Rokossovsky dreamed that he would be promoted to the rank in this situation, so he was stunned for a moment, so that he didn't see Budyonny's outstretched hand towards him at all.

"What's wrong with you, Comrade Rokossovsky." Seeing Rokossovsky standing there dumbfounded, Budyonny was a little upset.

Budyonny's voice woke Rokossovsky out of his state of distraction. He hurriedly stretched out his hands and tightly grasped Budyonny's hand, shook it vigorously twice, and then asked in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Marshal, if I am mistaken, Comrade Stalin has just personally promoted me to the rank?" ”

"That's right, Lieutenant General Rokossovsky." When Budyonny spoke, he deliberately pronounced the word "lieutenant general" very clearly, "Since Comrade Stalin himself said that adding a gold star to your collar badge, of course, it is to promote your military rank!" How could you be such a dead brain? ……”

Rokossovsky didn't listen to what Budyonny said later, but he clearly knew that from now on, he would no longer be Major General Rokossovsky, but a lieutenant general, and he would be fully qualified to serve as the commander of an army group. When he controlled his emotions, he asked clearly: "Comrade Marshal, allow me to ask a question, do you want me to get a promotion in rank here, how much?" ”

"Not much," said Budyonny, shaking his head, "only commanders who have performed great meritorious deeds are eligible for the promotion of Comrade Stalin." Yesterday, Comrade Stalin learned that the commander of the 63rd Infantry Army, Colonel Petrovsky, had decisively crossed the Dnieper while the enemy was unprepared and had successfully captured Zhilobin and other Belarusian cities, and immediately promoted him to the rank of lieutenant general. ”

Hearing the name Petrovsky, Rokossovsky immediately retrieved information about this commander from his memory bank, knowing that he died honorably in a month-long breakout battle, and his body fell into the hands of the Germans, until in 1944, when the Soviet army counterattacked to the west bank of the Dnieper River, under the guidance of the locals, the Germans found the tomb built for this heroic commander.

After learning about Petrovsky's information, Rokossovsky couldn't help but sigh secretly, saying that if such an excellent commander could be included in his command, maybe the 16th Army would be able to achieve more remarkable results during the defense of Moscow. However, these thoughts can only be in my heart for now, because it is still unknown where I can go to command the troops.

Just then, the phone on the desk rang. After Budyonny answered the phone, his face was particularly ugly. After a moment of frustration in his seat, he picked up the phone, dialed a number, and after a moment he got up from his seat and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, I have just received a report that the enemy's powerful airborne forces have landed in the Yaltsevo region, and our line of defense has formed a vacuum ...... in the Smolensk direction"

After Budyonny ended the call with Stalin, he put down the phone in his hand, looked at Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade General, I think you also heard the phone call just now. The enemy's airborne landing in the Yaltsevo region created a defensive vacuum in the defensive strip of our army in the Smolensk direction. In order not to allow the Dko to advance in the direction of Vyazma, the Supreme High Command planned to create a powerful mobile group of two or three tank divisions and one infantry division in the Yaltsevo region. It was expected that the group, with the support of the 16th and 20th armies, should carry out an active offensive against the Germans attacking Smolensk, in order to improve the enemy's posture in the area and ensure that our troops could hold Smolensk. After my consultation with Comrade Stalin, you will be entrusted with the responsibility of commanding this operational cluster. ”

Although he heard that he was considered the commander of an operational cluster, Rokossovsky was not at all happy in his heart, because he understood in his heart that under the current situation, it would be very difficult and unrealistic to form such an operational group. After being silent for a while, he asked in a deep voice: "Comrade Marshal, I would like to ask, what troops will be in this operational cluster that is about to be formed, and from where should these troops be mobilized?" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's question, Budyonny was silent for a while, and then said vaguely: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you can rest assured. In addition to the fact that there are several fixed divisions and regiments, the Supreme High Command gives you special authorization to integrate all the troops you encounter on the road from Moscow to Yaltsevo into your new combat cluster. As for combat missions, you can get more detailed instructions from the commander of the Western Front. ”

Since in the early days of the war, it was too common for the commanders of the various armies to change generals, so Rokossovsky could not find the information on who was the commander of the Western Front at this moment from his own memory bank, and he could only ask tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, I don't know who the commander of the Western Front is, is it General Pavlov?" ”

After hearing this, Budyonny shook his head and said: "No, General Pavlov has been removed from the post of commander of the front army because of his unfavorable command and unshirkable responsibility for the fall of the territory and the defeat of the troops, and several other generals have been sent to a military court. Now it is Marshal Timoshenko who temporarily acts as commander of the Front. ”

Hearing Budyonny's words, Rokossovsky immediately remembered that after the dismissal of General Pavlov, Marshal Timoshenko briefly took over the command of the Western Front, and soon after, General Konev took over the post of commander. Until mid-October, Zhukov, who returned from Leningrad, took command of the Western Front.

After making two phone calls in a row, Budyonny said to Rokossovsky: "Okay, Comrade General, the General Staff will send a group of commanders and a communications squad with a radio station to accompany you to Yaltsevo. To ensure your safety along the way, you'll be equipped with a platoon of guards, as well as two truck-towed quadruple anti-aircraft guns. ”

After waiting for him to finish, Rokossovsky respectfully asked: "Comrade Marshal, when should I go?" ”

Budyonny raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said: "Don't worry, it will take at least an hour for the commander team and the communications squad to arrive here, you can sit down and have a cup of tea first!" ”

Seeing that Budyonny was gracious, Rokossovsky did not shirk, thinking that he happened to have a lot to ask him for, so he nodded and said: "Comrade Marshal, I obey your orders!" With that, he sat down on the chair he had just reckoned with.

