When the intelligence agent from Uman appeared in front of Sokov, he couldn't help being shocked: "Comrade Agelina, is it you?"
The young female intelligence agent had just entered the dimly lit room and before she could clearly see the group of commanders standing opposite, she suddenly heard someone in the crowd calling her name, and she couldn't help but have a look of surprise on her face. She squinted her eyes.
He looked into the crowd, trying to figure out who was calling him.
Sokov knew that when a person suddenly faced a group of people, even if there were acquaintances in the crowd, it would be difficult to recognize him. So he pushed aside Ponejelin who was blocking him and walked to Ajieli.
In front of Na, he smiled and said: "Agelina, you don't recognize me anymore, I am Sokov."
After Agelina looked the commander in front of her up and down, she recognized that the young general was the Sokov she knew. She exclaimed and gave Sokov a warm hug: "It turns out that
It's you, Misha. When did you come to the front line? I thought you were recuperating in a military hospital in Moscow?"
"I haven't been here long, and I serve as the commander of the 53rd Army." After Sokov briefly explained his situation, he asked curiously: "Adelina, aren't you working in Lubyanka now? Why?
Will it appear in the Uman area?”
Seeing that Sokov and Agelina knew each other, the surrounding commanders dispersed and went about their own work, trying not to disturb the commander and his old friend's reminiscence.
"Comrade Sokov, I didn't expect that you actually know Adelina." Shtemenko nodded to Adelina, "Hello, Adelina, I'm glad to see you here."
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff." Sokov explained to Shtemenko: "At the end of the Moscow Defense War, I led the troops to liberate a prisoner of war camp, and Adelina was working as a translator for the Germans inside.
That's when I met her."
After figuring out how Sokov met Adelina, Shtemenko also took the initiative to talk about how he met Adelina: "I met her twice in Lunev's office and knew that she was
Runev’s most capable agent.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Sokov placed a cup of steaming black tea in front of Agelina and asked the question again: "Agelina, why did you show up if you weren't transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs?
Where are you?"
"That's it, Misha." Agelina held up the hot tea and explained to Sokov: "I received a mission last week, saying that our underground resistance organization lurking in Uman City got a
The comrade who was originally scheduled to collect intelligence was unfortunately discovered by the enemy and sacrificed while passing through the defense lines of both sides. Comrade Lunev considered that I knew German and had many years of experience in underground work, so he sent me
to carry out this difficult task."
Sokov said nothing and listened quietly to the other party's story about how he could sneak into Uman quietly without attracting attention through the defense lines of both sides, and how he could get in touch with the members of the underground resistance organization who had obtained the information.
When Agelina's story came to an end, Sokov asked: "After you got the information, did you immediately come to the city and come to us?"
"No, Misha." Agelina shook her head and said, "According to the instructions from our superiors, we should find a way to return to Zhitomir and hand over the information we obtained to the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel who are responding there."
"Since the order from your superiors is to go to Zhitomir." Shtemenko asked puzzledly: "Then why did you turn around and come to us?"
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, I have no choice." Adelina said bitterly: "The Germans have assembled a large number of troops in the direction of Zhitomir, and the road to the north is blocked. My companions and I
The intelligence officers had a dispute. I proposed to look for my troops south and pass on the information. As for him, he insisted on returning to Zhitomir. He felt that even if the Germans blocked the road, we could find a way from other directions.
Go around."
"Confused, Agelina, your companion is so confused." After hearing this, Sokov said angrily: "Since the road has been blocked, then just go in the opposite direction, why continue stubbornly?
What about risking heading north? If you do this, you and your companions will be killed in the end."
"Misha, you are right." Agelina nodded and said: "Less than five kilometers away from Uman, we encountered a German patrol and exchanged fire. Three of my companions were there
He was killed in the battle, but I managed to escape the German hunt by hiding under a tree root."
