According to Borisova's idea, Rokossovsky, since she was in a hurry to return to the troops, would definitely take the shortest distance to the south, so she did not hesitate to chase the driver south along the road. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

As everyone knows, in the document from Shtemenko to Rokossovsky, it is specifically mentioned that the tank corps assigned to the 16th Army by his superiors is currently assembling near the town of Odintsovo, southwest of Moscow, and he is asked to go to the area to receive this unit before returning to the front.

Second Lieutenant Tupanv, who was escorting Rokossovsky, was aware of this order, so the convoy left the hospital and headed west, and after leaving the city, it turned around and headed southwest towards the town of Odintsovo.

The convoy was pulled down by a checkpoint outside the town, and an ensign, dressed in a tank uniform, bypassed the first truck full of fighters and went straight to Rokossovsky's car. He leaned over and looked into the car, and after seeing Rokossovsky sitting in it, he raised his hand and saluted, and asked politely: "Comrade General, who are you?" ”

"I am Lieutenant General Rokossovsky, commander of the 16th Army," Rokossovsky, after identifying himself, asked rhetorically, "which part of you are from?" ”

"Hello, Comrade Commander!" The second lieutenant respectfully replied: "We are the newly formed 12th Tank Army, which is being assembled in the Odintsovo area. ”

Hearing that the other party was the 12th Tank Army, which was the unit he was going to, Rokossovsky nodded, and then asked: "Where is your army headquarters?" ”

"In the church in town." After speaking, the second lieutenant took a step back and gestured to the fighters at the front checkpoint, signaling for them to let go. Seeing that the barricades were removed and the crossbar was raised, the second lieutenant made a gesture of invitation to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, please!" ”

The convoy came to a stop in front of the church in the middle of the town, and Lyonka pushed the door and got out of the car first, helping Rokossovsky open the door. Just as Rokossovsky was about to get out of the car, he accidentally saw Serova also open the door on the other side and was about to get out of the car, and hurriedly stopped her: "Serova, you just stay in the car and wait for me!" ”

Although Rokossovsky liked this beautiful actress in his heart, he did not want to take her to show off in front of his subordinates, so he prevented Serova from entering the command of the tank army with him. When Serova heard Rokossovsky say this, she couldn't help but have a disappointed expression on her face, and after she slammed the car door shut, she sat in the back seat and sulked.

Rokossovsky turned his head to look at her, and then ordered Lyonka, who was standing by the car door: "You stay here and take care of Serova's safety, understand?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander!" Rienka replied understandingly.

Rokossovsky walked alone into the headquarters of the tank corps, and inside it was a busy scene, with staff officers and communications officers constantly coming in and out, busy. He stopped and looked around, and saw a group of officers sitting around a long table in the corner of the church hall, discussing something intensely.

After figuring out the direction of the officers, he walked over quickly, and at the same time shouted and said: "Hello, comrades commanders! ”

The officers, who were debating, heard Rokossovsky's voice and suddenly fell silent. When it became clear that it was a general who was coming, he quickly got up from his seat and stood still in front of Rokossovsky.

An officer walked up to Rokossovsky and, after raising his hand and saluting, introduced himself: "Hello, Comrade General, I am the commander of the tank corps, Colonel Bogdanov, I am at your command, please instruct!" ”

Bogdanov, hearing this name, Rokossovsky couldn't help but hesitate for a moment, and said in his heart that the colonel who was standing in front of him was the future tank marshal of the Soviet Union. He hurriedly shook the other party's hand and said enthusiastically: "Hello, Semyon Ilyich Bogdanov, welcome to join the combat sequence of the 16th Army. ”

After everyone re-seated, Rokossovsky asked Bogdanov about the issues he was concerned about: "Comrade Colonel, what is the establishment of your army?" ”

"Our army has the 30th, 86th and 97th tank brigades, and there is also a 13th motorized rifle brigade." After Bogdanov introduced the organization of the troops, he introduced the commanders of the brigades to Rokossovsky one by one.

