Rokossovsky was riding an automatic sled for the first time, and although it was a little louder, it was quite comfortable to sit on, and it only took half an hour to reach the town of Maklaki. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Arriving here, Rokossovsky felt that he had come here a bit too much. It was not only themselves who realized the importance of this place, but also several division commanders who were staying here, who were directing their troops around the town to build new defenses overnight in case of a surprise attack by the Germans.

Most of the town's buildings had been destroyed by artillery fire, and the windows of the relatively intact buildings were billowing with smoke and dark red flames. Seeing this situation, Rokossovsky turned his head to look at Lobachev, who had come over, and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, the city has been beaten like this, but there is no way to live in it." ”

Kazakov, who was following Lobachev, thought that Rokossovsky was going to blame the artillery for destroying the entire city, and hurriedly explained: "Comrade commander, please listen to my explanation, since the enemy has built all the fire points in civilian houses, in order to cover the smooth advance of the infantry, I ordered the artillery to destroy the obstacles blocking the way of our troops. It's my fault, and if you're to blame, blame me. ”

Rokossovsky stared at Kazakov and said strangely: "Artillery commander, what do I blame you for?" On the contrary, you have done the right thing, compared to the lives of our commanders and fighters, these buildings are not worth mentioning at all, and now they are in ruins, and when the war is over, we will build taller and better buildings. If the lives of the soldiers were lost, they would never be recovered. ”

"Comrade Commander, I also said this to the commander of the artillery regiment." Kazakov said to Rokossovsky with a smile. After saying this, he suddenly realized that something was wrong, and hurriedly asked: "Since you don't want to criticize the artillery for blowing up all the buildings in the town, what do you want to say?" ”

"My comrade artillery commander," Rokossovsky replied somewhat helplessly, "Actually, I just want to ask, since all the buildings in the city have been destroyed, and it is freezing on this day, where do our soldiers sleep at night?" ”

"That's what happened." Kazakov scratched the back of his head and said embarrassedly: "It seems that I misunderstood." But rest assured, comrade commander, that in the fortifications outside the city, the Germans have built a lot of shelters, and our soldiers can live there. ”

Rokossovsky was not idle all night, either inspecting the fortifications that the commanders and fighters were reinforcing or talking to the fighters in the shelter to find out what they thought of the battle.

At dawn, a communications soldier ran to Rokossovsky and handed him a telegram: "Comrade commander, this is a telegram that has just been sent from the army group. ”

Lobachev, after waiting for Rokossovsky to read the telegram, asked curiously: "Comrade commander, is there something on the side of the command?" ”

"The chief of staff said that Zhukov sent an invitation to each of the main members of our army group command, saying that he would invite us back to Moscow to participate in the celebration."

"Celebration, what celebration?" As soon as Lobachev's brows furrowed, he immediately relaxed: "I remember, in a few days it will be International Women's Day, which is second only to the New Year." ”

After saying this, he looked left and right for a moment, and then whispered: "According to Russian tradition, men should send flowers to the women of their families on the day of March 8th. When you go back to Moscow this time, you can buy a bouquet of flowers and go to see Borisova and find out what happened to her last time like that. ”

Hearing Lobachev say this, Rokossovsky smiled bitterly, and then said jokingly: "My comrade military commissar, it is still winter in Moscow in March, and the price of flowers is very expensive, and I don't know if my allowance can afford to buy a bouquet of flowers." ”

"It's all like this, and you still care how expensive flowers are? I bought it in previous years, and it was a bouquet of six rubles, seven roses or lilies each. Even if the price rises this year, it will be ten rubles at most. If you don't have enough money, I'll lend it to you. Lobachev said and went to dig into his pocket, ready to find a few rubles and give them to Rokossovsky.

But he soon found out that something was wrong, Rokossovsky not only did not have a sad expression, but was still secretly laughing, and quickly slapped him twice on the back, and said angrily: "Okay, you kid actually teased me, be careful that I don't say good things for you in front of Borisova." ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said to Lobachev: "It's not early, let's go back to the headquarters first." ”

Lobachev waved his hand and said: "I still plan to talk to the fighters again, and I will not go back for the time being today, so you and Comrade Kazakov should go back together." ”

Rokossovsky was not reluctant, called Kazakov and returned to the headquarters of the army group in Suchinich in two automatic sleds.

Seeing Rokossovsky returning, Malinin immediately greeted him, personally handed over two invitations to him and Kazakov, and at the same time said: "Comrade commander, according to General Zhukov, this is an invitation from the Supreme High Command to participate in the celebration of International Women's Day in recognition of our victory in the capture of the town of Maklaki. ”

After reading the invitation, Rokossovsky couldn't help frowning and said: "To participate in such a celebration, we will definitely make a speech as a representative of the front-line commanders and fighters." It's a pity that the military commissar didn't come back with us, otherwise he would have been able to write this speech. ”

Malinin smiled, and then said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, I have one more thing to report to you. ”

Rokossovsky's mind at the moment was all about how to write the speech, and he just casually perfunctory about Malinin's words: "Chief of Staff, is there anything important?" ”

"It is like this, due to the annihilation of the 20th Army by the Germans, there is a crisis on the right flank of our army." "According to the reconnaissance report of the Air Force, the Germans have set up another artillery position nearby, which can be shelled again at any time. ”

Hearing Malinin say this, Rokossovsky realized the seriousness of the problem, he raised his head to look at Malinin and asked: "Chief of Staff, do you have any suggestions?" ”

Sushnich had not been shelled by the Germans for a long time since the German stronghold in the village of Popkovo was uprooted, so Rokossovsky ordered the headquarters to be moved from the basement to the second floor of the building, because it was not only a place with good light but also a wide view.

Ma Linin wanted to mention the matter of the location of the headquarters at this moment, and he solemnly suggested: "Comrade commander, I think it is better to move the headquarters to the basement, where it is safer." ”

"Don't worry, my chief of staff." When Rokossovsky heard this, he waved his hand and said with some impatience: "It's not that the city has not been shelled by the Germans, how can it be so coincidental that the shells fell to the headquarters." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange screech came from the window, and before everyone could react, a cannonball landed on the side of the building and exploded. Rokossovsky, who was sitting with his back to the wall, suddenly felt that something had hit him the back, and his eyes suddenly became pitch black.

"Am I hurt again?" This was Rokossovsky's last thought before he lost consciousness.

"Come on, the commander is wounded." Malinin, who was standing not far away, was also knocked down in the explosion just now, he struggled to get up, just in time to see Rokossovsky, covered in ashes, lying on the ground, covered with a lot of masonry and rubble, so he shouted loudly: "Hurry up and get the commander out!" ”