In the dead of night, a military column loaded with troops and technical equipment slowly drove into the Mtsensk train station.
Sokov, who was standing on the platform with Potapov, saw that after the military train stopped, several commanders wearing big-brimmed hats and military coats stepped out of one of the carriages.
, there were soldiers waiting there immediately, guiding them to Potapov.
When he saw clearly that the person in front of him was actually Potapov, the tall Katukov's face was full of shock: "Comrade Commander, why are you here?"
"Why can't I be here?"
"I saw a leaflet dropped by the Germans on our military positions some time ago, saying that you have become their prisoner."
"Colonel Katukov," Sokov saw Potapov's expression changed drastically and knew that this was the thing he was most taboo about. He quickly stepped forward and spoke to help him: "That was just a way for the Germans to disintegrate our army.
In order to improve the morale and morale of the army, he forged fake leaflets. Now General Potapov has been appointed by the Supreme Command as the commander of the 1st Guards Corps, responsible for commanding the troops to defend in the Mtsensk area."
After figuring out Potapov's identity, Katukov quickly stood at attention and raised his hand to salute him: "Comrade Commander, Colonel Katukov, commander of the 4th Independent Tank Brigade, is reporting to you that our brigade has been ordered to go forward.
Coming to Mtsensk to perform a combat mission, the first echelon has arrived successfully, please give us your instructions!"
"First echelon?" Potapov heard what Katukov said and couldn't help but asked curiously: "Colonel Katukov, so your brigade has a second and third echelon?"
Katukov grinned and explained: "Comrade Commander, our brigade has only two echelons. The first echelon is the organized motorized infantry battalion, the anti-tank artillery battalion and the attached mixed battalion of the 34th Regiment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
; The second echelon is the 4th Tank Regiment, a 37mm anti-aircraft artillery regiment, an 85mm anti-aircraft artillery battalion, and an airborne battalion. The first echelon is following me now, and the second echelon is still on the way, and will arrive as early as tomorrow afternoon
You can reach this place.”
"Judging from the intelligence we have, we are about to face Guderian's armored forces." Potapov looked at the tank fixed on the flatbed truck, frowned and asked: "Colonel Katukov, what are you bringing?
How many tanks are coming?”
"16 vehicles, Comrade Commander."
"16 vehicles is a bit small, but it's better than nothing."
"The whole brigade has a total of 45 tanks, most of which are old tanks." Katukov continued to report: "The 4th Tank Regiment is equipped with 29 tanks. When they arrive, we will have enough strength to compete with Germany.
Human armored forces."
It takes time to assemble the troops and unload the tanks. Potapov took the opportunity to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin to Katukov: "This is Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin, the commander of the 36th Motorized Regiment. In the following days,
Here, his troops will fight alongside you."
"Hello, Colonel Katukov." Gu Xin held Katukov's hand and said with a smile: "I heard that on the day the war broke out, you just finished the operation and had a high fever of 40 degrees, so you participated in the war.
He is a capable and proactive battle organizer who is good at organizing tank battles with the enemy's superior forces."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Katukov said with a smile when he heard Gu Xin's praise for him: "You are really flattering me. I am just fulfilling the duties of a soldier."
"This is not the place to talk. Let's go to the stationmaster's office first."
Potapov and his party arrived at the stationmaster's office.
When the station commander saw a group of officers walking in from outside, he immediately realized that they might want to borrow his office. He quickly stood up and said to Potapov: "Comrade General, you must want to borrow this office. I will make room for you right away."
."
After the station commander left, a staff officer spread the map on the table, and Sokov also took the opportunity to close the door to prevent anyone from coming in and disturbing him.
"Colonel Katukov," Potapov said to Katukov: "Now Lieutenant Colonel Guxin's 36th Motorized Regiment and the garrison in the city, as well as comrades from the Tula Artillery School, have already arrived in M
A defense line has been built in the west of Censk City. In other words, if your brigade's defense line should be built far away from the city, only in this way can a certain depth of defense be formed. What do you think?"
Hearing what Potapov said, Katukov did not show an expression of annoyance on his face. On the contrary, he took the initiative to say to Potapov: "I think the city of Orlyol may have fallen to the Germans."
