In the Russian summer, the day always dawns early. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoIt was just five o'clock in the morning, and the sun was already hanging in the sky.

Borisova, who had been left by Rokossovsky to rest in a civilian house near the headquarters, walked out of the villagers' cabins after a brief wash, and was about to go to the headquarters to ask if the nine Jewish youths sent yesterday had returned.

Before she could close the door, a soldier ran towards her along the village's potholed dirt road. When coming to her, the fighter stopped, raised his hand to his forehead and said: "Comrade Borisova, good morning!" ”

"Hello, comrade warrior." Borisova smiled at the young soldier and asked politely: "Did Comrade Commander call you here?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Borisova." The young fighter hastened to reply: "Comrade Commander is waiting for you in the command headquarters." ”

As the two were walking towards the headquarters, Borisova tentatively asked the soldiers: "Is it your Lieutenant Colonel Travkin's squad that has returned?" ”

"It's Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov." The soldier hurriedly corrected him and said, "The small detachment he led just returned to the headquarters ten minutes ago. That's why Comrade Commander asked me to see if you had woken up. If you wake up, please go to the headquarters immediately, he has important matters to discuss with you. ”

In a few moments, Borisova came to the door of the headquarters, thanked the fighters, and walked straight in. As soon as she entered, she saw Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov reporting something to Rokossovsky.

Seeing Borisova enter the door, Rokossovsky hurriedly raised his hand to stop Tarasov, who was reporting, beckoned Borisova to sit down, raised his head and instructed Tarasov: "Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov, Comrade Borisova has just arrived, I didn't hear what you said earlier, please repeat what you just said to her again." ”

Borisova knew that Rokossovsky said this, and was sure that there was a very important task to be handed over to her next, so she sat down and quietly Tarasov's report: "...... I led the detachment on a motorbike to the Wapi River, down the river, to a village. After entering, we did not find any trace of the villagers, and after our search, we finally found them in the corner of the threshing floor. But all of them were dead, they were gathered together by the Germans and machine-gunned to death. With the help of a young Jewish man from the village, he was able to find the bodies of his aunt and two cousins from the corpse team. He was so emotionally uncontrollable that he knelt in front of the corpse and cried......"

Hearing Tarasov say this, Borisova couldn't help but ask Rokossovsky in a low voice: "Comrade General, I don't understand why you took these Jewish youths to see the scene of the massacre of the Germans?" ”

After listening to Borisova's questions, Rokossovsky just said lightly: "Don't be impatient, listen to the lieutenant colonel." ”

Tarasov continued: "...... After burying the bodies of the villagers, we headed for another village a few kilometers away. Since they had seen the tragic situation of the previous village, they were mentally prepared when they entered the village.

We searched around the village and searched the threshing floor and all the houses, but we found no one. Later, a soldier accidentally noticed that there was something unusual about a piece of land on the edge of the village, and looked for tools to dig it up, and it was densely buried with unclothed corpses. After careful identification, we can confirm that these are the missing villagers. ……”

When the curious Borisova heard this, she couldn't help but ask again: "Comrade General, why are the corpses undressed?" Where did all their clothes go? ”

The first thing that came to Rokossovsky's mind at this moment was that the hordes of Jews took off all their clothes in the locker room before entering the gas chambers, and then unknowingly sent them to the gas chambers to be poisoned. The bodies found in the village were undressed, and it must have been the Germans who had made them take off their clothes before killing them. Thinking of this, he whispered to Borisova: "According to what I know, the Germans must have let the villagers dig their own pits, and then let them take off their clothes and stand on the edge of the pits. ”

"These damned fascist bandits are simply not human, not even unarmed ordinary people." Borisova indignantly scolded: "We should shoot every fascist bandit we caught." ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Borisova." Rokossovsky raised his hand and gently patted Borisova on the shoulder, saying: "Sooner or later, there will be a day when we will ask them for blood debt." ”

Ignoring the fact that Tarasov had not finished speaking, Borisova abruptly stood up from her seat, looked down at Rokossovsky and asked: "Comrade General, I don't know what I can do for you." ”

Rokossovsky stood up and said to her with a smile: "Very simply, Comrade Borisova, you take these young Jews who have seen the brutality of the German army back to their respective villages, and let them tell the farmer what he has seen with his own eyes." I believe that what they said is definitely more convincing than what you say to the villagers. ”

Lobachev, who had been listening silently, also interjected: "Comrade Borisova, we must make those bankers understand that joining our army is not only to defend our great Motherland, but also to fight for their own survival. Only when they understand this can the ****** you give them work as well as they should. ”

"I see, Comrade Military Commissar." Borisova nodded at Lobachev, then turned her head to look at Rokossovsky, and asked with a resolute expression: "Comrade General, have you allowed me to carry out the mission?" ”

"Go, Comrade Borisova. Take these young Jews back to the village, and let them tell their people what they have really seen, and I believe that they will make the right choice when they know the truth. After Rokossovsky finished saying his opinion, he ordered Tarasov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you should take the detachment and Comrade Borisova on a trip." ”

Tarasov immediately replied without hesitation: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I resolutely obey your orders. ”

