Hearing Rokossovsky's order, Kazakov hesitated for a moment, and then resolutely proposed: "Comrade commander, in order to ensure the smooth withdrawal of our troops, I propose to provide them with the necessary artillery support while they retreat. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Rokossovsky looked up at the enemy planes circling in the sky, and knew in his heart how much danger it was to open fire in such a situation, because the enemy planes could dive down from the sky at any time and blow up the artillery positions to pieces. However, seeing that Kazakov had made up his mind, he did not object, nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Artillery, please convey to the artillery soldiers, on behalf of the commanders and fighters who have withdrawn from the front, I thank them and thank these heroic artillery soldiers for their great sacrifices in order to take the overall situation into account." ”

The forward troops, having received Rokossovsky's orders, took advantage of the fact that the German attack was repulsed again and the enemy planes in the air flew away one after another, quickly withdrew from their defensive positions and retreated towards the Vopi River.

As soon as the troops retreated, they were immediately discovered by the Germans. The German commander felt that this was the best opportunity to crush the Soviet army, so he ordered the troops in the southwest, west, and northwest directions to launch a full-scale attack.

Looking at the German units that suddenly appeared on the battlefield, Rokossovsky put down his binoculars, nodded at Kazakov, and then said: "Let's start, Comrade Chief of Artillery, let our artillery give the Germans a lesson that will last a lifetime." ”

With the order given, the artillery had long been on standby, and opened fire on the German troops who were following the Soviet troops. Pieces of shells fell on the German columns with a screaming sound, and in the fireballs and smoke in the sky, thousands of shrapnel whistled sharply and swept the German troops near the bombs in pieces. There were several unlucky tanks, not directly hit by shells, which turned into a ball of fire; It was to be swept to the ground by the air wave of the explosion.

The German army, which was pursuing, did not expect to be suddenly attacked by such heavy artillery fire from the Soviet army, and was suddenly taken by surprise. After another burst of shelling, the enemy stopped pursuing the Soviets and ran back in a chaotic manner.

Seeing that the Germans were retreating after chasing the troops, Rokossovsky put down his binoculars, wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned to Kazakov and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Artillery, the Germans who pursued our army have been repulsed. Immediately let the artillery move their positions so as not to be bombarded by the enemy. ”

The 38th Infantry Division, the mixed detachment, and the few remaining tanks of the 101st Tank Division, which had been covered by artillery, managed to retreat to defensive positions on the west bank of the Woppy River, where the commanders and fighters re-established their defenses.

As the troops forced their way across the Woppi River on the first day, they seized the favorable terrain on the west bank and built a strong defense. Therefore, in the next day or so, although the Germans bombed and shelled, and dispatched dozens of tanks to cover the infantry to attack in turn, they were all repulsed by the defenders without exception.

The fighting on the west bank of the Vopi River, which lasted two days, Rokossovsky received a call from Timoshenko from the headquarters. The marshal asked with concern: "Comrade Rokossovsky, how is your situation there?" ”

"Report to Comrade Marshal," Rokossovsky replied, glancing at the smoke of the battlefield outside, "although the Germans attacked our positions by the river for two days in a row, they were crushed by our commanders and fighters. At the moment the casualties of the troops are high, and I would like you to give me a little more so that we can hold out longer. ”

"The troops will definitely be replenished for you." Temoshengo said unusually cheerfully: "But before I can replenish your troops, I have two things to announce to you. ”

"Tell me, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky said respectfully.

"First, after the study of the Front Command, it was decided to transfer your deputy, Major General Vinogradov, the former commander of the Seventh Mechanized Army, so that he could rush to the Front Headquarters to report as soon as he received the order."

After listening to the first thing announced by Timoshenko, Rokossovsky's heart couldn't help but chuckle, since General Pavlov was transferred back to Moscow and sentenced to death after a military trial, almost all the middle and senior commanders of the front line have been resistant to being transferred back to Moscow.

