The fighting with the Germans, which lasted until April 15, finally ceased completely.

Just when Rokossovsky was busy, suddenly the head of the communications corps, Maksimenko, called him: "Comrade commander, your call is from the command of the 1st Ukrainian Front. ”

The originally noisy command suddenly became quiet because of Maksimenko's words. Everyone knows that since General Vatutin was wounded in the attack on February 29, Zhukov has been in the post of commander, and he called at this time, is there something serious?

Rokossovsky, with nervousness, picked up the microphone on the table, put it to his ear and said: "Hello, Georgy Konstantinovich! Is there anything please? ”

"Yes, Comrade Rokossovsky." Hearing Rokossovsky call his real name and patronymic, Zhukov said with a serious expression: "I called you because something big happened." An hour earlier, Comrade Vatutin had died in a military hospital in Kiev due to an infected wound. ”

"What, Vatutin is dead?" Although Rokossovsky had long known that Vatutin would die, when he really heard the news of his death, he was still taken aback, and hurriedly asked: "Didn't you say some time ago that his injuries have improved and he will be discharged from the hospital soon?" How could he have died so suddenly? ”

"That's right, he called me last week and said that his injuries were almost healed, and he was going to return to Ukraine to continue to command the troops and ask me about the situation on the battlefield." Zhukov said: "When I heard this bad time, because I heard it wrong, I called Khrushchev to confirm it. ”

Rokossovsky patiently waited for Zhukov to finish speaking, and then asked: "Comrade Marshal, what do I need to do?" ”

"Vatutin's funeral will be held in Kiev at ten o'clock in the morning of the 17th." Zhukov said in a heavy tone: "I hope you will be able to play then." ”

Rokossovsky did not know at all where Vatutin's body was buried after his death, and having heard that the funeral was held in Kiev, he could not help but ask curiously: "Comrade Marshal, why is it buried in Kiev, and not in Moscow?" ”

"Vatutin's wife also hopes to have her husband buried in Moscow." Zhukov sighed and continued: "But Comrade Khrushchev stubbornly said that it was Vatutin who commanded the troops to liberate Kyiv, and the liberators of Kiev should be buried in Kyiv. The question of where Vatutin was buried had already been consulted with Moscow, and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself agreed with Khrushchev's proposal. ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Although Rokossovsky did not know why Khrushchev insisted on burying Vatutin in Kiev, he readily promised Zhukov: "I will appear in Kiev on time early the day after tomorrow morning." ”

As soon as Rokossovsky put down the phone, Terekin, Malinin and others gathered around and asked in surprise: "Comrade commander, what's the matter, why did General Vatutin suddenly die?" ”

"I don't know the specifics," Rokossovsky shook his head and said, "I heard from Comrade Marshal, it seems that the wound is infected, causing heart failure or something like ,......that."

After Rokossovsky finished talking about Zhukov's call, Malinin opened his mouth and asked: "Comrade commander, who are you going to let accompany you?" ”

Rokossovsky looked around and said: "At present, our fighting with the German army has completely stopped, so the members of the command can go more." Terekin, Zakharkin, Orel, the three of you accompanied me to Kyiv for the funeral. And you, Comrade Chief of Staff, remain to take charge of the specific affairs within the front army. ”

Hearing that he was not allowed to go to Kyiv, Malinin showed a disappointed expression on his face, but the military order was like a mountain, since Rokossovsky had already said so, there was no possibility of changing, he could only nod his head and say: "Understood, comrade commander, during the time you are away, I will take care of all the internal affairs of the front." ”

…………

In the early morning of the 17th, Rokossovsky and three of his colleagues boarded a special plane sent by Khrushchev and flew to Kiev. In the past, they flew to wherever they went, either by fighter plane, transport plane, or even by bomber, and it was difficult for people to find a comfortable feeling. The plane I took this time was actually a passenger plane provided by MacDonald Aircraft Company, which opened everyone's eyes.

When getting off the plane, Terekin also said with emotion: "Comrade commander, I didn't expect the American plane to be so comfortable, if only we could take this kind of plane every time." ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar." Rokossovsky smiled and said to him: "As soon as the war is over, many such planes will be seen in the skies of our motherland." Flying will be a pleasure. ”

While several people were chatting, a colonel outside the runway walked up to Rokossovsky, raised his hand and saluted, and said: "Hello, General Rokossovsky, welcome to Kiev." I have come to pick you up on the orders of Comrade Khrushchev. The car is already waiting outside, please come with me? ”

There were two black sedans parked outside the runway, and the colonel walked to the back of the sedan, opened the door, and waited for Rokossovsky and Terekin to get into the car before he went around the rear of the car to the co-pilot, pulled the door and got into the car. Zakharkin and Orel, on the other hand, sat in a car in the back.

After waiting for the car to start, Rokossovsky suddenly remembered something and asked the colonel: "Comrade colonel, if I remember correctly, today should be Khrushchev's birthday, right?" ”

"That's right, Comrade General, your memory is correct." The colonel half-turned around and said politely: "Comrade Khrushchev's birthday is indeed today, but he had already said hello yesterday, and his birthday party was canceled today because of the funeral of the martyred General Vatutin. ”

"What a pity." Hearing what the colonel said, Terekin said in a regretful tone: "You must know that today is Khrushchev's fiftieth birthday, and it is a pity that such a big event has to be canceled and the birthday party has to be canceled. ”

After the car entered the city of Kyiv, Rokossovsky saw that the pavements on both sides of the street had been cleared of piles of masonry and rubble, and countless residents were standing on both sides of these clean streets, and in front of them were the police and militia of three steps and five steps and one sentry.

