When Sokov walked out of the headquarters with brisk steps, Samoylov and Guchakov, who had been waiting impatiently outside, greeted him and asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander"
, what important matters do the commander and the military commissioner have to ask you?"
Seeing people coming and going in the corridor, Sokov felt that it was not the place to talk, so he said to the two of them: "It's not convenient to talk here. Let's leave first and talk while walking on the road."
The three of them left the building where the headquarters was located and walked not far along the street toward the outside of the city. Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice shouting next to them: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you still remember me?"
Sokov turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound, and saw two trucks parked on the roadside. An officer and several soldiers were standing next to one of the trucks. "Comrade Brigade Commander," Samoilo said
The husband leaned close to Sokov's ear and said, "It's the driver Sayers who just sent us here."
"Ah ha, Sayers, my friend." Sokov raised his hand and waved towards Sayers twice, and asked curiously: "What are you doing here?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sayers saw Sokov recognized him and ran over quickly, saying with some excitement, "I'll wait for you here."
"Waiting for us?" Sokov asked in surprise: "What are you waiting for us here for?"
Before Sayers could answer, the officer standing next to the car walked up to Sokov, raised his hand to salute him, and reported politely: "Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I am the 753rd
Lieutenant Baduchov, the captain of the transport team."
After raising his hand in return, Sokov extended his hand to the other party, shook hands, and asked curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant, what are you and your men doing here?" At this point, he glanced at Thayer quickly.
He glanced at him and asked in a teasing tone, "You're not waiting for us here too, are you?"
Sokov's words aroused laughter from Samoilov and Guchakov, but after the laughter stopped, Lieutenant Badukhov said seriously: "You are right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. I and I
Your subordinates are indeed waiting for you here."
"Wait for me?" Seeing that the lieutenant and Sayers said the same thing, Sokov couldn't help but curiously asked: "What are you waiting for me for?"
"That's it, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Badukhov said respectfully: "Our transport team originally belonged to the Southeast Front Army. After the designation of the troops defending Stalingrad was changed, we were incorporated into the Don Front Army, but we were
It has been performing transportation tasks within the defense zone of the Stalingrad Front. During these months of transportation, due to constant shelling and bombing by enemy planes, the original transportation team of 60 trucks now only has 60 trucks left.
These two cars.”
Sokov only knew that in the Battle of Stalingrad, the troops fighting at the front suffered heavy losses, but he did not expect that the convoys responsible for transportation in the rear also suffered the same fate. He did not know how to persuade the other party, so he could only say dryly:
"Lieutenant Badukhov, thank you for your hard work!"
"As long as we can defeat the enemy, we will have no complaints no matter how hard or tired we are." Badukhov said with some embarrassment: "I am waiting for you here today because I have something to ask you."
"You have something to ask of me?" Sokov thought to himself that I have no affiliation with you. What do you want me to do? Although he thought so in his heart, he still said politely: "Comrade Lieutenant, if you have anything to do, just ask.
As long as I can do it, I will definitely help you."
"Due to the serious losses of our transportation team, starting from mid-September, the logistics force here will no longer arrange any transportation tasks for us. Only when the transportation force is really tight, we will be temporarily assigned to help." Badukhov
He said to Sokov sincerely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, my subordinates and I are all Stalingraders. We cannot stand the situation where others are working hard to defeat the enemy, while we can only stand aside and do nothing. Therefore,
, on behalf of the remaining subordinates, I request you to accept us and take us to attack the enemy."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Samoilov saw that the other party actively asked to join his troops, and he quickly leaned into Sokov's ear and whispered: "Although they only have two trucks, they can be on our next march."
Please accept them if they help us transport weapons and ammunition."
Samoylov's proposal was in line with Sokov's wishes. They carried a lot of captured weapons, ammunition and supplies. If they could be transported by vehicles, it would reduce the burden on the soldiers while marching. Thinking of this, Sokov
He nodded to Bardukhov, then stretched out his hand to him and said friendly: "Lieutenant Bardukhov, welcome to join our army."
"Great, this is really great." Badukhov grabbed Sokov's hand and shook it vigorously a few times, turned around and shouted happily to the surrounding subordinates: "Comrades, you all listen.
Come on, from now on, we are organized again."
