When he learned that Sokov was going to visit his division to inspect the defense, the division commander Colonel Khokhlov and political commissar Colonel Sepirov brought people to the edge of the defense zone early to wait.
When they saw the convoy appearing on the road in the distance, Sepirov also joked to Khokhlov: "Comrade Commander, it seems that our commander is quite dangerous. He even has to bring a tank to accompany him when traveling."
Khokhlov grinned, and was about to echo a few words when he suddenly saw the tank turret sandwiched by four jeeps, which was painted with white crosses. He was immediately scared out of a cold sweat and shouted loudly: "It's the German tank, alarm, combat alarm, be ready for battle immediately!"
With his shouts, the soldiers who were originally guarding him and Sepirov immediately dispersed everywhere, looking for a suitable location to hide, and set up guns and ready to shoot.
Sokov saw everything that happened here. He knew that the commanders and soldiers who came to greet him must have seen the tank painted with white crosses in the convoy, and regarded himself as a German. "Stop!" After Sokov stopped the vehicle, he ordered Samoilov, who was sitting in the passenger seat: "Comrade Lieutenant, take a car over to negotiate, so that you will not fight with your own people."
Samoilov agreed, opened the car door and got out of the car, then got into the second car, and drove towards the Soviet commanders and soldiers who came to greet him in the distance, hoping to resolve the misunderstanding as soon as possible so as not to cause unnecessary conflicts.
Khokhlov stopped when he saw the convoy far away. Then only one jeep drove towards his position and shouted at the commanders and fighters who were hiding around: "Please pay attention. No one is allowed to shoot without my orders. Repeat, no one is allowed to shoot without my orders."
After the jeep was approaching, a lieutenant carrying an assault rifle jumped out of the car. He got off the car and shouted loudly: "Who is responsible here?"
The person who saw clearly was Sokov's most trusted guard platoon leader Samoilov. Khokhlov and Sepilov quickly stood up to meet him. After following along, Khokhlov took the initiative to extend his hand and said enthusiastically: "Hello, Lieutenant Samoilov, I'm glad to see you!"
After raising his hand to salute the two colonels, Samoilov asked dissatisfiedly when shaking hands with them: "Did you not receive the notice that the commander is coming to your inspection? What are you doing now? Are you going to open fire at us?"
When Sepirov heard Samoilov's doubts, he replied awkwardly: "Comrade Lieutenant, we saw a German tank coming, and ordered the soldiers to prepare for battle. Unexpectedly, the tank was actually with the commander."
"Are you talking about the tank with a white cross?" After hearing Sepirov's explanation, Samoilov immediately understood that the other party had a misunderstanding: "The tank was seized by the Germans some time ago. Several captured personnel from our army escaped from the enemy in the tank."
After hearing Samoilov tell the story in detail, the two colonels suddenly realized why there was a tank painted with white crosses and Sokov traveling with him. After the misunderstanding was resolved, Khokhlov asked the signal soldiers to send a signal to the convoy in the distance to inform them that they could come.
After Sokov came over by car, he got out of the car and shook hands with the two colonels, and asked straight to the point: "How are your fortifications being built?"
"Report to the commander," Khokhlov replied respectfully: "We skillfully used the terrain of Shumakovo to build three lines of defense here, each with a regiment of troops for defense."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov asked calmly, "I want to ask, how do you use the terrain?"
"Comrade Commander," Khokhlov said happily when he heard Sokov's inquiry: "Did you see the hills on both sides? We set up anti-tank positions on the hills, and when the enemy tanks advance along the road, our anti-tank hands can destroy them condescendingly."
Before Sokov could speak again, Khokhlov continued: "Comrade Commander, the detailed defense map is in my division headquarters. Please come with me and take a look."
When getting on the bus, Sokov suddenly remembered the tank that he had accompanied him and quickly said to Khokhlov: "Comrade Colonel, I believe Lieutenant Samoilov has told you about the tank that came with us?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Samoilov has told me all." Khokhlov quickly replied, "When I arrive at the station, I will arrange for someone to change the paint of the tank."
"The painting of the tank must be changed." Sokov was always half-believing and half-doubted about Cocakin's statement. He felt that if he wanted to join his army, he had to conduct screening and review in advance, so he ordered Khokhlov: "But arrange special personnel to review the three people who escaped from the enemy's prisoner of war camp as soon as possible. I will send Lieutenant Samoilov to assist you."
After returning to the station, Cokakin and Rikov came out of the tank, and immediately a second lieutenant wearing a blue hat came over and said to them: "I am still from the Special Service Department, please come with me."
When Cocakin heard that the other party was from the Special Service Department, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. As soon as Samoilov came over, he whispered a few words to the Special Service Department's second lieutenant, comforted Cocakin: "Comrade Cocakin, since you have been captured, it is a necessary procedure to review and identify you. I hope you can understand. Don't worry, I will always be with you."
"Where is Kataeva, will she also be under review?" Cocakin saw that Kataeva had just got off the jeep and was taken away by two blue hats, so he smiled and said to Samoilov: "She is not a soldier. Can she be exempted from the scrutiny of her?"
The second lieutenant of the Secret Service shook his head and said, "No, we must review all those who escaped from the enemy-occupied area. This is our duty."
Hearing the lieutenant say this, Cocakin knew that he was too presumptuous. All those who fled from the enemy-occupied area had to be reviewed. This was a law that could not be changed. He could only sigh in his heart, hoping that the review later would end soon and not cause any psychological shadow to Kataeva.
Shortly after Cocakin and the other two were taken away by the lieutenant, several workers from the maintenance site came to the tank. After a brief inspection, a special person drove towards the maintenance station.