Sokov, who was walking over with someone, heard Samoilov's question and quickly agreed: "I'm here, Lieutenant Samoilov."
"Hello, comrade division commander." Samoilov quickly came to Sokov. Worried about German snipers, he did not salute, but straightened his body and reported: "Comrade division commander, guard platoon.
Lieutenant Commander Samoilov reports to you, I am at your command, please give me instructions!"
"Please rest a moment!" After Sokov issued the command, he took two steps forward and gave Samoilov a warm hug without any explanation. He also said: "Thank you for your hard work, Lieutenant Samoilov."
.”
Samoilov originally thought that Sokov had come all the way to find him to blame. After all, the deputy division commander he was responsible for protecting was killed by a German sniper in front of him. He was already prepared to receive a storm of curses.
He was getting ready, but he didn't expect Sokov to give him a hug, and his eye circles turned red.
"Comrade division commander," Samoylov said in a tearful voice, "I'm sorry, I failed to complete the task you gave me. I failed to protect the deputy division commander, and even caused his death. I am willing to accept it.
All your punishments."
"Comrade Lieutenant, I can't blame you for this." Sokov had already figured it out on the way here. Samoylov really can't be blamed for this, not to mention that he didn't know that there were German snipers hiding nearby.
Knowing that under the circumstances, he probably still couldn't save Ivanov's life, he comforted him and said: "This was an accident, a heartbreaking accident. But you must learn from this incident and avoid similar incidents."
It happened again."
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov was trying to make this matter a trivial matter, Samoylov glanced at him gratefully, and then replied resoundingly: "I assure you, I will never do anything like this in the future.
Something like this happens again.”
"Comrade Lieutenant, what if something similar happens?" Seryosha, who was standing aside, suddenly said quietly: "What are you going to do?"
"If something like this happens again," Samoylov gritted his teeth and said after hearing Seryosha's question, "I don't need the division commander to send me to a military court. I will pick up the pistol and point it at my head.
Take a shot."
"Okay, okay, don't say these useless words." Seeing that Seryosha and Samoilov were trying to fight, Sokov quickly stopped the two of them, and then said to Samoilov:
"Comrade Lieutenant, take us to your camp quickly. The soldiers have been traveling all day and are very tired. They need to find a place to have a good rest."
Seeing that Sokov had handed over the task to his subordinates, the garrison company commander hurriedly came over to report to him: "Hello, comrade colonel, welcome to Luhansk. I am the garrison company commander here. If you need anything,
, just tell me."
"That's it, Comrade Captain." Since the defender's company commander offered to cooperate with him, Sokov said smoothly: "Please help me settle these soldiers. They have been exhausted after a long day's journey.
, I need to drink some hot soup to warm my body, and find a sheltered place to have a good sleep."
"No problem," the defending company commander said cheerfully: "There is enough space for the soldiers to rest in the Workers' Cultural Palace in the city. I will take you there."
The checkpoint's barrier was pulled up, and the convoys parked outside the station drove into the city one after another, heading in the direction directed by the defender's company commander. When passing the place where the guard platoon ambush, Samoilov headed towards the hidden
The soldiers here sent a signal indicating that they could lift the alert.
Seeing this scene, Sokov nodded with satisfaction and said to Samoylov sitting next to him: "Comrade Lieutenant, you are very thoughtful. Deploy the troops here, even if the enemy breaks through the checkpoint,
If they want to continue advancing, they must pass through your defensive positions."
Soon, the convoy arrived outside the Workers' Cultural Palace. The defender company commander who was sitting in the car in front got out of the car and came to Sokov's car with Seryosha. The defender company commander reported respectfully: "
Comrade Colonel, the Workers' Cultural Palace has arrived, you will be temporarily accommodated here, and I will adjust your new residence for you after dawn tomorrow."
After thanking the defending company commander, Sokov entered the Workers' Cultural Palace under the escort of Seryosha and Samoilov. Since the power plant had been damaged when the German troops retreated, there was no power supply for lighting here, so they had to rely on
The garrison company commander sent gas lamps and candles for lighting.
Sokov used the ticket hall as his resting place. After arranging everything, he gave up his plan to check on Ivanov's body. Instead, he called Samoilov over and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant, come here."
