Back at the brigade command, Belkin asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, have you really decided to compete with the tank army tomorrow?"
"That's right." Sokov nodded, looked at Belkin with a strange look, and said, "Since you have agreed with General Rotmistrov, you must compare."
"We have not been newly formed in the brigade for a while, and most of the officers and soldiers of the tank army are veterans. Isn't it obvious that we will lose if we want to compete with them?" Seeing Sokov in such a sure to say that we would be in a competition, Berkin said with some concern: "If both sides give out ten people, maybe we can draw enough personnel from the original Istrian camp. But now both sides give out fifty people to compete, I'm worried that we will lose."
"Since it's a military competition, there will definitely be wins and losses." Sokov smiled and said, "Although there are many new recruits in our brigade, it does not mean that the strength is weak. Don't forget that today's Jina and Susanna's marksmanship crushed all the commanders and soldiers of the 1st Company of the Second Battalion. If we win, it can certainly boost morale; even if we lose, it is not a bad thing, and it can make our soldiers realize their own shortcomings..."
Although Sokov showed an indifferent attitude towards this competition, Belkin attached importance to it: "Comrade Brigade Commander, no matter what, this is the first competition between our brigade and friendly forces after the establishment of our brigade. As long as there is a chance to win, we still have to work hard. I will call several battalion commanders over and discuss with them the matter of selecting personnel."
When Belkin called several battalion commanders and informed them to come to the brigade headquarters for a meeting, Sokov sat aside and thought: Although there were too many new recruits in the brigade, no matter what, there were still many capable people in Istria. If they were drawn from the army, they would still be sure to win tomorrow.
After receiving the call, the three battalion commanders quickly rushed to the brigade headquarters. After hearing Belkin's explanation that he would conduct a military competition with friendly forces tomorrow, they were all excited and said, "Comrade Political Commissar, each of our battalions has more than 1,000 people, and only fifty people have been dispatched to participate in shooting and sting. Is it a little less? There are only a dozen people in each battalion. Do you see if you can add another spot? "
The words of several battalion commanders shocked Sokov and Belkin. The two thought that when the battalion commanders heard the news of the competition, they would complain to them, saying that they could not draw enough people to participate in the competition. However, their reaction was exactly the opposite, and they also hoped to increase some places so that more skilled soldiers could participate in the competition.
Sokov thought to himself: If he had known that the battalion commanders were so positive about this competition, he would not have agreed to Rotmistrov's proposal to issue fifty people each, and at least the number of people should be increased to one hundred.
Thinking of this, he raised his hand and pressed down, and then said, "Okay, don't argue. After you go back, each of you will choose thirty soldiers who are proficient in shooting and thorn fighting, and be prepared to participate in the competition."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Berkin quickly reminded: "Rotmistrov said that each of us would give 50 people. If each battalion selected thirty people, wouldn't there be ninety people?"
"If there are more people, you can be prepared for any trouble." Sokov explained to Berkin: "If General Rotmistrov suddenly changes his mind tomorrow and says that each side will compete with one hundred people, we will temporarily draw personnel, which will be a troublesome thing."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." Hearing Sokov say this, Belkin nodded and said, "Since that's the case, each battalion commander will draw thirty soldiers when he goes back to participate in tomorrow's military competition."
Just as the three battalion commanders left, Selyosha suddenly ran in from outside and said hurriedly to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, Captain Brisky is back, he is now outside the door."
"Our fourth battalion commander is back." Sokov couldn't help but smile after hearing Selyosha's report. He hurriedly ordered: "Hurry up and invite him in!"
After a while, Brisky, led by Seriosha, walked into the command center in great strides. He came to Sokov and Belkin and stopped, raised his hand to salute, and said loudly to Sokov: "Comrade Major, Captain Brisky, the leader of the platoon in the company, is ordered to come, please instruct!"
Looking at Brisky, who was covered in mud spots in front of him, Sokov hurriedly stepped forward and held his hand: "Thank you for your hard work, Captain Brisky. It is precisely because of your active activities in the Dym area that have attracted the attention of the German army and allowed us to successfully seize Kursk. I will report the merits you have established to the Front Command to apply for you to commend you."
Hearing Sokov said he was about to apply for commendation for his troops, Brisky's face showed a surprise expression. Then, he straightened his body and said, "Serve the Soviet motherland!"
"Captain Brisky," Belkin asked with concern as he stepped forward and shook hands with Brisky: "Have all the soldiers in your platoon returned?"
Brisky shook his head and said with a wry smile: "We have fought several small-scale battles with the enemy in the Dym area, with great casualties. There are less than ten people who came to Kursk with me today."
"Good, Captain Brisky, you and your subordinates are good." Belkin grabbed the other person's hand and shook it hard, "We will remember the merits you have made."
"Captain Brisky, on behalf of the Brigade Command, I officially announced to you." Sokov waited for Belkin to let go of Brisky's hand and said seriously: "From now on, you will be the battalion commander of the Fourth Battalion of the 73rd Infantry Brisky."
"Infantry Brigade 73rd Infantry Brigade? Battalion Commander of the Fourth Battalion?" After hearing this, Brisky asked blankly: "Comrade Major, I don't understand what you are saying!"
"What's wrong with this?" Belkin explained to him with a smile: "After we occupied Kursk, our superiors adapted our original Istria Battalion into the 73rd Infantry Brigade, with Comrade Sokov as the brigade commander, and I served as the political commissar of the brigade. Also, the brigade commander has been promoted to lieutenant colonel."
After learning the real situation from Belkin, Brisky's face smiled even more. He took the initiative to extend his hand to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I congratulate you on your higher military rank and position."
