Sokov returned to the Istrian camp's garrison with a detailed combat plan and called the company and platoon commanders for a meeting. After introducing the mission, he said to the people here with some concern: "Comrades Commanders, this task is very arduous. After receiving the required ammunition and supplies tomorrow morning, we will march more than 100 kilometers to the Dym area west of Voronezh to destroy the German transportation line. Since the battalion has recently added a large number of wounded and discharged people, and our marching routes are all forests and swamps, they may not be able to adapt to such arduous conditions, so I plan to keep them. Do you have any different opinions?"
After these three days of hiking, some wounded people were too tired and their injuries recurred. Leaving them here is undoubtedly the most correct decision. All the commanders agreed with Sokov's proposal. "No objection."
However, when Sokov asked everyone what they had to do about the task to be carried out this time, Captain Andre, deputy company commander of the Second Company, stood up and asked: "Comrade Major, even ordinary guerrillas can complete the task of destroying the German traffic line. Why should we send our battalion? You know, we are a regular army."
Andrei's words immediately aroused the response of the commanders present, and everyone had the same idea: Why should I ask the Istrian Battalion to be responsible for the tasks that the guerrillas can accomplish? You should know that although it is only more than 100 kilometers from here to the destination, the march in forests and swamps is different from the peaceful ground. Commanders and fighters have to spend several times more physical strength. It is precisely because of this reason that everyone agrees with Sokov's opinion and leaves those commanders and fighters with weak constitutions behind.
"That's right, comrades in command, you are right. Any guerrilla team that destroys the German transportation line can be completed by any guerrilla team behind enemy lines." As soon as Sokov said, the room suddenly became quiet again. The commanders present turned their attention to Sokov, wanting to hear what he said next. Sokov paused for a moment and continued: "From the current situation analysis, the enemy's attack on our army is their long-planned summer offensive, so their consumption of ammunition and medicine will be very huge. In order to ensure that the transportation line is not damaged, they will inevitably draw heavy troops to protect the transportation line. Tell me, in this case, can the damage of the German transportation line be effective?"
When the commanders heard Sokov say this, they thought carefully about what he said, and thought that he made sense. The guerrillas ambushed one or two small transport convoys due to factors such as scale, equipment and combat effectiveness, but if they encounter a convoy sent by the German army to escort armored vehicles, do you ask them to try it? It is too late to hide, so how dare you hit the stone with eggs?
Seeing that everyone seemed to be convinced by themselves, Sokov continued to say: "Although our battalion is a regular army, we have both experience in attacking and fighting guerrillas in the rear of the enemy. The superiors must have considered it carefully and felt that only our battalion could pose a threat to the German transportation line and handed over this important task to us."
Sokov's words made all the commanders feel a sense of honor. When everyone thought that their superiors had trusted themselves, they handed over such a arduous and glorious task to themselves.
After the meeting, the commanders returned to their respective troops. But less than half an hour later, the battalion command post was surrounded by nearly a hundred soldiers. Seeing so many soldiers coming from different directions, Selyosha hurriedly ordered the soldiers who were in the platoon to guard the platoon, and he rushed into the command post to report to Sokov.
When he learned that the command post was surrounded by soldiers, Belkin was shocked: "What, the soldiers surrounded the command post?" His first reaction was that the soldiers in the battalion had rebelled. After all, among the recently added soldiers, in addition to the wounded and discharged from the hospital, there were many rescued prisoners of war. Maybe there were German spies among them, who incited them to be betrayed. Thinking of this, he quickly said to Sokov: "Comrade Major, it seems that the situation is a bit bad. Maybe it is a soldier who does not know the truth. He was bewitched by German spies and a mutiny occurred. You jump out of the window first, and I will deal with it here."
Although Sokov was not sure what was going on outside, he would never be able to leave his comrades in the command post and run away alone. And even if he escaped alone, losing his troops would be enough to send him to the military court or even lose his head. Therefore, he had to stay and talk to the soldiers around him and figure out what was going on. Therefore, he shook his head and said firmly: "No, Comrade Belkin, I can't leave, I want to go out and talk to the soldiers."
