Not long after the end of the call with Kazakov, the fate of the 289th anti-tank regiment fell on the command of the 16th Army. The Germans www.biquge.info perhaps through dense radio waves, locked on to the location of Rokossovsky's headquarters, and sent twelve bombers to bomb it indiscriminately.

When the first bomb landed next to the newly built headquarters and exploded, the waves of air caused the dirt on the roof to fall down the cracks between the logs and onto everyone in the room.

Seeing this situation, Malinin shouted that it was not good, and hurriedly rushed to Rokossovsky and Lobachev, who were sitting at the table, grabbed one in one hand and dragged it out, shouting loudly as he dragged it back: "Commander, military commissar, it's too dangerous here, hurry up and hide." ”

"Chief of Staff, leave us alone." Rokossovsky broke free of Malinin's hand and shouted at him: "Immediately order all units of the command to temporarily stop work and immediately move to a safe place." ”

"Understood!" Malinin agreed, let go of Lobachev's hand, turned around and ran out of the temporary headquarters, to inform the other departments to hide immediately.

As soon as Malinin ran out, Rokossovsky immediately shouted at the staff officers and communications personnel who were still busy: "Air raid siren, everyone immediately find a place to hide." ”

With his shout, the staff officers and communications personnel in the room stopped their work, got up and ran out of the headquarters. Rokossovsky and Lobachev waited until everyone had left the house before finally running out.

The two ran out the door and saw that there was a mess outside, with firelight everywhere and crowds of people running around like headless flies. Rokossovsky stood at the door, shouting orders, trying to organize the transfer of everyone to a safe place. However, due to the loud explosion of the bomb, his voice could barely be heard except for the nearest personnel, and it was not heard at all in a slightly farther place.

Just as he was about to continue shouting, Malinin rushed in front of him with several soldiers from the guard battalion and shouted at him: "Comrade commander, it's too dangerous here, you better move as soon as possible." After shouting, he turned and ordered the soldiers who came with him, "You immediately escort the commander and the military commissar to a safe place." ”

As soon as Malinin's order was given, the fighters rushed forward and rushed deeper into the forest with Rokossovsky and Lobachev in their pockets.

……

The Germans bombarded indiscriminately over Rokossovsky's headquarters for more than half an hour before turning around and flying westward. Seeing the enemy plane flying away, Rokossovsky immediately ordered one of the fighters who escorted him and Lobachev over: "Comrade soldier, you immediately go to the chief of staff and ask him to hurry up and count our casualties." ”

"Yes!" The warrior agreed, jumped out of the hidden bomb shelter, and stooped towards the flames.

After more than ten minutes, Malinin, accompanied by several fighters, came to the place where Rokossovsky was hiding. Seeing that his chief of staff was coming, Rokossovsky stepped forward and grabbed him by the shoulder, and asked nervously: "Chief of staff, how is the situation in the departments of the command, are the losses big?" ”

"The Operations and Reconnaissance Services suffered huge losses," Malinin replied with some sadness, "and we lost half of our staff officers in the bombing. ”

"Comrade Commander, this place has been exposed." As soon as Lobachev waited for Malinin to finish speaking, he immediately said anxiously: "We can no longer stay here, we should immediately transfer the command." ”

"Where should we move our headquarters?" Rokossovsky did not object to Lobachev's suggestion, but asked with a frown: "It is not so easy to choose a new command in a hurry." ”

"Comrade Commander, I have an idea." Seeing that Rokossovsky was worried about the location of the new headquarters, Malinin hurriedly said: "We should move the headquarters of the army group to Novopetrovsky, this place is on the main Volokolamsk-Moscow highway. ”

"Why?" When Rokossovsky heard the place proposed by Malinin, he asked curiously: "Why did we choose the new command here?" ”

"Comrade commander, before the bombing of the headquarters, the reconnaissance department received a piece of information." Malinin said and handed a telegram in his hand to Rokossovsky: "The reason why I suggested this location is because the reconnaissance information sent back by Captain Yegor said that the enemy was amassing a large number of tanks on the left flank of our army. Obviously, we have our headquarters here, and it is more convenient from here to direct the troops that meet the enemy's main attack. ”

After listening to what Malinin said, Lobachev anxiously said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, it seems that the chief of staff has already taken into account everything that should be considered. Let's not delay any longer, let's go. ”

…………

By daybreak, the headquarters and subordinate units of the 16th Army were already settled in Novopetrovsky, and the headquarters was located in a neighboring village called Ustinovo. The chief of the signal corps, Colonel Maksimenko, commanded his fighters and, in the shortest possible time, restored communication between the headquarters and the units.

