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September 1941 Soviet Military Information Bulletin (Part):

On November 11, the German army resumed its offensive in the direction of Tikhvin; on November 5, the German army captured Tikhvin...

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The capture of Tikhvin filled the staff of the 54th Army with frustration and even anger.They were ordered to reinforce Jikhwin, so that the original campaign plan was suspended, but in the end they got this result.The fall of Tikhvin not only cut off the last railway line leading to Lake Ladoga, but also made it possible for the German army to break into the Svir River and achieve the strategic intention of joining the Finnish army.

The Germans seized this moment of breakthrough and attacked more fiercely.

Tikhvin asked the 54th Army for more reinforcements.

The deployment of the troops was facing readjustment, and Fejuninski frowned and smoked in front of a large map hanging on the wall.The German army was pressing on the front line along the coast of Lake Ladoga, and it was menacing.Any subtle imbalance on the front line may lead to changes in the situation. The staff officers are in a heated debate about how to deploy troops and firepower.

The discussions during the day did not result in any substantive resolutions, and several opinions will be collected in written materials in the form of combat plans and submitted to the commander.

In the evening, kulik was called to the commander's office.

Fejuninsky said: "I quite agree with your point of view: the Germans attack like a bison, with its horns directed at Tikhvin; if the ox's tail is pulled, they will also slow down." He leaned back in his chair. Rely on it and say, "But I'm not telling you this, it's something else."

"Alexander Abt, I remember correctly, right?" He continued, "The Kalinin Arsenal now needs a military representative, and I can arrange for him to go."

Kulik barely reacted at the first moment, he asked subconsciously: "What did you say?"

Fejuninsky said: "This means that he can resume his military position in this way." He watched the several expressions on the lieutenant colonel's staff face change in a trance, and finally returned to composure.

"I," he asked after a moment of hesitation, "may I inform him in advance?"

"Of course, as you like," Fejuninsky waved his hand, indicating that Kulik could go, then paused for a moment, then called him back, "I think I should tell you——I was planning to get you out of here." I went, but I saw this," he held up a few pages of paper in his hand, "I changed my mind again—young man, I want to clearly express this wish to you: Cherish your talent and future, It's good for you."

Sasha put down the newspaper in the dim candle light.

This day's newspaper reported on the battle in the capital Moscow with a full-page page. One of the newsletters mentioned a combat group of the 316th Infantry Division. German tanks tried to approach Moscow through their positions; during the four-hour battle , They destroyed a total of 4 German tanks. At the most tragic moment of the battle, the instructor shouted: "Although the Soviet Union is big, there is no way to retreat. Behind us is Moscow!"

Sasha closed her eyes, trying to recall the Red Square in her memory, those splendid buildings and the white snow on the red star of the Kremlin.

All he can do now is to recite his past ideals in meditation.

Because of his hearing, teaching work has become unsuitable for him—any work is inconvenient, Sasha thought to himself.

"You take a break for a while," Zhulin said to him, "As for the future—would you like to go to the library, or somewhere else?"

For such a suggestion, he neither accepted nor refused, in fact he was a bit at a loss.

At this moment, what else can he do besides watching.

Sasha put on her coat, opened the door and walked out.

He walked down the stairs slowly, and the workers in the reception room stuck their heads out when they heard the voice. Sasha said: "I have something to go out for a trip."

He walked aimlessly onto the street, and there was no one on the street in the winter night.He stood there, rustling in his ears like the sound of the wind, or the sound of a chorus.

"On the other side of the small river, lights were lit... On that vast land, they moved forward in the silent night...

Bright bayonets flashed... They fell to the ground and closed their eyes...

He told his blue horse,

Darling, tell me,

I sacrificed, for the Soviets"

……

They often sang this song in Siberia; when they first arrived, it was more or less difficult for people to adapt to the cold and desolation there. They sat around the fire in the barracks, and some people played the accordion on stools. Sometimes the accompaniment was A cruder harmonica; the lads sang in unison, the chorus low and the rhythm clanging; and if one could drink, one would stand up and dance a bit—he had learned several steps there.Strange to say, he had an exceptional sense of rhythm and coordination, especially for the "difficult dances," such as the mazurka, and soon there was no one else who could do them better.

Kulik always sits quietly on such occasions, drinking vodka quietly, with a serious look.

More than once he heard the complaint: "Ilia is so unapproachable."

Sasha wouldn't explain it for him—just like Kulik himself couldn't explain—out of some awkward psychology, Sasha thought, he probably just didn't want to make everyone feel close.

But they were close, even "close"—at least for a while.

Once he drank a little too much and dozed off on the table; kulik came to call him, and he pulled him to sit next to him with the strength of alcohol.He still remembers pulling Ilia's arm affectionately, wrapping his arms around his shoulders, blowing air on his face on purpose; kulik seemed impatient, but didn't really push him away.