"Each one another, Comrade Brisky." Sokov said while shook hands with the other party: "You are also the one who has obtained higher military ranks and positions. From now on, you will not only be the battalion commander of the Fourth Battalion, but also the rank will be promoted to captain. Based on your performance, I could have granted you a higher military rank, but unfortunately, with my authority, I can only decide to promote the rank of officers below the school level."
Although he was only promoted to the rank of captain, Brisky's heart was still as if he had drunk honey. After pausing for a moment, he continued to ask: "Comrade Brigade Commander, can I ask, where is my army?"
"That's right, Captain Brisky." Sokov replied: "The newly formed Fourth Battalion has more than a thousand people, and is currently stationed in the city center. I will ask Selyosha to take you to receive the troops later."
"More than a thousand people?" Brisky was shocked when he heard this number of people. According to his idea, Istria Battalion had just been expanded into an infantry brigade, and it would be good to have more than a thousand people. He was named the battalion commander and had only two hundred men at most. Unexpectedly, there were more than a thousand people in his fourth battalion. He said very unexpectedly: "The number of people is really quite large, and they are almost equivalent to the number of people in an infantry regiment."
"Although there are many people, they are almost all new recruits with no combat effectiveness." Sokov said to Brisky: "So the people you bring back should be enriched into the army as soon as possible, and according to their abilities, they should be the platoon leader."
Many of Brisky's subordinates were officers, with rich combat experience and a certain level of command, making them a waste of being soldiers. At this moment, he learned that these subordinates could serve as platoon leaders, Brisky was overjoyed and quickly replied loudly: "I understand, comrade brigade commander. I will enrich them into the army later."
Just as Sokov was about to ask Selyosha to take Brisky away, Brisky suddenly asked: "Comrade Brigade Commander, when I first came, I happened to meet three company commanders leaving the command center. Seeing their serious faces, is something wrong?"
"Three company commanders?" Sokov was stunned when he heard Brisky say this, and then he realized that he was talking about Vanya, Andre and others. The other party probably didn't know that these three people are now battalion commanders, so he said casually: "You are talking about Vanya and the other three. They are now like you, and they are also battalion commanders."
"Yes, yes, yes, they are three battalion commanders." Brisky nodded quickly and repeated the question just now: "Comrade Brigade Commander, can you tell me what happened? Judging from their appearance, things are not small!"
"That's right, Captain Brisky." Seeing that Brisky was so curious, Berkin told Brisky about the war to compete with Rotmistrov's tank army tomorrow, and finally said: "They may be considering which cadres and soldiers to be transferred to participate in tomorrow's competition."
When Brisky learned that he would compete with Rotmistrov's tank army tomorrow, he couldn't help but feel a little angry. He had just become the battalion commander and wanted to perform well in front of Sokov, so he hurriedly said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what about our fourth battalion? How many people should we draw to participate in this competition?"
Sokov said: "Captain Brisky, since we didn't expect you to rush back today, this competition will not be drawn from your fourth battalion for the time being. You can just organize your staff to watch the battle on site."
"How can that be done?" Seeing Sokov intends to exclude his fourth battalion from the competition team, Brisky was a little anxious: "Since our fourth battalion is a member of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, how can we not participate in such a competition?"
"You just came back and are not familiar with the troops." Sokov understood Brisky's mood, but considering that the other party was not familiar with his troops, he said tactfully: "I am not familiar with the commanders and fighters in the battalion, how can you draw personnel to participate in the war? I see that your battalion won't have to participate in this competition."
"Comrade Brigade Commander." Seeing that Sokov rejected his proposal without hesitation, Brisky immediately said with a serious expression: "Although I have not officially taken over the Fourth Battalion, the subordinates I brought back include sharpshooters and stingers. I think it is OK to let them participate in the competition."
Brisky's words reminded Sokov that the warriors who could follow Brisky to jump out of the enemy's encirclement should have a good technical and tactical level. If they were given two places, they might have unexpected gains. Thinking of this, Sokov asked: "Comrade Captain, then tell me, how many people can you draw from the warriors who come back to participate in the competition, right?"
"There is one sharpshooter. When he broke through the siege a few days ago, he killed several German machine gunners at a distance of 200 meters, so that we could break through the enemy's blocking position smoothly." Brisky heard that his subordinates could participate in the battle, so he immediately began to introduce the right candidate to Sokov: "When it comes to stinging, there were two people. During this period of battle, there were no less than twenty enemies who died under their bayonets."
When Belkin heard Brisky say this, he couldn't help but feel happy. He turned his head and said to Sokov: "Comrade Brisket Commander, if what Captain Brisky said is true, then I think these three soldiers can be allowed to participate in the competition."
"Okay, Captain Brisky." Although Rotmistrov proposed to send fifty people to play, Sokov still thought that the more soldiers participating, the better. If only fifty people were drawn, if Rotmistrov had a whim, where would he draw personnel in a hurry. Therefore, when he heard that there were such capable people under Brisky, he immediately agreed: "Since you think your subordinates are capable of participating in such competitions, let them participate tomorrow. Now, follow Lieutenant Seriosha to the Fourth Battalion to receive the troops."
Looking at Brisky's back disappearing from the door, Belkin said with emotion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, didn't you say a few days ago that you wanted your superiors to send you a chief of staff?"
"Yes, that's what I said." Belkin was only halfway, but Sokov immediately guessed what he wanted to express: "Comrade Political Commissar, do you think Captain Brisky is suitable for this Chief of Staff?"
"Yes, I think it's better to choose the right person from within than to send someone from his superiors to serve as the chief of staff of the brigade." Belkin replied affirmatively: "Compared with the other battalion commanders, he has no intention of being the most suitable person."