As soon as Rokossovsky's words were finished, the roar of aircraft engines became louder and louder outside the command headquarters. As soon as the www.biquge.info heard this voice, Ma Linin was shocked, and he shouted loudly: "The enemy plane is coming, everyone get out of here!" After saying that, he stepped forward and grabbed one arm of Rokossovsky and Lobachev, and dragged them outward.

Everyone soon ran to the bomb shelter dozens of meters away, and at this moment the sound of the aircraft engine became clearer and clearer. Rokossovsky looked up at the sky, and through the dense foliage of the trees, he could vaguely see that four enemy planes were flying at an ultra-low altitude over the forest, as if they were looking for some valuable targets.

The anti-aircraft gunners, who were responsible for covering the forest, did not fire at these tempting targets without receiving Kazakov's order to open fire. In this case, obedience to orders is of paramount importance, and every anti-aircraft gunner understands in his heart that he cannot open fire to reveal the location of his headquarters without a direct threat.

Malinin, who was standing next to Rokossovsky, looked at the enemy planes passing by at low altitude in the air, and said worriedly: "If the friendly troops are bombed by enemy planes during the attack, then the troops will suffer heavy casualties. ”

"There is no way to do this," Rokossovsky said, shifting his attention from the sky to Malinin, and said helplessly, "although I persuaded General Konev several times to let him launch an attack on the enemy at night. It is a pity that he has always been stubborn and insisted on waiting until daytime to let the troops attack the Germans. Not to mention that the enemy has many more tanks and artillery than we do, even the bombardment of aircraft is enough to crush the most elite troops. ”

"Comrade Commander," Malinin looked to the left and right, and seeing that there were only the two of them nearby, he lowered his voice and said, "If you had reported this matter directly to the Front Command last night, explained the vital matter to Marshal Timoshenko, and asked him to urge General Konev to send troops, the situation might not be as bad as it is now." ”

When Rokossovsky was thinking about how to respond to Malinin's words, a dusty memory suddenly welled up in his mind, and when he understood this memory, he couldn't help but be surprised. He also followed Malinin's example, looked around, and saw that Lobachev and they were far away from him, so he whispered to Malinin: "Chief of Staff, you must know that I was arrested in 1937, right?" ”

Malinin did not know why Rokossovsky suddenly brought it up, so he nodded his head to indicate that he knew, while adding: "As far as I know, the commanders who were arrested during the same period and are still commanding the troops, in addition to you, are General Lukin and General Petrovsky, commander of the 63rd Infantry Corps. ”

"Chief of Staff, you must be curious to know the reason for my arrest?" Rokossovsky asked, looking at Malinin.

Although Ma Lining also experienced such a terrifying era, he saw his familiar comrades-in-arms arrested one after another for various crimes, and then disappeared silently. Although he also wanted to find out what crime they had committed and what their final whereabouts were, he had to remain silent all the time on that day when everyone was in danger. At this moment, when he heard Rokossovsky about his experience, he couldn't help but be interested, so he nodded instinctively.

"Well, since you want to know, I'll tell you." Seeing that Malinin wanted to know his past history, Rokossovsky whispered: "At that time, someone wrote to his superiors, saying that I had something to do with the spy agencies of Poland and the Japanese state, and constantly betrayed some important military information to them. As a result, because of this incident, I was removed from my post as commander of the Fifth Cavalry Army and placed on file for investigation.

Before the final conclusion came out, there was a serious incident in which General Ryushikov defected to the Japanese state with important Far Eastern spy secrets. At this time, someone came forward to testify that when I was in the Far East, I had close contacts with General Ryushikov. You know, although I know General Ryushikov, I basically have work contacts and no personal contacts. For this new report, I think it's too ridiculous, and I think that the superiors will find out sooner or later. Unexpectedly, in the following interrogation, it was announced that I had been sentenced to death for collaborating with the enemy and treason......"

