As soon as Seryukin's words were finished, the commander of the 52nd Guards Division, Nekrasov, stood up and retorted, and he said indignantly: "Commander Seryukin, your division has taken the lead in raising the red flag in the cities of Belgorod and Kharkov one after another, so you will not even seize the honor of Izyum, you will also rob us, right?" After saying these few words, he turned his head to look at me and Tawart Kiradze, and said unconvinced, "Commander, army commander, I strongly ask you to let our division be the vanguard of the whole army. ”

After listening to Nekrasov's complaints, I smiled and said to Ta****** Kiradze: "Comrade General, General Sivakov's 22nd Guards Army will arrive as soon as this evening or tomorrow morning, and I will leave the task of attacking Izyum to your army." As for which division will serve as the vanguard force, it is up to you to decide. ”

Tavart Kiradze, who originally wanted to push the problem on me, hesitated for a long time after hearing me say this before he said: "Comrade commander, the 51st, 52nd and 89th Guards Divisions of the Guards have been in a state of intense fighting since the beginning of July, and only the 375th Infantry Division of General Govorinenko has participated in relatively few battles. I suggest that this division should be the vanguard. ”

As soon as his words came out, except for the smile on Govorinenko's face, the other two division commanders were expressionless. Seeing this, Chistyakov stood up in time to play a round: "Okay, it's so decided, with General Govorinenko's 375th Infantry Division as the vanguard. Seryukin, Nekrasov, don't be too disappointed, you two must know that there are still many battles ahead, and you have the opportunity to be the vanguard. ”

After Chistyakov finished speaking, seeing that the two of them still looked reluctant, he smiled slightly, and then changed the topic and said: "Comrade commander, I got good news before I left here, do you want to hear it?" ”

Nekrasov, who was still sulking, immediately asked curiously after hearing this: "What good news?" ”

"Please, Comrade Deputy Commander." Although I was also eager to know what the good news was from Chistyakov's mouth, I still pretended to be calm and said: "Say it and make everyone happy." ”

"At 0:00 a.m. today, 224 guns placed outside the Kremlin palace walls fired 20 salutes in unison to celebrate the great victory of our army in the liberation of Kharkov."

As soon as Chistyakov's words fell, Tavart Kiradze said in surprise: "Comrade Deputy Commander, this is a big deal. You must know that half a month ago, we captured Belgorod, and the Moscow side fired 12 salutes with only 120 guns. ”

"Comrade army commander, because the significance of the capture of Kharkov is more important than the liberation of Belgorod." Chistyakov said with a serious expression: "The liberation of Kharkov means the Battle of Kursk, which began with the German offensive in the south of Kursk on July 5, 1943, and ended with the victory of our army and the defeat of the German army. ”

Although the good news of Chistyakov temporarily diverted the attention of several division commanders, according to my observations, Seryukin was still worried about the inability of his division to serve as the vanguard. So I coughed lightly, looked at him and asked, "Division Commander Seryujin, are you still depressed because your division cannot be the vanguard?" ”

"No, comrade commander, you must be mistaken, where am I depressed." When Seryujin said this, he tried to squeeze out a smile on his face that was more ugly than crying: "I've always been emotional." ”

"Alright, don't hide it." After I interrupted him, I said with a serious expression: "At present, in our army group, there is only General Govorinenko's troops, not guards divisions, but ordinary infantry divisions. If you want them to be promoted to the Guards Division as soon as possible, you must find ways to make them make more meritorious contributions, so that they can have a chance to be promoted to the Guards Division in a short period of time. I say so, who still has an objection? ”

"Nope." Hearing me say this, the emotions that hung on the faces of Seryukin and Nekrasov suddenly disappeared, after all, compared to Govorunenko, they were lucky, commanding the Guards Division and not ordinary infantry divisions. The two said in unison: "Let the 375th Infantry Division serve as the vanguard, we have no opinion." ”

Seeing that everyone's opinions were finally unified, I thought that the divisions had just arrived in Chuhuev and that there was still a lot of preparatory work to continue, so I waved my hand at a few people and ordered: "Okay, since everyone has no opinions, let's go back to their respective divisions." ”

When only me, Chistyakov and Tavartkiradze were left in the command, I raised my hand and looked at my watch, and then asked Chistyakov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, what time do you think we should advance to Izyum?" ”

To my question, Chistyakov thought for a moment, and then replied: "General Chuikov only said that they would attack from the southeast of Izyum before dawn, but did not say the specific time. I think it would be more appropriate for our troops to set off at 9 a.m. for the sake of safety. ”

"Can you explain your reasoning?" Hearing Chistyakov say this time, I thought it was too late, so I frowned and said: "Departure at nine o'clock, will it be too late?" ”

"It's not too late, Comrade Commander." Chistyakov confidently said to me: "General Chuikov's attack will take place in Foxiao, and with what I know about him, his troops will definitely be able to tear a hole in the enemy's line." As long as they engage in a tug-of-war with the enemy near this breach, the enemy's attention will be diverted from our south, so that when we attack, the resistance will be greatly weakened. ”

After listening to Chistyakov's words, I couldn't help but ponder. In my heart, his words make perfect sense, allowing friendly forces to attract the enemy's attention with ferocious attacks, and even draw away the forces that are pouring in to defend us to fill the gaps created by friendly forces. In this way, when we attack south, the resistance we encounter will be significantly weakened. But is it really good to sacrifice allies in exchange for your own honor?

