Shulka did not return to his troops until the evening, when the Soviet bombardment of the German 28th Infantry Division was almost over.

Just as Shulka thought, the Soviets divided the bombers into 55 groups to bomb the 28th Infantry Division in turn, which directly led to the fact that the German Air Force did not dare to act rashly.

Manstein had a discussion with Lieutenant General Ellen, commander of the 10th Air Force.

"The 28th Infantry Division needs your cover, Lieutenant General Ellen!" Manstein said on the phone: "I can't move forward because of the enemy's bombardment!" ”

"I'm thinking about that too!" Lieutenant General Allen replied.

"What do you mean?"

"The Russians have been using a lot of tricks lately!" "They used a small number of fighters to attract our attention, but when our main group of planes rushed over them, their main bomber force took the opportunity to bomb another position!" ”

Manstein couldn't help but let out an "oh".

"So, it's actually the same for us!" Lieutenant General Allen replied: "It makes no difference if we leave at any time and fly to any airspace to fight, the question is ......"

"I see!" Manstein then put down the phone.

It is clear that the problem is not with Lieutenant General Elan, as the planes can fly over the 28th Infantry Division at any time to cover as long as Manstein asks for it.

The point is that if this is just a decoy, if German fighters fly over the 28th Infantry Division, it means that Zhankoy is likely to be bombed by the Russian army on a large scale, and Zhankoy is the top priority at this time.

Therefore, Manstein thought about it for a while, and finally endured it.

But who would have thought that the Soviet bombardment of the 28th Infantry Division would be round after round, with almost no interval in between, Manstein endured it again and again, and finally couldn't help but call Lieutenant General Ellen.

"Can we send some warplanes to stop them?" Manstein said, "I mean only a part!" ”

"No problem, General!" Lieutenant General Allen replied: "Like I said before, it's the same air battle wherever we fly!" ”

So twelve warplanes took off from Yamiansk...... The Germans rushed to repair the airfield there as soon as they occupied Yamiansk, and the fighters and bombers were transferred to the airfield to become the forward base for German fighters.

Twelve fighters made it to the skies of the 28th Infantry Division and joined the battle to drive the bombers.

However, just as they were doing this, dozens of Soviet fighters suddenly swooped down from the clouds, chasing the German fighters in a frenzied strafing fire.

The German fighters, who were caught off guard, lost three in the first place, and the remaining nine were densely packed with enemy planes...... The Soviet army had fifty bombers plus thirty fighters, a total of more than eight times that of German fighters.

Although the threat of bombers to German fighters was not very great, the problem was that it was difficult for German pilots to find their targets from them, that is, fighters.

So after a few minutes of fighting and losing three more fighters, the German fighters had no choice but to withdraw from the battle.

"That's a trap!" Lieutenant General Ellen said to Manstein: "They seem to know we're going to do this!" ”

"Why don't we give them some stakes!" Manstein said: "Send our main forces up and beat them all!" ”

"Maybe before that!" Lieutenant General Allen replied: "But now, it doesn't seem to make much sense to do this, because it's getting dark, General, and their air raids will soon stop!" ”

Manstein looked out the window, and then replied helplessly: "You are right, we should continue to keep an eye on Zhankoy!" ”

After putting down the phone, Manstein vaguely felt that he had run into an opponent, and he believed that if the opponent could do this, that is, all this was designed by the opponent, including the small bombing of bombers in batches to make the German army in a dilemma, then there must be someone on the Russian side who knew him well enough.

Who could this person be?

Lieutenant General Kozlov, commander of the Crimean Front of the Russian army?

Manstein believed that he did not have the ability to do so, because he had known him when he was the commander of the Caucasian Front, and knew that he, like most Russian commanders, was not good at using stratagem.

So that representative of the Supreme Command, Mehris?

This is even more unlikely, he is a notoriously straw bale, only Stalin himself does not know.

Then Manstein remembered a man, the "breakout hero".

The reason why "Breakout Hero" came to mind was because Manstein had fought him once before.

To be exact, Manstein came to Kyiv to pick up the pieces...... The German army was in a good situation in the Kiev direction, but it was beaten by a sergeant, who is now the "hero of the breakout".

Manstein threw the papers in his hand on the table and asked the adjutant: "Detrich, do you know the number of the Russian landing force?" Especially the tank unit that interspersed with Zhanyiko! ”

"No, General!" The adjutant replied: "Due to the suddenness of the battle, we have not found this yet!" ”

This is only one thing, and on the other hand, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade has been attacking and advancing.

As mentioned before, one of the advantages of an offensive is that the wounded, logistics, etc., are in the rear, and they always win the battle (only by winning the battle can they move forward), so it is very difficult for the other side to catch a prisoner and ask what to say.

"Find a way to scout!" Manstein said: "I wonder if the number of this unit is the 1st Guards Tank Brigade!" ”

"1st Guards Tank Brigade?" The adjutant's eyes widened and widened: "Are you talking about the 'T34' unit that has repeatedly defeated our armored forces in Moscow?" ”

"Yes!" Manstein said: "Is there any problem? ”

"No, no, General!" The adjutant replied: "I'll arrange it right away!" ”

Looking at the back of the lieutenant leaving, Manstein shook his head.

The adjutant was worried about the 1st Guards Tank Brigade itself, while Manstein was more worried about one person in this unit.

The news was quickly confirmed.

It was not difficult to implement, and the adjutant asked several Ukrainians to go directly to the highway where the enemy passed to ask about it...... When the Germans attacked, they usually brought a few Ukrainian partisans with them as guides and interpreters, and they could make good use of them at this time.

Then the adjutant hurried back to the command and reported to Manstein: "You guessed it, General! That's really the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, which was transferred from the Moscow theater to the Caucasus not so long ago! ”

Manstein nodded silently.

This also means that his previous guess was correct, and his opponent has always been the former "sergeant", which is now the "breakout hero"!