When Ma Lining heard this, he couldn't help but open his mouth wide in surprise. After a while, he stammered and asked, "Comrade Commander, that... Then you... You... Later it was... How did you get out of danger? ”

Rokossovsky grinned bitterly, and then said: "Fortunately, our old superior, Marshal Timoshenko, did not know where he learned about this matter, so he took the initiative to come out to vouch for me, saying that I am a commander with rich combat experience and incomparable loyalty to the motherland, and will never collaborate with the enemy and commit treason.

It was precisely because Comrade Marshal interceded for me that although I was taken to the execution ground, I was not executed, but was lucky enough to save my life. Finally, after more than two years of examination, it was finally found that the accusations against me were untrue, and in addition, Marshal Timoshenko applied to the Supreme Commander himself because of the imminent war and the lack of command talent in the army, so I was able to be reinstated and returned to the Fifth Cavalry Army. ”

"Comrade commander, since you are an old subordinate of the marshal, you must have a good relationship." After Ma Lining listened, after letting out a sigh of relief, he said enviously: "Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken such a big risk to intercede for you." ”

Rokossovsky glanced at Malinin and said unexpectedly: "Chief of staff, you are mistaken, I am not familiar with Comrade Marshal. Don't look at him, he used to be my old superior, when I was in the army before, he talked to me alone many times, but the time of separation was too long, and he forgot what I looked like except for remembering my name. So much so that when I went to the headquarters to look for him some time ago, he didn't recognize me yet. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's account of his past history, Malinin asked with some puzzlement: "Comrade commander, I don't understand what happened in the past and what you did last night about, is there any connection between the two?" ”

"Chief of Staff, haven't you understood?" Rokossovsky smiled bitterly again and said: "Regardless of the relationship between me and the marshal, just because he once saved my life, in the minds of many people, I have been branded with some brand of Timoshenko. General Konev, on the other hand, belonged to a different faction. If I had reported this to the marshal last night, he would have given the battle order directly to General Konev. And General Konev, whether he sent troops or not, would have a grudge against me because I reported to my superiors without authorization and used them to suppress him. Perhaps this will lead to serious contradictions between the two of us, which will be very detrimental to the coordinated operations in the future. Do you understand? ”

After listening to Rokossovsky explain the ins and outs, Malinin finally figured out the powerful relationship, and he said with a sudden face: "I understand, so that's the case." ”

When the air raid sirens were lifted and everyone returned to the headquarters, Rokossovsky first ordered Malinin: "Chief of staff, send a report to the three division commanders in the West Bank and ask them how the situation is on the front line?" ”

The first to call back was Colonel Gryaznov, who said in the telegram: "The enemy, under the cover of tank artillery, launched a strong attack on the defensive positions of our division. Although we have crushed the enemy's attempt to attack, the casualties of our troops are heavy, and we hope that they will be replenished as soon as possible. ”

After listening to this, Rokossovsky frowned, and then said: "If I am not mistaken, didn't Colonel Cherneshov send a regiment to strengthen their division?" Why are you asking for reinforcements from us now? ”

"Comrade commander, under such artillery fire, I think the casualties of the troops must have been very heavy." Without waiting for Malinin to speak, Kazakov next to him interjected. He was an expert in artillery, and when it came to his expertise, he gushed out: "...... If a unit without strong fortifications is bombarded by enemy artillery, it will inflict two to three times more casualties than a force with strong fortifications, and even in serious cases, there is a possibility that the whole army will be destroyed......"

