Under the leadership of Ninelli, the troops traveled smoothly through the swamp.
What Yang Mingzhi was most worried about was that soldiers fell into the mud. It happened several times but it didn't matter. The most troublesome thing was that the wheels of the carriage fell into the mud. As an officer, he couldn't stand by and watch as a cart of ammunition fell.
If it gets into the mud, it will be troublesome if it gets into water.
All the officers and soldiers of the 284th Division successfully arrived at Catfish Village. Now the village they faced has become a large refugee shelter. With the participation of more than 30,000 soldiers, the place is overcrowded.
Yevlov led the troops to find an empty place, which was originally a potato field, but unfortunately the land was riddled with holes.
What's going on? Ninelli explained regretfully: "There were too many people coming from the west. Everyone almost fled in an emergency. Food was very scarce, so they attacked our farmland." At this point, the man expressed deep regret.
.
There is a saying that refugees are like locusts, and hungry people will eat everything they can eat. It was not until the militiamen who couldn't bear it fired warning shots and executed a few guys that the refugees did not further damage the land. However, robbery and theft still occurred from time to time.
When the incident occurred, the militiamen treated the captured thieves as "traitors to the motherland" - directly shot them.
Many people arrived here with their families, but the Catfish Village could only provide very limited food. The village also provided some freshly caught fish, which brought hope to many refugees. There are many large birds and game fish in the wetland, which are
It's food. Whether you can catch it or not depends on your ability.
Yang Mingzhi saw an open space where several people were digging a deep pit. He walked over and saw that it was actually a tomb prepared for the deceased. Yang Mingzhi looked down at the deceased. They were all old people and particularly young babies.
"They died so pitifully." Yang Tao held her husband's arm tightly and looked at the victims with regret and sorrow.
"All this is not caused by insufficient food." Yang Mingzhi said, "You also understand war. The biggest victims are always civilians, and the first to die are often the elderly and children."
It was better not to watch this sad scene. The two returned to the temporary camp, where the officers and soldiers of the 284th Division had already begun to set up the camp.
Some soldiers went to cut down trees to build temporary sheds, and more people began to dig pits to make stoves. The hungry soldiers had already started cooking potatoes, and the aroma attracted some refugees.
Since the large army arrived at Catfish Village with a large amount of baggage, the food shortage problem was immediately solved.
A considerable number of refugees had already chosen to retreat. Kuznetsov ordered the distribution of food to the hungry crowd, giving them more wheat kernels and potatoes to encourage them to continue retreating to the rear.
Yang Mingzhi sat on the ground, with a bonfire lit in front of him. An iron kettle was hung on the flame, and four unpeeled potatoes were boiled in it. This was his dinner, and it was also star fruit's dinner.
That girl was really energetic. She went to take care of the wounded in the team as soon as the camp was established. Yang Mingzhi smiled bitterly and waited for the food to be cooked.
After a while, the potatoes were cooked. Boiling potatoes in plain water is the most tasteless food. During the Great Patriotic War, many Soviet soldiers used this to satisfy their hunger. It was not until the middle and late stages of the war that Americans shipped large quantities of supplies through the Lend-Lease Act.
, the food of the soldiers has also become better. Of course, the food of the Soviet soldiers cannot be compared with that of the Citizen Soldiers. At least they have enough potatoes and lunch meat.
In fact, what Yang Mingzhi now hopes most is some cooking oil, and animal oil will do the best. Cut a potato into shreds with a dagger and stir-fry it with an engineer shovel. The conditions are really difficult now. After the carambola is finished, the two of them will dip the potatoes in salt to deal with it.
Many Soviet soldiers were more simple and rude than Yang Mingzhi, throwing potatoes into the fire and roasting them. Roasted potatoes are naturally delicious, and even a mouthful of carbon is unbearable.
More soldiers passed through the swamp, and more than 30,000 people poured into the small Catfish Village. So many soldiers had to camp in the woods.
The core of Pripet Swamp is located at the intersection of two rivers. The scenery here is very good, and the water and soil are also very nurturing. In the original world, this was a very bad Chernobyl contaminated area, but fortunately it is here now
It is a refuge for everyone.
The refugees received a lot of potatoes and left satisfied one by one.
Yang Mingzhi saw the happy expression on the mother's face when she returned to her child with five or six potatoes in her arms. Many people would avoid starving to death.
Originally, it was difficult for these women and children to snatch away the young and strong ones. After the arrival of the army, the Soviets were quickly established and all violations of law and discipline were eliminated. Based on the fact that the army's food reserves were quite large, Kuznetsov had ordered the troops to temporarily rest.
, adopting a food rationing system during the break period.
Yang Mingzhi stared at the dancing flames in a daze. He had already heard the snoring coming from the camp. Some soldiers were too tired and had fallen asleep.
Soon, Yang Mingzhi was called over by the orderly. He knew that Kuznetsov was going to have another meeting.