Rokossovsky waited for Bogdanov to finish, and then asked: "When will you be able to drive to the Zhizdra region?" ”

"Comrade commander," Bogdanov said with some embarrassment when he heard Rokossovsky's question: "Our army was formed just last week, and some brigades are still just numbers on paper, and the troops promised to us by the higher authorities have not yet been fully put in place, and I think it will take at least a week for the whole army to be mobilized." ”

"No, Colonel Bogdanov, this will definitely not work." As soon as Rokossovsky finished speaking, he immediately said in a stern tone: "We are going to launch an attack on the German army in the near future, and we can't do it without tank troops." In this way, if you want to immediately open up the whole army, there must be difficulties, then complete the formation of a brigade, and then open a brigade. Do you think that works? ”

"No problem, Comrade Commander." Bogdanov nodded and said: "Now the assembly and formation are completed only the 86th tank brigade, and they can move to the Zhizdra area by tomorrow at the latest." ”

After agreeing with Bogdanov on a specific date for the start of the troops, Rokossovsky got up and took his leave. The military political commissar also warmly said: "Comrade General, let's wait until we have lunch before leaving?" ”

If Rokossovsky had not returned to the front with Serova, he would probably have agreed to this suggestion of the military commissar. But at the thought of Serova, who was still sitting in the car outside, he shook his head and explained with a smile: "No, I want to rush back to Zhizdra as soon as possible, so I won't stay to eat." Good luck! After shaking hands with Bogdanov and the military commissar, he turned and walked out of the church.

By this time, Borisova's car had already reached the exit south of the city, and still did not catch up with Rokossovsky. Without waiting for Borisova's instructions, the driver parked the car in front of a checkpoint, pushed the door and scared the car. He walked up to a soldier on duty and asked, "Hey, I said comrade soldier, did you see a black sedan coming out of the checkpoint?" ”

The soldier on duty quickly glanced at the car where the driver had just gotten off, and saw clearly that the license plate on it belonged to the municipal office, and then said: "No, there are only military vehicles coming in and out of here today, and I don't see any black cars." ”

The driver was afraid that the soldier was perfunctory, so he asked a few more questions, which made the soldier a little unhappy, turned around and walked to the side, and no longer paid attention to him. Or an old soldier was a little overwhelmed, and came over to the driver and asked: "This comrade, I don't know who you are looking for?" ”

"It's a general, he's been discharged from the hospital today." The driver hurriedly said to the driver: "We went to the hospital to see him off a step too late, and he has already left." ”

"Young man," said the old soldier, patting the driver on the shoulder, "I'll tell you the truth, so far today I've seen only a black sedan, the one you came. ”

When the driver heard the old soldier say this, his face was suddenly full of disappointment. After thanking the veteran, he returned to the car and said to Borisova, who was anxiously waiting: "Comrade Director, I have already asked the checkpoint, they have not seen the black car out of the city today at all. ”

Borisova, who was sitting in the back row, was silent for a long time before she said to the driver in a hoarse voice: "Okay, comrade driver, let's go back." ”

"Comrade Director," the driver asked Borisova for instructions, "whether we should try somewhere else, maybe we can find out the whereabouts of the car." ”

"It's too late, they should have gone far." After Borisova said this sentence in disappointment, she took a deep breath and decisively ordered: "Drive, let's go back to the bureau." ”

Rokossovsky left the church, returned to the car, and said apologetically to Serova, who had been sitting here: "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." ”

Serova sat on the cold bench for a long time, and finally figured it out in her heart, and felt that Rokossovsky was completely right not to let herself enter the church. Because a group of officers were discussing important matters inside, it would not be good for an actor to run in and join in the fun, if it would damage Rokossovsky's reputation.

After moving forward for dozens of kilometers, the road ahead suddenly became lively. Infantry lined up in three or four columns marched along the roadside, and in the middle of the road were military trucks and gun trucks towing artillery.

Passing these marching ranks, Serova asked Rokossovsky in amazement: "Koschika, are these all your troops?" ”

Rokossovsky, who was looking out of the car window, turned his head and smiled when he heard Serova's question: "I also hope that these are all my troops, but this is impossible." After some distance forward, these troops will disperse to the defense areas of other units along the forks that have appeared. The troops that finally arrived in our defense zone may be only a small part of what you see. ”

Serova looked at the sky outside, and then asked: "The troops march during the day, and they will not be attacked by the Germans, right?" ”

"No," Rokossovsky affirmed, "since the beginning of the great counteroffensive under Moscow, our air force has firmly grasped air supremacy in this area, and the German snitches will not come, as long as they appear, discipline them and not return." ”

Perhaps to confirm the truth of Rokossovsky's words, four Soviet fighters appeared in the sky, and they flew in a line to the west.