Seeing that Potapov was about to start studying the offensive plan, Vashukin said magnanimously: "I am a layman in the military field, so I will not stay here to interfere with your determination, and I will go back to the Ternopil Front Headquarters to report." As he spoke, he turned around and was about to leave, when he saw that Potapov and they were going to send him out, he hurriedly waved his hand to signal that he didn't need to send it. As he passed Rokossovsky, who was standing, he shook his head at him and said, "Comrade Rokossovsky, come out with me, I have something to say to you." ”

Rokossovsky followed Vashukin out of the building and into the parking lot. Vashukin looked left and right, and seeing that no one could hear their conversation, he said to Rokossovsky with a serious expression: "General Rokossovsky, I have a question for you. ”

"What's the problem?" Rokossovsky asked puzzled.

"If you were given another chance to choose," Vashukin asked in a low voice, "would you still order me and General Putukhin to be detained?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar. I will not hesitate to detain you. Rokossovsky replied without hesitation: "If you had not been restricted in your movements, all the preparations I had made before the outbreak of war might have been in vain because of your intervention." ”

After listening to Rokossovsky, Vashukin was silent for a long time before he said slowly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you are right, if it were not for me and General Putukhin's movement being restricted at that time, I would definitely remove you from your post on the spot and let the political deputy army commander Kamenev take over the post of army commander. ”

Rokossovsky was shocked by these words and broke out in a cold sweat, and said in his heart that if he hadn't made arrangements early and decisively detained the two, he might have become a prisoner now, let alone lead the troops on a long-distance attack.

Seeing the look of panic on Rokossovsky's face, Vashukin couldn't help but laugh dumbly, he pointed at the other party with his finger, and said solemnly: "Although your intentions are good, your approach is completely wrong. You must know that in any army in the world, this kind of behavior of yours is not allowed, it is a serious crime. Speaking of this, he slowed down his tone, and even changed the address of Rokossovsky from a polite and distant "you" to an intimate "you": "I should have dealt with you seriously, but considering that the mechanized army will continue to fight, I will not deal with you organizationally for the time being." But I'll write it down for you first, and if the troops don't fight well, I'll have to settle accounts with you after the war. ”

Rokossovsky's unauthorized seizure of Vashukin and Putukhin was originally risking his own head, but at this moment, from Vashukin's words, he heard that the other party was going to let him go, and the stone hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground.

Vashukin continued: "When General Putukhin, who is operating with the 35th Tank Division, arrives, please tell him that he will remain at the headquarters of the Fifth Army for the time being, where he will be able to command the air force and deal a severe blow to the German ground forces." After saying that, he stretched out his hand to Rokossovsky, "Okay, you go back to General Potapov and make good use of your tank divisions, as in your exercises, to assist friendly forces in destroying the invading enemy." Good luck! ”

Rokossovsky waited for Vashukin's jeep to leave, then turned around and returned to Potapov's office. By this time, the plan for a counterattack on Vladimir Volynsky had basically taken shape, and Rokossovsky was seen returning. Pisarevsky hurriedly called him over, pointed to the map with a red and blue pencil, and said: "Comrade General, our counteroffensive will begin at half past three tomorrow morning. The location of the counterattack was chosen to the east of the city. Your mission is to command the 35th Tank Division, providing artillery cover for the offensive of General Sushi's 124th Infantry Division. ”

As soon as Rokossovsky finished speaking, he immediately asked: "I don't know what fortifications the Germans have in the east of the city?" ”

"Because our 87th Infantry Division is still fighting stubbornly in the city, the Germans have not yet had the manpower to build a strong defensive system." Pisarevsky continued: "According to our reconnaissance, in the eastern direction of the city, at the moment only a number of improvised sandbag fortifications have been found. ”

Potapov went on to say: "These weak fortifications of the German army are simply vulnerable. As long as we send out armored trains and rush along the railroad to the edge of the city, the firepower of the trains will be able to raze all these damned fortifications to the ground. ”

"Comrade commander," Rokossovsky, after listening to the entire plan of the offensive, said cautiously: "I am afraid that the Germans will sabotage the railway!" ”

Potapov shook his head and said in an affirmative tone: "Judging by the reconnaissance, the current railway is still intact. As soon as our train reached Vladimiah Volynsky, we were able to follow the Ring Road, striking at the enemy on both sides of the railway, and when our infantry rushed up and joined the troops in the city, the German troops besieging the city could not escape the total annihilation. ”

Nikishev said with some regret: "Unfortunately, because the German army destroyed our communication lines before the war, we could not get in touch with more troops, otherwise we could mobilize more troops to participate in the counteroffensive." ”

Hearing what Nikisev said, Rokossovsky remembered something and hurriedly reported to Potapov: "Comrade commander, as far as I know, two of Fedyuninsky's infantry divisions are marching towards Lutsk. If there are no surprises, his troops should be able to reach Lutsk by daylight tomorrow. ”

Potapov and his chief of staff looked at each other and asked in disbelief: "Comrade Rokossovsky, are you telling the truth?" Will Fedyuninsky's 15th Infantry Corps really be able to reach Lutsk tomorrow? ”

Seeing the look of surprise on Potapov's face, Rokossovsky understood the reason after a little thought. The commanders of the Soviet army during this period usually stayed in place stupidly and never took any initiative to take any action without receiving orders from their superiors. It was no wonder that Potapov reacted so surprisingly when they heard that the 15th Army, which had not been able to be contacted, was moving towards the border.

Rokossovsky nodded and replied truthfully: "Fedyuninsky's infantry corps, due to the limited number of cars at their disposal, will march a little slower than ours. But in any case, they should have no problem arriving in Lutsk tomorrow. ”

After listening to this, Potapov nodded in disbelief, turned to his chief of staff and said: "If this is really the case, it would be great, so that the forces we can use will be even richer." ”