Just as the command was busy communicating with the troops below, Zhukov's call came in. As soon as he heard Rokossovsky's voice, he said angrily: "Comrade Rokossovsky, could you please explain to me why your command has been in a state of inability to contact since last night?" Even if I called the troops below you, they said they couldn't get in touch with you? ”

Rokossovsky knew Zhukov's character very well and knew that when he was talking, you would make him furious if you interrupted him. So he was patient, and after Zhukov finished speaking, he said unhurriedly: "Comrade Zhukov, the reason why you couldn't get in touch with us last night was because our headquarters was bombed by the Germans and had to be transferred!" ”

"What, you've been bombed by the Germans?" Zhukov was very surprised to hear the news, but his tone of voice was much softer: "How is it, are the casualties in the command large?" ”

"Our operations and reconnaissance services have suffered huge losses, with more than half of the casualties." Rokossovsky's tone became heavy when he thought of his comrades who died in the bombing: "It may have a bad effect on the next battle." ”

"Merge the two first, and then find a way to add them slowly." Zhukov also felt a headache about the losses suffered by the 16th Army, and now he has not many experienced staff officers, not even ordinary soldiers, and he can't help Rokossovsky at all, so he can only comfort him: "I will discuss with the General Staff as soon as possible, and ask them to send you more command or staff officers from military academies to strengthen your strength." ”

When Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin came over to him and asked for instructions: "Comrade commander, the losses of our operations and reconnaissance personnel are too great, which may affect the next work. What are we going to do? ”

"Chief of Staff, in the current situation, it is only possible to merge the two divisions first." Rokossovsky said helplessly: "And appoint a suitable person in charge to maintain the normal work." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Malinin nodded vigorously and said: "It seems that this is the only way to do, Comrade Commander, I will arrange it." ”

Malinin walked out of the command headquarters on the front foot, and Shaposhnikov's phone came in, and he asked Rokossovsky in a kind manner: "Comrade Rokossovsky, can you take the time to come to Moscow?" ”

Shaposhnikov's words startled Rokossovsky, and he thought to himself why did the chief of the General Staff call himself back to Moscow, is something big wrong? Thinking of this, he cautiously asked: "Comrade Marshal, may I ask you to let me go to Moscow, do you have any important official business?" ”

"Comrade Stalin wants to talk to you." Shaposhnikov said succinctly: "You hand over the affairs of the troops to your deputy as soon as possible, and then go to Moscow with your military commissar Lobachev." ”

Long after Shaposhnikov hung up, Rokossovsky was still holding the microphone in a daze. Seeing his expression, Lobachev asked curiously: "Comrade commander, what happened, why do you look like you are lost and depressed?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Military Commissar." Lobachev's words woke Rokossovsky from his musings, and after resting the microphone on the base of the phone, he spoke: "Marshal Shaposhnikov has just informed me to hand over the work in the troops to his deputy, and then rush back to Moscow with you. ”

"Let's rush back to Moscow together?" After Lobachev heard this, he also asked with a blank face: "Did Comrade Marshal say why he invited us back to Moscow?" ”

Rokossovsky shrugged his shoulders and said: "The marshal only said that the Supreme Commander himself wanted to meet us, and he did not elaborate on what it was. ”

Hearing that it was summoned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Lobachev couldn't hold his breath and urged Rokossovsky in a loud voice: "Comrade Commander, since it was the Supreme Commander himself who summoned us, what are you waiting for, then let's go immediately!" ”

"However, Comrade Chief of Staff is not there, and I will hand over the work of the headquarters to him." In the face of Lobachev's urging, Rokossovsky said with some embarrassment: "He just left, and it is estimated that he will come back after a while." ”

"Let's go, let's go!" Lobachev got up and pulled Rokossovsky and walked outside, saying impatiently as he went: "Anyway, we all know that he went to the combat department, so let's go there and find him, and hand over the work to him." (To be continued.) )