Red Moscow

  Chapter 532 New Supplemental Fighter (Part 2)

   When Raisa heard that there would be four fighters piloted by male pilots in the future, and she could not help but frowned slightly when she would act with them at any time, she was worried that these male pilots would drag them down in battle. But when he heard that it was Alexei who led the team, the heart hanging in his throat was put back in his stomach again.

   "Comrade Captain," Raisa said to Alexei with a smile on her face, "I hope we can cooperate tacitly in the sky in the future and severely attack the Japanese invaders."

   "Captain Alexey," Lilia suddenly said before Alexey could speak, "I have a request, I hope you can pass it on to the captain."

   "Please tell me, Comrade Lilia." Seeing that Lilia made a request to himself, Alexei immediately said politely: "I will definitely convey your request to the regimental commander truthfully."

   Lilia said: "If I'm not mistaken, the enemy should have an artillery position not far from us, right? Because our airport will be bombarded every other day."

"Yes, Lilia, the enemy has a mobile artillery position a few kilometers away from us." Alexey nodded after Lilia finished speaking, and said helplessly, "The enemy is very cunning. Every time our positions were shelled, they moved immediately, and we couldn't find their traces at all."

   "Raisa," Lilia held out her hand to Raisa, "please give me the map."

   "What do you want the map for?" Raisa asked, but she got up and took out the map from the briefcase hanging on the wall, and handed it to Lilia: "Here, this is the map we use."

Lilia took the map, thanked Raisa, spread the map on the bed, and said to Alexei: "Comrade Captain, I have an idea. Tomorrow is the day when the German army bombards the airport. We can send two fighter planes , to search the area where they may appear, and if found, destroy their artillery positions."

   After Lilia finished speaking, Alexey frowned and said, "In such a large area, it may not be easy to find the whereabouts of the enemy's artillery."

"Captain Alexei, you are right. It is very difficult to find the enemy's hidden artillery position with our own strength." Lilia smiled and said to Alexei: "But we let Infantry help us find it."

For Lilia's statement, Alexey said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Lilia, I think it is necessary to remind you that our airport is located in the northwest of the city, and we are more than 80 kilometers away from the city. It's the Germans. How do you get the infantry to cooperate with us in this situation?"

  Lilia did not answer Alexei's question immediately, but walked to the door, looked around, then closed the door, walked in and said to everyone: "I have a secret to tell you."

   "What's the secret?" Seeing Lilia acting so mysteriously, Raisa asked anxiously: "Lilia, if you have anything to say, just say it, it's so secretive."

"When I went to the factory to pick up Katya, I overheard Lieutenant Colonel Sokov calling someone to ask about the situation of a small unit behind enemy lines." Lilia said this, and in order to increase the credibility, she turned her head to look at Looking at Katya: "Katya, you were there at the time, you should have heard him call, right?"

  Katya thought for a moment, then nodded, and said in an uncertain tone, "It seems to be the case."

Seeing that Katya confirmed her statement, Lilia went on to say: "This is how I think about it. Lieutenant Colonel Sokov may have a reconnaissance force active in the enemy's rear. We can ask them to help us conduct reconnaissance. Once the enemy is found As soon as the artillery is located, we immediately dispatched the air force to support it..."

"Lilia, wait a minute." Before Lilia finished speaking, Alexey raised his hand to interrupt her, and asked, "I want to ask, who put such absurd idea into you mind."

  Lilia didn't expect Alexey's reaction to be so strong, and asked in a daze, "Alexey, did I say something wrong?"

"It's not just a mistake, it's a big mistake." Seeing Lilia's bewildered expression, Alexey explained to her, "Lilia, the Sokov lieutenant colonel you mentioned is an infantry soldier. , and we are the air force, we do not belong to the same system, and we cannot share information. If the defenders in the city want to receive support from our air force, they must report to the 62nd Army Command. Report to the Front Army, and the Front Army Command will make overall arrangements."

   "Ah!" Lilia couldn't help being surprised when she heard this: "How complicated is the coordination between us and the infantry?"

"That's right," Alexey said helplessly, "Even if Lieutenant Colonel Sokov can provide us with information about the enemy's artillery, by the time he reports to us layer by layer, it is estimated that the enemy's artillery has already Transferred."

  Hearing what Alexey said, Lilia couldn't help feeling cold, but she still said unwillingly, "Alexey, can't we try?"

Alexey originally wanted to refuse, but when he saw Lilia looking at him expectantly, his heart softened again. He could only nod his head and said helplessly, "Okay, Lilia, I Accompany you to the head of the regiment. As for whether he agrees with your proposal, I can't guarantee it."

"Really?" Lilia thought that this matter had been ruined, but from Alexey's tone, she saw new hope. She grabbed Alexey's arm and said anxiously: " Alexey, let's go find the captain now."

