The counterattack led by Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko led his team to carry out the effect of the counterattack beyond Sokov's vision. In less than half an hour, the enemy entering the sewer was either beaten to death or driven out.
When receiving the report from Pupchinko, Sokov's first reaction was: He was not lying about military information, right? With this question, he asked in confusion: "Ltd. Colonel Pupchinko, I heard that the German army has occupied the sewers in most areas west of the square. How can you regain your position in such a short time?"
"Comrade Commander," Papuchinko, who had just returned to the command post, replied excitedly: "Our soldiers stayed in the sewer for several days and had already adapted to the light here. Even without any equipment lighting, we could see the road clearly. The Germans had just entered the sewer and had not fully adapted. They had to use flashlights or other lighting tools when they were in action. Before carrying out the counterattack, I told the soldiers that as long as they saw moving figures using lighting equipment, they would immediately shoot without hesitation."
Learning that Papchinko's troops were shooting at targets that might be the enemy without any lighting, Sokov asked with some concern: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, are you not afraid of accidental injury?"
"Don't worry, comrade Commander." Papuqinko replied: "Because our troops are no longer in the sewer on the west side of the square, when we see the oncoming figures during our advance, we must be the enemy and shoot without hesitation. The enemy often falls under our guns before we even come back to our senses."
"Lieutenant Colonel Papuchinko, you did a good job!" After hearing the tactics implemented by Papuchinko, Sokov first praised, and then reminded the other party: "You must learn from this lesson and don't let the enemy occupy the sewer again. If they occupy the sewer again, it may not be so easy for you to drive them out."
"I am organizing manpower to block some areas that are easily controlled by the German army with sandbags and landmines." Papchinko assured Sokov on the phone: "In this way, it will become extremely difficult for the enemy to occupy the sewer again."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, the phone ringing rang again. He thought Lieutenant Colonel Papuqinko had nothing to say, so he grabbed the microphone and put it in his ear and asked, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, is there anything else?"
After a brief silence, Peter's voice came from the receiver: "Is it Colonel Sokov? I am Peter."
"Hello, Comrade Director." Sokov heard Peter's voice and asked tentatively: "Are you looking for Comrade Zinchenko? I'll ask him to answer the phone immediately."
Before Sokov could remove the receiver from his ear, he heard Peter say, "Col. Sokov, I will not look for him, but for you."
"Look for me?" Sokov thought to himself, what did Director Peter call me specifically? Did he change his mind and intend to hand over all the old tanks collected from the battlefield to himself? With such questions, he asked carefully: "Comrade Director, is there anything?"
"Didn't you ask me to produce 20,000 grenades for you a few days ago?" Peter said lukewarmly on the phone: "You immediately send someone to the factory building and pull all the grenades away. I would like to remind you that if you come late and you are taken away by other troops, I will not be responsible."
"Comrade Director, I will call Mamayevgang immediately and ask them to send someone to you to collect grenades." Sokov was afraid that Peter would really hand over these grenades to other troops, so he hurriedly said to the microphone: "Before dark, you must not hand over these grenades to other troops."
"Okay, I'll wait for you until dark." Peter said angrily: "If you haven't sent someone to collect grenades after dark, I'll hand them over to other troops. Anyway, there are many people who want this batch of grenades."
Sokov was worried that the fat meat in his mouth would fly away, so he quickly called the division command of Mamayevgang. After hearing Sidolin's voice, he didn't care about greetings and said straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the 20,000 grenades produced by the Red October factory have been completed. You must send troops to the factory to collect them before dark."
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Zinchenko smiled and said to him: "Comrade Colonel, please be honest. Since many troops are staring at the grenades, if you don't send someone to stare as soon as possible, you may be taken away by other troops soon. At that time, even Director Peter will come forward and will not be able to stop it."
Zinchenko's words reminded Sokov that the troops in the city are now facing a shortage of ammunition. With 20,000 grenades, at least in a short period of time, there is no need to fight against the enemy to fight bayonets. If there is really a force that forces the grenades, I'm afraid Cui Kefu and the others will not say anything. After all, the starting point of these troops is to better defend the city.
