Immediately after the end of the battle, the results were reported to Rokossovsky. Pen ~ fun ~ www.biquge.info after hearing Orlov's report, he just said lightly: "Comrade Colonel, please send someone to escort Comrade Borisova, the regimental political commissar of the Jewish Regiment, to my headquarters." ”

As soon as he put down the phone, Lobachev next to him asked with concern: "Comrade commander, how is the situation?" Will the attack leave the enemy standing behind the wheel? ”

"Knocked back." Rokossovsky huffed: "Judging from the current situation, the enemy is passing through the defense zone of the 19th Army from the north, that is, they have found a section to cross the Woppi River. Although it is only a small army that has crossed over today, it may be their torrent of steel that will come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. ”

"Well, it can't be helped." Although Lobachev also had an opinion about the 19th Army in his heart, believing that they would not be able to find the enemy who had crossed his defensive line, when he thought of his identity, he felt that he could not say anything that would undermine unity, so he avoided the important and said lightly: "With the current strength of our Western Front, it is very difficult to hold a defensive front that is 300 kilometers wide, so it is inevitable that there will be loopholes in the defensive line." ”

"Chief of Staff." Rokossovsky called Malinin in front of him and instructed: "Since the enemy has successfully passed through the line of defense of the 19th Army once, there will inevitably be a second and third time, so we must also deploy defensive forces in the section facing the north." The new defensive area should be built in the area of Huirang Station. Do you understand? ”

After looking at the place pointed out by Rokossovsky, Malinin looked up and said: "Comrade commander, you should know that because our three divisions have suffered too many losses in the previous few days' fighting, even if we fortify near the Huirang Station, we can deploy very limited troops. ”

"Yes, I know." Rokossovsky said impatiently: "Even if the number of troops is limited, it must be here, otherwise the large German forces will pass through the defense line of the 19th Army and make a detour to the vicinity of the Huirang station again, in which case the 108th Infantry Division, deployed on the banks of the Wopi River, will be cut off by the enemy and encircled." ”

"Maybe we should get in touch with General Konev," Malinin said tentatively after waiting for Rokossovsky to finish, "If they can plug the holes in the defensive line, we can also relieve some of the pressure." ”

Rokossovsky thought about Malinin's proposal, and although he felt that it was unlikely that Konev would plug the hole in the defensive line, he should still make an attempt. So he immediately put the communications corps into Konev's command.

Hearing Konev's voice coming out of the earpiece, Rokossovsky immediately said politely: "Hello, Ivan Stepanovich! ”

"It turned out to be Comrade Rokossovsky," Konev was also surprised when he suddenly received a call from Rokossovsky, and he asked curiously: "You called me at this time, is there anything important?" ”

Rokossovsky did not go around in circles with him, but said bluntly: "That's right, Comrade Konev, in a few hours a small group of the enemy passed in your direction, detoured back to our right flank and launched an attack on the Huirang station. ”

"What, the Germans will give way when they arrive?" Since the Huijiao station was the only way to the 19th Army, Konev was especially nervous as soon as he heard that there was an attack here: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I don't know where you got the information?" You know, I didn't hear any rumors, is it true, it can't be a rumor deliberately spread by German spies, right? ”

"This is the information that Sergeant Vaskov, the leader of the anti-aircraft machine-gun platoon standing in the defense club, reported layer by layer after being warned by Comrade Borisova, the political commissar of the Jewish Mission, and seeing the Germans with his own eyes, absolutely cannot be wrong."

Rokossovsky's words made Konev panic, he knew very well that once the station was occupied by the Germans, then the trains transporting arms and supplies would no longer be able to reach his own defense zone, so he nervously asked: "Have you taken any measures?" ”

"We sent an infantry company and a tank brigade to reinforce the station." From Konev's tone, Rokossovsky could tell that he was particularly nervous about the gains and losses of the Huirang Station, "After a fierce battle, the Huirang Station was held, and all the invading enemies were destroyed." ”

Relieved to hear that the German offensive would allow the operation of the station to fail, Konev emotionally said to Rokossovsky: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Rokossovsky. I really don't know how to thank you, knowing that if the Germans occupy the concession, they will cut off our supply lines. Once such a situation arises, our group army will have to choose to retreat due to lack of food and ammunition. ”

"Comrade General," Rokossovsky thought for a moment, then said, "I suggest that you send men at once, but investigate, to see from where the enemy is slipping in from your line, and to send troops to plug this gap as soon as possible, lest more enemies pour in from here in the future." ”

Unexpectedly, after listening to this, Konev sighed: "Alas, Comrade Rokossovsky, do you know that my troops suffered heavy casualties in the counteroffensive in the previous two days, and there are currently no surplus troops for front-line deployment, otherwise there would be no holes in our defensive line." ”

After hearing this, Rokossovsky couldn't help but smile bitterly, and said in his heart that if you let your troops cooperate with us that night, if you can't completely annihilate the surrounded motorized division, at least you can inflict heavy losses on it, and you will not be attacked by the superior German forces when you withdraw the siege the next day, which will lead to the almost total annihilation of the assault force. But these words, you can think about it in your heart, but you must not say it.

