Although Zakharov did not mention his name, Sokov understood that the other party must be talking about him, so he shut his mouth obediently and listened quietly to the combat tasks assigned to each unit by the other party.
After Zakharov arranged the task, he whispered a few words to Konev and then completed it. After a short pause, Konev asked briefly: "The chief of staff has completed the arrangements for each unit."
Combat mission, do you have any questions?"
After Konev finished his questions, the entire conference room fell silent. The commanders present were all thinking about the tasks assigned by Zakharov and whether there were any details that needed to be added.
Soon, the commander of the 53rd Army, Lieutenant General Managarov, asked Konev about some difficulties that his troops might encounter in the area to attack.
Fortunately, the question raised by Managarov was already anticipated by Konev, and he patiently gave the other party a short and clear answer.
With the leader in charge, everyone became more active. They asked Konev or Zakharov various questions and got the answers they wanted from the two front army chiefs.
When the questions were almost asked, the conference room gradually became quiet, but Klyuchenko, the commander of the 69th Group Army, stood up and said to Konev: "Commander of the Front Army, do you allow me to ask questions?"
When everyone heard Kryuchenko's voice, they couldn't help showing expressions of astonishment on their faces. When Zakharov was assigning tasks just now, everyone heard that the 69th Group Army, as a reserve unit of the front army, would not participate in this attack. And
What is Klyuchenko’s intention in raising such a question at this time?
Konev nodded to Klyuchenko, indicating that the other party could ask the questions he wanted to ask.
"I would like to ask, what is the mission of our 69th Group Army?"
Hearing Klyuchenko's question, Konev couldn't help but frowned and said with an unhappy expression: "General Klyuchenko, were you dozing off when the chief of staff just assigned the task?"
"No, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I have been listening carefully."
"Then tell me, what tasks has Comrade Chief of Staff assigned to your group army?"
"Deploy two divisions to strengthen General Managarov's 53rd Army. The remaining troops, as the reserve force of the front army, can be put into battle if necessary."
"General Klyuchenko, you shouldn't ask such rash questions." Konev said in a stern tone: "Since you already know that your troops will serve as the reserve of the front army, isn't this order clear enough?
?"
The reproachful tone revealed by Konev made Klyuchenko's face turn red: "Commander of the Front Army, I was wrong. But other troops went to liberate the cities occupied by the Germans, but we stayed behind.
Just watching the fun, how can I explain this to the commanders and soldiers?"
"You are not just watching from behind, General Klyuchenko." Konev said in a stern tone: "Once the front attack fails, or the troop losses in certain areas are too large, your army will still be thrown into battle.
As a group army commander, you should understand this."
"After the two divisions of our group army are transferred, the strength will become even weaker. I am worried that when it is our turn to go to the battlefield, we will not be able to complete the tasks assigned to us by our superiors due to insufficient strength."
Seeing that Konev was showing signs of attack, Susekov quickly pulled the corner of his clothes to stop his impulse, and asked General Kryuchenko in a friendly manner: "Then what do you think, you can tell me.
"
"I hope that our group army can add 20,000 new soldiers to alleviate the current shortage of soldiers."
"Twenty thousand recruits?!" After hearing General Klyuchenko's request, Susekov shook his head with a wry smile and said, "General Klyuchenko, you should understand that our troops have just experienced a cruel
During the battle, the attrition of each unit was very serious, and the supplements given to us by our superiors were very limited. I think I may not be able to satisfy your wish."
As soon as Susekov finished speaking, a commander in the crowd below whispered: "Major General Sokov's 27th Army has just added more than 30,000 troops. Why is it our turn?
Can the troops be replenished?"
"Bang!" Although the commander's voice was not loud, because the entire conference room was quiet, Konev, who was sitting above, still heard it. He slapped the table hard with his hand and said sternly: "
Who made the sarcastic remarks just now?"
Seeing that Konev was angry, the commander who was talking below did not dare to talk to him, so he could only hide in the crowd and say nothing.
Seeing that no one stood up to admit his mistake, Konev said in a stern tone: "Yes, Sokov's army did add more than 30,000 soldiers not long ago, but they were all rescued from prisoner-of-war camps. They have rich
Commanders and fighters with combat experience. After these people are incorporated into the army, they will not only not dilute the combat effectiveness of the original unit, but will also enhance the combat effectiveness.
If any of you dares to stand up and pat your chest and say that you have accomplished more feats than Sokov's troops and destroyed more enemies than Sokov's troops. Even if I sell the iron, I will scrape together 30,000 people to add to your troops.
.”
"Comrade Konev," just when the atmosphere in the venue was extremely tense, Susekov suddenly interjected: "I think General Klyuchenko is right. The 69th Group Army suffered heavy losses in the battle of Kursk.
, coupled with the fact that two more divisions will be transferred from them in this battle to strengthen General Managarov's 53rd Army, his troops have indeed become an empty frame, and it is completely necessary to replenish them.
of."
Klyuchenko, who was in a dilemma, heard Susekov's words and seemed to grasp a life-saving straw. He couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at the other party.
After listening to Susekov's words, Konev thought for a long time, then turned to Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
Zakharov, who was staring at Klyuchenko non-stop, heard Konev asking himself, and after pondering for a moment, he replied: "I think what the Military Commissar and General Klyuchenko said are reasonable.
It is completely necessary for the 69th Group Army to add 20,000 troops, otherwise its army will really become an empty frame."
Konev frowned and whispered: "We have added troops to the 69th Army, but what about other units? What should we do if their commanders make the same request to us?"
