Although Lukin and Slavin were full of confidence in the night raid, I still felt unsure, after all, this was my first battle after arriving at the 64th Army. If I win, I can certainly make a name for myself and raise the morale of the troops; But if I fail, then I will be discredited, and the final result will be to return to the 62nd Army as an operational staff officer.

To be on the safe side, I also asked, "Captain Lukin, did the scouts you sent provide a detailed map of the enemy's baggage camp?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Regiment Commander." As he spoke, Lukin pushed a one-foot-square piece of paper on the table in front of me, and when I looked at the map, it turned out to be a topographical map drawn with a pencil. Lukin pointed to the drawings and said, "Look, this is the sketch that the Scout brought back. As can be seen from the map, the Germans did not pay much attention to the camp where the baggage was stored, and it was a little far from their main forces. In front of the baggage camp were the tents of the defenders, and trucks loaded with weapons and ammunition were parked in the back. The defenders were small in number, probably only about a hundred, and mobile posts were placed around the camp. ”

I looked at the rough but well-marked map in front of me, and asked with some suspicion: "Captain Lukin, if I am not mistaken, you have only recently returned from the ferry, and even if you send scouts to reconnoitre, you will not be able to send back the reconnaissance information so quickly." There's no going to be a scam in this, right? ”

In response to my suspicions, Lukin smiled embarrassedly and said, "Comrade Regiment Commander, you don't know anything. In fact, before our regiment received the order to retreat, reconnaissance personnel were dispatched. Infiltrate behind enemy lines on reconnaissance missions. When we withdrew from the crossing, the soldiers who had gone out to reconnoiter also returned, so we have this map in front of you. ”

Hearing him say this, my heart was finally reassured, and it seemed that even if I did not come, they would launch an attack on the enemy's baggage camp tonight, seizing weapons and ammunition to arm the unarmed warriors. I looked at the map and asked Lukin: "Comrade Captain, have you thought about how to ensure the safe evacuation of the convoy transporting ammunition after completing the task of the attack?" To know. Trucks loaded with ammunition. If it is discovered, it will be all over if it is bombarded by German artillery. ”

My question made Lukin slightly stunned for a moment. He then said: "Comrade Regiment Commander. You have a point. If the convoy comes under artillery fire on the way back. It's hard to get out of it. What do you think, tell me about your plan. He said the last thing to Slavin.

Slavin leaned his head over and stared at the map for a long time. Finally, he pointed to the baggage camp and said: "It seems that we can only take risks, and it is only five kilometers from the camp to our position, and it will only take a few minutes to reach the position at full speed." In such a short period of time, even if the Germans were aware of it, they did not have time to determine the position of the shelling, and the chances of our success in escaping were still very high. ”

Seeing that the details of the night attack were almost perfect, I did not nitpick any more, but told Lukin: "Comrade Captain, remember to inform the troops at the front to pay attention to identification when receiving the returning trucks, and do not fight with your own people." At this point, I looked up at the commanders present, waved my hand, and said, "The meeting is over, let's all go back to our respective units." Captain Lukin stayed. ”

Lukin, who had stood up and wanted to leave with the other commanders, quickly stopped and sat down again when he heard me say this.

After everyone in the command post left, I began to catch up with Lukin: "It's been a long time, Comrade Lukin, are all the injuries on your body healed?" ”

Lukin smiled embarrassedly and replied, "Comrade Regiment Commander, thank you for your concern, my injuries are all healed." During the defense of the station, Sapochuk and I were seriously wounded and taken to the military hospital in Yuzhnaya. Luckily, we both survived. My injuries recovered quickly, and in less than half a month, I was able to walk around on the ground. And Sapochuk's luck was almost bad, although the shrapnel in his waist plate was removed, he needed to stay in bed to recuperate, and he couldn't move when he watched me walk around, so he lay on the bed every day and cursed. ”

I nodded and said softly, "Lukin, I met Rysdaev a few months ago, and he took the initiative to tell me about you and Sapochuk, and I feel very happy to meet you here again today." Saying this, I looked up at the roof, sighed softly, and said to myself: "If only all three company commanders of the independent battalion could appear in front of me at the same time." ”

"There is a chance, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." "Rysdaev is now a major in the Moscow garrison command, and Sapochuk has gone to Fedyuninsky's 54th Army as a company commander," Lukin said. ……”

"What? What did you say? Please repeat again. You just said that Sapochuk went to the 54th Army? "I was so shocked by what Lukin said suddenly, "I also served as an operational staff officer in the 54th Army for a while. When did Sapochuk go? ”

Lukin thought for a moment and replied, "It's around May of this year." Probably because I was afraid that I wouldn't understand, he deliberately explained: "After we were discharged from the hospital, we were assigned to the reserve army. A few months ago, the Supreme High Command had drawn troops from the reserve army to replenish the Volkhov Front, and Sapochuk's regiment was transferred. ”

When I heard that Sapochuk was the 54th Army that had only gone after May, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed: "At that time, I was already transferred to the 2nd Shock Army as a battalion commander. ”

We were reminiscing about the old days when the phone on the desk rang. Lukin picked it up and listened to it, then immediately stood up, straightened up, and then handed me the microphone and reminded me in a low voice: "Regiment commander, it's the phone number of Comrade Commander of the Group Army. ”

I took the microphone, and as soon as I heard Chuikov's hoarse voice coming from inside, I hurriedly smiled and said, "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Group Army. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, do you have any instructions? ”

Chuikov asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how is it, have you met with your subordinates?" ”

"I've seen them all, I just finished assigning them a combat mission?"

"Combat mission?! What combat missions? Hearing me say this, Chuikov asked with some puzzlement.

"Comrade commander, you know, our regiment is newly formed, and the fighters, in addition to their lack of training and combat experience, also seriously lack weapons. When tomorrow the enemy attacks us with great force, you can't let our warriors fight the enemy armed to the teeth with their bare hands, right? ”

"Are you planning to attack the enemy's baggage camp and seize weapons for the armed forces?" In the end, he is worthy of being a commander, and he looks at the problem more comprehensively than us, although I haven't said any combat missions, but he has already guessed eight or nine. He said unhappily: "It's just playing the piano indiscriminately, have you reported such a big action to the division headquarters?" ”

Hearing him ask, I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, but no, I patronized and chatted with Lu Jin, and I forgot even about reporting to the division headquarters, so I hurriedly defended and said: "Comrade commander, I was about to report to the division headquarters, but I didn't expect your call to come first." At this point, I raised my hand to wipe the cold sweat from my forehead, and then said, "I have sent troops to seize the enemy's baggage, but not by force, but by sneak attack at night." We've made a lot of arrangements, and the chances of success are still very good. ”

Chuikov was silent for a moment, then said: "Well, I'm sure you'll succeed." However, I still want to warn you that such a large military operation must be reported immediately to your superior, General Biliukov, otherwise if something goes wrong, what awaits you will be a military court. After that, without waiting for me to speak, he hung up the phone.

Putting down the phone, I weighed the plan of action again and again, and instructed Lukin: "Call Captain Slavin, the commander of the seventh company, I have something to tell him." ”

Answering Slavin's phone, I said to him in a loud voice: "Comrade Captain, the success of tonight's operation depends on how you command. Remember, your mission is to sneak up and not assault. Use your brains and think about what you can do to destroy the enemy's guards without alerting the nearby enemy. The later you are detected by the enemy, the more likely you will be able to escape. Well, that's all I have to say, good luck! (To be continued......)

PS: I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Xiao Yi XXX, liuxingyu999, sfghj, dead hedgehog and other friends for their monthly ticket support.