Chapter 2790

After Potapov left, Polosukhin's troops began to build fortifications with Borodino Ancient Battlefield as the center.

The 18th Infantry Regiment of Major Romanov was deployed on the Borodino Heights. Polosukhin personally told him: "Comrade Major, the tomb of the famous Prince Bagration is not far from the monument to the heroes of the War of 1812. When your regiment builds fortifications, you must be careful not to destroy his tomb, otherwise we will become sinners for all time."

"Don't worry, comrade division commander." The elderly Major Romanov assured Polosukhin: "I will warn the soldiers to bypass Prince Bagration's tomb when building fortifications and not disturb the peace of this ancestor."

When Sokov heard what Romanov said, he couldn't help but mutter to himself: Even if you carefully bypassed Prince Bagration's mausoleum when building fortifications, it would be useless. The fierce artillery fire of the German army would destroy it. After the experience of Tolstoy Manor, Sokov will no longer blindly mention the relocation of graves, because such cemeteries are cultural relics. If they are to be relocated, it requires the cooperation of multiple departments. This is difficult to do during the war.

When the heads of the regiments were assigning tasks, Polosuhin occasionally secretly glanced at Sokov from the corner of his eyes to see if he would interfere with his deployment. But until the tasks were assigned and the heads of the regiments left, Sokov remained silent.

Seeing Sokov's performance, Polosuhin felt much more at ease. Although he had been in contact with Sokov for a short time, his performance won his favor. As long as these liaison officers sent by their superiors do not make random comments when they are arranging combat tasks, it is the greatest support for themselves.

"Comrade Major," Polosuhin took out a cigarette box and handed it to Sokov: "Want one?"

"Thank you, I don't smoke." Sokov waved his hand to reject the other party's kindness.

Seeing that Sokov didn't smoke, Polosukhin didn't force him. He handed one to the chief of staff and the political commissar, and then he took one out and put it in his mouth. The chief of staff quickly lit a match and lit it for him and the political commissar one by one.

The radio operator Potapov left for Sokov came over with a telegram and whispered: "Comrade Major, this is a telegram from the commander. Please tell Colonel Polosukhin the content as soon as possible."

Sokov took the phone, quickly browsed the content, and said to Polosukhin: "Comrade Colonel, I just received a telegram from the headquarters saying that new troops will enter Borodino tonight to strengthen the defense here."

Hearing such good news, Polosukhin was happy, but he didn't forget to ask the most important question: "I wonder if these troops will enter Borodino. After that, will the army headquarters be in direct command, or will I be in charge? "

"Comrade Colonel, since you are the main force defending Borodino, then these newly joined troops will naturally be under your command."

"That's great." Sokov's answer made Polosuhin very happy. As a battlefield commander, the most worrying thing is that the friendly forces deployed near him are directly commanded by the superiors. When his side needs help, he must ask the superiors, and then the superiors will issue combat orders to that unit. In this way, it is inevitable that the opportunity to fight will be missed. But if it is handed over to his own command, this disadvantage can be avoided. "With the addition of these troops, we will have a better chance of defending Borodino."

Then he instructed the chief of staff: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the troops are about to start building fortifications. You should arrange people to set up guard posts in different directions. Once you find any troops approaching, report to me immediately so that I can arrange them to the appropriate area."

"Okay, Comrade Division Commander." The chief of staff nodded and said, "I will set up guard posts around the defense zone to ensure that any troops appear and report to you as soon as possible."

…………

The next morning, Sokov, who was sleeping in the corner of the headquarters, was awakened by the radio operator: "Comrade Major, Comrade Major, please wake up quickly!"

Sokov opened his eyes, looked at the radio operator standing in front of him, and asked weakly: "What's the matter?"

"Telegram, it's a telegram sent by Comrade Commander." Hearing what the radio operator said, Sokov suddenly woke up. He thought something important had happened, so he quickly grabbed the telegram and read it carefully.

But after reading it, he realized that he was worrying too much. Potapov said in the telegram that he would go to the Borodino Battle Indoor Museum at 9 o'clock this morning, and asked Sokov to call Polosuhin to go with him.

