After coming to Romanov, Sokov stood up and said to Tonya and Vera: "I'm going back to the brigade headquarters, Chivaryg will ask you."

"Don't worry, Misha." Donia said with a smile: "When his situation improves, I will ask Vera to come and notify you."

After Sokov brought Romanov back to the brigade headquarters, he introduced to Belkin and Karsokov: "Deputy Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff, this is Comrade Romanov. From now on, he is the brigade headquarters' document, helping us organize war reports, telegrams and so on."

"Hello, Comrade Romanov." Karsokov knew that Romanov was Sokov's old subordinate, so he immediately walked over and shook hands with Romanov and said actively: "I'll introduce you to the work you usually want to do."

While Karsokov was arranging work for Romanlov, Sokov asked Belkin: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, how is the situation in the third battalion? On my way back from the field hospital, I heard the sound of cannons in that direction that direction had stopped. I wonder if the Germans launched a ground attack?"

"There is no movement yet." Berkin said in a puzzled tone: "The Germans didn't know what to do today. They first shelled the second battalion position, and then shelled the third battalion position. After completing the shelling, they showed no signs of attack. They really don't understand what their intention was."

"Where is the defense zone of the 1073rd infantry regiment on the right wing of my brigade?" Sokov frowned and asked, "Has they been attacked by the enemy?"

"Comrade Brigade Commander," Karsokov, who had assigned the mission to Romanlov, came over and continued: "I was on the phone with the commander of a friendly army not long ago. He said that his defense zone was being attacked by the Germans, and some areas were once broken by the Germans. Fortunately, he entered the reserve team in time, drove the enemy out, and blocked the torn line of defense."

After hearing this, Sokov didn't say anything, just nodded, stared at the map in front of him and began to think about what the Germans intended to do so.

The phone rings on the table, and Karsokov grabs the microphone and sticks it in his ear: "I am Lieutenant Colonel Karsokov, Chief of Staff."

After listening for a while, he covered the microphone and said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the phone number was called by the commander of the 1073 Regiment. He said that the situation there was very critical and asked us to provide them with assistance."

Sokov looked up at Karsokov and asked back, "What kind of aid does he want us to provide? Is the artillery support?"

But Karsokov shook his head and said, "No, he said that the regiment has suffered considerable casualties in the battles over the past few days. I hope we can send troops to reinforce?"

"No, I will definitely not." As soon as Karsokov finished speaking, Sokov shook his head and said, "I cannot send troops to reinforce any area before I get the order from my superiors."

"But, are you just watching the friendly positions break through by the enemy?" Karsokov said.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you have to remember that there is no troops behind our brigade. If the defensive force is drawn to reinforce friendly forces, the defense will be weakened and the defense line will be broken by the enemy." Sokov reminded Karsokov: "Then the enemy can directly rush to the headquarters of the Group Army Command, and then..." Sokov's words came to an abrupt end. He suddenly realized the reason why the Germans only launched artillery bombardment on the positions of the Second and Third Battalions, but did not launch ground troops to attack.

Seeing that Sokov said halfway, he stopped talking, Karsokov seemed very anxious: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what do you mean is that we won't go to reinforce?"

Berkin also interrupted and said, "Comrade Brigade Commander, if the situation of the 107th Regiment is critical and we don't care about it, their defense line will be in danger of being broken through. Even if we cannot send troops to reinforce and provide them with artillery fire support, it is completely necessary."

"Deputy Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff, under the current circumstances, we can only hold on and wait and see what changes."

After Berkin and Karsokov looked at each other, they asked in confusion: "Why?"

Sokov pointed to the map on the table and explained to the two: "Look at it, except for a high ground next to the position of the Fourth Battalion, the rest of the positions are flat. If the Germans choose to break through here, their tanks will rush towards the Army Command without any obstacles."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, you are right. Once the Germans break through the position of the Fourth Battalion, not only will the defense line of the First Battalion become precarious, but their road to the Army Command will also become unobstructed." After affirming Sokov's statement, Karsokov raised his own question: "But no enemy was found in front of the position of the Fourth Battalion, so it is impossible for them to launch an attack on the Fourth Battalion in a short period of time."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I just wanted to understand one thing." Sokov said to himself: "I think the enemy shelled the positions of the Second and Third Battalions and did not launch ground attacks to confuse us, thinking that they might launch attacks in these two areas, so they dare not mobilize their troops easily. In this way, they can concentrate their superior forces in the direction of the Fourth Battalion and catch us off guard."

"I call Major Vasia." Karsokov grabbed the phone after hearing Sokov say this: "Ask if the scouts he sent have returned."

The phone was quickly connected. After Karsokov reported his identity, he asked bluntly: "Major Vasia, have the scouts you sent back any news?"

"Sorry, Comrade Chief of Staff, I may disappoint you." Vasia said apologetically: "The scouts I sent have not been informed yet."

"There are no traces of the Germans found in front of your camp's position?"

"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Major Vasia replied in an unusually straightforward manner: "No trace of the enemy was found in front of my position."

After putting down the phone, Karsokov said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I have asked Major Vasia. So far, there has been no news about the scouts he sent. At the same time, no trace of the enemy was found in front of his position."

Karsokov was inconvenient to say something, so he winked at Belkin next to him and signaled him to answer.

Berkin nodded at Karsokov and then said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, based on Major Vasia's report, we can draw a conclusion that the Germans have no intention of attacking in the direction of the Fourth Battalion."

But Sokov shook his head and expressed his concerns: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, the situation on the battlefield may be more serious than you think. More than an hour ago, Major Vasia did not report to us that there were roars similar to armored vehicles and tank engines in the forest in front of their positions. I can basically confirm that the Germans diverted our attention by shelling the Second and Third Battalions positions, thus covering their assembly in the direction of the Fourth Battalion."

