October 23, 1937, 1 a.m.

It was the darkest hour before dawn, and the night was as thick as a painting. The Soviet Red officers and soldiers in the trenches tried to keep their eyes open, while enduring the cold Siberian current that they were quietly moving south, while watching the movement on the opposite side, but in the darkness where it was difficult to see five fingers, the line of sight could not exceed a distance of ten meters, and only in the light of the flares fired from the rear could they see the equally quiet enemy trenches on the opposite side, and occasionally stray bullets crossed the battlefield, and only the sentries who were ordered to keep vigil would raise their eyes to take a look. The officers and men of the 996th Regiment of the 336th Division of the Soviet Union, who were sleeping in the anti-artillery holes, did not pay any attention to them. They had been fighting the enemy here for a day and two nights, and their nerves had become a little numb, and they were too tired.

However, at this moment, these Soviet troops never expected that the squadron, which had overwhelming air superiority and firepower superiority, actually used a small number of troops this time to use this sneak attack style of surprise infiltration without artillery fire and air cover! Including more than 700 officers and men of the 54th Battalion of the 18th Regiment of the 6th Division of the Chinese National Defense Forces, thousands of infantry and combat engineers are advancing silently tonight in the area strewn with craters and dead bodies between the trenches of the two armies.

Second Lieutenant Molov of the Soviet Red Army was a veteran who had smelled the smoke of gunfire in the trenches of the war in the Far East for several years, had fought against the Chinese, the Japanese, and the White Russians who supported Empress Anastasia, and thought he knew the temperament of these opponents very well. That's why the superiors relieved themselves to hand over the night watchman's errand to his platoon. If it weren't for an experienced veteran like him, he wouldn't have been able to detect the enemy's every move in the dark night.

Ensign Molov gritted his teeth and endured the strongest tiredness near dawn, holding his Mosin. Nagant-style rifles. Opening his eyelids, which seemed to be filled with lead, and looking over and over at the trenches opposite, there was silence except for the sound of what seemed to be the movement of troops at midnight. Considering that the Soviet Motherland was being attacked by a combined attack from internal and external enemies, and that only thousands of Red Army soldiers like themselves could save the Motherland. The second lieutenant was in good spirits. His eyes widened, he looked left and right, and suddenly he could vaguely see that something seemed to be moving on the ground! Molov looked at it again. I found that these moving things were actually a whole piece! And no more than fifteen yards from their trenches! A flare was lit again over the position at this time. He actually saw a Chinese soldier covered in mud, cutting a remnant of barbed wire! Enemy attack! These Chinese actually launched a night attack on this night!

The rifle in his hand snapped suddenly, and he didn't know if it hit the target. After the shot, he began to shout at the top of his voice: "Enemy attack! The enemy is coming! "The sound of gunfire could be heard far away in the silent night sky. The Chinese also reacted quickly. As soon as they heard the gunshots, they all jumped up, and in the light of the flares, Molov finally realized that they were a black press! There are at least a few thousand of them! The one at the front, who was supposed to be a major, brandished a submachine gun and let out a chest-rending cry: "Brothers! Rush with me! ”

This Chinese sentence was the last thing Comrade Molov heard in this world, followed by the sound of gunfire and the popping of bullets burrowing into the flesh, and finally a heart-rending pain...... Meanwhile. The Soviets' battle line boiled at this moment, the hidden heavy machine gun on duty spat out a long tongue of fire, and chaotic shouts and screams rang out. Awakened Red Army soldiers poured out of the artillery holes. But the ** man had already touched the distance of fifteen yards from them, and it was only a few seconds to rush into the trench. It's too late for them to react. The elite Chinese infantry poured into the trenches, and the sound of grenades and ** explosions shook the ground immediately. The submachine guns blocked the entrance of the anti-artillery hole of the Soviets, and the sudden gunfire caused the Soviets who poured out of the cave with their heads covered to die one by one. Then several more long-handled grenades with ** blocks tied to them were thrown in, and the sound of explosions and the dying screams of Soviet soldiers rang out. Quite a few Red Army soldiers were buried alive before they could react from their sleep! Some of the Soviet Red Army still rushed out, shooting indiscriminately with rifles without bayonets, but it would not be long before they were wiped out by the Chinese, who had the upper hand in numbers and firepower.

More than 4,000 officers and men of the six battalions selected by the Chinese broke into the Soviet trenches almost at the same time, and before the Soviet troops in front of them could react, most of them were blocked in the anti-artillery holes and killed, and then 12 more battalions were thrown in, launching a continuous assault on the depth and flanks of the Soviet Tiger Mountain Heights.

……

At this time, on the other side of the world, the tanks of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ran over the trenches, destroyed the fortifications, and wiped out all the Polish troops that dared to stand in their way.