In order to prevent the batch of grenades produced for him from being taken advantage of by other troops, Sokov hurriedly shouted outside the door: "Lieutenant Samoilov, Lieutenant Samoilov!" He shouted twice, but he did not hear anyone agreeing. He remembered that he sent Samoilov to escort the first battalion commander who had retreated without authorization to the Group Army Command.
"Comrade Colonel," Zinchenko heard Sokov calling Samoilov and quickly reminded him: "You sent him to escort the major who retreated without authorization to the Army Command."
Sokov said oh, then said to Zinchenko: "Comrade Deputy Director, I want to go to the factory building. If someone calls me, you can ask them to call the factory."
"Don't worry, go." Zinchenko nodded and said, "I will ask those people to call the factory building to find you."
Sokov led the remaining five guard platoon soldiers through the factory area full of bullet craters and came to the factory building. After a long time, Sokov discovered that it had changed. Trenches were dug around the building, and barbed wire fences were led. There were also a reinforced concrete bunker on both sides of the entrance of the building.
Seeing Sokov and his group come, two militias immediately greeted him. One of the elderly militias asked politely: "Comrade Commander, do you have anything to do?"
"I am Colonel Sokov, the commander of the 41st Division of the Guards." In order not to cause unnecessary trouble, Sokov directly stated his identity and purpose: "I came to see Director Peter."
The old militia who was asking about it may have just been transferred from another place and did not know Sokov at all. However, after hearing Sokov reveal his identity and purpose, he still said politely: "Comrade Colonel, please wait for a moment and I will call you."
Not long after the phone call, the old militia came over and said with a smile: "I have called it inside. The factory office will send someone to wait for you at the door."
After thanking the old militia, Sokov walked through the barbed wire and trenches to the factory building. At the door was a middle-aged man wearing glasses. As soon as he saw Sokov, he asked tentatively: "Is it Colonel Sokov?"
"Yes, it's me." Sokov looked at the other party and asked, "Who are you?"
"I am the clerk of the factory office," the other party replied with a smile: "I was ordered to come here to pick you up. The factory director is waiting for you in the office, please come with me."
The clerk brought Sokov and his group to the factory director's office, and went up to whisper a few words to the secretary sitting in the outside office. The secretary got up and walked towards Sokov, and said with a smile on his face: "Comrade Colonel, you are here. The factory director is waiting for you inside, please come in quickly!"
Sokov said to the soldiers following him, "You stay here and wait for me." After that, he followed the attentive secretary to quickly walk towards the office where the door was closed.
Peter saw Sokov following the secretary into the office, quickly stood up, walked out from behind the table, held Sokov's hand, and said, "Comrade Colonel, I really didn't expect that we would meet again so soon."
After Sokov shook hands with Peter, he sat down next to the conference table in the room and asked impatiently: "Comrade Director, I want to ask where are the newly produced grenades stored?"
Seeing Sokov's anxious look, Peter couldn't help but smile. After sitting down opposite Sokov, he said slowly: "Comrade Colonel, don't worry. Since these grenades are customized for you, no matter which unit sends people, don't think of taking these grenades away."
Sokov looked at Peter, who was sitting opposite him with a smile, and suddenly realized that he might have been deceived. The other party used a grenade to deceive himself here, which might be something important. After breathing a sigh of relief, he raised his body back and leaned against the back of the chair and asked, "Comrade Director, is there anything important to call me here?"
"That's right, I just received a call from the Weapons and Equipment Department." Peter closed his smile on his face and said expressionlessly: "They asked about the prototypes of the ball tank and the new tank, and said they were going to be transported back to Moscow in the near future and let me prepare."
Sokov never dreamed that Peter tricked himself into talking about this matter. He suddenly stood up and said to Peter: "Comrade Director, I think you should know that the prototype of the new tank and several other T-34 tanks are hidden near the factory gate, ready to go into battle at any time; while the ball tank was hidden by Colonel Bere's men in the last battle, near Orlovka. Only the parties involved knew the specific location."
