Sokov lay on the camp bed, slept from noon until evening. When he woke up, he felt that his body had completely recovered. With no one's help, he turned over and got off the camp bed and walked a few steps in the house. Except for his head a little dizzy and his feet as if he was stepping on cotton when he walked, the rest had almost returned to normal.
Ciedorin and Belkin tried to come forward to support him, but he waved his hand and refused: "No, I can do it myself."
He walked to the table and sat down, took a few breaths, looked at Cidolin and asked, "Chief of Staff, how is the situation in the city?"
Sidolin was not sure what Sokov wanted to ask, so he could only say vaguely: "Our troops are still fighting against the enemy, sticking to every street and building."
"Don't give me an official voice," Sokov asked straight to the point: "I want to ask, what is the situation of the building where Sergeant Vasily is standing?"
Sokov's question made Sidolin shook for a moment. He thought to himself that the third battalion commander is now gathering the defeated troops in the city and fighting against the enemy on different streets. The first thing the brigade commander woke up did not ask about Captain Andre and the others about the situation, but asked about the building that Vasily and the others was holding. It was so strange. Although he did not understand Sokov's intention, he still answered truthfully: "The enemy launched several attacks on the building that Sergeant Vasily and was defeated."
"I want to take a look at Vasily." Unexpectedly, as soon as Sidolin finished speaking, Sokov said unexpectedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please help me arrange it."
"What, are you going to the city?" Sidolin was shocked and sweated in a cold sweat when he heard Sokov say this, and quickly dissuaded: "No, comrade comrade, you can't enter the city at this time. The situation in the city is too dangerous."
"That's right, the Chief of Staff is right." As soon as Cidolin finished speaking, Belkin said, "The situation in the city is very complicated now. The enemy and my defense line are intertwined. In the buildings on the same street, our army and the Germans have occupied different floors. As long as there are pedestrians walking on the street, whether they are Germans or ours, they will be shot. Comrade Brigade Commander, you can't go to the city to take risks under such circumstances!"
"The building occupied by Sergeant Vasily is located next to the square on January 9, and its geographical location is extremely important." Although both Sidolin and Belkin were persuading themselves not to go to the city, Sokov still stubbornly said: "As long as we firmly guard there, it is equivalent to injecting a wedge into the German defense line. In the future, when the large counterattack begins, we can still use it as the starting point of the offensive and shorten our offensive distance."
Seeing Sokov so stubborn, Belkin knew that it would be useless to persuade him, so he could only give in: "Okay, comrade comrade commander, since you said that, I will no longer stop you. But can your body go such a long way?"
"Don't worry," Sokov replied with a wry smile: "Although when walking now, it seems like I'm stepping on cotton, but if I take a rest for a while, I'd still have no problem walking a few kilometers."
"Misha," as soon as Sokov finished speaking, Yakov appeared at the door. He asked curiously: "You are not in good health yet, where are you going?"
"Go to the city, Yakov." Sokov said casually: "Go to inspect a more important defense support point."
"Important defense support point?" Yakov raised his eyebrows and asked tentatively: "Misha, how about I go with you?"
"Ah, you want to go too?" Sokov said embarrassedly at Yakov's request: "The city is too dangerous, I have no right to take your life to take risks."
"You are not afraid, what else can I be scared?" Seeing that Sokov disagrees, Yakov immediately took the initiative to express his opinion and said, "Misha, don't forget, I am also a soldier. Since the outbreak of the war, I have been fighting with the Germans. I have rich combat experience and know how to avoid risks on the battlefield..."
When Sokov saw Yakov talking nonstop, he muttered to himself: "If I hadn't led people to rescue you from the prisoner-of-war camp, you would have died in the Saxony concentration camp next May. If I followed me to the city this time, Stalin would probably tear me to pieces."
Just as Sokov was considering how to reject Yakov's side, he unexpectedly heard him say: "Misha, don't forget, I was a construction engineer before the war. After I reached the fire support point you mentioned, I might be able to give you some improvement suggestions."
Yakov had been an engineer, and Sokov was not very clear about it, but at this moment, Yakov said it in person, so the credibility was quite high. However, for the sake of safety, he still looked at Yakov and asked, "Yakov, so, are you an expert in construction engineering?"
"I need to say that I am a construction engineer." When talking about my profession, Yakov said excitedly: "Before the war, I led the construction of several residential buildings in Smolensk..."
"Comrade Major," before Yakov finished speaking, Cidolin interrupted his later words, "Now is not a good time to build a house. Today is just built, and maybe tomorrow it will be blown up by German planes or cannons..."
"I understand your opinion, Comrade Chief of Staff." Yakov turned his head and looked at Cidolin and said, "I not only know how to build a house, but also know very well about the teaching of the city. Do you know the teaching of the city? It is the technology of building fortifications, trenches, using long-term fire points and obstacles. In the battle to defend Smolensk, the fire points, fortifications and trenches in our division's defense area were completed with my help."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to say anything more." Seeing that Sidolin seemed to be ready to refute Yakov, Sokov quickly stopped him: "I think with Yakov's ability, we can completely help us strengthen the fortifications in the city."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, I believe Major Yakov has this ability, but..." As he said this, Sidolin leaned into Sokov's ear and whispered: "Don't forget his identity and whose son he is. Once he has any accidents in the city, don't talk about you and me, I'm afraid even the commander will not be able to bear this responsibility."
Sokov originally wanted to take him to the city without considering his identity and come back directly. Nothing should have happened. But at this moment, when Sidolin reminded him, he couldn't help but start to worry about Yakov's identity. Although Stalin did not prefer this son, if he really hurt him, he would definitely not be able to escape responsibility, and would even implicate Cui Kov.