After several hours of bloody fighting. Nearly 2,000 tanks of the four tank armies of the Soviet Red Army had already made a deep and wide gap in the Polish front. Although the Polish army was also resisting stubbornly, and even sent a tank column composed of nearly 200 No. 1 tanks to intercept it, it was tantamount to using a mantis arm as a vehicle in the face of the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Red Army. The steel torrent of the Red Army marched all the way to the depths. The Polish troops hastily transferred reserves from the Brest fortress and the west bank of the Bouag River to try to counterattack, but they were also repulsed by tank fire. In less than half a day, the Polish army suffered heavy losses and a large number of technical weapons were destroyed. The artillery positions placed behind the defensive line were destroyed by Soviet tanks one after another. Dead men and horses and broken artillery pieces are piled up on the road where the tanks have run over, as if they are witnessing the end of white Poland!

The two breaches in the north and south of the Brest salient had been controlled by the Soviet Red Army infantry, who had resisted the almost frantic counterattack of the Polish troops from both flanks. On the battlefield on the east bank of the Bouag River, the Polish army suffered 20,000 to 30,000 casualties in this half a day! And more than 10,000 people, in complete despair, raised their hands and surrendered to the Soviet troops! Such a record overshadowed the raid on Tiger Mountain.

The 27th Special Army, commanded by Zhukov, advanced the fastest and rushed to the perimeter of the Brest Fortress that night. 1st Polish Army. Several infantry regiments of the 11th Army, relying on the ancient star fortress fortifications of the Brest Fortress, put up a desperate resistance. Zhukov did not order the tanks to storm the fortress, but simply swept the Polish fortifications with fire. At the same time, the main forces of the Soviet Polish Front on the front also launched an offensive with the support of more than 10,000 artillery pieces. The Polish army, which was attacked on the flanks and even in the back, shook on all fronts! The front-line positions have also been broken through in many places. After a day of hard fighting, the Poles also understood. The war has been completely lost, and now the only option is to retreat. But under strong pressure from the Soviet Red Army. The last strategic bloc of white Poland can be withdrawn as much as it is a question! The Polish army was in a panic everywhere. He kept asking the rear to send reinforcements to cover their move to the west bank of the Bouag River. And on the eastern bank of the Bouag River was not completely safe at this time, at the same time as the Soviet army attacked the Brest salient. Troops were also sent to force the crossing of the Bouag River. Threaten the retreat of the Polish army.

The headquarters of the Polish army, which was sitting in the Brest Fortress, was also in complete panic. The commander of the Polish army, Marshal Shimigvi, was below. Undecided, while scrambling to gather reserves, in a vain attempt to repel the threat of Zhukov's 27th Special Army to Brest. On the other hand, he was planning a retreat. At the same time, he also sent an urgent telegram to Hitler in the wolf's den in East Prussia, Germany, promising to cede the Danzig Corridor at the expense of asking Germany to send troops to the rescue as soon as possible, or at least to immediately send an air force to help in the war. In addition, it is necessary to go to Britain and France to provide supplies and weapons and equipment as soon as possible, and to send military advisers. to help Poland organize a new army. The British Navy was even asked to immediately send out and shell Leningrad in order to relieve the pressure on the Polish army. China was also called upon to immediately launch a powerful offensive in Central Asia and the Far East......

At this time, Himigvi had lost sight of basic international etiquette. Directly pointing fingers at his backstage bosses and allies. But Marshal Himigvi's gaffe was understandable, looking out from the watchtower of the Brest Fortress. On the plains of Western Belarus, Soviet tanks with red flags rose and fell on the hilly plains. Groups of defeated Polish troops fled in a panic. In the air, Soviet fighters and bombers were on the move, and the Polish army's logistics bases, artillery positions, and communication lines had been smashed to shreds. And the air cover of Germany or China cannot be dispatched because of the weather in East Prussia! The last strategic cluster of the Polish army was now in danger, and the Polish troops, deprived of artillery support and a large number of logistical supplies, had to struggle with heavy casualties. They just wanted to get through until dark, and then retreat back to the capital, Warsaw, where the Republic of Poland might once again become a historical name if the Soviet Red Army could not be defeated!

……

"Comrade Stalin, just intercepted a telegram sent to Hitler from the headquarters of the Polish army in Brest. Khimigvi, the Polish traitor, is ready to cede Danzesk in exchange for German troops! In addition, the Polish army group near Brest also has plans to retreat tonight! Voroshilov rushed into Stalin's office with a rare brisk pace, and without saluting, he beamed with joy and reported to Stalin about the military situation.

Although the breakthrough in Brest was expected, the crisis of the situation in Poland was beyond the imagination of the Soviet high command and Stalin to cede denzig in exchange for German troops. Hearing this unexpected good news, Stalin, who was looking at the map in a daze, turned around and smiled: "Did Hitler call back?" ”

Voroshilov smiled: "Not yet, but the German GCD organization in East Prussia has reported that the roads from East Prussia to Poland have been completely taken over by the army, and all civilian transportation has been completely stopped, which is exactly the sign of a large army!" It looks like the German team is about to enter Poland...... There must be a void on the part of Latvia and Lithuania, Comrade Stalin, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! ”

Stalin sighed softly, "It's an opportunity, but you have to take advantage of it...... Comrade Voroshilov, do you see that our Red Army fighters, having defeated White Poland, still have the strength to liberate Latvia and Lithuania? ”

