Although Cui Kefu is the commander of the group army and has the opportunity to enjoy the small cooking squads for him, most of the time, he still chews crumbs and eats potatoes like ordinary commanders and soldiers. After finally waiting for the festival, he can finally eat Siberian dumplings legitimately and improve the food.
He and Krelov, Gurov were eating dumplings around the table, and a telephone on the table rang. Krelov reached out and grabbed the microphone, put it in his ear and said, "I am Krelov, where are you?"
After listening for a while, Krelov put down the phone and said to Cuikov with a strange look on his face: "Comrade Commander, it was a call from Colonel Sokov. He said that there was a special gift to give to you, and it is for the celebration of the great October Revolution."
"Special gift?" Cuikov, who was eating dumplings, put down the fork in his hand and asked curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, did he say what gift it is?"
Krelov smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Before I had time to ask, he hung up the phone. However, he sent this gift to Colonel Ivanov, the deputy division commander."
Hearing Krelov say this, even Gurov put down his fork and said in surprise: "It seems that this gift is really special, otherwise Colonel Ivanov would not have made it personally. What kind of gift would it be?"
Krelov said thoughtfully: "Col. Sokov's subordinates occupied two German stations yesterday. Could it be that they were valuable items seized from the station? For example, precious cultural relics plundered by the Germans from our museums."
Gurov immediately agreed with Krelov's speculation: "I agree with the Chief of Staff's speculation. As far as I know, Colonel Sokov had seized famous paintings plundered by the enemy in previous battles, and later these famous paintings were sent to the Natural Museum in Moscow."
After Gurov's analysis, both Cuikov and Krelov felt that the gifts Sokov gave him were plundered by the Germans, such as cultural relics or famous paintings. After Guchakov's troops occupied the station, they happened to find these things and brought them back when they were transferred.
When Cui Kov thought of the fact that Sokov sent something that might be cultural relics and famous paintings, he felt a headache. He looked at Gurov and said, "Milao, comrade of the military committee, Mishake gave us a problem. These cultural relics and famous paintings are too delicate. If there is any mistake in transportation, they will easily be damaged. It would be better if it can be repaired. If it cannot be repaired, our descendants will definitely point to these damaged cultural relics and say, "Look, these cultural relics are damaged by Cui Kov and others."
Gurov felt that Cuikov's words were very reasonable. If he was damaged after taking over this batch of cultural relics, he would definitely be stabbed by future generations. In order to avoid this situation, he tentatively said to Cuikov: "Comrade Commander, see if Misha can temporarily place this batch of cultural relics in the tunnel of Mamayevgang. Wait until the right time, then transfer it to the east coast."
Cui Kefu sighed and said helplessly: "Comrade Military Commissioner, I think the reason why Misha gave us such a gift may be because he could not store these cultural relics in the tunnel. He sent it here because he hoped that those convoys that transport materials could take away these cultural relics when they returned to the east coast."
So, the three of them discussed how to protect and transport the cultural relics. After Cuikov and Gurov spoke, Krelov raised his concern: "Comrade Commander, if you want to ensure that these cultural relics arrive safely on the east coast, you must send people to protect them. But our current troops are seriously insufficient, and there is only one platoon of the security command. If people are drawn from them, the command will become empty. If they are attacked by the Germans, it may be very serious, so..."
Before Krelov finished his words, Cuikov guessed what he meant and continued: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I understand what you mean. You are planning to ask Sokov to send a gift-giving troops to escort the cultural relics to the east coast. Right?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Krelov nodded vigorously and said affirmatively: "That's what I mean."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, just do what you think." Cui Kev also knew that his headquarters was now empty. If he really sent someone to escort the cultural relics to the other side, even if it was only a day and a night, the entire headquarters would be put in danger. Therefore, he agreed very readily to Krelov's proposal: "I will tell him personally after Colonel Ivanov comes."
After waiting for almost half an hour, Ivanov appeared in the headquarters. He had just saluted Cuikov, but before he could speak, Cuikov said first: "Comrade Colonel, I will not see the gifts you have sent. You will take your people with you to the east bank and hand them over to Commander Yeliumenko." He raised his hand and looked at his watch, adding, "After darkness, a transport convoy will transport supplies across the river. When they return, you will take a ride."
Cui Kov's words confused Ivanov. He thought Cui Kov could not wait to ask him to bring the prisoners in, but before he could speak, he arranged for him to send the prisoners to the other side.
After Cui Kev finished speaking, he waited for a while, but did not hear Ivanov's response, and he couldn't help feeling a little confused. He stared at Ivanov who was silent and said unhappily: "What, comrade Colonel, do you have any objections to my order?"
"Comrade Commander," Ivanov said straightening his back, "The captives are right outside the door. Even if they are to be sent to the east coast, you should take a look. You must know that this is a special gift from the commander to celebrate the great October Revolution."
"I won't look at the captives,...what, captives?" As soon as Cuikov spoke, he realized that the gift Sokov gave him was different from what he had just guessed. He quickly looked at Ivanov and asked, "Comrade Colonel, what did you just say? The gift Sokov gave us was a group of prisoners, not a cultural relic?"
"Cultural relics, what cultural relics?" Ivanov replied in confusion: "Comrade Commander, I don't know who told you that it was a bunch of cultural relics? We sent a small team behind the enemy to capture a group of German prisoners when we returned. The division commander felt that you would be very happy to see these prisoners, so he sent me to deliver them to you."