"Hello, comrades! Let me introduce myself. I am Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade." Sokov let go of Badukhov's hand and said to the surrounding car soldiers:
"On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the infantry brigade, I welcome you to join us."
Seeing Sokov surrounded by car soldiers, Samoylov couldn't help but murmured in a low voice: "Did Comrade Brigade Commander make a mistake? He was obviously a lieutenant colonel, why did he tell others that he was a colonel?
"
Guchakov, who had never spoken, considered the problem much more comprehensively than Samoilov. He sneered, and then whispered to Samoilov: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, don't you understand that our brigade commander
He must have just been promoted to colonel, you didn't see a smile on his eyebrows when he walked out of the headquarters."
After Guchakov's reminder, Samoylov felt that it seemed reasonable. Sokov would never lie about this kind of thing. Otherwise, after these auto soldiers arrived at Mamayev Heights, they would inquire about it.
When Sokov was not a colonel, but only a lieutenant colonel, it had an impact on his reputation.
After getting two trucks, it was much more convenient for Sokov and the others to return to Red October Town. In less than ten minutes, the truck stopped at the location where the troops were gathering. After Sokov got off the car, he stood not far away
Bely shouted: "Colonel Bely, ask the soldiers to put all the extra weapons and ammunition on the truck."
When Bely heard Sokov's order, he ran over quickly and asked with some concern: "Comrade Brigadier, is it appropriate to put all the extra ammunition on the truck? If they were halfway on the road, what transportation task had they received?
, we have to unload the ammunition again."
"Don't worry, Colonel Bely, what you are worried about will not happen." Sokov said to Bely with a smile: "These two trucks are the property of our infantry brigade."
"Comrade Brigadier, what on earth is going on?" When Bely heard what Sokov said, a puzzled expression appeared on his face: "Why do you say these two trucks belong to us."
After Sokov proudly told Bely the origin of the truck, he lowered his voice and said: "Colonel Bely, I have one more thing to tell you. In recognition of my military exploits, my superiors not only awarded me a red flag.
Medal, and also promoted my military rank. Now I am a colonel just like you."
"Is this all true?" After learning that Sokov was promoted to military rank and received a medal, Bely was sincerely happy for him. He quickly extended his hand to him and said with a smile: "Comrade Brigadier, please accept me.
Congratulations on obtaining a higher military rank and receiving a precious Order of the Red Banner."
"Colonel Bely," Sokov couldn't help but feel a little guilty when he thought that Bely had made many meritorious deeds during this period of battle, but had not received any rewards. He said apologetically: "
I feel that this medal and military rank are well deserved. The reason why we have achieved such great results is all thanks to the vast number of commanders and soldiers..."
Before Sokov could finish speaking, Bely interrupted him and said, "Comrade Brigadier, I can't say anything else. If it weren't for your command, it would be impossible for us to achieve such great results.
I have carefully recalled every battle you commanded, and I feel that even if I were to command it myself, I would never be able to do better than you. Therefore, you deserve the medals and military ranks awarded to you by your superiors."
While the two were talking, Shamrih ran over and asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I would like to ask when our troops will set off?"
Sokov pointed to the truck not far away and replied: "When the soldiers put all the extra ammunition on the truck, we can set off. Try to reach the next ferry before dark, so that we can
Then we can cross the Volga River at night and enter the Mamayev Kurgan."
Shamrih looked at the location of the truck and saw that there were already a lot of weapons and ammunition piled on it. Knowing that he would not be able to wait long before setting off, he quickly said hello to Sokov and ran back to gather the team to prepare for departure.
.
After the excess weapons, ammunition and supplies were piled on the trucks and the troops were assembled, Sokov immediately waved his hand and said loudly: "Let's go!"
When the troops lined up in four columns and marched neatly along the street, Sokov was ready to march with them on foot. But the transport captain Badukhov pulled him and begged: "From
It's still more than ten kilometers from here to the next river crossing, so you'd better take our car."
Of course it is a good thing to have a car to ride in, but all the commanders and fighters are marching, and as the supreme commander, he is riding in a car, which feels a little inappropriate. Standing aside, Belyy saw Sokov's dilemma.
, took the initiative to come out to help him: "Comrade Brigadier, I have rheumatism, and my legs and feet have been hurting so much when walking these past two days. I want to march by car. Do you agree? By the way, I have something else to discuss with you, why not