At six o'clock in the morning, Rokossovsky arrived at the headquarters on the Lyubon Heights. After greeting the three division commanders, Novikov and Scherstyuk, who had arrived earlier, and Chernyaev, who had withdrawn from the direction of Lublin, he stared at the map spread out on the table and began to ponder, considering which direction the troops should take to return to Lutzk.

Perhaps Rokossovsky's attention stayed on the map for too long, and Novikov asked with some urgency: "Comrade Army Commander, have you figured out which direction to return to Lutsk?" ”

Rokossovsky shook his head slowly, and said, "If there is a suitable road for tanks, it is only this one that passes through Cowell." But the Germans now have a division in the city, although it is only an infantry division, but it is not easy to eat them in a short time. ”

"Then our troops can go directly south and move in the direction of Vladimi Volynsky." Novikov suggested to Rokossovsky: "When we reach the halfway point between it and Lutsk, we will be able to quickly enter the defense zone of our army by turning around to the east." ”

"Comrade General, you must know that from here to the south, except for the absence of a road suitable for tanks, it is all a wide plain." After hearing this, Chernyaev immediately retorted: "If we march on the open plain without air cover, the German bombardment will give us heavy casualties." ”

"We march in this direction, firstly, without attacking the heavily defended cities of the German army, and secondly, we can also receive the troops withdrawn from Post 13." Novikov said unwillingly: "Due to the detachment from logistics, at the moment tanks and armored vehicles are left with only a base of ammunition, and limited fuel. If we do not get to Lutsk as soon as possible to join the main forces, the combat vehicles without ammunition and fuel will become a useless pile of scrap metal. ”

Hearing the argument between the two division commanders, Rokossovsky did not immediately stop them, but asked Scherstyuk, who was speechless next to him, with a sideways face: "Comrade General, has that infantry regiment of yours been withdrawn from post No. 13?" ”

Scherstyuk shook his head and said with a serious expression: "I sent two groups of communication troops, one of which came back to tell me that there was a fierce battle going on at post 13, and they could not approach it at all. So a group of signal soldiers stayed, ready to wait for the right moment, and infiltrated the post to convey the order to retreat. The other group went back the way they came, reporting to me what had happened there. ”

Hearing Scherstyuk say this, Rokossovsky understood in his heart that it seemed unlikely that this infantry regiment would protrude intact from the encirclement of the German army. Looking at the map in front of him, he felt a special headache about which route to choose to get to Lutsk. In his later memories, there are only some scenes that he saw in the movies: Vashukin, despite the disparity in the strength of the enemy and us at that time, used his authority to force the commander of the troops to counterattack the superior German army according to the counterattack orders issued by the headquarters headquarters on the basis of unrealistic battle reports. When the counterattack of various units failed and he suffered heavy casualties, he finally shot himself because he could not bear the huge psychological impact.

Seeing Rokossovsky staring at the map and falling into deep thought, the three division commanders looked at each other, wanting to remind them, but they were worried about interrupting the commander's train of thought, so they had to stand in the distance in a daze without saying a word. Seeing the embarrassment on the faces of the three division commanders, Political Commissar Fuming, who was sitting next to him as an audience, smiled, and then asked in a casual tone: "Comrade General, have you chosen the marching route of the troops?" ”

When Rokossovsky heard the voice of Fomin, he quickly raised his head from the map, looked at the other party and smiled, and then said politely: "Comrade political commissar, this determination is not easy to make." Judging by the current situation, no matter which direction we return to Lutsk, there will be an exchange of fire with the Germans. ”

"Comrade General," perhaps because of the experience of the Brest Fortress, Fomin was unusually calm at the moment, pointing to the map and saying to Rokossovsky: "I also know that this road through Kowell is very accessible to tank troops. But to pass through Colwill, it is bound to be a tough battle. Have you ever wondered if your commanders and fighters have the experience of fighting with fortified positions? At this point, he deliberately paused for a moment, and then asked tentatively: "I think the reason why you have been slow to make up your mind may be that you are worried that when your troops move south to the Great Plains, they may be attacked by German air forces, right?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commissar." At such times, Rokossovsky did not hide his true thoughts: "The march of a large army on the unobstructed Great Plains without the cover of the Air Force is tantamount to sending the soldiers to death." As their commander, I can't just watch them die. ”

"But, Comrade General." Fumin then analyzed: "Even if your troops do not go to the Great Plains and attack Cowill, the German army in the city can summon planes to help in the battle at any time. When the time comes, tens of thousands of our troops will be crowded outside the city of Cowill, and it will not be the same as the German air raid?! ”

Rokossovsky still agreed with Fomin's analysis, so he humbly asked him for advice: "Comrade Political Commissar, what do you mean, should we take the southern route?" ”

"That's right." Fomin affirmed: "It is less than 100 kilometers from Lyubom to Lutsk in the south, and although it is a large plain that is difficult to hide, because there is no river to block it, with the current mobility of the troops, it will only take about three to four hours to reach Lutsk." Even if the Germans had fortifications on the plains, they could not stop the assault of our tanks. ”

After listening to Fomin's words, Rokossovsky suddenly felt that his mouth was suddenly opened. He slammed the table and said loudly: "Okay, Comrade Commissar, you are right, then we will turn south and cross the Great Plains to return to Lutsk." Then he raised his head and began to give orders to the three division commanders: "General Novikov! ”

"Here!" Novikov, who was called by name, hurriedly stepped forward and agreed loudly.

"As the vanguard, your division will open the way for the whole army in front." Rokossovsky gave him an order with a serious expression: "The commanders and fighters of the whole division are still wearing German uniforms, using captured German tanks to open the way, and quickly advance along the Great Plains towards Lutsk. If the German defensive positions are discovered, they will adopt the tactics of breaking through in the middle and outflanking them on both flanks, and wipe them all out in one fell swoop. ”

"Yes!" Novikov again loudly agreed, and then retreated to the middle of the other two division commanders.

Rokossovsky then called by name: "General Scherstyuk!" ”

"Here!" Scherstyuk also hurriedly stepped forward.

"Your division is the second echelon, and all the commanders and fighters are riding in trucks and following the Novikov division to the south!"

"Yes!"

After Scherstyuk retreated, Rokossovsky turned his attention to the last division commander: "Colonel Chernyaev!" Your division, as the rear guard of the whole army, was responsible for defending against German forces that could come from Cowell. ”

"Yes!" In a loud voice, Chernyaev assured Rokossovsky: "I promise to complete the task." ”

Rokossovsky glanced at the three division commanders standing in front of him with his eyes, and then asked in an extremely dignified tone: "Are the tasks clear?" ”

"It's clear!" The three division commanders replied in unison.

Rokossovsky nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand and said loudly: "Then let's act!" ”