When enemy aircraft began to bomb Sushnych, Rokossovsky was in the underground command, studying offensive tactics with Zakharov and Malinin: "...... We sent out the infantry, took up the starting position at night, taking advantage of the cover of the snow, as close as possible to the enemy's stronghold. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 The Info Engineer opens a path for the tank on the snow, and when our artillery preparation begins, the tank will advance along the passage opened by the engineer, and after approaching the infantry, it will support the infantry attack with fire on the spot, and finally help clear the battlefield......"

As soon as he said this, he heard the dense explosions outside, and couldn't help frowning slightly, and then said to Malinin: "Chief of Staff, go find out if the Germans are shelling us again." ”

After not much effort, Malinin walked back to the table and reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, it is not the enemy who is shelling the city, but the enemy planes who are bombing. They were familiar with the city, so they made the location of our headquarters the focus of the bombing. ”

"Damn Germans." When Zakharov heard this, he said angrily: "It seems that their shells and blow-ups are inexhaustible, and they are either shelled or bombed all day long, and it is estimated that they want to raze the city to the ground, and when we can no longer stay and evacuate, they will swagger back to the city." ”

Rokossovsky ignored Zakharov's complaints, but continued to ask Malinin: "Is there an update on the troops outside the city?" Did the enemy attack the city? ”

"No," Malinin said, shaking his head, "there was no trace of the enemy outside the city, and they could only keep shelling and bombarding the city. ”

"By the way, from which direction is the enemy coming?" Rokossovsky asked.

Malinin pointed to a map of the city of Sushinich spread out on the table, and said: "According to the report of the observation post, the enemy bombers are flying from the southwest of the city. ”

"It's strange, we have an anti-aircraft machine gun company here, why didn't they intercept the enemy when they came to pass?" Zakharov stared at the map and said dissatisfiedly: "We must seriously deal with the inaction of the commander of the air defense forces. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, don't be in a hurry." Seeing Zakharov's angry look, Rokossovsky hurriedly comforted him and said: "I guess it's not that our fighters don't want to intercept the enemy, but because the enemy planes fly at too high an altitude beyond the range of anti-aircraft machine guns." ”

While several people were talking, they suddenly heard the director of communications, Maksimenko, shouting: "Comrade commander, your phone. When Rokossovsky walked up to him, he whispered: "It's a call from the command of the Front." ”

"Hey, I'm Rokossovsky." Rokossovsky put the headphones to his ear and asked loudly: "Is it Comrade Zhukov?" ”

"Yes, it's me." Zhukov heard the sound coming from the earpiece, with one boom after another, and asked curiously: "Comrade Rokossovsky, what is your voice there, has it been shelled by the enemy again?" ”

"No, Comrade Zhukov." Rokossovsky hurriedly replied loudly: "It is the Germans who are bombing Suchinich, and they are trying to drive us out of the city by shelling and bombing." At present, there are fewer and fewer residents in the city, and everyone has left the city and fled east for their own safety. ”

"What, the inhabitants have moved east?" When Zhukov heard Rokossovsky say this, he hurriedly looked at the map in front of him, frowned, and said: "It will take at least fifty kilometers to meet a city that can accommodate them, and to get to Kaluga, you will need to walk one hundred and fifty kilometers." In such a cold weather, they walked so far, there must be a lot of people freezing to death or frostbite, have you taken any measures? ”

"No, Comrade Zhukov." Rokossovsky said humbly: "You also know that we do not have enough troops now to provide any help to these residents who are on the way to transfer. ”

"Nonsense, it's nonsense." Zhukov said angrily: "Even if the troops in Sushnych are not able to help them, can't your troops deployed in the east and northeast directions help them?" I command you to immediately set up supply depots along the route to provide hot soup and food for these refugees who have fled Suhinichi, so that they can reach the nearby cities without any problems. ”

"Understood, I'll arrange it immediately." Rokossovsky did not dare to slack off on Zhukov's instructions, and hurriedly agreed: "I will send special personnel to set up temporary supply points on the roads leading to the cities to provide food and hot soup for the refugees." ”

"Next, it's time for us to talk about offense." After Zhukov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he continued to ask: "When are you going to capture Duminich?" ”

Duminich was located thirty kilometers southwest of Sushinich and was an important supply base for the German army. Zhukov believed that by capturing the area, he would cut off the supply of most of the German troops southwest of Moscow, so that they finally had to retreat further west due to lack of ammunition, food, and various supplies.

