The fighting on the right bank of the Vistula lasted for a long time, and finally achieved the results that Rokossovsky wanted. The Magnushev landing ground became a barrier to the south of Warsaw, and the enemy in this area was largely cleared; And the enemy to the west of Warsaw, also under the powerful blows of the 65th Army, was forced to retreat; With the active actions of the 70th Army on the right bank of the Narev River, the Germans in this area were repulsed by thirty-fifty kilometers.

Seeing that the defensive area on the right bank of the Vistula River had formed a relatively complete defensive area, Rokossovsky's heart suddenly felt much more steady. The next thing he had to do was to capture the fortress of Modlin, which was still occupied by the Germans. Despite the strong fortifications and sharp artillery of this fortress, due to the active actions of the 70th Army, the fortress was already under siege by Soviet troops.

Rokossovsky intended to use the 65th, 48th and 70th armies to attack from three sides at the same time in order to achieve the goal of capturing the fortress of Modlin. Therefore, he specially summoned Batov, Romanenko, and Pobosha to the headquarters in Warsaw, and studied with them the details of the capture of the fortress.

While the discussion was continuing, the head of the communications corps, Maximenko, suddenly came and reported: "Comrade Marshal, there is your call, it is from Moscow. ”

After thanking the other party, Rokossovsky picked up the high-frequency phone on the table, and Zhukov's voice came from it: "Comrade Rokossovsky, is the situation on the right bank of the Vistula stable?" If I'm not mistaken, you're going to do something about Modlin Fortress, right? ”

"Yes, Comrade Zhukov." When Rokossovsky heard Zhukov's question, he was a little curious, he had just gathered several army commanders and was preparing to discuss the seizure of the Modlin fortress, how did Zhukov know? "The situation on the right bank of the Vistula has stabilized, and the defensive areas of several army groups have been connected. We are working on the details of the capture of the fortress of Modrin. ”

Zhukov was silent for a long time before a voice came from the earpiece: "The matter of the Modlin Fortress, put it aside for the time being, in the face of the enemy's well-defended fortress, we have no need to carry out a strong attack, as long as it is cut off from the outside world, their role will be quite limited." ”

Although he did not understand why Zhukov would say this, Rokossovsky said respectfully: "Understood, Comrade Marshal, the plan to capture the fortress of Modlin will be put on hold for the time being, and when the time is ripe, we will attack the enemy again." ”

"You come to Moscow immediately by plane." Zhukov said angrily on the phone: "Comrade Stalin wants to talk to you well. ”

"Comrade Stalin wants to talk to me?" Zhukov's words surprised Rokossovsky, according to his understanding of Stalin, if there was anything important, he would call his command directly, but this time he actually passed the message through Zhukov. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, do you know what the Supreme Commander himself is looking for me?" ”

But Zhukov did not give him any answer, but said vaguely: "I don't know, you will know the answer when you come to Moscow." After saying that, he hung up the phone directly.

"Comrade commander," Rokossovsky, after putting down the phone, said apologetically to the three commanders of the army groups who were attending the meeting: "He informed me that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself had something to talk to me about, and asked me to rush to Moscow as soon as possible. As for the seizure of the fortress of Modrin, we will put it on hold for the time being. I'm sorry to let you run in vain today, please forgive me! ”

After the three army commanders said goodbye and left, Terekin asked curiously: "Comrade commander, didn't Marshal Zhukov really say that the Supreme Commander himself recruited you to Moscow, is there anything important?" ”

"No, he didn't say anything, he just said that I would know when I arrived in Moscow." Although Rokossovsky had another ominous premonition in his heart, he still instructed Malinin: "Chief of staff, arrange a plane for me immediately, I will rush to Moscow as soon as possible." ”

After a long flight, Rokossovsky's plane landed at a military airfield in Moscow in the evening. As soon as he stepped out of the cabin door, he immediately felt a chill rush over him. He regretted a little, when he came out, why didn't he think of bringing a military coat.

However, he soon realized that his worries were unfounded, and as soon as he got off the plane, a black sedan drove up to his side and stopped. After the door opened, Stalin's chief of guard got out of the co-pilot's seat, and after saluting him, he politely said: "Hello, Marshal Rokossovsky, I have been ordered to meet you." Please get on the bus! ”

Rokossovsky sat in the back of the car, only to find a brand new military coat on the seat. The chief of the guard half-turned around and said to Rokossovsky with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, the Supreme Commander himself is worried that you have not prepared warm clothes, so I specially asked me to bring you a military coat. ”

In Warsaw in late September, it is still the season to wear single clothes, but Moscow is already about to enter winter. Rokossovsky, who had left in too much of a hurry and ignored the change in climate, was filled with gratitude when he saw the military coat that Stalin had personally ordered to be prepared by him.

The sedan drove through Red Square and came to the entrance to the Sparsco bell tower. The sentry on duty at the door, glanced at the license plate, said nothing, and let go. The car drove all the way to Stalin's office building, and then slowly stopped, and the chief of the guard turned to Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade Marshal, we have arrived!" ”

After the two got out of the car, Rokossovsky put on the brand new military coat and followed the chief of the guard into the office building. As soon as he entered the building, he felt that he was wearing a military coat a bit too much, and the building was heated, and he felt warm as soon as he entered the door.

The chief of the guard took Rokossovsky directly to Stalin's office, and when Boskrebeshev, who was working outside, saw Rokossovsky's arrival, he immediately got up to greet him and said politely: "Comrade Marshal, you are here!" ”

"It's coming!"

"Comrade Marshal, please wait a moment," said Poskorebeshev, "I will report to Comrade Stalin first. He turned and walked back to his desk, picked up the phone on his desk, paused for a moment, and waited for a voice to come out of the receiver before he spoke. Comrade Stalin, Rokossovsky is here! ”

Boskrebeshev put down the phone, nodded at Rokossovsky, and said: "Comrade Marshal, please!" As he spoke, he walked over to the two closed doors and pushed one of them open a gap for people to enter and exit.

After thanking Boskosov, Rokossovsky was about to walk in, but was stopped by the chief of the guard: "Comrade Marshal, please keep your gun!" ”

After being reminded by the chief of the guard, Rokossovsky remembered that when he entered the Kremlin today, the sentry on duty at the gate did not stop the car he was riding, let alone hand in his guns as usual. He hurriedly untied the belt around his waist and handed it to the chief of the guard along with the holster. After taking two steps towards the door, he suddenly felt that it was a little too hot to wear a military coat in such a warm room, so he took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack by the door.