The train sped forward, and after passing the narrow Caucasus Pass, the temperature plummeted.

It is said that the cold air blowing from Siberia is blocked by the Caucasus, which is why Crimea, located south of the Caucasus Mountains, is in full swing all year round. (Average winter temperature 1 to 2 degrees)

Shulka knew from the veteran that the train was heading northeast.

This, as Shulka had guessed, could not have been driven directly to Moscow...... The reason is that Moscow at this time has been surrounded by German troops from the north, west and south, and the only thing that can be freely accessed is the east.

So, from Crimea, you have to make a big detour, first to Stalingrad and then from the east into Moscow.

The bored soldiers in the train would chat and discuss the future battlefield, the difficulties they might face in the future, and some even guessed the location of the German army, and then imagined how the Soviet army would surround and annihilate the enemy.

After a few hours, however, the discussion gradually decreased, because everyone actually knew a little bit about it...... They know very little information, everything is based on speculation, and reality is often brutal.

Trains often stop at the station or at the transfer station.

This is not to carry people, in fact, the goal of this train is very clear, that is, Moscow, there will be no people on the road and no people will be released, and even food for several days is already in the carriage, and the cooks only need time to distribute it.

The stops are for train scheduling, and the rail network here is obviously much more complicated than the Kiev-Odessa railway, so sometimes you have to wait for other trains to pass through.

At this time, various transactions would be carried out on the platform: the local people would take their possession such as potatoes, eggs, cucumbers, etc., to the platform and exchange them with passing soldiers.

The things exchanged were sent by the soldiers from home or sent by the troops: gloves, tobacco packets, needles and threads, pencils, etc.

What the people needed most was clothing, because they relied on them for the winter, so the prices were very affordable: a sweatshirt for a large can of pickled cucumbers, a clean footwrap (something that Soviet soldiers wrapped around their feet as socks) for a bottle of milk, and a homemade lighter for 10 potatoes.

Homemade lighters were very popular among Soviet troops, and they called them bullet case lighters because they were made from bullet shells...... The bullet casing is the main body of the lighter, and a little gasoline is poured into it, and a cotton stamen is stuffed inside, and a simple device with rollers and flint is welded next to it, and a lighter is completed.

Of course, this can generally be done with the help of the engineers, so the engineers generally have good popularity in the troops.

Civilians were given a lighter meant that they could save money on matches, and gasoline was everywhere around Crimea.

Unfortunately, the fighters' lighters and other equipment were confiscated in Odessa.

Soon fraud and violence were used.

Shulka didn't realize this at first, and occasionally he saw several old women on the platform standing there staring at the departing train in disbelief, and some people had tears on their faces.

Shulka didn't know what was going on, he thought it was something else.

But it didn't take long for him to learn that wasn't the case.

The veteran stood up and stopped the Cossack, as well as several of his men.

"Fuck off, Crimeans!" The Cossack lowered his voice and said to the veteran: "Don't ask for bad luck! ”

"People like you!" The veteran said: "Will be run over by the Crimeans like rats!" ”

"Don't bother!" The Cossacks laughed: "To Moscow we are all the same!" ”

The meaning of this is obvious, and perhaps it is one of the reasons why the Cossacks did such dishonorable things...... Going to Moscow is very auspicious, so why not enjoy it before then?

What's more, even if you make a mistake, how can your superiors punish you?

Locked up?

Shot?

No, they need soldiers who can fight to defend Moscow!

"What's going on?" Shulka asked, and the strange quarrel woke Shulka from his sleep.

"Comrade Company Commander!" The veteran said, "They have snatched their baggage from the old man on the platform!" ”

"No, I got two pairs of socks in exchange!" The Cossacks replied.

"Oh, really?" Shulka said: "So can you open the baggage in front of everyone? ”

Shulka stood up as he spoke, and the assistant instructor, who had just come out of the toilet, noticed the situation and immediately walked up.

The Cossack was stunned for a moment, glared at the veteran resentfully, and under the gaze of Shulka, he could only slowly open the burden with a fluke mentality......

Inside was an embroidered towel, two pairs of gloves, a pair of socks and a sweatshirt.

"You mean to say...... You traded two pairs of socks for these things? Shulka asked, then raised his head at the other unopened baggage: "There's even another one that hasn't been opened?" ”

The Cossacks froze in place and did not dare to speak, these are obviously not two pairs of socks can be exchanged, and no one will have socks for socks.

Shulka knocked the Cossack to the ground with a single punch.

"If you continue to do your own thing and not obey orders, Kuzia!" Shulka said to the Cossacks: "Then get out of my troops!" ”

"And you!" Shulka said to the Cossacks: "Don't think that this is only the responsibility of the squad leader! Who are you? Fighters defending the Motherland or criminals? Do you know who you're stealing from? Their sons and husbands may be born and died on the front lines like us, think of your own mothers, think of your families...... How would you feel if you knew they were being treated the same way back home?! ”

Although the deputy instructor didn't know the cause and effect, he could guess that eight or nine would not be far from ten when he saw this.

It was supposed to be the time for him to say something, but he didn't.

The deputy instructor slowly stepped forward and squatted down, and said to the Cossack, who had fallen to the ground and wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth: "Do you think I will send you to a court-martial, or kick you out of the army, as Comrade Company Commander said?" No, I have a better place ......"

"No, Comrade Deputy Instructor!" The Cossacks looked horrified.

"You're on my tentative list!" The deputy instructor grabbed the Cossack by the collar: "If you have anything that displeases Comrade Company Commander!" ”

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Instructor!"

Only then did the deputy instructor stand up satisfied, and then whispered to Shulka: "You shouldn't be a big reason with the robbers, Comrade Company Commander. There's a better way to deal with them! ”

Shulka looked confused.