Before I could speak, a familiar voice suddenly came from the door: "No matter how well the Germans have built fortifications in the south, our main attack direction must be in the south." ”

I was surprised to hear this voice, and quickly turned my head to look in the direction from which the voice came, and saw Chistyakov walking briskly through the door.

"Hello, Comrade Commander." Chistyakov walked up to me with a smile on his face, stretched out his hand to shake my hand, and said in a friendly voice: "I'm afraid that you won't be able to do it here, so I'm here to help you." ”

"Great, Comrade Deputy Commander, this is great." Hearing that he was here to help me, I shook his hand vigorously and said excitedly: "I am worried about the next move of our army, and now that you come, we can discuss the next battle plan." ”

During this time, Chistyakov, who had not long recovered from injury, was in a state of high tension due to overwork for a long time, his eyes were bloodshot due to lack of sleep, and his face was visibly haggard due to exertion. Although he was extremely tired, he immediately became energetic when he talked about the battle: "Comrade commander, tell me about your plan, how did you plan it?" ”

When he heard about the two lines of attack I had chosen, and the reasons for my choice, he could not help frowning, he stared at the map for a while, and then asked me: "Comrade commander, I don't think it is necessary for us to choose the offensive line to the east at all. ”

As soon as he said this, I immediately remembered the two words he said before entering the door, and I couldn't help but ask: "By the way, Comrade Deputy Commander, when you entered the gate, you said that no matter how strong the enemy's defense in the south is, we will choose the direction of attack in the south, what does this mean?" ”

When Chistyakov heard my question, an expression of surprise suddenly appeared on his face, and he said in surprise: "Why, comrade commander, don't you know that the west of Chuhuev has been occupied by our troops, and in many areas in the northeast direction, our troops are also active?" ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, where did you get this information?" I was very unhappy that Comrade Chistyakov, the deputy commander, knew more than I, who was a commander, so I asked with a little emotion: "Is it our scouts who gave you the information?" ”

After looking at me with strange eyes for a while, Chistyakov suddenly raised his hand and slapped his forehead heavily, and said repeatedly: "Damn, this is damn, how did I forget about this." ”

I was confused by this move, and I asked in confusion, "Comrade Deputy Commander, what are you doing here?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander. Since you are not in the headquarters most of the time, we have not had time to report a lot of information from your superiors, and it is all my mistake, and here I will review it for you. Chistyakov said to me apologetically: "When our army group launched an offensive to the west of Kharkov, the units of the Southwestern Front also actively cooperated, and the 1st Guards Army, with superior forces, launched an attack on the city of Zmiyev, southwest of Kharkov, and completely occupied the city on the evening of the 18th. After pointing out the location of the city of Zmiyev on the map with his hand, he added, "In this way, the security of the right flank of our army is guaranteed." ”

"What does it have to do with the fact that the friendly forces have occupied the city of Zmiev and you persuade me to abandon this route to the east?" Although I knew that my right flank could be protected by friendly forces, I still did not understand why Chistyakov would oppose my attack from the east.

"General Shumilov's Guards Seventh Army, later today, will also move south." Chistyakov pointed to the area he advised me to abandon and said: "They will soon be stationed in this area, and if we were to enter, a hundred thousand people would be crowded together and would be too crowded for the deployment of troops." ”

I share Chistyakov's concerns, and since it's Shumilov's territory, I'm not going to join in the fun. In order not only will the troops not be able to deploy, but they will also have a grudge against Shumilov.

I had just made up my mind to abandon my plan to attack from the Eastern Front, when Tavart Kiradze, who had been ignored by both of us, came over and said with a serious expression: "Comrade commander, I just received a call from Lieutenant Colonel Lukin and new information from the scouts. ”

"What information?" I saw his serious expression and knew that it must not be good news, so I quickly asked: "Did you discover any more conspiracy of the German army?" ”

Tavartkiradze walked to the table, pointed to the map, and said, "The scouts have found that about twenty kilometers from us, the Germans have planted a large number of mines on the road, and at the same time, they have built a number of defensive fire points on the high ground on both sides, and if we want to break through here, we will inevitably pay heavy casualties. ”

Hearing this astonishing news, Chistyakov and I looked at each other and said with some anxiety: "Comrade commander, you should immediately report this information to your superiors, otherwise you will suffer a big loss when General Shumilov's troops come over." ”

To this proposal of Chistyakov, I nodded, and then said to Ta****** Kiradze: "Comrade General, you immediately sort out the information reported by Lieutenant Colonel Lukin and send it to the Front Command, so that they do not suffer unnecessary losses. ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander," Tavart Kiradze agreed, picked up a few of the scouts on the table, turned and walked to a table in the corner, and began to sort out the information.

