When Rokossovsky and the others returned to the headquarters, they were arguing about the results of the rocket artillery battalion in Onka, when Timoshenko called them. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

As soon as Timoshenko heard Rokossovsky's voice, he immediately raised his voice and said excitedly: "How is it, Comrade Rokossovsky, you are satisfied with the results achieved by the rocket artillery battalion, right?" ”

Although Rokossovsky could imagine the great results achieved by the rocket artillery battalion, the problem is that Lobachev was still skeptical about it. At this moment, Timoshenko was heard asking, and Lobachev tilted his head and put his ear as close to the earphone as possible, as if trying to hear what the marshal was saying.

In this case, Rokossovsky had an idea: "Comrade Marshal, we were in the observation post and saw the smoke and fire rising from the direction of the station in the distance, but because the distance was too far to confirm the results of the battle, we ......"

"I knew you would say that, so I sent the Air Force to conduct reconnaissance." Timoshenko, who knew the power of the rocket artillery battalion, said proudly: "According to the results of aerial reconnaissance, the station occupied by the Germans has been completely destroyed, and the buildings on the ground, munitions and supplies, as well as the side of the car and the truck, are burning. All in all, this shelling of the rocket artillery battalion achieved the desired results, and the Germans could not use this station, at least for a long time. ”

"I see, Comrade Marshal." After hearing the news from Timoshenko, Rokossovsky said with a smile: "As long as the ammunition is sufficient, I plan to use the rocket artillery battalion at least once a day to strike at the enemy's entrenched areas." ”

"No, Comrade Rokossovsky." To Rokossovsky's request, Timoshenko unexpectedly refused: "We can't use this weapon too much, if we use it too often, the secrets of this weapon will be discovered by the Germans, and then it will not have the desired striking effect." Here, I declare to you a discipline that if you want to use a rocket artillery battalion, you must ask me for instructions in advance, and only after obtaining my permission can you use it. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal."

"Also, I may go to you tomorrow afternoon with Comrade Bulganin, the military commissar of the Front, to hold an award ceremony for the wounded female soldier."

Rokossovsky always thought that Timoshenko was just saying that, after all, as the commander of the front army, he had so many things to be busy with every day, so he might have made a special trip for a little-known female soldier. The so-called award ceremony may be to send an adjutant or some kind of political worker. At this moment, hearing him say that he was going to come in person, Rokossovsky was really taken aback.

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky said respectfully: "I will prepare it in advance." ”

When Rokossovsky put down the phone, Lobachev asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, so to speak, the results achieved by the rocket artillery battalion can be compared with an artillery division?" ”

"That's right," Rokossovsky nodded vigorously to Lobachev's question, and then replied affirmatively: "Comrade Marshal sent the Air Force to conduct reconnaissance, and it is absolutely not wrong." ”

Until this moment, Lobachev was convinced of the power of rocket artillery. But not long after he was happy, he said with some concern: "Comrade commander, I seem to have heard the marshal say just now that if you want to use a rocket artillery battalion, you must ask him for instructions in advance and get his permission. What if we ask him for instructions when we need it urgently, and he's not in Command? ”

Lobachev's words made Rokossovsky and Kazakov's smiles freeze on their faces. Rokossovsky secretly cursed in his heart: Lao Maozi is dull in his work, and even the use of rocket artillery has to ask the commander at the level of the front army for instructions, and if he really encounters the situation mentioned by Lobachev, the rocket artillery battalion will become a deaf man's ear -- an ornament.