He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of cold tea, moistened his throat, and continued: "According to my analysis, the Germans' assembly may not have been completed yet. In order to prevent our army from realizing it, they may launch artillery bombardment on the positions of the first battalion next."

Belkin's mouth twitched and said with some dissatisfaction: "Comrade Brigade Commander, this is just your judgment. The Germans' attack in the direction of the Fourth Battalion two days ago was shattered by us. If they want to break through our defense, they can only choose other areas, and the positions of the Second and Third Battalions are the targets they chose."

"I think what the deputy brigade commander said makes sense." Karsokov echoed Belkin in time: "I think since the Germans have suffered failures in front of the first and fourth battalions, they will definitely choose a new direction of assault, and the second and third battalions are the targets of their attack."

Although Sokov analyzed the reasons for the two, Belkin and Karsokov did not believe Sokov's statement at all. After all, Germany is powerful and if you want to break through a certain area, you don't have to use such tricks.

Seeing that Belkin and Karsokov were not convinced of their own analysis, Sokov was too lazy to waste his words and said briefly: "Then let's wait and see. I believe that it will take no longer to take long to launch a bombardment on the first battalion's positions to buy time for their assembly."

Before the enemy could launch artillery bombardment on the first battalion's positions, the group army headquarters called the first.

The person who called was Malinin, who contacted Sokov on the order of Rokosovsky: "Hello, Major Sokov!"

"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov asked respectfully: "What instructions do you have?"

"That's right." Malining said: "General Panfirov called the Army Command not long ago, saying that the 1073rd infantry regiment deployed on the left wing had been subjected to fierce attacks from the German army. He hoped that we could send troops to reinforce. Major Sokov, you also know that the Army Command has no reserves now. There is no way, I can only call you for help. How about it, how many troops can you draw to reinforce the 1073rd Regiment?"

But Sokov's answer surprised Malining: "I'm sorry, Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation here does not allow me to transfer the defenders to other directions."

After hearing this, Malining couldn't help but frown and said unhappily: "Major Sokov, as far as I know, the Germans only bombarded your defense zone, but did not send ground troops. In this case, you are fully capable of drawing at least one battalion of troops to reinforce the 1073rd Regiment on the right wing."

To be fair, in addition to the four battalions deployed in front, Sokov had more than 2,500 reserve troops, and was fully capable of supporting the 107th Regiment that was under attack. But now Sokov could basically conclude that the enemy would launch a fierce attack on the positions of the 4th Battalion after completing the assembly. If people were drawn to reinforce the 1073rd Regiment, resulting in a sharp reduction in the troops he could mobilize, then once the German army tried to break through from the direction of the 4th Battalion, he might not be able to draw much troops to strengthen the defense force in the area.

Sokov organized the words in his mind, and then reported his analysis to Malining in detail so that the other party could know what he wanted so that no one would report it later, which would have an adverse impact on him.

Fortunately, Malining was a reasonable person. After listening to Sokov's analysis, he immediately reached out to pull the map in front of him and began to study whether Sokov's statement was correct.

It took Malining a few minutes to make a judgment in his heart. He felt that Sokov's statement was correct. Once the German army really reached a breakthrough from the fourth battalion of the brigade, the enemy's tanks would only take more than an hour to rush to the near-command headquarters. You should know that Comrade Stalin would soon go to the Army Command to inspect. If the enemy's tanks really rushed over, it would threaten the safety of the Supreme Commander himself. If the Supreme Commander himself had problems in the defense zone of the 16th Army, then the leaders of the army including himself, Rokosovsky and Lobachev would be sent to the military court.

Thinking of this, Malining nodded and asked, "Major Sokov, does this mean that the troops in your defense zone cannot be mobilized at will?"

"It's totally correct, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov echoed: "If the enemy launches a sudden attack in the direction of the Fourth Battalion, with their simple field fortifications and under the enemy's superior artillery, there will be heavy casualties. Therefore, I must have a reserve force that is stronger than the force, and at critical moments, put them into areas in need."

"I understand, Major Sokov." said Malining, "I will report your situation to the commander."

Malining kept his word. After he put down the phone, he immediately reported to Rokosovsky: "Comrade Commander, I have contacted Major Sokov. He said that none of the commanders and fighters in his hands could move, and they might soon participate in a fierce battle."

Then, Malinin explained what Sokov said to Rokosovsky in detail.

After listening to Malining's speech, Rokosovsky stood up and walked quickly to the wall, looked up at the map hanging on the wall, and analyzed in his mind whether Sokov's judgment was accurate.

After watching for a while, Rokosovsky pointed to the forest area in front of the infantry brigade's defense zone and said to Malining: "Comrade Chief of Staff, look, the infantry brigade's defense zone is full of forests. If the enemy really chooses to gather here, it is probably difficult for them to discover it."

"Comrade Commander, Major Sokov also said that the enemy's shelling of the second and third battalions is to attract their attention and thus cover the forest in front of the fourth battalion. After completing the assembly, they will launch a sudden attack on the defense zone of the infantry brigade." Malinin said to Rokosovsky: "Look, there is no force between the infantry brigade and our army command. Once the German army completes a breakthrough in the fourth battalion, they will soon launch a direct attack on the base of the army command. After that, we will have to move again."

"Misha's analysis makes sense." Rokosovsky nodded after hearing this and said in praise: "If the Germans really broke through the defense line of the infantry brigade, their tanks only need an hour to rush to the vicinity of the headquarters. If Comrade Stalin happens to arrive at that time, he will be in danger."
Chapter completed!