Whether it is Rokossovsky or Tang Shaohua, they know Zhukov's character very well. The former understands because he has dealt with Zhukov for more than ten years; And the latter's understanding of Zhukov comes all from history books. Therefore, instead of going around in circles with Zhukov, he said straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, before I report to you, I would like to ask you a question, is that okay?" ”

"Ask!" Zhukov said impatiently.

"Is war between us and Germany about to break out?" Tang Shaohua, who knew the date of the outbreak of the war, deliberately asked in a hypothetical tone: "To be precise, in the near future, are we going to war with the Germans?" ”

Zhukov, who was originally a little absent-minded, couldn't help but feel a stir when he heard these words, he sat up straight and asked vigilantly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I ask you, where did you hear this rumor?" To be precise, which panicked person instilled this false notion in your head? ”

"Nobody, Georgy Konstantinovich!" Tang Shaohua said with some grievances: "I just came to a conclusion by analyzing the various abnormal situations that have occurred in the current border areas. ”

"Who else are you around?" Zhukov asked in a stern tone.

"There's no one, I'm alone here." Although Tang Shaohua stayed alone in the office and the door was closed, when he said this, he still habitually looked around, as if he was afraid that someone would stand behind him and eavesdrop, "I'm in my office." ”

"Wait." After Zhukov said this, he hung up the phone directly.

Tang Shaohua held the microphone with a busy sound in a daze, he didn't know why Zhukov suddenly hung up the phone while making him wait. But the answer was soon revealed, and as soon as he put the microphone on the telephone, the phone rang.

Zhukov's cold voice came out of the earpiece: "Okay, Comrade Rokossovsky, I am using a confidential phone now, I am waiting for you to report to me, how do you judge that the German army will start a war against us in the near future?" ”

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff," Tang Shaohua used his position when he heard Zhukov's official voice, "According to the information I have received, German reconnaissance planes have crossed the national border many times recently and penetrated deep into the hinterland of our country to conduct reconnaissance. The day before yesterday, even in the skies over Zhytomyr, German reconnaissance planes were spotted. I have reported this to the command of the Fifth Army, but it does not seem to have attracted their attention. ”

"Not only with you, but also on the Baltic Sea and the western border, there have been many cases of German reconnaissance planes crossing the border." Zhukov frowned and asked in a serious way: "From this point alone, it does not mean that the Germans will attack us. Do you have any other evidence to support your judgment? ”

"Yes, Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Tang Shaohua said clearly: "According to the report of our border guards, signs of a large number of German regular troops have been found in the Lublin area, and the roar of the motors of their tanks has been resounding all night. ”

"However, some people believe that the German attack on the Soviet Union will not officially begin until the victory over Britain is achieved." Since Zhukov could not tell Rokossovsky about the contents of today's meeting, he could only say euphemistically: "Therefore, the inference that we and the Germans will fight at this time is a sign of panic." Perhaps for fear of dampening Rokossovsky's mood, he added, "But I agree with you." ”

Hearing Zhukov say this, Tang Shaohua, whose mood had fallen to the bottom, saw a glimmer of hope again. He reverted to calling Zhukov by his real and patronymic names, and tentatively asked: "Georgy Konstantinovich!" Since you also think that war is imminent, can you give me some help? ”

Although Zhukov is the chief of the General Staff, due to the many constraints he has received, the rights he can exercise are also very limited, so after thinking for a while, he frowned and asked: "I don't know what kind of help you want me to provide you?" ”

"Can you provide us with a batch of state-of-the-art tanks? For example, BT-7 and T-34 tanks require at least 20 units per model. Tang Shaohua considered that the army was equipped with old-fashioned tanks, and it would fall behind when competing with German tanks on the battlefield, so the models proposed to Zhukov were the most advanced in the Soviet Union.

After listening to Tang Shaohua's request, Zhukov couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart, and said a little helplessly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, these models of tanks you mentioned are in stock in Kharkiv. But I don't have the right to assign tanks to your army until I have permission from the National Defense Committee. ”

Tang Shaohua had already had a way to deal with Zhukov's concerns, and he said with confidence: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, as long as you agree, I will have a way to get these tanks." ”

Tang Shaohua's words aroused Zhukov's great curiosity, and he asked in surprise: "Do you have any good ideas?" ”

"Yes, Georgy Konstantinovich!" Tang Shaohua showed his respect for Zhukov and once again used his first and patronymic names to address each other: "There are several warehouses in Zhytomyr that are under the direct jurisdiction of the State Defense Committee, and you can send all these tanks there. ”

"There is no problem in sending the allocated tanks to the warehouses of the National Defense Committee." Zhukov asked with interest: "But how did you get these tanks out of storage?" ”

Hearing that Zhukov agreed to send the transferred tanks to the warehouse, Tang Shaohua couldn't help but show a smug smile on his face. However, he was still soberly aware that if he did not explain to Zhukov how to get these tanks, the other side would still have the possibility of changing his mind, so after careful consideration, he still said: "Once the war breaks out, I can send troops to take over these warehouses, and then we can use the materials stored in the warehouses to arm our troops." ”

After hearing this, Zhukov nodded silently, and then said into the microphone: "Okay, Comrade Rokossovsky, I will try my best to arrange for the relevant departments to send the tanks you need to the defense warehouse." ”

"I wonder when the tanks will arrive in Zhytomyr?" Tang Shaohua asked.

Zhukov thought for a moment, and then replied: "I think you also know the efficiency of the organs. I think by mid-July, this batch of tanks should be able to enter your defense warehouse. ”

"Mid-July?" Tang Shaohua was like being poured a basin of ice water on his head, and his heart suddenly became half cold. The heart said that if the tanks provided by the superiors arrived at that time, it would be meaningless, maybe Zhytomyr would have been lost by then. He hesitated for a long time before he muttered: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, can you get the tanks into storage as soon as possible?" You know, the Germans won't wait until mid-July to attack us. ”