"What should I do?" Peter waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and said expressionlessly: "You must know that the use of these two prototypes must be authorized by the superiors. I made an exception to lend it to you because of the tense war. If it cannot be returned, the superiors will ask, how should I reply?"
"Tell the truth." Not to mention that the ball tanks hidden in the Orlovka area cannot be retrieved, even if they can be retrieved, Sokov is unwilling to return them to Peter. After all, this kind of tank can play a huge role in the battlefield and is strong enough to hide in the basement of the factory. "If the superiors ask, you can say that both tanks were destroyed in the battle."
Seeing Sokov talking lies openly, Peter was a little amused. When he handed over the two prototype cars to Sokov in private, he never thought that he could take them back intact. If the superior hadn't called to ask about these two prototypes, he would have forgotten about it.
Peter looked at Sokov and smiled faintly, then said, "Comrade Colonel, if you really follow your words, I may be removed from my superiors. After a new factory director is replaced, I don't know if he can still maintain the current support for you?"
Peter's words made Sokov fall into deep thought. Although the two had some unhappiness a few hours ago because of the tank problem. But to be honest, Peter did a pretty good job in supporting himself. If he didn't provide so many tanks and explosives, he would have to pay a heavier price to block the enemy's attack. If Peter was really removed from his position as factory director, it would still be an unknown whether the new leader would buy his own account.
After some thought, Sokov gritted his back teeth and said, "Comrade Director, if your superiors want to blame me, you will put the blame on me. Although I am just a colonel, I can still speak with Comrade Ustinov of the Weapons and Equipment Department."
In fact, Peter had already handled the matter when he received a call from the Weapons and Equipment Department. The reason he mentioned it to Sokov was simply to test him and see how he reacted. Fortunately, Sokov did not shirk responsibility and took the initiative to take the blame on himself. Peter was very satisfied with his attitude.
He got up and walked to Sokov, raised his hand and patted his shoulder, and smiled and said, "Okay, comrade Colonel, since you are willing to take responsibility. Then next time the Weapons and Equipment Department calls again, I will reply as you say."
Before Sokov could make his statement, the phone on the desk rang. Peter walked over and picked up the microphone: "I am Peter, where are you?... That's right, is the Colonel here?... Do you want to talk to him?... I understand, I ask him to come and report to you immediately!"
"Comrade Director," Sokov guessed that Peter answered the call had something to do with him. As soon as he put it down, he asked anxiously: "Who called it?"
"It's General Chokov." Peter replied: "He said he had something urgent to come to you and asked you to go to the Army Command immediately."
When Sokov learned that there was something urgent to find him, he could not sit still, so he quickly stood up and said goodbye to Peter. But he was stopped by Peter: "Comrade Colonel, I think it is probably not appropriate for you to see the commander like this."
Sokov looked down at himself and saw that the military coat was covered with dry mud. It was indeed a bit inappropriate to see Cui Kov in such a dress. He said in a little embarrassedly: "But, Comrade Director, I only have a military coat, nothing can be replaced."
"Don't worry, I have a military coat here, you can wear it first." After saying that, he walked to the desk, bent down and took out a stacked military coat from the cabinet below, his mouth twitched violently twice, and handed the military coat to Sokov: "Comrade Colonel, just wear this one."
Sokov took the military coat and saw that it turned out to be a sergeant's military coat. He didn't think about why there was a soldier's military coat here, so he took off the military coat on his body and changed into the military coat. After changing his clothes, he thanked Peter, raised his hand and saluted him, turned around and walked out of the office.
The secretary sitting in the outside office saw Sokov's military coat, and his face showed a shocked expression. Seeing this, Sokov couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade Secretary, do you know this military coat?"
"Yes!" the secretary nodded vigorously and replied, "This is a military coat left by the factory director's son. He usually hides in the cabinet like a treasure. I really didn't expect that he would hand you this military coat."
"The son of Director Peter is also a soldier!" Sokov asked unexpectedly: "Comrade Secretary, do you know which unit he is in?" Sokov's purpose was to meet Director Peter's son in the future, so he could take care of him.
Chapter completed!