"Comrade Deputy Commander," after Tavart Kiradze had left, I asked Chistyakov again: "In this case, we will have to take this line of attack to the south." ”

"That's right," Chistyakov said with certainty, "at the moment the troops of the South-Western Front, a beachhead has been created to the southeast of Izyum, from which friendly forces will attack. Since the front of this beachhead is not too wide, the number of troops that can be deployed is limited, and we will pay huge casualties for almost every step forward in such an offensive battle. ”

Although Chistyakov did not say a word about how we should move south, when I heard him mention the difficulties that the Southwestern Front would encounter in the event of an attack, I understood the meaning of his words, and hastened to add: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I understand what you mean, if we decisively move south and attack Izyum when the friendly forces launch an attack, we will be able to contain a part of the German army's living forces and effectively cooperate with the attack launched by the friendly forces from the landing site." ”

After listening to me, Chistyakov had a relieved smile on his face. He nodded, smiled and said, "Exactly right, Comrade Commander, what you said is exactly what I want to say." ”

"So how do we play?" I returned my attention to the map, frowned and asked, "You must know that the Germans can build a lot of fortifications along the way, and if we advance while fighting, we will not only pay heavy casualties, but at the same time, after we attack the front line of defense, the German troops behind can still recharge and wait for work, and even after we have captured the position, we can counterattack when we are exhausted." ”

"Your concerns are real." Chistyakov, who also lowered his head and looked at the map, agreed with my statement, thought hard for a moment, then raised his head and said to me: "Comrade commander, I have a new idea. ”

When I heard that he had a good idea, I immediately urged him: "Say whatever comes to mind, Comrade Deputy Commander." ”

Chistyakov did not immediately say what he thought, but prompted me: "Do you remember the kind of tactics that Marshal Zhukov recommended to you when our troops advanced towards Chuhuev? ”

"Assign tank brigades to infantry regiments in battalions?" After I finished talking about Zhukov's deployment at that time, I asked tentatively: "Comrade Deputy Commander, is this what you want to say?" ”

"That's right, that's right." As soon as Chistyakov waited for me to finish, he nodded desperately and said with certainty: "This is the tactic." When the troops advanced south, we still split the tank brigade and put it under the command of each infantry regiment as a battalion. After encountering the enemy's defensive positions, the attack was carried out with the infantry regiments and tank battalions of the first echelon. After seizing the position, they stayed where they were to rest and clean up the battlefield, while the infantry regiment and tank battalion, which were in second place, were automatically replaced as the first echelon, taking over their task as the vanguard of the whole army and continuing to advance. ”

I only thought about this suggestion for a moment, and then I resolutely agreed: "Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, this kind of fighting of your rotational attack is very good, and it will enable the troops that have fought to regain their combat effectiveness in the shortest possible time by resting on the battlefield. Well, as soon as the two division commanders Nekrasov and Govorinenko arrived, they were called to the command for a meeting and asked them to advance to Izyum using this tactic. ”

While waiting for the arrival of several division commanders, I suddenly remembered the issue of air supremacy. Although our army firmly grasped the air supremacy of the battlefield from the middle of the Belgorod-Kharkov offensive campaign, the German planes did not disappear, and they still saw the opportunity to make a sneak attack. If we are bombarded by the enemy while marching or fighting, then the troops will pay a heavy price.

Seeing my expression of bitter contemplation, Chistyakov asked curiously: "Comrade commander, what are you thinking?" ”

"Air Force, our Air Force." Hearing Chistyakov's question, I couldn't help but blurt out: "If we advance south, will we be supported by the Air Force?" ”

My words made Chistyakov embarrassed, and after thinking about it, he said to me: "Comrade commander, as far as I know, the air defense here should be the responsibility of the Air Force of the South-Western Front, and if you want to get support from the Air Force, you should get in touch with the commander of the South-Western Front. ”

"The commander of the Southwestern Front is General Malinowski," I asked rhetorically, after saying the name lightly, "are you familiar with him?" ”

Chistyakov shook his head and said with some embarrassment: "Although I know each other, I don't have much friendship." ”

"That's right." Listening to Chistyakov say this, I knew that the air force of the Southwestern Front could not be counted on, so I could only ask Vatutin for help to see if he could send air force support, but before contacting the Front Command, I had to let Chistyakov know in his heart, "Since we cannot get the necessary air support from the Southwestern Front, then we can only turn to Marshal Zhukov and Commander Vatutin to see if they can send an air force to cover our southward operation." ”

After listening to my proposal, Chistyakov sighed, and then said helplessly: "So far, this is the only way to go." I sent a telegram to the Front Command, asking them to send an air force to cover our southward movement. ”

Probably because of Zhukov, Vatutin, after receiving a telegram from Chistyakov, quickly replied that when we set out, an aviation division would be sent to provide us with air cover and ensure that we could advance smoothly to the city of Izyum.

Knowing that I would receive support from the Air Force during the day, the stone hanging in my heart finally landed. At this time, the three division commanders, including Seryukin, came to the headquarters one after another, so I gathered everyone together and held a military meeting to fight in the south.

First of all, Tawart Kiradze briefed his three division commanders on the situation in front of us and how we planned to advance on Izyum. After he finished speaking, I stood up, looked at the three division commanders and asked, "Comrade division commanders, do you still have any questions?" ”

After the three of them looked at each other, Seryugin stood up and said on their behalf: "Comrade commander, I would like to ask, which division do you intend to make the vanguard, which division will follow, and which division should hold the city of Chuhuev?" ”

After Seryukin finished asking the tongue twister-like question, Chistyakov continued: "Comrade Seryukin, since the troops of the 52nd Guards Division and the 375th Infantry Division have not yet fully reached Chuhuev, they will not have any combat missions until noon. As for the leading troops, I still intend to be the 51st Guards Division. After saying these words, he turned his head to look at Tawart Kiradze and asked, "General Tawart Kiradze, do you have no opinion?" ”

"No opinion, I will follow your orders." Tawart Kiradze readily agreed.

After hearing this, Seryukin immediately rushed to Ta****** Kiradze and said: "Comrade Army Commander, the commanders and fighters of the 51st Guards Division have gone through fierce battles when they captured Chuhuyev, and they may need to rest for a while longer, so you better let our division serve as the vanguard, right?" (To be continued.) )