Rokossovsky said with a smile: "General Panfilov, since you said five days, then I will wait for you for five days, I hope you will not disappoint me then." ”

Panfilov heard the element of ridicule in the tone of Rokossovsky's speech, but he still truthfully assured: "Don't worry, Comrade Marshal, my troops will definitely take Kzlin within the specified time, you just wait for my good news." ”

Although Panfilov had promised himself that within five days, he would be able to capture Kzlin, Rokossovsky's heart still felt unsteady. After putting down the phone, he called Bogolyubov over and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is the current situation of the 19th Army?" ”

"The Germans, who attacked from both flanks, had already been routed by the troops of the 19th Army. And from March 1, Marshal Zhukov's troops had already begun to attack, and they advanced in the north in both directions of Koljug and Kamin; The flanks adjacent to our front were assisted by the Polish 1st Army and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, and the Germans could no longer concentrate their forces that could pose a threat to the 19th Army. Bogolyubov knew that there must be a reason why Rokossovsky asked this, and after briefing the situation, he cautiously asked: "Comrade Marshal, do you have any plans?" ”

"Chief of Staff, General Panfilov's tank corps is attacking Kzlin, you should know about it, right?" Rokossovsky looked at the map and said: "According to the report of General Panfilov, the enemy's resistance in the city is not too stubborn, and he is ready to take the city completely in five days." However, I am afraid that there are too few infantry to fight with them, and it will be very difficult to take the city as quickly as possible. ”

"From the analysis of the information we have, many German units originally stationed in Kezlin have been withdrawn and used to attack the flank of the 19th Army, thus weakening the defense of Kezlin." Having understood Rokossovsky's intentions, Bogolyubov immediately suggested to him: "If you want to send infantry to reinforce General Panfilov, I think the 134th Infantry Corps is suitable for this task." ”

"If I want to send the 134th Infantry Corps to reinforce Panfilov," Rokossovsky asked, looking at the map, "how long do you think it will take for them to get to Kzlin?" ”

"The current location of the 134th Infantry Corps is almost a hundred kilometers from Kzlin." After silently calculating the build-up of troops and the speed of the march in his mind, Bogolyubov replied: "To assemble the troops and rush to Kzlin, I think it will take at least two days." ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, time is pressing, immediately inform General Romanovsky and ask him to send the 134th Infantry Corps to Kzlin to reinforce Panfilov." After Rokossovsky assigned the task, he said to himself: "I hope they will arrive before Panfilov liberates Kzlin." ”

Immediately after leaving Rokossovsky's office, Bogolyubov called General Romanovsky and said straight to the point: "Comrade General, the marshal orders that the 134th Infantry Corps be immediately transferred to Kzlin to reinforce the tank corps, which is attacking the city. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask." Romanovsky didn't have any opinion on Bogolyubov's order, but what worried him was that Panfilov was the commander of the tank corps, and it was an infantry corps that was sent to reinforce him. ”

Hearing this tongue twister-like question, Bogolyubov immediately understood what the other party meant, and said with a smile: "It stands to reason that tank units have always cooperated with the infantry, and tank troops should be made to obey the command of the infantry." However, this time the situation was different, and the tank corps under the command of General Panfilov had been fighting independently for a period of time, including their attack on Kezlin. Therefore, when your troops arrive in Kzlin, they must be absolutely under the command of General Panfilov. ”

"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." Romanovsky asked rhetorically: "I wonder when the troops should leave?" ”

"It will take time for the troops to close and march, and you should immediately give orders to the infantry corps to prepare them for departure." Bogolyubov told Romanovsky on the phone: "Comrade General, I remind you that General Panfilov promised the marshal that he would take Kzlin in five days, and I hope that your troops will arrive before the tank corps takes the city." ”

"Don't worry," Romanovsky swore assuringly, "my troops will be able to reach Kzlin in three days at most and assist the tank corps in capturing the city." ”

…………

Although Rokossovsky and Bogolyubov took all the issues that should be taken into account when assigning tasks, the development of the situation on the battlefield was often unexpected.

