The reconnaissance company sent out a squad, they were fully armed and even carried a radio on their backs. The road ahead was long, and no one knew what they would encounter when they reached the river. What if there was a German patrol?
Balzen issued an order to this squad: "You carry the radio and establish an outpost on the banks of the Dnieper River. No matter what happens, report the intelligence you see to us first. If you encounter German troops, try to stay hidden. If there is already a firefight,
, then let’s start a war!”
The squad leader led the soldiers out after receiving the order, and Natasha also watched these comrades continue to move eastward.
"I really hope we don't encounter anything bad again. The food crisis just now made everyone in the team panic." The girl said to herself, and then ate the canned food seriously.
"You'd better be worry-free and don't think too much about anything. After you finish eating the cans, lick them clean and don't waste any food. After that, take the cans with you and don't throw them away," Igor instructed.
"Yes, I know we need to make simple grenades out of cans."
"That's not what I meant. I was worried about leaving any clues. After all, there must be German troops behind us."
"But please spare me!" The girl leaned against the big tree in frustration and complained: "Those Germans are too persistent in chasing me, and I don't want to shoot anymore. Maybe before I go back, this body will
I’m going to fall apart from exhaustion.”
"Yes, I know you have worked very hard along the way. Look at the medal on your chest. This is proof of your merits. Don't complain now. We just have to do our own thing. Wait until we are all
Today's march will come to an end when the army reaches the river."
Natasha also remembered what Balzen said just now. The route of retreating home was ultimately along the river. At least there would be hope when we got there. As far as she was concerned, the biggest temptation at the moment was the fish in the river. She
He joked: "How about when we get to the river, you can think of a way to catch a fish?"
"That's not a bad idea." Igor puffed up his chest.
The big man next to the girl was very reliable, and it seemed like he would be able to catch fish. No, he had already begun to think of it.
"When we get to the river, there must be some fish among the water plants. Then I will roll up my trouser legs, sharpen the wooden sticks, and then go spear fish. We may be able to eat grilled fish tonight."
Looking at his cheerful look, it was as if Balzen allowed everyone to light a fire. Natasha said suspiciously: "Anyway, you have to go to the river to catch fish. The river is so cold, I'm worried that you will freeze your legs."
"That's impossible!" Igor boasted about his strong physique in front of the little girl skillfully. "Germans may not be able to do it, but our men can all winter swim. Remember what I just said a few months ago?
When winter comes, the training you teenagers receive is not like having a basin of cold water poured on you?"
Natasha still remembers this incident. It was really bad. Fortunately, the chief intervened to prevent the girls from going through this. But look at the appearance of those boys, who were poured cold water to their cores. It was really miserable.
Come on.
Natasha didn't think much about it. If this strong man wanted to show off, let him do it. After all, she could still eat the fish she caught.
The two of them, like most people, were resting in the forest.
The leading soldiers have already gone to investigate the situation, and many of the remaining soldiers are already leaning against the big trees, and their snoring proves that they have fallen asleep. Some of them are imitating the soldiers of the reconnaissance company, and they also pulled off some strips of cloth and tied them around their calves.
, it is said that if you do this, you can march for a long time without leg pain.
The wounded did not come to Natasha again, they had already been taken care of by the women. The wounded after the operation only needed necessary care, and in the spirit of having a good meal, the women were happy to take care of the wounded.
One hour after the leading soldiers left, they finally successfully reached the banks of the Dnieper River with a rapid march.
In front of them was a huge wetland, with lush water and grass on both sides of the river. Because of the melting snow, the entire riverside was full of muddy ponds! The landscape here can also be regarded as part of the Pripet Swamp. After all, this geographical area almost runs through the entire Belarus.
South.
It was still winter, and the water plants and reeds had not yet grown wildly. The soldiers who came to the riverside could easily see the wide river surface.
The squad leader raised his binoculars and scanned the river. Worried patrol boats and other vessels were completely invisible. He immediately ordered his men: "Report to the company commander immediately and tell them that we have arrived at the river and everything is safe!"
Long-distance radio contact is very difficult, but a mere ten kilometers is very easy. The military radio station immediately reported the situation to Balzen's camp. Balzen, Tchaikov, Lyudbalev and others who had been waiting for the news were overjoyed.
"They covered a distance of ten kilometers in a little more than an hour. To be honest, your soldiers' legs are almost equipped with internal combustion engines?" Lyudbalev's ridicule was also a compliment.
Balzen smiled with satisfaction, and he was very excited in his heart. "It seems that the location and marching direction of the troops I estimated before are completely correct! I am really grateful to my math teacher, otherwise we would not be able to reach the riverside so quickly."
The troops had been resting for more than an hour, and everyone had recuperated their energy. Balzen ordered all resting personnel to stay awake immediately, organize their equipment, and line up again.
The soldiers gathered quickly and formed four columns, with the weakest wounded women and children in the middle. There were only a few hundred people in the army, so if Lyudbalev was giving a lecture, his voice would be able to speak without using a loudspeaker.
Be known to everyone.
In this way, he shouted excitedly: "Comrades! Let me tell you some good news! We are about to reach the Dnieper River. Once we get there, we have officially determined the direction. As long as we continue to go south, we can reach it.
The area of the 284th Guards Division is absolutely safe, with plenty of bread, butter and barbecue! There are tens of thousands of soldiers and a huge village! We are finally safe."
What he said made Balzen feel that this man made the division's headquarters look like the Canaan of the Jews. It was not a holy land where honey was left, but it was just a small red star under the iron hoof of the enemy.
Seeing that the dejection of the vast number of guerrilla fighters was gone, there were smiles on their faces. It was obvious at a glance that this was the shareholder of Mayor Gomel. Balzen glanced at him, maybe this person had arrived at the station.
He would start from scratch and relocate the municipal committee to the divisional headquarters. "Perhaps the collective farms will be collectively called Novgomel?"
Balzen followed the trend and said a few more words: "Comrades have heard what our mayor comrade said! What he said is absolutely correct. Tonight we arrived at the river and camped there. This time I allow everyone to light a bonfire and eat hot meals! Even
Brave people can still go fishing in the river! I know we are running out of food, so you don’t have to worry at all. The regular troops of the 284th Division, including five battalions of soldiers, have been carrying a large amount of supplies along the river. The fastest.
We will meet them the day after tomorrow! Then everyone’s stomach will no longer be filled with potatoes, tree bark, or wild vegetables. You will have bread and beef jerky. Now follow me, all the troops, out!”
Suddenly, the crowd cheered one after another. In this terrible state, what could be stronger than the temptation of things?
Even the weakest people saw hope, and everyone strode eastward without discomfort, as if the closer they got to the river, the closer they would be to safety. There might be a lot of fish there. Some soldiers broke some branches, and they took out daggers to sharpen the branches.
They put the spear thorn on one end of the spear to make a simple harpoon, and some people prepared the captured lunch boxes.
Many people simply moved forward with the hope of eating a hot meal in the distance, scrambling one by one, and the entire team moved faster and faster. (To be continued.) 8