In order to consolidate the occupied positions, Rokossovsky, while ordering the troops on the left and right flanks to stop the offensive, began to study and discuss the transfer of the reserves of the Front to the Loyev area.

Malinin took out his small notebook, turned a few pages, and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, I propose to transfer Panov's 1st Don Guards Tank Army, Bakharov's 9th Tank Army, Kryukov's and Konstantinov's Cavalry Corps, and Ignatov's Breakthrough Artillery Corps to the Loyev area, so as to cooperate with General Batov's troops to continue to advance in depth of the enemy's defense. ”

"Comrade Commander," Hearing Malinin's suggestion, Terekin couldn't help but interject and ask: "Is it appropriate to transfer the reserves of the Front to the Loyev region?" ”

"I think it is absolutely necessary to quickly break through the German defenses and solve the Gomel area." After Rokossovsky finished these words, he asked Malinin: "Chief of Staff, how long will it take for these troops to be mobilized?" ”

"Due to the large number of forests, swamps and rivers, it is very unfavorable for the movement of mechanized troops." After some silent calculations in his heart, Malinin replied: "It will take at least five to seven days to complete the transfer of the above-mentioned troops. ”

"It's too slow, Comrade Chief of Staff, it's too slow." After hearing the time that Malinin said, Rokossovsky said with some displeasure: "I will give you three days at most, and it is necessary to get these troops to the designated positions." ”

In response to Rokossovsky's order, Malinin showed an embarrassed expression on his face: "Comrade commander, the situation on our roads, you should know very well that three days is far from enough time to transfer so many mechanized troops to the Loyev region. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I also want to give the troops plenty of time to mobilize." Rokossovsky said with a serious expression: "But will the Germans give us that much time?" The answer is no. If it takes us five to seven days to get our troops in place, the Germans will have more time to strengthen their defenses, and when we relaunch a new offensive, the commanders and fighters will have to pay a heavier price. ”

"I see, Comrade Commander." Ma Lining nodded and said: "I will transfer your meaning to the commanders below and ask them to do everything possible to speed up the march of the troops and strive to reach the combat area as soon as possible." ”

While the discussion was in full swing here, the director of the communications corps, Maximenko, suddenly walked over quickly and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, there is a call from the General Staff in Moscow, do you need to answer it?" ”

"Needless to say, Comrade Maksimenko." When Rokossovsky heard that it was a call from Moscow, he knew that there must be something important to convey again, and hurriedly said to Maksimenko: "Take the call immediately." ”

When Antonov called, Rokossovsky thought that he was going to give some order on behalf of the General Staff, and hurriedly preemptively said: "Hello, Alexei Inokentievich!" I was about to report to you that the Germans have been carrying out non-stop counterattacks for the past two days, since the troops on our left and right flanks have stopped attacking, trying to seize the landing ground we have established on the right bank of the Dnieper in order to liberate their Gomel group from our threat. ”

After patiently listening to Rokossovsky's words, Antonov said unhurriedly: "General Rokossovsky, I am calling you not to ask you about the current situation of the war, but for another important matter. ”

Hearing Antonov say that he was calling himself for something else, he couldn't help but arouse Rokossovsky's interest, and he asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, what is the important matter, and you still need to call me personally?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Rokossovsky." Antonov said in a calm tone: "In order to better combat the fascist invaders and drive them out of our territory, the Supreme High Command has decided to change the numbers of the various armies to the numbers of the operational areas they are responsible for from the day after tomorrow, that is, October 20. The name of your Central Front has been changed to the Belarusian Front, you are the commander of the Front, the member of the Military Council is Lieutenant General Terekin, and the chief of staff is General Malinin. ”

"And what about the Ukrainian direction?" As soon as Rokossovsky waited for Antonov to finish speaking, he immediately asked impatiently: "As far as I know, there are at least four fronts of troops fighting in Ukraine today, should they all be changed to the Ukrainian front?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Rokossovsky." To Rokossovsky's question, Antonov gave an affirmative answer: "By order of the Supreme High Command, the four fronts fighting on the territory of Ukraine were reorganized into the 1st to 4th Ukrainian Fronts. ”

The Voronezh Front was renamed the 1st Ukrainian Front, which consisted of the 13th, 27th, 38th, 40th, 47th, and 60th armies, as well as the 3rd Guards Tank Army and the 2nd Air Force Army. The commander is General Vatutin, the political commissar is Lieutenant General Khrushchev, the military councillor is Major General Kryniukov, and the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ivanov.

