Seeing Sokov's body and face covered with blood, Koshkin asked nervously: "Comrade Commander, are you injured?"
Sokov touched his face and body, then shook his head and said: "No, I'm covered in German blood. Okay, stop dawdling, hurry up and take people upstairs to eliminate the remaining Germans."
?"
Koshkin left a few soldiers behind to protect Sokov's safety, and then led his men to rush upstairs to eliminate the remaining enemies.
Seeing the commanders and fighters rushing up the stairs from him, Sokov felt a little more at ease. Although he didn't know how many enemies rushed into the building, hundreds of his subordinates rushed up to wipe out all the enemies.
No big problem.
The fierce gunfire upstairs only rang out for a few minutes and then stopped. Sokov didn't know what was going on above, so he didn't risk going upstairs easily. Instead, he stayed downstairs and waited quietly for news.
After waiting for a while, he heard footsteps coming from the stairs. The soldier who was on guard next to Sokov immediately pointed his gun at the stairs instinctively, preparing to fire without ceremony if he found something was wrong.
But at this moment, the footsteps stopped, and then Koshkin's voice came: "I am Koshkin, please don't shoot below."
Hearing Koshkin's voice, Sokov quickly called to the soldiers around him, "This is Captain Koshkin. Everyone, put down your guns and don't accidentally hurt your own people."
After the soldiers put away their guns, Sokov shouted from above: "Koshkin, it's okay, come down."
Hearing Sokov's shout, footsteps on the stairs sounded again. Soon Sokov was at the corner of the stairs and saw Koshkin, and Sidorin went downstairs with him.
Sidorin was startled when he saw Sokov's face covered with blood. He came to Sokov in three steps and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, are you injured?"
"No." Sokov shook his head vigorously and replied: "I was not injured. This is all the blood of the enemy."
Although Sokov had said this, Sidorin still checked him carefully and confirmed that he was indeed not injured. He finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "God bless you, you are not injured, otherwise you will be injured."
It’s troublesome.”
"Chief of Staff, are you not injured?"
"No, I was not injured." Sidorin said: "According to my observation, the Germans originally wanted to search the room where I was hiding, but luckily you lured them away, which indirectly saved my life."
Sokov turned his attention to Koshkin: "Comrade Captain, have the enemies upstairs been eliminated?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Koshkin nodded and said in a positive tone: "They are all eliminated."
"How many people were eliminated in total, and what were our casualties?" Sokov asked.
"We suffered 15 casualties, 4 of whom died." Koshkin replied: "11 enemies were killed."
"Comrade Captain, please lead someone to search the building carefully to see if there are any fish that have slipped through the net."
After Koshkin led the people away, Sidorin said with lingering fear: "Comrade Commander, it seems you are right. The security work of our headquarters is still not done well, which is why the Germans can rush in so easily.
.”
Sokov saw Sidorin take out his cigarette case, take out a cigarette and hold it in his mouth, but he lit it for a long time without lighting it. He took the matchbox from the opponent's hand, lit the match and lit the cigarette for the opponent.
Said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this was an accident. I believe that after this incident, the Chief of Security will learn lessons and truly strengthen the security work of the headquarters."
"Comrade Commander, I have an idea." Sidorin pulled Sokov aside. Seeing that the soldiers around him couldn't hear him, he whispered to Sokov: "How about you let Koshkin
Come and take up the post of Chief of Security. In any case, he is from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and has a unique side in security work. Moreover, he was brought by you, and his loyalty to you is unquestionable. If he were to serve as
Director of Security, then there will be no problem with your safety from now on."
"Chief of Staff, I don't think it's necessary." Sokov said: "Actually, the Chief of Security is quite capable. We can't beat him to death just because of one of his mistakes. I think we'll let him
Continue to stay in office to see the consequences. The most important thing is that the military rank of the chief of the security department is colonel, while Koshkin is captain. There is a huge difference in military rank."
At this time, there was the sound of chaotic footsteps from the other end of the corridor. It sounded like there were quite a lot of people. The soldiers around Sokov hurriedly picked up their guns and aimed in that direction.
But after a while, they put down their guns one after another, because they saw that among the people who came, the person walking at the front was none other than the security director responsible for the security work of the headquarters.
The head of the security department came to a stop in front of Sokov and Sidorin, raised his hand in salute, and said with a blushing face: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I brought my people late, are you okay?"
"We're fine, we're all fine." Sokov was worried that the blood on his face might frighten the other party, so he took the initiative and said, "I'm not injured, I'm covered in German blood."
Knowing that Sokov was fine, the security director felt somewhat reassured. He faced Sokov and said: "Comrade Commander, I'm sorry, because of my mistakes in my work, you and the members of the headquarters are in danger. Please
You punish me."
To be fair, Sokov really wants to remove this stubborn security chief and replace him with someone who can resolutely obey his orders. But now he can't find a suitable candidate. Koshkin is loyal to him, but his military rank is too low.
, even if he removes the Director of Security, he cannot take over this position.
Under this situation, Sokov could only pretend to be generous and said: "Comrade Director, learn from this lesson. In terms of security work, no matter how strict the measures are, it is completely necessary, so that we can ensure the safety of the public."
The probability of problems is reduced to the minimum. I don’t have to pursue it this time, but if a similar situation happens next time, you can just wait to go to the military court.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." The security chief said to Sokov with a red face: "I will never let a similar incident happen again. If there really is a next time, you don't need to send me to a military court, I will
He took a gun to his own head and shot himself."
"Okay, Comrade Director, stop talking." Sidorin said to the Director of Security with a straight face: "All the enemies who broke into the building have been eliminated. Your job now is to deal with the aftermath. Do you understand?