After Tarasov and Borisova left, Lobachev, who was standing next to Rokossovsky and watched them leave, couldn't help but ask: "Comrade commander, I wonder how many soldiers Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov will be able to recruit from the farm this time?" ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar." Rokossovsky turned his head to look at Lobachev next to him, and said with a smile: "I think that through this matter, there should be no problem in recruiting a company of recruits in the village." If there is a company, I intend to have Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov take over as company commander first, and then expand his unit when new recruits are added later. ”

"Now that the war continues, I am worried that the troops will not have time to train at all." Lobachev asked a little unsteadily in his heart: "It would be good for such a unit to pull into the battlefield, face the enemy's artillery bombardment, and the speeding tanks, and not turn around and run away." ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, don't worry." Rokossovsky confidently said: "Since our three armies managed to jump out of the enemy's encirclement, in order for the enemy to launch a new offensive, there must be a process of preparation." And we can use this precious time to train the recruits. ”

Hearing that Rokossovsky the enemy would not attack in the short term, Lobachev could not help but ask curiously: "Comrade commander, I wonder how long you think the enemy will suspend the offensive?" ”

"At least a week." Although Rokossovsky vaguely remembered that in real history, the German offensive had stopped for ten days, but for the sake of safety, he only said it for a week.

And Lobachev heard that the German army would stop the offensive for at least a week or so, and his face suddenly showed a relaxed expression, and after he let out a long breath, he said: "If this is the case, it is really great." Comrade Commander, we can use this precious time to improve our existing defense system and train new soldiers. When the Germans attack again, they can be taught a hard lesson. ”

Rokossovsky called Malinin over and asked him: "Chief of Staff, what is the current state of recruitment in the divisions?" ”

After hearing this, Ma Linin shook his head and said with a little regret: "Since almost all the towns and villages in the defense area have been evacuated, it is difficult to carry out the conscription work. As far as I know, the divisions have generally recruited only 300 to 500 men at the moment. ”

"What about the commanders and fighters who have retired from the front?" After listening to Malinin's report, Lobachev asked with some unwillingness: "In the past, when Comrade Lukin was still the commander, we could contain at least 300 people a day, otherwise how could we hold out for so long near Smolensk with our two Transbaikal divisions." ”

"Comrade Military Commissar." Malinin hurriedly replied: "Although every day there are groups of commanders and fighters who have penetrated the holes in the German defense and entered our defense zone. However, many of them were taken over by our friendly forces, General Konev's 19th Army, and General Lukin's 20th Army. ”

Rokossovsky saw that Lobachev showed a trace of frustration on his face after listening to Malinin's report, and hurriedly comforted him and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, don't worry, although most of those commanders and fighters who have rich combat experience and have successfully crossed the German army have been accepted by friendly forces, it is not a bad thing for us. If the friendly forces are strong in battle, we don't have to worry about our flanks being exposed to the enemy. ”

After listening to this, Lobachev nodded and said approvingly: "Comrade commander, what you said is very reasonable. The strength of the friendly forces has been strengthened, not only to protect the flanks of our army, but also to help us when we are in trouble. ”

Borisova, who went to the Jewish village with Tarasov and the squad, called the command just after noon. Hearing Rokossovsky's voice, she said with some excitement: "Comrade General, your method is really fantastic. It turned out that when we entered the village, the villagers were still hiding from us. But after listening to what their own people had to say, they suddenly became emotional. Yesterday I had a hard time, and no one wanted to join the army. But now, I have a lot of applications in front of me, and even many young girls have asked to enlist in the army, hoping to take up arms to defend their hometowns like their fathers and brothers. ”

"Comrade Borisova, you did a good job." Rokossovsky was overjoyed to hear that the Jewish villagers were joining the army, and after praising Borisova, he continued: "Anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 who is in good health can be absorbed into the army." ”

"Do you want even a woman?" Borisova asked with some hesitation.

"Yes, yes." Rokossovsky smiled and said to her: "Why, Comrade Borisova, you have forgotten that among the recruits you sent yesterday, there were quite a few female fighters. When they are really on the battlefield, the performance of these female soldiers will definitely not be worse than that of male soldiers. Listen to me about this, as long as you are eligible, whether you are male or female, you can be recruited into the army. ”

When Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin excitedly said: "Comrade commander, this is wonderful. I estimate that Borisova will be able to recruit us at least 500 men this time, and we can organize these people into a Jewish battalion, and let Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov take the post of battalion commander. In the future, when the higher authorities have supplemented us with soldiers, we will expand them into regiments. ”

"Comrade Borisova, you did a good job." Rokossovsky was overjoyed to hear that the Jewish villagers were joining the army, and after praising Borisova, he continued: "Anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 who is in good health can be absorbed into the army." ”

"Do you want even a woman?" Borisova asked with some hesitation.

"Yes, yes." Rokossovsky smiled and said to her: "Why, Comrade Borisova, you have forgotten that among the recruits you sent yesterday, there were quite a few female fighters. When they are really on the battlefield, the performance of these female soldiers will definitely not be worse than that of male soldiers. Listen to me about this, as long as you are eligible, whether you are male or female, you can be recruited into the army. ”

When Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin excitedly said: "Comrade commander, this is wonderful. I estimate that Borisova will be able to recruit us at least 500 men this time, and we can organize these people into a Jewish battalion, and let Lieutenant Colonel Tarasov take the post of battalion commander. In the future, when the higher authorities have supplemented us with soldiers, we will expand them into regiments. (To be continued.) )