Rokossovsky fainted without warning, startling several people in the room. Fedyuninsky and Volsky, who were the first to react, hurriedly rushed to his side and helped him to sit back in his position. Fedyuninsky also pinched his man with his thumb, and at the same time shouted anxiously: "Konstantin Konstantinovich, what's wrong with you?" Wake up, wake up! ”

Stalin rushed to the door, opened the door, and said to Boskoryshev, who was sitting outside: "Rokossovsky has fainted, hurry up and find a doctor!" ”

Less than two minutes later, a doctor with a medical kit appeared at the door. Greeted Stalin: "Hello, Comrade Stalin, what can I do for you?" ”

Stalin didn't bother to think about why the doctor came so quickly, but just urged him: "Comrade Rokossovsky has fainted, come over and see what is going on?" The doctor did not dare to slack off, walked quickly to the conference table, put the medical box on the table, opened the lid, took out the tools for the examination, and began to examine Rokossovsky's body.

Stalin turned his head and saw that Boskorebeshev was standing at the door, poking his head inside, so he walked over and asked: "Is it the doctor you arranged in advance?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Boskorebeshev hurriedly nodded and replied truthfully: "When Marshal Rokossovsky came, his face was very ugly, and I was worried that something would happen to him, so I called the doctor in advance and asked him to stay in the next room and wait. ”

"You're doing the right thing." After complimenting the other party, Stalin returned to the room and asked the doctor, who was examining Rokossovsky's body: "What's wrong with him?" ”

The doctor stopped what he was doing and said to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, Marshal Rokossovsky is too tired, and in addition to the pressure, the old wound recurred and he fainted. I recommend that he be sent to the hospital immediately for a full check-up and recuperation for a period of time, which will be very helpful for his health recovery. ”

With Stalin's permission, a stretcher was quickly carried to the office, and four strong guards carried Rokossovsky onto the stretcher and carried him out. Not only the doctors and Fedyuninsky followed, but even Stalin followed.

The reason why Stalin wanted to come out with him was because the stretcher came from his office, and if he did not show up in time, rumors would inevitably spread that he was seriously ill and so on, which would have a negative effect on the morale of the army.

Pos Krebeshev followed closely behind Stalin, and in his heart he still felt that there was no need for Stalin to do this. Even Rokossovsky, as a marshal, did not personally come out with the stretcher that carried him. But soon, he found out how wise Stalin's decision was. The officers walking in the corridors or the heads of various ranks had a look of horror on their faces when they saw a stretcher being carried out of Stalin's office. But when they saw clearly that Stalin himself was walking unhurriedly behind the stretcher, they could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Stalin watched the ambulance carrying Rokossovsky go away before turning around and returning to his office. He made a phone call to Antonov and said to him: "Comrade Antonov, Rokossovsky fainted at today's meeting. After the doctor's examination, it is a recurrence of the old injury, and it is possible to rest in the hospital for a while. ”

Hearing this, Antonov said carefully: "Comrade Stalin, the Second Belorussian Front has just changed its commander, and I think it is a little inappropriate to change the commander again at such a time. ”

"You misunderstood, Comrade Antonov." Stalin did not make this call to Antonov to change the commander of the Front again, "at any time, it is inappropriate to change the commander of the Front frequently." I'm calling you to tell you that Rokossovsky may have to stay in the hospital for a while, and that you have to arrange for someone to do his work as soon as possible while he is not on the front line. If this does not work, Zakharov should be transferred back from the 1st Front and let him temporarily act as commander of the Front. ”

"Understood, Comrade Stalin." When Antonov heard that he did not intend to dismiss Rokossovsky, he was also secretly relieved, and he hurriedly replied: "Deputy Commander Trubnikov has been in office for three days, and he has a basic understanding of the situation within the Front, so it is very appropriate for him to act as commander." ”

"Well, let Trubnnikov act as commander of the Front." Stalin did not want the Second Front to fall into chaos because of Rokossovsky's absence, and agreed to Antonov's proposal: "In addition, because Rokossovsky is hospitalized, the combined army of five arms and one tank army, which were originally scheduled to be allocated to the Second Front, can be extended a little longer. ”

"Understood, Comrade Stalin." Antonov replied: "All the troops will be in place within a month, and then Marshal Rokossovsky should also be discharged from the hospital." ”

Antonov was in the General Staff to negotiate with Zhukov on the transfer of the 65th, 48th and 70th armies to which the First Front belonged to the Second Front. After talking to Stalin, he said to Zhukov with a serious expression: "Comrade Marshal, Marshal Rokossovsky suddenly fainted when he was in a meeting in Stalin's office. Probably, for a long time he will not be able to return to the front to command the troops, and his post will be temporarily replaced by Deputy Commander Trubnikov. According to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's own wishes, the troops that your unit should hand over to the Second Front Army can be temporarily suspended. ”

"It's great." The reason why Zhukov arrived in Moscow, not immediately to see Stalin, but to Antonov, was to discuss the question of who would defend the city after the 65th Army was assigned to the Second Front. At this moment, hearing that the period for the transfer of troops could be extended, Zhukov could not help but be overjoyed: "In this way, we will be able to concentrate the main forces in the weakest areas of the German defense and appropriately carry out several assaults." ”

After a pause, he asked again: "By the way, what hospital is Rokossovsky staying in, I want to see him later." ”

Antonov shook his head and said: "Where he lives, Comrade Stalin said, I don't know very well. But don't worry, I'll call him twice later and I'll find out where he lives. ”