Drawing up a complete battle plan overnight was not a big deal for Rokossovsky, who had a wealth of combat experience, and besides, with the assistance of such an excellent staff officer as Malinin, it was no problem at all to complete the formulation of the battle plan within the time set by Konev. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

After repeated studies and discussions, Rokossovsky and Malinin finally worked out a detailed plan of action for the army group in the defense zone, and the terms of the plan would ensure a resolute repulsion of the enemy. For the sake of safety, a plan of action for the troops should be taken in the event of an enemy breakthrough was also developed. In the program, Rokossovsky laid out in detail how the troops should retreat, how to inflict maximum losses on the enemy, and how to stop its advance with all his might. The guiding ideology of the entire battle plan is that the enemy is still much stronger than us, more mobile than us, and it still maintains the initiative, so we should be prepared to deal with a complicated situation.

After drawing up the plan, Rokossovsky handed it to Lobachev and, at the same time, said modestly: "Comrade Military Commissar, please look at this plan, is there anything that needs to be improved?" ”

Lobachev took the plan, sat at the table and read it carefully from beginning to end, then nodded and said: "Comrade commander, you have gained a lot of good experience in combat practice in the past few months, and now the experience you have summed up has been written into this plan. I am sure that General Konev, after reading it, will definitely promote your experience on the entire front. ”

Rokossovsky smiled modestly at Lobachev's appreciation, and then asked: "Is there anything that needs to be changed or added?" ”

"No, no, there's nothing to add." Lobachev shook his head and said: "I think you wrote very comprehensively, took into account all the problems that should be considered, and even formulated a series of solutions specifically for these possible problems. I don't think it's just me, even if I change someone else, I guess I can't find any mistakes. ”

"Well, Comrade Military Commissar, since you also said that this plan is feasible, then I will immediately send someone to the command of the Front, General Konev is still waiting for this plan." After Rokossovsky finished speaking, he handed the plan to Malinin and instructed him: "Chief of staff, immediately send an operational staff officer to send this plan to the headquarters of the Front." ”

Malinin took the plan, encapsulated it in a document bag, and then called a staff officer and instructed him: "Comrade lieutenant, you rushed to the headquarters of the front army overnight and handed this document to the chief of operations of the headquarters. ”

The staff officer took the file bag, raised his hand and saluted, then turned and walked out of the headquarters.

Looking at the back of the departing staff officer, Lobachev suddenly turned his head and asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, how long have we not seen General Lukin?" ”

Rokossovsky thought for a moment and replied: "I don't think I have seen him since he was wounded while directing troops to cross the river by the Vopi River, and I don't know what the extent of his injuries is. ”

"Anyway, there's no war now, let's go see how he is?" Lobachev looked at Rokossovsky and said: "Besides, our defense zone and his 19th Army have many connections, and I think it is necessary for the commander of the army group to personally go out and establish contact with them." ”

"No problem." In fact, even if Lobachev didn't say anything, Rokossovsky wanted to see Lukin. Although the Germans will not attack for the time being, after they have eliminated the Southwestern Front in Kiev, they will launch a full-scale offensive against the Western Front, and the scale of this offensive will be greater than any previous one. Therefore, after establishing the necessary contacts with friendly and neighboring forces, it is necessary to be able to support each other in future battles. So he pushed the boat and said: "Tomorrow at dawn, we will set off for the 19th Army, visit our old friend General Lukin, and establish contact with his troops by the way." ”

When he set off early the next morning, in addition to Lobachev, he also specially brought the head of artillery Kazakov and the head of the armored corps Orel. In this way, when he and Lukin discussed and coordinated their actions, they could also conduct comprehensive exchanges between the various arms of the two armies at the same time. In addition, he had one of the most important considerations, that after the establishment of the relationship, there would be several other high-level commanders who could understand the well-negotiated and coordinated actions of the two sides. Even if he is transferred in the future, this connection between the two armies can continue to be maintained.

Due to the large number of people and the presence of guards, they were divided into two jeeps. Rokossovsky and Lobachev's cars were in front, followed by Kazakov and Orel's.

As the jeep passed through the city, Lobachev looked at the pedestrians on the sidewalks on both sides of the street and could not help but say with emotion: "Comrade commander, you see, as soon as the front is stabilized, the residents who originally left the city have returned. I really hope that the war will end sooner and they can settle down. ”

Rokossovsky frowned as he looked at the pedestrians walking back and forth on the side of the road, fearing that if the Germans bombed again, they would cause huge casualties among the residents. Thinking of this, he asked angrily: "Comrade Military Commissar, why did these residents come back from the field so quickly?" ”

"I see." Lobachev turned his head to look at Rokossovsky and said: "Many of them did not evacuate to the safety of the rear city, but simply hid in the nearby countryside or in the forest. You also know that if you stay in those places for ten days and half a month, you probably won't have any problems. But it was obviously unrealistic to stay indefinitely, so when they heard that the Germans had been driven out of Yaltsevo and that the battle line had stabilized, the inhabitants called on their friends to help the old and the young to return to the city and continue with their familiar ordinary life. ”

The jeep drove through the city for more than half an hour before coming to the town where the headquarters of the 19th Army was located. The soldiers on duty at the checkpoint at Zhenkou saw two jeeps driving towards them, hurriedly came out of the sentry box, walked to the middle of the road, and waved to stop.

