After the two came out of the command center, Vetkov asked Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, are you going back to Mamayev's hill or to the Red October factory?"
"Of course I'm going back to the factory." Sokov has never had the chance to introduce the situation in the factory to Vitkov. When he heard him ask, he said to him: "There are many walls in the factory that have been blown down during the German bombing. In order to prevent the enemy from entering the factory through these gaps, Director Peter transferred the fighter battalion that was standing in the assembly workshop. Now, we only have about 300 people, including the militia. If I don't stare there, I feel uneasy."
Vitkov was also surprised to learn that Sokov had the least strength in his hands. He originally planned to go back to Mamayev's club after the meeting. At this moment, he heard Sokov say this, and he temporarily changed his mind: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I'll take you to the factory to take a look."
Thinking that he had a lot of things to explain to Vitkov, Sokov nodded and said, "Okay, then let's go and have a look with me."
The two of them walked towards the factory with their accompanying soldiers. Although there were no stars or moon in the sky at this moment, the fire emitted by the burning buildings in the distance allowed them to see the road clearly.
On the way, Vetkov asked Sokov again: "Comrade Brigade Commander, are we really not involved in this attack?"
Seeing that Vitkov was still obsessed with the upcoming counterattack, Sokov said with some amusement: "Col. I have not made it very clear at the meeting. Our main task is to stick to the Mamayev post and ensure that it will not be occupied by the Germans under any circumstances. If we put our limited troops into the counterattack, and once this counterattack ends in failure, then what should we use to defend the position?"
"But," Vitkov understood what Sokov said, but when he thought that other troops were attacking the enemy a few days later, but his own troops were still staying on the position, he felt uncomfortable: "Is this appropriate to see that friendly troops are attacking the enemy while we are still holding their troops?"
"There is nothing wrong," Sokov said: "Defending Mamayev's hill and ensuring that the defense line in the city is not cut by the enemy will play a vital role in crushing the enemy's siege on Stalingrad."
As the two of them spoke, they came to the vicinity of the factory. Looking at the factory that had turned into ruins, Witkov asked worriedly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the factory has been blown up by German planes and cannot be built with solid fortifications at all. How do you plan to stick to this place next?"
"Although the factory has been blown up, the basement is still basically complete." Sokov said confidently: "In the future, when the Germans are bombarded or bombed, I can let the soldiers hide in the basement. When the enemy's infantry launches an attack, we will come out of the basement and hide in the ruins to shoot at the enemy."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, this place is too dangerous." Vitkov was worried about Sokov's safety. He tried to persuade Sokov to go back to Mamayev's club with him: "I think you should give the command to Brisky, and then go back to Mamayev's club with me."
"Col. Now the troops here are limited. If I stay here, I can still boost morale." Sokov replied: "If I left at this time, what would the soldiers and workers think? Would you think I am a greedy person who is afraid of death and can only sing high-profile people. When the situation is not good, you will run away by yourself?"
Vitkov really couldn't refute Sokov's statement. He even thought to himself that if he was a soldier, he would probably be disappointed with the commander if he saw the commander making excuses to throw him away from the army. Therefore, he changed his mind and wanted to go back to discuss with Sidorin, Belkin and the others to see if he could provide some help to Sokov.
The group walked into the ruins of the factory and suddenly a majestic voice came from the bullet crater not far away: "Stop everything, command!"
Sokov took the lead and stopped, reached out and grabbed Vitkov, who had not yet figured out his condition, and said in the direction of the voice: "I am Sokov, who is where?"
"The Brigade Commander, it's the brigade commander back." As soon as Sokov's voice fell, two soldiers crawled out of the crater and came to Sokov to stand attentively. "Comrade Brigade Commander, we are sentries, and are carrying out the mission of keeping watch."
"I'm quite vigilant," Sokov praised the sentry and asked casually: "What's the situation?"
"No!...No, no, there!" The sentry replied in a panic: "To be precise, something happened."
"What's the matter?" Sokov thought the Germans had sneaked into the factory again, so he asked with a hint of confusion: "Have the Germans sneaked into the factory again?"
"No, comrade brigade commander." The sentry shook his head and said, "Not long ago, a small army of seven or eight people came, and the leader was a major, saying that he was here to find you. You were not here at that time and were received by the battalion commander."
Sokov thought that he had just come from the Army Command, and the major was definitely not sent by Cuikov. He frowned and asked, "Do you know who they are?"
The sentry shook his head, "No, I don't know, the major did not indicate his identity."
Seeing that he could not get the answer he wanted from the sentry, Sokov could only hope to meet these people earlier, so he continued to ask: "Where are they?"
“It’s all in the basement.”
As soon as Sokov waited for the sentry to finish speaking, he accelerated his pace towards the entrance of the basement.
He came to the door of the command post that Cousto made for him. With the help of the faint candlelight inside, he saw clearly that Brisky was sitting at the table and talking to the two commanders wearing large-brimmed hats opposite him. Sokov quickly coughed heavily, and after everyone's eyes turned to him, he walked in with big strides, and at the same time he greeted: "Hello, comrades!"
"Comrade Brigade Commander, you are back!" Brisky quickly stood up and said to Sokov with a smile: "They have been waiting for you for a long time."
Sokov turned his head and looked at the two officers. The first thing he saw was a familiar face. He couldn't help but exclaim: "Yakov, it turns out it's you!"
Yakov spread his arms and said proudly: "Isn't it me?" Then he took a step forward and gave Sokov a warm hug.