Seeing that Rokossovsky had been staring outside, the colonel hurriedly explained: "These residents came spontaneously to give General Vatutin's funeral. ”

"There are so many people," Rokossovsky said, looking outside, and said to himself, "if so many people came to give me a funeral on the day of my funeral, I would be content." ”

Terekin heard Rokossovsky's somewhat gloomy thoughts on the side, and hurriedly said to him: "Comrade commander, I believe that you will definitely live a long life." ”

Rokossovsky laughed when he heard this: "I hope so!" ”

When the car came to the outside of the cemetery, it was also crowded with people, and the police on duty instructed the driver to park the car in the designated area. After Rokossovsky got out of the car, the colonel took the initiative to act as a guide and guided several of them through the police on duty and into the heavily guarded cemetery.

Once inside, Rokossovsky saw Zhukov and Khrushchev, who had been waiting here for a long time. He hurriedly stepped forward to salute Zhukov, shook hands with Khrushchev, and congratulated him on his birthday.

Khrushchev only smiled at Rokossovsky's blessing, and then said with a solemn expression: "I originally wanted to invite Vatutin to today's birthday banquet, but who knew that he left suddenly. ”

"Comrade Khrushchev," Rokossovsky asked curiously, seeing that the other guests were still some distance away from all three of them, "Didn't General Vatutin's injuries have long since healed, and why did they suddenly deteriorate like this?" ”

"It was said to be infected, and the hospital recommended that penicillin be used immediately to reduce inflammation for him." When Khrushchev said this, his face was full of bitterness: "But to use such American-aided medicines, it is necessary to obtain the permission of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself." Although Vatujin applied for it, it was not approved, and the drugs we have cannot alleviate the symptoms of infection, the result is ......"

I heard that there was penicillin from the United States in the hospital, but Stalin did not allow the doctor to use it on Vatutin, what was the reason for this, with this question, Rokossovsky asked curiously: "Why did the Supreme Commander himself not agree to use this drug?" ”

"I think the reason why the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself disagrees," Khrushchev said with careful consideration, "perhaps fearing that it would be very dangerous to use this imported medicine for our senior generals......"

Before Khrushchev could finish his words, Vatutin's hearse arrived at the door of the cemetery. Vatutin's coffin, draped with a red flag, was placed on a gun carriage and pulled by four horses. After the hearse stopped, eight honor guards waiting next to them hurriedly stepped forward and carefully lifted the coffin from the gun carriage.

When he saw eight guards of honor carrying coffins and walking towards the tomb that had already been dug in a neat manner, Khrushchev made an unexpected move, he rushed up to replace one of the honor guards who walked in the front, and walked forward with steps, following the example of the honor guards.

For Khrushchev's move, an exclamation immediately sounded in the crowd of onlookers: "Look, Comrade Khrushchev personally carried the coffin of General Vatutin!" "No, it's really Comrade Khrushchev." ……

When the coffin was carried to the side of the dug pit, a red carnation was given to everyone present. Rokossovsky took the carnation and felt a little crying and laughing, in China, the carnation was a gift to the mother, but here, it represents a sustenance of sorrow, usually for the dead. He also remembered that chrysanthemums were used for graves in China, and here they were gifts from students to teachers. This is probably the difference between Eastern and Western cultures.

Khrushchev was in charge of giving the eulogy, and after the coffin was slowly lowered into the pit, the funeral attendees stepped forward one by one and threw the carnations in their hands onto the coffin in the pit. When all this was done, the warrior standing by picked up his shovel and began to fill the pit with earth.

After the funeral, Rokossovsky followed Zhukov and Khrushchev to the Verkhovna Rada building in the center of Kiev. Zhukov is going to study the next strategy with Rokossovsky here.

While the two were discussing, Khrushchev sat on the sidelines as an audience. Zhukov asked Rokossovsky: "Comrade Rokossovsky, in two months, it will be possible for our army to launch a summer offensive." Where do you think we should choose the main direction of the summer offensive? ”

"Does that need to be said?" Rokossovsky said lightly: "Of course, the main direction of attack should be chosen in Belarus." ”

"Why?"

"Quite simply, in the first few months, the base camp focused its main efforts on Ukraine. The battles waged by our four fronts in Ukraine have achieved considerable results. As soon as he talked about the operational aspects, Rokossovsky began to talk about it again: "In this way, the Germans have the illusion that our army will continue to expand its gains in Ukraine, so that they can be forced to send more troops to Ukraine." ”

"That's right, that's what I thought about too." After Zhukov waited for Rokossovsky to finish speaking, he nodded, and then asked: "Rokossovsky, what measures do you think we should take to give the enemy the illusion that the direction of our offensive is in Ukraine and not Belarus?" ”

"Is there a map, Comrade Khrushchev?" Rokossovsky turned his head and asked Khrushchev.

"Yes, I have a map of Ukraine here." How could Khrushchev, as the supreme leader of Ukraine, not have a map of Ukraine, he got up and opened a filing cabinet, pulled out a scroll from it, and put it in front of Rokossovsky and Zhukov: "Well, this is the map of Ukraine. ”

Having unfolded the map, Rokossovsky said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, please look here, since there are too many forests, lakes, rivers and swamps in the area of our summer offensive, we cannot massively use armored forces in offensive battles. Therefore, I propose to leave all large-scale armored clusters in Ukraine.

The Germans knew very well where our Panzer Army was located. If they see that our tanks are all in Ukraine, they will think that our main direction of attack will be Ukraine, not Belarus. ”

Zhukov stared at the map for a while, and bowed slightly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you have a very reasonable point, if we leave the main tank army in Ukraine, the Germans will definitely be fooled, so that they will not send troops to Belarus, but will put the main defense forces in Ukraine." ”