Rokossovsky pondered for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade commander, after a long battle, my troops have not only lost more than two-thirds of their strength, but also have a serious shortage of shells, machine-gun ammunition, and tank fuel. I don't think the troops will be able to attack the enemy in this situation. ”

"No, Comrade Rokossovsky." Zhukov said unceremoniously: "An order is an order, there is no room for bargaining, you must take the Duminich as soon as possible." As for the reserves, I don't have anyone here, so you can only rely on your own strength to complete this combat mission. ”

After Rokossovsky put down the phone, he said to the commanders gathered around him: "Comrades, Zhukov has just urged us to launch a new offensive, and the first task at present is to capture Duminich, which is thirty kilometers away. ”

"It's difficult, Comrade Commander." Zakharov sighed and said with a serious expression: "We simply do not have the strength to launch such an offensive today, if we only capture some settlements, maybe our troops can barely do it, but to capture the cities heavily defended by the German army, I think it is almost an impossible task." ”

"Since this is an order from above, I think we should give it a try." After thinking for a while, Lobachev also expressed his opinion: "As long as we take this city, the weapons, ammunition and various supplies that we lack will be replenished, which will be very beneficial to us in the next stage of the operation." ”

"Comrade Commander, I think we need to take a risk." Malinin echoed Lobachev's opinion and put forward his own opinion: "Duminich is an important supply base for the German army, and once our army occupies this place, it will be able to cut off the logistical supply of those German units fighting with our army, at least they will not have so many shells to bombard us every day." ”

"Comrade Commander, I think the Chief of Staff has a point." Seeing that everyone had expounded their point of view, the artillery commander Kazakov quickly stood up and added: "We now have quite a lot of artillery, because there are no shells, and it has become an ornament. If we do take the city of Duminich, our artillery will be able to regain its combat effectiveness. ”

Rokossovsky saw that after Lobachev's speech, everyone agreed that it was okay to take the risk and try to capture the Duminich, but for the sake of safety, he still asked: "So, you are all in favor of taking the Duminich?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Several commanders replied in unison: "We feel that we should seize Duminich as soon as possible and cut off the logistics supply of the German army." ”

Rokossovsky sat in his place, pondering the necessity of seizing Duminić, completely ignoring the deputies who were still whispering on the sidelines. After some deliberation, he stood up and said decisively: "Well, since everyone's intentions are unified, then we will begin preparations for the attack on Duminić. ”

He then stopped Malinin and instructed: "Chief of Staff, Comrade Zhukov told us to set up temporary supply points on the way to the rest of the cities, to provide hot soup and food for the fleeing refugees, so that they can reach the nearby cities safely. ”

"Comrade commander, the chief of staff is very busy with his work, so there is no need to trouble him anymore." Lobachev, who was standing on the side, heard the task given by Rokossovsky to Malinin, and hurriedly said: "I'll be in charge of this matter." Also, I don't think it's enough to just have a supply point, and finally set up a few more heating points, so that those refugees who are frozen on the road can have a suitable place to warm up. ”

Facing Lobachev, who took the initiative to ask for help, Rokossovsky stared at him for a long time, and finally nodded and said decisively: "Okay, Comrade Military Commissar, since you are willing to take charge of this matter, I will give you full responsibility." It's up to you how many people you need, where to set up supply and heating points. ”

"Give me a platoon of troops." Lobachev begged Rokossovsky: "It would be better to send me all the comrades of the political department of the army group again, so that we will have enough men to build supply and heating points for the refugees on their way to escape." ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, it is not enough to do this." Rokossovsky pointed to the map and said to Lobachev: "It is better to have the troops stationed in these two cities send people to set up supply points and heating points along the way, and you just need to provide guidance and supervision." ”