"Manstein?" Zhukov heard the name mentioned by Rokossovsky, and after a moment's pause, asked rhetorically: "Why, Comrade Rokossovsky, do you think Manstein is the most dangerous to us?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky nodded and said: "Whether we can win the Battle of Kursk depends on whether our army can defeat Manstein. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky, I think you should know that Konev's steppe front is moving towards the Oboyan region, where it is ready to fight side by side with Vatutin's Voronezh Front." Zhukov said confidently: "No matter how powerful Manstein is, I don't believe that with his troops, he will be able to block the joint attack of our two fronts." ”

"Comrade Marshal, please don't forget that at the beginning of the year, our Southwestern Front and the Voronezh Front were defeated by Manstein despite their superiority in forces and equipment." Rokossovsky said with a blank face: "I am afraid that if we do not raise our vigilance, history will repeat itself." ”

Perhaps Rokossovsky's words were a little heavy, and after hearing this, Zhukov abruptly got up from the table and walked up and down the room with his hands, thinking about what Rokossovsky had said.

"What do you think, tell me about it." After Zhukov stopped, he looked at Rokossovsky and asked: "Do you think our army can hold back Manstein's troops?" ”

"The German offensive forces in Oboyan are already drying up." Rokossovsky said in shock: "If they want to break through the defenses of our army, they will inevitably adjust the direction of the offensive. According to my estimates, the Germans would choose the direction of the new breakthrough on Vatutin's left flank, which was a vast plain as far as the eye could see, and use their armored forces to deploy. ”

"The Germans will choose the direction of the new breakthrough on the left flank of Vatutin." Zhukov repeated what Rokossovsky had said, walked quickly to the wall, looked up at the map above, and pondered carefully.

After a while, he picked up the stick leaning against the wall, pointed to the east of Oboyan, turned to Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade Rokossovsky, if my analysis is correct, then the Germans will turn their main forces to the Prokhorov area and break through the line of defense of our army from there. ”

Seeing that Zhukov's analysis turned out to be almost indistinguishable from real history, Rokossovsky couldn't help but smile and nodded, and replied: "If I were Manstein, I would have ordered the 2nd and 3rd Waffen-SS Panzer Corps to launch a surprise attack on the Prokhorovka area, defeat Konev's troops there, occupy the city of Prokhorovka, and split the defense lines of the Steppe Front and the Voronezh Front." ”

"As long as Manstein's troops can gain a foothold in the Prokhorovka area, then they will be able to encircle our forces in the Kursk arc." Zhukov did not wait for Rokossovsky to finish, and then continued: "We must not allow this situation to happen. ”

After saying that, he walked up to Maksimenko and instructed him: "Can you get in touch with General Konev?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Maksimenko said respectfully: "Please wait a moment, I will contact General Konev immediately." ”

However, before Maksimenko could answer the phone, Zhukov stopped him: "Forget it, Comrade Maksimenko, there is no need to contact General Konev." Or call the Voronezh Front, I'm going to talk to Marshal Vasilevsky. ”

Rokossovsky knew that Zhukov suddenly changed his mind because there was a representative of Vasilevsky's base camp in the south of Kursk, and if Zhukov contacted Konev without authorization, he would be suspected of overstepping, so he could only talk to Vasilevsky.

After the phone was connected, Zhukov said into the microphone: "Comrade Vasilevsky, I am Zhukov. According to my and Rokossovsky's analysis, the Germans may have chosen Prokhorovka as their new breakthrough. ”

"Will they make a new breakthrough and choose Prokhorovka?" Hearing Zhukov's reminder, Vasilevsky said with some disapproval: "Comrade Vatutin has placed two infantry divisions, a tank brigade and a ** army there, and they are enough to block the German attack. ”

"Comrade Vasilevsky, you must not underestimate the enemy." Seeing that Vasilevsky did not listen to his advice at all, Zhukov said with some anxiety: "According to our judgment, the German army will concentrate superior armored forces and launch a fierce attack on the Prokhorovka area, and Vatutin's troops will not be able to hold it at all." ”

"Comrade Commander," Vasilevsky suddenly heard Chief of Staff Ivanov say to Vatutin: "I just received a reconnaissance report from the Air Force that there are German armored units that are moving towards the left flank of our army, that is, in the Prokhorovka area. According to my analysis, they could go on the offensive there. ”

Vasilevsky only realized at this moment that Zhukov's words were not alarmist, and could become a reality, and he hurriedly asked: "Comrade Marshal, we have just received a report on the movement of German troops in the direction of Prokhorovka, what should we do next?" ”

"The main forces of Vatutin, all pinned down by the Germans, were unable to draw forces to strengthen the Prokhorovka region." Zhukov said confidently: "The best way at present is to let the 5th Tank Army under Konev quickly meet the Prokhorovka area, strengthen the defense forces there, and prepare for a big battle with the German army." ”

When Vasilevsky put down the phone, Vatutin, who was standing aside, asked with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, I wonder what Marshal Zhukov talked to you again?" ”

"He said that the Germans could launch an offensive in the Prokhorovka area, and that it would be the superior armored forces of the German army." Vasilevsky pointed to the map and said to Vatutin: "I think it is very difficult to hold this place by relying only on your existing forces. Therefore, I intend to order Konev to speed up the march of his tank army, to rush to the Prokhorovka area as soon as possible, to strengthen the defenses there. ”

"What, let a tank army go and strengthen the defenses of the Prokhorovka region?" Hearing Vasilevsky say this, Deputy Commander Apanashchenko, who had not spoken, spoke: "Is this necessary? We could have thrown such a large army into battle instead of defending it passively. ”