She continued: "I found that going north was obviously impossible, so I firmed up my initial decision and prepared to move south, find my own troops, and pass on the intelligence."
Hearing Agelina repeatedly mention the intelligence, Sokov turned and asked Smirnov, who was sitting next to him silently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, has the film been developed?"
Smirnov raised his hand and looked at his watch and said: "It will take a quarter of an hour at the earliest before you can see the developed film."
Sokov considered that even after the film was developed, if he wanted to check the content on it, he could only use a magnifying glass to face the light. He felt that this was too inconvenient, so he frowned and asked: "How much more is needed to develop it into a photo?"
How long?"
"After the film is developed, if you want to develop it into photos, I'm afraid it will take an extra half an hour."
Sokov, who was eager to know the situation of the German defenses, could not wait for such a long time. He asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any way to make the film look clearer?"
"Misha, do you have a slide projector here?" Agelina said unexpectedly: "If there is a slide projector, we can show the film as a slide, so that we can clearly see the German defense situation."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." After hearing this, Sokov nodded repeatedly, and then told Poniejlin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please find a slide projector so that we can see the photos more conveniently."
Ponyjelin agreed, turned around and walked out of the headquarters, looking for a slide projector outside.
"Adelina," after Ponedelin left, Sokov looked at Adelina and asked with concern: "What are your plans after returning to Moscow this time?"
"I don't know." Agelina shook her head and said: "As an intelligence agent, you have no right to choose your own life. I resolutely obey the arrangements of my superiors. I think I may continue to work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or maybe I will continue to work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
He was transferred to other fronts and performed some secret missions there."
"Agelina, it is too dangerous for you to perform missions outside all year round." Sokov shook his head and said: "When I was hospitalized, I heard you say that because the operation failed, your identity was exposed, and you had to withdraw.
Moscow. People can't always be lucky. You can avoid danger once or twice, but you may not be able to avoid it for a lifetime."
Seeing the silence of the other party, Sokov took the initiative to propose: "Agelina, if you feel embarrassed, I can call Lunev personally and ask him to arrange a good job for you, so you don't have to worry about it like this anymore.
.”
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov suddenly asked: "Didn't General Lunev say he wants to come to us to investigate? How come it has been so many days and we haven't seen him yet."
"I'm not sure either." Sokov shook his head and said, "Before the battle started, he said he would come to me overnight. Who knows, I haven't seen him yet, nor have I received his call.
I don’t know what he did with the phone call.”
"Comrade Sokov, the reason is very simple." Shtemenko said: "In order not to affect your command of the operation, the superiors have given Lunev an order not to carry out any investigation work that will affect your command."
"So that's it." Sokov finally understood why Lunev never showed up at his headquarters. It turned out that his superiors had ordered him to stop the investigation. He looked at Shtemenko and asked: "Deputy General
Comrade Chief of Staff, you must know something inside, right?"
"What inside story can I know?" Shtemenko shook his head and said: "Actually, Yakov put in a good word for you about this matter. The Supreme Commander himself personally investigated the matter and announced in public that all investigations would be stopped.
, so as not to affect your command and operations."
Knowing that it was with Yakov's help that he had avoided many unnecessary troubles, he couldn't help but feel grateful to Yakov. He remembered that Yakov once said that after dawn, he would bring the hovercraft unit
Go back and help yourself transport a new batch of weapons and ammunition.
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff," Sokov asked Shtemenko tentatively: "Do you know that Yasha is leaving now?"
"I don't know." Shtemenko looked at Sokov with a strange look and said, "The two of us came back from the headquarters of the 41st Guards Division together. You don't know about this. How can I know?"
"After solving the enemies of Uman, we will definitely continue to advance to the west of Ukraine." Sokov said: "Since our army has not yet been able to obtain air superiority in those areas, the air defense of the future troops will become a big problem, so he
If the air defense weapons can be sent here earlier, it can also reduce some of our air defense pressure."
