Just after lunch, a soldier on duty walked into the command headquarters and reported to Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, two generals have come outside, saying that they want to meet the commander and the military commissar, saying that they are their old friends. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"My old friend?" Because the warrior's voice was very loud, Rokossovsky, who had heard the contents of his report clearly, raised his head, and after glancing at Lobachev in surprise, he couldn't help frowning, and said in his heart, who would come to me at such a time? But he still decisively ordered the fighters: "Comrade warriors, please let them in." ”

Not long after the fighters walked out of the headquarters, an officer wearing a large-brimmed hat walked in. Rokossovsky noticed that he was of medium shape, with a dusty military coat, mud on his leather boots, and pale sideburns under his military hat. Under the gaze of many unfriendly eyes, he was obviously a little restrained.

"So it's you, Comrade Malankin." Rokossovsky only felt that the person who came was familiar, but before he could remember who the other party was, Lobachev, who was sitting opposite him, had already stood up and walked towards the other party with his arms outstretched: "I really didn't expect that we would meet here." ”

Hearing Lobachev call the other party's name, Rokossovsky immediately remembered that the person turned out to be Lukin's logistics minister, and he had dealt with him several times in Sheperovka. He was a colonel at the time, and now he has been promoted to major general. So he also hurriedly got up to greet him, and after Marankin and Lobachev finished hugging, he also took the initiative to stretch out his hand and said in a friendly manner: "Hello, General Malankin, welcome back to the headquarters of the 16th Army." ”

It stands to reason that Malankin and Rokossovsky have dealt with each other many times and should be regarded as acquaintances, but his attitude towards Rokossovsky is cold, even with a little perfunctory, when shaking hands, he just touched lightly, and immediately let go, and said lightly: "Hello, Comrade Rokossovsky!" ”

Just when Rokossovsky was feeling a little embarrassed, another man suddenly walked in. As soon as he entered the door, he said loudly: "Hello, dear comrades, I really didn't expect to see you again. ”

Rokossovsky was stunned for a moment when he saw who was coming, he never dreamed that it would be Kamela, his old friend, the predecessor of the artillery chief Kazakov, who came with Marankin. "It's you, Comrade Carmela, why are you here?"

"I'm here with General Marankin." Shaking hands with Rokossovsky, Carmela explained: "We were separated from the Front command and are now looking for them." ”

After Lobachev finished shaking hands, he immediately greeted warmly: "Comrade Malankin, you are a distinguished guest that we can't usually invite, so please sit down quickly." Our environment is a bit rudimentary now, so we can only ask you for a cup of tea. ”

After several people sat down around the table, Malankin looked at Rokossovsky with a frosty face and asked, "Comrade Rokossovsky, I need an explanation. ”

"An explanation?!" Rokossovsky was confused by Malankin's brainless words, he looked at the other party with a blank face and asked, "I don't know what explanation you need?" ”

"Tell me, why did you leave the army alone and run away on your own? You must know that with the strength of your army group, it is impossible for the German army to break through your defenses in such a short time. When Marankin said this, he slammed the table and stood up, and said angrily: "Shame! What a shame you have done! ”

"What the hell is going on?" After being scolded by Marankin for a few words, Rokossovsky became even more dazed, he turned his head to look at Carmela and asked his old friend for advice: "General Carmela, we are old friends, can you tell me, what happened?" ”

Carmela coughed lightly and said with some embarrassment: "Koschika, someone reported to the Supreme Command that when the Germans launched a frontal attack, you left your troops without permission and led the headquarters without saying goodbye, and your behavior and direction are unknown. It is said that the Supreme Commander himself was furious when he learned of this news and sent an investigation team to the headquarters of the Front Army to find out the situation. ”

"Hell, this is hell!" After Carmela finished explaining the reason, without waiting for Rokossovsky to speak, Lobachev preemptively said: "Why did you leave the troops without saying goodbye, we were ordered to hand over the troops, okay?" ”

"Ordered to hand over the troops?" Hearing Lobachev say this, although Malankin was still a little skeptical, his tone became much softener: "To whom did you hand over your troops on whose orders?" ”

"That's right, we received an order from the command of the Front to hand over the troops to the commander of the 20th Army, General Yershakov." Lobachev said and glanced at Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, you take out the order given to us by your superiors and show Comrade Malankin." ”

Rokossovsky nodded, took the strange order out of his briefcase, and handed it to Marankin. As Marankin looked down at the command, Carmela leaned her head over as well. After a while, he spoke: "Yes, this is the signature of Commander Konev and Comrade Bulganin, Military Commissar, I know their signatures, yes, this order is true." ”

When Marankin handed the order back to Rokossovsky, he turned his head to look at Carmela and said: "Strange, why did the superiors say that they would investigate Comrade Rokossovsky's unauthorized departure from the troops, and neither the commander nor the military commissar explained the reason?" As he spoke, he turned his head to Rokossovsky apologetically, "I'm sorry, I'm wrong to blame you!" ”

"It's okay, it's okay." Even if Rokossovsky was full of anger, he couldn't get angry at all in the face of Malankin, who was also kept in the dark, so he had to pretend to be magnanimous and say: "You don't have to blame yourself, this matter will be explained clearly sooner or later." ”

The misunderstanding was explained, and the next few people began to discuss the current situation. Through cooperation in Shepetovka, Marankin was very impressed by Rokossovsky's ability to judge the situation and his level of command, so he humbly asked the other side for advice: "Comrade Rokossovsky, judging by the current situation, what do you think the Germans will do next?" ”