"You are enough."

"Enough of what?"

"Enough."

"It's enough, but what does that matter to you?"

"Hmph...it's none of my business."

They were bickering half-truths, and when Kulik said these words with a straight face, his face turned red, and the smile biting the corner of his mouth was faintly visible.

A gust of cold wind blew, and Sasha came back to her senses.He paused and continued walking, the street in the darkness looked more and more depressed, and the displays in the shop windows along the road also looked lifeless; the moonlight stretched his shadow on the ground, and the shadow of a wild cat flashed on the road ahead After passing by, he escaped into the dark place of the shadow, only the green eyes were like phosphorous fire in the wasteland.

It was eerily quiet all around.

When they patrolled at night, they often encountered such silence.The wind blows the snowflakes on the ground, but the bare branches of the tall trees remain motionless; when you listen to it, there seems to be a rustling sound, and there seem to be green and hungry eyes staring at it from afar. they watch.

They all know, "There are wolves around." In Siberia, they were earlier inhabitants.

"Are you afraid?" Later his little maker asked him nervously with widened eyes.

"No, we have guns," he made a movement of pulling the bolt, "If they dare to come, let them eat the bullets."

It is true that people have been attacked by wild wolves, and some have even seen these hungry creatures wandering near their own camps.But Sasha had never seen it before, and he didn't pay much attention to it—he was still thinking for a moment when he was caught by the wolf trap: What kind of idiot is this who makes a big fuss.

It's also his fault that he didn't pay attention and stepped into the snow pit.He immediately fell to the ground, his voice was choked up in his throat due to the severe pain, and he could only watch helplessly as the bright red blood stained the dazzling white snow.

He was sent to the hospital, and heard the doctor's dismay that his calf had been pinched off. He lay in the hospital for two months and gained several kilograms.Because every weekend in the first month, Kulik would visit him and routinely bring him military cans; but then he gradually lost weight, because then Kulik stopped coming—he went to the Armored Division.

When Sasha returned to the army, the weather was already warm.He felt that after being in the hospital once, his personality seemed to have changed a little; when people played the mazurka melody again, he seemed to lose his previous interest. "My legs are not feeling well," he said.

Sasha also went to the place where she was injured once, the snow had already melted away, and the wolf trap was not even a shadow.

The resident of the armored division was not with them, and Sasha met Kulik several times afterwards, and the time was rushed, and they didn't have time to talk too much—in the limited few encounters, they almost had an argument.

"You were the one who was sent," Kulik said.

He laughed: "Ah, I understand, so this is a bruise to your proud character?"

This was of course a joke, but he didn't expect Ilia's violent reaction: his former roommate seemed to have been greatly insulted, and almost dropped the water glass on the table to the ground.

Later, the situation in the Far East gradually became tense until the Battle of Nomonkan; when he felt that he could finally relax, he heard that Kulik had been transferred to Moscow.

Of course, there are many things that come later.

Sasha stopped in her tracks.Scattered snowflakes drifted down and caught in the folds of his coat. Sasha spread her hands, and those cool crystals melted away without a trace.

It's snowing, Sasha thought, time to go back.

He gently pushed open the door of the dormitory building, and some rusty hinges still creaked.

He wiped the melted snow off his head and rubbed the soles of his shoes.When he raised his head, he found a person standing silently in front of him.

"It's me." Kulik said in a low voice, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Sasha didn't know why, but paused for a moment.He subconsciously cleared his throat: "What's the matter? Go upstairs and tell me?"

Kulik's voice was still low: "No, I have to go back."

They were silent for a while, and when Kulik spoke again, he suddenly felt short of breath: "Last time I said, about your reinstatement to the military, the Kalinin Arsenal needs a military representative, and they want to invite you to go."

He finished speaking in a hurry, his eyes swept to the ground; the footprints on the concrete floor were scattered all over the place, all out of order.

Sasha didn't answer.

"This is not an official notice." Kulik turned to the side. "I heard the news and wanted to tell you first." He raised his hand to straighten his collar and pursed his lips. "I'm going first."

"Ilia," he walked past Sasha, and heard the man call him in a calm tone.When he looked back at Sasha, Sasha was smiling.

"Ilia," he repeated, with a sudden bitterness in his smiling tone, "you know, you don't owe me anything—there is no debt between anyone and me."

The author has something to say: the song that Sasha remembered was called "Across the River", the tune was composed by the Decembrists exiled in Siberia, and the lyrics were written for the soldiers of the Soviet Cavalry Army.Maoxiong's Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe has a particularly deep and tender version.In fact, this song is sung by a male chorus, which is very deep and gentle