"
"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." The security director nodded and said, "I will immediately arrange personnel to deal with the aftermath."
When Sokov and Sidorin returned to the headquarters, all the staff and communications personnel inside stopped what they were doing, stood up and paid attention to Sokov. They knew very well that if the commander had not rushed out in person,
If you divert the attention of the Germans, even if they are not all dead in the room, they will suffer heavy casualties. From a certain perspective, Sokov is their savior.
Seeing everyone paying attention to him, Sokov immediately understood what was going on. He quickly waved his hands to everyone and said: "Okay, comrades, it's not like you don't know me, so you don't need to look at me with such affection.
I, just keep working."
Sokov's words caused a burst of laughter, and the atmosphere in the room became relaxed. Sokov asked Sidorin in a low voice: "Chief of Staff, are there any casualties in this room?"
"There was a female telegraph operator named Lena," Sidorin replied equally quietly: "She was originally hiding in the next room, but when she saw that the Germans were about to enter the room where she was to search, she was immediately frightened.
He screamed and ran into the corridor, only to be shot to death by the Germans."
"What a pity." Hearing that a female telegraph operator was beaten to death by the Germans, Sokov's heart was filled with regret: "If she could have stayed calm and hid in the room without making a sound, the Germans might not have discovered her at all.
"
"No, if she hadn't been so panicked, such a tragedy wouldn't have happened."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I think we should conduct an exercise in the headquarters another day." Sokov said: "The content of the exercise is to simulate what measures all personnel should take to deal with the dangerous situation when the headquarters is attacked today.
"
"Comrade Commander, I think your proposal is good. I..."
Before Sidorin finished speaking, the phone on the table rang. He grabbed the phone and put it to his ear and said, "I am Sidorin, where are you from?"
"I am Rokossovsky." Rokossovsky's voice came from the receiver: "I heard that your headquarters was attacked by the enemy. Is it true? How about it? There were heavy casualties.
?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sidorin replied with a heavy heart: "The Germans rushed into the headquarters building and massacred the commanders and fighters in the building. According to incomplete statistics, the security guards outside the building
More than 40 soldiers died. In the building were some staff officers, communications troops and logistics personnel without combat effectiveness, and there were probably 40 to 50 casualties."
After hearing this, Rokossovsky said sadly: "Comrade Sidorin, it is precisely because of your deficiencies in security measures that the enemy was able to break into your headquarters so smoothly."
In this case, how dare Sidorin defend himself. Even if he explained the problem clearly, his image in Rokossovsky's mind would be greatly reduced. In desperation, he could only choose to remain silent.
After Rokossovsky severely criticized Sidorin for a while, he softened his tone and asked: "Is Misha here? Let him answer the phone."
Sokov took the call, worried that Rokossovsky would criticize him, and quickly asked preemptively: "Comrade Commander, how did you know about the attack on our headquarters not long ago?"
Rokossovsky did not tell Sokov how he obtained the information, but replied vaguely: "Of course I have my own information channels so that I can understand what is happening there in a timely manner."
When Sokov heard what Rokossovsky said, he immediately understood that there must be personnel arranged by his superiors within his army group, so that they could understand what had just happened in the shortest possible time.
His eyes swept over the staff and passers-by in the room one by one, and he secretly guessed that someone present should have reported what happened to his superiors through some way. It was precisely because
In this way, Rokossovsky was able to know what was happening here in such a short period of time.
"How is the situation over there in the fortified area?" Rokossovsky asked.
"I have sent Deputy Commander Ponejelin to take command." Sokov said: "There is currently no latest intelligence feedback."
"Well, I understand." Rokossovsky said briefly: "When you have news, remember to inform me as soon as possible."
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov said: "Once there is new progress there, I will report to you as soon as possible."
"Very good, very good!" After Rokossovsky said "very good" twice in a row, he finally told Sokov: "Misha, you have to pay more attention to safety, otherwise if something happens to you, it may be harmful to the troops.
Military morale and morale will be adversely affected."
"Comrade Commander, I would like to ask, when will the troops that will take over our army's defense arrive?" Sokov said, "I want to know what's going on."
"It's coming, it's coming." Rokossovsky said: "In just these two days, the troops that will take over your defense will arrive in your defense area one after another. You have to say hello to the commanders of those troops in advance.
Let them prepare for the handover."
"I understand, Comrade Marshal." Sokov said respectfully: "I will definitely hand over the existing positions to them in their entirety, and then collectively head north to compete with the enemy for a new defensive zone."
After finishing the call with Rokossovsky, Sokov said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I just asked the marshal and he said that the troops that will take over the defense of our group army will be able to move forward within two days.
Come and take over our defense. At that time, we can transfer more troops to the fortification area and rescue the besieged cavalry army."
"Comrade Commander, there is something that I find quite strange." Sidorin suddenly remembered an important thing and quickly said to Sokov: "How did the German army know the location of our headquarters? Could it be that someone leaked the secret?
?”
"That's for sure, Comrade Chief of Staff."
After Sidorin paused for a moment, he asked Sokov tentatively: "Do you think an inventory is being conducted within the headquarters?"
"It's not necessary." Sokov once again shook his head and objected to Sidorin's proposal: "Carrying out investigation work at this time will put everyone in the headquarters at risk, and it will affect the normal operation of the headquarters.
If it works, I don’t think there’s any need to do anything extra.”
Seeing that Sokov was unwilling to investigate possible German spies in the headquarters, Sidorin opened his mouth. He originally wanted to continue to persuade him, but then he thought about it. Once Sokov decided, no one could change the decision.
, he swallowed the words that came to his lips again.