Don't look at Vasilevsky is now a marshal, but in front of Apanashchenko, an old Bolshevik, he still seems a little soft-spoken. He smiled and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the deployment of a tank army here is not a passive defense. According to our assumptions, our troops will hold off the German attack here, consume their vital forces, and then carry out a counter-assault. ”

After Vasilevsky explained his reasons, he immediately called the chief of the communications corps over and ordered: "Give me General Konev, I have an important task to assign to him." ”

Konev received a call from Vasilevsky and was directing his men to set up a new command. He asked a little strangely: "Comrade Marshal, you called me, do you have any instructions?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Konev." Vasilevsky said in an accentuated tone: "Something unexpected happened, according to the reconnaissance of our Air Force, the armored units of the German army are moving in the direction of Prokhorovka. In order to crush the offensive attempts of the German troops, I order you, immediately transfer the tank 5th Army to the area for defense. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Konev's idea was similar to Apanashchenko's, it was a waste to put so many troops in a relatively minor position, so he said euphemistically: "I think it is an unnecessary waste to use the tank army in an important assault direction, and not to put it somewhere as a defensive force." ”

Hearing Konev say this, Vasilevsky said with some displeasure: "According to Marshal Zhukov's analysis, the German army will choose a new breakthrough in the direction of Prokhorovka next. The forces that Vatutin's placement there was limited, and they simply could not hold back the German onslaught. General Konev, you should understand that once the defensive line is broken, then everything we did in the early stage will be in vain, and the troops holding on to the Kursk arc will also fall into the encirclement of the German army. ”

Alarmist, after secretly muttering in his heart, Konev could only helplessly say: "Well, Comrade Marshal, since you gave such an order, then I immediately give an order to the 5th Tank Army, let them change direction and rush to the Prokhorovka area as quickly as possible." ”

Konev put down the phone, immediately called his chief of staff, and instructed him: "The chief of staff informs you to give an order to the 5th Tank Army to immediately change the direction of the march and move in the direction of Prokhorovka." ”

Regarding the tasks assigned by Konev, the chief of staff said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, you may not know that the 5th Tank Army is on the march, and neither radio nor telephone can reach them. ”

Konev thought for a moment and then instructed the chief of staff: "Since they cannot be contacted by telephone or telegram, then immediately prepare a plane for me, I want to rush over to see Lieutenant General Rotmistrov tank corps in person." ”

……

……

After waiting for Zhukov to put down the phone, Rokossovsky said to him: "Comrade Marshal, if the troops of the 5th Tank Army can enter the Prokhorovka area on time, then they will be able to block the attack of the 2nd and 3rd Waffen-SS Panzer Corps. As long as they have exhausted the strength of the German army, our army will be able to launch a full-scale counteroffensive on the southern front of Kursk. ”

"The affairs of the southern front, Vasilevsky, Vatutin, and Konev have to worry about." Zhukov smiled and said: "Let's concentrate on the northern front, when do you think we can launch a full-scale counteroffensive?" ”

"Didn't you make an agreement with the Bryansk Front to start the offensive on the 12th of this month?" Rokossovsky asked with some surprise: "Why, has the time of the offensive changed?" ”

"The plan is to attack on the 12th." Zhukov frowned and said: "However, according to what I have seen recently in the Bryansk Front, it will be difficult to launch the offensive on schedule. ”

Ponomarenko waited for the two to have said almost enough, and then carefully said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, should we report to the Supreme Commander himself about the awakening of Comrade Commander?" ”

"That's right," Ponomarenko reminded everyone that it had been a long time since Rokossovsky woke up, but no one had reported the good news to Stalin in time.

Zhukov picked up the high-frequency telephone on the table, said with a smile: "I think it is better for me to report this good news to Comrade Stalin, so that he will be happy." ”

As soon as the Kremlin's phone was answered, Zhukov happily reported to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, report to you good news, Rokossovsky has woken up. ”

"What, Rokossovsky woke up?" Hearing that Rokossovsky had woken up, Stalin was also very happy, and hurriedly urged: "Hurry up, let Rokossovsky answer the phone, I want to talk to him." ”

Rokossovsky took the phone and said to Stalin respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, I'm sorry, I made you worry about me. ”

"It's good to wake up." Stalin asked with concern: "How is it, Comrade Rokossovsky, can you still command the troops in battle?" ”

"Comrade Stalin, rest assured." Rokossovsky assured Stalin: "After this sleep, my health is better than ever, and I am confident that I will command the troops to defeat the fascist invaders." ”

"It's good that you have that confidence, but you still have to pay more attention to your body." Stalin smiled and said: "By the way, I asked them to arrange for you a portable military doctor who will be responsible for your health." I think that before the end of the battle, let the female military doctor stay by your side, so that any problems with your body can be treated in time. ”

After talking to Stalin, Rokossovsky said to Terekin: "Comrade Military Commissar, the Supreme Commander himself said that the female military doctor should stay for the time being and return to the army after the battle." In this case, if the personnel in the headquarters feel unwell, they can ask this military doctor to help everyone treat it. ”

Malinin came over and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade commander, the enemy opposite our army has been quiet all day today. I want to ask, what are we going to do if they don't attack tomorrow? ”

"What else can I do?" Rokossovsky said with a smile: "Of course, the commanders and fighters were ordered to hurry up and repair the fortifications and rest, otherwise where would they have the physical strength to launch a counteroffensive against the German army?" ”