While the Soviet army readjusted its forces, the German troops holding on to the Tsopot area were also adjusted, and the original air force field division and the people's grenadier division were all disabled in the battle and were transferred to the rear by Himmler to rest and recuperate, and the defense was taken care of by the newly replenished grenadier division and the 4th tank division.

Taking advantage of the absence of fighting, Rokossovsky called Subotin to inspect the 8th Army of Estonia. Although the army's performance in the battle to liberate Tsopot, and even due to negligence, a tank battalion was annihilated by the Germans, in order to boost the morale of the troops, Rokossovsky resolutely decided to visit the army.

When Fedyuninsky learned that Rokossovsky and his party were going to the Estonian 8th Army, he handed over the work of the army group to the chief of staff, and with a guard squad, he rushed to the station of the 8th Army in advance and waited for Rokossovsky and them.

Pern was taken aback when he saw Fedyuninsky appear in his command headquarters, and hurriedly greeted him and saluted, while cautiously asking: "Comrade commander, how did you get here?" ”

Fedyuninsky raised his hand and returned the salute, and said angrily: "Comrade Marshal will soon come to you to inspect it, and if I don't come, maybe any of you will be sent to a court-martial." ”

"What, someone will be court-martialed?" Pern knew very well in his heart that it was now a time of war, and being sent to a military tribunal was synonymous with death, so he raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and asked with a flustered expression: "Comrade Marshal is going to inspect us, why hasn't anyone informed me in advance?" ”

"Didn't I inform you now?" Fedyuninsky said with a serious expression: "While Comrade Marshal has not yet come, you should think about it and how to explain to him the destruction of the tank battalion." ”

"But, Comrade Commander." Hearing that Fedyuninsky brought up the old matter again, more cold sweat broke out on Pern's forehead: "I have already written you a detailed report on this matter, do you still want to investigate this matter from your superiors?" ”

"What do you think?" Fedyuninsky stared at Pern and sneered: "If this matter is not pursued, how could Comrade Marshal come to you so suddenly to inspect it?" ”

Regarding the inspection of the 8th Estonian Army, Rokossovsky, when informing Fedyuninsky, did not give a specific reason, thinking that Fedyuningsky had misunderstood his original intention and had conveyed the wrong message to Pern. The commander of Pern waited for Rokossovsky's arrival in a state of anxiety.

As soon as the marshal's motorcade stopped at the door of the corps headquarters, someone opened the door for Rokossovsky from the outside. After Rokossovsky got off the train, he actually saw Fedyuninsky standing facing the jeep station, so he took two quick steps, stretched out his hand to the other party, and asked curiously: "General Fedyuninsky, why are you here?" ”

"Comrade Marshal!" Although the personal relationship between the two was good, in public, Fedyuninsky still respectfully addressed Rokossovsky's military rank: "I heard that you are coming here to inspect, and I have come to see you on purpose. ”

Rokossovsky then walked up to Pern, held out his hand to him and said enthusiastically: "Hello, General Pern! From the moment our army entered East Prussia, your army behaved quite well. ”

Pern hurriedly shook Rokossovsky's hand and said with a smiling face: "Comrade Marshal, we did not perform well in the battle to attack Tsopot, and two days ago there was a tank unit that was completely wiped out because it was ambushed by the Germans. As a military commander, I have an unshirkable responsibility. ”

"Victory and defeat are a common thing in soldiers, and it is inevitable to suffer one or two defeats once in a while." When Rokossovsky heard Pern say this, and then thought of the uninvited Fedyuninsky, he immediately understood what was going on, and hurriedly comforted Pern and said: "But Comrade General, I hope you will not make similar mistakes again." Do you understand? ”

"Understood." When Pern heard Rokossovsky say this, he could not help but have mixed feelings, he held the other party's hand tightly, and said excitedly: "Comrade Marshal, please rest assured, I assure you that we will never allow defeat because of underestimating the enemy in the future." ”

After Pern had introduced Rokossovsky to the other commanders in the army, the group came to the headquarters. Rokossovsky's visit was to boost morale, so he recalled every battle in which the Estonian 8th Army had participated since the beginning of the East Prussian campaign, as well as the results achieved.

Before Rokossovsky appeared, the leaders of the 8th Army thought that he had come to Xingshi to ask for guilt, and their hearts were full of apprehension and uneasiness. But at this moment, hearing Rokossovsky recalling the achievements of the 8th Army, everyone realized that Comrade Marshal might not have come to the army this time to find fault, otherwise he would not have praised and praised him again and again.

Rokossovsky's mouth was dry, he stopped to take a sip of water, turned his head and asked Su Bojing, who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, you can also say a few words." ”

Su Bojing nodded, stood up and said, "Commanders and comrades, in the report we have received, the commanders and fighters of your army have shown a high degree of fearlessness and self-sacrifice in the battle. When some soldiers were seriously wounded and their lives were in danger, they did not lie on the battlefield and wait for death, but tried their last bit of strength, crawled to the enemy's fire point with grenades, and finally died on the way forward......"

In conclusion, Su Bojing emphatically said: "In order to commend your army for a series of achievements in battle, the headquarters of the front army will commend and commend the commanders and fighters who have made meritorious contributions, and the specific list of decorations is being further sorted out. As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause rang out in the command headquarters.

After waiting for the applause to fade away, Rokossovsky stood up and continued: "Commanders, it is important to be heroic on the battlefield, but once again I call on you to love the lives of your soldiers. He pointed to his temple, "We need to know how to use wisdom to win victory, not the blood and lives of our warriors." Do you understand? ”

In response to Rokossovsky's statement, Lucas questioned: "Comrade Marshal, didn't you criticize the bloody military point of view before? It was perceived as an incorrect slogan that led the army to a delusional desire for an easy victory. ”

"To hell with that." Rokossovsky said unceremoniously: "I don't care what about other fronts; But in my army, if you want to be an excellent commander, you must know how to achieve the greatest victory at the lowest cost! ”