In June, Zhukov was sent by Stalin to the Orel direction to coordinate the actions of the three armies of the Central Front, the Bryansk Front, and the Western Front; And the Chief of the General Staff, Vasilevsky, was sent to the Voronezh Front.

The Soviet high command initially believed that the Germans would launch an offensive on Kursk in early June, but the Germans behaved quietly throughout early June, with no sporadic clashes. Then he suggested that on June 22, the day of the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, the Germans could launch an offensive on the Kursk arc, and the result was still uneventful.

In July, Vatutin again submitted a written report to Stalin, arguing that the attack on the Germans should be launched first, because the preparations made by the Soviet army were all for the purpose of resisting the German summer offensive, and if the action was delayed, once the autumn came, these fortifications would lose their due effect.

After reading Vatutin's report, Stalin made a special call to Zhukov and asked whether the Soviet army had the strength to launch a powerful offensive in both the Orel and Belgorod regions at the same time.

After listening to this, Zhukov was silent for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade Stalin, I still insist on my opinion, that is, after exhausting the exhausted enemy in the defense and knocking out the armored forces of the German army, then throw in new reserves and switch to a full-scale counteroffensive in order to completely crush the enemy's main heavy army group. ”

"Comrade Zhukov," Stalin said worriedly, after waiting for Zhukov to finish speaking, "if our army blindly adopts defensive means, will there be a situation that happened many times in 1941 and 1942, that is, our army could not withstand the surprise attack of the German army, but was more passively beaten?" ”

"Comrade Stalin, I don't think such a scenario is possible." After Zhukov made his attitude clear, he asked rhetorically: "Can our army, with its existing strength, carry out a surprise attack on the German defensive zone, and achieve the goal of destroying the German heavy army group?" ”

Zhukov's words silenced Stalin. Stalin, who had always been resolute and resolute, became hesitant in the face of two diametrically opposed proposals, and he repeatedly weighed the pros and cons of the two options in his mind, and he could not make up his mind for a long time.

Rokossovsky, who was standing on the side, saw that Zhukov was holding the microphone and did not speak, so he made a gesture to the other party, indicating that he had something to say. Zhukov hurriedly covered the microphone with his hand and asked in a deep voice: "Comrade Rokossovsky, is there something wrong?" ”

"Comrade Zhukov," Rokossovsky asked in a whisper, "is Comrade Stalin planning for us to take the lead in attacking the defensive positions of the German troops?" ”

Zhukov did not speak, but nodded, indicating that Rokossovsky's guess was correct.

Rokossovsky knew very well in his heart that the Germans would attack at what time and on what day, but he was worried that history would be deviated by his arrival, so he cautiously said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, please tell Comrade Stalin and ask him to wait a few more days, and if the Germans have not launched an offensive against us after July 10, our troops will take the initiative to attack the German defensive positions." ”

When Zhukov heard this, his eyebrows couldn't help but rise, and just when he was about to ask Rokossovsky why he had such thoughts, he suddenly heard Stalin's somewhat helpless voice coming from the earpiece: "Comrade Zhukov, then tell me, what should we do at this stage?" ”

When Zhukov heard Stalin say this, he knew that he was in a dilemma that was difficult to choose at the moment, and after a moment of hesitation, he decided to use the delaying tactics proposed by Rokossovsky, "Comrade Stalin, we don't know when the Germans will attack, or if they don't look like an offensive at all. Therefore, we had to adjust our tactics and take the lead in attacking the Germans. However, for the sake of safety, I suggest that you still need to allow some preparation time for the participating troops. ”

Stalin was extremely surprised to hear that Zhukov had agreed to the plan of the active attack, and after quickly digesting this information, he asked: "Then when do you think we should launch an attack on the German army?" ”

"Since the preparations carried out by our troops in the early stage are all related to how to resist the German offensive, we must have sufficient time to adjust." Zhukov originally wanted to talk about July 10, but thinking that according to Stalin's character, it might be a few days earlier, he decisively pushed back the date by a few days: "I think it is very appropriate to launch an offensive against the Germans on July 15. ”

As Zhukov expected, Stalin felt that July 15 was a little too late, and that he would have to wait another half a month, and that in such a long time, there would be many unexpected situations, so after thinking about it, he said solemnly: "Comrade Zhukov, let's make July 10 the final deadline for the offensive." ”

"Understood, Comrade Stalin." Zhukov said respectfully: "We will seize the time to prepare for the attack." ”

After putting down the phone, Zhukov immediately asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I remember that at the Moscow Conference in May, you strongly opposed the initiative to attack the German army, why did you suddenly change your mind now?" ”

Rokossovsky grinned, and then replied: "Comrade Marshal, didn't you notice that the German troops in the arc were a little too quiet?" ”

"So what?"

"I think all of a sudden they are so quiet is a precursor to getting ready to attack." Rokossovsky said lightly: "I estimate that in a week at most, they will launch an offensive on the Kursk arc." ”

"Another week?" After listening to this, Zhukov frowned and asked: "I want to know, on what basis did you make such a bold conclusion?" ”

"Forward troops reported that they could hear the roar of German tanks or truck motors throughout the night, indicating that the Germans were gathering forces at an accelerated pace in preparation for the offensive." Rokossovsky used the method of analyzing intelligence to explain to Zhukov why he thought that the German offensive would start in a week.