Confirm that the gift Sokov sent was a group of prisoners, Cuikov became interested: "Comrade Colonel, let your people bring the prisoners in."
Ivanov, who received the order, turned his eyes to Guchakov, who was standing at the door, and signaled him to bring the prisoners outside in. Guchakov, who had already changed back to the Soviet uniform, immediately turned around and walked out of the headquarters after seeing the wink Ivanov gave him.
Cuikov had met Guchakov before, but over time, his memory of his appearance became blurred. After watching Guchakov go out, he turned his head and asked Ivanov: "Comrade Colonel, the officer who just left, if I admit my mistake, it should be Captain Guchakov who led his squad deep into the enemy's rear this time, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, it's him." Ivanov replied with a smile: "Since these German prisoners were captured by him, the division commander handed over the task of escorting the prisoners to his squad."
"I guess the prisoner who can be sent to me must be of good status." Cuikov asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, I think this prisoner should be a regiment commander."
"Comrade Commander, you guessed that the position was a bit too low." Ivanov smiled and said, "You can guess at it even higher."
Cuikov restrained the smile on his face and said in surprise: "What, have you captured a German division commander?"
Ivanov nodded vigorously and replied with some smugness: "Comrade Commander, you guessed it right. Captain Guchakov met Major General Leze, the commander of the 29th German Motorcycle Division, on his way back to Mamayev Hill, and took the opportunity to capture him."
"What, did you catch Laze?" Krelov heard this, stared at the map for a while, then shook his head and said, "This is impossible. The defense zone of Laze's motorized division is in the southwest of the city. How could Captain Guchakov catch him on his way back?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Cuikov saw that Krelov was suspicious of the matter, so he came out to smooth things out: "After Captain Guchakov brought the prisoners in, you will know whether it is true or not."
Krelov nodded after hearing this, then picked up the phone and called the intelligence department, asking him to send a German-speaking staff to the headquarters to be the interpreter so that Cuikov could interrogate the prisoners.
Before the translation arrived, Leze had been brought in by Guchakov, Samoilov, Taflin and others. As soon as he entered the door, Guchakov raised his hand to salute Cuikov and reported respectfully: "Comrade Commander, the captives have been brought here!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Captain Guchakov." Cuikov nodded at Guchakov, smiled friendly, then walked to Laize, looked him up and down, and said, "Introduce yourself, I am Cuikov, the commander of the 62nd Soviet Army."
Krelov, not far away, was worried that Laize would not understand Cui Kov's words, so Taflin, who was standing behind Laize, had already translated in skillful German. When he learned that the Soviet officer in front of him was Cui Kov, the commander of the 62nd Army, Laize quickly kept his attentive posture, bowed slightly to Cui Kov, and greeted him politely.
Cui Kov was very curious about how Raze was captured by Guchakov and others who returned from his defense zone. As soon as he asked his new question, the translator sent by the Intelligence Department arrived. The German-savvy staff immediately translated Cui Kov's words to Raze. After listening to the staff's translation, Laze smiled bitterly, and repeated the contents he said in Sokov.
Cui Kefu asked some questions he was interested in. Laize answered some of his questions, but for more questions, he looked arrogant and said: "I'm sorry, Commander, I have nothing to tell you about your question."
After the interrogation was almost over, Cuikov asked the staff to take Laze out. After Laze left, he said to Krelov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if Laze did not lie, the enemy may adjust its troops in the short term. It seems that we must also adjust our troops in a targeted manner."
"Lize was captured by us, and the one who replaced him may need some time to adapt to the troops." Krelov said thoughtfully: "That is to say, after the enemy changes defense, we have a few days to redeploy the troops. However, our troops are limited now. Do you see if you report to the Front Command and ask them to send another troops into the city to strengthen our defense."
"I think it's OK." Although Krelov made similar proposals two days ago, they were rejected by Trikov without hesitation. But at this moment, Trikov had a captured German commander in his hand, and his confidence in speaking was very high. He emphasized to Krelov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, when you make a request to Commander Yelemenko, remember to tell him that we captured Major General Leze, the commander of the 29th Motorized Division of the German Army today."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Krelov replied with a smile: "I will tell Commander Yeremenko this good news."
The phone number to the Front Command was quickly answered. The person who answered the phone was Yelemenko himself. After expressing holiday greetings to Krelov, he asked straight to the point: "General Krelov, call me, are there any good news to tell me?"
"Yes, Commander Comrade." Krelov said respectfully: "I formally report to you that the 41st Guard Infantry Division sent a small team behind the enemy, on the way back to Mamayev Hill, successfully captured Major General Leser, the commander of the 29th Motorized Division of the German Army."
"What, you captured the commander of the 29th Motorcycle Division, Leze?" Yeliaumko asked half-doubtedly: "Is it true? You must know that Leze's defense zone is a long distance from Mamayev Hill."
"I'm all saying it is true," Krelov said in a affirmative tone: "Rise is now in our headquarters. When it gets dark, I will send someone to the front headquarters."
"This is indeed good news." Yelemenko was happy for a few seconds after confirming that the situation of Krelov's report was true, and then said: "General Krelov, I have a bad news to tell you. This is crucial to whether we can defend the city."
Yelemenko's words scared Krelov out of a cold sweat. He quickly said calmly: "Comrade Commander, don't know what bad news is?"
Chapter completed!