"Yasha, there are only two of us here." After arriving at the empty room next to him, Sokov closed the door and said to Yakov: "If you have anything to do, just tell me."
"When you went to the headquarters for a meeting, I received a telegram from Comrade Ustinov."
"A telegram from Comrade Ustinov?!" When Sokov learned of Ustinov's call, he asked with some surprise: "Comrade Comrade People's Commissar, do you have anything important to tell you?"
"When you returned to Moscow last time, didn't I tell you that our military experts had developed napalm, but because the laboratory was attacked by German agents, not only were several military experts killed, but all the information was also stolen by the enemy.
Burn it to the ground?"
Of course, Sokov remembered the reason why he returned to Moscow last time. The mother whose body he had taken was unfortunately killed in a bombing by a German plane. He went back to attend to the funeral. So he heard Yakov's words.
When asked the question, he nodded and replied: "Yes, I remember this very clearly."
He wondered why Yakov suddenly mentioned such an old incident, and asked curiously: "Yasha, why did you suddenly mention this matter? Could it be that what you are going to say today is related to this matter?"
"
"That's right." Yakov nodded and replied: "Actually, for the sake of confidentiality, I didn't tell you that not all the military experts who participated in the test died. One of the chief engineers in charge survived.
Come down."
"The chief engineer in charge survived?" Sokov said in surprise: "So, he has now restored all the information on napalm?"
"That's right, he has now rewritten all the information." After Yakov finished saying this, before Sokov could ask again, he said first: "You may want to ask, how did he get it now?
Write yourself out silently, right?"
Seeing Sokov nodding in agreement, he continued: "He was seriously injured at the time, and he didn't wake up until May. At the end of June, his body returned to a state where he could work, and he began to organize and recall those things.
Documents burned by German agents."
"Yasha, I have a question." Sokov heard this and raised his hand to interrupt Yakov's words: "Do you think the information on napalm has been obtained by the Germans?"
"Don't worry, Misha, the enemy has definitely not obtained our information. I can guarantee this." Yakov explained to Sokov: "German agents sneaked into the laboratory, killed our military experts, and stole
When he was preparing to leave, he was discovered by the guards, and a fierce exchange of fire broke out between the two sides. Seeing that he could not escape, the German agents returned to the laboratory and detonated the bomb hidden in the laboratory in advance, completely destroying the laboratory and making everyone inside
All the information was burned.”
After listening to Yakov's story, Sokov always felt that something was wrong, so he frowned and asked: "If German agents blew up the laboratory, how did the chief engineer survive? You know, where
Under such circumstances, it is impossible for any living thing to survive."
"You are right, not only everyone in the laboratory died, but even the commanders and fighters involved in the siege suffered heavy casualties. Due to the huge power of the bomb, no one who was close to the laboratory survived.
"
"I still have the same question. How did the chief engineer survive? This is worth thinking about."
"It can be said that the chief engineer survived because he was lucky." Yakov explained: "But the German agents killed everyone in the experiment and took the chief engineer hostage. But when the chief engineer saw the patrolling soldiers passing by,
After shouting a warning, the agent fired several shots at him and started a gun battle with our soldiers. Seeing that there was no hope of breaking out, they retreated to the laboratory."
Perhaps seeing Sokov still frowning, Yakov continued to explain to him: "Misha, I know what you are thinking, but I think your guess is wrong." He pointed with his finger.
"The chief engineer was shot several times in his own chest. One of the bullets hit him near the heart. If he strayed even one centimeter, he would be dead. If he was really a German spy lurking in our military industry department, how could he?"
Is it possible to do something so risky?”
Sokov did suspect that there was something wrong with the chief engineer, but after listening to Yakov's story, he felt that he seemed a little too worried. If the chief engineer was really a German spy, how could he dare to take such a risk?
What? You must know that under the circumstances at that time, even a sharpshooter with the best marksmanship may miss the target due to nervousness. It seems that it is unlikely to be a trick.
