Because before the end of the battle, the troops were attacked by the German army, and paid a great price, which made Rokossovsky's heart feel very heavy, so he also appeared listless when he spoke: "We destroyed nearly 50 German tanks and armored vehicles, hundreds of motorcycles and more than 300 infantry, and captured more than 60 prisoners, including a German colonel......"

Maslov listened to Rokossovsky's words on the phone with a weak heart, thinking that the troops had not achieved any results, so he also listened absent-mindedly. When he heard that the destroyed tanks and armored vehicles totaled nearly fifty, and that prisoners, including a German colonel, had been captured, he was stunned for a moment, then interrupted Rokossovsky's later words, and couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade commander, what did you just say?" Destroyed almost fifty tanks and armored vehicles of the enemy, and also captured a German colonel? ”

"That's right, that's right." Although Rokossovsky did not know the purpose of Maslov's question, he replied truthfully: "It can be regarded as a small victory, but the casualties of our troops are not small......"

After confirming Rokossovsky's results, Maslov's voice changed because of excitement: "Comrade commander, you must know that the results of the two mechanized armies in the Dubno area combined are not as great as yours. Where is your small victory, it is a big victory, it can be regarded as a big victory! I will immediately report this news to Commander Potapov. Do you say okay, Comrade Commander? ”

Rokossovsky's mind was still thinking about the tank artillery that was blown up by the German plane, and the nearly 100 commanders and fighters who died, but he didn't hear Maslov's words clearly. As a result, after Maslov finished speaking, he did not get a response from Rokossovsky, he thought that the wireless phone was not effective, and hurriedly asked again: "Comrade commander, I don't know what you mean?" ”

When Maslov asked this, Rokossovsky woke up from a dream and asked: "What is the matter, Comrade Chief of Staff?" ”

"I ask if it is necessary to report your results to Commander Potapov immediately!" Although Maslov was the chief of staff of the army, he could not make decisions about this matter without Rokossovsky's permission.

Rokossovsky reacted quickly, and after a little hesitation, he said decisively: "Well, Comrade Chief of Staff, since this is the case, you should immediately report to the commander of the army group what we have achieved!" ”

Rokossovsky ended the call with Maslov, looked up and saw only Chernyaev, but Novikov was nowhere to be seen, and he asked in wonder: "Colonel, where did Novikov go?" ”

Chernyaev pouted outside the door and said, "The division commander Novikov went to interrogate the captured German colonel, he wanted to know the next move of the German army. ”

After listening to this, Rokossovsky put the headset and microphone in his hand on the table, turned around and walked out of the observation post. He walked a little further along the traffic trench, and when he saw two soldiers standing at the entrance of a hidden department, he stopped and asked, "Is General Novikov inside?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Hearing Rokossovsky's questioning, one of the fighters closest to him hurriedly replied: "The division commander is interrogating the prisoners inside." After speaking, he raised his hand and lifted the curtain blocking the door, and said earnestly, "Please come in, Comrade Commander." ”

Rokossovsky nodded, bent down slightly and walked into the cover. Although this makeshift shelter looks inconspicuous from the outside, when you enter it, you find that it is quite large inside. Near the doorway, two fighters with submachine guns, with their backs straightened, stood behind a dejected German prisoner, while behind the wooden table opposite, Novikov and two other political workers sat behind.

Seeing that it was Rokossovsky who entered the door, Novikov and they quickly got up from their seats and raised their hands in salute. Rokossovsky raised his hand and returned the salute, and asked casually: "How is it, comrade division commander, did you ask for any valuable information from the mouth of the prisoner?" ”

Hearing this, Novikov shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Comrade commander, I didn't ask anything. The German colonel may have been stupefied by our artillery fire, and no matter how much we asked, he would just say over and over again: "Your artillery fire is too fierce......" At this point, Novikov lowered his voice and said, "Maybe he is playing dumb!" ”

After listening to this, Rokossovsky turned around and walked in front of the German colonel, put his hands behind his back, and said to him with a serious expression: "I am the army commander, Major General Rokossovsky, Mr. Colonel, please explain what is the task of your troops?" ”

A political worker standing beside Novikov hurriedly stepped forward and translated Rokossovsky's words to the German colonel. After hearing this, the other party showed a panicked expression on his face, and he pretended to be calm and asked, "Your Excellency General, you won't shoot me, will you?" ”

"Whether we will shoot you or not depends on your attitude, Mr. Colonel!" After listening to the translation, Rokossovsky said lightly: "If you want to see death as home, I will gladly fulfill you."

The German colonel was taken aback by Rokossovsky's words, and without waiting for the interpreter to translate this sentence, he said in a panic: "Your Excellency, General, please don't shoot me, I will tell you everything I know." ”

"Do you speak Russian?" Hearing that the German colonel could speak Russian so fluently surprised Rokossovsky.

"Yes, Your Excellency." The German colonel nodded and said: "I studied for two years at the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow, so I can speak Russian." ”

Novikov, who was standing behind Rokossovsky, heard the colonel say this, and couldn't help but grit his teeth and say: "Damn the German, it's just a white-eyed wolf that can't be raised." ”

After Rokossovsky heard Novikov's words, he just smiled faintly, and then turned his face and asked the German colonel: "Mr. Colonel, please tell me, what is the task you received?" ”

"Cut off the connection between Lutsk and Rivne," the German colonel replied in a somewhat panicked tone when he heard Rokossovsky's stern tone: "After cutting off this place, I ...... Our troops, we will be able to deal with ...... To your ministry in Lutsk...... Troops, shapes...... Form a situation of encirclement. ”

After listening to the words of the German colonel, Rokossovsky waved his hand and ordered the two fighters standing behind the colonel: "Comrade soldier, take him down and take care of him first." ”

After the German colonel was taken away, Rokossovsky shook his head at Novikov and said: "Comrade division commander, come with me, I have a new task to arrange for you." ”

After the two returned to the observation post, Rokossovsky spread a map on the table, and then said to the two division commanders: "The situation is already obvious, the Germans are trying to cut off the road from Lutsk to Rivne, and then strike hard at the right flank of our army, so as to achieve the goal of dividing and destroying our army." ”

Novikov looked up from the map, looked at Rokossovsky and asked: "Comrade commander, what should we do next?" ”

"Colonel Chernyaev," Rokossovsky pointed to a point on the map and assigned the task to Chernyaev: "Your 20th tank division is going to occupy the heights here and build a strong defense, resolutely blocking the enemy rushing to the Lutsk-Rivne road." ”

"Yes!" Chernyaev resoundingly agreed.

Rokossovsky turned his head again and continued to instruct Novikov: "General Novikov, your 35th tank division will return to Lutsk with me, join up with the chief of staff's troops, and assist friendly forces in defending the southern part of Lutsk. ”

After speaking, he raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said: "It's not too early, let's act immediately!" ”