Budyonny put a cup of black tea with white sugar in front of Rokossovsky, and said slowly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, anyway, there is nothing important now, let's talk while drinking tea." ”

Rokossovsky took the teacup, thanked Budyonny, just held the teacup to his mouth, and before he could take a sip of tea, Budyonny said unhurriedly: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I saw a report a few days ago that you shot and killed a political worker without asking for instructions......

Hearing this, Rokossovsky's hands couldn't help but tremble, and immediately a lot of tea spilled out. He hurriedly put down the teacup, stood up, straightened his waist and stood in front of Budyonny, waiting for the other party to continue.

Budyonny saw Rokossovsky's sincere and frightened look, the expression on his face did not change in the slightest, he wiped off the water stains on the table with a rag, then raised his right hand and pressed it down, and said casually: "Comrade Rokossovsky, I just said that we are just chatting, don't be too restrained, please sit down!" ”

When Rokossovsky sat down again, he looked at Budyonny with some humility, wanting to hear what he had to say.

Budyonny smiled and said slowly: "Comrade General, since I can see that secret report, let alone Comrade Stalin?" Since he was able to personally promote you to the rank, would he still pursue the matter? ”

Hearing Budyonny say this, Rokossovsky's heart felt a little relieved, and he said that it was impossible to just get promoted to his military rank, and then send someone to arrest him.

At this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door, and before Rokossovsky could turn his head, a voice was heard: "Comrade Marshal, here you are asking for something." ”

Hearing the other party's report, Budyonny hurriedly beckoned to the other party and said, "Take it, Comrade Captain." ”

With the sound of crisp footsteps, an officer came to Budyonny's desk and respectfully placed a delicate little box on the table. When the other party turned around, Rokossovsky recognized at a glance that this was the captain who was on duty outside the door. The captain smiled at Rokossovsky and nodded, then walked out quickly.

Budyonny picked up the box, opened it and looked at it, then put it directly in front of Rokossovsky, and at the same time said amicably: "Comrade General, this is for you." ”

Rokossovsky looked down and saw two gold stars neatly placed on the red satin cloth in the box. Although he could guess at once what was going on, he still asked uncertainly: "Comrade Marshal, what is this ......?" ”

"Comrade General, don't you even know this?" Budyonny shrugged his shoulders and said with a smile: "Just put these two gold stars on your collar badge, and you will be a lieutenant general." ”

If Budyonny had just said that he would not pursue his execution of political workers, Rokossovsky was only slightly relieved. At this moment, seeing the box containing two gold stars in front of him, he finally completely let go of the big stone hanging in his heart.

Seeing that Rokossovsky's mood had regained his composure, Budyonny continued: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you executed a political worker who disobeyed orders without asking for advice, and we could have sent you to a military court on that basis alone. But after our understanding, we found that you were forced to deal with it like this at that time, and if it were not for your use of such thunderous methods, it is estimated that Shepetovka would have fallen into the hands of the Germans long ago. Therefore, our General Staff and Supreme High Command, after studying it, decided not to pursue this matter any further......"

In a harmonious atmosphere, the two unconsciously chatted and forgot the time. If it weren't for the sudden ringing of the phone, they probably wouldn't know when they were going to talk.

Budyonny picked up the phone and listened for a while, then said lightly: "I know." After hanging up, he said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade General, your team of commanders is now waiting for you outside the Kremlin, because you have to travel overnight, I will not leave you." Break a leg! As he spoke, he extended his hand to Rokossovsky.

Rokossovsky walked out of the Kremlin from under the Spassko bell tower and saw a gas car parked not far from the entrance, next to which a commander and a soldier were standing. Seeing Rokossovsky coming out of it, the officer trotted all the way to him, raised his hand and saluted, and politely asked: "Is it General Rokossovsky, please?" ”

"Yes, I'm Rokossovsky." Rokossovsky raised his hand and returned the salute, then looked at the officer and asked, "Are you in command of the group?" ”

"That's right, Comrade General." The officer politely replied: "I am your deputy." ”

"Why is it just the two of you?" Rokossovsky saw that there was only a lone car here, and in addition to the officer in front of him, only a soldier who looked like a driver was standing next to the car, so he couldn't help but ask: "Where are the others?" ”

The officer pointed in the direction of the Vasily slope and said: "Comrade General, they are all waiting for you by the Moscow River." Because this is a critical department, we only drove one car to pick you up. ”

After waiting for the car, the officer politely asked: "Comrade General, where are we going now?" ”

"Go to Yaltsevo!" Rokossovsky briefly ordered: "I will rush to Yatsevo as soon as possible to receive specific combat tasks from the commander of the Front." ”

"Okay, I see." The officer agreed, and then instructed the driver: "Go to Kas." ”

"Comrade officer, why should we go to Cass?" When Rokossovsky heard what the officer said to the driver, he asked puzzledly: "Didn't I just say that we were going to Yaltsevo?" ”

"That's right, Comrade General." The officer patiently explained to Rokossovsky: "Today the headquarters of the Western Front is located in Kas. If you want to receive specific orders from the commander of the Front, you have to go to Kas. ”

The gas drove from the Vasily slope to the Moscow River and headed west along the road. The convoy of seven or eight trucks that had been on the side of the road immediately started to follow and drove west together. (To be continued.) )