And Kazakov couldn't wait to ask Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, is what the military commissar said true?" Did the marshal really say it himself, and if you want to use rocket artillery, you must ask him for instructions in advance? ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Artillery." Rokossovsky looked at Kazakov with sympathy and said: "Comrade Marshal did say so. In this way, it may have a little influence on your command of artillery units, right? ”

"It's not a little impact, it's a big impact." Kazakov said with some irritation: "Except in the offensive state, no one can say clearly when our army should use artillery to support the defense of the infantry when it is on the defensive." If it is true that before using rocket artillery battalions, I have to ask the front command for instructions, then I would rather not have this unit in my artillery formation. ”

"Don't worry, my comrade artillery chief." Rokossovsky put his hand on Kazakov's shoulder and comforted him: "After all, this weapon has just been put into battle, and it poses a great threat to the enemy, and it is inevitable that the front command is a little too nervous." As long as we wait a little longer, when the number of such rocket artillery battalions at the front increases and the units use them frequently, I will cancel this order given to Comrade Marshal today. ”

When Kazakov heard Rokossovsky say this, an expression of surprise suddenly appeared on his face, "Is this true, Comrade Commander?" Is it true that you said that sooner or later Comrade Marshal will cancel this order that he issued today? ”

"Don't worry, it won't be too long." Rokossovsky made a silent calculation in his mind, and then replied decisively: "I think that as soon as it enters September, this order will be automatically nullified." ”

"Great, that's great."

Rokossovsky looked at the overjoyed Kazakov and secretly thought in his heart: "It won't be long before Timoshenko will be relieved of his post as commander of the Front by the Supreme High Command and replaced by Konev." When the new commander of the Front takes office, it is certain that some of the orders left by the predecessor will be terminated, including the order that the use of rocket artillery must be notified in advance. ”

Thinking of this, he turned his head to look at Lobachev: "Comrade Military Commissar, there is one more thing, I almost forgot to tell you. The marshal also said that he and Comrade Bulganin would come to us tomorrow afternoon to honour the wounded female soldier Leda. ”

"Wait a minute, I'll ask her how she is doing to see if she's fit to attend the ceremony." After Lobachev finished speaking, he walked to the other side of the house, picked up a telephone, dialed it and asked: "I'm Lobachev, find me Bazel." ”

Soon, Rokossovsky saw Lobachev smiling and asked the microphone: "Hello, Mr. Bazel, I'm Lobachev." I would like to ask, what is the physical condition of the female soldier Leda who was treated by you? … Awakened? That's great! … By the way, can she get out of bed and walk? … Oh, not yet, what a shame! … What, what, it's okay to do, great......"

Listening to Lobachev on the phone, Rokossovsky couldn't help but secretly sigh in his heart that women of this fighting nation are really not simple. I remember that before the crossing, he had heard a comrade-in-arms who had been in Russia for a few years say that after giving birth, a Russian woman can get out of bed and walk around on the same day, and in seven days at most, she can use a stroller to push the child all over the street.

Therefore, he had no doubt that this seriously wounded female soldier would be able to get out of bed and walk independently in a day or two. After waiting for another ten days and half a month, she will be able to return to her unit as if she is nothing, and become her anti-aircraft machine gunner again.

After waiting for Lobachev to put down the phone, he hurriedly asked: "How is it, Comrade Military Commissar, how is the wounded female soldier?" Will she be able to get out of bed and accept the medal when the medal is awarded tomorrow? ”

Lobachev shook his head and replied: "Comrade commander, according to Bazel, Lida's injuries are very serious, and it will be a week later at the earliest, and she will not be able to walk on the ground. As for tomorrow's award ceremony, I guess it will only be held from a hospital bed. Fortunately, she didn't have much trouble sitting up, otherwise the award ceremony would have been postponed until a week later. ”

In order to boost morale and strengthen the confidence of the commanders and fighters, the ceremony of awarding the medal personally presided over by Timoshenko was officially held at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the next day. Since Leda couldn't get out of bed yet, the ritual took place in the tent where she was.

Lobachev made the ceremony even more solemn, and specially moved Leda to a large tent. That way, even if there is a simple hospital bed in the tent, it will not be too crowded for a dozen more people to stand.

