As soon as he finished speaking, Rokossovsky suddenly felt that his eyes were dark, and he immediately lost consciousness, and the whole person fell straight into Malinin's arms.

"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander, what's wrong with you?" Seeing Rokossovsky faint, the command headquarters suddenly became a mess. The leaders of these front armies, who commanded hundreds of thousands of troops and were calm and composed, felt a little at a loss for a while.

Fortunately, Ma Lining reacted quickly, and he hurriedly shouted: "Hurry up and carry the commander to the room inside to rest." As soon as he finished speaking, a bunch of hands stretched out beside him, including Terekin, Orel, Kazakov, and those staff officers in the command, all of whom carried Rokossovsky to the private room inside.

After putting Rokossovsky on the bed, Terekin left only Malinin and Ponomarenko, and he threw the rest out. After calm returned to the house, Terekin said worriedly: "Now there is a big battle with the German army, but the commander's physical condition is wrong, tell me, what should we do?" ”

Before Malinin could speak, Ponomarenko preemptively said: "I think this matter should be reported to Comrade Stalin immediately, and he will make the decision." ”

"Please wait, Comrade Military Commissar." Seeing that Ponomarenko was about to call Stalin again, Malinin hurriedly stopped him: "I think it's better to ask a military doctor to check it out, and after confirming the reason for the fainting of Comrade Commander, let's report it to Comrade Stalin." ”

Terekin immediately agreed with Malinin's proposal, and immediately called the military doctor and asked him to come and examine Rokossovsky's body.

The military doctor, carrying a small suitcase, soon appeared at the headquarters with one of his assistants and was led to Rokossovsky's break room. When Terekin saw the military doctor coming in, he hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands with him, briefly described the circumstances of Rokossovsky's fainting, and pleaded: "Comrade military doctor, you take a good look at the commander to see what is going on." ”

"I see, Comrade Military Commissar." The military doctor nodded and said, "Please go out first, so that I can do a comprehensive examination for Comrade Commander." ”

When Ma Linin left the room, he also deliberately said to the military doctor: "Comrade Commander has been seriously injured in the back, and before he fainted, he said that his back hurt badly. ”

Seeing Terekin and the three of them coming out of the back room, Orel and Kazakov, who were waiting outside, immediately surrounded them and asked with concern: "What did the military doctor say, how is the situation of the commander?" ”

Terekin shook his head and replied: "The military doctor has not yet begun to examine it, and the situation is not yet clear. ”

"At present, the war is tight, and Comrade Commander can't have an accident." As an old comrade-in-arms of Rokossovsky, Kazakov could not help but anxiously ask when he heard this: "Comrade Military Commissar, what should we do?" ”

Teregin turned his head to look at Ponomarenko, who was standing next to him without saying a word, and then said: "Comrade Ponomarenko's opinion is to report the fainting of Comrade Commander to Comrade Stalin immediately. ”

"No, this is definitely not going to work." As soon as Terekin's words were finished, Kazakov loudly objected: "This matter must not be reported to Comrade Stalin without first understanding the situation of Comrade Commander......"

"Shh Before Kazakov could finish speaking, the medical assistant appeared at the door, put his finger to his lips and made a quiet gesture: "Comrade commander, please be quiet. Your voice is so loud that the military doctor's stethoscope can't hear the heartbeat clearly. ”

Hearing what the military medical assistant said, these commanders outside did not dare to raise their voices anymore, but lowered their voices and continued to discuss how to deal with Rokossovsky's fainting.

Kazakov continued: "If we had hastily reported the matter before we had ascertained the cause of the commander's fainting, Comrade Stalin might have immediately arranged for the commander to return to Moscow and find someone else to replace him. Now that the battle is fierce, if a commander who is not familiar with the unit is replaced to command, our army is very likely to suffer a big loss in the next battle. ”

"I think it's better to report this matter to Marshal Zhukov." After careful consideration, Malinin put forward his own proposal: "Even if Comrade Stalin intends to send the commander back to Moscow, and Marshal Zhukov, who is familiar with the situation, to command the troops, it can be regarded as the most ideal state." ”

"I agree with Chief of Staff Malinin." Kazakov immediately expressed his support for Malinin and asked his colleagues standing aside: "What about everyone's opinion?" ”

"I agree!" "I agree!" Terekin, Orel and others have expressed their support for Malinin.

