"Comrade Brigade Commander, please be honest." Alexa, the second battalion commander, spoke, said: "The place you are talking about is a dense forest. It is not easy for one or two hundred people to find the secret arsenal hidden in it."
"Yes, comrade brigade commander." As soon as Alexa finished speaking, Chief of Staff Cherkasov echoed: "I think the second battalion commander makes sense. It is not easy for one or two hundred people to find the hidden arsenal of our army in the dense forest."
Faced with the doubts of his subordinates, Sokov did not show any dissatisfaction. He knew very well that if he didn't know the specific location, it would not be an exaggeration to describe it as looking for a needle in a haystack.
"Don't worry, everyone." Sokov said calmly: "If you look for it aimlessly in the forest, it will definitely not be easy to find the location of the arsenal. But if we search based on some signs, the chance of finding the arsenal is still very high."
"What's the mark?" Belkin asked curiously.
"Since it is an arsenal, it means there are a large amount of weapons, ammunition and other materials stored." Sokov explained to everyone: "It is definitely not possible to transport so many things into the forest by manpower alone. They must be transported by vehicles. If vehicles enter the forest, there must be roads. In other words, as long as you find the road in the forest, then search along the road, and you may find the arsenal hidden in the forest."
After Sokov's explanation, everyone suddenly realized.
Ye Feim said first: "Comrade Brigade Commander, after hearing what you said, we will be sure to find the arsenal hidden in the forest." After a moment of pause, he asked tentatively: "Are you allowed me to leave?"
"Of course, of course, allow it." Sokov nodded at Yefim and said to everyone: "Comrades in the battalion, I don't know when the Germans' next attack will be launched, so you should seize the time to find the arsenal and strive to make the equipment of each battalion more advanced before the new battle begins."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Alexa asked carefully: "Since it is an arsenal, there must be artillery inside. If artillery can be really obtained, can a unit of artillery be formed?"
"Second Battalion Commander, your proposal is good. If you want to smash the enemy's attack again and again, it is completely necessary to form an artillery unit." Sokov took advantage of the fact that several battalion commanders did not leave, and he emphasized: "After you go back, ask the commanders and fighters if there are any artillery units. If so, draw them out. After we get the artillery, we will form an artillery unit immediately."
After several battalion commanders left, Belkin asked Sokov with some urgency: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you really think we can find an arsenal in the forest?"
"I think we can find it." Although Sokov knew that there was a secret arsenal in the defense zone, he only knew the approximate location and whether he could find it was still an unknown number, so he did not dare to say too much: "I once heard a general say that in order to better fight the enemy's attack, there were many secret arsenals in the forest near Moscow, which contained a large number of weapons, ammunition and materials."
Berkin was half-doubted about Sokov's statement, but considering Sokov's identity, he still pretended to be true: "If we can really find the arsenal, then we don't have to worry about the weapons, ammunition and supplies of our brigade. You know, although the Army Command continues to transport supplies to us, it is still a little less for us."
Sokov agreed with Belkin's statement, so he had accommodated about 4,000 people at once. The weapons provided by the Army Command were provided according to the standard of 2,000 people. Therefore, so far, there are still many soldiers in the brigade who are bare-handed and their weapons have long been lost when they break through.
There was no news about the search for the arsenal, so Bobricov hurried over and reported a good news to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, Comrade Brigade Commander, good news, good news!"
When Sokov heard Bobricov say this, he couldn't help but feel happy and asked, "Have you found the arsenal?"
When Sokov held an interim military meeting, he did not allow Bobricov to attend. The latter naturally did not know what the arsenal was like in Sokov's mouth was. He asked in confusion: "What arsenal?"
"I'm asking you, what good news?" Sokov asked directly without explaining.
"There is an artillery unit heading towards us." Bobricov said excitedly: "It won't be long before we can get to our place."
"Is it the artilleryman assigned to us by the superiors?" asked Belkin.
"I think so," replied Bobricov. "They are coming to us at this moment."
Sokov was naturally happy to learn that an artillery was coming, but he was more concerned about the size of the artillery: "Captain Bobricov, I wonder how many artillery there are?"
Bobricov stretched out four fingers and replied, "Four cannons. I looked carefully and saw that they were four cannons of 76.2 mm."
The smile on Belkin's face froze, and his smile gradually disappeared. He said with regret: "Why are there only four artillery pieces? You know, once the Germans launch a large-scale attack, there are at least dozens of tanks. Can four artillery pieces block them?"
"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, although the number of four artillery is a little smaller, it is better than nothing." Sokov said this to Belkin and ordered Bobricov: "Captain, when the artillery arrives, you bring their commanders to see me."
"Okay, comrade comrade commander." Bobricov agreed, turned around and ran out of the tent.
"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander," said Karsokov. "I think the brigade commander is right. Although there are fewer four artillery guns, they are better than none. With artillery, we can destroy enemy tanks at a distance without our officers and soldiers risking their lives and throw anti-tank grenades close to the tanks, thereby reducing unnecessary casualties."
After Karsokov finished speaking, he said bitterly: "Brig Commander, Chief of Staff, I understand what you meant. I just want to say that the number of artillery given to us by the superiors is too small. What can these few pills do? We should give us more."
"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, I think the number of artillery troops in the army headquarters is not large, so we cannot provide us with more artillery." Sokov looked at Belkin and said, "It is better to be self-reliant than to ask for others. We have sent people to find the arsenal in the forest. If we are lucky and can find a hidden arsenal, we may find a lot of artillery from it, so that we can strengthen our strength."
Not long after, Bobricov walked in with an artillery lieutenant.
Bobricov introduced to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, this is the new artillery company commander. Lieutenant," he continued to say to the lieutenant, "This is our brigade commander Major Sokov, you can report to him!"