Hearing Sokov mention the issue of air defense, Smirnov quickly said: "Comrade Commander, I received an order from the Front Army Headquarters not long ago, saying that the women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment formerly affiliated to the 27th Group Army will be reorganized in the near future.
Placed under the command of our group army, I would like to ask if this is your preparation for future air defense."
"That's right." Sokov replied in a positive tone: "The air defense force of our group army is too weak. If it encounters a large-scale air attack by enemy planes, it will definitely cause huge casualties. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new air defense force.
It is an urgent matter. The women’s anti-aircraft artillery regiment of the 27th Army has well-trained soldiers. It would be very appropriate for them to help train new anti-aircraft artillery soldiers or anti-aircraft machine gunners.”
After a few chats, Ponejelin came in from outside with two soldiers carrying a slide projector. He handed a film to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the film has been developed."
Sokov did not reach out to take the film, but told him: "Just show it with a slide show."
When Adelina heard Sokov said she wanted to see the photo, she quickly stood up and said, "Misha, I think I should avoid it."
"No, no, no," Sokov waved his hand and said, "You brought this information out in the first place, and you are fully qualified to read it together. Besides, you have been in Uman and are familiar with the situation in the city. You can still use it later."
Tell us about the situation in the city."
Since Sokov said this, Agelina no longer insisted on leaving, but sat down again.
Soon, an intelligence staff officer started showing slides.
Looking at the schematic diagram projected on the wall, Sokov nodded to Agelina and motioned for her to explain it to everyone. After all, what was seen on the schematic diagram was very different from the actual situation.
Agelina walked to the wall, picked up an explanation stick, pointed at the bottom of the city defense map and said: "Comrade commanders, judging from the city defense map we have obtained, the Germans have always focused on defense.
It is placed to the north of Uman. According to their thinking, the troops commanded by Marshal Zhukov are to the north, and only that direction is the place that poses the greatest threat to them."
"And to the south is your Ukrainian Second Front. Compared with the First Front commanded by Marshal Zhukov, your threat is obviously much smaller. Therefore, their defenses south of the city appear to be much weaker.
"
"For example, here." Agelina pointed to a position with the explanation stick and said to everyone: "This is a forest area. The German defense force is only two battalions. Due to the tight time for building fortifications, the front of their position
, there are not even barbed wire fences and minefields, our troops can easily rush to their positions."
"Wait a minute, Comrade Agelina." Ponejelin couldn't help interrupting Agelina when he heard this: "I have fought with the Germans here before, and I know the terrain south of the city.
I have some understanding. Although the Germans do not have many troops in the south of the city, and there are no barbed wire fences or minefields in front of the position, the terrain here is complex, with many lakes and swamps. We cannot invest armored troops at all and can only rely on infantry to break through the enemy.
line of defense."
Although Agelina was an intelligence agent, she was not familiar with the specific battle at all. When Ponejelin spoke, she took the initiative to stop and planned to wait for the other party to finish speaking before adding corresponding information.
"You are right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." As a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Adelina naturally read the information about Ponejelin and me. She recognized him at a glance and explained politely: "
But the terrain here is not conducive to defense. Even if armored troops cannot be used, as long as our infantry launches an attack, positions without barbed wire and minefield protection can be quickly occupied by them."
"Comrade Adelina," Shtemenko, who was sitting next to Sokov, said with a smile: "It seems that you know this information quite well. I believe you must have spent a lot of time on it."
Hearing Shtemenko's compliments to her, Adelina quickly stood up at attention, straightened her back and replied: "Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, I am already familiar with this information. After reading the intelligence officer
After providing the information, I personally went to the site to check to avoid any mistakes."
"Not bad, Comrade Adelina." Shtemenko said approvingly: "It is an intelligence officer who does not blindly believe in the information obtained and goes to the field to investigate in person to determine whether the information is accurate or not.
The attitude that a member of the Communist Party of China should have."