   A few minutes later, Lilia followed Alexei to the regiment command post. Khostnikov was sitting at a table, reading a map and drinking vodka from a stainless steel jug. Seeing Lilia enter the door, she quickly put down the flagon in her hand, got up and greeted her, and said pleasantly, "Our ace pilot is here, welcome!"

   Lilia felt a little embarrassed when she saw that Khostnikov was being so polite to her. After she raised her hand to salute, she reached out and held the hand extended by the other party in a panic. When Khostnikov asked her: "Second Lieutenant Lilia, you came to me suddenly, what's the matter?"

  Khorstnikov's casual question made Lilia nervous and speechless. She could only cast her eyes on Alexei for help, hoping that the other party could help her explain her purpose. After seeing Lilia's eyes, Alexey nodded slightly, then took a step forward, and said to Khostnikov: "Comrade commander, I have something to report to you, and I hope to get your answer." license."

Khostnikov was surprised to see that it was Alexei, his most trusted squadron leader, who came out to explain Lilia's intentions, but he still said reasonablely: "If you have anything to do, just say it, as long as It is within my ability, and I will definitely satisfy your request. Don't be dazed, sit down. Sit down and talk slowly."

But when Khostnikov finished listening to Alexey, he couldn't help showing a embarrassed expression on his face: "Captain Alexey, you should know that we have no affiliation with the infantry. Whether we cooperate with them or they cooperate with us, we must go through the headquarters of the front army and the headquarters of the two armies... In a word, this matter is quite troublesome. In my opinion, this matter ends here, and you should not find it for yourself Trouble."

"Comrade Commander," Lilia was a little unhappy when she saw that the Commander rejected her request so simply, "The steps we had to perform in the cooperation with the infantry before were indeed rather cumbersome. But we can ask our superiors I made a request and tried to cooperate with brigade-level units, but I didn't expect to achieve unexpected results."

  If this was said by another pilot, Khostnikov might have shut him up long ago. But now that this was said by a newly promoted ace pilot, he had to treat it with caution. After some thought, he said tactfully, "Second Lieutenant Lilia, I can report your suggestion to my superiors. As for whether it will be approved, I can't guarantee it."

   After finishing speaking, Khostnikov ordered the communications corps to connect to the division headquarters, and reported Lilia's suggestion to the division commander, Major General Boris. Regarding this kind of matter, Boris still did not dare to make a decision, so he reported to Khryukin again. It happened that Khryukin was considering how to strengthen the cooperation between the defenders and the air force. After listening to Boris' report, he said three good things in a row, and then said: "I will send a telegram to General Chuikov immediately and ask for his opinion. .”

   Boris waited for Khryukin to finish speaking, and immediately asked for instructions: "Then how should I reply to Colonel Khostnikov? He is still waiting for my answer?"

   "Let him wait." Khryukin replied, "It's not too late to inform him after General Chuikov and I discuss the final result."

  When Khryukin was discussing with Chuikov, Boris didn't give Khostnikov either, which made the colonel anxious like an ant on a hot pot, walking back and forth in the command post. Lilia wanted to ask what kind of answer the superior would have, but as soon as she opened her mouth, before she could say anything, Alexei shook her head at her, signaling her not to disturb the leader at such a time, Lilia was helpless Can only remain silent.

   After a long wait, Khostnikov finally got a call from Boris. The division commander said on the phone: "Comrade Colonel, your request has been approved by your superiors. From now on, your regiment will accept the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, and will not accept other combat tasks except to cooperate with their brigade. Understand ?"

Khostnikov felt a little unhappy when he learned that he had to obey the command of a lieutenant colonel, but since his superior had issued an order, it was obviously impossible to change it, so he could only bite the bullet and reply: "Understood, Comrade Commander. I resolutely obey the orders of my superiors. From now on, I will accept the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. But I would like to ask, how can we establish contact with them?"

   "You don't have to worry about this," Boris said on the phone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov will send you a telegram soon, and you can just follow his orders. Good luck!"

After Khostnikov put down the phone, he said to Alexey and Lilia who were waiting on the side: "The division commander has given me a clear answer. From now on, our regiment will accept the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. Apart from cooperating with them in combat, no other combat missions will be arranged for the time being."

  Knowing that their proposal was approved, Lilia and Alexei couldn't help but glance at each other, and both of them saw surprise expressions on each other's faces. Lilia quickly raised her hand to salute Khostnikov, and said emotionally: "Comrade commander, thank you! With the cooperation of the infantry comrades, we will be able to achieve greater success under your leadership." results."

  Khorstnikov originally thought that he would accept the command of a lieutenant colonel, and felt particularly aggrieved in his heart, but after hearing Lilia's flattering words, he became in a better mood again. He waved at Lilia and said, "Second Lieutenant Lilia, if you have nothing to do, go back and rest. You must be exhausted from today's battle." After leaving, he added, "Captain Alexei, you stay, I still have something to discuss with you."

  (end of this chapter)