The lieutenant of the artillery looked back and forth on the head of Sokov and others, and found that Sokov was the lowest rank among the three, and he couldn't help but show a surprised expression on his face. But he quickly recovered his calmness. After raising his hand to salute Sokov, he reported respectfully: "Comrade Brigade Commander, Artillery Company Commander Maxim reported to you. From now on, my artillery company will obey your orders, please give instruct!"
Sokov raised his hand and extended his hand to the other party: "Lieutenant Maxim, on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Infantry Brigade, welcome your arrival!"
Although everyone had learned from Bobricov's report that the Maxim Artillery Company had only four artillery pieces, Karsokov still asked with a smile: "Hello, Lieutenant Maxim, I am Lieutenant Colonel Karsokov, I wonder how many artillery pieces your company has?"
"There are four 76.2mm cannons, Comrade Chief of Staff."
Karsokov nodded and continued to ask, "How many shells are there for each gun?"
"Each cannon is equipped with 20 shells."
Hearing Maxim's answer, Karsokov's expression became serious: "There are a little small!"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, the number of shells is indeed a little less." Maxim said: "But the superiors should add it to us."
Sokov heard Maxim say this, without saying a word, thinking that it would be unrealistic to wait for his superiors to replenish it. You should know that the troops under Rokosovsky's command are not only his own infantry brigade, and will provide all the resources to him. In addition, there are so many troops that also need supplies. Rokosovsky must have a bowl of water to serve him equally. When providing him with weapons, ammunition and supplies, he also needs to provide other troops. In this way, the amount of supplies he receives is not much.
"Lt. Maxim," Sokov asked Maxim tentatively: "Since you don't have many shells, how do you plan to participate in the battle?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander," heard Sokov's question, Maxim replied truthfully: "Before we came here, General Kazakov, the chief artillery of the army, once told me that our artillery was small and there were not many shells, and we could not provide necessary artillery support to the infantry during combat. The task of our company was to deal with German tanks, so the artillery shells we carried were basically armor-piercing bombs."
After Maxim finished speaking, Belkin turned his head and asked Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the main task of the artillery company is to deal with German tanks. How do you think they should be arranged?"
Sokov thought about it and if the artillery company was deployed on a defensive position, the German army would have annihilated their entire army with just one round of artillery fire. He said cautiously: "Lt. Maxim, I plan to deploy your company on the side of the first battalion position. From the side, I will destroy the German tanks attacking the first battalion position."
Maxim did not raise any objection to Sokov's arrangement, but decisively agreed: "Okay, comrade brigade commander, I obey your arrangement!"
"Captain Bobrikov," saw that Maxim was willing to obey his orders, Sokov called Bobrikov and ordered: "Send a soldier as a guide, take Lieutenant Maxim and the artillery company to the first battalion position, and ask the first battalion commander to arrange personnel to assist the artillery company in establishing the artillery position."
"Yes, comrade brigade commander." After Bobricov agreed loudly, he turned to face Maxim and said politely: "Comrade Lieutenant of the Artillery, please come with me, I will take you to the first battalion."
Looking at the backs of Bobricov and Maxim, when he disappeared from the door, Sokov couldn't help but smile on his face.
Seeing this, Belkin asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what are you laughing at?"
Sokov was thinking in his heart that Yakov was also an artillery lieutenant before he was captured. If he wanted to return to the artillery unit, he would still be promoted to one or two levels and to hold a higher position? Hearing Belkin asking himself, Sokov quickly sorted out his language in his mind, and then said perfunctorily: "I think that Napoleon was also an artillery lieutenant, but later he became the emperor of France step by step."
After hearing this, Belkin grinned and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, I think no matter how many artillery lieutenants are, there will be no Napoleon."
Sokov casually "hmm" and asked Karsokov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any report from the Frontier Observation Post?"
"No." Karsokov shook his head and said, "So far, there has been no movement in front of the positions of the three battalions. It seems that the Germans do not intend to use us as the focus of the offensive position."
"While the enemy has not yet attacked, it is necessary for us to seize the time and organize the commanders and fighters who have been in short order."
Hearing Sokov say this, Belkin asked quickly: "Are you still marshalling them into the Fourth Battalion, the Fifth Battalion and the Sixth Battalion according to our plan yesterday?"
"I don't think there is any need for this." Sokov shook his head and said, "Last evening to today's daytime, the first battalion lost nearly half of its troops. If we have organized all the remaining commanders and fighters, where can we find new soldiers to replenish the first battalion with heavy losses? So I think the best way is to organize these commanders and fighters into reserve teams. Once the casualties of any battalion are too large, we will immediately draw personnel from the reserve team to replenish them."
"I agree with the brigade commander." Karsokov supported Sokov as soon as he finished speaking, and added: "In addition to forming a reserve team, soldiers who have been tankers and artillery can also be drawn from it. Once we have tanks and artillery, we can quickly form a tank company or a new artillery company."
"Chief of Staff, your proposal is good." Karsokov's proposal made Sokovton lit up: "Among the 4,000 commanders and fighters we have taken in, there must be many who have been tank soldiers and artillerymen, and they should be selected as soon as possible. Once we have the corresponding technical equipment, we can form a tank brigade or artillery company in the shortest time to provide the combat effectiveness of our brigade."
"Since that's the case, don't hesitate." Belkin was also very concerned about the establishment of a tank company and an artillery company. He said with some urgency: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if you can trust me, you will give me the responsibility of selecting tankers and artillery?"
Seeing that Belkin volunteered to him, Sokov naturally would not smug the other party's enthusiasm, so he nodded and agreed to his request: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, no problem, I will leave this matter to you."