Rokossovsky, following behind Timoshenko and Bulganin, entered the tent and saw Leda lying on the hospital bed. Leda looked young and light, in her early twenties, with short ear-length hair, and a striped hospital gown, lying on the only improvised hospital bed in the room, covered with a white sheet.

Seeing a large group of people walking into her tent, Lida couldn't help but panic. She tried to sit up on her own, but as soon as she strained, the pain in her abdomen made her give up the effort. Seeing that she couldn't sit up on her own, Lobachev hurriedly glanced at one of the hygienists who was following her and motioned for her to help Lida.

The hygienist saw Lobachev's eyes and immediately ran over in understanding, helping Lida to sit up with difficulty.

After Leda sat up straight, she raised her right hand to her forehead and said in a weak voice to Timoshenko, who was standing in front of her: "Comrade Marshal, High-Speed Machine Gunner Corporal Lida reports to you, I ......"

Before she could finish speaking, Timoshenko raised his hand to stop her, and then the tall marshal bent down, put his hands on her shoulders, and said with concern like a kind old man: "Comrade Lida, you still have injuries on your body, so you don't need to be so formal. ”

For such an understanding Timoshenko, the pale-faced Lida squeezed out a smile at him and said, "Thank you, Comrade Marshal. ”

Timoshenko removed his hands from Lida's shoulders, took two steps back, came to Bulganin's side, and then retracted the smile on his face and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Military Commissar, you can start." ”

Bulganin nodded, unfolded the piece of paper he had already held in his hand, and read it with a serious attitude: "In view of the bravery and heroism shown in the battle of the fascist invaders, Corporal Lida Mushidakova Oshanina is hereby awarded the Order of the Red Banner. ”

After reading out the order for the award, Bulganin said to one of the officers beside him: "It's your turn, Comrade Major. ”

Rokossovsky saw that the major named by Bulganin was holding a red box in his hand, he opened it casually, took out a medal placed inside, handed the box to the person next to him, and walked quickly to Leda.

The Major walked up to Leda's side, bent down slightly, turned one side of Lida's hospital gown upside down, pierced it with an awl, inserted the pins of the medallion into it, and tightened it from the inside with a small nut.

When Rokossovsky watched the Major lift half of Leda's hospital gown in the process of wearing the medal, revealing her snow-white neck, he couldn't help but feel that if only the pin had been invented earlier, then wearing the medal would not be so troublesome.

After the major retreated, Bulganin smiled and said to Leda: "All right, Comrade Leda, now it's time for you to speak!" ”

"I speak?" When Lida heard Bulganin say this, she couldn't help but ask with a blank face, "What did you say?" ”

Bulganin and Timoshenko looked at each other and continued to smile: "Don't you know what to say after receiving the medal? ”

As soon as Bulganin reminded her, Lida immediately understood, so she tried to raise her voice and said loudly: "Serve the Soviet Fatherland!" ”

"That's right!" After listening to what Leda said, Bulganin nodded with satisfaction: "That's what I should say." ”

Seeing the end of the award ceremony, Timoshenko looked at Bulganin and asked, "Comrade Military Commissar, don't you say a few words?" ”

"Well, since the main leaders of the 16th Army are here," Bulganin turned to look at Rokossovsky and a group of his colleagues standing behind him, "then I'll say a few words." ”

Then Bulganin turned his back to Lida and said to all the commanders: "Comrades, although we are in a difficult situation, we must still be convinced that the enemy will not be able to achieve a final victory. We want to fight tenaciously, to let everyone know that we can definitely hold Moscow, but this is not enough, we must not only hold Moscow, but also crush the enemy. Right here, near Moscow, crush them completely! ……”

As soon as Bulganin's words were finished, they immediately caused a chorus of cheers from the commanders in the tent: "Ula! Ulla!! Ulla!!! And the warriors who were standing outside, hearing the shouts coming from inside, also joined in the cheers, and suddenly the shouts resounded throughout the woods. (To be continued.) )