Sokov felt that such a small matter could be notified directly by phone to Polosuhin, but he had to convey it through himself, which was a bit superfluous.

After Sokov finished reading the telegram, Polosuhin immediately asked with concern: "Major Sokov, what happened?"

"Comrade Commander said that he would go to the Borodino Battle Indoor Museum at 9 o'clock this morning, and asked you to go there too."

Hearing Sokov's words, Polosuhin was stunned at first, then nodded thoughtfully, and replied lightly: "I know."

When the time was about the same, Sokov and Polosuhin took a jeep to the museum, followed by two trucks full of guards.

The Borodino Battle Indoor Museum is located in the middle of the battlefield. It was built in 1912 and covers an area of ​​more than 200 square meters. In the small courtyard in front of the museum, there are rows of old-fashioned straight-barreled stubby artillery on each side. In the center of the door stands a bust of Russian commander Kutuzov. Facing it on the left and right are the two deputy commanders Bagration and Barr. The bust of Clay is said to be set up according to the location of the Russian army they commanded. In other words, the Russian army commanded by Bagration is located on the left side of the battlefield; Barclay's troops are located on the right side of the battlefield; and Kutuzov sits in the center of the entire battlefield.

Potapov and two guards stood at the entrance of the museum, talking to the goatee-wearing director. Seeing the arrival of Sokov and Polosukhin, he immediately stopped talking and said, "You are here!"

"Hello, Comrade Commander!" Sokov and Porosukhin both raised their hands to salute Potapov.

After Potapov shook hands with the two, he said: "Since you are here, let's go in and take a look."

Several people walked into the museum under the leadership of the curator.

A standard large sand table is placed in the center of the museum, with topography and features of the ancient Borodino battlefield marked on it, such as residential areas, rivers, roads, woods and major battle sites. The large oil painting hanging on the wall behind the sand table shows the fierce fighting and smoke-filled scenes between the Russian and French armies. Various weapons, military uniforms, military flags and portraits of the Russian army in the early 19th century are displayed around it, as well as the trophies captured by the French army, including Napoleon's personal camp bed abandoned during his retreat from Moscow.

When everyone walked into an exhibition room, Potapov looked at the various flags of the Tsarist Russian army hanging on the wall. He could not help but frown slightly and asked the curator in an unhappy tone: "Comrade Director, Why haven’t these precious cultural relics been moved yet?”

Hearing Potapov's question, the curator's face showed an embarrassed expression: "Comrade General, the Germans came too fast. The evacuation committee had not had time to formulate a transfer plan, so most of the cultural relics in the museum have been destroyed." Still retained.”

"No, these things cannot be left to the Germans. Even if the evacuation committee has not made any decision, we must find a way to complete the transfer as soon as possible." Potapov said, turned around and asked Porosukhin: "Comrade Colonel "How many people did you bring?"

"A platoon of guard soldiers." Porosukhin is also a smart man. He heard Potapov's intention from his words: "Comrade Commander, you want my subordinates to move the objects in the museum. Cultural relics?”

"That's right." Potapov nodded and said, "The first thing that needs to be moved is the military flags displayed here. These flags represent the honor of the Russian army, and they must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Germans."

During the conversation between the two, Sokov could not help but be a little stunned. He remembered that in the movie "The Defense of Moscow", these military flags were distributed to various combat units. Why are they in such a hurry to move to the rear now?

But soon, Sokov figured out the reason: in the movie, the person who handed the general's flag to Porosukhin and ordered him to distribute it to the troops was General Lelyushenko. But now, due to the appearance of his own butterfly, the commander of the 5th Army has become General Potapov. The two generals have different ways of handling problems, and naturally they also handle these military flags differently.

Thinking of this, Sokov quickly said: "Wait a minute."

Potapov, who was speaking, was stunned. He looked at Sokov and asked in confusion: "Major Sokov, what do you want to say?"

"I think these flags can be left alone."