"Comrade Commander," Tavart Kiradze's words sobered me from my musings, and I only listened to him go on to say: "I think the deputy commander has a very good point. If we set out too early, we would certainly arouse the vigilance of the Germans, and then they would be able to concentrate their superior forces to hold us back. In this way, we will pay a huge toll for every step we take. Even if General Chuikov's troops attacked at this time, they would be stopped by the Germans who had withdrawn from other areas, but the resistance we faced here would not be lessened in the slightest. ”

Originally, I was a little hesitant about when to send troops, but after listening to Tavartkiradze's analysis, I felt that Chistyakov was scheming and even took into account such details. So I finally nodded and agreed with the plan proposed by the two: "Well, since the opinions are unified, then our troops will advance south at nine o'clock in the morning!" ”

At this time, Tawart Kiradze asked again: "If the Front Command asks, how should we answer?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Chistyakov, reminded by Tavart Kiradze, also thought of this question, and he looked at me and asked with some concern: "If the superiors see that we are delaying our departure, will they think that our division is deliberately delaying and deliberately delaying the fighters?" ”

"You don't have to worry about this." Since I have decided to wait until 9 a.m. to leave, I have a good idea of how to deal with the questions of my superiors. "I'll tell them that the troops are tired after a long march, so they need to rest for a while before they can continue south."

"Great, Comrade Commander, this reason is too good." As for my response plan, Tavart Kiradze first clapped his hands and agreed, "I believe that even if the head of the front army listens to it, there will be no doubts." ”

"Alright, General Tawart Kiradze." Chistyakov said with a flat expression: "Although the troops will not leave until nine o'clock in the morning, as the commander of the army, should you go to the divisions to have a look and boost morale?" ”

"Yes, yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, you are right." Hearing Chistyakov say this, Tavart Kiradze hurriedly smiled awkwardly and said curtly: "I'll go to the divisions to inspect it." ”

After Tavart Kiradze had left, Chistyakov looked to the left and right, and saw that Major Lopukhov was in a position a little far away from us, and even if we said anything, he could not hear it, so he whispered to me: "Comrade commander, how long do you think we will be able to join forces with the troops of the Southwestern Front?" ”

Chistyakov's question confused me, I stared at him for a long time, and then asked puzzled: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't understand what you mean?" ”

"Comrade Commander, there are only two of us here, and there are some things I can say to you boldly." Chistyakov lowered his voice and said: "In the just-concluded Belgorod-Kharkov offensive battle, our army group can be calculated to have done its best, especially the 89th Guards Division, which was the first to rush into the city twice and planted the red flag on the commanding heights of the city. ”

I heard this, nodded, and said, "That's right." The troops of our army group were the first to storm the city and plant the red flag on the commanding heights of the city, which was informed and approved by the commander of the front at a military meeting before the counteroffensive at the Battle of Kursk. ”

"I know all of this." Chistyakov continued: "It is precisely because of our successive victories that the world has achieved that your words and deeds in the future will become even more noticeable. ”

I felt that Chistyakov said this, as if there was something in the words, so I frowned and asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't understand, what are you trying to express by telling me this?" ”

"Comrade Commander, this is the case." Chistyakov said to me with some hesitation: "According to my colleagues in other units, your recent performance has been so eye-catching that it has aroused the dissatisfaction of some commanders of your rank. If we win the attack on Izyum, it will be a great joy for all. If we fail to attack or are slow to move forward, then some people may have to make small moves in the back. ”

"Nonsense, it's nonsense." Hearing Chistyakov say this, I was so angry that I slapped the table and stood up, and said angrily: "If they are jealous of my position and let them be the commander, I will still go to the army to be a commander, a division commander, or even a regiment commander." ”

My words alarmed everyone in the room, and the operators sitting in front of the walkie-talkie turned their heads to look at me, and Lopukhov even stood up and prepared to walk towards me.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Chistyakov hurriedly waved his hand at them and said loudly: "It's okay, it's okay, I have a little conflict with Comrade Commander over work, so you all can continue to work." ”

When Lopukhov sat down again, the operators went back to work. Chistyakov said to me with a sad face: "Comrade commander, your reaction is too strong. ”

"Everyone else has bullied me, aren't I allowed to get angry?" Although I am trembling with anger now, for the sake of my image in front of many of my subordinates, I still lowered my voice and said: "No one can win a battle forever without defeating it, and didn't Kutuzov, the most famous commander of Russia, also be defeated by Napoleon?" ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, no matter what the situation of our attack on Izyum is, I will be firmly on your side." Speaking of this, he hesitated for a moment, and then continued: "I think the military commissar and the chief of staff will also stand firmly on your side and support you. ”

I felt a little better when I heard Chistyakov say this, no matter how many people tried to plot against me outside, at least my deputy and I could still be on the same page, and that was enough. In order not to let this disturbance interfere with my emotions, I took a few deep breaths, waited for my mood to stabilize a little, raised my head and said to Chistyakov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, let's discuss how to attack the enemy, after all, on the way to Izyum, the enemy has set up several defensive lines, and only by destroying these lines can our troops reach the city of Izyum. ”

Chistyakov had a smile of relief on his face when he saw that I had returned to normal so quickly. After looking down at the map for a while, he said to me: "Comrade commander, I propose to divide the 375th Infantry Division into three echelons as regiments, each with a tank battalion, and the echelons are separated by two kilometers. When the vanguard enters about three kilometers from the enemy's defensive line, it spreads out in battle formation and attacks the enemy. (To be continued.) )