Rokossovsky asked the driver to park the car just a few meters away from the fighters, then pushed the door open, revealing half of his body, and asked the fighters: "Comrade fighters, where is the headquarters of your army group?" ”

The soldier glanced at the rank on Rokossovsky's collar badge, hurriedly stood up and saluted, then bent down, turned sideways, pointed ahead, and said: "Comrade General, look along this street, turn left at the second junction, and you will see a three-story building, where the headquarters of the army group is located." ”

"Thank you, comrade warrior." Thanking the fighters, Rokossovsky casually closed the door and instructed the driver: "Drive!" "When the car restarted and continued to move forward, there were already fighters who lifted the crossbar in the middle of the road in order to allow the jeep to pass smoothly.

At the entrance to the building stood several fighters with submachine guns on their shoulders. Seeing the two jeeps parked at the door, two generals, a colonel, and a military commissar got down, after all, political workers are very easy to identify. A soldier standing at the door hurriedly turned his head and shouted inside: "Comrade commander, there are two senior commanders here. ”

With his shout, an elderly major stepped out of the door. He stepped forward to greet Rokossovsky, raised his hand and saluted, and asked politely: "Comrade General, may I ask you something?" ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand and returned the salute, and replied with a smile: "Hello, Comrade Major. I am Rokossovsky, commander of the 16th Army, I have come to visit General Lukin, where is he? ”

"It turned out to be General Rokossovsky!" The major's face was full of smiles, and he said politely: "Comrade Commander is in his office, and I will take you there." ”

The group, led by the major, walked into the building where the headquarters of the army group was located and walked along the corridor towards the inside. Halfway through, Rokossovsky tentatively asked the major: "Comrade Major, how is General Lukin's injuries?" ”

"What else?!" The major shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly: "Although the military doctor has undergone surgery, his recovery is very slow, and now not only can he not walk far, but even if he stands for a while, he can't stand it." ”

When Rokossovsky walked into Lukin's office, Lukin, who was busy, looked up at the group of people who had come in, and a blank expression appeared on his face. But after a few moments, he recognized Rokossovsky, immediately got up from his seat, picked up the cane leaning against the table, limped around the desk, shook hands with Rokossovsky, and said happily: "Hello, Comrade Rokossovsky, welcome to my 19th Army. ”

When shaking hands with Lobachev, Lukin also pulled him hard, took the other party into his arms, hugged him vigorously, and said with mixed feelings: "Old man, I saw you again, I thought I would never have a chance to see you again in my life." ”

Lobachev slapped Lukin the back a few times, and said equally excitedly: "Yes, I didn't expect that we would meet again alive one day." ”

After the two sides were seated, Lukin asked Rokossovsky with some surprise: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I don't know what is the matter with you coming here today?" ”

"That's right, General Lukin." Rokossovsky smiled and said: "After changing the defense area, our 16th Army will be connected to your 19th Army in many areas, in order to better coordinate operations in battle, so we are here to establish contact with you." ”

Lukin figured out Rokossovsky's intention, and struggled to stand up, but was stopped by Rokossovsky: "General Lukin, you still have a wound on your leg, if you have anything to say, you don't need to stand up." ”

Lukin casually pulled the map on the table, spread it on his knees, pointed to the defense area of himself and the 16th Army, and said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you see, our defense areas are bordering on these sections, and no matter who is attacked by the enemy, we can provide support to the other side in time. The only thing I'm worried about now is our ...... to the north."

"Your north?" Rokossovsky looked in the direction of his finger and saw that it was the defense area of the 30th Army, so he asked tentatively: "Are you worried that the troops of the 30th Army in the north will not be able to stop the possible attack of the German army?" ”

"That's right, that's right, Comrade Rokossovsky." Lukin said with a serious expression: "According to our recent reconnaissance, the German troops are moving frequently in the area, and there seems to be signs of an attack, which should cause us to be vigilant enough." ”

"The commander of the 30th Army is ......" Rokossovsky hesitated for a moment before remembering the name of the commander of the army, and hurriedly continued: "It's General Khomenko, did you give him a warning?" ”

"Yes, I had a phone call with him today to remind him that he should closely monitor the movements of the German army." Lu Jin said with a sad face: "But his reminder to me doesn't seem to have attracted the necessary attention. ”

While Rokossovsky and Lukin were discussing possible directions for the German offensive, Konev was reading Rokossovsky's battle plan at the headquarters of the Western Front. When he read the whole plan from beginning to end, he snorted heavily, then punched the table and scolded viciously: "Ridiculous, just ridiculous! ”

His actions startled Bulganin, who was sitting next to him. Seeing that the new commander of the Front Army was angry, the military commissar cautiously asked: "Comrade commander, what's the matter, what caused you to be so angry?" ”

"What else could it be, of course, this battle plan submitted by Rokossovsky." Konev pointed to the plan on the table and said angrily: "Look, what did he write? ”

Bulganin picked up the plan, read it carefully, and found nothing worthy of anger, so he asked puzzledly: "Comrade commander, I don't see anything wrong in this plan?" ”

"Look here," Konev said to Bulganin after turning a few pages, pointing to the contents, "Rokossovsky actually laid down the terms of how the German troops should retreat after breaking through our defenses, which is obviously defeatist rotation, which is intolerable. ”

Bulganin, as a political cadre, was a layman in military affairs, and he did not rashly express his opinion on things that he was not familiar with, but cautiously asked: "Then what are you going to do?" ”

After walking back and forth in the house with his hands behind his back a few times, Konev stopped, looked at Bulganin and said: "In order to prevent the Germans from breaking through our defensive lines, I feel it necessary to emphasize to Rokossovsky that even if the battle is fought to the last soldier, the Germans must not be allowed to move forward." I intend for him to hand over the Vyazma defense area to other units, and then deploy all his forces along the Vopi River to Yaltsevo, resolutely resist the German offensive, and strictly order him not to take a step back without the permission of the Front Command. (To be continued.) )