After the two separated, Sokov asked curiously: "Yakov, why did you come here?" After asking this question, he instinctively turned his head to look at Vitkov who followed him in, wanting to ask the other party why he didn't tell him about Yakov.
Vetkov spread his hands and said helplessly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, don't look at me, I don't know that Major Yakov is coming to Stalingrad again."
"Misha," Yakov called Sokov's nickname affectionately, and said to him: "I left Moscow this time to deal with the conflict between you and General Moskarenko."
"Conflict?!" Sokov was stunned at first when he heard Yakov say this, and then remembered the last time the rocket was detained by Moskarenko's troops, and asked in surprise: "Yakov, are you talking about General Moskarenko's detaining our rockets? But wasn't this matter resolved after Comrade Khrushchev came forward?"
"That's right, Uncle Khrushchev came forward and did temporarily calm the conflict." Yakov said with a hint of anger on his face: "Who knew that two days ago, Moskarenko actually went to the Supreme Command to complain, saying that the people in the Weapons and Equipment Department were favored by one and the other. If they could equip these new rockets, they would have broken the German siege of Stalingrad.
People's Committee Member Ustinov had no choice but to arrange the military factory below to produce twenty for them to calm their anger. After I brought people to send the rockets to the First Guards Army, I thought that you, an old friend, was still in the city, so I came over to take a look. Who knew that when I arrived at Mamayevgang, I heard that you were in the Red October Tractor Factory, so I asked Lieutenant Colonel Cidolin to send two guides to bring me here."
"Yakov, if nothing happens, you should leave as soon as possible." Sokov thought of the upcoming counterattack, worried that Yakov and the others might encounter various troubles when they want to leave. However, the counterattack plan is still in the confidential stage. Even if Yakov is Stalin's son and his own friend, he cannot explain this matter clearly to him, so he said tactfully: "If you catch up with the German army's large-scale attack, it will not be easy for you to cross the river to the other side."
"Misha, I am also a soldier. Since you are not afraid, what's the scary thing about me?" After saying this, Yakov pulled a military officer standing next to him and said to Sokov: "Misha, let me introduce you to Lieutenant Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov, the tanker."
When he first heard that the other party was a tank player, Sokov had not yet taken it to his heart, but when he heard clearly that the other party's surname was Kalashnikov, he couldn't help but breathe, saying, "Is this Kalashnikov, who is known as the father of AK47?"
When Yakov saw Sokov staring at Kalashnikov in a daze, he seemed to see an acquaintance, he asked curiously: "Misha, did you know Kalashnikov before?"
Although Sokov had seen Kalashnikov, supported by two guards of honor, enjoying flowers at the tomb of the nameless martyrs beside the walls of the Kremlin palace, this was the first time he had seen this destiny after coming to this era. He shook his head and said perfunctorily: "I don't know you, I have never seen you before. Yakov, I'm just curious, what do you bring a tank officer here to do? You know, there are no tanks in my army."
"Misha, you misunderstood." Yakov explained to Sokov: "Lieutenant Kalashnikov comes here with me, and there is another important task."
"Important mission?" Sokov looked at Kalashnikov in front of him and thought to himself: "What important mission can he have when his superiors send Kalashnikov here? Are you planning to let him study new rifles here?"
The matter of Kalashnikov to the Red October Tractor Factory was not a secret, so Yakov introduced to Sokov with interest: "After joining the army, Lieutenant Kalashnikov studied at the Ordnance Mechanics Technical Training Class and Tank Driving School. He designed a device to record the number of bullets designed by the principle of inertial rotation calculation; he also designed a tank fuel consumption meter and new track, and received rewards.
Since he is a tank soldier and knows about machinery, his superiors sent him here to assist the engineers of the Red October Tractor Factory to improve the current T-34 tank."
When Sokov learned that Kalashnikov was actually here to help the factory improve the T-34 tank, he couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise. He thought to himself: Unexpectedly, because of the appearance of his little butterfly, the father of AK47, who was famous in the future, no longer designed firearms, but went to study the tank. He raised his hand and wiped his sweat, and said insincerely: "Lieutenant Kalashnikov, if you need any help, you can find me."
Originally, this was just a polite word, but Kalashnikov actually asked with the flow: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I heard that you can drive tanks too. I wonder if you can give me any good advice?"
"Is it a suggestion?" Kalashnikov's question made Sokov a little embarrassed. Although he could drive a tank, it was just a playful nature. He didn't know how to improve the tank. He waved his hand and said, "I'm sorry, Lieutenant Kalashnikov, I'm an amateur to tanks and can't give you any good suggestions."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Yakov, who was afraid that the world would be in chaos, interrupted and said, "Misha, don't be humble. Since you can drive a tank, it is always OK to give one or two opinions based on your experience."
"Yes, yes, comrade Major is right." Kalashnikov quickly agreed with Yakov's words, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, just talk about it."
Since things have reached this point, Sokov understands that if he doesn't say a few words, Yakov will definitely not let him go. After hesitating for a long time, he said: "Lieutenant Kalashnikov, the T-34 tank we use now uses 76mm artillery. If it is just to deal with German tanks No. 3 and No. 4, the problem is not big. But if the German army launches tanks with thicker armor and stronger firepower, I am worried that this caliber armor-piercing bullet will not be able to penetrate the enemy's frontal armor."
Kalashnikov wrote down what Sokov said in his notes, raised his head and asked, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what caliber artillery do you think should be replaced with?"
Chapter completed!