Thinking of this, Sokov stopped worrying about the chief engineer, and asked Yakov curiously: "Yasha, you can tell me now what is the real purpose of calling me here."
"Well, Comrade Ustinov asked me to ask you for advice. After we master the technology of napalm, should we produce aerial bombs or artillery shells?"
Sokov thought about his impression that he had only heard of napalm bombs dropped by airplanes, but never heard of artillery shells, so he said to Yakov with some surprise: "I think this technology is still used to produce
Aerial bombs are fine, but don’t use them to produce artillery shells.”
"Why?"
"After the napalm bomb explodes, it will form a layer of flames that will spatter around, emitting a high temperature of about 1,000°C, and can stick to other objects and burn for a long time." Sokov said thoughtfully: "If
Artillery uses napalm bombs. Once it is counterattacked or bombed by enemy artillery fire, even if only one napalm bomb is detonated, the entire artillery position will be completely destroyed. Do you understand?"
In fact, Sokov didn't know why there were no artillery shells made of napalm. Naturally, he didn't know how to explain it, so he could only secretly change the concept to fool Yakov.
But he didn't expect that Yakov actually listened to Sokov's words. He nodded and said: "I understand. I will send a telegram back to Comrade Ustinov later to convey your intention to him and ask him to do his best."
Produce aerial bombs.”
"Yes, we should produce more aerial bombs." Sokov said to Yakov: "Maybe in a few months, we will drive the enemy out of our country. When we advance to the enemy's home base, there will be obstacles along the way.
Encountering many fortresses. To deal with these fortresses in the traditional sense, it is not enough to just rely on artillery of various calibers. Then we can use napalm bombs to deal with the enemies hiding in the fortresses and resisting."
Yakov didn't seem to be very interested in the future that Sokov was looking forward to. He waited for Sokov to finish and then said: "Comrade Ustinov also said in the telegram that they have produced twelve special new rockets.
, prepare to transport it here soon, let us test the power of this napalm bomb."
When he learned that the Weapons and Equipment Department actually produced twelve modified napalm bombs, Sokov couldn't help but shudder. If it were transported by train, if an accident happened on the road, the entire train would be basically insured. He asked tentatively
: “I wonder how Comrade Ustinov plans to transport these twelve special rockets?”
"Of course it will be transported by train." Yakov replied: "Originally, he planned to transport it by car, but considering that the road conditions from Moscow were not ideal, he was worried that the road was too bumpy and something might happen, so he temporarily changed it.
This special batch of rockets will be transported by train."
"Yasha, haven't you considered that once an accident occurs during the transportation of these rockets, the entire train may be burned down."
"Misha, I understand what you mean, but now transportation by train is undoubtedly the safest way." Seeing Sokov's worried look, Yakov specially comforted him and said: "I understand Us
Comrade Zinov, he is a very cautious person, and he will definitely think of a good way to avoid accidents with these rockets on the way."
"Well, since Comrade Ustinov will consider the issue of transportation safety, I won't worry too much." After Sokov said this, he asked Yakov: "I don't know when it can be transported to us.
defense zone?”
"I'm afraid it won't arrive until August 2 or 3 at the earliest." After Yakov told the approximate arrival time, he curiously asked Sokov: "Misha, when do you plan to use this special rocket?
bomb?"
"With our current strength, we will definitely not be able to use it when attacking the position on the other side of the river, because the hovercraft our assault troops are riding can rush in front of the enemy before they recover and easily steal it from their hands.
We need to seize the position here." Sokov said slowly: "It seems that such special rockets are not used in the city of Belgorod. Because not only will it hurt the residents of the city when used, but it may also hurt the residents of the city.
Incidentally injure friendly forces attacking from other directions."
Seeing that Sokov politely refused to use special rockets in the Belgorod area, Yakov couldn't help but feel a little anxious: "So, you are planning to let these special rockets go unused?"
"Idleness is not enough." Sokov waved his hands and said: "After liberating Belgorod, our army will definitely continue to advance towards Kharkov. By then, the large number of fortifications built by the enemy outside the city will become
The biggest obstacle on our way forward. At that time, I can try to use special rockets to see if it can destroy the enemies hiding in strong fortifications."
