Half an hour later, outside the Zhytomyr garrison headquarters, the lights became bright, and one by one the trolleys belonging to the army or the local authorities drove into the wide parking lot.

Commanders at all levels came, and local leaders in civilian clothes also came. The people who walked into the room had panicked and surprised looks on their faces, and they searched the room with anxious eyes, hoping to see one or two acquaintances who had arrived first, and to inquire from them what had happened.

But the acquaintances who came before them were just as confused as they were, and had no idea why the garrison commander had suddenly called such a meeting in the early hours of the morning. In response to their friends' inquiring glances, they could only shrug their shoulders and spread their hands to answer each other silently.

After the newcomer sat down, he wanted to inquire about the situation with someone of higher rank than himself, but when he saw Rokossovsky sitting in the center with a black face, and the political worker next to him, who was obviously the leader of the military district, he obediently closed his mouth and waited patiently for the meeting to begin.

Vasily, the leader of the city party committee, also came, and he walked to his seat with ease. When he was seated, he was surprised to find that the person sitting in the middle was actually a military commissar of the military region. When he shook hands with Vashukin, he asked in a friendly tone: "Comrade Vashukin, why are you here?" ”

"Comrade Vasily, tonight's meeting will be chaired by Comrade Vashukin." As soon as Vasily's words fell, Rokossovsky hurriedly replied.

"Is there anything important?" Vasily asked in surprise.

"We received an order from Moscow that the Germans could be on the border in the early hours of this morning, carrying out an armed provocation against us." "This is why this emergency meeting was convened with the intention of quickly alerting the troops to the battle and mobilizing the citizens to build fortifications in the city," Vashukin said to the familiar city leader, in order to quickly alert the troops to battle and mobilize the citizens to build fortifications in the city. ”

"Wait a minute, Comrade Vashukin, it's impossible, right?" Vasily was afraid of being heard by the people next to him, so he lowered his voice and said: "Our army deployed in Ukraine is the most powerful army in the world, as long as the Germans are not stupid, they will never dare to provoke us easily." ”

"Whether it's true or not, wait a little longer, you'll know." After saying this, Vashukin sat back in his seat, leaned back, and began to close his eyes and recuperate, and no longer bothered Vasily. Neglected, Vasily cast an inquiring glance at Rokossovsky, who nodded at him expressionlessly, indicating that what had just been said was true.

When Kamenev came in from outside, he saw that the conference room was full. He walked over to the vacant seat next to Rokossovsky and sat down, and asked in a whisper when the meeting would begin.

"Wait." Rokossovsky did not raise his head, and replied simply: "Wait until the chief of staff returns." ”

Kamenev turned his attention to Vashukin again, wanting to ask him when the meeting would begin, but saw that the other party was leaning back in the chair and closing his eyes, as if he did not want to take care of himself, so he had to sit honestly in his place and wait patiently for Rokossovsky to announce the beginning of the meeting.

Maslov, as Rokossovsky spoke, was staying in the telecommunications room with Putukhin, waiting to receive calls back from the airfields on the border. He looked at the narrow telegram in Putukhin's hand that he had just received, and asked nervously: "Comrade Putukhin, have all the airports been called back?" ”

Putukhin counted the telegrams in his hand, shook his head and said, "There are two other airports that have not heard back. After speaking, he instructed the operator: "Send a telegram to the two airfields that have not replied, telling them that they are in a hurry, and that they must transfer the planes from the airfield to a nearby field airfield before three o'clock in the morning and hide them." ”

"Yes, Comrade General." The telegraph operator wearing headphones agreed, and began to tick in his hand again.

When the wall clock on the wall of the conference room struck three o'clock, Vashugin opened his eyes and said to Rokossovsky, who was next to him: "It's almost time, let's have a meeting." ”

Rokossovsky nodded, then tapped his fingers twice on the table, and after seeing that everyone's attention was being drawn, he stood up and loudly announced: "Comrades, we have a meeting. When the room fell silent, he continued, "Now I invite Comrade Vashukin, a member of the Military Council of the Kiev Special Military District, to speak, everyone is welcome." With that, he took the lead in applauding.

Vashukin stood up amid a round of applause, looked around, raised his hands and pressed down. But when silence returned to the room, Vashukin did not speak, but looked slowly around the people present. Rokossovsky thinks Vashukin may be thinking about how to explain the dangerous situation to those present.

After a long time, Vashugin finally began to speak, "Comrades, I have summoned you here for a meeting today because I have important news to tell you. To tell you the truth, a few hours ago we received a report from the border that a German soldier had surrendered to our border guards that the Germans would wage war against us in the early hours of this morning. And two hours ago, we received another order from Moscow for the military districts to immediately alert the troops for battle and to make all combat readiness......"

Rokossovsky couldn't help but be taken aback when he heard Vashukin say the content of the German soldiers' surrender, because this involved secrets and could not be leaked to outsiders casually. But on second thought, Vashukin said this, maybe he was really persuaded by himself to know that war was inevitable, and the reason why he said this to everyone was also to make everyone pay attention.

After Vashugin sat down, the whole conference room suddenly became as lively as a vegetable market, and it was really difficult for people who had been in peacetime for a long time to hear this news suddenly. Moreover, now the war has not yet broken out, everything is still just an inference. Therefore, Rokossovsky heard someone even saying: "...... It is also possible that this battle will not be fought at all. ”

Rokossovsky felt angry at these lucky words, but before the official outbreak of the war, even in his and Vashukin's identities, there were still doubts about what he said, so he decided to remain silent for the time being, waiting for the news of the outbreak of the war to come before officially raising the battle alert to the troops.

