When Sokov returned to the headquarters, he saw Ponedelin chatting with Smirnov and Gorokhov. He raised his voice and greeted the three of them: "Hello, comrades, commanders!"
The three people who were talking all turned their heads in unison and looked in the direction of the sound. Seeing clearly that it was Sokov, the three of them stood up straight, and Ponejelin, who was closest, took the lead to greet him: "
Comrade Commander, you are back!"
"Yes, I'm back." Sokov stretched out his hand to shake Ponedelin's hand, and asked impatiently: "How is it? Has any news come back from the scouts we sent?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Smirnov nodded and said: "We are studying the report sent back by the scouts... My God!" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly found Sokov's epaulettes.
There was an extra gold star on it, "Comrade Commander, am I right? There are three stars on your shoulder straps?"
After Smirnov's reminder, Ponedelin and Gorokhov also discovered this detail. Ponedelin asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, you are actually wearing the epaulettes of an admiral! What on earth is this?"
what's going on?"
Sokov was suddenly promoted to the rank of general, and he couldn't help but feel a little proud. At this moment, when Ponedelin asked about it, he told the three people in detail what happened.
After listening to Sokov's story, Gorokhov took the lead in reaching out to him: "Comrade Commander, please accept my congratulations! Congratulations on obtaining a higher military rank."
Then Smirnov and Ponedelin also expressed the same meaning, congratulating Sokov on his promotion to general. After the two congratulations ended, the staff and communications personnel in the headquarters who knew about the matter, regardless of
Everyone, regardless of rank, stepped forward to congratulate Sokov.
You must know that when a group army commander is promoted to general, it means that the superiors recognize this unit. As a member of the 53rd Group Army, every subordinate of Sokov is honored.
Just after accepting the congratulations from the members of the headquarters, the phone on the table rang again. This time it was Kurishenko, commander of the 41st Guards Division. He said sincerely: "Comrade Commander, I heard that you have won the award.
On behalf of the commanders and fighters of the entire division, I would like to express my congratulations to you!"
After Sokov expressed his gratitude to the other party, he suddenly thought of a very critical question. Only people in the headquarters knew about his promotion. How did Kurishenko, who was more than ten kilometers away, know about it? With
Regarding this question, he asked: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, how did you learn about this news?"
Unexpectedly, Kurishenko smiled and said: "Comrade Commander, of course I have my own news channel."
Hearing that the other party had his own news channel, Sokov couldn't help but glance at the busy staff and communications personnel not far away, wondering if it was one of these people who disclosed the news to Kurishenko
.
When Kurishenko heard Sokov's silence, he immediately guessed that he might be suspecting someone in the headquarters of leaking information, so he smiled and said: "Comrade Commander, you must not doubt the comrades in the headquarters, they can
No information was given to me. I got the information about your promotion from the front army headquarters."
After hearing what Kurishenko said, Sokov realized that he had mistakenly blamed his subordinates, so he laughed twice, chatted with Kurishenko for a few more words, and then put down the phone.
But unexpectedly, as soon as the phone was put down, the ring rang again. This time it was a call from Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, commander of the 252nd Infantry Division, who also congratulated Sokov.
In this way, the commanders of the infantry divisions and the tank brigade commanders all called the army headquarters to express their heartfelt congratulations to Sokov who was promoted.
Finally, no more calls came in, and Sokov got back to the topic: "Comrade Chief of Staff, tell me, what information did our scouts come back with?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Smirnov pushed the map in front of Sokov, pointed to the southwest of Uman and said: "According to your instructions, our scouts conducted reconnaissance in this area overnight.
They found a heavily guarded area on the edge of the forest, which may be an open-pit mine where our prisoners of war are held."
"Is it possible?" Sokov frowned and said, "What, they didn't come close to conduct reconnaissance at all?"
"There is no way to get close." Smirnov shook his head and said: "There are multiple layers of barbed wire around the perimeter of that area. According to the scouts' observations, there are even minefields. At the same time, the German patrols with military dogs have been
Patrolling this area, our scouts will not be able to get close at all."
