After visiting the tank factory, Rokossovsky and his colleagues went to visit the artillery manufacturing plant. Borisova was the head of the industrial bureau, and in the name of inspecting the factory, she accompanied Rokossovsky to the artillery factory.

Because Rokossovsky had an effective artillery commander under him, he handed over all the work related to artillery to Kazakov, which led to his lack of common sense in artillery, so that when Ustinov asked him for advice on improving artillery, he could only smile wryly and shake his head.

After completing all the visits, Ustinov was ready to personally take him and Ponomarenko to the airport. At this time, Borisova ran over and asked a little embarrassedly: "Comrade People's Commissar, can I also go to the airport to see Comrade Rokossovsky off?" ”

Hearing that Borisova also wanted to go to the airport to see off Rokossovsky, Ustinov was stunned at first, and then thought of the secret he had heard, and then looked at Borisova looking at Rokossovsky with a shy face, and knew that there was a story that had to be told between the two, so he decided to be a favor.

Ustinov shouted at Ponomarenko: "Hey, Comrade Ponomarenko, when you go to the airport later, you and I will take a car, I have something to talk to you about." Then he whispered to Borisova, "Later, I will arrange for you to ride in a car with Rokossovsky, and if you have anything to say, you can talk slowly in the car." ”

Rokossovsky did not know why Ustinov arranged it this way, so he asked Ponomarenko curiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, were you familiar with Ustinov before?" ”

Ponomarenko shook his head and said: "I have only heard the name of Comrade Ustinov before, I know that he is the youngest People's Commissar of our country, and today is the first time I have seen him. I don't know why he was in the same car with me. ”

The answer that Rokossovsky wanted to know was quickly unraveled, and when he and Borisova sat side by side in the back of the sedan, he finally understood Ustinov's painstaking arrangement. He glanced at the driver who was driving, and when he saw that the other party was engrossed in driving, he whispered to Borisova: "I called your office last night, but it didn't get through; Then I went to your lodgings again, and the gatekeeper said you were on a business trip. ”

"Yes, Koschika, I just returned from Kuibyshev today, and I didn't even have time to return home before I rushed to the tank factory." Borisova secretly grabbed Rokossovsky's hand and said happily: "Fortunately, I went directly to the tank factory, if someone else had brought comrades from other places to visit, maybe we would have missed it." ”

When he came to Moscow, Rokossovsky felt that the distance from the airport to the Kremlin was too far; Now he wanted to leave Moscow, but he felt that the road was too short and too short, so that he still had a lot of time to say to Borisova, the car stopped, the driver turned around and politely said: "Comrade General, the airport has arrived!" ”

Just as Rokossovsky pushed the car door and was about to get out of the car, Borisova suddenly said: "Koschika, I won't get out of the car, I wish you a safe journey!" ”

Seeing that Borisova was reluctant to get out of the car, Rokossovsky was stunned at first, but then guessed that the other party might be worried that when he saw off outside, he might be unable to bear to separate and lose control of his emotions. He nodded and said, "Take care!" Then he pushed the door open and got out of the car.

He had barely taken a few steps when he heard Borisova calling out to him from behind. Turning his head, Borisova was lying on the window of the car, and said to him with red eyes: "You should pay more attention to safety on the front line, and remember to call me when you have time!" ”

Rokossovsky nodded again, and then walked towards the plane parked on the runway without looking back.

……

……

As soon as Rokossovsky and Ponomarenko returned to the headquarters, Trubnikov and Malinin immediately greeted them. After a brief greeting, Trubnikov preemptively asked: "Comrade commander, I wonder if you have any new instructions for the base camp when you go to Moscow for a meeting this time?" ”

"The base camp allowed our troops to strengthen their fortifications against a possible large-scale German offensive." After Rokossovsky finished speaking, he instructed Malinin: "Immediately inform the commanders of the army groups and let them come here for a meeting, and we will convey to them the latest instructions from the base camp." ”

When Malinin went to call the commanders of the various group armies to come to the headquarters for a meeting, Terekin, who had not spoken all this time, opened his mouth and said: "Comrade commander, although you said that our command headquarters should be with the combat troops, under the current circumstances, I still strongly recommend that you transfer the headquarters. ”

Hearing Terekin speak to himself in such a serious tone, Rokossovsky knew that something must have happened, and hurriedly and nervously asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, is something wrong?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Terekin explained to Rokossovsky: "Yelets, where our headquarters is located, is a large railway junction, a military target for the enemy's key attacks. In the past two days, the Germans have dispatched at least 100 sorties of bombers to bomb this area indiscriminately, causing considerable casualties to our troops deployed in this area. Therefore, I do not think it is appropriate for our headquarters to remain here. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar," after Terekin finished speaking, Rokossovsky asked tentatively: "Is this your opinion alone, or the opinion of the leadership of the Front?" ”

"Comrade Commander, this is a decision made by all of us after discussion." Deputy Commander Trubnikov continued: "After deliberations, we decided to move the command post to a settlement called Svoboda, north of Kursk. Before you return, we've sent men out there to set up a new headquarters. ”

Rokossovsky looked down at the map in front of him, quickly found the place that Trubnikov said, and found that it was closer to the combat troops on the front line than the current position, so he nodded and said approvingly: "Since everyone thinks that the front command is not suitable to stay here, then we will move to the new command as soon as possible." ”

Seeing Ma Linin coming after making the call, he immediately ordered: "Chief of Staff, you immediately send more staff officers to Svoboda to speed up the establishment of a new command there, so that we can transfer the command there as soon as possible." ”

After waiting for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, Malinin asked him for instructions: "Comrade commander, I have just informed the commanders of the various army groups to come here for a meeting. If our command is going to be transferred, will the meeting be held in a different place? ”

"No, you don't." Rokossovsky waved his hand and said: "Since the commanders below have been notified, if the meeting place is changed rashly, it may cause unnecessary confusion. The meeting will continue to be held here, and after the meeting, our headquarters will be transferred. ”