The days of staying in Luhansk were still dull, patrolling the positions and urging the fortifications to be repaired, and time passed by step by step.
It was about to enter March. At noon that day, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko personally sent a dirty officer. He introduced to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, this is Lieutenant Vanusha, the military representative of the Bistrait station."
"Lt. Vanusha, what happened?" Sokov knew that the Bi-Bai Train Station was located fifteen kilometers southwest of Lugansk, and many military supplies transported from the rear were stored there. "Why are you so embarrassed?"
"Comrade Colonel," Vanusha replied with a sad face, "Bais Station is lost."
"What, is it lost to the train station?" Vanusha's words shocked everyone in the house.
"Is this true?" Sokov asked with a straight face.
"Yes, of course it's true, Comrade Colonel."
"How did this happen?" Sokov asked again.
"Before dawn this morning, a train of troops entered the station. The soldiers on duty thought they were transported from Moscow, so they didn't care." Vanusha explained: "Who knew that when the train stopped, the Germans came down from above. They probably had a battalion of troops, and as soon as they got off the train, they immediately took action. The soldiers on duty were either captured or stabbed to death by them with daggers. The enemy controlled most of the station almost silently.
Not long after, the second army came. This time, the troops were about one battalion, and there were three No. 4 tanks..."
When Sokov heard this, he interrupted the words behind Vanusha and asked sternly: "Comrade Lieutenant, please tell me, whose hands are Bizhen in now? Is our army or the Germans?"
"I can't explain this," Vanusha replied in a panic: "When I escaped from the town, the battle continued. I guess there are still some towns that are still in the hands of our army."
Bile Town is fifteen kilometers away from Lugansk, but only ten kilometers away from the position of the 122nd Regiment. Once the enemy has occupied the entire town, they can use it as the starting point of the attack and launch continuous attacks on the position of the 122nd Regiment at any time. Sokov faced Papuqinko and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, why don't you report this directly on the phone? Do you know that it is easy to miss the opportunity for war when you do this?"
"Comrade Commander, I think this matter is of great importance and I need to report it to you in person." Papchinko, who was criticized, replied aggrievedly: "I was worried that I couldn't explain it clearly on the phone, so I personally brought Lieutenant Vanusha."
"According to the report of Lieutenant Vanusha, there are at least two battalions of German troops in the town, and there are three tanks." After roughly understanding the strength of the German army, Sidorin reminded Sokov: "If we want to regain Bile Town, we must dispatch at least one regiment of troops. But in this way, our defense deployment will disrupt. You see, what should we do?"
"We must find a way to retake Bile," Sokov said with a serious expression: "Once the enemy has a firm foothold in Bile, they can use it as the starting point of the attack and launch an attack on Lugansk at any time. Although we have repelled the German attack several times a while ago, it is because they are far away from their main force and base and have insufficient subsequent attack power. As long as one attack is not successful, they will be unable to fight again."
"Misha is right." Beret agreed with Sokov's statement: "We must take advantage of the fact that the German army has not yet established a stable foothold and take back Bire Town as soon as possible. We must not let them regard it as the starting point of the attack."
"But, where should we use?" Cidolin said embarrassedly: "Now the three guard regiments have their own defense zones. If they are transferred casually, it will easily disrupt our overall defense."
"Draw one battalion from each regiment, and two tank battalions." Sokov knew very well the importance of Bile Town and decided to take a risk. If he could retake the town, it would be great, even if he could not retake it, he could disrupt the German offensive steps. "Starting an attack on the town at around 2 pm, it is necessary to retake the town from the Germans."
"Misha, even if we dispatch three battalions, we can use no more than 4,000 troops." Although Bere agrees with Sokov's plan to retake the town as soon as possible, he still raised his concerns: "The Germans continued to increase troops to the Bile Town through the railway line. I am afraid that by the time our attack began, the number of enemies in the town would have far exceeded ours."
"Immediately send a small team to take motorcycles and armored vehicles, carry explosives and mines, and rush to the railway line to destroy the railway, delaying the time when the main German forces arrived in Bile Town." After Sokov issued this order, he remembered the agreement between himself and Krelov, and continued: "I will call General Krelov again and ask him to dispatch troops to assist us."
Cidolin asked tentatively: "Will General Krelov agree?"
"If the Germans had gained a foothold in Bile Town, they could not only attack Lugansk at any time. At the same time, they could also defend the attack on the 21st Army in the south." Sokov was not confident when he said this. Although he promised himself like this when he sent Krelov to office, it is hard to say whether he would change his mind when things came to an end. But in order to regain Bile Town, Sokov decided to touch his tone: "I'll call General Krelov first and hear what he means."
The phone was quickly answered. Krelov seemed very enthusiastic when he learned that it was Sokov's call: "Hello, Colonel Sokov, why did you remember to call me?"
"That's right, Comrade General." Sokov said awkwardly when he wanted to ask for help from the other party: "I've encountered some trouble and need your help."
"Oh, Colonel Sokov, I'm so embarrassed." Krelov rushed to say before he finished Sokov, "You also know that my troops had just participated in the Stalingrad defense not long ago. The troops, weapons and ammunition consumed had not had time to recharge, and their strength had not yet been restored. I'm afraid I can't help you."
When Sokov heard this, he felt a little familiar. When he refused to borrow money many years ago, he used this tone: Sorry, I bought too much of the things I bought during this period and I used almost all the money. The salary is not enough, so I can't lend it to you for the time being.
"Comrade General," Sokov knew that if he begged, perhaps Krelov would refuse more thoroughly, so he changed the subject and took the initiative in his hands: "Do you know why I want you to ask for help?"
"Why?" Krelov asked.
"According to the latest news I have obtained, the German army has occupied the Bili train station and is constantly increasing troops to this town through the railway." In order to prevent Krelov from rejecting him again, Sokov told the other party the seriousness of the problem: "Once the enemy has gained a firm foothold in Bili town, they can use it as the starting point of the attack, not only can attack Lugansk at any time, but also your defense zone."
"What, did the Germans occupy the town of Bile?" Krelov, as a commander of his staff background, naturally knew the location of Bile and its significance. "Is this news reliable?"
"Totally reliable, comrade General." Sokov heard Krelov's attitude seem a little loose, and he quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "I am preparing to organize troops to launch a counterattack on Bile Town. Due to insufficient troops, I hope you can send a force to support us from the flank."
"Okay, Colonel Sokov." In order to prevent the German army from gaining a foothold in Bire, Krelov readily agreed to Sokov's request: "I am going to send a division to support you. Are you ready to attack?"
“Two o’clock in the afternoon.”
"Don't worry, my troops will be ready to enter the combat position before 2 pm."