When the female soldiers of the newspaper announced the last program, Rokossovsky leaned close to Su Bojing's ear and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Military Commissar, how did you arrange it after the performance?" ”

Hearing this question, Su Bojing was a little surprised and said: "Comrade Marshal, according to the normal steps, shouldn't you go backstage to meet the actors and invite them to a small banquet?" ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, you will take care of the matter of going backstage to meet the actors later." Rokossovsky said with a serious expression: "I still have important matters, and I need to have an emergency meeting with the deputy commander and chief of staff. ”

I also felt sorry to learn that Rokossovsky did not go to meet with the actors after the performance, but seeing that the other party was in a hurry to discuss with the other two military chiefs, I guessed what might be a big deal. If you have the heart to ask, the words came to his mouth and swallowed back, he thought that he could make Rokossovsky give up meeting with the actors, and he definitely couldn't say it casually in public.

After the performance, everyone present gave a standing ovation to thank the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe for their wonderful performance. Bogolyubov just put his head to Rokossovsky's side, wanting to ask if he would go backstage to meet all the actors next, but heard Rokossovsky say coldly: "Chief of Staff, you and the deputy commander will return to the headquarters immediately with me, I have important matters to discuss with the two of you." ”

After the three of them returned to the headquarters, as soon as they entered the door, Trubnnikov couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Marshal, what happened, why don't we even have time to visit the actors backstage." ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, before the performance, I received a call from Antonov." Rokossovsky looked at Trubnnikov and said: "He told me that the Supreme High Command had decided to launch a final assault on Berlin at the beginning of April. And Katukov's 1st Guards Tank Army was to be the first to march into Berlin. ”

"An attack on Berlin in early April?" Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Bogolyubov's brows immediately furrowed: "It will take at least a week to withdraw General Katukov's tank army from the area it now occupies and return it to the 1st Front for replenishment." ”

"Chief of Staff, you are wrong, a week is far from enough for General Katukov's troops to complete replenishment and assembly." Rokossovsky continued: "They need at least ten days to complete everything they need before the attack. That is, in a maximum of another week, the tank army group will be restored. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov was a little anxious when he heard that Katukov's troops were to be transferred in a week: "According to the prior battle plan, the tank army group should advance to the Gulf of Gdansk and divide the enemy group in this area. than to assist the troops of the 19th Army, capturing Gdynia. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, since the tank army has been transferred, it is already an unchangeable fact." Knowing that the tank army was about to be rebuilt, Trubnnikov became calm: "Then what we have to do now is to urge General Katukov and let them complete our campaign deployment before returning to the building." ”

"For today's performance, we have notified the commanders of the all-front army at and above the regimental level to participate." Rokossovsky felt that he should have a good talk with Katukov to see if he could complete the task assigned to them before returning to the building: "Where is Katukov, can you find him?" ”

"I saw him in the theater today. He must not have left at this moment, and I immediately ordered someone to invite him here. After Bogolyubov finished speaking, he picked up the phone on the table and informed the commander in charge of the security work in the theater to find Katukov as soon as possible and let Katukov come to the command headquarters.

While waiting for Katukov's time, Trubnikov said: "In the area of our army's attack, there are twenty German divisions, although they have been weakened to varying degrees in the early battles, but it is still not easy to destroy them, so we must let the tank army give full play to its effectiveness in the remaining days." ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, tell me what you think."

"Comrade Marshal, you just said that the tank army has only one week to go, and it will be rebuilt." Trubnikov said thoughtfully: "During this time, we can set two goals for General Katukov. The first was to advance to the Gulf of Gdansk and, after completing the task of dividing the enemy, assist the 19th Army in capturing Gdynia; If we can't achieve our goal, we will retreat to the next best thing and let them fight to complete the goal of dividing the enemy. ”

Bogolyubov, who had just returned from a phone call, nodded when he heard the words of going out to the Gulf of Gdansk and echoed: "Comrade Deputy Commander is right, according to the current pace of advance of the Tank Army, it should be no problem to go out to the Gulf of Gdansk and divide the enemy within a week. ”