This was the first meeting after entering the safe zone. The officers and militia representatives looked relaxed. This was the first time in weeks that everyone had let down their guard.
"We are now in temporary security. This place is still close to enemy-occupied areas, and our large forces must continue to retreat." Kuznetsov looked at everyone and said. In line with Russian tradition, he went straight to the core of the retreat issue without a trace of politeness.
"The problem we face now is still the direction of retreat. We can either advance along the Dnieper River to Kiev, or directly cross the river to Bryansk."
These two retreat roads, the nearest way to escape, naturally lead the army to go straight to Bryansk. But the militia captain Bobosky shook his head regretfully: "Your army has more than 30,000 people, and the ferry with so many people is simply not enough."
Yes. If you continue eastward, you will encounter several collective farms. The ferries there are basically responsible for transporting refugees. Even so, many refugees are queuing up. I heard that many people have cut down trees to make rafts."
Everyone was suddenly shocked. Kuznetsov's men had to retreat with him. All officers, including the commander, just wanted to evacuate to the interior as quickly as possible.
Therefore, there is only one direction of retreat. "To the north, Gomel and Rechica have been occupied by the Germans. We can only continue south to Kiev. We still have millions of troops there."
"Yes, if you continue going south, you will arrive at Chernobyl Station soon." Boboski said.
When they heard that there was a train station, almost all the officers' eyes lit up. There was nothing faster than taking a train!
Kuznetsov looked around. He did not immediately decide to move the entire army south. He would rather listen to the opinions of the 284th Guards Division. At this moment, he had noticed the strange expressions of Yevlov and Berekov. They were not happy.
Like crazy, but as calm as ever.
"Our Red Army pays attention to coordination. My troops shoulder many missions, so I decided to go south to Chenoby. I don't know how my comrades in the 284th Guards Division made their choice." He had long known that these comrades did not want to leave Belarus.
Therefore, the word "guard" is particularly emphasized in order to follow suit.
Yevlov was hesitant at first, but after listening to the opinions of the wounded and soldiers, most of them were willing to stay.
He immediately saluted the military salute and said: "Belekov and I have reached an agreement and we have decided to stay."
"Are you sure? In this swamp?"
"Yes, Davarisi." Yang Mingzhi said, "My soldiers told me that all their comrades died in Belarus, and many of them were Belarusians. They are all here, where else can we go?"
Yevlov followed the words and continued: "Our 284th Guards Infantry Division was formerly an infantry regiment under the 35th Group Army of the Far Eastern Front. Pugachev, who died gloriously in battle, was our regiment commander from the beginning. Our
The division has been joined by more than 10,000 Belarusians. Our comrades-in-arms all died here. We must not abandon them and leave the place where they died. We must unite all forces that can be combined to avenge the Germans."
This was also said to Boboski who was present. This was a declaration that at least the 284th Guards Division would stay here.
Everyone has his own ambitions, and Kuznetsov does not force it. He has ordered the installation of a large antenna, so that the radio should be able to contact Kiev. As long as it is contacted with Moscow and the troops re-accept the command of the Soviet army, everyone will
There is a destination.
After the meeting was over, Kuznetsov ordered the troops to rest for a night and then continue to retreat. Since they could quickly reach Chernobyl and take the train under the guidance of the militia, they could also drop off a lot of food and baggage.
"In the end, they will still be used by the guerrillas." Kuznetsov faced Yang Mingzhi, "Comrade Berekov, you are a legend as a Chinese. When we break out of the encirclement, it is best for you and your troops to stay.
Here. I will tell the leader that the 284th Guards Infantry Division still exists."
Yang Mingzhi left the meeting very satisfied. Compared with him, Boboski, the village chief and militia commander, was the happiest. He had no more words to express and ordered his men to send two fish. "I heard that you made a lot of contributions in the war.
, you and your wife fight side by side, these two fish are given to you and your wife."
Yang Mingzhi accepted it decisively. He carried the fish back and found that his wife had arrived first.
"Why did it take so long?" Star Tao asked, she had already started to eat potatoes.
Yang Mingzhi sat down next to the girl and showed off the two big fish in his hands.
"Husband, did you just go to the pond to catch fish?"
"Of course not, this is a gift from the village chief." Yang Mingzhi didn't talk nonsense. Under the bonfire, he saw his wife's involuntarily dripping with laughter. "Little greedy cat, I will kill the fish now, and you can wait to eat the grilled fish."
.”
The reason why Catfish Village is so named is because there are many catfish here. This is a guy who likes to live in the mud. The catfish are easy to handle, and soon the fish are strung up and grilled next to the campfire.
In the silent night, there was only the sound of wind and snoring. The 284th Division decided to stay, and almost all the soldiers supported this decision. The military flag will stay, but some things still have to be taken away with Kuznetsov’s evacuation, such as the last five remaining