Chapter 793

After shejerikov left, bandeleev said to me in a low voice: "Sir, I admit that your plan is feasible, but it's too risky. But you are my superior, and your orders can only be executed, not discussed, so I reserve my opinion. "

As for Bantai leiev's general performance, I nodded with satisfaction, went up to him and comforted him and said, "don't worry, comrade Deputy teacher, you will understand me after you get along with me for a long time. Although some of my plans seem risky, I will find that they can often achieve unexpected results after implementation. "

Bantai leiev said with a bitter smile: "I believe that, sir. After I came to the independent division, I have learned about your resume. If you were not competent, you would not have become a unique female general of our army from an ordinary soldier so soon. "

"Comrade teacher." When I wanted to say a few more words, our operator came running from the communication room next door with a telegram in his hand. To tell you the truth, when I read the telegram these two days, I'm not sure what's the bad news on it. I stare at the operator's face, see his excited expression, I secretly wonder is what good news? Otherwise, the operator would not be so excited.

When the operator ran to me, I didn't wait for him to speak. I grabbed the telegram in his hand and took it to my eyes to look at it carefully. I saw it written briefly: "my division was awarded the red flag medal."

I read this simple sentence several times, but I still didn't understand it. I handed the telegram to leiev and asked modestly, "Comrade deputy division commander, what's the matter with this telegram?"

Bantai leiev took a look at it and jumped up with excitement. He held the telegram in one hand and slapped me on the shoulder with the other hand. He said, "great, great, this is great!"

I don't understand why he is so excited. Isn't it that the independent division was awarded the red flag medal? What's the big deal? Is it worth the special telegram from political commissar kirilov to report the news? Is it worth Bantai leiev's gaffe? I moved to the side and avoided the hand that leiev patted on my shoulder. I scolded in my heart: "you used to be a blacksmith. With so much strength, you almost broke my shoulder."

When I coughed and saw Bantai leiev's attention refocused on me, I asked slowly, "Comrade deputy division commander, it's just that our superior awarded us a red flag medal. Is it necessary to be so excited?" But in my heart, I thought: the superior is too stingy. He only gave us a red flag medal. Who should I give this medal to, kirilov, akhromeyev, bantailiev in front of me, or the leaders below.

On hearing my question, Bantai leyev's face showed a look of surprise. He asked in surprise, "Comrade teacher, don't you see clearly the telegram sent by the political commissar?"

I honestly replied, "I've seen the content clearly, but I don't understand it."

Bantai leiev first waved to the operator and said kindly, "Comrade operator, you'd better go back to the communication room first. If you have any new telegrams, please send them immediately." The operator agreed and turned to leave.

Looking at the back of the operator leaving, I secretly congratulated myself that after receiving the last telegram, I decisively sent someone to call the operator who stayed in the observation position in the morning. Otherwise, the call from kirilov would be at least half an hour late before it could reach us.

I turned around and looked at Bantai leiev. I asked him for advice again with an open mind and said, "Comrade deputy division commander, I don't see anything to be happy about. Isn't it that our superior rewarded us with a red flag medal? You know, there are a lot of commanders in the division who can get this honor. Just one medal. Who do you want me to give it to? Isn't it embarrassing for us to do so? "

As soon as I spoke, Bantai leiev burst into laughter, which made me confused. Seeing my blank face and laughing out of breath, Bantai leiev explained to me, "my teacher, you have made a mistake. The red flag medal awarded by the superior is given to the independent division as a group rather than an individual. " Seeing that I was still puzzled, he added, "well, after the independent division won this medal, the number of the division changed. In the future, when our superiors address us, it will no longer be "that's natural." Bantai leiev didn't know that he was doing science popularization for me. "Even if the independent division was promoted to the outside guard division, as long as the superior didn't cancel the red flag medal awarded to us, our division's serial number always carries this glorious title. Even if the higher authorities later awarded the independent division a new medal, these honors will all be added to our serial number

Although Bantai leiev tried to explain it in simple terms, I still heard it in a vague way. Because of the pressing time, I didn't ask in detail, so I had to pretend to understand it and say, "so it is. I understand. Thank you, comrade Deputy teacher."

We were very happy. Before long, the operator came to the command post again and handed a telegram to me. Obviously, this telegram is no longer a good thing. Instead, it is reported that the mamayev post was shelled by the enemy tonight. At the same time, a small group of troops took advantage of the night to attack the northern highland where the fourth regiment was stationed and the 107.5 highland where the second guard was stationed. After a fierce battle, the enemy was successfully repulsed.

After reading the telegram, Bantai leiev's face became more serious. He looked at me and asked, "Comrade teacher, how can I call the political commissar back?"

"Operator, record now." After I called the telegraph operator, I gave kirilov an oral reply: "Comrade political commissar, mamayev post is the glory of our red flag independent division, and it is also our grave. Even if we fight to the last soldier, we can never step back. The evening of October 25, 1942. " With that, I waved to the operator to call him back immediately.

"Is it really that serious?" Bantaileiev was obviously frightened by the wording I just used in the telegram. He asked cautiously, "in the telegram, the political commissar said that the enemy only attacked our two Highlands with a small group of troops?"

