Several commanders who heard Rokossovsky's foul language not only did not feel that his words were rude, but on the contrary, they also had a feeling of raising their eyebrows and feeling that it was understandable for Comrade Commander to express his dissatisfaction in this way.

As soon as Rokossovsky put down the phone, he said worriedly: "Comrade commander, although our starting point is good, after all, this battle is a cross-border operation, and once the higher authorities blame it, I am worried that it will be difficult to explain it." ”

"There's nothing to explain." Rokossovsky was holding a fire in his heart at the moment, seeing that the fruits of victory were in front of him, but he was picked by others, so his tone of voice was also very unpolite: "If the superiors want to blame, let them find me." I am the commander of the front, and if something happens, I don't take responsibility, so who will take responsibility? ”

Ponomarenko's concern was correct, and Vatutin, after being deflated by Rokossovsky's deflated, immediately reported the situation to Vasilevsky, and finally said in a conclusive manner: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, Priluki is in our offensive zone, and now Rokossovsky has arbitrarily ordered troops to attack the area without saying hello and disrupted our offensive forces. We must deal with this serious unorganized and undisciplined behavior of him. ”

After hearing this, Vasilevsky said noncommittally: "I see, Comrade Vatutin, I will report this to Stalin immediately, you wait for my news." ”

He hung up Vatutin's phone and dialed Stalin's office from another phone, and Poskelbeshev, who answered the phone, asked: "Hello, Comrade Poskrekreshev, is Comrade Stalin free?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Boskrebeshev politely replied: "Comrade Stalin has just finished eating, is resting, and will not start work until about half an hour later." Do you have anything to look for him? ”

"I have an urgent battle report from the front, and I want to report to him."

"Please wait a minute." Poskolebeshev pressed a button on the telephone, and when he heard Stalin's voice, he immediately and respectfully reported: "Comrade Stalin, Vasilevsky has called and said that there is an urgent war report on the front, which needs to be reported to you immediately. ”

When Stalin heard that there was an urgent war report, his heart could not help but tighten, and his heart said, "Is there something wrong in which direction?" After a moment of silence, he said to Boskorebeshev: "Let Vasilevsky come to my office immediately." After saying that, he hung up the phone directly.

Poskerebyshev again switched the phone to the office of the Chief of the General Staff and said to Vasilevsky, who was still holding the telephone microphone: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, Comrade Stalin, please come to his office. ”

"Understood, I'll rush over immediately." Vasilevsky said politely.

Stalin put down the phone, and the more he thought about it, the more unsteady he became, so he quickly picked up the phone, called Zhukov's office, and said briefly: "You come to my office." ”

Zhukov, who received the notice, arrived at Stalin's office almost at the same time as Vasilevsky. Just when Zhukov wanted to ask Vasilevsky what was going on, he heard Stalin say in the house: "It's Zhukov and Vasilevsky who are here, right?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Zhukov hurriedly replied: "Comrade Vasilevsky and I have already arrived on order. ”

"Come in!"

The two pushed open the door and entered the office, only to see Stalin walking back and forth with his pipe in his mouth. Seeing the two of them enter the door, Stalin stopped, looked at Vasilevsky and said: "Let's start reporting, Comrade Vasilevsky, I want to hear about what happened on which front?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky hurriedly stepped forward and reported: "Half an hour ago, I received a call from Comrade Vatutin, who said that the troops of the 60th Army had rushed into Priluki and were engaged in street battles with the enemy in the city. ”

"60th Army?!" After repeating this number, Stalin asked rhetorically, somewhat puzzled: "Isn't this unit subordinate to Rokossovsky's Central Front?" ”

"That's right," Vasilevsky replied with a nod, "the 60th Army, commanded by General Chernyakhovsky, is indeed within the formation of the Central Front. ”

"Isn't that great?" When Stalin learned that it was not the battlefield that had gone wrong, his mood suddenly improved. He took the pipe out of his mouth and pointed it at Vasilevsky with the mouthpiece: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, is this the urgent war report that you want to report to me?" ”

Zhukov did not speak, but walked to the map, looked up at the map on the wall for a while, turned to Vasilevsky and said: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I understand. Vatutin called you to tell you about Rokossovsky's statement that his troops had crossed the divided area without authorization and that the attack was a cross-border operation. ”

"Comrade Marshal, you guessed correctly." In response to Zhukov's speculation, Vasilevsky nodded with a smile and replied: "Vatutin called me and said that Rokossovsky's rash attack was a manifestation of disorganization and indiscipline, and hoped that the Supreme High Command would severely punish him." ”

"Yes, to be punished, he must be punished severely." As soon as his words fell, Stalin continued: "For Rokossovsky's behavior of cross-border combat, we must severely punish him. ”

When Zhukov heard Stalin say this, he was immediately shocked, and he knew very well in his heart that if he and Khrushchev had not tried their best to persuade Stalin to adjust the area of operation, Rokossovsky's troops would have fought in the area that belonged to them. He hurriedly persuaded: "Comrade Stalin, although Rokossovsky's troops are fighting across the border, the battles they are waging in the Priluki area have made it impossible for the enemy to build a strong defense on the left bank of the Dnieper, and at the same time have created favorable conditions for the advance of the Voronezh Front. Therefore, I am against the punishment of Comrade Rokossovsky. ”

After hearing this, Stalin hurriedly showed an unexpected smile. He said to Vasilevsky: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, you will later draw up an order with the fate of the Supreme High Command: in recognition of the great achievements of Rokossovsky in the battle for the liberation of the left bank of the Dnieper, the Supreme High Command decided to award him the Order of Suvorov of the 1st degree. ”

Zhukov did not expect Stalin to actually make such a big joke on himself, but judging by the honor he gave Rokossovsky, he recognized Rokossovsky's approach, otherwise he would not have awarded him the Order of Suvorov. The medal was awarded to military chiefs and commanders who annihilated the enemy's superior forces during the offensive by order of 29 July 1942 after the great commander of Russia, Generalissimo Suvorov, in recognition of their contribution to organizing the offensive and pursuit. Before the Victory Medal was established, the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, was the highest military merit medal of the Soviet Union.

