Rokossovsky didn't expect that the coldest time in Russia would be from mid-January to mid-February, and the temperature rose a few days ago, making him think that the weather would gradually become warmer. When I was out on patrol in www.biquge.info the morning, I felt a little hot in my military coat, but in the afternoon, I was actually freezing.

Fortunately, however, the movements of the various units were quite swift, and after receiving the order, they stopped the attack on the Germans and built shelters in their respective defense areas. When the bitter cold fell, all the commanders and fighters of the 16th Army entered the warm shelter.

Rokossovsky stood in the headquarters and observed the situation on the German positions from the outside, only to see that there was a white expanse everywhere, and there were no moving objects at all except flying snowflakes.

Zhukov, who was staying in the rear, was a little worried about the situation at the front, and made a special call. He asked on the phone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, have all your fighters entered the shelter?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Zhukov." Rokossovsky hurriedly replied: "Fortunately, you informed us in advance yesterday, so that the commanders and fighters were able to repair the shelter before the severe cold came." ”

"After a long battle, the commanders and fighters should be very tired." Zhukov said dryly: "Just take advantage of the time that you can't play in the past few days and take a good rest." ”

Rokossovsky knew that Zhukov was calling at this time, probably not just to ask the commanders and fighters whether they had entered the shelter department, there must be more important tasks, so he waited for the other party to finish speaking, and immediately asked: "Comrade Zhukov, I don't know what combat mission we will have after the temperature rises?" ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky guessed what was on his mind at once, Zhukov smiled and said: "That's right, Rokossovsky, I really have a task to be handed over to you to complete." ”

"Give the order, Comrade Zhukov." Hearing that there was indeed a task, Rokossovsky immediately expressed his attitude to Zhukov and said: "We promise to complete the task you have assigned." ”

"That's right, Rokossovsky." Zhukov hesitated for a moment, then said: "On your left flank is the 10th Army under the command of General Golikov, and they are in a bad situation at the moment. The Germans not only prevented the advance of the army, but also threw their forces in the direction of Zhizdra, occupied the large railway junction of Suchinich, and cut off our roads for the supply of supplies to the left flank of the Front, which was advancing far to the Kiev region. The task of your army group is to move to the left flank and restore the transport lines cut off by the Germans. ”

"Understood, Comrade Zhukov. I don't know when we're going to strike? ”

"Let's get a good rest for a few days." Zhukov sighed and said a little helplessly: "According to the weather forecast, the minimum temperature in these days will reach minus fifty degrees, and it will be impossible to fight at all. In order to avoid unnecessary non-combat attrition, you should refrain from any action for the time being. ”

Rokossovsky knew that what Zhukov said was true, in the weather of minus 50 degrees, people stay outside, no matter how thick they are, there is a risk of frostbite, so it is better to wait for the temperature to rise. Therefore, he said with humor: "Understood, Comrade Zhukov, as soon as the weather warms up, I will immediately direct the troops to launch an attack in the direction of Sushinich." ”

Putting down the phone, he told Zakharov and Malinin what Zhukov said on the phone, and then instructed Malinin: "Chief of staff, although the temperature has plummeted and there is no way to fight, we can't let the commanders and fighters stay in the shelter and do nothing, and the guard posts and scouts that should be sent are all indispensable." Do you understand? ”

"Understood." Malinin stood up and said, "I will immediately call the commanders of the various units and ask them to send scouts after dark to go deep behind enemy lines to conduct reconnaissance. ”

"Wait a minute," Rokossovsky called out to Malinin, who was about to make a phone call, and ordered: "Chief of Staff, I listen to Comrade Zhukov's tone, he intends to transfer us to Sushnych to take over the defense area of the 10th Army after the temperature warms up, so the scouts we send will be mainly responsible for reconnaissance in that direction." ”

…………

After two days in the shelter, the temperature finally warmed up, and although it remained around minus 30 degrees, it was already warm compared to the previous two days.

Rokossovsky asked the commanders sitting around the table: "Comrade commander, the temperature has risen a little today, tell me, should we stand still, or will we give the enemy a little harassment?" ”

"Comrade commander," the first to speak was the artillery commander Kazakov: "the weather is too cold, and I don't think it's yet suitable for a large force to attack." ”

"Can you shell the enemy's positions with artillery?" Hearing Kazakov say this, Zakharov couldn't help but ask: "Our artillery can also inflict considerable losses on the enemy." ”

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Kazakov shook his head and said: "No, in such weather, even if we bombard the enemy's positions with intensive artillery fire, the results we have achieved are very limited. ”

"Forget it, since it is difficult for artillery to achieve any results in such weather, don't waste shells." Rokossovsky thought about what Kazakov had said, and felt that what he said was still very reasonable, so he said decisively: "We think that we should use small forces to attack the positions of the Germans, so that they cannot stay in the fortifications in peace." ”

"Comrade commander," Lobachev suddenly remembered that he had made great contributions to Khimki, and he took the initiative to suggest to him: "I think that the company that held Khimki at the beginning, I think they are suitable to carry out this task." ”

Rokossovsky was stunned at first when he heard Lobachev suddenly mention the Anti-Japanese Alliance, but after thinking about it, this unit from northeastern China had fought against the Japanese in the snowfields of Linhai for a long time, and it was very appropriate to entrust them with such an arduous task. Thinking of this, he nodded, turned his head and asked Ma Lining: "Chief of Staff, do you know which division this company is in now?" ”

Ma Linin frowned and thought for a while, then replied: "Comrade commander, I remember that after the start of the great counteroffensive, I seemed to have incorporated them into the combat sequence of the Eighth Guards Division. But whether they were wiped out in the counteroffensive or not, I don't know, I need to call and ask Leviakin. ”

"Then what are you still doing in a daze?" Rokossovsky, who was anxious to know the whereabouts of these anti-Japanese fighters from China, immediately urged as soon as Malinin finished speaking: "Call General Leviagin immediately to see if this army still exists." If the system is still intact, they will be sent to carry out this difficult task. ”