After the long bombardment ended, the close firefight that Wei Ran imagined did not happen. After the two sides rained artillery shells on each other's positions for more than an hour, they tacitly chose to stop fighting at a certain moment, as if nothing had happened just now. The only thing that can prove that a firefight has just occurred may be the wounded in the trenches and bunkers and the still twitching corpses.
With the busy work of the stretcher team, the injured who were still alive were sent to the birch forest at the rear after simple treatment. The dead soldiers were also carried away at the end, while the surviving soldiers, under the command of a young company commander, were busy reinforcing the muddy trenches with various found raw materials.
After removing the shrapnel embedded in the wound of the last wounded person and suturing the wound, Wei Ran left the bandaging work to Nurse Lano, while he himself was called by Dr. Pasha, who was filled with smoke. and the smell of blood outside the bunker.
"Victor, are you really a reporter?" As Dr. Pasha spoke, he took out a crumpled cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Wei Ran, "Or to put it another way, you used to "Really a veterinarian?"
"I am indeed a reporter, and I was indeed a veterinarian before."
Wei Ran declined the other party's cigarette and explained seriously, "Of course. I used to treat people occasionally."
"Would you like to consider working at the first aid station?" Pasha extended the invitation with an expectant look, "Although treating the wounded is definitely more difficult, it is at least better than yours. War reporters should work safer."
"This kind of thing is not something you and I can decide."
Wei Ran looked around and said, "Doctor Pasha, look around. Soldiers. I'm sure some of them may have been professional doctors. They certainly don't mind helping their comrades around them when they are injured, but they will never choose to put down their weapons and pick up the scalpel." p>
"Comrade reporter is right"
The young company commander who was directing the soldiers to reinforce the trenches not far away came over and said, "Although there are no doctors or veterinarians in my company, But there is a skier, a primary school teacher, and a lawyer."
At this point, the company commander saluted first, then stretched out his hand and said, "I am Valentin, thank you. "
"Pasha"
"Victor"
After the three of them announced their names and shook hands, Valentin even The leader asked with some anticipation, "Comrade reporter, are we going to have a Soviet hero here soon?"
"Why do you ask that?" Wei Ran asked pretending to be curious.
"Everyone knows that if there is a Pravda reporter's position, someone's photo will definitely be published in the newspaper. If you are lucky enough to survive until the newspaper is published, you may have a chance to be interviewed by Comrade Stalin. "
Valentin deliberately raised his voice and said with a smile in his eyes, "Who doesn't want to be a hero of the Soviet Union?Report? I'm afraid only those cowards who fake injuries are worried about having their own wounds caught on your camera. ”
Wei Ran, Dr. Pasha, and Nurse Rano who had just come out of the bunker immediately understood Captain Valentin’s intentions. He was obviously encouraging those around him who were eavesdropping on the conversation. The morale of the soldiers, by the way, is a warning to those deserters who try to escape from the battlefield by injuring themselves.
Doctor Pasha spread his hands and laughed loudly, "It seems that the job of a reporter is indeed more important than that of a doctor. Important, Captain Valentin, I bet you will have a Soviet hero here soon. "
Now that he understood the intention of the young company commander, Wei Ran naturally wanted to accompany him to continue the play at this time, so he also slightly raised his voice and said, "Captain Valianjing, If you have time, how about you give me some clues? I thought there must be some real Soviet heroes in this field who deserved to be on the front page of Pravda. "
" Before the Germans attack, why not come together and sit in our fortress! "
Valentin blinked and motioned to Dr. Wei Ran and Pasha, as well as Nurse Lano, who was listening to the excitement, to follow him into a bunker not far away.
This bunker, which Valentin called a "fortress", was not much better than the previous bunker when treating the wounded. It was just that there was a layer of empty ammunition boxes under the feet and it looked a little drier. The surrounding walls were covered with thighs. It was just wrapped in a circle of thick logs.
Inviting Wei Ran and the three of them to sit down around a crudely made wooden table in the center of the bunker, Valentin put away the combat map spread on the table and used it. He pulled his sleeves clean of the dirt that had fallen on the table from his head, and turned the kerosene lamp without a glass shade a little brighter. Then he said, "Doctor Pasha, I heard from the soldiers that you have built a building in the birch forest." Good first aid station? "
"It has indeed been built."