In the early morning of the 5th, Rokossovsky was listening to Bogolyubov's report, and the chief of staff reported to him that due to the slow progress of the Polish 1st Army and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Army, the left flank of the 19th Army was still exposed to the enemy, so the work of securing the flanks could only be entrusted to Romanovsky.

The phone rang, Rokossovsky picked up the microphone and put it to his ear, and said: "I'm Rokossovsky!" ”

Panfilov's excited voice came from the earpiece: "Comrade Marshal, I would like to report to you the glad news that we have liberated Kzlin, the remnants of the enemy in the city have surrendered to us, and the commander of the garrison, Lieutenant General von Tsylov, and his command have also become our prisoners......"

What Panfilov said later, Rokossovsky did not hear clearly, he only knew one thing, that is, Kzlin had already been occupied by his own troops. After putting down the phone, he asked Bogolyubov: "Chief of Staff, where is the 134th Infantry Corps now?" ”

"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov, although he was surprised by the fact that Belarus Rokossovsky suddenly asked about the 134th Infantry Army, replied truthfully: "According to the latest intelligence, the vanguard of the 134th Infantry Army will reach the outskirts of Kzlin at noon today, join up with General Panfilov's tank corps, and launch an assault on the city......"

"The infantry corps is moving too slowly," Rokossovsky said reproachfully, "and now Panfilov's tank corps has completely captured Kzlin and captured the commander of the garrison, Lieutenant General von Tsylov, and his command. ”

"Comrade Marshal, do you know that the reason why the 134th Infantry Corps is slow is entirely because the road conditions are too bad to get to the destination by car......" Bogolyubov explained to Rokossovsky the reason for the slow movement of the 134th Infantry Army, who knew that just halfway through speaking, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have heard that the tank army had occupied Kzlin, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, you mean that the battle in the Kzlin area has ended?" ”

"That's right, it's over." Rokossovsky said with a spring breeze: "The city has already been occupied by our troops, and our troops can rush to the sea at any time." ”

"And what about the 134th Infantry Corps?" Bogolyubov asked helplessly: "Do you want them to stop advancing immediately and wait for the next order in place, or let them return to their original station." ”

"Why stop or return, my Comrade Chief of Staff." Rokossovsky got up and walked to the wall, pointed to the map and said to Bogolyubov: "We can let the 134th Infantry Corps continue to Kzlin, but their task is no longer to assist the tank corps in capturing the city, but to turn east and face the army group units on the right flank of our army." In this way, the troops on our left and right flanks formed a large iron pincer to surround the enemy who stayed in this intermediate area. ”

Seeing that the situation on the battlefield had changed dramatically, Bogolyubov hurriedly said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, please allow me to leave. I want to find out what enemies are in our encirclement. ”

"Go," Rokossovsky nodded at him, "and when we find out the enemy's situation, draw up a new battle plan as soon as possible." ”

Bogolyubov nodded, said nothing, turned and walked out of the office.

Rokossovsky looked at the map on the wall and said thoughtfully: "The terrain here is open, which is very conducive to the assault of tank troops, if only the High Command could equip us with new armored units." ”

Su Bojing's voice suddenly sounded at the door: "Comrade Marshal, seeing that you are so happy, have you encountered any happy event?" ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, you came just in time." After beckoning the other party to sit down, Rokossovsky told him with a happy face: "Good news, General Panfilov's tank corps has taken Kzlin." ”

"What did you say, Comrade Marshal?" As soon as Subotin sat down, after hearing what Rokossovsky said, he immediately jumped up from his seat and said in surprise: "Didn't you say that it would take five days to capture the city?" It was only two days before they actually occupied Kzlin. ”

"I think General Panfilov may have been worried that something unexpected would happen during the battle." Rokossovsky explained to the other side: "So it is deliberately said that it will take five days to capture Kzlin." ”

"Now that we have captured Kzlin," Subotin asked, "what should we do next?" ”

Rokossovsky slapped his palm twice on the east side of Kzlin, and then said: "I intend that as soon as the 134th Infantry Corps reaches Kzlin, I order them to turn the center of gravity of defense to the east and, together with the troops on the right flank, crush the enemy in East Pomerania." ”