Therefore, Rokossovsky and Timoshenko preemptively said: "Comrade Marshal, Vinogradov has been very good since he arrived at our combat cluster. Moreover, in the early hours of yesterday morning, he also took the initiative to go to the side of the Wopi River to direct the breakout troops of the 20th Army to cross the river. I think he's a good conductor......"

"Alright, don't say any more." Before Rokossovsky could finish speaking, Timoshenko unceremoniously interrupted him, "We all know what kind of person Major General Vinogradov is, and we don't need you to judge it." Remember, let him report to the front headquarters before it gets dark today. Do you understand? ”

Rokossovsky glanced at Vinogradov, whose face was pale, with sympathetic eyes, and then said a little helplessly: "Understood, Comrade Marshal, I must let General Vinogradov rush to the headquarters before dark." ”

"Now for the second thing," continued Timoshenko, "after dark, when your troops have withdrawn across the Vopi River, you go to the heroes who are holding Smolensk, and their army group headquarters is located in the village of Vasilika. ”

These few words of Timoshenko confused Rokossovsky, and he asked puzzledly: "Comrade Marshal, I don't know what you asked me to do in the 16th Army?" ”

And Timoshenko, who was on the other end of the phone, heard Rokossovsky's question, couldn't help but raise his hand and pat his forehead, and said with a smile: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I'm sorry, I didn't make it clear." After the study of the members of our command and the approval of the General Staff, it was decided to appoint you to the headquarters of the 16th Army, and after dark, you will take someone to the village of Vasilyka to receive the troops. ”

"And what about the original commander, General Lukin?" Rokossovsky suddenly heard about this appointment, and after a brief shock, it occurred to him that the reason why his superiors appointed him commander of the 16th Army might be because of Lukin's wounds. Thinking of this, he then asked: "Are you going to let him go back to Moscow to recuperate?" ”

"His injuries are not too serious," Timoshenko said in a relaxed tone, "he will go to the 20th Army and take up the post of commander." Probably in order to prevent Rokossovsky from continuing to ask, he first said what the other party was concerned about, "General Kurochkin had been sent back to Moscow by the command a few minutes ago. When he returns to the city, he will take up leadership positions in other units. ”

By this time, Rokossovsky had finally figured out the ins and outs of this personnel change, and the commander of the 20th Army, Kurochkin, who had repeatedly failed to cooperate with friendly movements, was transferred back to Moscow, and his post was taken over by Lukin. After Lukin became the commander of the 20th Army, there was another vacancy in the post of commander of the 16th Army, so his superiors appointed him to this important post.

After dark, after the troops had withdrawn across the Vopi River and re-entered the defensive positions west of Yaltsevo, Rokossovsky took Kazakov, Malinin and Vinogradov, who was about to be transferred, to the village of Vasilyka.

When they walked into the headquarters, they were surprised to see that Timoshenko was also here. Timoshenko smiled and shook Rokossovsky's hand, and then said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, are you surprised to see me here?" ”

As he spoke, he turned sideways, pointed to Lukin and Lobachev next to him and said: "In addition to accompanying you to take office, I also came to congratulate two comrades, Lukin and Lobachev, for winning the Order of the Red Banner. It was precisely because they completely thwarted the enemy's offensive and inflicted losses on the enemy's corps in the bitter battles that the enemy could not rush under Moscow in a short time. ”

Lukin walked over and shook hands with Rokossovsky, and then introduced his military commissar: "Comrade Rokossovsky, this is Comrade Lobachev, the military commissar of the 16th Army and the political commissar of the division, you have met a few days ago on the banks of the Vopi River. Since he will be your military commissar in the future, I will introduce you to you again. ”

"Hello, Comrade Lobachev." Rokossovsky smiled and stretched out his hand to Lobachev.

