After the call, Rokossovsky called Tarasov in front of him and assigned him a task. Although he believes that Tarasov, the commander of the army group, is unqualified, under the current circumstances, he cannot be changed at will, so as not to affect the morale of the army.

He pointed to the map and said to Tarasov: "General Tarasov, come and see." The 106th and 140th Infantry Divisions were removed from their present positions and used to strengthen the offensive sections of the 175th and 181st Divisions, respectively. The 162nd Infantry Division, as a reserve of the group army, did not participate in the battle for the time being. ”

"Comrade commander," Tarasov asked as soon as Rokossovsky finished speaking, with some concern, "since the Germans have discovered the movement of our forces and suddenly launched a counter-assault on areas with empty forces, what should we do?" ”

"The movement of troops should be done at night." Rokossovsky confidently said: "When the troops arrive at their positions, the main assault on the Bobrovo area will be carried out at dawn." To ensure the completion of the assault, you need to use the artillery and tank units of the army group. ”

After listening to what Rokossovsky said, Tarasov stared at the map for a long time, and finally spoke: "Comrade commander, in the rear of our army, there is also General Chistyakov's 21st Army, if they can go into battle as soon as possible, it will greatly alleviate the predicament we are currently facing. ”

"General Tarasov, the 21st Army cannot be counted on at the moment." Rokossovsky explained to Tarasov: "Since their logistics department remains in Stalingrad, in a short time they will face difficulties with a serious shortage of ammunition and materiel, and will simply not be able to participate in any offensive." ”

"Alas, that's a shame." Rokossovsky's words made Tarasov write a look of disappointment on his face: "If they have enough ammunition and supplies, even if the German defense is stubborn, we can be sure to break through their defense." ”

Not to mention that Tarasov wanted to put the 21st Army into the battlefield, Rokossovsky didn't want to do it in his heart. However, the road traffic conditions were too poor, the troops were inconvenient to march, and the supply was also very difficult, so that the 21st Army, which had arrived after a long journey, was destined to be an unwilling spectator in this offensive campaign.

Rokossovsky let out a long sigh: "Alas, Comrade Tarasov, it took me and the military commissar a couple of hours on the way from the headquarters to here. It's still so difficult for us to travel light, let alone the vehicles that transport supplies. ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky had almost finished speaking, Terekin asked in a low voice: "Comrade commander, shall we stay here for the night, or will we rush to the headquarters of the Bryansk Front as soon as possible, while it is still dark?" ”

Considering that the next offensive campaign still needs the cooperation of friendly forces, Rokossovsky immediately said without hesitation when he heard Teregin's question: "Since the work here has been explained, let's rush to the Bryansk Front as soon as possible." By the way, General Tarasov, can you provide us with a couple of jeeps? ”

After Rokossovsky said this, he turned his head to look at Terekin, and said with some embarrassment: "Since the roads are covered with snow, our jeeps are left far away. ”

Tarasov had already learned from his subordinates that Rokossovsky was coming on a sleigh carrying supplies, and at this moment, when he heard that Rokossovsky needed a jeep, he went to the headquarters of friendly forces, and immediately said unequivocally: "Yes, comrade commander, our headquarters still has seven or eight idle jeeps, and I will order someone to drive them out for you." ”

Ten minutes later, a small convoy of four jeeps headed for the headquarters of the Bryansk Front, located in the northeast. On the way, Terekin couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade commander, are you really not going to use the 21st Army until you get enough supplies?" ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, this is also something that cannot be helped." Rokossovsky said with some embarrassment: "If the troops forcibly send them to the battlefield despite the lack of guns and ammunition, this is a sign that they are sent to death and are irresponsible for their lives." As the commander of the front army, I absolutely cannot let my commanders and fighters die in vain. ”

After hearing this, Terekin bowed his head slightly and said approvingly: "Comrade commander, you are right. In the previous months, our troops suffered heavy casualties in the battle to defend Stalingrad, in addition to the fierceness of the fighting that was more than we imagined, and another reason was that it was poorly equipped. As far as I know, many of the soldiers who were added to the city did not even have weapons, and when they attacked the Germans, they used sapper shovels, grenades, and so on. ”

The two chatted all the way about the problems faced by the troops, and before they knew it, they came to the territory of the Bryansk Front. Under the guidance of the soldiers, they successfully arrived at the headquarters of the Front, where they met Lejter.

Seeing the arrival of Rokossovsky and Terekin, Leitel was also very happy. While shaking hands with Rokossovsky, he asked with concern: "Hello, Comrade Rokossovsky, how is it, is this journey still going well?" ”

"It can be said that it is going well, or it can be said that it is not going well." Rokossovsky replied with a smile: "Speaking well, there were no German stragglers on our way, nor were we bombed and strafed by enemy planes; By the way," he couldn't help but sigh again, "because the road was not easy to walk, our jeeps were thrown halfway down the road, and we changed to sleds to reach the troops below. No, in order to come to you, I also borrowed a few jeeps from my subordinates. ”

After beckoning the two to sit down, Lejterr asked the warrior to bring hot tea and food. Plates of food were seen being picked up from the tray by the warriors and carefully placed in front of each person. After the soldiers had put the cutlery and food ready, Leitel stretched out his hand to Rokossovsky and the two of them in a gesture of invitation, and said politely: "Eat, Comrade Rokossovsky, you must be hungry after a day of running on the road." ”

Although Rokossovsky was already hungry, he did not rush to eat, but politely asked Leitel: "Comrade General, can you get your chief of the signal corps to establish contact with my command?" It's been a long time since I've been out of there, and I'm wondering if there's anything unexpected going on. ”

