Steel Soviet Union

The railway line leading north from Yelnya to Leningrad was winding. Because the military train could not reach the shore of Lake Ladoga, Malashenko quickly got off the train and commanded his troops to move towards the lake. The direction of the lake is quite close.

"Speed ​​up, comrades! Prioritize the technical equipment and tanks of the combat troops to be unloaded from the trucks. After the assembly is completed, immediately set off to advance towards the predetermined target, and the logistics, maintenance and supply troops will follow! Everyone, move, quickly!"

Waving his arms, he stood on the busy and noisy platform and directed the tank companies under his command to accelerate the unloading of trucks. Lavrinenko, who hurriedly ran from the side, stepped forward and interrupted Malashenko's words.

"I have searched the entire platform and the vestibule of the train station. I have also asked in the command and dispatch office. I can't find the personnel sent by the front army headquarters to meet us. What are your plans? Malashenko."

After hearing the report from Lavrinenko, he frowned. Malashenko, who was not very familiar with the specific situation in Leningrad, originally thought that Zhukov would at least send a liaison officer to pick him up at the train station, but as of now, The situation seems to be that Malashenko himself thinks too much.

"Forget it if there is no one to respond, it doesn't matter, Lavri. The first and second companies will unload and reassemble immediately. When the time comes, I will take these two companies to set off for Lake Ladoga first, and I will take Karamov with me. "

"You stay here and continue to direct the remaining troops to unload the trucks. When you are ready, you will immediately bring the troops to follow us. No matter what, you must lead the troops across the lake as soon as possible to report to the front army headquarters. There is not much time left for us. ”

After listening to the arrangements made by Malashenko, he immediately nodded. Lavrinenko, who knew that time was tight and had to rush without delay, naturally had no unnecessary objections. After all, it was Zhukov who ordered them to report to the front army headquarters tonight. Deadline.

Soon, after being removed from the fixed devices and chains, the first and second companies slowly drove down from the military column. It didn't take long for the first and second companies to be ready. Malashenko, who was anxious and worried that he would not have enough time left for him, immediately boarded. He picked up his battalion command vehicle and began to march towards the not-so-distant shores of Lake Ladoga.

"I never thought that I would return to this holy city again under such circumstances. The last time I came here was when I came here to study for two months after joining the party at the Tank Corps School. I hope those damn Germans did this to her. The damage is not too serious.”

He stretched out his upper body and stood outside the turret, holding a telescope in his hand to direct the direction of the troops. After hearing the slightly lamenting words from the gunner Iushkin's mouth in the lower turret, his eyes opened in the cold wind. Malashenko, who narrowed his eyes slightly, poured cold water on Iushkin without thinking.

"Things are not what they used to be, Iushkin. I hope you have a strong stomach. Even bread and biscuits may be in short supply in the coming months."

The armored column, which was speeding along in the dust, soon arrived at the Ladoga Lakeside Pier, which was only a dozen kilometers away. When the impatient Malashenko was the first to jump off the turret of the vehicle and was ready to start work immediately, the sight in front of him This was both an unexpected and rather spectacular scene, but Malashenko couldn't help but stand stunned on the spot.

"Fuck! Why didn't I take a trip to Lake Ladoga when I was studying in Moscow? This is not a freshwater lake, this is just a fucking ocean!"

On the endless beach, there are traces of ripples rolled up by the rough waves. The water of the lake, which is dark blue to slightly black, has no edge at a glance and is directly connected to the distant horizon. I wonder if it is related to the lake that just fell. After a heavy rain, waves were rising on the lake surface, and the sound of the tide continued.

If Malashenko had not followed the planned route on the war zone map to reach his final destination, and had no doubt about the accuracy of his personal command of the route, the vast scene of the same color as the sea and sky in front of him would have been real no matter what. It has nothing to do with the term freshwater lake.

This unbelievably huge and vast Lake Ladoga is showing its endless charm to Malashenko, who is meeting him for the first time. It is as majestic as the stars and the sea.

"Damn it, I still expect to be able to transport all the troops across the lake in one night. Judging from the situation, I don't know how long it will be delayed."

Just as Malashenko is complaining in his heart right now.

As the largest freshwater lake in Europe, Lake Ladoga is 83 kilometers apart at its widest point on the east and west shores. The deepest point of the lake is more than 230 meters deep. Even the average lake depth is more than 50 meters deep, which is enough It is no exaggeration to describe Lake Ladoga as a "vast ocean" to accommodate heavy warships sailing on the lake unimpeded.

Although Ladoga Lake is not peaceful with bursts of waves, the busy crowds on the pier on the shore of the lake are far worse than the waves above the lake. The noisy and busy scene is even in Mara. From the perspective of Shen Ke, a later time traveler, it is much more shocking than those seen in movies, TV dramas and documentaries.

Malashenko, who quickly walked to the checkpoint at the dock, thought that as an officer, he would be able to pass without any obstruction, but the two guards, who wore black big-brimmed hats and whose uniforms were clearly different from those of ordinary Red Army infantry units, did not. Quietly, he stretched out his hand to block Malashenko's way.

"Please show your pass or other relevant documents, comrade, no idlers are allowed to enter the pier."

"Idle person? Damn it, why am I still an idle person?"

Malashenko, who was so angry that he was instantly choked to death by the senseless and heartless words of the two big-headed guards in front of him, had no time or thought to bother with these minutiae, and Malashenko looked extremely unhappy. Rashenko immediately took out his military ID card from his jacket pocket and handed it to the guard in front of him.

"This is my military officer ID. If that's not enough for you, I also have a transfer message from the commander of the front army, General Zhukov. Do you want me to show it to you?"

Carefully flipping through the pages of the black-clothed guard who Malashenko handed over his military ID card, he also quietly observed the face and expression of the person in front of him with the corner of his eye to see if there was any abnormality. After confirming that everything was correct in a routine manner, he handed over this little Major's book. The officer's ID card was handed back to Malashenko.

"The Lake Ladoga Squadron of the Baltic Fleet welcomes you. Please pass, Major Malashenko."