Seeing that everyone agreed to immediately inform Zhukov of the matter, Ponomarenko did not have a stubborn opinion, so he nodded and said: "Since everyone agreed to inform Marshal Zhukov about the fact that the commander fainted, then I have no opinion." But who's going to make the call? ”

Ma Lining volunteered: "I'll make the call." ”

Zhukov, who was discussing the offensive steps with Popov on the Bryansk Front, deliberately glanced at the high-frequency telephone ringing in front of him, thinking in his heart whether it was the combat troops below or the phone from Moscow that was calling at such a time.

Popov picked up the phone and listened for a moment, then handed the microphone to Zhukov and said with some surprise: "Comrade Marshal, it was Chief of Staff Malinin who was looking for you. ”

"Malinin looking for me?" Not to mention that Popov was surprised, Zhukov was also confused, he thought to himself that if it was a call from the Central Front, the person who called him should also be Rokossovsky, not Malinin. With this question, he rushed into the microphone and said, "Hello, Comrade Malinin. ”

"Hello, Comrade Marshal," Malinin said in a deep voice, "I would like to report to you a piece of unbelieving news......"

Hearing the tone of Malinin's words, Zhukov's heart immediately swelled with an ominous premonition, and he couldn't help blurting out: "Is something wrong with Rokossovsky?" ”

Zhukov's rhetorical question confused Malinin, and he glanced at his colleagues standing around, and said in his heart that someone had secretly informed Zhukov of the fact that the commander had fainted.

Seeing that there was no movement on Malinin's side, Zhukov urged: "Comrade Malinin, why don't you speak, what happened to Rokossovsky?" ”

"Comrade Marshal," Ma Linin said with some embarrassment, "Comrade Commander has just fainted and has not woken up yet. The military doctor is examining them. ”

"Could it be that his old wound has recurred?" Seeing that he couldn't ask the answer he was interested in from Malinin, Zhukov could only ask himself: "The recent war has been fierce, and his pressure is too great, and it must be because of this reason that his old injury will recur." I'm afraid he won't be able to command the battle like this, no, I need to rush over immediately. ”

Seeing Zhukov put down the phone, Popov immediately asked with concern: "Comrade Marshal, what happened to Rokossovsky?" ”

"Malinin said that Rokossovsky suddenly fainted and has not woken up yet." Zhukov said to Popov: "I need to rush to the Central Front immediately, and I will leave the pre-war preparations that we have just discussed to you." ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Popov replied respectfully: "You can go to the Central Front with confidence, and I will take care of the affairs here." I saw Rokossovsky, and if he woke up, please listen to him for me. ”

……

……

On the way to the Central Front in an armored car, Zhukov's military doctor had already completed the examination of Rokossovsky and came out to report to Terekin: "Comrade Military Commissar, there is nothing wrong with the commander, it should be that the recent work pressure has been too great and he has not rested well, which caused him to suddenly faint." ”

Knowing that Rokossovsky had not woken up yet, Teregin asked with some concern: "Comrade military doctor, when will the commander come to his senses?" ”

The military doctor shook his head and said, "It's hard to say, maybe a few minutes, maybe a few hours, maybe even a few days to wake up." Comrade Military Commissar, you must be mentally prepared. ”

The words of the military doctor made everyone's hearts sink down, they never dreamed that Rokossovsky, who was talking and laughing not long ago, actually fell into a deep sleep without warning, and everyone's mood became extremely heavy.