It's been two or three days, and I have something to ask you."
Although he didn't know that Sokov wanted to ask him, Samoylov still said respectfully: "Excuse me, comrade division commander."
"How many residents are there in the city today, and how many defenders are there?"
"Report to Comrade Division Commander." Samoilov replied respectfully: "Since the city was recaptured by our army, more than two thousand residents who fled have returned to the city. Including the original residents who stayed, the total number of residents who fled has returned to the city.
The number of people is about 7,000. As for the defenders, there is only one company with more than 100 people."
After understanding the situation in the city, Sokov asked Samoilov about Ivanov's inspection of the terrain, and finally asked: "Comrade Lieutenant, among the terrain you have surveyed, where does the deputy division commander think is the best?"
Suitable for deploying troops?”
"On the west side of the city, Comrade Division Commander." Samoilov replied: "There are many hills in the west direction of the city. Comrade Deputy Division Commander feels that it is very suitable to establish defensive positions there."
While Samoylov was reporting on his work, the commander of the defending company ordered people to bring food and drink to Sokov and others to fill the bellies of the hungry soldiers.
While Sokov was chewing bread, Samoilov came to Sokov with a glass bottle. After knocking the lid off the table, he pushed the glass bottle in front of Sokov.
He said with a smile: "Comrade Sir, you must be thirsty. Can you drink some of this?"
"I don't want to drink." Sokov thought that what Samoylov handed over was vodka, so he quickly waved his hand and refused and said, "Just find me some water."
"Comrade Commander, this is not wine." Samoylov replied: "It is a drink aided by the United States."
"A drink aided by American allies?" Samoilov's words aroused Sokov's curiosity. With the dim light of the candle, he carefully examined the glass bottle in front of him. After only looking at it for a moment, Sokov immediately understood
I recognized that this drink from the United States was the Coca-Cola that I would be familiar with in later generations.
Samoilov thought that Sokov had never drunk this kind of drink, so he took a ceramic tea vat and poured all the Coke in the bottle into the quilt. Just when Sokov thought that the other party would hand the tea vat to him
When he was on his own, a shocking scene happened. Samoylov actually picked up the kettle that had just boiled water and poured hot water into the teapot.
Sokov asked Samoylov in confusion: "Comrade Lieutenant, can you tell me what you are doing?"
"Comrade," Samoylov said plausibly, "you have never drunk this kind of drink. It is sweet and has a bit of bitterness. You need to add water and sugar before you can drink it."
"You're a bumpkin, you're really a bumpkin." After scolding the ignorant Samoylov, Sokov said with a wry smile: "Comrade Lieutenant, Americans drink Coca-Cola directly, no need to
Add water and add sugar. Do you understand?”
As soon as Sokov's words came out, not only Samoilov, who was about to put the candy, was stunned, but also the soldiers who were adding water and sugar to the Coke were stunned. After a long time, Samoilov finally
He asked timidly: "Comrade, are you saying that this drink from the United States can be drunk directly?"
"That's right." Sokov nodded, thinking to himself that people who saw Coca-Cola for the first time might have drank Coca-Cola in the wrong way. He patiently said to Samoilov and others: "
Remember, for things you are unfamiliar with, you should ask more knowledgeable people to avoid making jokes, do you understand?"
"I understand, Comrade Commander," Samoilov replied with a blushing face.
"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov ordered someone to bring another bottle of Coke. After opening the cap, he took a swig from the bottle. The opportunity to drink this familiar Coke made Sokov feel his nose.
Feeling sour for a while. After drinking the drink from the glass bottle in one go, Sokov burped comfortably, and then asked Samoilov: "Are there many drinks like this in the city?"
"A lot, a lot." Samoilov nodded and said: "There is a warehouse nearby, which contains boxes and boxes of drinks, as well as American canned beef stew."
"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov couldn't help but salivate when he learned that there were more cans of Coke and braised beef in the warehouse. He quickly ordered Samoilov: "Take a few people to the warehouse and move more Coke and cans.
Bring the canned food."
