Chapter 11: The Female Soldier Regiment in the Swamp (Part 2)

  As for what Zhilina said, whether it was Chusun or Akhromeyev, no one would feel any surprise, as this had long been expected by everyone. However, despite this, the loss of Vigee and the rapid collapse of the second line of defense still left everyone silent for a moment, because all of this meant that their future was still fraught with danger.

  "Comrade Zhil'nikova," Chuson thought for a moment, "how did you people get here? Didn't you retreat with the main forces?"

  "We?" Zhilnina smiled wryly. "We are the ones who were just transferred from the Naroch region, and the German tanks' vanguard dispersed us from the main forces. To avoid the German search, we were forced to enter the marshes, but without a guide, we got lost here, and after a whole day of wandering, we still can't find our way out."

  "How did you know about Wei Ji's situation?" Chu Si Nan asked in puzzlement.

  "Oh, we have a portable radio with us, which is used to contact the higher authorities." Zhil'niylov smiled and pointed to a female soldier not far behind her. Chusnan followed her pointing direction and saw that the female soldier in muddy uniform was taking down a large square package from her back.

  Chu Si Nan was overjoyed in his heart, this thing is really useful, if a few days ago, Suchekov's side had this thing, they wouldn't have to run here, and even so many soldiers wouldn't have to sacrifice. In fact, in Chu Si Nan's view, a country like the Soviet Union with such a strong foundation should have allocated military radios to company-level units long ago, and in fact, the Soviet army had also equipped lower-level units with portable radios, but Suchekov's unit lost it in previous battles.

  "Comrade Zhil'niylova," Chusun suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked, "Since you have a close connection with the higher authorities, do you know what the current situation is like?"

  "It's not optimistic at all," Zhilina frowned, her pale blue eyes filled with fatigue and worry. "In less than half a month since the outbreak of war, we've lost nearly a million troops, especially in our Northwestern Front, where the losses are the most severe. Now, almost every regiment in our 11th Army has lost more than half of its personnel, the 27th Army has lost 30% of its troops, and the 8th Army has lost contact with the Front Command and is likely to have been completely annihilated. Although I don't know the situation of the Southwestern Front here, I do know that the Western Front's losses are even more severe, the 3rd and 10th Armies have been forced to temporarily withdraw from combat and regroup on the eastern bank of the Western Dvina River, while several other armies have been surrounded by the Germans."

  Ji'er Niuluo stopped here, looked at Chu Si Nan, and then continued: "Now the army's recruitment work is going well, but those new recruits who have been supplemented do not have combat effectiveness, and their equipment is insufficient, I'm afraid they won't be of much use."

  "Now where has our army retreated to on the east bank of the Western Dvina River?" Chu Si Nan seemed most concerned about this issue, and he asked again.

  "We have already withdrawn to the line of Dvina and Polotsk," replied Zhilnina, "because of the great losses in the previous period, the headquarters ordered the 22nd Army Corps to come over and replace us for rest. Today is already the fourth, I estimate that the replacement task has been completed."

  "Four, four..." The news of the shift change didn't catch Chu Si Nan's attention, but this "four" made his heart move. He vaguely felt that something was related to this day, but for a moment he couldn't think of it.

  "Comrade Chusnan, have something to eat," Gilnernova said, not knowing what Chusnan was thinking. She took a hard dry bread from a female soldier, broke it in half and handed one half over.

  "Thank you," Chu Si Nan hadn't had a decent meal in almost two days, and the bread in front of him, although not very appetizing, was at least something edible, so he didn't bother with politeness and just took the bread after thanking him.

  "Don't be polite, Comrade Chu Si-nan," Gil'nelova said with a smile. "We are revolutionary comrades-in-arms, and we are like family in the same trench. Honestly, as a Chinese person, you have joined our ranks and fought shoulder to shoulder with us against the fascist enemy. From this point alone, I have great respect for you. And what's more, you've come from the front lines."

  Chu Si Nan smiled slightly, just about to say something, when his face suddenly changed. He thought of it, he realized why that "fourth" had touched him. Actually, what really moved him was not this "fourth", but "July 4th". This month is very crucial for the Soviet-German war.

  Chu Si Nan thought to himself, if he hadn't misremembered, the German army's second wave of attack would start on July 10th. Although the Soviet army had fought hard in the Smolensk battle, they ultimately lost to the Germans. From July 10th to September 10th, within a short span of two months, the German army pushed the front line all the way to Yartsevo and Velikiye Luki, causing the defensive lines that the Soviet army had built on the eastern bank of the Western Dvina River to completely collapse. By the end of this wave of attacks, the Soviet army had lost over 2 million troops and had given up two important strategic points: Minsk and Smolensk.

  Of course, what Chu Si Nan is concerned about is not the retreat of the Soviet army and the step-by-step pursuit of the German army. What he really cares about is the safety of himself and the people around him. In this situation, he undoubtedly needs to arrive at the east bank of the Western Dvina River before the 9th, where he will meet with the main force of the Soviet army. Otherwise, the consequences are unthinkable.

  He took out the military map stained with blood from his military uniform pocket, spread it out on the ground and observed it carefully. This is the swamp area outside Vitebsk. Judging by the scale of the map, there are at least hundreds of kilometers to the west of the Dvina River. If they hurry up, time will be very abundant, but the problem is that this road will undoubtedly be fraught with danger. If they encounter German follow-up troops, this branch mainly composed of female soldiers really has no fighting force to speak of.

  "Comrade Chu Si Nan, what are you looking at?" Seeing Chu Si Nan staring intently at the map on the ground, Gilnirová swallowed the dry bread in her mouth and asked curiously.

  Chu Si Nan did not respond immediately, but after a while, he raised his head and said seriously: "Comrade Gilnirova, please contact the higher command through radio immediately to ask where our nearest troops are."

  Zhil'niylov was stunned for a moment, but quickly turned around and shouted to the female soldier guarding the radio station: "Sudanova, prepare to send a message!"