USSR 1941

  Chapter 15 Exploration

  When Shulka walked into the command post, the health worker was treating Major Gavrilov's wound. A bright red bloodstain oozed from the major's forehead, which was very obvious against the white bandage.

   "Major!" Shulka stood up and saluted Major Gavrilov.

  Major Gavrilov squinted his eyes, nodded slightly, and said, "Good job, Shulka! Is your name Shulka? I remember correctly, right?"

   "Yes, Major!" Shulka replied: "You remember correctly!"

"We captured a few prisoners!" Major Gavrilov said, "The information they gave is just like what you said. The main force of the Germans has already bypassed the Brest Fortress to attack the Soviet Union. It took them only one hour. We have taken Brest, now we are heading to Slutsk!"

Shulka didn't speak. He thought that Slutsk should have fallen at this time... You must know that the German armored forces in history rushed to Minsk, 349 kilometers away, in just four days, which is far faster than anyone else. Imagine, including the Germans themselves.

   But of course Shulka would not be so stupid as to tell Major Gavrilov this.

   "I think I owe you an apology, Shulka!" Major Gavrilov said: "We misunderstood you!"

   "It's okay, Major!" Shulka replied: "It's normal!"

   This is a bit of duplicity. You must know that Shulka was almost executed as a traitor not long ago.

  But Shulka knew that this had nothing to do with Gavrilov, even if it wasn't for Major Gavrilov, Shulka would have been finished.

"No, it's not a trivial matter, Shulka!" At this time the health worker had finished bandaging, the major touched the bandage carefully, and then stood up: "You know, we almost shot a hero as a traitor. It's unfair to you, and it's also a loss for the army and even the Soviet Union. So I think we should be careful in the future, don't you?"

   "Yes, Major!" said Shulka, "I totally agree!"

   Shulka glanced at the instructor not far away... Shulka is not an idiot, he knows that Major Gavrilov actually said these words to the instructor.

However, Major Gavrilov did not seem to have achieved his goal, because the instructor was sitting on a chair like a normal person, reading a newspaper leisurely with his legs crossed, and a row of Soviet soldiers kneeling beside them, holding their heads with their hands up, One of them was Valerie.

   "Given your excellent performance!" Major Gavrilov said, "I decided to promote you to be the monitor of Class 1. What do you think?"

   This surprised Shulka a bit, because he was just a rookie, a rookie who had just entered the battlefield, and suddenly became the squad leader...

   But this also seems normal.

   First of all, most of the garrison of the Brest Fortress have never fought like Shulka. If we say they are rookies, they are all.

  Secondly, after several battles, the Soviet army suffered heavy losses, especially the lack of commanders... So there is nothing wrong with promoting Shulka, who has made great achievements in battle, and this is also the need of the battle.

  After thinking for a while, Shulka stood up and replied: "No, Comrade Major! I have no opinion, and I unconditionally obey your arrangement!"

   Shulka knew that he wasn't really asked to express his opinion... As the instructor said before, soldiers don't need to have their own ideas.

   "Very good!" Major Gavrilov nodded in satisfaction: "You can get acquainted with your subordinates and lead them to fight bravely like you..."

   "Major!" At this moment, the instructor who had been silent interrupted Gavrilov: "I have a different opinion!"

   "What?" Major Gavrilov frowned, dissatisfied with the instructor's interference.

   "It's very simple!" The instructor put down the newspaper, raised his head to Valery who was kneeling in front of him, and said, "One class cannot have two monitors at the same time!"

   Only then did Shulka know that Valery was his squad leader.

   "He has been dismissed!" Major Gavrilov replied without thinking: "I don't think you think he can continue to be squad leader, Comrade Artur!"

"Of course!" The instructor stood up, adjusted his military uniform and belt, and said, "However, I think there should be an end between the new squad leader and the old squad leader. This will be a good start for the subordinates and the entire army." ,Do you agree?"

  Hearing this, Shulka immediately knew what the instructor was going to do.

   To be precise, it is not what the instructor wants to do, but what Shulka wants to do... He was ordered to shoot Valery.

  Valery was escorted out by two guards. He was almost dragged out because he had no strength to take a step.

  The location was just where the instructor held Shulka... an open space on the right side of the headquarters, Valery was held down to kneel on the ground.

   "Raise your guns, Shulka!" the instructor ordered.

Shulka's palms were sweating. Although this was not the first time he had killed someone, this time it was different... The target was his own person, and it was at a close range, only two meters away. Shulka could even see Valery because he was scared... And trembling all over.

   "Don't do this, Shulka!" Valery said with a weeping lisp: "Please! I... still have two children, and a wife, they are waiting for me to go back..."

"He's a traitor, Shulka!" The instructor lit a cigarette beside him and said relaxedly, "It's a shame, it's a stain, we have to dig out the carrion and throw it away like a wound, without any mercy Otherwise, it will spread throughout the body like a plague!"

The instructor took a puff of smoke, and then continued his speech: "Shoot, use your actions to tell everyone that our army does not need such a coward; use your actions to prove that you are qualified for the position of squad leader; prove that you have the ability , Have the courage to command your subordinates and lead them to fight the enemy bravely...Shoot!"

   Shulka gritted his teeth, he wanted to close his eyes and pull the trigger, but he couldn't. This is not only because Valery is wearing a Soviet uniform and is Shulka's comrade-in-arms, but also because he knows that this is not a battle, but a massacre.

   "Shoot!" The instructor became impatient: "Execute the order!"

  After thinking for a while, Shulka slowly put down the rifle: "No, comrade instructor, I can't do this! You can punish me, or let someone else be the squad leader!"

   "Why?" the instructor asked.

   "Because my gun is aimed only at the enemy!" Shulka replied.

  The instructor stared at Shulka coldly. After a while, he nodded and said, "Congratulations, Comrade Shulka, I believe you!"

  At this moment, Shulka suddenly understood what the instructor meant: If Shulka was a German spy, he would undoubtedly pull the trigger very simply.

   So, this is a test for Shulka.

   However, just as Shulka turned around, there was a gunshot from behind...

  Shuerka turned his head reflexively, and saw Valery fell to the ground like a wooden stake, with a blood hole on the back of his head, bleeding out "chug".

  (end of this chapter)