What happened in the past two days also made Rokossovsky confused, he really couldn't figure out what kind of medicine was sold in the gourd of the Germans. First designed a spy to be arrested because his identity was exposed, and then sent someone to kill the old man who framed the first spy, no matter how big a move they made, were they not afraid that they would attract the attention of the Soviet army's counterintelligence agency?

"General Lunev," Rokossovsky asked curiously, waiting for Lunev to finish, "what do you think the enemy is trying to hide the truth?" ”

"Comrade Marshal, as far as I know, during the war, in addition to wantonly plundering the resources and materials of production of the occupied countries, Germany also robbed countless cultural relics." Lunev said thoughtfully: "Is it possible that in the vicinity of the city, there is a secret stronghold of the Germans to hide their cultural relics?" ”

"Even if there are artifacts, what does that have to do with spies?" Bogolyubov said unconvinced: "What puzzles me is that if you don't want our army to discover these hidden cultural relics, the enemy should keep a low profile, how can you take the initiative to expose the spies hidden in the city?" It's just out of the ordinary. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is exactly what we need to figure out." After Lunev said this, he turned his head to look at Rokossovsky and asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, if you want to solve this case, it is far from enough to rely on the few manpower under my command. I wonder if you can get the comrades of the counterintelligence department to cooperate with us? ”

Considering that the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are more professional than their own people in terms of detection, Rokossovsky readily agreed to the other party's request: "No problem, General Lunev, I will inform Vinogradov later, so that the counterintelligence service can fully cooperate with your work." ”

Seeing that Rokossovsky agreed to his request, Lunev suddenly felt full of confidence: "Comrade Marshal, I assure you that as long as there are enough manpower, within 24 hours, I will be able to give you a satisfactory answer." ”

"Don't worry, General Lunev." In order to find out the specific situation of the German spies or spies in the city as soon as possible, Rokossovsky said magnanimously: "As long as we can crack the underground organization of the Germans as soon as possible, whatever you need, just ask, we want people and equipment, and we will fully cooperate with your work." ”

"Comrade Marshal," said General Bortsov, the director of communications, at the door, without waiting for Lunev to leave, and after glancing at Lunev with a wary gaze, said cautiously: "There is an urgent telegram that you need to see for yourself. ”

Lunev's goal of coming here had been achieved, and seeing that Bortsov had urgent business to find Rokossovsky, he stood up, faced Rokossovsky and asked: "Comrade Marshal, allow me to leave?" ”

"Of course you will, Comrade General." Rokossovsky knew that Bortsov would not take the initiative to enter his office if there was no important matter, so he ordered Bogolyubov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, help me send General Lunev." ”

After Bogolyubov accompanied Lunev out, Rokossovsky asked Bortsov: "Comrade Communications Director, what kind of urgent telegram?" ”

"It's a joint telegram from Romanovsky and Panfilov," Bortsov said, handing the telegram to Rokossovsky, "They want you to urgently provide a batch of construction machinery, including excavators, bulldozers and cranes." ”

"What do they want these for?" Rokossovsky took the telegram, quickly scanned its contents, and said with some displeasure: "The city is still in the hands of the enemy, and even if you want to rebuild it, now is not the right time." ”

"Comrade Marshal, you misunderstood." Bortsov saw that Rokossovsky was a little unhappy, and quickly explained to him: "The reason why the two generals needed this batch of construction machinery was not to rebuild the city, but to clear the way for the next offensive. The Germans, seeing that our troops were rushing into the city, planted explosives in the buildings on both sides of the road in order to stop our tanks from advancing, and as soon as our tanks entered the explosion range, they immediately detonated them. Collapsed buildings will not only block the way of our tanks, but may even push our tanks into ruins. A tank battalion of the 18th Guards Tank Brigade, with more than a dozen tanks, was buried in the rubble by collapsed buildings. ”

When Rokossovsky heard this, he instinctively asked: "Have all the tank crews in the tank been rescued?" ”

"It didn't say anything in the telegram." Bortsov shook his head and said: "But I think the tank was crushed by the collapsed building, and it was very difficult for the tank crew inside to get out." ”

"We do have construction machinery, but it is in the hands of the chief of the engineering corps, Blagoslavov." Rokossovsky said with some embarrassment: "These machines are used to repair roads, railways and bridges that have been broken by the enemy, and we have to ask him whether they can be extracted." ”

Considering that without further ado, Rokossovsky did not wait for Bogolyubov to return, picked up the phone on the desk, dialed Blagoslavov's office, and said straight to the point: "I'm Rokossovsky, you come to me." ”

Blagoslavov did not know what was wrong, and as soon as he put down the phone, he hurried to the headquarters. When entering the door, I happened to meet Bogolyubov, who had just sent Lunev away.

Seeing that Blagoslavov appeared here, Bogolyubov couldn't help but ask curiously: "My comrade chief of the engineering troops, do you have anything to look for the marshal?" ”

Hearing Bogolyubov's question, Blagoslavov's face showed an expression of surprise: "Chief of Staff, isn't Comrade Marshal looking for me in a hurry?" What, don't you know at all? ”

"I don't know." Bogolyubov said confusedly: "I just sent General Lunev away on the order of Comrade Marshal, and I didn't hear him say anything urgent. After saying this, he was silent for a moment, and suddenly it occurred to him that the director of communications, Bortsov, had brought an urgent telegram, could it be related to the contents of the telegram. Thinking of this, Bogolyubov did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly took Blagoslavov to Rokossovsky's office.

Seeing that Blagoslavov followed behind Bogolyubov and walked into the office, Rokossovsky did not go around in circles and asked bluntly: "Comrade Chief of the Engineering Corps, I have just received a telegram from the 19th Army, they are in some trouble during the siege of the city, and I hope that we can provide them with a batch of construction machinery in order to clear the obstacles on the road." ”

"It's very difficult, Comrade Marshal." Blagoslavov has recently been worried about the lack of construction machinery in his hands, and he had planned to pick a suitable opportunity to apply to Rokossovsky for an increase or subtraction. Who knew that now not only can not be increased, but also have to transfer some of it, he can't help but feel a little lost: "Because there are too many roads, railways, culverts, and bridges to be repaired, our existing construction machinery is not enough, where can we still mobilize forces to help friendly forces?" ”

"Comrade Chief of the Engineering Corps," Rokossovsky, seeing that Blagoslavov was pushing, Rokossovsky felt very uncomfortable, and said in a stern tone: "If the 19th Army and the 3rd Guards Tank Army did not have these construction machines, then their seizure of the city would have slowed down considerably. If you delay the operational progress set by the base camp because of this, can you afford this responsibility? ”

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