Seryosha learned that there were cans of stewed beef in the warehouse, and he was also very greedy. In the past few months in Mamaev Kurgan, it was good to fill his stomach, and meat was simply a luxury. Hearing Sokov's order
, and quickly took the initiative to ask for help: "Misha, it's better for me to take people to the warehouse to collect cans and drinks."
After getting Sokov's permission, Seryosha immediately left the Workers' Cultural Palace with more than 20 soldiers, and headed towards the warehouse under the guidance of a guide.
After Seryosha left, Sokov suddenly realized that he seemed to have overlooked a key issue. After tens of thousands of troops arrived in Luhansk, where should the supplies of ammunition and food be sent? What if they waited until the troops arrived?
Here, I discovered that no one was providing supplies for me, and it was completely over.
If people have nothing to eat, they can endure it for a while. But what if there are no bullets in the guns and no fuel and shells in the tanks? You can't compete with the enemy with bayonets and drive tanks to crush the enemies, right?
He looked at Samoilov and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant, tell me truthfully, how many warehouses are there in the city and what kind of materials are stored?"
"There are fifteen warehouses in the city." Samoilov is from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so he is naturally much better at observing the surrounding environment than ordinary people. Besides, he has been here for two or three days, so he has no idea about the things in the city.
Naturally, he knew the situation well. When Sokov asked about it, he quickly replied: "There are five warehouses where a large amount of weapons, ammunition and fuel are stored. The remaining warehouses store food and winter clothing. Leave
The guard company in the city is actually there to guard the warehouse."
Hearing that there were weapons, ammunition and food in the warehouse, Sokov felt much more at ease. Many of the Ignatov Brothers guerrilla fighters who had been added to the division some time ago were still wearing casual clothes, and they were waiting for them this time.
Luhansk can just give them new military uniforms.
Seryozha led people to the warehouse. The soldiers guarding the door saw that some of the people who came were friendly soldiers they knew, so they readily opened the door of the warehouse and allowed Seryosa and others to go in and move the needed supplies.
When the cans and drinks brought back by Seryosha and others were placed in front of Sokov, he couldn't help but frown slightly: "Seryosa, you mean, the soldiers guarding the warehouse, when they saw it was you,
Just let you go in to collect the supplies right away, without even basic questioning and registration?"
"Yes." Seryosha said proudly after hearing Sokov's question: "Maybe he recognized us as members of the Guards Division, and out of respect for us, he allowed us to use them as we pleased.
Supplies in the warehouse.”
"Seryozha, have you ever thought about what would happen if the people who enter the warehouse to move supplies are not you, but the enemy in disguise?" Sokov asked in return: "If you are the enemy,
what will you do?"
"I will blow up the warehouse to prevent the Soviet troops who are about to station here from using the materials in the warehouse."
"You are right." Sokov agreed with Seryosha's statement: "If the supplies stored in the warehouse were really blown up by the Germans, what would the more than 10,000 commanders and soldiers of our division eat?
, what to wear? The weapons in hand, the tanks of the tank brigade have no ammunition and fuel, how can they resist the enemy's attack?"
"Misha, what you said is very correct." Seryosha realized the seriousness of the problem after hearing what Sokov said, and quickly expressed his position: "I will immediately arrange manpower to protect all the warehouses in the city."
"I heard from Lieutenant Samoilov that there are fifteen warehouses in the city." Sokov stopped Seryosha who was about to go out and said to him: "Even if you send the entire company to guard it,
I'm afraid the warehouse is a little short of manpower. Why not wait until daybreak and call the garrison company commander over to discuss whether we can mobilize residents from the city to help us guard the warehouse."
"Now it seems that this is the only way." Seryozha calculated silently in his heart. He had nearly 200 people in his hands. If they were divided into 15 warehouses, each warehouse could get no more than 14 people.
Individual. And in this case, there will not be enough power to protect Sokov's safety. This situation is not allowed to occur.
After making up his mind, he agreed with Sokov: "Misha, as soon as it gets light, I will call the garrison commander here and discuss with him a proper way to protect the warehouse in the city. I will never give it to him.
The enemy leaves an opportunity to destroy the warehouse."
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch and found that it was already two o'clock in the morning, so he ordered Seryosha: "Let the soldiers take time to rest after eating. They can still sleep well for a few more hours before dawn."