Rokossovsky, after patiently listening to Kazakov finish his theory, asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Artillery, in this case, will our troops be able to withdraw from their positions?" ”

"I think it's very difficult, Comrade Commander." Kazakov said with a bitter face: "Rather than risk the troops being annihilated by enemy shelling and air raids on the way to retreat, it is better to let them continue to hold their positions, at least in this way, and at the same time reduce casualties, but also resist the enemy's attack." ”

"By the way, aren't the friendly forces attacking the enemy?" At this time, Lobachev asked coldly: "Since the troops of several divisions are attacking in the rear of the enemy's flanks, why can the enemy still concentrate superior forces and recklessly attack our troops on the west bank?" ”

Lobachev's question immediately made everyone ask. Rokossovsky was the first to come to his senses, and he immediately instructed Malinin: "Chief of Staff, immediately call General Konev and ask how his troops are progressing today." ”

As soon as Malinin finished calling Konev, he reported a bad news to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, the situation there is very bad for friendly troops. Their attack on the enemy ended in failure after being bombarded and shelled by the enemy......"

Without waiting for Malinin to finish speaking, Lobachev couldn't wait to say: "Did General Konev say when their troops will attack the enemy again?" ”

"Offense, maybe there won't be any more." "According to the latest battle reports, the enemy dispatched no less than one armored division to attack from the rear of the counteroffensive units of the 19th Army," Malinin said with difficulty. In order to avoid the troops being entangled by the Germans, General Konev had already given them an order to withdraw from the battle when the time was right. ”

After listening to what Malinin said, Lobachev said indignantly: "What are you afraid of being entangled by the German army, you are obviously afraid of being surrounded by the German army again." Isn't their retreat tantamount to letting our troops on the west bank face the main German force that is stronger than themselves alone? ”

Having received so much information at once, Rokossovsky was also a little overwhelmed. He did not expect that the troops of the 19th Army, which had originally had the upper hand, would face the fate of being surrounded by the Germans just a few hours later. He looked down at the map in front of him, thinking carefully about what kind of German attack his Hexi troops would face next.

After looking at it for a while, he looked up and asked Malinin: "Chief of Staff, did Colonel Lidyukov call back?" ”

Malinin shook his head and replied: "I asked the telegraph operator to send two telegrams to Colonel Lidyukov, but I never heard back, and I don't know what happened to them. ”

"Keep connecting." Rokossovsky briefly ordered: "It is necessary to restore contact with them in the shortest possible time." ”

While there was chaos in Rokossovsky's command, Lidyukov and Chernyshov had just been transferred to a new one. The original command was hit by enemy shells, and the two, under the cover of the staff officers, escaped in time. Although there were no casualties, the two radio stations placed in the headquarters were blown up, and communication with the army headquarters was cut off.

As soon as he entered the new command, Lidyukov said to Chernyshov: "Comrade Colonel, the situation outside looks very bad. It stands to reason that friendly forces are attacking to the north and west of the enemy, and the enemy should withdraw his forces and return to the defense. But if you look outside, the enemy is fighting more and more. In the battle just now, if I hadn't sent a tank detachment to counterattack in time, it is estimated that the enemy would have occupied our position. ”

"Colonel Lidyukov, I also feel that something is wrong." Chernyshov glanced at the damaged radio, which lay on the ground, and then suggested: "We should immediately restore contact with the army group command and report the situation here to the commander." ”

Lidyukov pointed to the broken radio station, which was no longer usable, and said helplessly: "The radio stations of our two divisions have been blown up, how can we contact the headquarters?" Even if you send someone back to report the news, it will take at least a few hours to go back and forth, which will be a big mistake. ”

After walking around the house twice with his hands behind his back, Chernesov suddenly thought of a good idea, and quickly stopped and said to Lidyukov: "Colonel Lidyukov, I have thought of a solution. Gryaznov's division is not far from us, and their radio should be working, so we will use his radio station to communicate with the command. ”

After listening to Chernyshov's suggestion, Lidyukov immediately clapped his hands and applauded: "Great, this is wonderful." Anyway, we are not far from the Gryaznov division here, so we will send a signal corpsman to go on a motorcycle, and we will arrive in about ten minutes, and nothing will be delayed. I'm going to send a communications corps over. ”

Just as Lidyukov gave the order to the communications troops, Chernyshov, who was next to him, muttered in a low voice: "After a hard night's work, the boiled duck still flew." (To be continued.) )