Just as we were rejoicing in the successful forced crossing of the Dnieper for friendly forces and the establishment of a new landing ground in the adjacent area, the phone on the table rang at an inopportune time. After listening to a few words on the microphone, Bezikov was shocked. He covered the microphone with his hand, turned his head and said quickly: "Comrade commander, the situation is not good, there are a large number of enemies rushing to the defense area of the 375th Infantry Division. ”

"What? Did the enemy attack the defense zone of Lukin's division? Bezkov's words made the already hot command fall silent. I took the microphone from Bezikov's hand and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what the hell is going on, how many Germans have attacked you?" ”

Hearing my question in such a stern tone, Lukin, who answered the phone, said in some panic: "Comrade commander, I just received a report from the forward observation post, and they said that there was dust in the distance, and it looked like a large number of enemies were rushing towards us. ”

"How many troops does the enemy have," I continued to ask in a stern tone, "have the infantry attacking you been accompanied by tanks or other technical equipment?" ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, but it's hard for me to give you a clear answer on this point." Lukin replied in an awkward tone, "I just heard the report from the Forward Observation Post, and I feel that I should report this situation to you in time." ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Lukin," I regained my composure when I heard the information of the so-called large German army, which was only the assumption of the observation post, and said in a calm tone: "Don't forget that you are now the division commander, immediately make the troops ready for all battles, and at the same time send someone to find out what is going on, and keep me updated on the progress." ”

When I put down the phone, I looked at the other people who were focused on us, and in order to ease the tension in the headquarters, I deliberately said lightly: "Don't worry, everyone, it's Lieutenant Colonel Lukin who is making too much of a fuss." He said that it was one of his observation posts who had reported to him that he had spotted dust on the road in the distance, presumably a large force of the enemy rushing towards our defensive area. Since Lieutenant Colonel Lukin didn't know the exact situation, I asked him to find out what was going on and then report back to me. ”

After listening to me, Chistyakov stared intently at the map. After a while, he said to me tentatively: "Comrade commander, I suddenly have a bold guess about this enemy rushing towards our defense zone. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, if you have any guesses, you might as well tell me and listen to them." Chistyakov's words aroused my interest, "I think it is quite strange that this enemy is not even prepared for artillery fire before the attack, and ...... at us."

I quickly stopped, looked up at Chistyakov, and asked cautiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, is your guess ......?" I didn't say the rest of the words, but just cast him an inquiring look.

"That's right, Comrade Commander," Chistyakov said, nodding, "the two of us probably have the same problem in mind. ”

"Comrade two commanders," the conversation between the two of us made the people next to him confused, and Bezikov asked blankly: "What are you talking about, why don't I understand it at all?" ”

Chistyakov and I looked at each other and replied with a smile: "Chief of staff, I think it's better for Comrade Commander to explain this question to you." After saying that, he made a gesture of invitation to me.

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that everyone was eager to know the answer to the mystery, I stopped selling it and said to them: "Just now we did not receive a report from our friendly forces that they had successfully captured the cities of Kremenchug and Svivodesk after crossing the Dnieper. I reckon that the dust I saw was the German troops retreating from these two cities. ”

"That's right, I see the same thing as Comrade Commander." As soon as I finished speaking, Chistyakov agreed, and he continued: "The enemy has just lost the battle, and he must have no fighting spirit. Why don't we take the initiative and give them a head-on blow, and destroy as much as we can. ”

After listening to Chistyakov's proposal, I stared at the map for a while, then slowly shook my head and said: "No, Comrade Deputy Commander, although the enemy escaped from Kremenchug and Svevodsk, it cannot be said that they do not have any combat effectiveness. If they launch on the way to retreat, there is a resistance from our army, and they will definitely attack desperately. So even if we win in the end, we will pay a terrible price. ”

"So what to do, do you want to watch the enemy escape?" Chistyakov said with a displeased expression: "If they go north and join forces with the enemy in Kyiv, it will make it more difficult for us to liberate Kyiv in the future." ”

Due to the urgency of time, I did not consult with you, so I took it upon myself to instruct Bezikov: "Chief of Staff, call Lieutenant Colonel Lukin immediately and ask him to transfer the 1243rd Regiment to the road to block the retreating German troops. ”

"Comrade Commander," Chistyakov was a little anxious when he heard my order, "although we don't know how many troops the fleeing enemy has, but with the strength of the 1243rd Regiment alone, it is estimated that it will be difficult to block the enemy's attack. ”

"Chief of Staff, after calling Lieutenant Colonel Lukin, call General Nekrasov again." I stared at the map and said: "Let him ambush the 52nd Guards Division to the northwest of Cherkasy." Okay, you call them. ”

Seeing that Bezikov followed the order to make a call, Chistyakov became anxious, and he said with some emotion: "Comrade commander, we should take advantage of the low morale of the enemy to give them a head-on blow, strive to inflict heavy losses or eat part of them, so as to relieve our pressure in the next battle." ”

I just had a bold battle plan in my heart, but because it was too bold, once I said it, it would definitely be opposed by everyone, so I stubbornly said: "General Chistyakov, I remind you that the commander of the Sixth Guards Army is me, not you. So it's up to me to decide how the troops should fight. ”

As soon as I spoke, Chistyakov obediently closed his mouth, but there was a look of disappointment on his face. I also saw that Bezkov, who had just finished the call, also opened his mouth to say something, but Kirillov grabbed him, shook his head gently at him, and motioned not to interfere with my command.