"Don't transfer?!" The expression on Potapov's face became serious: "Do you want to leave these precious flags to the Germans? Let me tell you, if you really do this, it is a crime. Once the flags If it is damaged, you will be despised by future generations.”

Faced with Potapov's accusation, Sokov was not anxious at all. Instead, he patiently explained to Potapov: "Comrade Commander, you misunderstood me. I said not to move these flags because I wanted you to Distribute the flags to the troops defending Borodino, let these glorious flags bless us and bring luck to the troops.”

There is no mistake. One post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, one read!

After listening to Sokov's words, Potapov thought for a moment, then looked at Porosukhin and asked: "Colonel Porosukhin, what do you think?"

"Comrade Commander, I think Major Sokov's proposal is good." Porosukhin looked at Sokov with admiration in his eyes: "These glorious flags should be distributed to the troops, so that the flags of our predecessors can protect us from defeating the enemy. "

"Since you have no objection, the matter has been decided." Potapov did not ask the curator for his opinion, but directly ordered Porosukhin: "Colonel Porosukhin, let your people come in and take away all the flags. Bar."

The curator took out a guest book, walked up to Potapov, and said with a smile: "Comrade General, please write a few words in it."

Potapov asked in confusion: "What is this?"

"VIP Guestbook."

Potapov took the guest book and pen, and was about to write something when he saw Porosukhin who was directing the soldiers to take down the flag from the wall, and changed his mind: "Colonel Porosukhin, you represent Potapov Defenders of Rodino, please write something in this guest book.”

Porosukhin was not pretentious. He took the guestbook from Potapov's hand and began to write: "We are here to defend the Borodino battlefield, Porosukhin."

Sokov, who was standing next to him, looked at what was happening in front of him and muttered to himself: In the movie, there is another scene where German Marshal von Kluge paid his respects in front of a war monument with an eagle on top. French volunteer troops from the Lorraine region gave a swearing-in speech. This point is different from the real history, because the entire ancient Borodino battlefield is under the control of the Soviet army, and it is impossible for them to appear in that area before the battle starts.

Potapov walked to Sokov and asked in a low voice: "Major Sokov, do you know why I sent a telegram asking you to bring Porosukhin to the museum?"

"I don't know, Comrade Commander." Sokov replied truthfully, but he was complaining about Potapov in his heart. This was simply superfluous and unnecessary.

Unexpectedly, Potapov smiled faintly after hearing Sokov's answer, and then said: "Although Porosukhin agrees to you serving as a liaison officer in his division, his subordinates may not agree in a short time. Your existence. Therefore, I can only use this method to let those people understand that you are someone I value, which will help you gain a foothold as soon as possible. "

Sokov was still complaining about Potapov, but after hearing his words, he felt ashamed and said gratefully: "Thank you, Comrade Commander, thank you for everything you have done for me. I assure you that I will never betray the trust you have placed in me.”

Porossuxin saw that all the flags had been taken down, so he walked to Potapov and asked him for instructions: "Comrade Commander, do you plan to go to the position in person to distribute these glorious flags to the troops?"

But Potapov shook his head and said: "No, Colonel Porosukhin, I still have something to do and need to rush back to the headquarters immediately. You will be solely responsible for distributing the flags. If possible, it is best to send Sokov Take the Major too."

"Of course, Comrade Commander, I will definitely take Major Sokov with me." Potapov said with a smile: "After all, he is the liaison officer you sent to me."

"Go quickly." Potapov raised his hand and looked at his watch and continued: "According to the latest intelligence, the Germans are only a few kilometers away from here, and they may launch a violent attack on the Borodino area at any time. , We don’t have much time left, we need to get our troops ready for battle as soon as possible.”

Potapov raised his hand in salute and asked in accordance with the order: "Comrade Commander, do you allow me to leave?"

"Permission." Potapov nodded, then stretched out his hand to Borosukhin and said in a friendly tone: "Comrade Colonel, I wish you good luck! I hope your battle to defend Borodino will be remembered by future generations. Enter the annals of history.”