Inappropriate speeches, Kondratenko wanted to say, but he resisted. Fok paused and looked around. The officers stood, heads bowed.
What do you say on this issue, Roman Isidorovich? addressed Fock to Kondratenko.
Kondratenko did not like Fock. He was tired, he wanted to rest and think about the situation.
There is no help, no help from the north, spun in the head of the general. A huge area, innumerable values are concentrated on a small dusty barren peninsula What to rant?.. Act, act!
What are you talking about, General?
On the duties of officers, on their moral impact on the soldiers.
This was said and said. We need a well-developed and trained soldiers masses, dedicated and understanding the honor of the nation. But if one or another military unit flinches and turns to flight, then I will completely blame the officers. You need to love the soldiers entrusted to you, and then in battle we will get exceptional examples of stamina.
The generals went into the station.
We listened to an impressive teaching, said Dwight ironically. But the old man is right. In the heat of anger, we must not bear the soldiers. Their mistakes are our mistakes.
2
During dinner, Kondratenko looked at Fok for a long time. The slouching figure of an army general was not in harmony with his impetuous, angular movements. The straight and long nose on the haggard old face seemed too thin and transparent. The sideburns and the boring gaze of the deep-seated eyes emphasized the paleness of the skin.
I think, Kondratenko began the conversation, in addition to the trenches dug in your direction, Alexander Viktorovich, we will instruct the engineer-captain von Schwartz to lower the trenches only on the Eastern front. As for the other slopes of Nanshan, then we will work on them later. Lets strengthen the most vulnerable places more reliably.
And how, loopholes and visors along the edges of the trenches?
Colonel Tretyakov seems to be against the loopholes, but they are useful, you are absolutely right.
Experience has shown that the visors are fully justified. The Japanese do not know about them yet and they will run. Fock, with shoulders up, smiled smugly. But you shouldnt make them from long boards, otherwise one projectile will cause a lot of damage.
The two tiers of the trenches are very good, but you need to have more soldiers, said Colonel Tretyakov, who entered.
The lower tier is good for flat shooting, but for firing ravines should keep the shooters at the Verkov position. The case will show itself, Roman Isidorovich, Fock continued, referring only to Kondratenko. Neither you nor I would like to keep the trenches empty during the battle. But, I repeat, I am against cohesion in the trenches when they are pelted with cores and showered with shrapnel.
The generals fell silent. The cheeks of the youthful face of Kondratenko dropped. He had thoughtful, round eyes. Thick mustache and wedge made the face of Roman Isidorovich dry and stern. Loafers! swore, wry smile, Fock.
What are you talking about, Your Excellency?
Yes, heres a telegram from the headquarters of the commander in chief.
Chapter ten
one
The next morning, the second battery and the regiment marched north along the Bitzvy road. We drove slowly and carefully. Shooting chains moved in front. Along the long elevation, from its southern side, our horse rides were visible. The battery commander stopped at the edge of the road and let all the tools pass by him. After the show, he and the senior fireworker galloped forward. It was felt that the Japanese were close, that the battle was about to begin.
Podkovin looked at the hill, behind which there was an enemy, and thought: So, the Japanese are not yet visible. We are going openly, as if in a parade.
No matter how Calming himself, Podkovin reassured himself, but he could not restrain a nervous tremor.
About three oclock in the afternoon the battery stopped. Dry plowed fields stretched to the right and to the left, and Mount Samson towered above them. The western slope of the massif was illuminated by the warm April sun. In the sky not a cloud. On the right, on the road from the ravine, a group of horsemen rose up on the hill. They drove up to the battery. That was General Fok with his orderlies. Colonel Laperov, prancing on his horse, approached him.
Before the evening, you need to find out the situation and decide how to act. The Japanese are advancing by superior forces. Fock shrugged. Requires extreme caution. Push the battery a little more to height. Let one of your officers get up on that hill. Give me as an orderly for your gunner, but please, well-educated.
Call Podkovina, the battery commander ordered the sergeant-major.
Damn, son of a damn thing, how it goes into people, thought the sergeant-major.
Come to the general, said the battery commander when Podkovin came to him.
Podkovin made a half turn and, taking a peak, stood in front of Fock.
I have the honor to appear, Your Excellency.
Ordinary? Thats what, brother, you will go with me, you will have to write down orders for your battery. Can you? Briefly and clearly?
Yes sir!..
The general rode ahead. Soon the rider appeared, galloping full speed. Fock spurred his horse. The horse hunter, having caught up with the general, handed him a package.
Great, brother. Tell me what you saw?
The Japanese are moving regiments, and with them artillery.
Fock waved his unopened letter, looked it up into the light, and handed it to the adjutant. The hunters horse stood, legs splayed, and breathed heavily. Again we moved forward and drove into the hollow. Soft soil all the time crumbled under the hooves of horses. Having dismounted, we went up to the very crest of the hill dissected by a ravine. Clouds of dust rose from the far end of the unfolding valley.
The Japanese, Your Excellency, said the hunter, We have seen them more than once, but we are not shooting. Such an order to force to find out. They are moving to Samson.
Look! Again their chief on a white horse jumped out onto the tide.
Podkovin heard the hunter, but did not see the enemy rider.
General Fock took off his cap and, stretching his neck, looked out of the ravine.
Yes, moving there. Lieutenant, what is written in the report?
On the thirteenth of April morning, the Japanese went on the offensive along the Bitzvoekoy road, and at 11 hours 50 minutes the battalion of the 15th regiment took Tojialin and advanced on the village of Shimmynzy. But, owing to the superior forces of the enemy, our units moved to the village of Ig-dian.
Ahead Podkovina overgrown with bushes mound.
A grave or a field altar? Get to it, see whats going on there.
Podkovin, with a horse, approached a group of officers and, stopping five steps away from them, shifted from foot to foot.