"Comrade Military Commissar," Rokossovsky knew that Lobachev must have thought about it a long time ago, knowing that Lobachev had taken the initiative to bring up this matter, so he asked with a modest attitude: "I don't know if you have any good ideas?" ”

"Comrade Commander," seeing that Rokossovsky humbly asked himself for advice, Lobachev did not hide his true thoughts: "Before you assumed the post of commander of the 16th Army, our troops were replenished mainly by units that broke through from the front. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info These commanders and fighters who went from west to east to find their troops came from the border areas and some from Minsk. Many commanders and their troops broke out of the encirclement in formation, and although their numbers were small, many of them were unarmed after breaking out.

At that time, Comrade Lukin proposed that in order for these people to participate in the battle, it was necessary to arm them. But we are seriously underarmed with our own weapons, so what should we use to equip them?

Later, after our repeated study, I put forward an idea of my own to Comrade Lukin: Since the encircled commanders and fighters can pass through the battle line and the land occupied by the enemy in groups, then it means that we can also send scouts to the enemy and look for suitable weapons on the battlefields of the past. ”

Hearing this, Rokossovsky couldn't help but nod his head and said with deep feelings: "Comrade Military Commissar, what you said is very reasonable, although the Germans have occupied a lot of places, due to the vast territory of Russia, there are many loopholes in the enemy's defense line, otherwise I would not have led a corps of troops to directly rush to the enemy's logistics supply base, and I was not noticed by the enemy along the way. Then, with a decisive decision, he made the latest decision, "Just follow the method you said, send a small detachment to the enemy's rear to collect the necessary weapons and equipment, and find a way to transport them back." ”

After saying that, Rokossovsky called Malinin in front of him, asked him to record this decision, and sent it to the divisions in the form of an order, and asked them to send small detachments to the enemy's rear in the shortest possible time to collect the weapons left on the battlefield, or to look for those military warehouses that had been abandoned by our troops and had not yet been discovered by the enemy, and to bring back as many useful things as possible.

In the evening, Rokossovsky received a call from the divisions, or a telegram, with only one report: "The squad for collecting weapons has set out." ”

At this moment, an officer on duty walked outside, walked up to Ma Linin's side, leaned close to his ear, and wanted to whisper something. Rokossovsky happened to see the arrival of the officer, so he raised his voice and asked: "Is there something wrong?" ”

The officer hurriedly straightened up, put his hands on the seams of his trousers, and replied in a loud voice facing Rokossovsky: "Report Comrade Commander, Comrade Borisova from the local area has arrived, she said that there is something urgent to see you." ”

Hearing that Borisova was coming, Rokossovsky guessed in his heart that it might have something to do with the conscription, and hurriedly instructed the officer: "What are you still doing here?" Why don't you hurry up and invite Comrade Borisova in. ”

Soon Borisova walked into the command headquarters, and after shaking hands with Rokossovsky, she sat down at the table, took a sip of the tea handed by Lobachev, sighed and said: "Comrade General, I'm sorry, I think I betrayed your trust." ”

Hearing Borisova say this, Rokossovsky's heart couldn't help but chuckle, and said in his heart, did even Borisova personally come forward to recruit soldiers, did she hit a nail? He quickly took two deep breaths, trying to stabilize his emotions, and only then asked softly: "Comrade Borisova, can you tell me what happened?" ”

Borisova said with a guilty face: "Comrade General, as soon as Comrade Vanya and I left here in the morning, we immediately rushed to a dozen farms around Vyazma and went to mobilize the villagers. Unfortunately, the speeches I made and the mobilization I gave failed. ”

Lobachev was taken aback when he heard that the farm's mobilization of Jewish youths into the army was unsuccessful, and hurriedly asked with concern: "Comrade Borisova, didn't you tell them what Comrade Commander said?" ”

Borisova nodded and said with some embarrassment: "I said everything, but they didn't believe it, and said that I was deliberately spreading rumors in an attempt to create panic in the farm." I ran to a dozen farms, tried my best to speak, and in the end only a few young men agreed to join the army. ”

Rokossovsky originally thought that Borisova had run for a day, and not a single young Jewish man had succeeded in persuading him, but at this moment, when he heard that there were still a few people who were willing to join the army, he quickly asked: "How many people are willing to join the army?" ”

"Nine," Borisova replied, "I have done my best, but so far only these nine have been willing to join our ranks." ”

"This is a good start, Comrade Borisova." Rokossovsky was deeply afraid that Borisova would be discouraged by the unsuccessful mobilization on the farm, so he comforted her and said: "Although there are only nine today, if we persist, maybe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the number of people joining the army will increase." ”

"Where are they?" Lobachev asked curiously.

"Right outside the door." After Borisova finished speaking, she looked at Rokossovsky with her eyes and asked: "Comrade General, are you going to meet them?" ”

Rokossovsky sat at his desk, fingers tapping lightly on the table, his mind figuring out how to convince the recalcitrant Jews to volunteer for the army. After much thought, he finally figured out that instead of letting Borisova continue to try to persuade those stubborn people, it was better to arrange for these new fighters to meet the scene of the German massacre, and perhaps these bloody facts would make them understand what kind of crisis they were about to face.

Thinking of this, he shook his head and said, "Forget it, I still won't meet them for the time being." I'm looking for someone to do on an important mission, and they might be the best fit. With that, he ordered the new chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov, to be called to the command.

As soon as Tarasov arrived, he said straight to the point: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you may also know the order I have just given to the divisions, asking them to transfer men and go deep into the rear of the enemy, to go to those former battlefields or warehouses abandoned by our army, to look for suitable weapons, ammunition and all kinds of military supplies. Now I order you to also lead a small detachment to the rear of the enemy to collect the weapons and ammunition that our army urgently needs. ”

Tarasov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, and asked with the usual expression: "Comrade commander, I don't know how many people you plan to let me take to the rear of the enemy?" ”

"Including you, there are twenty people in all." Rokossovsky then ordered: "There are nine recruits outside the door, and they are all organized into your squad." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Tarasov couldn't help but be stunned, and then said euphemistically: "Comrade commander, when I just came in, I saw the recruits you mentioned. If I'm not mistaken, they didn't join the army for more than a day, and I fear that these recruits, who have not undergone any military training, will follow us on their missions, and I fear that they will eventually become a burden to us. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Rokossovsky lowered his voice and said to him: "Actually, the purpose of sending you is not really to ask you to collect as many weapons, ammunition or supplies as possible. I want you to show them the collective farms of the Jews who were slaughtered by the Germans, and to make them understand through the bloody facts what a murderous and inhuman enemy they are about to face. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Tarasov, who used to be Rokossovsky's chief of staff, naturally understood the commander's purpose in doing this, and hurriedly promised: "Please rest assured, I promise to successfully complete the task." ”

After Tarasov turned around and left the headquarters, Borisova asked Rokossovsky with a curious expression: "Comrade General, what role can you use if you ask this commander to take the Jewish youth to see the scene of the massacre?" ”

Rokossovsky smiled, and then said briefly: "Comrade Borisova, don't worry, at most tomorrow morning, you will understand what I am doing this." (To be continued.) )