"Comrade Commander," Sidorin suddenly said when he saw Seryozha's leaving figure: "These rockets are of great importance. I'm a little worried if I just send Seryosa to lead the troops to receive them. Otherwise, I'll do it myself."
Take a trip?"
Sidorin's words gave Sokov a wake-up call. He knew very well that these rockets would play a vital role in whether he could defend Mamayev Heights and the surrounding areas in the next month.
It is indeed a bit too hasty to send a company-level commander like Seryosha to receive it.
Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right, my decision was a bit too hasty. Let's do this. You and the deputy division commander will continue to stay at the division headquarters, and I will personally lead the team to the ferry."
Hearing that Sokov wanted to leave Mamayev Heights again, Ivanov couldn't help but said: "Comrade division commander, you are the commander of a division and you cannot take risks casually. I think it is better for you and the chief of staff to stay in the division."
Ministry, let me go with Seryosha."
Regarding Ivanov's kindness, Sokov immediately declined: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you are not familiar with the situation at the ferry, and there is no use in going there. I'd better go."
Seeing that Sokov rejected his request, Ivanov originally wanted to say a few more words, but then he thought about it. He seemed to have crossed the river from the other side and stayed at the ferry for less than ten minutes. He said that he didn't know anything about it.
Familiar, he was right. Thinking of this, he no longer insisted on going to the ferry to collect supplies, but changed his mind and said: "Okay, comrade division commander, since you want to go in person, I won't stop you. But it's not peaceful outside.
, you should pay more attention to safety."
Half an hour later, Sokov and Seryosha left Mamayev Heights with the guard company and headed towards the ferry. Seryosha did not expect that Sokov would personally take action, and complained on the way: "Misha
, do you think you can’t trust me and want to take the risk yourself?”
"Seryozha, it's true that you and I are friends, and I trust you very much, but this has nothing to do with me going to the ferry in person." Seeing Seryosha's unhappy face, Sokov quickly comforted him and said: "I'm going to
I'll do something big and teach the Germans an unforgettable lesson. I personally took action because I didn't want any flaws in these rockets."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Seryosha felt a little more at ease. He promptly changed the subject and asked: "Misha, can we really find enough people at the ferry to help us carry rockets?"
"Don't worry, Seryosha." Sokov raised his hand and patted Seryosha twice on the shoulder, and said confidently: "I assure you, when we get to the ferry, we can find as many porters as we need.
How many porters are there?”
"Really?" Seryosha was still dubious about Sokov's statement: "But as far as I know, due to the severe attrition of troops in the city, many cadres and soldiers from the logistics department have been replenished into various combat units.
We have gone, otherwise there would be no need for us to collect ammunition and supplies in person."
As soon as the two men and their troops approached the ferry, several people came up to meet them. One of the leading officers asked loudly: "Hey, comrades, which unit are you in?"
"I am Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division," Sokov revealed his identity and asked, "Comrade officer, who are you?"
"Hello, Colonel Sokov." After hearing Sokov reveal his identity, the officer quickly stood at attention, straightened his body and replied: "I am Major Zinoviev from the logistics department. I received the call from General Lobov.
The call came from the troops here waiting for you to receive supplies, but I didn’t expect you to actually lead the team in person.”
"Hello, Comrade Major." Sokov stretched out his hand to shake Zinoviev's hand and continued to ask: "Has the ship transporting our supplies arrived?"
"I called and asked that your supplies are still being loaded on the other side." Major Zinoviev shook his head and replied: "I'm afraid it will take another hour or two at the earliest. Comrade Colonel, it's too cold outside, why don't you go first?"
Come to my command post and take a rest."
Sokov did not want to stand by the river in the cold wind for an hour or two. Naturally, he did not express any objection to Major Zinoviev's proposal. He nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Major, take me with you."
Go to your command post."
