At ten o'clock in the evening, the 1st Infantry Battalion, accompanied by Sergeant Yevdokim and five veterans with mountaineering experience, set off.

They were accompanied by the 1st Tank Battalion, as well as a regiment of the 274th Division.

The Soviets did not hide their whereabouts, because it was unrealistic to hide a force in the white moonlight and in the wilderness.

But it is often the "unrealistic" that takes advantage of it, as Katukov and Shulka intend to sneak up on from the most dangerous and difficult cliffs.

The tanks "rumbled" forward, and the infantry followed behind and advanced towards Rzhev as if they were attacking during the day.

But of course, these were actually trying to attract the attention of the German army.

The 1st Infantry Battalion left the ranks halfway and marched along the low ridge line towards the cliffs.

The so-called low ridge line refers to the junction between the swamp and the hard land of Rzhev...... Or the boundary between the flat and the highland, which may not be obvious in other highlands, because they tend to have a gradual process, but Rzhev can clearly feel the presence of this low ridge, because it is surrounded by a swamp of almost the same height, from which Rzhev protrudes.

The march along this line was of course for concealment, and the troops advancing along the slope in front of them were well shielded from the German view, and the 1st Battalion moved to the bottom of the cliff under their blind spot.

One of the advantages of choosing a cliff is that the cliff itself will become a kind of barrier, which will block the view of the Germans, and even the sound will be cut off to a considerable extent, unless the Germans poke their heads out from above to observe, it is difficult to detect what is happening below.

"Follow me!" Sergeant Yevdokim gave an explanation to the soldiers behind him.

Among them were soldiers with experience in mountaineering, and among them was a corporal named Ivanovich, who was probably the most experienced of the group.

He is from Siberia and is a hunter...... In this era of scarce food, hunters are widespread.

However, Siberia should be considered a relatively rich place for food.

This is not to say that Siberia is suitable for farming...... It is well known that the temperature is extremely low and not suitable for crops.

The reason why Siberia is rich is because it is an outlier of the Soviet Union's grain policy.

Siberia was remote and unsuitable for crops, and at the same time it was strategically important, and more often than not, the Soviet Union was required to transport grain to Siberia.

Therefore, Stalin, of course, did not want much grain to be produced in Siberia, he only asked the Siberian army to cultivate and be self-sufficient on its own.

So it can also be said that Siberia escaped, they did achieve self-sufficiency, the soldiers were usually farmers who went to the fields, and when they were done with farming, they picked up guns and trained...... This is obviously much better than the situation in which many people starved to death in the Soviet Union because of the food policy at the same time.

"You'd better look like I do!" When Ivanovich was transferred to the 1st Infantry Battalion, he showed the others his newly machined shoes.

It was a pair of ordinary thigh-high boots, and Ivanovich had a few nails in the bottom.

"You need to nail it out from the inside!" "Let it pop out a little, pay attention to the heel and toe parts, because these two parts carry most of the weight!" said Ivanovich. ”

"But doesn't it hurt?" The actor asked, "I mean, press the other end of these nails with our heels and toes!" ”

"You'll get used to it!" Ivanovich replied: "That's the benefit of calluses on the soles of your feet. Plus, it's better than losing your life, isn't it? ”

It is true that slipping while climbing a cliff is not just a slippery fall, it is likely to fall off the cliff and lose your life.

"Plus!" Ivanovich said to Shulka again: "Comrade Captain, I suggest that you give each soldier a mask. ”

"Why?" The instructor next to him asked puzzled.

Ivanovich didn't speak, Shulka nodded in agreement, and then whispered to the instructor: "Soldiers will shout when they fall off the cliff, and masks can eliminate the danger of being discovered by the enemy as much as possible!" ”

The instructor couldn't help but say "oh", and then immediately went to prepare.

"You're very careful, corporal!" Shulka handed Ivanovich a cigarette: "I even wonder why you are still a corporal!" ”

Ivanovich hesitated, then replied: "I think you know, Comrade Captain...... The others don't need these ideas, they don't even need the soldiers to have any ideas! ”

Shulka felt this way, and the Soviet army at this time believed that it was enough for the soldiers to obey the order, and the question of thinking should be left to the officers.

Shulka also went through such a process, but his edge was too dazzling, and at the same time, under the special needs of war, he stood out.

Apparently Ivanovic was not so lucky, he was still a small soldier...... Or rather, he has just come from Siberia and has not yet had a chance to make a name for himself.

Or maybe he didn't have this opportunity at all, and a certain battle rushed with the others, and then there was no more.

"If I transfer you to my troops, would you do it?"

Ivanovich's eyes couldn't help but light up: "Of course, Comrade Captain, I am sincerely willing!" ”

"But I have to warn you!" Shulka said: "It may be more dangerous in my troops, so you have to think about it!" ”

"Don't think about it, Comrade Captain!" Ivanovich replied: "I won't regret it, I mean...... If you die on the battlefield one day! ”

"Why?"

"Because I can see it, Comrade Captain!" Ivanovich replied: "You are an officer who allows the soldiers to have their own ideas...... I think only smart officers do that, because they're smarter than their men! ”

Shulka doesn't know if it's sycophancy, but it makes sense.

Because officers are smarter than their subordinates, there is no need to worry about their subordinates being smarter affecting the prestige of their commanders.

"I'm not because of this!" Shulka smiled: "Because I know this is a special place, Comrade Ivanovich!" This is the battlefield, and only by thinking about it with the soldiers can we survive in this damn place! ”

"Yes, Comrade Captain!" Ivanovic stepped forward to Shulkayi in agreement.

It's a trivial matter to bring Ivanovich here, after all, he was just a corporal to the original army, and Shulka had a reason to transfer him...... The 1st Guards Tank Brigade needs it, and which unit dares not to agree?

So, just a phone call from the instructor, Ivanovich became a member of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.