Therefore, I plan to move the defense line as close to the city as possible and block the German troops along both sides of the road from Orel to Tula."
Potapov stared at the map for a while, then nodded slowly and said approvingly: "Colonel Katukov, you are very thoughtful. If your brigade's defense line is deployed near Orliol, our defense
The depth can be as long as tens of kilometers, which is enough to delay the enemy for a long time."
After Gu Xin waited for Potapov to finish speaking, he said with a complicated expression: "Comrade Commander, if the Independent Tank Brigade deploys defenses near Orliol, it will not be too far from our existing defense line. If the Germans make a detour
If we get behind them, the tank brigade is in danger of being surrounded."
"It doesn't matter, Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin." Unexpectedly, Katukov said with a smile after hearing this: "We are a tank brigade with relatively strong mobility. Even if the Germans detour back to the rear, our tanks can attack as soon as they attack.
Tear apart their blockade."
"Katukov, after the unloading work is completed, you will set off overnight." Potapov said to Katukov: "Try to arrive at the designated area as early as possible, so that there will be enough time to build a new line of defense."
"No problem, Comrade Commander." Katukov remembered an important matter and quickly asked Potapov: "How do we contact the military headquarters?"
"Captain Sokov." Potapov waited for Katukov to finish speaking, then turned around and called Sokov in front of him and began to assign work to him: "You bring two communications soldiers and a radio to liaise with the officer.
His identity is to follow Katukov’s tank travel. Do you understand?”
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Potapov arranged for him to follow Katukov's tank tour, Sokov was very happy. In this way, he could see with his own eyes how Katukov acted.
In the defense battle of Mtsensk, he became a god in one battle.
Sokov wanted to follow Katukov's troops, but Katukov was unwilling to bring Sokov with him. According to his past experience, these officers from the headquarters had no skills at all.
Knowing that giving orders indiscriminately will cause chaos in the army.
"Comrade Commander," Katukov said awkwardly, "I think there is no need to set up any liaison officers. We have ways to keep in touch with the military headquarters at all times."
Hearing what Katukov said, Potapov turned to Sokov and said: "Captain Sokov, it seems that Colonel Katukov doesn't want you to serve as a liaison officer and follow him.
What did you think about it?"
Sokov knew that the Battle of Mtsensk was a good opportunity for him to gain experience points, so he was naturally unwilling to give up easily. He quickly said: "I ask you to allow me to go to the 4th Independent Tank Brigade and work side by side with Colonel Katukov."
Fight."
"You see, Colonel Katukov." Potapov said to Katukov with a smile: "Captain Sokov very much hopes to go to your unit. I see you don't refuse. I'm here.
Just a reminder, you may thank me for the decision I made in the future."
Now that Potapov has spoken to this extent, if Katukov still objects, it would be uninteresting. In desperation, Katukov could only nod his head and said insincerely: "Then let Sol
Captain Cove, as the liaison officer, will be stationed in our tank brigade."
"By the way, there are still a few tanks in the city. They are all old-fashioned T-26s. You can take them with you by the way."
Hearing what Potapov said, Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin quickly interrupted and said: "Comrade Commander, those tanks are placed on the position as fixed firepower points. If they are transferred to the tank brigade, our defense
The strength will be weakened."
"Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin, I have known Colonel Katukov since before the war. He is an excellent tank commander." Potapov looked at Lieutenant Colonel Gu Xin and said earnestly: "Put these tanks together."
The old-fashioned tanks can play a greater role if they are put under his command. Are you right, Captain Sokov?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." In order to dispel Katukov's resistance to him, Sokov deliberately followed Potapov's words and said: "I believe that with the addition of the tank brigade, we will be able to block the enemy's advance.
footsteps."
When Sokov followed Katukov out of the station commander's office, he deliberately approached the livid-faced Katukov and said with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, from now on, we are comrades fighting side by side. First of all,
Give me your hand." He said, extending his hand to the other party.
Two hours later, the first echelon of the tank brigade drove west along the road from Tula to Orliol.
