webnovelfull Chapter 1212 2 Difficult Choices
Chapter 1212 2 Difficult Choices
Kulikov stood in the center of the operations room, his hands gripping the edge of the podium until his knuckles turned white.
He watched Korzakov grow up, and he was the witness at the young man's wedding. And Masha, the pregnant young woman, was the most beloved daughter of his old friend...
"If they die in Nevsky town..." Kulikov closed his eyes, "Vassily (Deputy Commander of the Far Eastern Army) will go crazy."
He could imagine his old friend's fury: "You let my nephew and daughter die in that small town? Kulikov, is this what our decades-long friendship is all about?"
But another voice sounded in his heart: If in order to save the Korzakov family, the entire 64th Armored Division fell into the trap of the Northern Division, that would be a real sin.
Petrov was right. This was a trap carefully designed by Otto. He used Nevsky Town as bait to lure them to send reinforcements and then defeat them one by one. If we continue to attack...
"General," Chief of Staff Sergei said quietly, "we need to make a decision."
Kulikov opened his eyes and scanned the battle map on the wall. Nev Town was just a small dot, and Khabarovsk... that was the core of the entire Far East war zone.
"For the sake of a battalion commander and his family," he muttered to himself, "let the entire armored division die and leave Khabarovsk exposed to the enemy?"
He remembered the oath he took: to defend the motherland and defend the people.
"No," he finally made a decision, "I can't put the entire battle situation in jeopardy because of my personal feelings."
"Notify the 64th Armored Division," Kulikov's voice was hoarse but firm, "abandon the rescue operation of Nev Town. Order Petrov to withdraw from the battle immediately and preserve the manpower."
"But General," Sergei hesitated, "the deputy commander of the Far Eastern Army..."
"I will bear all the consequences," Kulikov interrupted. "I will explain Korzakov's matter to Vasily in person. The most important thing now is to save Birobidzhan. This is our top priority."
The war room fell silent. Everyone knew what this decision meant.
Kulikov looked out the window at the dawn, his heart full of bitterness. He knew that this decision would make him live in guilt forever. But as a general, he had to consider the overall situation.
"I'm sorry, Korzakov," he said silently in his heart, "I'm sorry, Masha..."
This is war. Sometimes, the most painful thing is not facing the enemy's bullets, but the choices that must be made.
Kulikov took a deep breath and picked up the communicator, his voice filled with unquestionable firmness.
"This is Kulikov," he said into the microphone, "Order the 64th Armored Division to withdraw from the battle immediately and abandon the reinforcement of the town of Nev."
He paused, as if trying to find the courage for his next words.
“Petrov,” he continued, “I know this is difficult for you, but we must save Khabarovsk. You will return with your troops safely, and I will take care of the consequences.”
On the other end of the communicator, Petrov was silent for a moment, and then he responded firmly: "Understood, General. I will lead the 64th Division to evacuate safely."
Kulikov put down the communicator and turned to Chief of Staff Sergei: "Immediately contact the 127th Motorized Infantry Brigade in Khabarovsk and ask them to send two regiments to support the 64th Division's retreat."
"Yes, General." Sergei carried out the order quickly.
Kulikov knew that the 64th Armored Division might be pursued by the Northern Division during its retreat. In order to ensure their safe withdrawal, they must have sufficient troops to cover them.
“Tell the 127th Brigade,” Kulikov added, “that their mission is to ensure the safe retreat of the 64th Division and not to engage in any entanglement with the enemy.”
Sergei nodded and immediately passed the order on.
Kulikov looked at the battle map, still feeling uneasy. Although he had made the most rational decision, it did not mean that he could easily forgive himself.
"I hope this retreat will go smoothly," he prayed silently in his heart, "I hope we can have a chance to avenge Korzakov."
In this complex battle, Kulikov knew he had to stay calm and rational. Khabarovsk was the top priority, and only by keeping it could he have a chance to turn the tide of the war.
"General," Sergei reported, "the 127th Brigade has set out. They will meet up with the 64th Division at the designated location."
Kulikov nodded, feeling a little relieved. Although this retreat was full of risks, he believed that Petrov and the commander of the 127th Brigade could accomplish the task.
"Continue to monitor the battlefield situation," Kulikov told his staff. "We must ensure that every step is under control."
In this war, every decision may affect the overall situation. Kulikov knew that he had to stay awake at all times to lead his troops out of trouble.
In Khabarovsk, as the two regiment-level troops of the 127th Motorized Infantry Brigade quickly assembled and left, the defense force of the entire city suddenly decreased. The originally busy military camps and streets now seemed a little empty.
"The 127th Brigade has set off," Chief of Staff Sergei reported to Kulikov, "They will meet up with the 64th Division at the scheduled time."
Kulikov nodded, but he was still uneasy. Khabarovsk was a strategic location in the Far East, and now there was only one regiment-level troop stationed in the city, and the defense force seemed weak.
"Strengthen the security in the city," Kulikov ordered, "and ensure the safety of all important facilities."
At the same time, outside of Boli, a regiment-level force of about 3,000 people was hiding in the vast snowfield. Their figures were covered by the white snow and blended into the surrounding environment.
This unit is well-equipped. The soldiers are dressed in white camouflage uniforms and armed with automatic weapons. They lurk quietly in the snow, waiting for orders.
"Maintain radio silence," the commander whispered, "We must make sure we are not discovered by the enemy."
Their mission was to approach Boli secretly and wait for an opportunity to strike. Although they had not yet received a specific order to attack, they knew that they were an important chess piece in this battle.
"The enemy may attack us when we are at our weakest," Kulikov told his staff. "We must be prepared for everything."
There are countless unknown dangers hidden in this vast snowfield. Kulikov knows that the fate of Khabarovsk depends not only on the city's defenses, but also on whether he can detect the enemy's intentions in time.
"Increase reconnaissance," he ordered. "We must know the enemy's every move."
Kulikov stood in front of the map in the operations room, carefully analyzing the current battle situation. The three main regiments of the Northern Division had already appeared on the battlefield: the 10th Armored Regiment, the 11th Armored Regiment, and the 9th Armored Grenadier Regiment.
"Otto has sent out his main force," Kulikov said to himself, "which means he has no extra troops to threaten Khabarovsk directly."
He recalled the previous intelligence that the Northern Division's troop deployment and movement trajectory indicated that their main goal was to split and encircle the 64th Armored Division, rather than directly attack Khabarovsk.
"General," Chief of Staff Sergei stepped forward, "according to our reconnaissance, the three main regiments of the Northern Division are active in the town of Nev and the surrounding areas."
Kulikov nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. Although the defense of Khabarovsk had been weakened by the transfer of the 127th Brigade, the main force of the Northern Division had been tied up in other battlefields and was temporarily unable to launch a large-scale attack on Khabarovsk.
“This gives us valuable time,” Kulikov told Sergei. “We can use this time to strengthen Khabarovsk’s defenses and ensure the safety of the city.”
He knew that although the current situation had eased his worries a little, he still couldn't let his guard down. In a war, any unexpected event could change the situation.
"Stay alert," Kulikov ordered, "and strengthen reconnaissance of the surrounding areas to ensure that we are not ambushed by the enemy."
Sergei nodded and immediately went to arrange the relevant matters.
Kulikov looked at the snow outside the window and thought about the next strategic deployment. Although the Northern Division could not threaten Boli for the time being, he knew that Otto would never give up any opportunity easily.
"We must prepare for a rainy day," Kulikov warned himself in his heart, "Only by ensuring the safety of Khabarovsk can we lay the foundation for victory in the entire war."