Sokov and Yakov left, but Rokosovsky did not rest. He called Malinin to the front and pointed to the map and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, if we make a request to the Supreme Command and let the troops in the city cooperate with us and launch an offensive here, we might be able to open a gap in the strong encirclement of the Germans and send the troops and technical equipment needed in the city continuously."
Malining looked at the position of Rokosovsky's finger, which was the position that Sokov captured, and couldn't help but say regretfully: "It's a pity that the counterattack against the German army in the city ended in failure. Otherwise, we could really try it and launch an attack on the enemy from both sides at the same time. As long as our attack works, then the German troops in the northeast direction of the city will be annihilated by us."
"Our first priority is to stockpile enough troops, weapons and ammunition at this location." Rokosovsky tapped the map twice with his finger: "And launch a powerful offensive against the enemy when appropriate."
"Although the Germans have not yet realized that our army has occupied this position." Malinin reminded Rokosovsky: "But if we carry out large-scale military mobilization, the Germans will definitely find that the position has been lost."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, even if we do nothing, do you think the Germans can't find us?" Rokosovsky waved his hand at Malining and said, "What we need now is time to gather troops and weapons to the greatest extent before the Germans find us, and prepare for an attack."
"The 24th Army of General Ning, a 24th Army of General Ning, has occupied the position, and the other two divisions are also moving towards the area." Malining is very familiar with the situation of the troops. As soon as Rokosovsky finished speaking, he began to report: "According to my analysis, before dawn, we can gather the forces of three divisions in the position."
"No, putting three divisions in such a narrow place, and one enemy shell or bomb will cause dozens of casualties to us." Rokosovsky shook his head and said, "So, except for the 98th Division on the position, the two newly arrived divisions will not enter the position for the time being, but will look for a hiding place nearby to hide."
After recording Rokosovsky's orders, Malinin asked respectfully: "Comrade Commander, do we need to report the news of our occupation of this position to the Supreme Command?"
"Yes. After all, if we want to rush towards Orlovka from there, we cannot do without the cooperation of friendly forces." Rokosovsky agreed to Malinin's proposal and finally added: "Remember, we must explain in detail that this position was occupied by Sokov's troops."
About half an hour after the telegram was sent, the high-frequency telephone on the table rang. Malining glanced at the phone and said to Rokosovsky carefully: "Comrade Commander, it's not the call from the Supreme Commander himself, right?"
"It's hard to say." Rokosovsky raised his hand and looked at the watch. He found it was only 3:30 in the morning. It was said that Stalin was sleeping at the moment, so how could he call himself? Maybe it was the telegram from the General Staff who asked him about him. He picked up the microphone and put it in his ear and said, "Hello, I'm Rokosovsky."
"Hello, dear Konstantin Konstantinovich!" Stalin's voice came from the receiver. He kindly called Rokosovsky's real name and father's name, and asked directly: "I just saw the telegram you sent, saying that you occupied an important position north of Orlovka. Is that right?"
"That's right, Comrade Stalin." Rokosovsky stood up and said respectfully: "It was the troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Sokov who were occupied when he broke north from Orlovka."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?" Stalin repeated the surname and military rank that Rokosovsky said, and suddenly realized: "Oh, you are talking about Xiaomisha? Where is he now, still on the position?"
"No, Comrade Stalin, I have sent the 298th Division to replace the defense." Rokosovsky understood very well in his heart. Stalin was obviously concerned about Sokov's safety, but actually wanted to understand his son's situation. "Don't worry, Sokov and Yakov are both in Ivanovka now, which is very safe. When I fly to Moscow the day after tomorrow, Yakov will walk with me."
Rokosovsky's guess was right. Stalin was indeed concerned about the safety of his son, but he was not good at asking his subordinates directly, so he could only ask Sokov's situation in a roundabout way. Therefore, he knew that Yakov and Sokov had a good relationship, and the two must be together at this moment. As long as he grasped Sokov's whereabouts, he could know whether Yakov was safe.
At this moment, when Rokosovsky said that Yakov would return to Moscow in two days, Stalin felt relieved and then said to the microphone: "The counterattack launched by the defenders in the city has ended in failure. How about it, do you still have the strength to launch an assault on the city?"
"Comrade Stalin, I was just discussing with Malining and preparing to use that position as the starting point of the attack and launch an attack on Orlovka from there." Rokosovsky reported on the phone: "But to launch such an offensive, we need to get the cooperation of artillery and air force."
"Artificial artillery is the god of war!" Stalin said his famous saying, and then said: "Because our air force is still very weak, it is probably difficult for your troops to provide you with necessary air cover when attacking, so they can only use artillery to cover your ground attack."
Rokosovsky knew that all fronts were surprised, and even if he made a request to Stalin, it would be difficult to meet. Unexpectedly, after Stalin finished speaking, he could not provide air cover, he unexpectedly offered to provide artillery support for himself. Just when he wanted to ask what size of artillery support he could get, he heard Stalin continue: "I will send representatives from the base camp to your front headquarters, and he will cooperate with the artillery troops to fight with you."
After assigning the task and Stalin was about to put down the phone, he seemed to suddenly remember something and added: "Misha is a good person. Comrade Rokosovsky, please tell him this sentence when you see him."
Although there is only a simple sentence, Rokosovsky knew very well that being able to receive a medal like Stalin is no less than getting a medal. After all, everyone has the chance to get the medal, but there are very few people who can receive the medal himself.
