Early the next morning, Boskoryshev reappeared in Rokossovsky's hospital room. The pen www.biquge.info came with him, and it turned out to be the acting chief of staff of the Red Army, Colonel-General Vasilevsky.

After shaking hands with Vasilevsky, Rokossovsky looked at the gold star on his collar badge and said with a smile: "Alexander Mikhailovich, congratulations on obtaining a higher rank." ”

Vasilevsky grinned, and then asked loudly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, how are your injuries?" Can I work? According to the opinion of the Supreme Commander himself, he intends to put some burden on you. ”

Hearing Vasilevsky say this, Rokossovsky hurriedly tried to sit up straight, and replied with a solemn expression: "Comrade Acting Chief of the General Staff, please assign me a task, I have been lying in the hospital for a month, and I feel that people are about to rust." ”

"Don't rush, take your time." Vasilevsky said in a kind tone: "Since you can work, then I want to know about the situation at the front." After speaking, he handed over the thick stack of materials in his hand.

Rokossovsky was about to look through it, but was stopped by Vasilevsky raising his hand. I only heard him ask: "Comrade Rokossovsky, after almost a year of fighting, our grassroots commanders have almost lost everything. Although many training courses for training teams and junior commanders have been held, they are still a drop in the bucket and are simply not enough to make up for the commanders lost at the grassroots level. I would like to ask you today if there is any way to solve this difficult problem? ”

Regarding Vasilevsky's question, Rokossovsky frowned and thought for a while, and then said: "Comrade Acting Chief of the General Staff, I have two methods: one is to promote outstanding personnel from the combat backbone of the army to serve as grassroots commanders; Second, it is to transfer commanders and fighters of the internal affairs forces to take up the posts of commanders at the grassroots level. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," Poskorebeshev preemptively asked, without waiting for Vasilevsky to speak, "I would like to ask, why do you propose that commanders and fighters from the Ministry of Internal Affairs be appointed to the post of grassroots commanders of the troops?" ”

Seeing that not only Boskrebeshev was anxious to know the answer, but even Vasilevsky was staring at him with a curious look, Rokossovsky smiled slightly, and then explained to the two: "There are two main reasons why I recommend personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to serve as grassroots commanders. First, they are loyal, and we can give them complete trust......" He said here, pausing deliberately for a moment to observe the expressions of the two.

Seeing Boskrebeshev's smile on his face, and Vasilevsky nodded thoughtfully, he continued: "The second point is that they are adaptable. As far as I know, on the day of the outbreak of the war, the commanders and fighters of the ordinary units were still running around like headless flies under enemy fire, while the fighters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, fully equipped, dragged heavy machine guns into their positions and prepared to block the enemy's attack. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," said Boskoshrebeshev with a smile as soon as he finished speaking, "you really should let Comrade Beria listen to these words, which is the best compliment for him." ”

"What's the matter with Belial?" As soon as Rokossovsky muttered in his heart, he immediately thought that Beria was the People's Commissar of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the entire Ministry of Internal Affairs was under his jurisdiction.

Boskrebeshev saw that there was a lot of work to be done between Vasilevsky and Rokossovsky, and he did not intend to stay here any longer. He stood up and said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I am going back to the Kremlin soon. Is there anything you can help me with? For example, help you find your wife and daughters and bring them all to Moscow? ”

"No, no, Comrade Boskrebeshev. Yunia's life is finally settled down now, so let's let them stay there for now. "To tell the truth, Rokossovsky really did not want Petrovna to come to his side, so he politely refused the kindness of Boskoryshev.

