As soon as Katukov returned to his headquarters, the chief of staff who remained here greeted him and said to Katukov with a sigh of relief: "Comrade commander, you can come back. ”

Seeing this expression of the chief of staff, Katukov hurriedly asked: "Chief of staff, what's wrong?" ”

"I just received a telegram," the chief of staff handed a telegram in his hand to Katukov, and said in confusion: "The telegram ordered us that the next combat operations will continue to be carried out according to the original combat deployment!" Comrade commander, I don't quite understand what this telegram from the Front Army Command means, it seems that we have not adjusted any deployments? ”

Not to mention that the chief of staff was confused, even Katukov didn't understand what was going on, so he quickly took the telegram and read it carefully, and then looked up and asked the chief of staff: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you called back and asked what is going on?" ”

"Nope." The chief of staff shook his head and said: "We cannot discuss the orders of our superiors, we can only carry them out unconditionally." ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I have something to tell you." Katukov considered that his chief of staff did not go to the show with him and did not know about the reintegration of the troops, so he told the chief of staff about the imminent reintegration of the troops within a week, and finally said: "The headquarters of the front army suddenly received such a telegram, could it be that something has changed in the situation?" ”

"I don't think it's likely." The chief of staff grinned and said: "You know that Marshal Zhukov is a stubborn person, since the General Staff has set a time for the return of the building, then even if Rokossovsky asks, he will not agree to give the other side more time." ”

"It's weird." Katukov frowned and said: "If there is no adjustment to the time of the reconstruction, why did the front command come with such an inexplicable telegram?" No, I'm going to call and ask. ”

The phone was quickly connected, and as soon as Rokossovsky finished telling Subotin about the reason for his emergency meeting, he heard Bogolyubov standing at the door and say: "Comrade Marshal, your call is from General Katukov, on the second line. ”

"Hello, General Katukov." Rokossovsky picked up the microphone and said: "So, you have successfully returned to your headquarters. ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I have returned to my own command." After answering this question, Katukov asked puzzledly: "I called you because my chief of staff received an inexplicable telegram, and I want to ask, what the hell is going on?" ”

"That's right, General Katukov." Rokossovsky, seeing that Katukov asked about it bluntly, explained to him: "After you left, Marshal Zhukov called me and said that in view of the specific situation on the battlefield, he intended to postpone the time of your return until the beginning of April, that is, you have ten more days to continue to fight according to the original operational deployment. ”

After Katukov put down the phone, he said to his chief of staff: "Chief of staff, the situation has really changed, and Marshal Zhukov offered to let us return to the ...... ten days later."

"This is wonderful," said the chief of staff before Katukov could finish speaking, "so that we can continue to destroy the enemy steadily and take cities and ports from them, according to the original plan." ”

"Chief of Staff, although Marshal Zhukov has given ten more days, the speed of our offensive must be accelerated, lest something unexpected happen." Katukov walked to the wall, pointed to the map hanging on it, and said to his chief of staff: "Our troops will try to advance to the Gulf of Gdansk before dark tomorrow and completely separate the enemy from Danzig and Gdynia." Then turn around and attack Gdynia, trying to destroy the defenders and capture the city within a week's time. ”

"Comrade commander, this is different from the deployment given to us by our superiors." When the chief of staff heard Katukov say this, he reminded him: "I think it is very difficult for the troops to dry the Gdansk Bay tomorrow. The enemy, having been attacked by us in succession, retreated one after another, and now they cowered on the road leading to the bay, making our advance difficult. ”

"If we are slow to make progress, we are giving the enemy time to strengthen our defenses." Katukov slapped his hand on the map and said decisively: "Therefore we must fight quickly." ”

"But our tank 11th Army has suffered considerable losses in men and equipment after this period of fighting." The chief of staff was embarrassed and said: "I think it is very difficult to get them to speed up the attack. ”

"Transfer the 11th Guards Tank Corps," Katukov said, staring at the map, "tell the commander to go out to the Gulf of Gdansk before dark tomorrow at all costs." ”

"Comrade commander," the chief of staff heard this, feeling that Katukov was in such a hurry that he was a little confused, and reminded him again: "The troops that are currently approaching the bay are the 11th Tank Army?" ”

"Chief of Staff, you're mistaken." When Katukov heard the chief of staff say this, he immediately realized that he had not heard his orders clearly, and deliberately emphasized: "I know that the 11th Tank Army of Major General Huschke is now advancing towards the Gdansk Bay, but I want you to transfer the 11th Guards Tank Army, which is a reserve. ”

After figuring out that Katukov was talking about reserves, and not about the troops that were fighting the enemy, the chief of staff blushed: "I'm sorry, comrade commander, I misheard. I then called Colonel Babajanyan and ordered his troops to move into attack positions overnight. ”

"Let's go." Katukov did not reproach his chief of staff, but told him: "Let Colonel Babajanyan move quickly and attack the enemy at dawn, so that our 8th Guards Mechanized Army can occupy Gdynia as soon as possible and provide the Red Banner Baltic Fleet with a port where warships can be parked." ”

But after the chief of staff called Babajanyan's military headquarters, he was told that the commander went to the show and had not returned. The chief of staff put down the phone and reported to Katukov with a bitter face: "Comrade commander, Colonel Babajanyan went to watch the show and has not yet returned to the corps headquarters." ”

"Chief of Staff, you do two things at once now." Katukov stretched out two fingers and said: "First, immediately send someone to find Baba Janian to see if he is still stationed at the headquarters of the Front Army and chatting with familiar old comrades; The second is to prepare a written order for the 11th Guards Tank Army, so that even if Babajanyan is not at the headquarters, his men can prepare in advance. ”

"Understood." The chief of staff nodded and replied, "I'll do it immediately." ”

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