He coughed lightly, and then said: "General Konev, the concession is equivalent to the throat of your 19th Army, if the Germans are allowed to choke you, then the rest of the battle will not be fought." Since you can't send troops to fill the loopholes in the front, I can only send troops to the retreat to strengthen the defenses there. ”

Seeing Rokossovsky put down the phone expressionlessly, Malinin couldn't help but be a little anxious: "Comrade commander, since everything is related to the life and death of the 19th Army, why can't they send troops to set up defenses, but they have to let us send troops to build defenses?" ”

"Chief of Staff, I see what you mean." Seeing the indignant Malinin, Rokossovsky patiently explained to him: "If we don't send troops to defend the concession, once it is captured by the Germans, not only will the transport lines of the 19th Army be cut off, but the flanks of our army will also be threatened by the enemy." In order to prevent these two possibilities, we must send troops to the garrison, not only to help our allies, but also to help ourselves. ”

Rokossovsky's words obviously convinced Malinin, and after hesitating for a moment, he asked again: "I don't know where we should transfer our troops to the point where we will build a new defense?" Fearing that his proposal would be misunderstood by Rokossovsky, he hurriedly added, "If there are fewer men, it will not be possible to stop the German attack; And if we send more people, it will inevitably affect our defense forces in other directions, after all, our current forces are too limited. ”

"Now in the garrison, there is an infantry company and a tank brigade," Rokossovsky said slowly, staring at the map in front of him, "It is definitely not enough to defend with this little force." Therefore, I intend to transfer a battalion of the Jewish regiment stationed in Vyazma to defend here. ”

"What, Jewish Order?" Malinin's eyes widened in surprise when he heard Rokossovsky say this, and he was deeply afraid that Rokossovsky would not be able to figure out the current situation of the Jewish Mission, and kindly reminded him: "Comrade Commander, you must know that the Jewish Regiment has not been formed for a long time, and the soldiers are all recruits who have not participated in the battle, and I am afraid that they will be frightened and panicked when they hear the gunshots." ”

"Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry about this." Lobachev interjected: "Some time ago, Comrade Commander was in the Jewish Regiment and had a training session for courage. I believe that when these Jewish warriors go into battle, they will never be nervous again if they fire two shots at the rushing enemy. When the battle is over, they can be considered old soldiers. Comrade commander, do you think I'm right? ”

"That's right, Comrade Military Commissar." Rokossovsky looked at Lobachev and said with a smile: "You are right, I believe that the commanders and fighters of the Jewish Regiment will definitely surprise us on the battlefield. ”

Seeing that the transfer of the Jewish delegation to the garrison had become an ironclad matter, Malinin no longer raised any objections, and asked respectfully: "Do you need me to call Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov and ask him to come here for a mission?" ”

"Don't bother." Rokossovsky waved his hand, vetoed Malinin's proposal, and continued: "I have just given Orlov an order to send someone to escort Borisova to the headquarters. I think that the troops stationed in the Willinghouse will be unified with Comrade Borisova in the future. ”

"But, Comrade Commander." Hearing Rokossovsky's order, Lobachev did not say anything, but Malinin hurriedly expressed his different opinion: "You know, there has never been a precedent for a woman to command a troop in our army. ”

"Just because there was no precedent before doesn't mean it can't now." Rokossovsky said resolutely: "As long as there are capable people, whether they are men or women, in my troops, there is a chance to become a commander in his own right." Well, Chief of Staff, you hurry up and call Orlov and Lemizov and tell them that the troops that are going to be reinforced, will not be rebuilt for the time being. ”

When Malinin went to call, Lobachev asked Rokossovsky in a low voice: "Comrade commander, have you really decided to put Borisova in charge of commanding the troops of the headquarters?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." Hearing this, Rokossovsky immediately replied in the affirmative: "That's how I think about it." ”

"But have you ever thought about it," Lobachev looked left and right, and seeing that everyone was busy, and no one noticed him, he continued: "Isn't it too risky for you to let a woman with no combat experience take command of an army independently?" ”

"No," Rokossovsky said confidently, "since she was known for her ability when she worked in the region, I believe she would have done well in the army." ”

"Comrade Commander, haven't you heard that interlacing is like separating mountains?" Lobachev tried hard to persuade Rokossovsky to change his mind: "Just because she was competent in local work does not mean that she can do just as well in the army." I think it would be appropriate for her to be the political commissar of the regiment and be in charge of some propaganda and agitation work, but as for the military aspect, I really don't like it, so I suggest you think about it carefully. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar." Rokossovsky did not want to have any dispute with Lobachev about Borisova's appointment, after all, the two would have to work together for a long time in the future, so he said euphemistically: "We can try first, and if we think she is not suitable, we can replace someone else." ”

"Well, since that's the case, then do as you say." Seeing that Rokossovsky always insisted on his point of view, Lobachev, who was also unwilling to quarrel with him, had to stop fighting, but after he finished speaking, he muttered in a low voice: "Your relationship with Borisova is spreading in the army, but you don't seem to care at all that it will affect your future." ”

Rokossovsky did not hear Lobachev's muttering, for he had already called Kazakov over at this moment, and the two of them began to study on the map where to place an artillery battalion that could provide artillery support to the defenders there in the event of a major attack by the enemy.

No sooner had the two men chosen a new artillery position than a soldier came in to report that the regimental commissar of the Jewish Regiment had arrived. As soon as Rokossovsky heard this, he immediately ordered: "Quick, invite her in!" ”

After Borisova came in and had a brief greeting, Lobachev couldn't wait to ask about the results.

Borisova replied with a serious expression: "Report to Comrade Military Commissar, in the battle for the defense of the requirement, we attacked and destroyed two German tanks and five armored vehicles, killed 51 enemies and captured 29 people. ”

"That's a good result." After listening to this, Lobachev turned to Rokossovsky and said, "It is really very good to be able to achieve such a result in such a small place." ”

After hearing this, Rokossovsky only nodded slightly, and then said to Borisova: "And what about the casualties of our army?" (To be continued.) )