Lobachev hurriedly shook Rokossovsky's hand and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Commander. ”

After greeting each other, Timoshenko and the others said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, since Major General Shalin, Chief of Staff of the Group Army, also followed Comrade Lukin to the 20th Army, it seems that you can only find a new chief of staff. ”

"Comrade Marshal, I now have a very good chief of staff." Rokossovsky turned to the side, revealing Malinin, who was standing behind, and said: "This is Colonel Malinin, if you do not object, Comrade Commander, I would like to appoint him as chief of staff of the 16th Army." ”

"I don't have a problem." Timoshenko replied very simply: "Anyway, it's all your deputy, who do you think is suitable, as long as you propose a list, I will definitely agree." ”

"Comrade Marshal, and this General Kazakov," Rokossovsky saw that Timoshenko agreed to the appointment of Malinin, and hurriedly pointed at Kazakov and said: "I want to appoint him as the head of the artillery of the army group, you have no opinion." ”

"I have no opinion." As he spoke, Timoshenko handed Rokossovsky a document in his hand and said, "This is the list of the 16th Army and its commanders after the reorganization. ”

"His injuries are not too serious," Timoshenko said in a relaxed tone, "he will go to the 20th Army and take up the post of commander." Probably in order to prevent Rokossovsky from continuing to ask, he first said what the other party was concerned about, "General Kurochkin had been sent back to Moscow by the command a few minutes ago. When he returns to the city, he will take up leadership positions in other units. ”

By this time, Rokossovsky had finally figured out the ins and outs of this personnel change, and the commander of the 20th Army, Kurochkin, who had repeatedly failed to cooperate with friendly movements, was transferred back to Moscow, and his post was taken over by Lukin. After Lukin became the commander of the 20th Army, there was another vacancy in the post of commander of the 16th Army, so his superiors appointed him to this important post.

After dark, after the troops had withdrawn across the Vopi River and re-entered the defensive positions west of Yaltsevo, Rokossovsky took Kazakov, Malinin and Vinogradov, who was about to be transferred, to the village of Vasilyka.

When they walked into the headquarters, they were surprised to see that Timoshenko was also here. Timoshenko smiled and shook Rokossovsky's hand, and then said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, are you surprised to see me here?" ”

As he spoke, he turned sideways, pointed to Lukin and Lobachev next to him and said: "In addition to accompanying you to take office, I also came to congratulate two comrades, Lukin and Lobachev, for winning the Order of the Red Banner. It was precisely because they completely thwarted the enemy's offensive and inflicted losses on the enemy's corps in the bitter battles that the enemy could not rush under Moscow in a short time. ”

Lukin walked over and shook hands with Rokossovsky, and then introduced his military commissar: "Comrade Rokossovsky, this is Comrade Lobachev, the military commissar of the 16th Army and the political commissar of the division, you have met a few days ago on the banks of the Vopi River. Since he will be your military commissar in the future, I will introduce you to you again. ”

"Hello, Comrade Lobachev." Rokossovsky smiled and stretched out his hand to Lobachev.

Lobachev hurriedly shook Rokossovsky's hand and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Commander. ”

After greeting each other, Timoshenko and the others said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, since Major General Shalin, Chief of Staff of the Group Army, also followed Comrade Lukin to the 20th Army, it seems that you can only find a new chief of staff. ”

"Comrade Marshal, I now have a very good chief of staff." Rokossovsky turned to the side, revealing Malinin, who was standing behind, and said: "This is Colonel Malinin, if you do not object, Comrade Commander, I would like to appoint him as chief of staff of the 16th Army." ”

"I don't have a problem." Timoshenko replied very simply: "Anyway, it's all your deputy, who do you think is suitable, as long as you propose a list, I will definitely agree." ”

"Comrade Marshal, and this General Kazakov," Rokossovsky saw that Timoshenko agreed to the appointment of Malinin, and hurriedly pointed at Kazakov and said: "I want to appoint him as the head of the artillery of the army group, you have no opinion." ”

"I have no opinion." As he spoke, Timoshenko handed Rokossovsky a document in his hand and said, "This is the list of the 16th Army and its commanders after the reorganization. (To be continued.) )