Doctor Pasha nodded, "Doctors and nurses from other field hospitals will come to support in the future, probably tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest. , they can come over. Captain Valentin, what is the situation in this position now? "
"Not too optimistic"
Valentin shook his head and said with a sad expression, "We have been confronting the Germans on the opposite side here for a long time. The recent one The distance between the trench and the German trench on the opposite side was less than 50 meters.
But if we cannot defend here, once the Germans cross our position and enter the forest, positions in other directions will have to guard against the enemies rushing out from behind. By then the entire 220th Infantry Division and even the entire 31st Group Army's position will collapse. "
Doctor Pasha sighed, "Captain Valentin, I may not be able to help with the battle, but at least the situation in the trenches I saw is not optimistic. Many of the wounded are suffering from trench foot. I suggest you find a way to dry the trenches as soon as possible and organize the soldiers to dry their foot wraps every day. ”
“Already doing these things”
Valentin pointed outside, “We have been digging drainage ditches recently, but this damn weather will rain from time to time. When it rains, the Germans on the opposite side will fire a burst of artillery shells."
"Oh..." Dr. Pasha sighed, realizing that he was just a doctor after all, and he could really help in this kind of thing. Nothing to do.
"Just leave the affairs in the trenches to us"
Valentin took off the kettle hanging on the wall and poured everyone a glass of water with a hint of vodka. He continued, "Doctor Pasha, unless necessary, you should not come to the front line again. It is best not to appear outside the forest wearing a white coat. Our first aid station was bombed last time for this reason."
"I understand" Dr. Pasha nodded, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.
Valentin turned to look at Weiran, "Comrade reporter..."
"Call me Victor" Weiran picked up the enamel jar and touched it. .
"Okay, Comrade Victor, thank you for helping me boost my morale just now." Valentin said sincerely.
Wei Ran took a sip of water with a faint vodka flavor, "This is the reason why I appeared here"
"I'm glad you said that"
Valentin put down his cup and said, "If it's convenient recently, please click the shutter a few more times in our trenches and chat more casually with the soldiers. It doesn't matter even if you don't have film in your camera."< /p>
"This is our job, and I really want to find some typical characters and report on their combat experiences, so if Company Commander Valentin has any suitable candidates to recommend, you can also tell me."
This time, before Captain Valentin could speak, Nurse Lano, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked, "Captain Valentin, you have a girl named Danila here. Soldier? Danila Shubin"
"Danila Shubin?"
Company Commander Valentin paused for a moment and said in surprise, "I know. Who are you! Let me guess! Your name is Lano!" "How do you know?" Nurse Lano asked in surprise. Own.
“Of course I know”
Valentin said with a wicked smile, “That lucky boy has read the letter you wrote to Danila many times. It’s almost forgotten. Ah~ Dear Comrade Danila, you must fight bravely and protect our motherland. After the war is over..."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Nurse Lano shouted with a red face, "Why did that bastard read out the letter I wrote?"
"That's one of our few pastimes"
Valentin picked up the cup and said, "The soldiers here will share every letter they receive with everyone, letting people around them know about his family and him."Home address and who wrote the letter to him. What to say, so as not to...leave regrets. "
Nurse Lano was stunned, and after a moment of silence she asked, "Is he... okay? "
"It should be fine"
Valentin put down the cup and said, "But you may not be able to see him now. Danila is a sniper now. He will be there in four days. Qian and another sniper had already circled to the side of the German position to try to snipe their commander. If nothing else happens, he will be back in about two days. "
Lano was stunned, lowered his head silently and said nothing more. Valentin turned to look at Wei Ran, "Why don't you wait two days later and interview Danila and him? partner. "
"Then let them," Wei Ran readily agreed, "Captain Valianjing, I won't be returning to the front lines these days. If it's convenient, help me arrange a place to rest." "
"How about right here? Valentin asked without thinking, "This is the safest position on the front line." "
"I am just a reporter, but I am not qualified to occupy the command post. Wei Ran shook his head and stood up when he said this, "Forget it, I'd better find a place by myself." "
"You can come in here at any time." Valentin stood up and shook hands with Wei Ran again. "While I have time now, why not let me take you around!" "
Of course Wei Ran had no objection, but in order to complete the return mission, he still said additionally, "Comrade company commander, after Comrade Danila returns, can you arrange for him to meet with Nurse Lano? I'd like to interview them all at the same time. "
Valentin glanced at Nurse Lano, whose face was red, teasingly, and nodded happily, "No problem! I'll give that Daniela a day off then. ”