Chapter 888

"We?" After repeating this word, Bantai leiev frowned and asked, "Sir, I want to ask you, who do you mean by" we "

Bantai leiev's words made us alert to the old hunters. I even wonder why this 70 or 80 year old man suddenly appears near the city. He is not a spy sent by the German, is he?

Perhaps the old hunter was aware of the strange look we cast on him, tried to squeeze a smile on his face, and explained to me, "comrades commander, the situation is like this. Except for the young people who went to be soldiers, the rest of our collective farm did not evacuate. So now there are more than 100 men, women and children in the farm."

The old hunter's reply obviously did not dispel Bantai leiev's suspicion. He pointed to the old-fashioned shotgun on the old man's shoulder and asked: "since you said there were Germans in the farm, why didn't they take your shotgun and let you carry it around? Aren't they afraid that you would use this gun to kill their officers and soldiers?"

I had already let down my heart to the old hunter. Hearing Bantai leiev's question, I could not help but heighten my vigilance. My hand unconsciously touched the LEATHER HOLSTER around my waist, and I was ready to take the initiative to kill him once I found out that he was trying to shoot. I'm sure he'll shoot anyone in the room first.

Unexpectedly, the old hunter nodded and said to Bantai leiev, "Comrade commander, you are right. My shotgun was seized by the Germans after they came, but they gave it back to me later. "

Listening to the old hunter's honesty, I moved the hand that had touched the holster away, and stopped Bantai leiev who still wanted to ask: "OK, comrade Colonel, I believe this old man." Then he turned to wittkov and said, "chief of staff, pour me a cup of tea."

When the old hunter sat down to drink tea, I had guessed the reason why the German returned the shotgun to him, so I tentatively asked, "Uncle Matvey, I think the reason why the German returned the shotgun to you is that you want to be the village head and cooperate with them in managing the farm."

As soon as my words came out, the old hunter jumped up from his seat and stared at me with eyes open and tongue tied. He stammered nervously: "general, how... How... How... Do you... Know?"

Seeing that I had guessed correctly, I went around the table to him, put my hand on his shoulder, pressed him gently downward, motioned him to sit down, and asked with a smile, "Uncle Matvey, can you tell me how you refused the German's rude request?" The reason why I ask is that I see anger on several faces around me, so I want to tell them the truth through Matvey's mouth.

Sure enough, as soon as I said this, everyone's faces softened. They stood quietly, waiting for the old hunter named Matvey to tell his story.

"Here's the thing," the old hunter said with some difficulty. "Because I'm a hunter, not a farmer of the collective farm, my house is far away from the farm on the edge of the forest, where my grandson Vasha and I live. I don't usually go to the farm if there's nothing important. When the Germans came, they might find that I had no close relationship with the people in the farm, so I knew that the reason why the Germans made such a friendly request to me was that they could not successfully cross the forest and get close to the city without a guide. For this kind of thing, I certainly won't agree, so I politely refused.

I didn't expect that the German commander would not give up, took my hand and made a wish to me, saying: if I lead the way for them, in addition to providing me with money, flour and fire oil, I would also be given a German brand double barreled shotgun that all hunters dream of.

When I heard that from the Germans, I guessed that some coward in the farm had told them that I was familiar with every swamp, every tree, every stone and every mysterious hunting mark here, and that I was an ideal guide. That's why the Germans offered me such an offer to tempt me. I was thinking that if there were any troops in the city, I could tell them that there were German troops in the farm and let them destroy the invaders.

I was deeply afraid that if I agreed too readily, it would arouse German suspicion. So I pretended to be greedy and said to the officer, "Sir, a good gun is not enough. Can I have some more money?"

When the officer heard this, he cried out excitedly and asked the interpreter to tell me that the German commander always respected the people who worked for them and did not care about spending money on those who were willing to serve them faithfully.

As soon as the officer and his interpreter finished, he hastily added: "if you are willing to scout the enemy for us and act as a guide for us, I will reward you a lot and give you a thousand rubles."

At this time, everyone was attracted by Uncle Matvey's story, listening to him quietly about what happened, and no one interrupted him“ After listening to the translation, I pretended to be thinking hard. It took me a long time to say to the officer, "Sir, this money is too little. You know I can take a lot of risks. You can't buy me off at such a cheap price."

"A thousand rubles is too little? That's fifteen! " Seeing that I still shook my head, he immediately raised the reward again: "two thousand rubles, no more. Otherwise, I'll send someone myself. "

I quickly pretended to be satisfied and said, "two thousand is two thousand, but you have to pay half in advance."

After discussing with the interpreter, the officer took out a stack of banknotes from the drawer and carefully counted out the number I wanted. Then he asked me to come to the city as soon as possible for reconnaissance, and asked me to go back to the farm before noon tomorrow and tell them the intelligence I found. "

Hearing this, vetkov suddenly clapped his hands and said, "great, this is great." Then he turned to me and said, "Comrade commander, since the enemy has only one ski camp, we can lead them out, ambush them in the forest and wipe them out. What do you think? "

As for wittkov's proposal, after thinking for a moment, I resolutely agreed: "well, comrade chief of staff, as you said, after we set up an ambush circle in the forest, let uncle Matvey lead the Germans. Then, when they are tired, they will attack suddenly and wipe them out completely. "

"Do we need to set up the ambush now?" Kirilov, who had been silent, suddenly asked.