Voroshilov bowed and stood at Stalin's side. Look at the map with him. "Please rest assured, Comrade Stalin, that our Red Army soldiers are the most heroic and tenacious in the world, and they are perfectly capable of continuous combat...... Moreover, at present, more than 40 corps of fresh troops are deployed on the Soviet-German border and are not used. So the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is quite capable of liberating the compatriots of Latvia and Lithuania! ”

He pointed to the map. "The High Command estimates that Germany will send one million people from East Prussia, Latvia, Lithuania and other places to aid White Poland, and the number of German troops there will be reduced from 3 million to 2 million at that time!" And it is also possible that several German panzer divisions will be transferred from Lithuania, so that our Workers' and Peasants' Red Army will have a greater chance of winning! ”

Stalin nodded with a smile and said with a smile: "I think we should try to confuse Hitler a little more." We can help the Polish GCD to create a Red Polish government, with Comrade Lendsky at the head of this government...... I believe that Hitler would never allow a Red Poland to appear on the side of Germany, because that would greatly boost the morale of the German working class! ”

"Your instructions are truly wise. With this Red Polish government, Hitler would certainly not have been able to wait to throw his fascist bandits into the Polish battlefield, so that his North would be empty. It was there that we also launched a big deep raid. Analysis by meteorologists of the USSR. From November 10th to 18th, there will be a long period of rain and snow on the Baltic coast, when the Germans will not be able to take off and their heavy tanks will have difficulty moving. Our light tanks will not be affected (the T-28 tanks have all been lying on their backs after some time of fighting), and we will surprise up to 2.5 million German fascist troops with 3 million to 4 million men...... The total number of troops is 1.5 million more, the artillery is also more than ours, and the tanks are ...... The battle should be able to be won, it seems that this war. We, the Soviet Union, are sure to win! Voroshilov's tone was full of confidence, and his eyes were shining, as if the Soviet Union had won the war.

This revolutionary optimism also seemed to infect Stalin. He whispered to himself, "...... It seems that Yagoda will be given a directive, for the captured Poland, Germany. And the Chinese officers are all going to be shot! ”

Just when the two Soviet leaders felt that there was great hope for the future, the door of Stalin's office was pushed open, and Stalin turned his head to see his secretary Pavlov standing at the door, his face full of solemnity: "Comrade Stalin, the Far Eastern Front is in a hurry...... At 1 o'clock this morning, the Komsomol Peak (Tiger Mountain) in the southwest of the Chita Fortress suffered a night attack and was captured by the Chinese White Army! ”

Stalin frowned, leaned over the map on his desk, trying to find out where this Komsomol peak was. Voroshilov on the side had already changed his face greatly, grabbed it in a few steps, snatched the telegram from Pavlov's hand, read it again and again, and after confirming that it was correct, he stomped his feet and said: "Suffered...... Now it's a disaster! As soon as the Komsomol peak is lost, the Chita Fortress will be completely exposed to the Chinese's cannons! Now the Chita Fortress can't be defended, can't be defended! ”

Stalin still hadn't found this Komsomol peak on the map at this time, but looking at Voroshilov's angry appearance, he also knew that the problem was serious, so he hurriedly instructed: "Order Comrade Blyukhel to organize a counterattack as soon as possible and must recapture the Komsomol peak!" ”

……

The entire Komsomol Peak (Tiger Mountain) Heights were now on fire, and looking southwest from the Chita Fortress, Blyukhel saw ballistics flying on all sides around the Komsomolskaya Peak, and the sound of guns and cannons came like angry waves. Let the officers of the command of the Far Eastern Front be terrified. Now the entire Komsomol Peak is surrounded by a pot of porridge. The squadron took advantage of a surprise attack in the early hours of the morning to take it, and then Blyukhel began to organize wave after wave of counter-attacks.

But how easy is it to recapture the lost heights from the enemy? The squadron already had an absolute superiority in numbers and firepower, and after capturing the Komsomol Peak, their artillery observers would be able to overlook the entire core area of the Chita Fortress. Although the heroic Soviet Red Army launched successive attacks on this high ground, every attack was easily crushed without exception under the combined strangulation of the squadron's artillery and air force firepower! At the same time, shells from super-heavy artillery continued to fly over the mountains around Chita, falling in the core area of the fortress, destroying seven fortress complexes in a hundred days! If this vital high ground is not recaptured as soon as possible, this fortress, where the headquarters of the Soviet Far Eastern Front is located, will be bombarded into ruins by artillery fire.

At this point, Blyukhel couldn't care about hiding the artillery fire, all the cannons in the fortress were roaring, and the explosion points of artillery of various calibers had already shrouded the Komsomol Peak. Large and small explosion points are like churning magma, flashing one after another. This commanding heights in the southwest of the Chita Fortress is now related to the fate of the entire Soviet Far Eastern Front! Tens of thousands of Red Army fighters, under the stern gaze of the internal affairs and political commissars, shouted "Ula! Ulla! The slogan rushed to the fire-like Komsomol Peak, and it won't be long before it will be swallowed up by the burning furnace of life of the Komsomol Peak! And the only thing Marshal Blyukhel could do was to organize a new offensive.