As soon as he talked about analyzing the enemy's possible next moves, Rokossovsky forgot about the unhappiness just now and began to talk endlessly: "Comrades two generals, we have sorted out all the information we have gathered, and we have found that the Germans have carried out their surprise attacks in the defensive zone of our Western Front in such a way that they have broken through the defensive fronts of our troops in two directions at the same time, and at the depth of the breakthrough they have closed the wedges inserted into the defense zone of our troops, so as to form an inner circle of encirclement...... That is, Vyazma will be the point where the enemy's pincer offensive closes. However, this is only the inner ring of the German encirclement, and we do not know exactly where they want to build the outer ring of the encirclement, and we are trying to find out. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's analysis, Malankin took the cigarette handed over by Carmela with a slightly trembling hand, put it to his mouth, and said calmly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, such important information should be immediately reported to the Front Command. ”

"Report, report! We don't even know what the front command is, how can we report it? Rokossovsky said impatiently. Moreover, even if we contact the command, it is still a question of whether they believe our judgment and analysis, let alone arouse the necessary vigilance. ”

"General Carmella and I have been looking for the Front Command." Marankin unhurriedly borrowed fire from Carmela and lit a cigarette, then glanced at Rokossovsky. "If we can return to the headquarters, we will definitely report your analysis to the commander of the front army in detail...... If he doesn't trust your analysis, we can report back to the investigation team from Moscow. ”

Rokossovsky seemed rather unhappy with Marankin's answer, and with a look of anger on his face, he crossed his arms over his chest and said: "General Malankin, do you think that before I prove my innocence, no one will listen to these analyses I have made? ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Rokossovsky." Marankin assured Rokossovsky: "General Carmela and I will defend you and prove your innocence." As long as the leaders of the investigation team know the truth about how you led the headquarters to break away from the troops, I am sure they will be interested in your analysis. ”

Hearing Malankin's assurance, the anger on Rokossovsky's face weakened slightly, and he asked in a slow tone: "General Malankin, what can I do for you now?" ”

"I intend to go east with General Carmela, to the city of Gzazik," Malankin said in an uncertain tone, "maybe the new front headquarters is located there." But we're only two or three people with us right now, and I hope you'll send someone to escort us. ”

Having found the place Marankin said on the map, Rokossovsky nodded, and then said: "No problem, Comrade General, I will send someone to escort you back to Gzazk." As he spoke, he called Malinin over and instructed, "Chief of Staff, you will transfer a squad from the guard company to escort the two generals to Gezazik. Remember, always make sure they're safe. ”

"Yes, I'll arrange it right away." Malinen said and walked out of the headquarters.

When Malankin and the others, escorted by the guard squad, left in a jeep, Rokossovsky ordered Malinin to send a reconnaissance team to reconnoiter the surroundings of Vyazma again to see if they could find their troops.

In the evening, the reconnaissance teams sent out returned one after another. After compiling reconnaissance information, Malinin reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, at present a large number of German troops have been stationed in the city of Vyazma, and it seems that we will not be able to return to the city and wait for the troops to be assigned to us by our superiors. ”

"In today's situation, not only can we not go back to Vyazma. On the contrary, it is also necessary to continue the transfer to the east, the farther away from the enemy's heavy forces, the better. Immediately after saying these words, Lobachev suggested to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, please give the order to transfer!" ”

"Comrade commander," said Kazakov, while Rokossovsky was considering whether the command should be transferred again, "according to the plan, the command of the 16th Army was to perform specific tasks, and its duty was to appear in this area and receive tasks. If we evacuate, we will not be blamed by our superiors. ”

Without waiting for Rokossovsky to speak, Orel, who had been busy outside, suddenly ran in and reported: "Comrade commander, we have sent to escort General Marankin's guard squad back. ”

Hearing Orel say this, Rokossovsky's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately ordered: "Call the guard squad leader in, I want to ask him about the situation in Gzazik." ”

The head of the guard squad, a sergeant who was no longer young, walked into the command headquarters, raised his hand to salute Rokossovsky and reported: "Comrade commander, we have successfully escorted the two generals to Gzazk. ”

"Have you found the headquarters of the Front in the city of Gezazik?" Rokossovsky asked cautiously.

"No, Comrade Commander." The sergeant shook his head and said, "There is also chaos in the city of Gezazik, but fortunately there are still our troops, and after the two generals contacted one of the troops, they let us come back." ”

"Comrade Sergeant, why are you covered in mud?" After examining the sergeant carefully, Malinin asked tentatively, "Did something happen on the way to the escort?" ”

"Comrade Colonel, we are indeed in a little trouble," the sergeant quickly replied when he heard Malinin ask, "but not on the way there, but on the way back, we encountered two German armored vehicles." The enemy machine-gun fire on us, and after the battle, we managed to get out of the woods. ”

When Rokossovsky heard that the guard squad had been attacked, he hurriedly asked with concern: "Sergeant, do you have any casualties?" ”

The sergeant nodded and replied, "Yes, Comrade Commander." Two of our fighters were wounded, and the car was destroyed, and we returned on foot through the forest. ”

"I see, Comrade Sergeant." Rokossovsky took a step forward, raised his hand and gently patted the other man's arm, and then said, "You go down first." ”

As soon as the sergeant left, Rokossovsky turned to several commanders and said: "Comrade commanders, since there are Germans nearby, it seems that this place is no longer safe, and it is necessary to move immediately." Chief of Staff, order all the commanders and fighters to pack up their things, and we get out of here as soon as possible. ”

"Understood." Ma Linin agreed, then walked among the busy staff officers and communications personnel, and ordered loudly: "Comrade Commander has an order, everyone immediately pack up their things and prepare for transfer." (To be continued.) )