"You have a point." Zhukov nodded, and then asked: "Then what kind of measures did you take?" ”

"I have given orders to the commanders of the various army groups to intensify patrolling and surveillance of forward positions at night." Speaking of this, Rokossovsky deliberately emphasized: "If the Germans were to attack, they would definitely send sappers to open a passage for their infantry in the minefields laid by our troops." ”

Although Zhukov considered Rokossovsky to be quite reasonable, he reminded him: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I agree with your analysis. If, by July 10, the Germans had not launched an offensive against us, we would have had to take the initiative to launch an offensive against the German defensive positions. ”

……

……

On July 4, as soon as it got dark, Rokossovsky began to become a little restless, walking back and forth in the cabin of the command with his hands behind his back.

Zhukov, who was sitting on the side, saw his abnormal behavior and couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade Rokossovsky, what's wrong with you today?" What makes you anxious like an ant on a hot pan? ”

Rokossovsky stopped and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, today I suddenly have a bad premonition that the German army will launch an offensive against our army in a few hours, or even less. ”

After hearing this, Zhukov laughed hehehe, and teased: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I think you are in a hurry when you see that the day when the base camp stipulates that our offensive is getting closer and closer, and the enemy is not moving at all, right?" Don't worry, since we have waited for so long, the Germans have not taken the initiative to attack, and in the remaining few days, there is not much chance that they will attack, so you should prepare for the attack in a down-to-earth manner. ”

Malinin and Terekin walked into the room with food, and after setting it on the table, they raised their heads and greeted Rokossovsky and Zhukov: "Comrade commanders, it's not early, come and have something to eat." ”

Unable to confirm whether the Germans would attack tomorrow morning, Rokossovsky's heart was always uneasy, and although the food on the table was abundant, he had no appetite, so he simply ate a little and put it down. He walked over to the telephone and called several army commanders one by one, asking them about the situation there.

The answer was the same: the enemy positions on the opposite side were calm, there was no movement at all.

When Zhukov learned of this situation, his brows also locked, and he said to himself: "Strange, how can there be no movement on the enemy's position, is this the silence before the big battle?"

Seeing that Zhukov and Rokossovsky were sitting at the table with frowns, Malinin and Terekin, after they had finished eating, simply cleaned up the table and left the room without saying a word.

At eleven o'clock in the evening, Rokossovsky suddenly received a call from the commander of the 13th Army, General Pukhov. The other party hurriedly said on the phone: "Report to Comrade Commander, our fighters found several German sappers moving in the forward minefield, and after some fighting, killed two sappers, captured one, and the rest fled back to the German positions." ”

"Great, that's great." Hearing that the 13th Army had captured one of the German sappers at the location of the minefield, Rokossovsky was overjoyed, and after looking at Zhukov, who was sitting opposite, he said into the microphone: "Send someone immediately to send the prisoners to the headquarters of the Front, quickly, understand, General Pukhov." ”

As soon as he put down the phone, Rokossovsky called Malinin in and asked him to find a German translator, and at the same time call the artillery commander Kazakov.

After Malinin went out, Zhukov asked puzzledly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you are looking for a German translator in order to interrogate the prisoners; But what did you do when General Kazakov was called? ”

"Comrade Marshal," Rokossovsky said excitedly, "I think the Germans might do something, so call the artillery commander, maybe it will come in handy at that time." ”

After half an hour, an officer with two fighters escorted the captured German sappers to Rokossovsky's headquarters. The officer who led the team reported to Rokossovsky and Zhukov: "The captured soldier was a private of the 6th Engineer Battalion of the German Army, who was captured in a minefield at the front of our army. ”

After hearing this, Zhukov glanced at Rokossovsky and motioned for him to interrogate the prisoner. Rokossovsky nodded, walked up to the German sapper, stared at the Iron Cross on his chest, and asked: "How did you get your Iron Cross?" ”

After listening to the translation, the German sappers raised their heads and proudly said: "I got it at Stalingrad." ”

After hearing this, Rokossovsky snorted, and then said: "It seems that you are quite lucky to be able to leave Stalingrad alive; And now for you, this war is over ahead of schedule. ”

After listening to the translation, the sapper glanced at Rokossovsky, and with a contemptuous expression on his face, he said disappreciatively: "Mr. General, you can shoot me." But tomorrow your troops will be dealt a devastating blow by us, as Stalingrad did. As long as we destroy your forces, we can turn around and attack Moscow and conquer it with ease. Because our troops have already received the order from the Führer to attack. ”

When Rokossovsky heard this, although he understood in his heart that the so-called Führer's order was an order for the Germans to launch an offensive in the Kursk arc, he still pretended to ask: "What order?" ”

"Tomorrow early in the morning, we are going to launch a powerful attack," said the sapper, "and this is the final and decisive attack." ”

"When does it start?"

The sapper hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Three o'clock in the morning on July 5." ”

Rokossovsky felt that he had almost understood everything he needed to know, so he waved his hand and asked the officer to take the German sappers away. Then he returned to Zhukov and said to him: "Comrade Marshal, it is already clear that the Germans will attack our army at three o'clock tomorrow morning. ”

Zhukov turned his head to look at Kazakov, who was sitting next to him, and said to Rokossovsky with a smile: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you have really thought it through, and you have already called the commander of the artillery. It seems that you are planning to teach the Germans a hard lesson with heavy artillery fire before they attack. ”

Rokossovsky smiled, turned his gaze to Kazakov and asked: "Comrade Artillery Commander, have our artillery already marked the shooting elements?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Kazakov also replied with a smile: "As long as you give the order, our artillery can teach the Germans a lesson that will last a lifetime." ”