"Chief of Staff," Sokov's first reaction was what happened at the Barricade Factory and Dzerzhinsky Factory. He quickly asked Sidorin: "Has the situation in the two factories to the north worsened again?"
"No," Sidorin said with a blank look on his face: "Since the enemy's ammunition depot was blown up by us, and the ammunition they carried after yesterday's battle, there was very little left, so it stands to reason that they would not have the power to launch an update.
A massive attack."
"Strange!" Sokov said with a frown: "Since the enemy has launched a large-scale attack to our north, what important thing will happen if Comrade Commander calls me over?"
Sidorin didn't speak, he just shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, indicating that he didn't know what happened.
Sokov picked up the phone on the table and said into the receiver: "Major Tenev? I'm Sokov! I'll give you five minutes to ask Samoilov to gather his men immediately.
Then follow me to carry out the mission."
"Comrade Commander," Tenev heard the call from Sokov and quickly asked respectfully: "Can you tell me where to perform the mission?"
"Go to Army Group Headquarters."
"Comrade Division Commander, on the way from here to the group army headquarters, you may encounter small enemy units." Tenev said on the other end of the phone: "One platoon is too small. In order to ensure your safety, I think we should
Bring along Lieutenant Liao Sha’s guard company.”
"No need, Comrade Major." Sokov rejected Tenev's kindness, "Leading a company to march in broad daylight. The target is too big and is easily bombed by the enemy. Let Second Lieutenant Samoilov take his
Platoon, follow me on my mission."
Samoilov's guard platoon was replenished after it withdrew from Workers' New Village. Now the total number of the platoon reached sixty. After receiving Tenev's order, Samoilov immediately took a rest.
The soldiers gathered together and escorted Sokov to the headquarters.
On the way, Samoilov curiously asked Sokov: "Comrade division commander, the commander asked you to go to the headquarters. Is there any new task for us?"
"Yes, we are going this time to accept an important mission." After Sokov answered the other party's question, he took the initiative and said, "But what kind of mission it is, I don't know now."
.”
Sokov walked into the headquarters and saw Krylov just putting down the phone. He quickly raised his hand and saluted him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I was ordered to come here to accept the mission. Please give me the order."
Krylov turned to Gurov, who was writing at his desk, and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, have you seen where the commander went?"
"The commander of the 37th Guards Division just came to see him. The two went outside to talk." Gurov put down the pen in his hand and said proactively: "I'll go out and call him."
After Gurov left, Sokov stared curiously at the handwritten papers on the table, wondering what Gurov was writing in such a thick stack. Krylov saw Sokov's attention.
, all concentrated on those papers, he reached out and picked up one, handed it to Sokov's hand, and said briefly: "Take a look, Comrade Colonel."
Sokov took the piece of paper, and he was immediately shocked by the two words at the top of the page: "Death Notice!"
Below it reads: “Dear Nadezhda Ivanovna Kalinkina!
It is with great sadness that I write this letter to you. I ask you to muster your courage and perseverance. Your son, Second Lieutenant of the Guards Alexander Buyanov, died heroically in the struggle against the German invaders. He devoted his youthful life to
Dedicated to the freedom and independence of our motherland. I am honored to tell you: your son is a hero, you can be proud of him..." Behind, are some of the experiences of this Guards second lieutenant in the battle,
And Gurov's words of praise for him.
After reading the death notice in his hand, Sokov stared at the thick stack of paper on the table and asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff, are these death notices handwritten by the military commissar?"
"Yes." Krylov sighed and said: "It stands to reason that these death notices can be typed by a typist, but Comrade Gurov insists on writing them by hand. Now he has to write more than a hundred every day
He wrote more than 400 death notices on one day at most. We tried to persuade him several times, but he still insisted on doing it..."
While they were talking, Gurov and Chuikov had already walked in from outside. Sokov quickly stepped forward and saluted Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, Commander of the 41st Guards Division..."
"Okay, okay, don't report!" Chuikov interrupted Sokov's report, walked straight to the table, and asked casually: "How long have you been here?"
"Just arrived!"
Chuikov nodded, then waved to Sokov, motioned him to come to the table, pointed at the map and said to him: "Colonel Sokov, let me ask you, if there is an army of more than 30,000 people on the east coast.
Troops, how long will it take you to get them and the weapons they carry across the river?"
Sokov did not expect Chuikov to call him all the way here and ask such a question. After thinking for a while, he asked: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask how many ships can be provided to transport my troops?"
"Colonel Sokov," Chuikov did not answer the question, but winked at Krylov next to him, indicating that he would answer the question. Krylov nodded and said to Sokov: "You
It should be clear that the fleet responsible for river transportation not only transports soldiers, but also transports various supplies needed in the city. I think at best it can only provide ships to transport one battalion at a time."
"What, you can only transport one battalion of troops at a time?" When Sokov heard what Krylov said, he couldn't help but asked: "But the previous ships could transport one regiment or even more troops every time.
?”
"The enemy used air force and artillery to blockade the Volga River. Many ships of the fleet in the Volga River area were sunk, and new supply ships have not been delivered yet, resulting in a significant reduction in the fleet's transportation capacity." Krylov explained.
After explaining the reason, he looked at Sokov and asked: "How about it, Colonel Sokov, how long do you think it will take to transport more than 30,000 people into the city?"
This problem stumped Sokov. He frowned and calculated in his mind for a long time, and finally said with some hesitation: "I think it will take five or six days at the earliest."
"You made a miscalculation." Krylov shook his head and said, "In five or six days, the fleet simply cannot transport so many troops into the city. It will take at least ten days."
After Chuikov waited for Krylov to finish speaking, he suddenly asked Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, if I order you to cross the river and enter the city with more than 30,000 people within three days, can you do it?"
"
Perhaps sensing that Sokov was about to shake his head, he pointed with his hand and said, "Don't say there is no way." He raised his hand and looked at his watch, "I'll give you one hour, you must come up with a way for me.
"
In three days, more than 30,000 troops were allowed to cross the river and enter the city. This problem stumped Sokov. He thought to himself: There are only a few boats to transport troops, and the speed cannot be increased even if they want to, unless there is a bridge.
Almost. When he thought of the bridge, Sokov couldn't help but have an idea flash in his mind. He suddenly raised his head, looked at Chuikov and said: "Comrade Commander, I have already thought of a way for the troops to cross the river in a short time."