After waiting for Timoshenko to finish speaking, Rokossovsky replied with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, although yesterday the situation with conscription was bad, today the situation has changed. Not long ago www.biquge.info Comrade Borisova, who was in charge of conscription, called and said that those Jewish soldiers were very enthusiastic about joining the army. Those application forms were piled up on the table, and she and Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov, who went with her, were simply overwhelmed. ”

After hearing this, Timoshenko asked with some surprise: "This is too strange, Comrade Rokossovsky. I don't know what kind of magic you cast on them, and you actually made their attitude turn a hundred and eighty degrees? ”

"Comrade Marshal, in fact, there is nothing." Rokossovsky modestly said: "I just asked Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov to take these Jewish fighters to the villages that had been poisoned by the fascists, so that they could understand the ferocity of the enemy." Let the bloody facts tell them that if they do not take up arms and fight the fascist bandits, they will face the fate of death. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky, this approach of yours is very novel and effective." Timoshenko said approvingly: "It's amazing that you have solved a problem that has caused everyone a headache and you have solved it so easily." ”

After complimenting Rokossovsky, Timoshenko suddenly asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you and your wife have been separated for a long time, right?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky, although he did not know the reason for Timoshenko's question, replied truthfully: "Since the day the war broke out, I have not seen my wife Petrovna again. ”

When Timoshenko heard Rokossovsky's answer, he couldn't help but smile, and then said meaningfully: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you and your wife have been separated for a long time, and a young, beautiful and capable woman suddenly appeared by your side, and it is inevitable that you will have a good impression of her. But I hope you don't do anything that would damage your reputation. You must know that although you are a very capable commander in the eyes of the Supreme Commander himself, if there is any scandal in the army, I estimate that it will also have an impact on your future. ”

Even if a grenade landed next to Rokossovsky and exploded at this time, the shock caused would definitely not be comparable to these words of Timoshenko. Rokossovsky held the microphone and wondered if he had really fallen in love with Borisova for a long time, as Timoshenko had guessed. He struggled to recall the two of them from the moment they met to the present, the meeting they had met, and the words they had said. After he recalled all the experiences, he found that he really had a good impression of the young, beautiful and capable Borisova, and sometimes he couldn't see each other for a few days, and he still felt a little unsteady in his heart.

Lobachev looked at Rokossovsky holding the microphone in a daze, the expression on his face was cloudy, and he thought that Timoshenko had said something serious on the phone, so he quickly patted Rokossovsky on the shoulder with his hand and asked nervously: "Comrade commander, why do you keep holding the microphone in a daze?" Did Comrade Marshal say something on the phone? ”

"No, no!" Rokossovsky woke up from his contemplation, heard a burst of blind voices coming from the earpiece, hurriedly put down the phone, and said in disguise: "I am thinking about how to arrange the selection of the commander of the Jewish battalion, because I am so engrossed in thinking about it that Comrade Marshal's phone has been hung up for a long time, and I have not noticed it. ”

Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov returned to the command only after dark. As soon as he entered the door, he excitedly said to Rokossovsky and Lobachev: "Commander, comrade military commissar, guess how many recruits we have recruited today?" ”

Rokossovsky picked up the teacup in front of him, glanced at Tarasov, and said disapprerovitically: "There are so many villages near Vyazma, and there are only five or six hundred people in the full fight." With that, he took the cup in his hand and began to drink.

Tarasov shook his head and said excitedly: "I thought that five or six hundred people would reach the sky, but when the Jewish villagers heard about this, they immediately rushed to the farther villages in carriages or on horseback to tell their own people about it. In the afternoon, there was a steady stream of people rushing to join our troops, some of whom had come from hundreds of miles away, knowing the atrocities of the fascist bandits. By the evening, the number of applicants was close to 3,000......"

Rokossovsky, who was drinking water, heard Tarasov say this, accidentally choked on the water, and suddenly coughed violently. Lobachev, who was sitting next to him, hurriedly raised his hand and patted him on the back, trying to help him alleviate some of his symptoms. Rokossovsky turned his head and smiled at Lobachev in thanks, then turned his head and asked Tarasov while coughing: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you just said how many people want to join our troops?" ”

"Three thousand," Tarasov hurriedly stretched out three fingers and said, "Comrade Commander, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it was true." ”

"Three thousand?!" After hearing this, Lobachev said in disbelief: "If it is said that it is three hundred, I can still believe it, but it is actually three thousand, it is incredible, this number is too many." ”

Rokossovsky coughed twice more in a row, and when his throat was no longer itchy, he asked Tarasov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, where are these recruits?" ”

"On the defensive positions west of Vyazma," Tarasov explained, "because they are all new recruits and have no military training, if they are brought here overnight, I am afraid that something will happen on the way." So after consulting with Comrade Borisova, I decided to let these thousands of recruits live in the fortifications first, and then rush over after dawn. ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you have to rush back overnight and tell Comrade Borisova to let these recruits stay there, and there is no need to rush here for the time being." Rokossovsky was afraid that Tarasov would not understand, and explained to him: "I am worried that these untrained recruits will scatter and flee in all directions when they hear the sound of enemy gunfire, so let them stay there for the time being, hurry up and train, and bring them over when they will not tremble when they hear the gunshots." ”

After Tarasov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he asked cautiously: "Comrade commander, I only have a dozen people in my hands, and I have to train thousands of recruits, maybe there are not enough people, do you want to send me some more people?" ”

