Although Zhukov accepted my proposal and was prepared to attack only south of Kiev with the 40th Army, while the 27th and 47th armies attacked from the north. However, in the process of implementing this plan, it was rejected by the High Command, and in desperation, Zhukov had no choice but to transfer the two armies that had stayed on the other side of the Dnieper, as well as the 3rd Guards Tank Army of General Rybalko, to the Kanivo area.

As a result, the starting point of the attack, which had been prepared for the attacking troops, became narrow. In order to facilitate the build-up of three armies and one tank army, Vatutin ordered General Sivakov's 22nd Guards Army to withdraw from Kanivo, and the whole army to Cherkasy.

With a steady stream of four Guards divisions and several artillery regiments marching into Cherkasy, the medium-sized city on the Dnieper became crowded. Seeing this, Bezikov complained in a low voice: "What a waste of so many troops crowded here and not being able to go to battle." ”

When I heard his complaints, I smiled and said, "Chief of Staff, in fact, it is not a bad thing for us to gather all the troops in Cherkasy. Don't forget, when the battle for Kiev begins, we will not only cover the flanks of the 53rd Army, but also transfer troops to cut off the Kiev-Zhytomyr road. If the original defensive area is maintained, with the departure of the two armies, our forces will become thin, and if we encounter an enemy attack, the situation will become very bad. Now that General Vatutin has withdrawn Kanifu's troops, he has invisibly helped us solve a big problem. ”

"Then our original sneak attack plan, do we need to adjust?" Bezkov waited for me to finish and asked cautiously.

"Yes, Chief of Staff." I replied affirmatively: "Now that friendly forces are stationed in Canivo, our plan to send troops from Canivo will not work, and we will have to choose a new route." ”

"In that case, let's reformulate a new sneak attack plan." After Chistyakov interjected, he turned his head and called Akhromeyev: "Comrade Major, please bring me the information obtained by the reconnaissance detachment, we need to reformulate a sneak attack plan." ”

After reading the information that Akhromeyev gave him, the expression on Chistyakov's face became serious. He looked at me and said, "Comrade Commander, if we want to adjust the offensive line, not only will the troops have to go farther, but they will also have to pass through several large and medium-sized cities on the way. In this way, it will be difficult for us not to be detected by the Germans, and in the end, this sneak attack may have to turn into a strong attack. ”

When I heard him say this, I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then asked rhetorically: "Comrade Deputy Commander, can you tell us about the new line you envisioned?" ”

"Our sneak attack force started from Spola and went west to attack Wattuti, Tanna, and then Uman, which were occupied by the Germans." Speaking of the last place name, his brow furrowed: "As far as reconnaissance knows, the Germans have two infantry regiments in the Uman area, with an armored battalion and several artillery units, and there are strong fortifications in the city. It will take at least two or three days for us to take this city, and at the same time we will pay huge sacrifices. If the troops are severely reduced, it will be difficult to go north to capture Chakhkov next......"

After listening patiently to Chistyakov's new plan, I smiled bitterly and asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, since you also know that our troops are planning to attack Kolostev and cut off the Kiev-Zhytomyr line of communication, why do you have to carry out so many storms on the way?" You know, if we go to a city and we fight a fortified battle, then not to mention three guards divisions and a tank army, even if the entire army group is transferred over, it is estimated that by the time we reach Korostviv, there will not be many people left in the troops. What kind of troops can we use to cut off the enemy's lines of communication? ”

My words stopped Chistyakov, who stared at the map with a blushing face and did not say a word, presumably considering how he could avoid the heavily defended cities of the Germans, and quickly rush to Korostviv to cut off the enemy's lines of communication.

"Comrade Commander, since you think that the scheme of the deputy commander is not advisable." Bezikov probably didn't want to see Chistyakov's embarrassment, so he hurriedly came out to relieve the siege and said, "Then can you tell us about your plan?" ”

Hearing what Bezikov said, Chistyakov hurriedly echoed: "Yes, Comrade Commander, can you tell me about your plans?" I would like to see how our troops, interspersed from the depth of the German defense. ”

I heard the displeasure in Chistyakov's words, but instead of bothering him, I pointed to the map and said to them: "You see, after successfully crossing the Dnieper, we successfully captured Cherkasy and Kanivo, and then Smilla and Spora. As for Kozon, it was handed over to us after being liberated by the local partisans. ”

"Kozon!" After repeating the name, Chistyakov slammed the table and said in annoyance: "Hell, how did I forget Kozon, if we had sent troops from here, we would have chosen a completely different path." ”

"Your judgment is accurate, Comrade Deputy Commander." When I saw that Chistyakov had judged from my words a possible new route, I smiled and said to him: "After we start from Kozon, we can follow those inaccessible paths and go northwest. Occupy Skovya without knowing it, and then continue north to capture Korostviv with the goal of cutting off Kiev-Zhytomyr. ”

"Comrade Commander," Chistyakov asked with some anxiety after listening to me, "the road you have chosen, it is indeed difficult to meet the Germans along the way, but there are many rivers and swamps in that area, can our tanks pass through?" Without the cooperation of tank troops, we simply could not accomplish the goal of cutting off the lines of communication of the German troops. Why don't you take another route? ”

I knew that Chistyakov's fears were real, and after thinking for a while, I shook my head and said: "No, Comrade Deputy Commander, no matter where we go except this route, we will be discovered by the Germans, which will lead to the failure of our sneak attack plan." As for the difficulty of the road, this is not a big problem, and the accompanying soldiers of the Guards Division can cut down trees along the way to pave the way so that the tanks can pass smoothly. ”

Seeing that I had a plan, Chistyakov did not persuade me again. He pushed the map in front of Bezkov, and then ordered: "Chief of Staff, please work out a new plan for a sneak attack with Major Akhromeyev according to what Comrade Commander has just said." ”

Bezikov took the map and said resolutely: "Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Commander, we will definitely work out a new plan for a sneak attack in the shortest possible time." (To be continued.) )