To Rokossovsky's surprise, not long after Katukov left, Zhukov actually took the initiative to call. He asked straight to the point on the phone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, did Antonov inform you about the return of Katukov's tank army?" ”

Rokossovsky thought that Zhukov had called him to collect debts and wanted Katukov to return as soon as possible, and he couldn't help but feel a little angry, but he still tried his best to control his emotions and tried his best to say in a calm tone: "Comrade Marshal, I have received an order from the Chief of the General Staff that Katukov's tank army is going to participate in the upcoming Battle of Berlin. Please rest assured that I will definitely get Katukov and his troops back within a week. ”

When Zhukov heard Rokossovsky say this, he guessed that the other party must have misunderstood him, and hurriedly called Rokossovsky's nickname and explained: "Koschika, don't worry, I called you, not to urge you to let Katukov return, but to give you a few more days." ”

"What? Comrade Marshal, what do you say? Rokossovsky couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, and then asked rhetorically: "You mean that you are going to let the 1st Guards Tank Army stay in us for a while longer?" ”

"That's right, that's how I thought about it."

"But, Comrade Marshal, by order of the Supreme High Command, you will launch the Battle of Berlin at the beginning of April, and Katukov's troops will be reconstituted and replenished by this date, so that it is already the limit to be able to stay with us for another week." Rokossovsky's heart beat faster when he learned that Zhukov intended to let Katukov's troops stay for a few more days, and he knew very well that in the present situation, as long as the tank army stayed a few more days, seeing that the pressure on his troops when they captured Danzig and Gdynia was greatly reduced, he cautiously asked: "If you let them stay longer, I fear that the boss will reproach you." ”

"Koschika," Zhukov waited for Rokossovsky to finish, and then continued: "After receiving the notice from Antonov, I called the head of the house and told him clearly that the battle of East Pomerania has now entered the final stage, and if the 1st Guards Tank Army is allowed to return to the army at such a time, it will inevitably prolong the campaign and cause us more casualties. Therefore, I proposed to the master that the launch of the Battle of Berlin be postponed until mid-April. ”

When Rokossovsky heard this, his breathing became short, and he asked a little nervously: "How did the head of the house reply?" ”

"After some deliberation, he agreed to my request." Zhukov said lightly: "Since the time of launching the Battle of Berlin has been adjusted to mid-April, then the return of Katukov's tank army can be postponed to early April." How about it, Koschika, you have no objection to my proposal, right? ”

"No, no," it was learned that the return of Katukov's tank army was postponed to the beginning of April, which was equivalent to Zhukov giving himself ten more days, and in such a long time, the troops of the 19th Army, with their cooperation, would have succeeded in capturing Gdynia and seizing the shipyards there. Rokossovsky said excitedly: "Comrade Marshal, for your generosity, on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Front, I would like to express my gratitude to you. ”

Zhukov laughed a few times and continued: "Koschika, don't be so polite, you just need to remember that you owe me a great favor, maybe one day, I will ask you for this favor." ”

Rokossovsky hurriedly replied: "No problem, Comrade Marshal, I will be happy to serve you at any time." ”

"Alright, stop talking nonsense with me." Zhukov scolded with a smile on the phone: "I estimate that after you received Antonov's call, you were in a bad mood, and you may be adjusting your strategic deployment now." Now that I have postponed the re-establishment of the tank army, you don't need to make any changes to your original battle plan. ”

As soon as he put down the phone, Rokossovsky walked to the door and shouted at Bogolyubov in the war room: "Chief of Staff, the decision we have just made is nullified and let the units continue to carry out the original battle plan. ”

Bogolyubov, who was urging the newspaper operator to send the newspaper, could not help but be stunned when he heard Rokossovsky's shout, and after he asked the newspaper operator to suspend the delivery of the newspaper, he came over and asked: "Comrade Marshal, is something wrong?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Rokossovsky said with some excitement: "Marshal Zhukov has just called me and said that he has negotiated with the Supreme Commander himself to postpone the offensive time of the new round of battles to mid-April, and the time for the return of the tank army has also been changed to early April. ”

Although Rokossovsky did not mention the name of the battle for reasons of secrecy, Bogolyubov knew what he was referring to. I couldn't help but be overjoyed to learn that the time for the return of the tank army was delayed: "Comrade Marshal, the time is a little too short to capture Gdynia in a week. But if we can extend it for another ten days, then our attack will be much easier. ”

"Alright, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't say anything." Rokossovsky raised his hand and tapped Bogolyubov twice on the shoulder, telling the other side: "If the telegram has already been sent, immediately notify them of its cancellation." Katukov was also to send him a telegram and ask him to carry out the original plan. ”

As soon as he finished telling Bogolyubov here, Su Bojing walked in briskly from outside. As soon as he saw Rokossovsky, he said: "Comrade Marshal, I am looking for you everywhere. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, where are the comrades of the Red Banner Song and Dance Troupe?" When Rokossovsky saw Subotin returning alone, he asked with some curiosity: "Why didn't you accompany them to the dinner?" ”

"The head of the political department, General Okorokov, is with them." Su Bojing said to Rokossovsky with a serious expression: "I came back to you on purpose because I heard a message from Aleksandrov that you are interested in. ”

"What's the news?" Rokossovsky asked curiously.

"Shura is Zoya's younger brother. During the assault on Königsberg, the tank he was driving was destroyed by the Germans, and in the process of rescuing his comrades, he was unfortunately killed by enemy snipers. ”

"Is the information reliable?" When Rokossovsky learned the bad news about Shura, he asked Subotin with some surprise: "Where did Aleksandrov get the news?" ”

"Before they came to us for a condolence performance, the higher authorities informed Aleksandrov about this." "They asked Aleksandrov to create a story about the siblings, which would be widely publicized throughout the army," Subotin explained to Rokossovsky. ”

"I see." After figuring out the source, Rokossovsky confirmed that the news of Shura's death was not false, but real, he sighed and said regretfully: "What a pity, seeing that the war is about to end, who knows that he still fell before the dawn." ”

"Maybe the war will end in three months to half a year, but it's a pity that he didn't see the final victory." After Su Bojing also sighed, he suddenly remembered that Rokossovsky and the three of them hurriedly returned to the headquarters, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, you have just returned to the headquarters in a hurry, is there something serious?" ”

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