Major Zinoviev's command post is a semi-underground mud house-style shelter near the river. There are two soldiers standing guard at the door. When the major led Sokov in, he specifically ordered a soldier: "You come to cook
I'll find something to eat for the colonel, and I'll bring him some hot tea."
Sokov walked into the shelter and saw that the seven-eight-square-meter hut looked extremely small because there was a wooden table in the middle. After he sat down at the table, he looked up at Zinoviev and asked: "Major
Comrade, your command post is too small. Even if you want to rest, I'm afraid there is no place to sleep."
Zinoviev grinned and replied: "I usually lie down on the table and take a nap when I am tired. Although it is a bit narrow here, it is still much better than those residents sleeping rough by the river."
When the soldier walked in with tea and slices of bread, he was followed by a middle-aged man in military uniform. After he saw Zinoviev, he immediately asked respectfully: "Comrade Major, it seems that you are very fast."
There are supplies to be transported again, I wonder how many people are needed this time?"
"Colonel!" Zinoviev did not answer the other party's question immediately, but turned to look at Sokov and asked: "I wonder how many porters you need?"
Sokov calculated in his mind that five hundred rockets, calculated as two in a box, would be exactly 250 boxes. If there were a few more boxes containing launch tubes, it would probably be close to 300 boxes.
There are 180 people in Seryozha's guard company. It is impossible for everyone to move boxes, and some must be left to serve as guards.
After some calculations, Sokov looked up at Zinoviev again and said: "Comrade Major, I think we need two hundred porters. Can you find so many people?"
Before Major Zinoviev could answer, the middle-aged man in military casual uniform smiled and replied: "Comrade commander, look at what you said, let alone two hundred porters, even if there are more, I
I can also find it for you, but it will take some time."
"Okay, stop talking nonsense." Zinoviev interrupted the middle-aged man before he finished speaking: "Hurry back and gather people. The ship will dock in a while."
After the middle-aged man left, Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Major, who is he?"
"His name is Bochushkin, and he was originally a porter at the dock." Zinoviev replied: "Since the superiors began recruiting residents to serve as porters, and someone was needed to organize and take charge, he volunteered to do this job.
"
Knowing that this middle-aged man named Bochushkin was the porter in charge of the ferry terminal, Sokov nodded slightly and then asked: "Comrade Major, can he be anxious enough before the ship arrives?"
Manpower?"
"No problem." Zinoviev said carelessly: "Because you can get food as a porter, the residents stranded on the shore are very enthusiastic. Every time Bochushkin shouts on the shore, he will immediately
Groups of people came to sign up for him. Then he selected the able-bodied ones to serve as temporary porters."
Zinoviev's words reminded Sokov of a question, and he asked tentatively: "Comrade Major, may I ask how you distribute the food to the porters?"
"Usually Bochushkin counts the number of porters working every day, and then we give him the food that should be distributed based on the number of people he provides." After Major Zinoviev introduced the situation, he said with some confusion.
Asked Sokov: "Comrade Colonel, is there any problem?"
"Comrade Major," seeing that the situation was indeed similar to what he had guessed, Sokov said with a wry smile: "Aren't you afraid that he will take advantage of his free wages?"
"Eating for free?" This was probably the first time Major Zinoviev heard this term. A confused expression appeared on his face. He looked at Sokov and said: "I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel, I don't understand what you mean.
."
"It's very simple." Sokov explained to the other party: "For example, in today's transportation work, only three hundred residents were used, but when he reported the quantity, he reported five hundred residents. This is too much
If you get two hundred places, it’s called free money.”
"Colonel, this is the first time I have heard of your statement." Major Zinoviev frowned and said thoughtfully: "I don't think Bochushkin would be so bold.
Falsely report the number of residents participating in the removal work."
"What's impossible?" Sokov felt that Zinoviev had too little knowledge, so he reminded him specifically: "Also, during the food distribution process, if you don't send someone to supervise,
Instead, he was given full responsibility, and I even thought he would deprive the residents of food."