Seeing Sokov ready to go out, Belkin and Selyosau grabbed him from left to right and persuaded each other: "You can't go, it's too dangerous outside. If you go out rashly, your life will be in danger."
Sokov turned his head and looked at Belkin and said, "Comrade Belkin, do you think it will be safe if I leave the troops and leave?"
When Belkin heard Sokov's words, he gradually calmed down and felt that the statement he had just persuaded Sokov to escape was inappropriate. Even if he escaped by chance, his superiors could not spare him. Thinking of this, he let go of Sokov's arm, sorted out his military appearance, and said to Sokov: "Comrade Major, I will go out with you." Then he ordered Selyosha, "Comrade Lieutenant, let go of the major."
Sokov and Belkin walked out of the command post and saw more than a hundred soldiers gathering outside the door, but they were standing outside the cordon arranged by the police platoon soldiers. Seeing Sokov come out, someone immediately shouted: "Major is out!"
Various shouts suddenly sounded outside the house: "Battery Commander!" "Major Sokov!"...
Sokov thought that as soon as he went out, he would face countless black guns, but at this moment he saw that the soldiers were just calling themselves, but there was no extreme action. He quickly raised his hand and pressed down. After the scene became quiet, he spoke, "Hello, comrades, I am Major Sokov. Are there anything you have to come here?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the scene would not be chaotic. Countless people were talking at the same time, but no one could hear clearly what they were saying. Sokov could only raise his voice and shout, "Quiet, comrades, please be quiet!" After the soldiers were quiet again, he said with some amusement, "Comrades, do you have any opinions about me? You can say one by one, don't yell like this, I can't hear clearly what you are saying."
"Comrade Battalion Commander." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, a sergeant who was not wearing a military cap and still had a bandage on his head squeezed out of the crowd and came to Sokov and said loudly: "I have any objections to you."
"You are Yegor from the Second Company. Starting from Shimki, you have participated in many battles with me." Seeing that the first soldier who spoke was Sergeant Yegor whom he was familiar with, Sokov felt much more at ease. He nodded at the other party and said with a smile: "If you have any opinions on me, just promote it. After all, we are old comrades who have been through life and death."
"Comrade Battalion Commander, I heard that the troops were about to carry out important combat missions." Sergeant Yegor still called Sokov's former position: "But why should we keep us? Do we have injuries on our bodies and are not qualified to participate in the battle?"
After hearing Yegor's question, Sokov immediately realized that something had happened. It was not the mutiny that Belkin was worried about. The soldiers surrounding the command posts of the camp must be the ones who were left behind. However, for the sake of safety, he still asked tentatively: "Yegor, has your commander arranged for you to stay?" After seeing Yegor nodding his head to express his affirmation, he turned his attention to the other soldiers and asked loudly: "Are you going to be left here like Sergeant Yegor?"
"Yes, Comrade Battalion Commander." "Comrade Battalion Commander, please let us participate in the battle. We will not drag the troops down!" "Comrade Battalion Commander..." "Comrade Major..."
When Sokov heard the soldiers expressing his attitude excitedly, he suddenly realized that he had made a low-level mistake. He only considered that the bodies of these soldiers were not suitable for long-distance marches, but ignored their love for the motherland and the people. In order to defeat the invaders, they would devote their blood and life without hesitation. What is the little bit of physical pain to them?
Seeing Sokov remained silent, Yegor quickly grabbed his arm and said excitedly: "Comrade Battalion Commander, take us with you. I promise you that everyone present will climb to the destination even if they climb."
Belkin, who was standing aside, could not help but feel proud and proud of his troops and his heroic soldiers after hearing the soldiers' statements. He originally had some doubts about fighting deep in the enemy's backbone, but at this moment, seeing the enthusiasm of the soldiers, a strong sense of self-confidence surged in his heart. He walked to Sokov, approached his ear, and whispered: "Comrade Major, if you do not revoke the order at the meeting, I think these soldiers will not leave."
"You are right, Comrade Belkin, we cannot attack the enthusiasm of the commanders and soldiers." After Sokov finished speaking, he raised his right hand high above his head and signaled that the soldiers present to be quiet. When the soldiers saw Sokov raise his hand, they knew that he was about to speak, so they closed their mouths one after another.
Chapter completed!