The highest-ranking people sat in their places like wooden chickens, not saying a word. The commanders and local cadres who attended the meeting below, without restraint, were talking loudly about what they had just heard.

As the clock ticked by, the door to the conference room was pushed open when the clock on the wall pointed to 3:40. From the beginning of the meeting until now, Maslov, who had not been seen, appeared at the door. Although neither Rokossovsky nor Vashukin spoke, they were always thinking about the military situation, so they both glanced at the door from time to time. As soon as they saw Maslov appear at the door, the two of them said at the same time: "It's finally here!" ”

As soon as Maslov appeared, the conference room fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on the general who had just walked in. Maslov walked up to Vashukin and Rokossovsky, handed over a narrow roll of telegram rolled in a circle in his hand, and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Military Commissar, Comrade Commander, this is a telegram from Lieutenant Colonel Tarukin of the Peremyshli Border Guards, ten minutes ago, the Germans began a fierce shelling of their defense area, and the shelling continues. ”

The news was like a handful of salt sprinkled in a hot pan of oil, and it exploded. After quickly reading the contents of the telegram, Vashukin handed it to Rokossovsky, slammed his fist on the table a few times, and shouted: "Quiet, quiet!" Please pay attention to who you are and be quiet! ”

When calm returned to the room, Rokossovsky had finished reading the telegram, he turned his face to Vashukin next to him and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, this is war!" It seems that the battle alarm can be raised to the whole army. ”

Vashukin nodded and said softly to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you are the commander of the Ninth Mechanized Army, and it is up to you to carry out the matter of issuing a battle alert to the troops." ”

Just as Rokossovsky was about to stand up, Kamenev, who was next to him, said inappropriately: "Comrade commander, isn't it a little too early to send a battle alert to the whole army now, I think we should still wait for the order of the superiors." ”

Rokossovsky, glancing at him with contempt, said to himself: "This is war, and every minute is precious for us." With that, he straightened up and began to give orders to the commanders present.

"Colonel Kalinin, commander of the 131st motorized division!"

"Here!" Kalinin, who was called by name, immediately stood up from his seat and straightened up.

"You take the troops to the bus terminal, and the military representatives at the station have prepared 72 buses for you, all of which are full, and you can get on the buses and set off." Rokossovsky dictated the order: "You march along the road to Rivni and Lutsk, with the final goal being Kowell, and build strong fortifications there. ”

"But the troops are running low on ammunition, Comrade Commander." Kalinin said with a sad face.

"You don't have to worry about this," Rokossovsky said, "fifteen kilometers west of Zhytomyr, there is a newly deployed armory, where you can get the ammunition you need. ”

"Major General Novikov, commander of the 35th tank division." Rokossovsky then shouted. Hearing his name, Novikov quickly got up from his seat, stood upright, and prepared to receive orders.

"Your division marched to Cowell at the same time as the motorized 131st Division, and one more regiment was sent to the defense warehouse outside the city to receive the T-34 and KV tanks stored in the warehouse, and arm your troops."

"But Comrade Commander," Novikov asked worriedly, hearing Rokossovsky's words, "without the permission of the State Defense Committee, our troops do not have the right to enter the warehouse area." ”

"Comrade General, I have received authorization from the Chief of the General Staff, General Zhukov." Rokossovsky continued: "As soon as war breaks out, our Ninth Mechanized Corps will be able to receive the much-needed weapons and equipment from the defense warehouses it has taken over, according to its own needs. ”

After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Novikov's face was about to burst into laughter, and he immediately replied without hesitation: "Yes, I promise to complete the task!" ”

Next to receive the task is the 20th Tank Division. But Rokossovsky couldn't help but sigh secretly when he didn't see Katukov, only his deputy division commander, Colonel Chernyaev. "Colonel Chernyaev!"

"Here!" The colonel, whose name was called, answered loudly, then stood up and stared intently at Rokossovsky, waiting for him to give the order.

"Comrade Colonel, first send your anti-aircraft artillery battalion to the plain between Rivne and Lutsk to build anti-aircraft artillery positions." Rokossovsky thought that there was no concept of concentrated fire at this time, and hurriedly seized the time to popularize science to him: "Remember, let the anti-aircraft gunners line up every three guns into a small triangle, nine guns form a large triangle, and 27 anti-aircraft guns of a battalion can form exactly three such large triangles." In this way, the density of fire was ensured regardless of the direction from which the German planes flew. Got it? ”

Chernyaev frowned and thought for a moment, then with a look of surprise on his face, he nodded vigorously and agreed loudly: "Understood, Comrade Commander." ”

"Also, you send another regiment to a nearby farm to collect enough tractors with the cooperation of local comrades." Seeing Chernyaev's dazed look, Rokossovsky had to explain: "For the towing of artillery." ”

Then he turned his head to Vasily, who was sitting on his right, and said: "Comrade Vasily, your task is to quickly become a militia in the various enterprise units and organize citizens to build fortifications in the city. Also, our troops guarding the armory around the city may be withdrawn one after another, and you must quickly send out militia to take over the defense. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade General." After Vasily said this, a look of embarrassment appeared on his face again, "Can you send an instructor to help us train the militia units?" ”

"Comrade Vasily, I will leave the 32nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Vajim behind." Rokossovsky gestured to Vajim's location and continued: "In addition to the defense of the city, they will also carry out the work of recruiting troops and helping you train the militia. ”

After explaining all the tasks, Rokossovsky's eyes swept over everyone present, and then he said loudly: "Everyone immediately go back and prepare, and the troops of the divisions will leave on time at five o'clock." Meeting! ”