"Comrade deputy division commander," I intentionally reminded him without even knowing the hidden meaning in his telegram, "didn't you notice that the political commissar was talking about the northern highland held by the fourth regiment? Do you know that in front of this highland, there is a German Outpost which we captured not long ago? Since the position was not mentioned in the telegram, it was obviously lost. In order to go north this time, we have mobilized half of the forces of the independent division, and the political commissars have to rely on the remaining half of the forces to stick to such a vast area. The situation is very bad. "

When I said that, bandeleev understood why I would reply in that way just now. He thought for a moment, and then asked for my opinion: "Comrade teacher, what should we do next? Since the situation at mamayev post is very dangerous, why don't we concentrate our troops all night and go back? "

Bantailiev's proposal made me feel excited. In a flash, I almost followed his words and gave the order to let the troops return to mamayev post. But on second thought, under the current situation, we still have to stay here for a few days. One is to see if it is possible to join forces with the forces of the Don front army and lead the main force of the enemy out of Stalingrad; Second, the enemy has mobilized troops to rush towards us. If we retreat rashly and the enemy pursues after us, the troops with baggage will be easily overtaken and defeated, and the loss will not be worth the gain. So I resolutely denied Bantai leiev's proposal: "Comrade deputy division commander, no, this is not the time to retreat. We must stay here and continue to stick to it."

"Sir, do you really think that if we stay here, we will be able to join forces with the Don river side going south?" Bantai leiev obviously guessed what was on my mind and said bluntly: "the Germans not only have an advantage in military strength and equipment, but also have the right to control the air. Let alone we have only two or three thousand people, even if we have two or three divisions, it is inevitable that the whole army will be destroyed if we stay here, so you should make up your mind early."

"Comrade deputy division commander." I saw that he was ready to retreat because of the dangerous situation of mamayev post, but now I was in a dilemma, so I had to harden my head and say, "like you, I am also worried about the danger faced by mamayev post. But what we received was an order to go north and join the Don front army. Without the permission of our superiors, we had to continue to move north even if we had a single soldier left. And judging from the current situation, the Germans who have suffered a lot from us will attack our highlands at the latest after dawn. If we retreat at this moment, the enemy will dare to follow us to catch up. When we get to the open grassland, do you think our army without heavy weapons can withstand the three-dimensional attack of the enemy's armored forces and aviation forces? "

Bantaileiev shook his head and said in a low voice, "No

"Since we can't, we have to stay here and beat back the Germans who may come tomorrow." To reassure him, I raised my hand and looked at my watch. Then I said, "there's still an hour left. It's the 26th. We stay here until the 30th, and I will lead the troops back to mamayev post, no matter whether we join the friendly forces or not. "

"By the way, since the German forces are coming from the north, will the Germans in gorodyser come from the south?" Bantai leiev asked nervously, "you know, in the camp ten kilometers south of the city, we have only one battalion of the fourth regiment on guard. They don't have anti tank weapons, so they can't resist the attack of the enemy's armored forces."

"It's up to fate." I also understand that the defensive force of our rear camp is too weak, but I can't send troops to reinforce them. I can only say helplessly: "even if they can't resist the enemy's fierce attack, I hope they can buy us more time to prepare, so that our big troops can rush out of the enemy's encirclement under the unfavorable situation."

While waiting for dawn, I reallocated all three radio stations. One is the radio station that we contact with mamayevgang, so we must not leave us; One was the station of sergeant gunnel's reconnaissance unit, and I assigned him to lieutenant colonel kosga, who was guarding the supplies; And the radio station that lieutenant travkin's reconnaissance unit had, I had them taken to the camp south of the city. In this way, we have established a preliminary communication network. When we have any information to convey, we don't have to rely on the signalmen to convey it.

As the sky gradually brightened, Bantai leiev and I came to the lookout again, raised our binoculars and looked into the distance. I also specially looked for lieutenant colonel xiejerikov where they were hiding. To my regret, after searching for a long time, I found no tanks and armored vehicles in any position except for the infantry troops hiding on the top of the earth slope and under the west slope.

At that time, when the needle was pointing at eight o'clock, leiev, who had been unable to see the enemy, was a little worried. He asked in a low voice, "do you think the German will come, sir?"“ Yes, comrade deputy division commander. " I answered positively, "the Germans will definitely come back. No matter during the day or last night, they suffered so much from us that they not only lost kongyi City, but also lost the materials in the city. Even the vanguard troops who tried to seize our army's battlefield were defeated in our ambush circle. That's why I firmly believe that the enemy will come back for revenge. "“ What kind of forces do you think they will use to retaliate against us? " Bantai leiev asked curiously“ In the latest report, didn't Lt. Col. chejerikov say that? " After repeating the data of shejerikov last night, I said: "the enemy has deployed a tank battalion, two artillery battalions and a infantry regiment outside, so I think they will at least put these forces and technical equipment into attacking us." As soon as I finished, bantaileiev suddenly pointed to the distance and said excitedly, "Comrade division, look, there is dust in the distance. It should be the German army."