When Vasilevsky heard Stalin say the Order of Suvorov, he had a plan in his heart, and he quickly nodded and said: "Understood, Comrade Stalin, I will immediately draft the order." ”

……

……

Vasilevsky returned to his office, and after drafting the order for the award, he first called Vatutin. After hearing Vatutin's voice, he spoke: "Comrade Vatutin, I have already reported to the Supreme Commander himself about the cross-border operation of Rokossovsky's troops, and he ......"

"What did Comrade Stalin say?" When Vatutin heard Vasilevsky say that the matter had been reported to the higher-ups, he couldn't help but feel a burst of secret joy in his heart, the reason why he had this idea of schadenfreude did not mean that he was a bad person, but because since the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, his troops have been mediocre, which made Stalin somewhat dissatisfied. He hoped that Rokossovsky would also be deflated, so that he would feel better in his heart. He hurriedly asked: "What is he going to do with Rokossovsky?" ”

"Comrade Stalin has just ordered me to draw up an order," Vasilevsky said slowly, "in recognition of the great results of Rokossovsky's troops in the liberation of the left bank of the Dnieper, it was decided to award him the Order of Suvorov." ”

"What, to award him the Order of Suvorov of the 1st degree?" When Vatutin heard this, he was taken aback, "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, so the Supreme Command does not intend to hold him accountable for fighting across the border?" ”

"Accountability, how can it be pursued?" Seeing that Vatutin was still in an aggressive tone, Vasilevsky said with some dissatisfaction: "Since Rokossovsky's troops helped you liberate Priluki, then you order your troops to speed up the attack and rush over to accept Priluki as soon as possible, understand?" ”

"Understood, Comrade Chief of the General Staff." It was the first time that Vatutin had heard Vasilevsky speak to himself in such a stern tone, and he could only say helplessly: "I will immediately give an order to the troops to speed up the attack and advance towards the Priluki area." ”

When Rokossovsky received Vasilevsky's phone call, he still had some apprehension in his heart, although he decisively ordered the troops to attack Priluki directly in order not to delay the fighters, but after all, it was a cross-border operation, and if the superiors really wanted to investigate it, he would really be unable to escape the blame.

When Vasilevsky heard Rokossovsky's voice, he immediately smiled and said: "Hello, Comrade Rokossovsky, allow me to congratulate you!" ”

"Congratulations to me?" Rokossovsky was confused by Vasilevsky's words, and he asked puzzledly: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I wonder for what you congratulated me?" ”

"That's right, according to Vatutin's report, Comrade Stalin has learned about your cross-border operations." After a brief briefing, Vasilevsky did not say what the Supreme High Command was going to do, but asked with concern: "How is the current fighting going in the Priluki region?" ”

"Our army has already occupied most of the city, and it is estimated that in another hour, the battle will be completely resolved." Rokossovsky, after reporting on the situation, anxious to know what Stalin intended to do with him, nervously asked: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, you have not said what kind of decision the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself made after listening to Vatutin's report. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky, once again I congratulate you." Vasilevsky said with a smile: "Comrade Stalin, knowing about the cross-border operations you are waging, ordered me to draw up an order for the awarding of the Order of Suvorov of the 1st degree in recognition of your great service in the fight against the fascist invaders. ”

Hearing that Stalin had awarded him a medal, Rokossovsky's heart beat faster and his breathing became short. However, he straightened up and said loudly according to the order: "Serve the Soviet Fatherland!" ”

"You can see that you have always served well." Vasilevsky said on the phone: "I hope to hear more good news from you soon, good luck!" With that, he hung up the phone.

The chiefs of the Front, who were sitting around, somewhat heard some conversation between Rokossovsky and Vasilevsky. Seeing Rokossovsky put down the phone, Terekin hurriedly asked: "Comrade commander, I just heard from the Chief of the General Staff that the Supreme High Command awarded you what medal?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, you heard me right, my superiors did award me a medal." Rokossovsky's face flushed with excitement, "Awarded me the Order of Suvorov of the 1st degree." ”

"What, the Order of Suvorov of the 1st degree?" Everyone thought that Rokossovsky would be awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Red Star, and the best thing was the Gold Star Medal representing the "Hero of the Soviet Union", but they did not expect that the Order of Suvorov of the first class would be awarded to Rokossovsky. Terekin said in surprise: "Comrade commander, if I am not mistaken, since its establishment, no more than three people have received this kind of medal, and Marshal Zhukov was the first to receive such a medal. ”

"Comrade commander," as soon as Terekin's words were finished, Malinin, who was next to him, stood up, stretched out his hand to Rokossovsky, and said enthusiastically: "Please accept my congratulations." ”

"Thank you, Comrade Chief of Staff." Rokossovsky hurriedly reached out and shook Malinin, and at the same time thanked him.

Subsequently, Ponomarenko, Terekin, Kazakov, Orel and others also stretched out their hands to congratulate Rokossovsky. As soon as Rokossovsky had finished shaking hands with the crowd, the chief of the communications corps, Maximenko, hurriedly came over, raised the telegram in his hand, and excitedly reported: "Comrade commander, good news, our troops have completely annihilated the German troops in the city of Priluki and completely occupied the city. ”