The Steppe Front was renamed the Second Ukrainian Front, which consisted of the 4th, 5th, and 7th Guards Armies, as well as the 37th, 52nd, 53rd, and 57th armies, the 5th Guards Tank Army, and the 5th Air Force Army. The commander is General Konev, the military councillor is Lieutenant General Susekov Tank Corps, and the chief of staff is Colonel-General Zakharov.

The Southwestern Front was renamed the Third Ukrainian Front, with ...... commander, Lieutenant General Zertovsky, and Lieutenant General Korzhenevich, chief of staff.

The Southern Front was renamed the Fourth Ukrainian Front, which consisted of the 2nd and 3rd Guards Armies, the 5th Assault Army, the 28th, 44th, and 51st armies and the 8th Army of the Air Force. The commander is General Tolbukhin, the military councillor is General Shatenko, and the chief of staff is Lieutenant General Bryuzov. ”

After finishing the newly reorganized unit numbers in one breath, Antonov took a breath and then said to Rokossovsky: "General Rokossovsky, in order to strengthen your attacking forces, Comrade Stalin proposed that the 11th Army in the base camp reserve be strengthened to you after the study and decision of the Supreme Command. ”

Hearing that he could get a supplement from an army group, Rokossovsky couldn't help but be overjoyed, but just after a moment of joy, he suddenly thought of a key question, and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, I don't know who the current commander of the 11th Army is?" He feared that the commander of the army group was a mediocre man, and that not only would he not be able to strengthen the strength of his troops, but he would pull the friendly forces back.

"Don't worry, General Rokossovsky." Antonov heard from Rokossovsky's words, and replied with a smile: "The current commander of the 11th Army is your old acquaintance, General Fedyuninsky, who has just been transferred from Leningrad. ”

"It turned out to be Fedyuninsky," Rokossovsky's mood suddenly lightened when he heard this familiar name. You must know that before the outbreak of the war, although he had mentioned to different people on different occasions that the war was about to break out, only Fedyuninsky really listened. Now that the 11th Army under his command is under his command, it is indeed a happy thing: "I have known him for a long time, and I believe that we will be able to cooperate happily." By the way, Comrade Deputy Chief of the General Staff, when will his troops reach our area of operations? ”

Antonov replied briefly: "Fedyuninsky's troops will board the train at the railway station in an hour, and I estimate that they will arrive at your defense area one after another by noon tomorrow at the latest." ”

After Rokossovsky put down the phone, he said to Malinin with a smile: "Chief of staff, I have good news for you, the base camp has placed Fedyuninsky's 11th Army under our command, and they will be able to enter our current combat area by noon tomorrow at the latest." ”

After hearing this, Ma Linin nodded, and then asked, "Comrade Commander, where do you plan to deploy them?" ”

Rokossovsky thought for a moment and replied: "Deploy them on the right flank of the 63rd Army and let them work together with the two armies to deliver a powerful assault from north of Gomel in the direction of Zhilobin." ”

"Well, that's a great arrangement." After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Malinin suddenly showed joy: "I am worried that the strength of the 63rd Army is limited and it will not be able to continue the offensive north of Gomel. Now with the addition of the 11th Army, this offensive plan of ours can be put into practice. ”

After Terekin waited for Rokossovsky and Malinin to finish speaking, he opened his mouth and asked: "Comrade commander, I just heard something on the phone about changing the number, what is going on?" ”

Terekin didn't mention it, and Rokossovsky almost forgot about it. He hurriedly said to everyone: "In order to better combat the fascist aggressors, the Supreme Command has decided to change the existing unit numbers to the numbers of the operational areas they are responsible for. And the troops of Vatutin and Konev were reorganized into the First and Second Ukrainian Fronts respectively because the main battlefield was in Ukraine......"

After listening to what Rokossovsky said, Malinin couldn't help frowning, "Comrade commander, why are there four fronts in the troops fighting in Ukraine, and we have only one Belarusian front?" ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, it's simple." Rokossovsky said with a smile: "From the analysis of all indications, the base camp is focusing its main efforts on the liberation of Ukraine, and our Belarus is only a secondary operational direction." When the second and third fronts also appeared, it meant that the base camp intended to completely eliminate the enemy in Belarus. ”