Tang Shaohua stood on the bell tower, looking blankly at the commanders and fighters of the motorized infantry regiment who were cleaning up the battlefield and escorting the prisoners, thinking that there was only less than a month left before the day when Germany launched an attack, but the Soviet army was still carrying out such flashy and even perfunctory exercises, would it help the war that was about to begin?

As he walked down the narrow staircase, he was thinking in his heart that, as far as he knew, the main forces of the Blue Army were concentrated in the Lyubohm area, and if Katukov's tank division was sent to assist the Motorized Infantry Regiment in attacking the Blue positions overnight, the battle should be resolved before dawn. Although this undermined the plan of the exercise, it was a test of the troops' ability to fight at night. As long as more commanders and fighters can save their lives in the near war, it is not a big deal to be punished even if they are punished.

As soon as he entered the command headquarters, before Tang Shaohua could give an order, a guard hurriedly ran over and reported: "Comrade Army Commander, Comrade Military Commissar of the Military Region has arrived and is waiting for you at the door." ”

Seeing Vashujin appear in the command headquarters, Tang Shaohua understood in his heart that the next exercise could only be carried out in accordance with the plan step by step, and his heart was half cold. In a bad mood, when greeting Vashukin, the attitude seemed a little perfunctory.

Vashukin noticed that Tang Shaohua seemed to be a little unwelcome of his arrival, but he did not get angry, but said with a smile: "Comrade Rokossovsky, don't worry, I just came to see and will not interfere with your command." ”

Tang Shaohua muttered in his heart: Everything in the exercise can only be carried out according to the plan, and you can't interfere even if you want to. Although he was extremely dissatisfied in his heart, he still had to do superficial work, after all, the political worker in front of him was the real leader of the entire military region, and even the commander Kirponos wanted to give him three points, and no one could offend him. So he hurriedly smiled and beckoned Vashukin into the command headquarters, and asked the soldiers to bring hot tea.

Tang Shaohua sat opposite Vashukin, smiled and asked cautiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, why did you suddenly come to our army, are you here to observe the exercise?" ”

Vashukin took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and stared at Tang Shaohua as if he were looking at a stranger. Tang Shaohua panicked for a while, and said that he had discovered my abnormality even if he was not confused, if that was the case, my situation would be dangerous.

After slapping the table suddenly, Vashukin frightened Tang Shaohua, and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I am here specifically to criticize you. As a veteran who has served in the army for twenty years, you should know that the orders of your superiors are not allowed to be discussed, but can only be carried out. The plan for this exercise was drawn up very early, and all the troops participating in the exercise could only proceed according to the plan, and absolutely no commander was allowed to disrupt the entire unit for the sake of showing off. I would like to ask you, who gave you the right to actually ask in a telegram from the military district to revise the program of the exercises according to your wishes? ”

Tang Shaohua knew that at such a time, he could not defend himself but admit his mistakes, so he calmed down Vashukin's anger first. He smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, I also want to test the training results of the troops and how effective they are through this exercise, and I don't want to be in the limelight......

"That's enough," Vashugin interrupted him impatiently, and said angrily: "This time the Blues have only sent one division, and the forces you have at your disposal now, a tank division and a motorized infantry regiment, it is not impossible to deal with the Blue Army troops alone." But have you ever thought about it, if you had solved the Blue Army units in advance, then how would the leaders of our military district explain to Fedyuninsky and them after the exercise? Aren't the tens of thousands of people in Fedyuninsky's 15th Infantry Corps and the 19th Mechanized Corps turned into training? ”

After Tang Shaohua heard his words, he couldn't help but be shocked into a cold sweat, it seemed that he was taking it for granted, thinking that he could eat the Blue Army troops with his current strength alone, and he didn't consider the consequences of doing so. If this is really done, the first thing to offend is a few leaders of the military district, and then Fedyuninsky and his colleagues, and even the officers and soldiers of the Blue Army will be dissatisfied with themselves because of their foul behavior.

At such a time, the only thing that can be done is not to argue and take the initiative to admit his mistake to Vashukin, as long as Vashukin is relieved, this difficulty in front of him will pass.

Seeing that Tang Shaohua's attitude of admitting his mistake was good, the expression on Vashukin's face softened: "Okay, Comrade Rokossovsky, since you have realized your mistake, this matter has passed, and I will not take it as an example!" Speaking of this, he looked left and right and asked curiously, "Where is Colonel Katukov, the commander of the 20th Tank Division?" ”

Maslov, who had not spoken all this time, hurriedly replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, Colonel Katukov should still be in the army. If you have any problems, I'll call him right away. ”

After listening to Maslov's answer, Vashukin said with a pale face: "General Maslov, didn't you find out that Colonel Katukov is a sick person?" In such a situation, he should not be in the army, but in the hospital. Call him now and ask him to come here! ”

Maslov nodded in a panic, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed the division headquarters of the 20th Tank Division. As soon as the phone rang, he shouted at the attendant: "Hey, attendant, where is your division commander?" ”

The attendant didn't hear who the person who called him was, and asked officially: "Comrade division commander is not here, who are you?" ”

"I am General Maslov, Chief of Staff of the Army," although it was Rokossovsky who was criticized just now, but as Chief of Staff, Maslov also had a fire in his belly, and when he met a subordinate who was not long-eyed at this moment, he naturally would not be polite, he raised his voice and said: "There is an order, let Colonel Katukov come to the army headquarters immediately, understand?" ”

"Yes, Comrade General." The attendant was so frightened that he jumped out of his seat when he heard Maslov identify himself, and he stammered: "I...... I'm ...... Immediately notify the division commander and let him ...... He reported to the military headquarters! ”

Not long after, the sound of the brakes of the gas car was heard outside the door, and then Katukov and his deputy division commander Chernyaev strode into the headquarters.

The two came to Tang Shaohua and Maslov, and were about to raise their hands to salute, when they suddenly found Vashukin, who was sitting next to them, and couldn't help but hesitate, not knowing who to report to first. In the end, it was Maslov who relieved them: "Report to the comrades of the military commissar!" ”

The two turned specifically to face Vashukin, raised their hands to salute him, and reported in accordance with the regulations. Vashukin got up from his seat, and after returning the salute, he stretched out his hands to hold Katukov's hand and asked with concern: "Comrade Colonel, how is your illness?" ”

Tang Shaohua saw Vashukin, who had just scolded himself with his head and face, and at this moment and just now, he asked about Tukov's condition with an amiable attitude, and this huge contrast shocked Tang Shaohua speechless.

Although Katukov insisted that he was fine, Vashukin pressed Katukov to the stool without saying a word, took off his boots and rolled up his trouser legs. When he saw clearly that Katukov's legs were thickened by a whole circle because of swelling, he turned his head to Tang Shaohua and said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you see, Colonel Katukov's condition is very serious, and he must be sent to the hospital immediately, and he will not have to participate in tomorrow's exercise." ”

Tang Shaohua could see that Vashukin was genuinely concerned about Katukov's condition, so he readily agreed: "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, I will send someone to take the colonel to the hospital tomorrow, and at the same time, his deputy, Comrade Chernyaev, will take over the command of the tank division." ”