"Comrade commander, I don't think it's necessary. It's too cold. If our soldiers lie in the snow for more than ten or twenty hours, they will freeze to death. " The old hunter broke in and said, "let's just go back and tell the Germans that there are small units of our army stationed in the city and try to lead them out. Then I'll send my grandson to inform you that I'll take the Krauts around the forest a few more times to give you enough time to set up the ambush circle. "

"That's a good proposal." "Uncle Matvey, can you tell us where is the right place to set up this ambush circle?" bantaileiev said

"In the southwest of the city, near the edge of the forest, there is a deep gully with many bushes. There is an open area nearby, where your troops can ambush." When the old hunter said this, he rushed to pick up the map and ready to hand it to him. Vetkov waved, "Comrade commander, I can't understand the map. Why don't you send a few people with me, and I'll take your people there to see the terrain. "

"Captain travkin!" When the old hunter said this, I called to trafkin who was standing beside him. When he passed by, I told him, "you've taken some people with you to go with uncle Matvey."

After travkin left with Matvey, kirilov approached me and asked in a low voice, "Comrade oshanina, do you think this old hunter is reliable?"

"Sure." First I nodded in affirmation, then I asked strangely, "what's the matter, comrade political commissar? Are you still doubting anything?"

Kirilov frowned and replied, "he said the Germans sent him to scout. Why didn't they send several soldiers to scout with him? Is that how the Germans believe him? "

"Comrade political commissar, you think too much." As for kirilov's worry, I didn't take it to heart. I said in a tone of disapproval: "it's so cold now, and the temperature in the forest at night is even colder. Except for old hunters like Matvey, I don't believe that the Germans can endure such cold."

I thought this far fetched reason would cause everyone's refutation. Unexpectedly, several people agreed and nodded. Bantailiev also said excitedly: "when we started the counter offensive under Moscow City, the reason why we were able to achieve so much success in the early stage was that the German army, which lacked winter clothes, lost its combat effectiveness in the cold. I think the commander is right in his analysis. The Germans in the collective farm at dawn may lack enough winter clothes, so they dare not walk into the forest full of snow

While we were discussing it, the operator sitting by the wall suddenly called me: "Comrade commander, there is a call for you. It's from the headquarters of the group army."

Group army command? Hearing the name of this unit, I quickly came to the telephone, and took the earphone and transmitter from the operator.

A strange and gentle voice came out of the earphone: "is it Comrade oshanina?"

"Yes, I'm o'shanina!" I've never heard this voice, and I don't know who the other party is, so I politely asked in a business tone, "I don't know who I'm lucky to be talking to?"

"I'm haridonov, the current commander of the Sixth Army."

After hearing the other party's identity report, I straightened up and said in a panic: "Hello, comrade commander, do you have any instructions?"

"Comrade oshanina, where are your troops going?" Asked haridonov.

I quickly gave him a detailed report on the current positions of several divisions.

I didn't expect that after hearing this, he said with some dissatisfaction: "Comrade oshanina, no, your troops are too slow. It took a day, but I still haven't reached the designated position. How can I do that? "

"Comrade commander, I..." when I was hesitating whether I should report the actual situation on the road to him, he said to himself: "at present, our army is progressing very smoothly. A part of general Golikov's Voronezh front army has just captured Kursk occupied by the German army; The other main forces are approaching Kharkov. It is estimated that the final attack on the German army will be launched within these two days. After consolidating the Donetsk defense line, our front army will continue to push westward to attack the Dnieper River, completely cut off the links between the Ukrainian German army and the Caucasian German army, divide them into two groups that cannot be contacted, and then use the heavy army group to encircle and annihilate them. "

Perhaps infected by the victory of the battle of Stalingrad which just ended, the words of the commander of the group army were full of excitement. He naturally thought that the German aggressors had no power to resist the strong offensive of our two front armies. As long as there are two more battles, the German army in Ukraine will be completely annihilated. When he talks to me at this time, he naturally wants to hear my compliments. I know that if I'm rebellious at this time, it's easy to be labeled as "defeatism". How did Yang Xiu die in the Three Kingdoms period? Although he was a smart man, he was just too talkative. As a result, he killed himself unconsciously. I don't want future generations to write an article "the death of o'shanina" when they write this history. Therefore, I said with a smile and flattery against my heart, "yes, comrade commander, judging from the current situation, the morale of the German army, who has just suffered a disastrous defeat in the battle of Stalingrad, is so low that it is impossible to resist the joint attack of our two front armies. I believe that it will not be long before they are completely destroyed." Haridonov was very satisfied with what I said. He specially told me: "you should continue to March tomorrow as soon as possible, and strive to arrive at the designated place as soon as possible to participate in the final attack on the German aggressors. Do you understand? "“ I see, comrade commander. " I assured him on the transmitter, "please rest assured that our army will arrive at the assembly place designated by the superior on time." When I put down the earphone and the transmitter, wittkov asked me strangely, "Comrade commander, why don't you report to the commander that we are going to ambush the German here?" Without waiting for him to finish, I raised my hand to stop what he said behind, and said solemnly: "I declare a discipline. In order to prevent the leakage of secrets, all important combat intelligence can only be transmitted by telegram, cable telephone or manpower, and never by wireless communication, so as not to be monitored by the German army. Do you understand? "“ I understand The commander in the room replied neatly.