"The German army's defense here is so tight, so it must be an important target." When Sokov learned that the German army had barbed wire fences, minefields, and even patrols with military dogs in the area, he did not blame the scouts for not doing so.
After completing the mission, he continued to ask: "Besides Ultraviolet, did the scouts pass back any other useful information?"
Smirnov thought for a moment and replied: "There is another situation that I don't know whether I should report."
"Tell me, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov looked at Smirnov and said, "Every detail fed back by the scouts is very important."
"Our scouts found a device similar to a conveyor belt in that area." Smirnov organized the vocabulary in his mind and continued: "According to the scout's description, this conveyor belt is very short, about
It's only 20 meters long. I thought about it for a long time, but I couldn't think of any use for this device."
Sokov became more and more confused as he listened: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what kind of transmission device can you draw and see?"
Smirnov nodded, then called a staff officer and said to him: "Comrade staff officer, you have read the report sent back by the scout. Can you give the commander the transmission device described by the scout?"
Officer, do you want to take a look?"
"No problem." The staff officer agreed, immediately picked up a pencil and started drawing on the blank paper.
When he saw the teleportation device that was taking shape little by little under the staff's pen, Sokov's breathing became rapid. A terrifying thought suddenly flashed through his mind: My God, this is not the launch trajectory of the German V1 missile.
?
But then I thought about it, probably not. You know, the first time the Germans used V1 missiles was on June 12 after the Allied forces landed in Normandy, when they fired 10 missiles at London from the military base at Edan in northern France.
However, only four of the V1 missiles flew over the English Channel and landed on the British Peninsula, causing 6 deaths and 9 injuries. Although the direct casualties and damage were not too serious, they caused panic in the city.
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov said after waiting for the staff to draw the diagram and handing it to Sokov, "According to the scout's description, the transmission device they found looks like this."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov snatched the map from Smirnov's hand and asked while looking at it: "Can you confirm that this is what the scout saw?"
Smirnov did not answer, but turned his questioning eyes to the staff officer who had just finished drawing the map. The staff officer who understood the situation quickly stepped forward and replied loudly in a positive tone: "Yes, Comrade Commander. I am working with you."
When the scout was on the phone, I double-checked the details and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the drawing."
Seeing Sokov's frown, Ponedelin quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, does this drawing remind you of anything?"
"I think this should be a new weapon of the Germans." Although Sokov was very suspicious that this device was prepared for V1 missiles. He pointed at Smirnov with his hand and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff,
Please contact the scouts immediately and ask them to conduct further reconnaissance on this transmission device."
"Carry out further reconnaissance on the transmission device?" Sokov's words made Smirnov feel confused: "Aren't you going to search for the open-pit mine?"
"It is certainly important to rescue the commanders and fighters in the open-pit mine." Sokov said with a frown: "But our current task is to find out what the German transmission device is used for?"
"Perhaps the Germans plan to mine nearby," Smirnov said based on his analysis: "This transmission device is used for mineral processing."
"It's not that simple, my comrade chief of staff." Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, and immediately denied his guess: "According to my judgment, the transmission device seen by the scouts was the Germans' purpose for launching a certain weapon.
For a new type of weapon.”
"Launch a new weapon?" Smirnov asked with a confused look on his face: "What weapon?"
Sokov thought for a while and then replied: "I think it should be similar to our new rockets, but the German rockets fly farther and are more powerful."
Hearing what Sokov said, Smirnov asked dubiously: "Comrade Commander, tell me, where can this new German rocket reach?"
“How far is it from Uman to Kiev?”
Although he didn't understand why Sokov asked about the distance from Uman to Kiev, Smirnov answered truthfully: "The straight-line distance between the two places is 210 kilometers."
"How far is it from Uman to us?"
"102 kilometers."