Rokosovsky originally planned to send a staff officer to Wenrevka to receive the new troops. However, when Stalin heard his praise for Sokov, he changed his mind and said to Malining: "I think this is the case. Anyway, Colonel Bere will also go to Wenrevka with Misha. It would be better to let the armored soldiers, Orel, as the representative of the front army, take Misha and the others to Wenrevka to receive the troops."
If Malining hadn't been busy with work, he would have gone to Wenrevka with Sokov and the others. At this moment, he was overjoyed when he heard Rokosovsky preparing to lead Oryol: "This is really great, Comrade Commander. Comrade Oryol takes action, I believe that those in charge of the recruits will not show Sokov any face."
…………
After dawn, Sokov gathered the personnel from the first battalion, the guard battalion and the tank battalion. After a brief breakfast, he prepared to leave the city and head for Wenrefka.
Unexpectedly, before they left the city, they arrived with Oryol's jeep. The jeep stopped beside Sokov. Oryol poked out half of his body from the car and said to Sokov and Bere: "Two commanders, get in the car, I will take you to Wenrevka in person."
After Sokov and Bere got on the bus, the jeep continued to drive forward. Sokov asked Orel curiously: "General Orel, didn't Chief of Staff Malining say, send us a staff officer to lead the way? Why did you change it?"
"Comrade Commander is worried that when you receive new recruits in Wenrevka, the person in charge of the recruits will make things difficult for you." Orel explained to Sokov: "So Comrade Commander will send me to go with you. If anyone encounters someone who is receiving troops and causing you artificial trouble, I will deal with it in time."
"Thank you, Comrade General." Sokov said gratefully: "With your help, it will be very smooth for us to accept the soldiers."
Wenrefka is only seven or eight kilometers away from Ivanovka, and the jeep is only about ten minutes away. Sokov saw the dense tents outside the city, and couldn't help but ask worriedly: "Comrade General, our soldiers have built so many tents outside the city. If they are discovered by the enemy's reconnaissance plane, they will definitely attract fierce bombing, and losses will inevitably occur at that time."
"Don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, things are not as bad as you think." Orel replied with a smile: "We have arranged enough anti-aircraft artillery troops around the city. If the German planes don't come, they will be punished. Once they come, they will be punished without going back."
The jeep came to a three-story building in the city and stopped. The sentry guarding the door saw a jeep parked at the door and was about to go forward to stop it, but when he saw the car door calling, a general walked out of it. He did not dare to neglect it and quickly raised his hand to salute.
"Where is your commander?" Orel asked straight to the point.
An officer on duty quickly replied: "Report to Comrade General, Colonel Bantaileev is in the office on the second floor."
"Take me to see him now!"
The officer agreed, and then turned sideways and made a call: "Comrade General, please come inside!" Seeing Orel following the officer into the building, Sokov and Bere followed him into the building.
When he arrived at the door of a room on the second floor, the officer stopped and turned his head to Orel and said, "Comrade General, when you arrive, Colonel Bantaileev is inside."
When Orel saw an office desk at the door of the room, but no one sat behind the table, he said to the officer leading the way: "You go in and report to Colonel Bantaileev, and you say that Orel, the owner of the front army's armored soldier, is here."
Less than a minute after the officer walked in, a short and fat colonel followed the officer out of the house. When he saw Orel standing at the door, he quickly raised his hand to salute and reported respectfully: "Comrade General, Colonel Bantaileev, the director of the recruitment management office, reported to you, I will wait for your order, please instruct!"
"Please rest!" After Orel said this, he walked inside and asked casually: "Comrade Colonel, what were you busy with when I came?"
"What else can I do? Of course, I'm counting the list of recruits." Bantaileev said with a bitter face: "After counting the number of people, we need to check which unit has the greatest losses, and then give priority to the new unit."
"Comrade Colonel," Orel looked up at Banteleev, pointed his hand at Sokov and Bere, and said, "I'll introduce you to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov and Berere."
When he heard Orel's introduction, he actually started with the commander with a low rank. Bantaileev couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. However, he quickly returned to his peace. After he glanced at the rank sign on the Berlei's neckline, he said regretfully: "I'm sorry, comrade Colonel, all the new recruits in my hands are infantry and no tank soldiers."
Bereh waved his hand at Taileev and said, "Comrade Colonel, you misunderstood. Today I am accompanying Lieutenant Colonel Sokov to receive infantry. As for tank soldiers, you don't have to worry about them. What our tank troops lack is tanks, not tank soldiers driving tanks."
To figure out that Sokov is the main character today, Bantaileev sat down after returning to his desk, looked up at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how many recruits are you going to want?"
When Sokov heard Bantaileev's question, he was stunned. With his thoughts, since his superiors asked him to come here to replenish the soldiers, he must have replenished all the recruits. But the director of the recruits department in front of him asked this question, are he only planning to give himself a small number of soldiers?
Seeing Sokov not answering for a long time, Bantaileev's face showed an unhappy expression: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have you heard what I said? How many soldiers do you want?"
"Comrade Colonel," saw that Bantaileev was angry, Sokov quickly replied: "If I want to fill my brigade with staff, at least four thousand people will be needed."
"What, you want four thousand people?" Bantaileev almost jumped out of his seat after hearing Sokov's answer: "I have less than five thousand people in my hands, but you actually want four thousand people. It's a bit too big of an appetite."
Chapter completed!