The Istrian battalion passed through the checkpoint and walked two or three kilometers further. Sokov suddenly saw a jeep parked on the side of the road. There were several soldiers standing next to the car. One of them, a lieutenant, was leaning against him.
The car was smoking. Seeing Sokov's team approaching, the lieutenant quickly threw the unfinished cigarette butt in his hand on the ground and ran over quickly.
After several steps, the lieutenant asked loudly: "Is it Major Sokov?"
"Yes, I am Sokov." Sokov looked at the unfamiliar lieutenant and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant, which department are you from?"
"Hello, Major Sokov." After the lieutenant confirmed Sokov's identity, he raised his hand and saluted him: "General Malinin sent me to find you, please come with me." After that, he made a request.
Cove’s gesture of getting in the car.
"But, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov turned to look at his subordinates and said in embarrassment: "If I go with you to see General Malinin, what will happen to my troops?"
"Don't worry, my subordinates will take them to the camping site." The lieutenant turned around and called a staff sergeant and told him: "Comrade Staff Sergeant, take the comrades from the Istria Battalion to the camping site prepared for them.
Go."
After arranging the whereabouts of the troops, Sokov followed the lieutenant and got into the car. He asked the lieutenant who was driving for him: "Comrade lieutenant, do you know where General Malinin is?"
In response to Sokov's question, the lieutenant smiled and said: "Comrade Major, you will naturally know when you get to the place."
While the car was driving, the lieutenant glanced at the assault rifle held in Sokov's arms and asked curiously: "Comrade Major, are you holding the latest submachine gun?"
"No, it's not a submachine gun, it's a new assault rifle."
"Assault rifle?!" After the lieutenant repeated the word, he asked with some confusion: "I have never heard of this kind of weapon. What is it?"
"It's what everyone often calls an automatic gun." Seeing that the lieutenant knew nothing about this new assault rifle, Sokov took the opportunity to educate him: "It can shoot accurately at distant targets like a rifle;
It can also fire continuously like a submachine gun. It is very suitable for trial use in close combat, so I call it an assault rifle."
The lieutenant had obviously been on the battlefield and had a certain understanding of weapons. After Sokov finished speaking, he asked again: "I wonder what kind of bullets this assault rifle uses, rifle bullets or pistol bullets?"
"The rifle bullet is too powerful, and the recoil of continuous shooting is too great. The pistol bullet is too weak, and the penetration is not enough." Sokov replied: "This rifle uses a combination of rifle bullets and pistol bullets.
A 7.62mm short-barreled intermediate-power bullet that has the advantages of a bullet."
Seeing that the lieutenant wanted to continue asking, Sokov quickly interrupted him: "Comrade lieutenant, this weapon and the accompanying ammunition are still the secrets of our army. I can't say too much. Do you understand?"
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The lieutenant, who was about to continue learning about this new assault rifle, couldn't help showing an embarrassed expression when he heard what Sokov said: "I understand, Comrade Major, I just saw that this kind of gun is special, so I asked more questions.
Two sentences." After a pause, he asked tentatively, "I would like to ask, will this kind of gun be installed in the army in the future?"
"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant, I will certainly do it." Sokov, who comes from a later generation, naturally knows very well that the AK47, which is cheap, easy to operate, and has a strong structure, is the firearm with the largest production volume and the most widely equipped equipment.
He replied hesitantly: "Sooner or later this weapon will become the standard weapon of our army."
The jeep driven by the lieutenant drove into a forest and drove forward along a rugged path. After driving a few hundred meters further, he parked the car in front of a building with sentries standing guard at the door and windows.
.Then he turned to Sokov and said: "Comrade Major, here we are, General Malinin is waiting for you inside."
After thanking the lieutenant, Sokov opened the door and got out of the car. The sentry at the door blocked Sokov's way and asked politely: "Comrade Major, what can I do for you?"
"Hey, Comrade Sipiakin." Before Sokov could answer, the lieutenant who was about to drive away shouted to the sentry who stopped Sokov: "This major is a guest of General Malinin."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Major." When the sentry heard what the lieutenant said, he quickly apologized to Sokov: "I didn't know you were invited by General Malinin." After saying that, he stepped aside and made an invitation.
Posture, "After you enter the door and walk through the hall, turn right. The general's office is in the third room on the right side of the corridor."
Sokov walked into the building and followed the sentry's instructions to the door of the third room. Malinin was sitting behind a desk in the middle of the room, lowering his head and writing something, without noticing that Sokov
arrival.
Sokov hurriedly coughed lightly, and when Malinin raised his head upon hearing the sound, he raised his hand to his forehead and reported in accordance with the regulations: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Major Sokov has been ordered to come, please give instructions!"<
/p>
"Misha, you're here." Seeing clearly that the person coming was Sokov, a smile appeared on Malinin's face. He stood up and walked around the table, walked over and shook hands with Sokov, and then said apologetically: "I'm sorry.
, due to various reasons, I was unable to provide you with the necessary transportation, causing you to march on the road on foot. I am really sorry."
Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would have some bad associations, Malinin paused for a moment and then added: "Although I am about to become the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I have not officially taken up the post yet. Therefore, I do not have the ability to have many resources within the Front Army."
Deployment, so I hope you can understand."
"Major," seeing that the expression on Sokov's face did not change, Malinin called him to the wall, pointed at the map on the wall, and said in a businesslike tone: "I have been ordered to carry out an important mission.
, leave it to you to complete."
Sokov looked up at the map on the wall, staring at the red and blue lines representing the Soviet army and the German army respectively, waiting patiently for Malinin to give him a combat order.
Malinin liked Sokov's calm character. He picked up the explanation stick leaning against the wall, pointed at the map and said: "The German troops are rushing towards the Don River, and they have concentrated their main forces in the southeast.
, some troops launched an assault northward along the west bank of the Don River, trying to expand the breakthrough. However, their attack was stubbornly blocked by Major General Pukhov's 13th Army and General Lidyukov's 5th Tank Army.
According to the order of the Supreme Command, we will carry out a counter-assault against the German forces in this area. Among them, the 5th Tank Army should cut off the German lines of communication advancing towards the Don River and attack them from the rear to crush their attempt to occupy Voronezh. After we passed
After discussing with Comrade Commander, it was decided that you would lead the Istria Battalion to penetrate the enemy's rear, assist the troops of the 5th Tank Army, and cut off the German lines of communication."
After Malinin introduced the mission, he looked at Sokov and said: "Major Sokov, this is an arduous and glorious mission, and it is also a very dangerous mission. Do you have any questions?"
"No." As soon as Malinin finished speaking, Sokov shook his head and said, "I will resolutely obey your orders."
"Very good." Malinin was very satisfied with Sokov's attitude. He nodded and continued: "You and the comrades from the Istria Camp will rest in the camp for one night. Wait until early tomorrow morning.
I will send you a guide who will take you to the enemy's rear. If you have any requests, you can ask me now. As long as they are within my capabilities, I will definitely help you solve them."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov had long been thinking about how to replenish the lack of supplies in the Istrian camp. At this moment, when he heard Malinin say this, he suggested in a logical way: "To complete the task of our superiors, we must first
We need supplies of ammunition and medicine. Secondly, the radio station in the camp also needs batteries. I hope you can help us solve it."
"No problem." Seeing that Sokov's request was simple, Malinen readily agreed, "You will get the supplies you deserve before setting off tomorrow."
This chapter has been completed!