After understanding the data he wanted to know, Sokov said: "I boldly guess that if the Germans really choose the southwest of Uman as the launch point, then their strike range should be able to cover Kiev and Che
The vast area of Alkaser.”
Unexpectedly, Smirnov burst out laughing after hearing this, "Comrade Commander, you are really good at joking. You know, the Katyusha rocket launcher and new rockets have a maximum range of only 8,500 meters. Weapons made by the Germans
No matter how powerful it is, can it still hit a target two to three hundred kilometers away?"
Seeing that the other party didn't believe what he said, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little angry: "Comrade Chief of Staff, in the past, except for aircraft, there was indeed no weapon that could attack targets one or two hundred kilometers away. But it didn't happen before, which doesn't mean it will never happen in the future.
No, the device similar to the conveyor belt discovered by the scouts this time is the track from which this weapon is launched."
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible." Smirnov retorted: "I don't believe that the Germans can create a target that can attack one or two hundred kilometers away."
"Facts speak louder than words, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov did not want to argue with Smirnov over this kind of thing, so he said calmly: "You should contact the scouts immediately and ask them to abandon their original plan and concentrate all their efforts.
Use your power to conduct detailed reconnaissance on this device similar to a conveyor belt."
Although Smirnov had just had a dispute with Sokov, it was just a difference of opinion. There was no conflict between the two. Therefore, after hearing Sokov's order, he readily agreed: "Okay.
Yes, I immediately asked the director of the reconnaissance department to give orders to the scouts to let them figure out what kind of device it was."
"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov finally warned Smirnov: "You have to tell them to see if the Germans put something similar to an airplane on the conveyor belt."
Although Smirnov agreed simply, he didn't think so in his heart. He thought that the plane could not be placed on the conveyor belt. The commander's idea was really weird. But thinking about it, since Sokov had given the order, Smirnov
The husband still had to strictly enforce it. He immediately called the director of the reconnaissance department and asked him to notify the scouts near Uman to temporarily abandon the search for the open pits and concentrate on figuring out the reason for the Germans' tight defense.
Unexpectedly, the telegram from the director of the reconnaissance department had not yet been sent. The scouts near Uman sent a new telegram first. After reading the telegram, the director of the reconnaissance department immediately went to the headquarters to prepare to report to Sokov and Smirnov in person.
Latest situation.
Smirnov saw the director of the reconnaissance department coming in from the outside and asked quickly: "Comrade director, has the telegram to the reconnaissance unit near Uman been sent?"
"Not yet, Comrade Chief of Staff."
Smirnov straightened his face and said displeasedly: "Didn't I tell you that this matter is extremely urgent? Why didn't you obey my order?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please listen to my explanation." The director of the reconnaissance department said quickly: "Before I had time to send a telegram, the scouts near Uman sent me a telegram. After reading the content, I felt it was very important.
, I will personally come and report to you and Comrade Commander."
"Where is the telegram?"
The director of the reconnaissance department quickly handed the telegram in his hand to Smirnov: "Here, here it is."
Smirnov took the telegram and quickly browsed its contents. The more he read, the more shocked he became. When he finished reading the telegram, he looked at Sokov and said with a strange expression: "Comrade Commander, you have guessed everything."
"After dawn, I saw the Germans put something similar to an airplane on the conveyor belt." As he said that, he handed the telegram to Sokov.
After reading the telegram, Sokov breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that his judgment was correct. The device similar to a conveyor belt that the scouts saw at night was the track used by the Germans to launch V1 missiles.
But he was only happy for a moment, and he couldn't help but frown. Although he knew about the existence of the German V1 missile, from the situation reported by the scouts, the Germans were preparing to launch it. But Sokov had no idea where the target of the attack was.
You know, even if you want to give an early warning, you don’t know where to contact. If you notify all places that may be attacked without explanation, it may cause unnecessary panic.
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov saw Sokov holding the telegram in a daze, and quickly pushed him with his hand. When the other party looked at him, he continued to ask: "What should we do next?