Rokossovsky thought for a moment, and then said: "Isn't Lieutenant Colonel Vorobyov's motorized infantry regiment stationed in the defensive position west of Vyazma?" You go to him and ask for a company or two of veterans to be incorporated into your regiment. Do you understand? ”

"My regiment??" Tarasov couldn't help but be stunned when he heard Rokossovsky say this, and he asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, I heard you right, are you talking about my regiment?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you heard it right." Lobachev stood up and said with a smile: "Commander Commander and we are still discussing to form a battalion of these newly recruited Jewish recruits and make you the battalion commander. When more troops are added to you in the future, your troops will be expanded. I didn't expect you to recruit 3,000 people at once, so that you could directly form a regiment, and you would be the head of this Jewish regiment. ”

Hearing that he had been appointed head of the newly formed Jewish Mission, Tarasov's breathing became rapid, and he carefully asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, is this all true?" ”

Rokossovsky glanced at Lobachev with a smile, and then said: "Why, comrade lieutenant colonel, can't you still trust our military commissar?" That's right, from now on you are the head of this newly formed Jewish Mission. ”

"It's not enough to have me as the regiment commander," Tarasov said a little shyly, "I can't manage such a unit alone, so I ask you to send a few commanders to help me." ”

Rokossovsky thought for a moment, and then said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you transfer all the staff officers who came with you from the Front Headquarters to your regiment, and as for what positions they hold, you have the final say. As long as you submit the list for filing, you can do it. ”

"Commanders at the grassroots level are easy to handle." Tarasov frowned and said: "But the two positions of regimental political commissar and chief of staff are not for ordinary people. ”

"Lieutenant Starley can be your regimental chief of staff," Rokossovsky arranged for him without thinking, but about the appointment of the regimental commissar, it made it difficult for him. After all, there are very few people he knows who hold political positions. Just when he was in a dilemma, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in his mind, this person was very suitable for the position of political commissar of the regiment. Just as the name of the regimental commissar was about to blurt out, Rokossovsky suddenly remembered what Timoshenko said on the phone, and couldn't help but hesitate again.

Seeing that Rokossovsky had not said the name of the regimental commissar for a long time, Lobachev interjected: "Comrade commander, I have a very suitable candidate for the post of regimental commissar of the Jewish Regiment, but I need your permission first. ”

"Who?" Rokossovsky asked nervously.

"Borisova," Lobachev said Rokossovsky's familiar name, adding: "Although I have not had much time with her, I think she is a very capable woman, and it is only fitting that she should be appointed as the political commissar of this regiment." ”

Rokossovsky looked at Lobachev and said secretly in his heart: This is really a coincidence. But on the surface, he pretended to be embarrassed, "Comrade Military Commissar, although I also agree with your opinion. But it is not appropriate to let a female comrade take the position of political commissar of the regiment, even if she reports it, her superiors will not agree. ”

Lobachev thought that Rokossovsky really had scruples, so he hurriedly said: "Don't worry, comrade commander, as the commander of the army group, you have the right to appoint regimental commanders." Even if the higher authorities blame it in the future, you can say that this is a joint study and decision made by the headquarters of our group army, and I will take this responsibility together with you. ”

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Rokossovsky hurriedly pushed the boat down the river and said: "Okay, Comrade Military Commissar, since you said so, then the matter is decided. After speaking, he turned to Tarasov and ordered, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, from now on, Comrade Borisova will be the regimental commissar of your regiment." When you go back, after announcing this appointment to her, you will only note the Vanya Book of Vyazma and let him know what to do. Do you understand? ”

"Understood." After Tarasov said this, he straightened his waist and asked respectfully: "Allow me to go back to the army now?" ”

"Go, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Before leaving, Rokossovsky once again stressed: "The enemy may not launch a new offensive against our defense zone in the near future, and you should use this time to train these recruits well." ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I won't let you down." After Tarasov finished speaking, he raised his hand and saluted Rokossovsky and Lobachev, then turned and walked out of the command headquarters quickly.

After Tarasov left, Lobachev turned his head and asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, I don't know which division this Jewish regiment should be assigned to command?" ”

"Comrade Military Council, I think it would be better for the Jewish Regiment not to be included in other units." Rokossovsky was interested in cultivating a unit that belonged entirely to himself, so he would never assign the Jewish regiment to other divisions, so he said to Lobachev euphemistically: "I intend to assign them to the direct units of the army group, which will be very beneficial to the growth of such a unit." ”

Lobachev was bewildered by Rokossovsky's high-sounding words, and after listening to this, he thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Well, Comrade Commander, since you say so, then I agree with you. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I won't let you down." After Tarasov finished speaking, he raised his hand and saluted Rokossovsky and Lobachev, then turned and walked out of the command headquarters quickly.

After Tarasov left, Lobachev turned his head and asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, I don't know which division this Jewish regiment should be assigned to command?" ”

"Comrade Military Council, I think it would be better for the Jewish Regiment not to be included in other units." Rokossovsky was interested in cultivating a unit that belonged entirely to himself, so he would never assign the Jewish regiment to other divisions, so he said to Lobachev euphemistically: "I intend to assign them to the direct units of the army group, which will be very beneficial to the growth of such a unit." ”

Lobachev was bewildered by Rokossovsky's high-sounding words, and after listening to this, he thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Well, Comrade Commander, since you say so, then I agree with you. (To be continued.) )