"What should we do, Comrade General." After the major was finished speaking, Sokov asked Cui Kov for advice: "What should we do next? Continue to look for troops southward?"
"Yes, we must continue to look for them southward." Trikov looked at Sokov with a serious expression: "They just came here from Siberia, and they were unfamiliar with the place. Once they were surrounded by the Germans, they didn't even know which direction they broke through. As their commander, I can't sit back and watch them be wiped out by the Germans."
Although Sokov knew that he would continue to go south and encounter the German vanguard at any time, if possible, he would want to turn around and return to the Aksai River defense line now. But at this moment, he felt a sense of enthusiasm when he heard Cui Kov say this. He coughed gently and said seriously: "Comrade General, I am willing to go south with you to find the broken troops and take them back to our defense line safely."
"Let's go, Comrade Chief of Staff." After shaking hands with the major and saying goodbye, Cuikov turned to Sokov and said: "On the battlefield, every minute is precious. We must find them before the German army siege."
Although the driver was not familiar with the terrain of this area, he would never get lost by driving south along the railway line. After driving four or five kilometers, he came to the Koternikovo Station, which was attacked by German air strikes and tanks. All the buildings in the station were burning, and rows of carriages were parked on the twisted railway tracks. There were bodies of soldiers who died in various postures inside and outside the station.
Outside the station, there was a destroyed German tank No. 3. There were at least 40 or 50 Soviet soldiers' bodies around the tank. This shows how expensive the Soviet soldiers paid to destroy this damn German tank.
"Our soldiers were brave. They sacrificed their young lives to defend our great motherland." Cuikov took off his military cap and bowed respectfully to the bodies of those soldiers. Then he put on his hat and said in an inaudible voice: "The fact that our juniors are living a happy life will remember everything you have done today."
The jeep continued to drive along the rails. I don’t know how long it took. Krimov, who was sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly pointed ahead and said excitedly: “Comrade Commander, look at the smoke in front of you, there must be our troops there.”
After looking forward for a while, Cui Kefu frowned and said, "Hey, why don't they pay attention to air defense? There are smoke everywhere. German planes can be seen dozens of kilometers away."
When the jeep arrived near Chilekov Station, Sokov finally understood what was going on with the smoke from cooking just now. A circle of warriors could be seen everywhere around the station and on both sides of the railway tracks. They threw their weapons and luggage aside and were preparing lunch as if no one was around. The scene seemed particularly chaotic.
"Nothing is nothing, nothing." Cui Kev got out of the car and looked at the soldiers dining near the station, and said angrily: "Don't they know that if they do this, they will attract German planes? Krimov!"
Krimov, who was standing at the front of the car, heard Cui Kev calling him, and quickly agreed, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?"
"Go and find a commander!" Cuikov said to Krimov: "I need to know the situation of the troops here."
Not long after, Krimov brought an elderly major. The major saw Cuikov standing next to the jeep and hurriedly raised his hand to salute him: "Hello, Comrade General, what instructions do you have?"
Cui Kefu asked bluntly: "Comrade Major, where are your division commanders, political commissars and division headquarters? Also, where are the other troops of your division?"
"I don't know where the division commander and the others are, Comrade General." After answering Cuikov's question, the major pointed to the west and said, "Two kilometers west, there is a town, and some troops that arrived first are stationed there. If you go there, you may be able to find a regiment-level commander."
When he learned that there were troops stationed in the nearby town and was eager to find Cui Kov of the 208th Division, he couldn't wait to rush over. However, before leaving, he specifically reminded the major: "Comrade Major, I just observed that your troops were crowded inside and outside the station, not paying attention to air defense, and not setting up alerts. Once they were attacked by German air strikes or ground troops, you would be defeated in the shortest time."
A nervous expression appeared on the major's face: "Comrade General, what should we do?"
"Take the troops out of the near the station immediately, because this is the area where the Luftwaffe is bombing." Cuikov pointed to the direction he came and said to the major: "Walk three kilometers northeastward, there is a forest where you can hide the troops there and wait for further orders from your superiors."
"But, Comrade General." Hearing Cuikov's order, the major said helplessly: "I am just a battalion commander, and the only troops I can mobilize is my battalion."
Cui Kefu had observed that there was at least one regiment of troops inside and outside the station, but there was not even one regiment-level commander. Seeing that all the troops in the station were transferred was unrealistic, Cui Kefu could only retreat. He pointed to the grassland in the southwest and said again: "Comrade Major, there are two high grounds over 100 meters above sea level. You immediately send powerful troops to occupy it and build fortifications on it. In this way, even if the German army appears from the south, you can still resist with these two high grounds."
"I understand, Comrade General." The major followed the direction of Cui Kefu's finger and saw clearly the two hills in the distance. He nodded and said, "I will lead the troops to occupy the highlands as soon as possible and build fortifications."
After the driver started the car, Krimov turned his head and asked Cuikov: "Comrade Commander, where will we go next?"
"Go to the town west," Trekov said to Krimov: "See if you can find a commander of higher levels there."
Chapter completed!