After sending off the military doctor, Terekin and Ponomarenko discussed, "It seems that Comrade Commander will not wake up for a moment, and we need to immediately report this situation to Comrade Stalin so that he can make a decision." ”

Ponomarenko accepted the task of calling Stalin, and after the phone was connected, he said in a somewhat nervous tone to Bosk Klebeshev: "Hello, Comrade Poskerebeshev, I am Ponomarenko, is Comrade Stalin still in his office?" I have something important that I need to report to him immediately. ”

Boskrebeshev knew that Ponomarenko had just been disciplined by Stalin not long ago, and when he saw him calling again so quickly, he was faintly unhappy, but he still said officially: "Comrade Ponomarenko, Comrade Stalin is still in his office, please wait a moment, and I will answer the phone for you immediately." ”

Boskrebeshev put the microphone on the table, walked to the door, knocked lightly twice, then pushed the door open, stood at the door and reported to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, Comrade Ponomarenko called again and said that there is something very important that needs to be reported to you immediately. ”

"Important things, what else can be important." When Stalin heard that it was Ponomarenko calling, he said angrily: "Maybe you came to me again to sue Rokossovsky." ”

Poskorebeshev stood silently at the door, waited for Stalin to finish speaking, and then asked: "Comrade Stalin, do you need to get Ponomarenko's phone in?" ”

Although he was a little dissatisfied with Ponomarenko, Stalin was still a man of priorities, and he nodded, and as he walked towards his desk, he casually said: "Get the phone in." ”

He picked up the microphone, and after hearing Ponomarenko's voice, he preemptively asked: "Comrade Ponomarenko, what's going on again?" Did you come into conflict with Comrade Rokossovsky on some issue, so you called here to complain? ”

Hearing Stalin speak to himself in such a tone, Ponomarenko couldn't help but blush, and then said with an embarrassed expression: "No, Comrade Stalin, you misunderstood. I am calling you at this time, not to complain, but because something happened to Comrade Rokossovsky, and I will report it to you. ”

"What, something happened to Rokossovsky?" When Stalin heard Ponomarenko say this, he couldn't help but get nervous, and he knew in his heart that the Battle of Kursk had entered a critical juncture, and Rokossovsky, as the commander of the northern front, must not let anything happen. "What the hell is going on with him, tell me quickly?"

"He fainted and is still in a coma." Ponomarenko replied: "After an examination by the military doctor, it was said that he may have been under too much pressure recently and has not been well rested, so he suddenly fainted." ”

"When does the medic say he'll wake up?" Stalin asked nervously.

"I don't know, and the military doctor can't give us an accurate answer." "If it's good, maybe in a few minutes or a few hours, he'll wake up; If it's a bad situation......"

"What's going to happen if it's worse?"

"It may take a few days or even longer to wake up."

"No, now that the fighting is fierce, how can the front troops not have a commander for a few days." Stalin anxiously asked: "Have you taken any measures?" ”

"We have already called Marshal Zhukov, who is on the Bryansk Front, and he is on his way over." Ponomarenko asked tentatively: "After the arrival of Marshal Zhukov, will the command of the troops be transferred to him?" ”

Stalin thought for a moment and casually asked: "Where is the deputy commander of the front?" ”

"He went to the 13th Army and the 70th Army to coordinate the work." Ponomarenko said: "We have not yet had time to inform Comrade Commander about the fainting of his comrades. ”

"Since he doesn't know about it yet, there's no need to bother him." Stalin quickly made a new arrangement, "if Rokossovsky could not wake up before dawn, then the command of the front was transferred to Zhukov." As soon as Rokossovsky came to his senses, he called me immediately. Before putting down the phone, he also specifically told Ponomarenko, "By the way, in order to take better care of Rokossovsky, I suggest that you find him a military doctor who will take care of his health." ”

Ponomarenko put down the phone and said to his colleagues gathered around: "Comrade Stalin asked us to find a military doctor for the commander to take care of his body, do you have a suitable candidate?" ”

"Didn't we go to the military hospital under our direct jurisdiction today?" Hearing Ponomarenko say this, Terekin immediately said: "I'll call the director of the hospital and ask him to send us a military doctor to take care of the commander." ”

"That's right," Ponomarenko immediately agreed with Terekin's proposal: "I think it's up to the female military doctor who fainted on the operating table today, she is responsible for the work, and it is only fitting that she will take care of the commander." ”