Seeing that the battle to attack Belgorod has not yet started, Sokov is already considering the issue of capturing Kharkov. Yakov couldn't help laughing: "Misha, I know that there will be an attack on Belgorod in the near future.
Attack, but how long do you think it will take you to take over this city?"
"Three to five days." Sokov did not tell Yakov directly that the Soviet army only took three days to liberate the city occupied by the enemy, but said in general: "Now Belgorod
The enemies in the city have already lost their morale and morale after suffering repeated attacks from our army. Facing the joint attack launched by our two front armies, they cannot resist for long."
"Misha, I think you are too confident." Yakov heard what Sokov said, but shook his head: "Although the enemy suffered defeats in Prokhorovka and Oboyan, now
There are many troops entrenched in the city, and if we want to take the city, it will probably take a long time and a fierce battle."
After Yakov frowned and thought for a while, he stretched out a finger and said: "In my opinion, it will take at least a month to completely capture Belgorod."
Sokov laughed and said: "Yasha, you said that I am too confident. But I want to say that you are too pessimistic. The hundreds of thousands of troops on the two fronts will have to be replaced by tens of thousands of German troops."
It shouldn’t be too difficult to capture a city from our hands. If it takes a month to liberate Belgorod, then it will take two or three to liberate Kharkiv, which has solid fortifications and a complete defense system.
Months or even longer?”
When Yakov opened his mouth and seemed to want to say something, Sokov raised his hand to stop him: "Yasha, I don't think we need to argue about this kind of thing. Facts speak louder than words. When the battle starts,
After that, you will know whether I am right or whether your judgment is accurate."
"Okay, Misha, since you said so, I won't argue with you anymore." Since Sokov was unwilling to engage in meaningless arguments on this kind of matter, Yakov was no longer aggressive.
He looked at his friend and said, "Let's let the facts speak for themselves."
Before the two left the room, Yakov was worried that Sokov would tell others about the special rockets, so he quickly reminded him: "Special rockets still need to be strictly confidential weapons. I hope you don't tell anyone, including Sakov."
Chief of Staff Meko and General Lunev."
"Don't worry, Yasha." Sokov raised his hand and patted the other party's shoulder and said, "I will not tell others casually before the special rocket is officially put into use."
When Sokov returned to the headquarters, Lunev immediately greeted him and asked anxiously: "Comrade Commander, what important matter does Colonel Yakov have for you?"
Sokov looked at Lunev and said apologetically: "Comrade Military Commissar, although I really want to tell you the truth about the relationship between myself and Yakov. But I can't, this involves confidentiality, and you are a
As a veteran commander, you should understand the confidentiality regulations, don’t tell what you shouldn’t say, and don’t pry about what you shouldn’t pry about.”
Hearing what Sokov said, Lunev immediately realized the seriousness of the problem, nodded and said: "So that's it, then I understand. Don't worry, I won't ask around again."
Seeing the aggrieved look on Lunev's face, Sokov couldn't bear it, so he approached him and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, although I can't tell you what it is now. But as long as you wait patiently for two days,
, after the battle starts, you will understand what is going on."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko came over and reported to Sokov: "I have officially notified the logistics department and asked them to reload the two Marine Corps brigades overnight. Each assault rifle must be equipped with at least three soldiers.
A basic amount of ammunition to ensure that they have enough ammunition to stop the enemy when they face the enemy's counterattack after occupying the German position on the other side."
Sokov felt that Samyko's arrangement was a bit superfluous. With the existence of black technology such as hovercraft, it would not take more than two hours to add two marine brigades or even an infantry division.
.In such a short period of time, the commanders and fighters of the Marine Brigade may not even be able to use up one base of ammunition, let alone three bases.
However, Sokov did not easily deny the work done by Samyko. He nodded and said with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you have considered it very carefully. Just implement it according to your arrangements."