When Yakov saw Sokov's hesitation, he immediately guessed what he was worried about and quickly expressed his opinion: "Okay, Misha, don't worry about my safety. Since I took the initiative to come to the city with you, it means that I have made the worst plan. Even if there is any accident in the future, it will not involve any of you."
"Major Yakov," Berkin waited for Yakov to finish his words, and said with a smile: "Since you understand that your identity is more sensitive, don't make us embarrassed. In my opinion, you should stay here. After the data of the new rocket is counted, you can take people back to the other side."
"Comrade Political Commissar, thank you for your kindness." After expressing gratitude to Belkin, Yakov said to the three of them: "I understand what you mean. You are worried that I will encounter danger after entering the city. I will tell you a secret now. Before leaving Moscow, my father called me to his office and specifically told me that this trip was extremely dangerous and that I would be more careful. But at the same time, he reminded me not to be afraid of danger. As long as it is necessary, go to even the most dangerous places. Never embarrass him."
Yakov's words were equivalent to telling everyone that he was going to the city because he had obtained Stalin's permission. Even if something happened, he would not let others take responsibility for himself. Sidorin did not speak, but turned his eyes to Belkin to see what he had to say. Belkin looked at Sokov and asked carefully: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I want to hear your opinion."
Since Stalin had considered that Yakov would encounter danger when he came to Stalingrad here, he would take him to the city, no matter whether he would encounter danger, he would not have to worry about the blame from his superiors. Moreover, in real history, Cuikov and military commissioner Gurov had also personally visited the Pavlov building. From this incident, we can see that even if he and Yakov went to the Vasily building, safety could be guaranteed.
Since everyone was the only one who followed his leadership, Sokov replied simply: "Since Yakov is willing to go to the city, then when it gets dark, let's go into the city with me."
Seeing that Sokov agreed to enter the city, Yakov couldn't help but be overjoyed. But he was happy for a moment, and then stared at Sokov with some doubts: "Misha, can your body support it?"
"No problem." Sokov tried his best to say in a calm tone: "I have been lying in bed for a few days and have been injected with so many anti-inflammatory drugs. I should have recovered. When it gets dark, I guess I will be able to return to my previous state, and then we will set out to the city."
At ten o'clock in the evening, Sokov felt that his physical strength had almost recovered, so he prepared to set off, but was stopped by Belkin. Belkin took his hand and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, it's not possible yet, you must wait."
"Why?" Sokov asked in confusion: "I feel that my physical strength has almost recovered. If I don't set out now, when will I have to wait?"
"In my opinion, it's better to wait until one o'clock in the morning before departure." Berkin glanced at Yakov sitting next to him and said, "By that time, the German snipers should have rested. You should not encounter any danger when you pass through the defense line controlled by both the enemy and us."
If Sokov is most afraid of on the battlefield, it is neither shelling nor bombing, but a German sniper. If you are targeted by a sniper, no matter how well you hide, you may lose your life. Therefore, when he heard Belkin mention the sniper, he decided to change the departure time after one o'clock in the morning.
After a long wait, it was finally time to set off. The guard squad that set out with Sokov and Yakov was a guard squad. This 20-person guard squad, everyone was equipped with MP40 submachine guns and carried two base ammunition. Even if they encountered the German army on the road, they had enough strength to protect themselves.
After leaving Mamayev's hill, Yakov, who was walking side by side with Sokov, suddenly asked, "Misha, there are no outsiders here. Can you tell me why you have to go to the building guarded by Sergeant Vasily and the others?"
"I just think that is an important fire support point. If you keep it firmly, you can separate the enemy's defense..."
"Come on, Misha." Before Sokov finished speaking, Yakov interrupted his later words: "It's okay to deceive the Chief of Staff and the Political Commissar. In front of me, don't tell lies."
"What I said is true." Sokov said guiltily when he heard Yakov say this: "I'm not talking nonsense, don't talk nonsense?"
Yakov sneered twice, then said, "I remember that after I came to Mamayev hill and told you the number of new weapons you brought, when you were allocating, except for the two hill positions in the north and south, there were only the building that Sergeant Vasily held, which was assigned to several new rockets. I think you must have your own plans for this distribution. Why, are you still unwilling to tell me?"
Seeing that Yakov was about to break the question of the casserole, Sokov began to hesitate in his heart whether he should tell Yakov the truth. But then he thought, no, if he said so, Yakov would definitely continue to ask: Why are you so sure that the building occupied by Vasily and the others can last for so long in the siege of the German army? How should I answer at that time?
When Yakov saw Sokov not speaking for a long time, he felt very upset. When he spoke, he couldn't help but feel angry: "What, Misha, do you not even trust me, an old friend?"
"No, Yakov, you misunderstood." Seeing that Yakov was angry, Sokov quickly spoke up and said: "Actually, the reason why I said that the building occupied by Sergeant Vasily and the others was an important fire support point, and I specially assigned them new rockets, all depends entirely on the location of the building."
After hearing him, Yakov asked half-believingly: "Misha, what you said is true?"
"Of course it's true. Do you think I'll tell you lies?" After Sokov said this, he felt that his face was hot. Fortunately, it was a little dark and Yakov couldn't see clearly, so he could hide it.
Sokov's words really deceived Yakov. He nodded and said thoughtfully: "So that's the case. It seems that I'm overthinking."
"Yes, yes," Sokov quickly followed his words: "It was you who were thinking about it. When we arrived at the place and you saw the building with your own eyes, you would know whether what I said was true or false."