"Now the troops on our left flank are still moving to the right flank." Rokossovsky, having agreed with Trubnnikov, put forward his own opinion: "Since the tank army is going to be rebuilt, then the transfer of the 19th Army will be temporarily suspended. This would prevent them from having to move back to the left flank after Katukov and them had withdrawn to fill the gap. ”

…………

Speaking of Katukov, he faintly heard rumors a few days ago that his troops might be rebuilt ahead of schedule. For this reason, he had planned to take the opportunity to watch the show and have a good talk with Rokossovsky. Who knew that Rokossovsky was late, and as soon as the performance was over, he left in a hurry. Just as Katukov was thinking about whether he should go to the command to see Rokossovsky, an officer ran towards him.

The officer came to him, raised his hand and saluted, and said politely: "Hello, General Katukov." ”

"Hello!" Katukov returned the salute to the officer and asked, "Is there something wrong?" ”

"Comrade General!" The officer replied: "I have just received a call from the headquarters, it is from the chief of staff, General Bogolyubov, who asks you to go to the headquarters immediately, Comrade Marshal has something important to discuss with you." Knowing that Rokossovsky was looking for him, Katukov did not dare to slack off in the slightest, and immediately rushed to the headquarters by car.

After Katukov came to the headquarters, Rokossovsky stepped forward to shake his hand and said with a smile: "General Katukov, you and your troops have been temporarily assigned to our command, and I have not had time to see you because I am busy with work. Now that you are leaving, I will have the opportunity to meet you. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Katukov couldn't help but chuckle in his heart, and secretly wondered: Could it be that the rumors he heard were all true, and his troops would really be rebuilt in a short time. In order to find out what was going on, he cautiously asked: "Comrade Marshal, what is going on?" Why do you say we're leaving? ”

"That's right, General Katukov." Bogolyubov felt that it was his duty as chief of staff to explain to Katukov what was going on, so he preemptively said: "We received a call from the General Staff not long ago, and since Marshal Zhukov's troops are about to make a big move, you must return within a week. ”

"Rebuilt in a week?" Katukov guessed that it must have something to do with the rebuilding of his troops, but he didn't expect that it would be rebuilt within a week, and the time seemed a little rushed, and he cautiously asked: "What about the original combat mission?" ”

When Bogolyubov heard Katukov ask, he told him about the two plans he had just discussed, and finally asked: "General Katukov, you see, which goal can you accomplish?" ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff." Katukov replied with the usual expression: "I am confident that I will go out to the Gulf of Gdansk before returning to the Gulf of Gdansk and cut off the enemy's lines so that they will not be able to communicate with each other any longer." Of course, if there is still plenty of time after the above tasks are completed, we can also consider assisting the 19th Army in capturing Gdynia. ”

"Comrade Katukov," Rokossovsky waited for Katukov to finish, then stepped forward to shake his hand and said, "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Front, I would like to express my gratitude to you for your contributions. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Katukov grabbed Rokossovsky's hand and shook it vigorously a few times, and said with a puzzled expression: "Before the outbreak of the war, I was the commander of the 20th tank division under you, but at the beginning of the war, I was unable to fight side by side with you because of my illness, which is my greatest regret." This time I was ordered to bring the tank army to your command, and I thought I could make up for this regret, but I didn't expect that I had to leave the ...... just halfway through the battle."

Katukov's words made Rokossovsky full of emotion, and he thought to himself: If he led his army to attack Lublin, the 20th Tank Division was under the command of Katukov, maybe he could achieve greater results. As long as their own troops can effectively hold back the German Army Group South, then the war in Ukraine will not be completely lost, and the command of the Southwestern Front will not be served by the Germans.

"General Katukov," Rokossovsky said to Katukov, "the reason why the war has been going well during this period of time is due to the credit of your tank army. Although you are leaving, we will always remember your contribution to us. ”

On the way back to his headquarters, Katukov thought to himself: "Once the troops are restored, the superiors will definitely supply themselves." Then, in the last week before the reformation, all the reserves can be used, and after completing the task of dividing the enemy's defense, they can help the friendly forces to capture Gdynia. ”