Katukov and his chief of staff and political commissar were sitting in the same jeep.
"Comrade Brigade Commander," the Chief of Staff saw Katukov looking unhappy and couldn't help but curiously asked: "Are you still worried about that liaison officer?"
"Yes." Regarding the statement of the Chief of Staff, Katukov did not deny it, but nodded and said: "I don't know what Comrade Commander of the Army thinks about it. If he is not a junior officer who knows nothing about the fortress, how can he come to me?"
If the battle plan I formulated is vetoed by him, will the plan be implemented or not? Even if we get the support of the military commander through the liaison tool, I am afraid it will delay the fight."
"How about we discuss with Comrade Commander, whether to remove this liaison officer?"
But as soon as the Chief of Staff said his words, he was immediately opposed by the political commissar: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if the Army Commander can be persuaded by us, he will not send this liaison officer here. Now that he is here, we have to deal with him
Maintain the necessary respect, and as long as you coax him well, you don't have to worry about him ruining our battle plan."
"The political commissar is right." Katukov agreed with the political commissar's statement: "Let's do it this way. At least be polite to him on the surface and prevent him from doing anything wrong."
Early the next morning, the first echelon arrived at the designated area.
When the troops began to build fortifications on the spot, Katukov summoned officers above the company level for a meeting to discuss what to do next.
After the meeting began, the chief of staff introduced the current situation to the commanders present. Perhaps in order to make Sokov look bad, he deliberately asked him: "Captain Sokov, you are the liaison officer sent by the military. I don't know."
What do you think of the next combat deployment?"
Sokov, who originally planned to just listen, did not expect that the chief of staff would ask him to talk about the next combat deployment. He was stunned for a moment, and then thought that this was a good opportunity. As long as the plan he made could be obtained by Katukov.
If you agree, then you will have a firm foothold in the tank brigade.
Thinking of this, he said: "From the intelligence we have, Orliol has fallen into the hands of the Germans. We are building fortifications here to prevent a sudden attack by the Germans. In order to avoid this
When this situation arises, I suggested sending two reconnaissance troops to the direction of Orliol..."
"Captain Sokov," the chief of staff heard this and interrupted Sokov's next words: "What you want to say is the reconnaissance team, right?"
"No, not a reconnaissance team, but a reconnaissance force." Sokov shook his head and continued: "I just said that the Germans may have occupied Orliol, and just sending two reconnaissance teams is of little use.
.But if we send out a reconnaissance force, even if we encounter a large number of enemies, we can still fight."
"Comrade Brigadier," the Chief of Staff felt that he could no longer refute Sokov, so he could only turn to Katukov for help: "What do you think?"
I thought Katukov would help him smooth things over, but the other party nodded and unexpectedly said: "I think Captain Sokov's proposal is very good. We should indeed send two reconnaissance detachments to Orliol to prevent encounters.
to a surprise attack by the Germans."
Then, Katukov began to give orders: "Captain Gusev, take an infantry company and ten tanks and immediately rush to the direction of Orliol to conduct reconnaissance. Once you find any movement from the enemy, immediately build defenses.
Stop them."
Captain Gusev, whose name was called, immediately walked out of the crowd and replied loudly: "Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander."
Katukov nodded and named another commander: "Captain Burda."
"Here we come!" A short captain came out.
"Your mission is the same as that of Captain Gusev. You are to carry eight tanks and an infantry company and go out to conduct reconnaissance near Orliol." Katukov said with a serious expression: "If you find any abnormal movement of the enemy, you will
Be prepared to intercept on the spot. Do you understand?"
"Understood!"
Katukov said to the two commanders: "Time is running out, you should go back immediately to gather people and be ready to go."
After the two left, Katukov continued: "If there are no accidents, where we are now is where our brigade blocks the German defense zone. Everyone immediately returned to their respective units and urged the soldiers to seize the time to repair the fortifications.
You must remember that the Germans do not have much time left for us."
After the meeting, Katukov looked at Sokov and said with approval: "Captain Sokov, I can't believe that your idea coincides with mine. I misjudged you at the station.
, I am here to apologize to you and beg for your forgiveness."