Ten minutes later, the blocking battle of the 375th Infantry Division began. Hearing the sound of heavy gunfire coming from the southeast, I personally called Lukin and ordered him: "Until the 1243rd Regiment is gone, it is absolutely not allowed to take half a step back, and no reinforcements can be sent to them. ”

Lukin thought my order was a bit ridiculous, but he did it faithfully. The commander of the 1243 regiment was given a death order: resolutely hold the position, even if the battle is to the death of a soldier, it is not allowed to take half a step back.

During the two-hour battle, the retreating Germans launched seven or eight charges at the positions of the 1243 regiment. German infantry, under the cover of tanks, occupied part of the positions of the regiment, two battalion commanders and two-thirds of the company's commanders were killed. The regimental commander commanded only one battalion of troops, repeatedly fought for positions with the Germans who were trying to break through, and even engaged in brutal hand-to-hand battles in some sections.

Lukin called me, and he said with tears in his voice: "Comrade commander, my 1243rd regiment is almost exhausted, can you let me transfer the other two regiments?" ”

"No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the other two regiments cannot be put into battle for the time being." Although I knew that after this battle, the 1243 regiment would be rebuilt, I still gritted my teeth and ordered: "You order the commander of the 1243 regiment to continue to insist, as long as there is one person, there must be no retreat." ”

After I ended Lukin's call, I called Nekrasov again and asked straight to the point: "Comrade division commander, are your troops all in place?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander, in five minutes at most, my troops will all be in position." After Nekrasov reported his intelligence, he asked a little strangely: "I heard that the 375th Infantry Division is currently fighting fiercely with the Germans, why didn't you send us reinforcements, but transferred us to this area where there is no enemy to ambush?" ”

"Comrade division commander, there are some things that you will know when you should know." I didn't give him a clear answer, but urged: "Let the fighters speed up, the enemy's offensive is too fierce, Lieutenant Colonel Lukin they are almost unable to withstand it." ”

I put down the phone, raised my hand and looked at my watch, wondering in my heart whether the troops of the 52nd Guards Division would be able to complete the ambush mission within the specified time. At this moment, Chistyakov asked me: "Comrade commander, seeing that the 1243rd Regiment is about to be overwhelmed, you don't let Lieutenant Colonel Lukin send the other two regiments to reinforce them, then I will take the guard battalion to support them, this is always okay, right?" ”

But he never dreamed that his request would be rejected by me beyond any doubt. Chistyakov had a distressed expression on his face when he saw that I was bent on going my own way, but he was helpless against me.

It was at this moment that Nekrasov called, and he reported to me: "Comrade commander, our troops are all in place. ”

I looked at the time, and it only took three minutes. I nodded and said, "Very well, get your troops ready for battle, and as soon as the enemy enters your ambush circle, open fire immediately, and try not to let a single German escape." ”

I finished speaking, and before he could finish speaking, I hung up the phone, then picked up the microphone again and dialed Lukin's division headquarters. After hearing Lukin's voice, I directly ordered him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, let the commanders and fighters of the 1243rd Regiment immediately withdraw from their positions and make way for the Germans." ”

"What, to make way for the Germans?!" Lukin was startled when he heard my command. After a moment of silence, he made a request to me: "Comrade commander, don't worry, although I see that the 1243rd Regiment is about to be exhausted, I will immediately lead a regiment to reinforce it, and I will definitely be able to stop the enemy." ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Lukin, you can't just rely on fierce attacks to rush in a war, you have to use more brains." Without waiting for him to reply, I continued: "When the enemy's large forces have rushed through your positions, you will immediately lead two other regiments to rush forward, and quickly plug the gap, so that not a single enemy can escape from the enemy who has rushed through your position." Do you understand? ”

Lukin listened to my words and was silent for a while, then with a cheer, he raised his voice and replied: "Comrade commander, I understand everything. Rest assured, I will never let a single German escape from the defense zone of our division. ”

After I put down the phone this time, I asked Chistyakov, who was standing next to me, "Comrade Deputy Commander, do you now understand why I am doing this?" ”

When Chistyakov heard me ask him this, he was stunned for a moment, then nodded sharply, and said with a little emotion: "Understand, Comrade Commander, I understand everything now." In this way, our 52nd Guards Division could wipe out all the Germans who had entered the ambush circle. ”

"Comrade commanders, can you tell me what the hell is going on?" The person who asked this was still confused, and he glanced at Kirillov, who was also confused, and added: "Not only me, but also the comrades of the military commissar can't figure out what happened." ”

"That's right, Leda, what are you doing with General Chistyakov?" Kirillov also asked puzzledly: "Since the blocking battle just now was so fierce, why do you want to give the enemy a passage?" ”

After I looked at Chistyakov this time, I made a gesture of invitation to him, and then said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, it is up to you to brief the military commissar and the chief of staff. ”

Chistyakov nodded, and then explained to Kirillov and Bezikov the tactics I used: "...... Although the enemy is defeated, when they see the blocking position we have set up, they will definitely attack desperately, trying to open a passage and escape to safety. If we put the 375th Infantry Division in defensive positions, then what is going on is a brutal and protracted positional battle. …… Only one regiment was placed on the position, and the enemy's infantry, under the cover of their tanks, was able to storm our defensive positions, which gave them hope for a successful breakthrough.

When the 1243rd Regiment, which suffered heavy casualties, withdrew from the battle, the Germans thought that our troops were forced to withdraw from the battle because they could not stop them. …… As soon as they saw that the road ahead was clear, the German officers and men, who had been in high spirits, lost the will to fight, and only thought about passing through our defense area as fast as possible to join their friendly forces. …… In this case, the 52nd Guards Division, which was ambushed in the northwest of the city, could easily defeat or even completely annihilate these officers and soldiers who had no fighting spirit. At this point, he turned his head to look at me and asked with a smile, "Comrade Commander, do I understand correctly?" (To be continued.) )