Rokossovsky has the memory of later generations, and naturally knows the final result of the "Vistula-Oder Battle" launched by the Soviet army, so when he heard Stalin's question, he immediately stood up, faced the other side and replied without hesitation: "Yes, Comrade Stalin, I think that in this battle, we will achieve an unprecedented and great victory." ”

With a somewhat trembling hand, Stalin took the pipe from his mouth and walked back and forth in front of Rokossovsky. After walking back and forth for two or three years, he stopped, pointed at Rokossovsky with his fist holding a cigarette butt, and said with a smile: "Comrade Rokossovsky, it seems that you are very confident." He put his pipe back in his mouth and added, "Tell me your reasoning." ”

"The reason is very simple," Rokossovsky naturally did not tell Stalin that he had seen the description of this battle in the history books of later generations, but explained his reasons for such a judgment by paraphrasing the situation presented by Antonov: "...... Since our army has an advantage over the enemy and is in a favorable position for the offensive, the strategic situation in the central part of the front is very favorable to our army...... Although the enemy also has a large number of forces, it is not able to have a sufficient density of artillery fire and tanks in the direction of our army's main attack. All this created favorable conditions for the successful offensive of our army on Polish territory, as well as for the final liberation of Poland. ”

When Rokossovsky said this, he was surprised to find that Stalin was expressionless, and he seemed not interested in what he said, and hurriedly added: "As far as I know, Marshal Zhukov's troops have hoarded a large amount of weapons, ammunition, fuel, and various military supplies at the two landing sites of Magnushev and Puvavi, as well as in the city of Warsaw, to ensure that our army has the ability to continue fighting. ”

"I know very well what is going on with Zhukov." Stalin interrupted Rokossovsky's words and said with some impatience: "I am not at all worried about the direction of the offensive of the 1st Belorussian Front. Let's talk about the area of attack that the 1st Ukrainian Front is responsible for, after all, they will attack two days earlier. Do you think Konev's troops will succeed in destroying the German defenses? ”

"The focus of the offensive of the 1st Ukrainian Front, here - the Silesian industrial region." Rokossovsky walked to the map, pointed to the location of the Silesian industrial region with his baton, and said to Stalin: "As long as Marshal Konev's troops destroy the German Silesian heavy army group and seize this important military-industrial base, then the Germans will lose their arms supply base, which will be very beneficial to our next operation......

After clearing the industrial zone of the enemy, Marshal Konev's troops could turn north from here and launch a final assault on Berlin together with Marshal Zhukov's troops from west to east. ”

Perhaps it was by hearing Rokossovsky mention the assault on Berlin that Stalin finally had a smile on his face. He nodded and said with satisfaction: "Comrade Rokossovsky, you think about the same as me. I think that as long as both fronts rush to Berlin at the same time, it should not be a problem to take the city in a week. ”

Hearing that Stalin was so confident, the muscles in Rokossovsky's face couldn't help but twitch violently twice, and he said in his heart that your old man is really optimistic, in real history, it took the Soviet army three weeks to take the capital of fascist Germany - Berlin. But at this moment, he could only echo: "That's right, Comrade Stalin, I also think that our army can take this city in the shortest possible time." ”

After confirming that the "Vistula-Oder Campaign" had been launched ahead of schedule and that the desired results had been achieved, Stalin finally got down to business: "Comrade Rokossovsky, Zhukov's troops will be put into battle on January 14, and you will also fight the East Prussian campaign on the same day. How, are you sure? ”

After Rokossovsky waited for Stalin to finish speaking, he replied with a smile: "The troops participating in the 'East Prussian Campaign', in addition to the main force of our front, also include the Third Belorussian Front, the First Front of the Baltic Sea, and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, a total of 14 composite armies, one tank army, five tank armies and mechanized armies, and two air force armies, with a total of about 1.67 million people, more than 25,000 artillery pieces and mortars, 3,859 tanks and self-propelled guns, and 3,097 aircraft. With such troops, it will not be easy for us to defeat the enemy, but at least we will have no problem winning. ”

Stalin laughed twice at Rokossovsky's answer, and then asked Rokossovsky's opinion: "The new campaign is about to start in a week, are you willing to stay in Moscow for a few days of vacation, spend time with your wife, and wait until two days before the start of the battle, and then return to the troops." ”

In the face of Stalin's kindness, Rokossovsky hurriedly waved his hands and said: "No need, Comrade Stalin. I thank you for your kindness, the big war is imminent, how can I, as the commander of the front army, stay thousands of kilometers away from the troops? ”

Stalin walked up to Rokossovsky, raised his hand and patted him twice on the shoulder, and said approvingly: "Well done, Comrade Rokossovsky, you are well done." Since you don't want to stay in Moscow for vacation, then I'll arrange a plane as soon as possible to send you back to the front. ”

The first thing Rokossovsky did when he returned to the command was to call Bogolyubov in front of him and say to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, by order of the Supreme High Command, the 'Vistula-Oder Campaign', which was scheduled for January 20, will be launched eight days earlier. You immediately ordered the left flank troops, which were assisting the 1st Belorussian Front in its operations, to prepare for combat as soon as possible. ”

"What, the start of the battle, eight days in advance?" Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Bogolyubov couldn't help but open his mouth wide in surprise: "But our troops are not yet fully prepared for battle!" ”

"No way, this is the decision of the Supreme Commander himself." Rokossovsky said helplessly: "They can only hurry up and try to make preparations more thoroughly." ”

After Bogolyubov finished recording the order, he asked Rokossovsky for instructions: "Comrade Marshal, when do you think we will call a meeting of the commanders of the various army groups and assign combat missions to them?" ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand and looked at his watch, looked up and said: "Our offensive was on January 14, and I think that on January 9, we will gather commanders at and above the division level to come to the headquarters for a meeting." ”