"I think that in addition to adding 20,000 troops to the 69th Army, we should also add 15,000 troops to the 53rd Army and the 7th Guards Army, so that our offensive forces can be much richer."
Regarding the plan proposed by Zakharov, Konev only pondered for a moment before making a decision: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately write a report to the Supreme Command and say that we need to supplement the 69th Group Army with 20,000 troops.
People, add 15,000 people to the 53rd Army and the 7th Guards Army."
"Understood." Zakharov nodded and replied: "I will write a report immediately as soon as the meeting explains it."
Konev turned to Susekov and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, I have finished what I have said, do you have anything else to add?"
"No more, Comrade Konev."
Since Susekov had nothing to add, Konev stood up and announced to everyone: "The meeting is over. Comrade commanders, you can go back to your troops."
When everyone stood up and prepared to walk outside, Konev added loudly: "Sokov stays."
When Konev asked Sokov to stay, Lunev approached Sokov and whispered: "The chief of staff and I are waiting for you in the car."
Soon, all the commanders who came to the meeting left the conference room, leaving only Konev and the three sitting behind the table, and Sokov standing near the door.
Konev saw that all the people in the meeting had left, and Sokov was still standing near the door like a telegraph pole, so he said impatiently: "General Sokov, don't stand so far away, come to me.
Come."
Sokov quickly came to Konev, stood up straight, and stared at Konev intently, wanting to hear what he had to say.
"General Sokov," Konev said, "do you really think that your troops can occupy the German positions on the other side of the river within a quarter of an hour?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov nodded and replied, "I can confirm that."
After Konev waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he said with a half-smile: "General Sokov, since you are so confident, I will report it to the Supreme Command as you said."
Knowing that Konev wanted to report the matter to the Supreme Command, Sokov suddenly became a little less confident: "Commander of the Front Army, don't report it yet. The enemy's riverside position I said in a quarter of an hour is only theoretical.
Yes, it cannot be done seriously. If you really want to report it, I think it should be limited to three days. I assure you that within three days, my troops will be able to eliminate the enemies in the west of the city and firmly control the west of the city.
In the hands of the army."
"Are you really sure that we can capture the western part of the city in three days?" Konev asked.
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov remembered that the battle to attack Belgorod in history only lasted three days, so he replied confidently: "I am very sure that my troops can survive in three days."
Within days, completely capture the western part of Belgorod."
After chatting for a few more insignificant words, Sokov asked: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, can I leave?"
"Okay." Konev nodded and said in a positive tone: "Go back and let the commanders and fighters prepare for battle to ensure that our attack on Belgorod can be successful."
Sokov walked out of the headquarters, and under the guidance of the sentry at the door, found the temporary parking lot, where he met Lunev and Samyko chatting.
Seeing Sokov approaching, Samyko quickly threw away the cigarette butt in his hand, walked up to him quickly, and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, what did General Konev say to you?"
"There is nothing important to say," Sokov said with a shrug: "I just want to confirm whether our troops can really seize the German riverside positions within a quarter of an hour."
"Comrade Commander, I think you were a little hasty about what happened today." Lunev criticized Sokov: "In front of so many people, you said that our troops can capture the enemy's territory within a quarter of an hour."
The defense line by the river. But if something unexpected happens after the attack starts and the hovercraft is unable to rush into the enemy's fortifications as scheduled, I am afraid that if we capture the enemy's position within a quarter of an hour, we will become the laughing stock of everyone."
"Comrade Military Commissar," Samyko waited for Lunev to finish and said to him with a wry smile: "We have become the laughing stock of our brotherly troops at this moment. Just when we came out of the conference room, I heard someone walking in front of us.
The two generals were discussing this matter in low voices. They both felt that your statement was simply a fantasy and impossible."
Faced with everyone's doubts, Sokov behaved unusually calmly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't care what others say, we just need to do our job well. After you go back, you immediately arrange for the engineering unit to be deployed in the Marine Corps Brigade
In the defense zone, build several bunkers that can hide the hovercraft. When the attack begins, we can place the hovercraft directly on the river, shorten the impact distance, and accurately capture the German riverside in the shortest time.
position."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sameko assured confidently: "I will go find the director of the engineering corps when I get back and ask him to arrange manpower to start this work as soon as possible."
Sokov and others returned to the headquarters more than ten kilometers away by car. As soon as the car stopped at the door, Samoylov, who was in charge of duty that day, ran over and opened the door for Sokov while reporting to Sokov.
Said: "Comrade Commander, an anti-aircraft artillery unit has just arrived. It is said that it was specially sent by the superiors to strengthen our air defense force."
When he learned that an anti-aircraft artillery unit was coming, Sokov couldn't help but feel secretly happy. He felt that the air defense force here at the headquarters was too weak, and the anti-aircraft artillery unit sent by his superiors was a timely blessing, so he couldn't wait to ask: "
Where is their commander?"
"Comrade Commander," Samoilov saw that Sokov had not noticed that he had just said "them" instead of "them", so he reminded him: "This is a women's anti-aircraft artillery unit. From the officers
Even the warriors are all women."
"What, this is the women's anti-aircraft artillery unit?" When Sokov heard what Samoylov said, the muscles on his face twitched violently. "What size of organization are they, a regiment or a division?"
"None of them," Samoilov shook his head and replied with a wry smile: "It's just a 37mm twin anti-aircraft gun battalion, and the battalion commander is a captain."
"Where are they now?"
"Since you are not here, I will put them in the lounge next to you. If you want to see them, I will call them over immediately."
"Comrade Lieutenant, I'm not calling you here." Lunev corrected Samoilov on the side: "It's asking you to bring these female commanders to the headquarters. Do you understand?"