"That's as it should be," Lejterr said understandingly, "I'll let the chief of the communications corps call for you." ”

After the phone was connected, Rokossovsky heard Malinin's voice coming from inside, so he asked straight to the point: "Chief of staff, after I left, did anything special happen?" ”

"Comrade Commander, where are you?" Malinin heard that it was Rokossovsky's voice, and couldn't help but say excitedly: "An hour ago, we received an order from the base camp. I called the headquarters of the 70th Army to look for you, but General Tarasov said that you and the military commissar had left. ”

"Chief of Staff, don't be in a hurry, speak slowly." Rokossovsky heard a hint of panic in Malinin's voice, and hurriedly asked: "What happened?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." As soon as Malinin waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he immediately reported: "The base camp ordered us: immediately send the 21st Army to the Oboyani area, under the command of the commander of the Voronezh Front. ”

"What, to put the 21st Army under the command of the Voronezh Front?" When Rokossovsky heard this order, he couldn't help but be taken aback, "Who gave the order?" ”

"It's the Chief of the General Staff, General Vasilevsky." Malinin replied with a serious expression: "He said that the decision was made by the base camp. ”

After Rokossovsky put down the phone, he looked at Leitel and asked: "Comrade General, I have important matters and need to get in touch with Moscow, can you lend me the high-frequency phone?" ”

Hearing that Rokossovsky was going to contact the base camp, Leitel naturally did not have the slightest complaint, and immediately personally dialed the General Staff in Moscow by high-frequency telephone, and when he heard someone talking in the microphone, he handed the microphone to Rokossovsky.

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Rokossovsky heard that the person who answered the phone was Vasilevsky, and couldn't help but ask with some annoyance: "I want to ask, why did the 21st Army be transferred?" ”

In the face of Rokossovsky's questioning, Vasilevsky was silent for a while before he spoke: "Comrade Rokossovsky, the reason why the base camp made the decision to transfer the 21st Army to reinforce the Voronezh Front is because the tide of the battle in your south has reversed. Although our army has a huge advantage in numbers, it is a pity that due to the logistics and supply department, which is too far from the battlefield, our troops cannot be replenished in time during the battle, so we have paid a heavy price......"

Rokossovsky was concerned not with these clichés spoken by Vasilevsky, but with the reality on the battlefield: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, please look at the friendship of our many years and tell me what exactly has gone wrong?" ”

Vasilevsky knew that it would be impossible to perfunctory Rokossovsky with such ambiguous clichés, so he restrained the smile on his face and replied solemnly: "The enemy has launched a full-scale counteroffensive in the area where the Southwestern Front and the Voronezh Front are located. They have gathered a large number of troops and are engaged in a battle with our army for Kharkov. As soon as they retake Kharkov and advance in the direction of Belgorod, then there will be a threat to Kursk. ”

After saying this, Vasilevsky habitually asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, do you have any disagreement with this order from the base camp?" ”

Rokossovsky wanted to say "there is no difference", but when the words came to his lips, what came out was: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I don't think this is the best time to transfer the 21st Army." ”

"What, what did you say?" Rokossovsky's answer greatly surprised Vasilevsky, who asked with some surprise: "Why are you opposed?" Tell me your reasoning. ”

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I have to report to you and ask you to convey it to the members of the base camp." Rokossovsky replied without humility or arrogance: "The situation of our front is getting worse and worse, the logistics department of the front is delayed, the problem of the supply of ammunition and materiel has not been effectively solved, and the enemy troops, in order to crush the offensive of our army, have also significantly strengthened their army in the area of engagement. The transfer of the 21st Army at such a time would turn the balance of forces between us and the enemy to our disadvantage. Therefore, I beg you to report our actual situation to the base camp and to withdraw this order to mobilize troops. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Vasilevsky was silent for a long time, and finally said helplessly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I understand the situation of you and your troops, but it is the supreme commander's own intention to transfer the 21st Army to the south and assign it to the command of the Voronezh Front, even as the chief of the General Staff, I have no right to interfere." ”

Seeing that Vasilevsky had moved Stalin out, Rokossovsky understood in his heart that no matter how bad his situation here was, the 21st Army would still move south and be placed under the command of the Voronezh Front. Therefore, he could only sigh and replied: "Well, Comrade Chief of the General Staff, since it is an order of the Supreme Commander himself, then I will resolutely and unconditionally obey it. ”

Leitel waited for Rokossovsky to put down the phone, and then asked with concern: "Comrade Rokossovsky, what happened?" Why did the higher authorities send troops from you to support the Voronezh Front? ”

Rokossovsky turned his head to look at Leitel and said with a serious expression: "General Leytel, the situation in the Kharkiv region has developed in a direction that is unfavorable to our army. The Germans are now concentrating their forces on besieging Kharkiv, and if Kharkov is lost, their army will immediately be able to rush under the city of Belgorod, thus posing a threat to the Kursk region. ”

"If the enemy captures Kharkov and Belgorod," said Leityr, staring at the map in front of him, "then they can strike at the Kursk region at any time, and then Moscow will be in danger at any time." ”

Seeing that Leitel also realized the seriousness of the problem, Rokossovsky continued: "Comrade General, with the transfer of the 21st Army, the balance of forces between us and the enemy in this area will change. At the moment, it seems that it is no longer possible to continue the offensive, and it is necessary to think about moving troops to the defense on the spot. ”

"That's right, we're going to deploy this morning, so we don't throw the troops into chaos." As soon as Leutel finished speaking, he called his chief of staff over and instructed him: "Chief of staff, immediately give orders to the commanders of the armies to slow down the pace of the offensive and, at the right time, let the troops move to the defense on the spot." ”