Although Major General Petrov was skeptical, he eventually conveyed the news and the order...... After all, this is an order from Moscow, and to some extent it is good news.

It's just that Major Petrov was more conservative when he conveyed this information: "Reinforcements may arrive in the next two or three days, you know, 70 kilometers, and there will be enemy interceptions along the way!" ”

Major Petrov was right to do this, because if the time was too short, such as one day, it would give the troops a stimulant, but if reinforcements did not show up a day later, morale would be counterproductive.

But even so, the morale of the Soviet troops in Odessa was greatly boosted. They even launched counter-offensives against the Romanian and German forces in some localized areas and drove out several Romanian troops that had entered the city, and the German 22nd Infantry Division was also holding out.

When the news reached Rundstedt, it gave him a headache.

On the one hand, it was unable to block the penetration of the Soviet 9th Army, and on the other hand, it was unable to completely occupy Odessa in a short time, which would put the Romanian 4th Army in the middle of the Soviet army's attack on both sides.

Although the total strength of the Romanian and German armies was more than the total strength of the Soviet army, it was completely possible to divide the troops, but Rundstedt knew that the division of troops would not make much difference.

The reason is that the strength of a Romanian army group of more than 100,000 is virtual, and if you count them in terms of combat effectiveness, they can only count them as one army at most.

"How do they solve the problem of water sources?" Rundstedt asked, remembering that the adjutant had once told him that the Romanian army had occupied the cistern in Odessa.

"Rain, Your Excellency Marshal!" The adjutant replied: "They collect rainwater!" ”

Rundstedt nodded knowingly, and then cursed in his heart: "This damn weather, if it hadn't rained, the battle would have ended a long time ago!" ”

But now it's raining, and it's expected to be rainy for some time to come.

So the problem still has to be solved.

Rundstedt stared at the map for a few moments, then pointed to the map and said to the adjutant, "The outermost line of defense ......"

"The outermost line of defense has a total length of 80 kilometers!" The adjutant immediately gave Rundstedt the information he needed: "From Transnistria all the way to Lake Tiligur!" ”

"How far is it from the city?"

"25 to 30 km!" The adjutant replied.

"That is, almost 20 kilometers from the middle line of defense!" Rundstedt said.

"Yes!" The adjutant nodded: "The farthest place should be more than 20 kilometers, and the nearest is 17 kilometers!" ”

It's a simple subtraction operation.

"Both the outer and middle lines of defense are under our control?" Rundstedt asked again.

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

"What fortifications?"

"Trenches, pillboxes and anti-tank gun positions!"

"Then ......," said Rundstedt, "move the troops and logistics troops into the middle of the two lines of defense!" ”

Rundstedt's idea was very simple, that is, to use the Soviet army's defensive lines and fortifications without completely taking Odessa, and then attack Odessa internally and resist a strong enemy outside.

The adjutant immediately understood what he meant, and he looked at Rundstedt in surprise and said, "But general, this also means that the Russians can cut off our ties with Romania!" ”

Utilizing the line of defense certainly has its advantages, but moving the main force between two layers of defense is a kind of self-isolation, that is, cutting off one's own supply lines.

"No!" Rundstedt pointed to Transnistria and said, "This is our supply line!" ”

The adjutant couldn't help but suddenly realize, and then nodded in agreement.

"Plus!" Rundstedt said: "Order General Chaubert to rush to Odessa at once to direct this battle, I can't trust the Romanians!" ”

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal!"

Shulka on the other side, of course, did not know these arrangements of the German army, they only knew about the rush day and night...... Everyone knows that Odessa is the key to the whole battle, and the key to Odessa is whether the 9th Army can arrive in time.

Otherwise, if the combined Romanian and German armies occupy the entire territory of Odessa, things will be a little bad.

Admiral Kirponos was also nervous at this time, and he repeatedly urged him by telegram.

According to Major Gavrilov, Admiral Kirponos asked almost every half hour about the location of the vanguard.

So, the only time the 9th Army rested was after the disengagement with the Romanian army.

The main reason was that the tank driver couldn't stand it, and considering that it would be too dangerous to let the car carry the infantry without a tank, the whole army rested for two hours.

The infantry was nothing, and they spent the rest of their time in the back of the car except for fighting.

Uncle Alek, who was driving, leaned into the driver's seat, and immediately snored like thunder.

Car drivers are tired like this, let alone tank drivers.

In order not to affect Uncle Alek's rest, the fighters in the rear compartment consciously lowered the volume.

"Who knows where to go?" Leonev asked in a whisper.

"Odessa!" The veteran rolled his eyes: "What were you doing when the order was given?" ”

"I probably fell asleep then!" Leonyev replied, and then asked again: "It's almost there, isn't it?" ”

"Do you want it or don't you want it?" The veteran asked again.

Leonev couldn't help but be silent, everyone's subconscious wanted to get to their destination quickly.

But that is the hope of peacetime, or the hope of high-ranking officers or the defenders of Odessa.

Reaching the destination for the soldiers of the 9th Army often meant the beginning of the battle, that is, blood and death.

After a long silence, Leonev replied: "I hope it will come soon!" ”

"Why?" The veteran was somewhat surprised by this answer.

"You have to face it!" Leonev replied: "If there must be something bad to end, I would rather end such a life sooner!" ”

"Yes!" Another recruit looked at the continuous rain outside the carriage and said thoughtfully, "If there is hell, isn't it here?" If this is hell, what is the difference between being dead and living? ”

There was some truth to this, so the other recruits nodded their heads as well.

"Good!" Shulka said: "You have entered the second stage! ”

The veterans couldn't help but laugh.

Shulka wasn't joking, but he did have a mental process: he was terrified at first, and he always wanted to leave this hellish place. But I'm afraid...... Soon he will be tormented by this fear, and his heart will be exhausted.

At this time, there will be a phenomenon similar to "returning to the light", which is what Shulka calls the "second stage", and simply let go of the fear of those useless things.

Of course, not everyone will survive to this stage.