Maslov did not answer him, but threw an inquiring glance at Rokossovsky.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't you hear the order of Comrade Military Commissar?" Rokossovsky knew that this was a good opportunity to resolve the contradictions between his own moon and Khashukin, so he urged Maslov: "Hurry up and send a telegram to the military district." ”

After watching Maslov's departure, Vashukin glanced at Rokossovsky with a blank face, and then looked down at the telegram in front of him, as if trying to figure out something from it.

"Comrade Rokossovsky," said General Putukhin, after a long pause, as if asking a question, as if talking to himself: "What are you going to do if the Germans really attack us?" ”

"Do you need to say that, Comrade General?" Rokossovsky replied without hesitation: "I will immediately lead the troops, along the route of the last exercise, to Kowell to establish a defensive line to block the Germans." Then wait for the arrival of the field units of our army, and then launch a full-scale counterattack on the enemy. ”

When Vashukin heard Rokossovsky say this, he looked at the other party in surprise, and although he still had a fire in his belly, the expression on his face had softened.

Rokossovsky's answer, somewhat unexpected, came as Putukhin asked. "Comrade Rokossovsky, why wait for the arrival of field troops before launching a counterattack. You know that you are commanding a mechanized army, can't you destroy the invading enemy? ”

Rokossovsky spread his hands slightly, and said helplessly: "Although I don't know the number of troops used by the German army, the number of troops and their weapons and equipment, I can guess that their strength will be quite strong. Not to mention that I am a mechanized army, even if several armies are combined, it may not be able to destroy the enemy in a short time. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky, you are a defeatist argument." Vashukin, who had been silent for a long time, was furious again, "How can the Red Army, cultivated with a highly offensive spirit, enter a passive defense at the beginning of the war and let the enemy seize the initiative?" ”

As soon as he finished speaking, his instincts immediately detected it, because an invisible wall appeared between him and Rokossovsky, making the two seem even more estranged. In order to eliminate the estrangement between them, he said hesitantly: "Of course, the military region will not let your army fight alone in the Cowell area, we will order the air force to take off in turns, bomb the enemy's tank units in batches, prevent them from advancing into our territory, and reduce the pressure on your defense." ”

These few words he said were enough to reconcile him with Rokossovsky, who was dissatisfied with him.

Rokossovsky stood up, waved at Grisa, and told him to take all the fighters out of the house. At such a time, the soldiers stayed here, firstly, it was not necessary, and secondly, some secrets that could not be known to them would be discussed next.

Putukhin, who had regained his freedom, said with a solemn expression: "Comrade Rokossovsky, although your statement that we are going to fight with the Germans is still theoretical, I have a hunch that what you said will become true. What do you think Moscow's reaction will be after the military district reports the situation to the General Staff? ”

"I feel that after receiving our report, the General Staff should immediately report to Comrade Stalin." Although Rokossovsky knew the rest of the history, at this moment he could only use the tone of inference: "Comrade Stalin, after consulting with the People's Commissar of Defense, asked the State Defense Committee and the General Staff to give orders to the military districts to bring all units in the border areas to the first level of combat readiness." ”

After waiting for Rokossovsky to finish, Vashukin shook his head and said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you do not understand Comrade Stalin. After hearing such a report, his first consideration was the authenticity of the information. Even if the intelligence is confirmed, he will not easily give the troops an order to prepare for war, but hopes to solve the problem through peaceful means in order to buy more time to prepare for war. ”

Putukhin looked at Vashukin with admiration: "Comrade Military Commissar, then what should we do?" ”

"Wait!" Vashukin said briefly: "We will stay here and wait for Moscow's orders." At this point, he glanced at Rokossovsky again and said angrily: "Comrade Putukhin, you should treat us as if we were still in the custody of this comrade general, and wait until the time we have agreed in advance." ”

Kamenev, who was almost forgotten by everyone on the side, said in a strange manner: "If the war really starts, then our comrade army commander can escape." ”

"What escape?" Putukhin asked, puzzled.

Kamenev pointed his hand at Vashukin, Putukhin and himself, and said: "The illegal detention of senior commanders, if they are to be tried by a military court, Rokossovsky and his fighters will be sentenced to death, and their families will be sent to labor camps in Siberia." ”

After listening to this, Rokossovsky said indifferently: "Comrade Political Deputy Commander, if I perceive that the enemy is about to launch a barbaric attack on our Motherland, but do not take any action. I'm sorry, I can't. ”

"Alright, Comrade Kamenev, don't talk about that!" Seeing that the scene would fall into an embarrassing situation again, Vashukin hurriedly interrupted Kamenev's words with a wave of his hand: "I have just said that I am not to blame for this mistake of Comrade Rokossovsky. Let's all wait for a reply from Moscow with peace of mind. ”

After a long wait, the time entered June 22nd. Maslov, who had been away for a few hours, walked briskly into the office. Just as he was about to hand over the telegram he had received to Rokossovsky, the latter waved his hand and ordered him: "Give the telegram to Comrade Military Commissar." ”

And at this moment, Vashukin also behaved very generously, he did not immediately reach out to answer the telegram, but said: "Since we have been waiting for this telegram, I believe that everyone is very interested in the content of it." Comrade Chief of Staff," he said to Maslov with a smile, "let you read the telegram for us." ”

Maslov did not shirk, he picked up the telegram and began to read it aloud: "Leningrad Military District, Baltic Special Military District, Western Special Military District, Kiev Special Military District, Odessa Military District Military Council:

1. From June 22 to 23, 1941, the German army may carry out surprise attacks on the Leningrad Military District, the Baltic Special Military District, the Western Special Military District, the Kiev Special Military District, and the Odessa Military District. The attack could begin with a provocative operation.

2. The task of our army is: not to be affected by any provocative actions, so as not to complicate the issue. At the same time, the troops of the military districts of Leningrad, the Baltic coast, the West, Kiev, Odessa went into combat readiness at the first level in case of a possible surprise attack by the Germans or their allies.

3. Hereby command:

(1) On the night of June 2l, 1941, concealed the firing points in the fortified area of the occupied national border;

(2) Before dawn on June 22, 1941, all aircraft, including those of the Army Air Corps, were dispersed to various field airfields and carefully camouflaged;

(3) All units enter combat readiness. Armies should be dispersed and camouflaged;

(4) The air defense forces do not wait for the arrival of additional troops, and immediately enter combat readiness. Cities and target areas should take all measures to control the light;

(5) No other measures shall be taken without a special order.

Timoshenko, Zhukov

June 21, 1941. ”

After listening to this telegram, Vashukin's lips trembled, and he muttered: "It seems that there is really going to be a fight with the Germans." ”

At this time, Rokossovsky asked confidently: "Comrade Military Commissar, what should we do next?" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's voice, Vashukin, who was completely distracted, asked nervously as if he had grasped a life-saving straw: "Comrade Rokossovsky, since you have long been aware of the Germans' movements and deployed Zhytomyr's combat readiness exercises yesterday, then you must have a good way, right?" ”

Seeing the messed up of Vashukin, Rokossovsky hurriedly and kindly reminded him: "Comrade Military Commissar, you should immediately contact the commander of the military district, Kirponos, and the chief of staff, Pulkaev, to see what their opinion is on this telegram from Moscow?" ”

"Yes, yes, Comrade Rokossovsky, you are right." Relieved, Vashukin said, "I'll contact them and listen to their opinions. ”