After saying this, he suddenly remembered that Borisova said that his promotion had been postponed, so he wanted to help her, so he carefully said to Boskrebeshev: "Comrade Boskorebeshev, I have something I want your help with, I wonder if you are willing to help me?" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky suddenly call himself an honorific, Boskoshlebyshev knew that what he was going to say would definitely not be trivial, so he nodded and replied: "As long as it is within my ability, I will do my best." ”

"My friend, it's that Borisova, you know." Rokossovsky saw that Pos Krebeshev nodded in affirmation, and continued: "She was supposed to be recently promoted to head of the Moscow City Industrial Bureau, but I don't know what happened, her promotion was postponed. I'd like to ask you why, okay? ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's original request, Boskrebeshev's mood suddenly became relaxed, and he said in a big way: "Don't worry, I will call the city secretary Popov and ask him to personally inquire about this matter." ”

After Boskosov left, Vasilevsky unfolded a map, placed it on Rokossovsky's bed, and said to him: "Comrade Rokossovsky, our current situation is not good. You see, the offensive of our troops in all directions was stopped by the Germans. The General Staff Headquarters is planning a new offensive, what direction do you think we should choose for the offensive? ”

Rokossovsky only looked down at the map spread out on the quilt, then shook his head and said: "Comrade Acting Chief of the General Staff, I think that now is not the best time to attack, and all attacks should be stopped, so that the troops have enough time to replenish and recuperate, and when the time is ripe, they will attack the Germans." ”

Vasilevsky disagreed with Rokossovsky's statement, and he frowned and asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, how can you be so pessimistic?" You must know that since the beginning of the major counteroffensive under the city of Moscow, the enemy has been repelled by our troops in all directions by 150 to 300 kilometers, and we can still continue to expand the results of the battle. ”

"Comrade Acting Chief of the General Staff, you have already said to the point." Without waiting for Vasilevsky to finish speaking, Rokossovsky hurriedly said: "In the early stage of the counteroffensive, our army was able to occupy an advantage on the battlefield due to the concentration of troops. However, as months of fighting continued, many of the troops were unable to replenish their men and ammunition, but the area of defense became larger. …… All these factors have weakened the combat effectiveness of our army in disguise, which is why I said that now is not the best time to attack. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's heartfelt words, Vasilevsky scratched the back of his head and said: "I also understand in my heart what you said. However, this offensive was proposed by Comrade Stalin, and we as subordinates could only obey, and at most some adjustments were made in the details. ”

"At a time like this, it is a waste of resources to throw precious forces into such an offensive that has no hope of success." Since it was Stalin's idea, Rokossovsky knew in his heart that no matter what he said, it was useless, but he still said what he was holding back in his heart: "Once the fighter plane appears, we may miss the opportunity because we do not have enough troops in our hands." ”

Vasilevsky sighed, stood up, looked at Rokossovsky and said: "I will stay here with this map and these materials, if you have time today, help me study it and see if there is a way to get the best of both worlds." ”

"Wait a minute, Comrade Acting Chief of the General Staff." Seeing that Vasilevsky was leaving, Rokossovsky hurriedly stopped him, looked up at him and said: "If you can strengthen my 16th Army, then after the capture of Zhizdra, you can use the troops of two or three armies to launch a new offensive in the Bryansk region." ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's proposal, Vasilevsky nodded and replied: "I will convey your opinion to Comrade Stalin, you have a good rest, I wish you a speedy recovery!" ”

As soon as Vasilevsky left, the little nurse Vanya walked in with a tray and greeted warmly: "Comrade General, it's time to take medicine!" ”

After Rokossovsky finished taking the medicine, she lowered her voice and asked, "Comrade General, who is the general who just came to visit you?" The figure looks so burly. ”

"It's the acting chief of the General Staff, Colonel-General Vasilevsky," Rokossovsky looked at the little nurse and asked mockingly, "What, you secretly promised him?" ”

"Phew, who's got a crush on him." Vanya's face flushed slightly, and then said: "I originally thought that you belonged to a tall and handsome beautiful man, who knew that compared to this general, you would be far behind, not to mention the thinness, and look particularly haggard and uneasy. ”

Vanya's words made Rokossovsky's smile freeze on his face, and at this moment, he had the urge to go crazy: I am 187 cm tall, where will I look thin. was about to scold the other party, but saw the little nurse walking out of the ward with a tray proudly.

Rokossovsky shook his head with a smile, looked down at the map and a pile of materials in front of him, and studied how to tear apart the German defenses in the Zhizdra area.

I haven't seen the map and the battle report for a long time, and at first glance, Rokossovsky seems to have returned to the front command, and immediately threw himself into it, ignoring everything around him, and he didn't even notice when Borisova walked into the ward.