds of meters away.

The spot where we lurked, behind the bushes at the edge of the forest. I was in a group of Titov, lying behind the most front bushes; Gaidar and another group of fighters lay behind the bushes on our left; The other four fighters were hidden in a more inward position. So that in the event of a battle. It can cover our retreat into the depths of the forest.

It's just dawning. I couldn't wait to hold up my binoculars and look at the settlement a few hundred meters away. At the very edge of the settlement, there is a low, stained wooden house, which is supposed to have been built by the collective farm workers themselves. A little further in, there are several three-storey brick and concrete buildings, perhaps not after fierce fighting, so the windows of most of the rooms are still intact.

"Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, what did you find?" Titov asked softly next to me. "Have you found enemy firing points and fortifications?"

I shook my head and said, "I can't see anyone in the settlement. After saying that, he handed the telescope in his hand to Titov and asked him to come and see it.

While Titov was observing the enemy's situation, I turned my head to look at Gaidar, who was hiding not far away. When he was spotted holding up his telescope to observe for a while, he put down his telescope and drew a few strokes on a piece of paper; Pick up the binoculars and look at them, and draw a few more strokes on the paper.

Looking back at Titov, he was holding a telescope, engrossed in observing the settlement. At the same time, his mouth was like talking to himself and to me, "Look, these. How cunning. Outwardly, there is not the slightest anomaly in the settlements, but on the roof of each building there are points of enemy fire. ”

"Really? I didn't find out just now. "I have some doubts that Titov has seen it clearly.

"See for yourself." As he spoke, Titov handed me back the telescope, and at the same time told me: "When you look, look carefully at the top of each building, and see that the little square holes in the roof are not skylights, but shooting holes built by the enemy. ”

I raised my binoculars and looked carefully at the tops of several buildings, and found that as he said, several roof tiles had been carefully removed, revealing a few small square holes, which I really couldn't find if I didn't look closely. I can't help but secretly sigh that ginger is still old and spicy, and if it weren't for Titov's coming, I would definitely not have found the enemy's firepower.

I put down my binoculars and humbly asked him: "Comrade commissar, except for the fire point on the roof. Did you also find any other points of enemy fire? ”

Instead of taking my binoculars, Titov pointed to the settlements and again pointed at me: "Look at the row of low, colourful wooden houses, if I guess wrong every time, the enemy should have dug up a single bunker around the huts." The settlements are surrounded by open fields, and in the event of an attack, the enemy's rooftops and single bunkers can be fired at the same time, forming a network of crossfire and inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking troops. ”

After listening to Titov's words, I looked at Gaidar not far away with some concern, fearing that he, like me, would not be able to detect the enemy's hidden firepower, so I handed the telescope to Titov and climbed towards Gaidar.

When I climbed up to Gaidar's side, I asked with concern: "Comrade Captain, how are you observing?" ”

"Comrade division commander," Gaidar replied with a little excitement, "I have marked all the observed points of enemy fire on the map. ”

"Show it to me." As I spoke, I held out my hand to him.

"Comrade division commander, please look!" After Gaidar handed me the drawings he had drawn, he lay down next to him and explained them one by one: "These Germans are really cunning, on the surface they see nothing special about this settlement, but their firepower points are all built in hidden positions. For example, on the tops of these brick and concrete buildings, there are hidden firing points; Around these colorful wooden houses, there are also quite a few enemy bunkers. Once we attack, the enemy's fire points will open fire at the same time, and we can form a three-dimensional firepower network and kill and injure a large number of our attacking troops. ”

Hearing what Gaidar said, the same as what Titov had just said, I knew that there should be no difference. When I returned the drawings to him, I admonished: "Comrade Captain, continue to observe. All the enemy's firing points are marked, and the position can be accurate. With that, he crawled over to Titov.

Crawling back to Titov's side, I could not help but say with emotion: "Comrade commissar, you are amazing, what you said is exactly the same as what Captain Gaidar observed. ”

Titov smiled at me in a friendly manner, and then asked with a stern expression: "Comrade Oshanina, knowing the enemy's strength and firepower in the settlement, how do you plan to attack?" You know, according to the current situation of our army, it is impossible to provide you with sufficient artillery support, except for a small number of tanks! In that case, if you want to capture this settlement, the casualties of your troops will definitely be indispensable. ”

In fact, when I was looking at Gaidar's drawings just now, I had a detailed plan in my mind, and there were no outsiders anyway, so I didn't hide it from Titov, so I said to him straight to the point: "Comrade commissar, I plan to use the night to gather the attacking troops in this forest. Before the attack is launched, smoke grenades are fired into the settlements, relying on the smoke to block the enemy's view, allowing the assault force to quietly approach the settlements, and then launch a surprise attack, quickly rushing into the buildings and engaging the enemy in a battle for the buildings. ”

Although I said it very simply, it also silenced Titov for a long time. After a while, he smiled and said, "This is a good idea, so that the troops will not be killed by enemy fire when they are assembled." Occluding the enemy's view with smoke grenades, allowing troops to sneak closer to the settlements and then launch a surprise attack is a novelty. ”

As we were talking, we suddenly heard Gaidar's voice in a low voice next to us: "Comrade division commander, an enemy armored car has come out of the residential area and is driving in our direction!" (To be continued......)