Zinoviev did not take Sokov's statement seriously. He felt that the colonel did not understand the situation at the ferry terminal and what he said was somewhat alarmist. But the other party had a higher military rank than himself, so there was no argument.
It was necessary, so he said nothing and just smiled faintly.
Sokov, who was good at observing people's emotions, felt that Major Zinoviev did not listen to what he said and did not avoid this sensitive topic. After all, the other party was not his subordinate and could not give him direct orders.
Opening the topic and asking: "Comrade Major, after the pontoon bridge is erected, will it have any impact on your place?"
"In the past, weapons, ammunition, supplies and soldiers from the east coast had to disembark at our ferry." Major Zinoviev replied: "But since the pontoon bridge was erected, it has been responsible for the transportation of weapons, ammunition and soldiers.
As for our place, it has become mainly a variety of food and medicine, and occasionally some weapons and ammunition. For example, the batch of ammunition you are going to receive today."
While the two were talking, there was a sudden noise outside the house, and a young voice said loudly: "Let me in, I want to see the comrade commander. Let me in..."
The noise outside the house made Sokov frown. He thought that this was the command post of the ferry. There were people making noise outside. What were the sentries at the door doing? But he tried his best to control his emotions and tried his best.
Ask Zinoviev in a calm tone: "Comrade Major, what is going on outside?"
An embarrassed expression appeared on Zinoviev's face, and he said apologetically to Sokov: "Comrade Colonel, I will go out and take a look, and I will report to you when I come back later."
"Comrade Major, I heard a child making trouble outside." Sokov said expressionlessly: "He may have something important to see you. Why don't you call him in to find out what's going on?"
Zinoviev nodded, walked to the door and said a few words to the outside. Soon, a boy walked into the house. Seeing that the boy looked like he was only thirteen or fourteen years old, Sokov used his friendly luck to
Ask: "Child, what is your name and how old are you this year?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," seeing the commander sitting in the room questioning him, the child quickly stood up straight and replied respectfully: "My name is Volodya, I am fourteen years old this year."
"Fourteen years old!" After Sokov repeated the age, he continued to ask: "What grade are you in?"
"Seventh grade." Volodya replied: "But since the war started in the city, we have suspended classes."
"Who else is at home?"
"It's just me and my father."
Sokov couldn't help but be startled when he heard the other party's answer. According to his understanding, since all the men were on the front line, such a big child should stay with his mother, so he quickly asked: "Where is your mother?"
"Dead." Volodya's eyes immediately turned red as soon as she heard Sokov's question: "She was killed by a German plane yesterday on her way to deliver ammunition to the barricade factory."
"Comrade Major." After learning that Volodya's mother was killed by a German plane while transporting ammunition, Sokov couldn't help but curiously asked Zinoviev: "Which of the porters you recruited?
,Are there any women?”
"Yes, Comrade Colonel." Major Zinoviev nodded and replied: "You also know that adult men are now either in the army or in factories. Among the porters recruited on the dock, women account for a large proportion.
Proportion."
After getting Zinoviev's answer, Sokov turned to look at Volodya and asked: "My child, what are you doing here?"
"I want to help you carry ammunition." Volodya quickly replied: "But Bochushkin said that I was too young and would not let me join the carrying team. Comrade commander, please, please give Bochushkin
Jin said, please put in a good word and let me join the transportation team."
"Varodia, I think Bochushkin did the right thing." Sokov looked at the thin child in front of him and said solemnly: "You are still a child, and you cannot move such a heavy thing at all."
Then, he waved to the child, "You'd better go back to your father as soon as possible."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Valoja did not leave, but instead begged Sokov: "Comrade commander, please let me join the transportation team. My father was defending the Red October Factory last month.
During the battle, one leg was broken by a German artillery shell, and I was unable to participate in the transportation work. If you don't let me join the transportation team, we will starve to death."
This chapter has been completed!