And Dolnikov, who was sitting on the side, said lightly: "Comrade General, I congratulate you on your promotion, please accept my respect." With that, he got up from his seat, leaned forward slightly, and stretched out his hands to me.

I reached out and shook his hand, and beckoned him to sit down.

For the next 30 hours or so, our event space is in this small train box, and if you sit there all the time, you will definitely be bored to the extreme. So after a moment of silence, I took the initiative to start the conversation and started chatting with the two of them.

I said thoughtfully, "...... Although my superiors appointed me as the commander of the Sixth Army, since the troops had not been reorganized for a short time, I estimated that the remaining infantry divisions, except for the Guards Division, were all empty numbers with few soldiers. ”

After I finished speaking, Yushchenko and Dolnikov's faces couldn't help but show a look of surprise, and after the two looked at each other, Dolnikov spoke: "Comrade General, don't you know that our army has a backup plan that can reorganize the annihilated troops in a very short time?" ”

"What, we have a backup plan for the rapid formation of troops?" Dornikov's statement surprised me, and I couldn't help but turn my inquiring gaze to Yushchenko next to me, and when I saw that he also nodded in confirmation, I suddenly remembered that both of them were from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and must know many secrets that I did not know. In order to find out what was going on, I asked curiously: "I don't know what kind of plan it is, Captain Dolnikov, can you give me a detailed introduction?" ”

My seemingly simple request made Dornikov embarrassed. He turned his head to look at Yushchenko next to him, as if he wanted to ask if he could offer me and Pan this backup plan. Yushchenko was also a smart man, and when he saw Dornikov turn his gaze, he knew what he meant, nodded and said, "Captain." Comrade Commander may not know about this plan, so please give her a good introduction. He was afraid that Dornikov would not say anything, and added, "Even if you don't say it, when she returns to Moscow, Marshal Zhukov or Comrade Beria." She will also be specifically explained. ”

Yushchenko's words dispelled Dornikov's concerns, and he told me about this mysterious "backup plan": "Comrade general, you also know that in wartime, the formation of troops mainly depends on personnel and equipment, and the formation of command structures is the most crucial. With the power of an ordinary infantry division, there are two deputy division commanders in the division in peacetime, one of whom is responsible for assisting the division commander in carrying out daily work. In addition to participating in normal training and combat readiness work, the other also has a secret position - reserve division commander; There are also two deputy chiefs of staff of the division, one of whom is the reserve chief of staff of the division; And so on, all regiments, battalions, companies, and even squads and platoons. That is, each division had a complete set of command structures as a backup.

As soon as war broke out and an infantry division received an order to go to the front, the division took a deputy commander. That is, the deputy division commander who assists the division commander in his daily work, while the other reserve division commander remains at the station. Equally. The reserve command structure of the entire division, from regiment to squad, was also retained, and in the shortest possible time, the replenishment of troops was formed into a new infantry division. ”

This is the first time I have heard of this backup scheme of the Soviet army, but it gives me a really good impression that only one set of command structures can be done in the shortest possible time. Formation of a new force. However, it is still debatable what kind of combat effectiveness such a newly formed unit has, so I couldn't help but interject and ask: "Comrade Captain, although we have a perfect command system, the military quality of the recruits is generally not high. Can a unit formed in this way have combat effectiveness? ”

"Comrade General, you are right." Dolnikov politely replied to me: "This newly formed infantry division is certainly inferior in terms of combat effectiveness to the one that has just left for the front, but it is a division after all. The new division commander is a well-trained and experienced commander who has served in the army for many years and is capable of serving as a division commander. The commanders under him who served as regiment commanders, battalion commanders, and face commanders were also active-duty commanders, who usually dealt with our commanders and fighters and the weapons and equipment of various divisions, participated in rigorous military training and exercises, had excellent personal military skills, and had rich management experience. In addition, this new division is a colleague who has worked together for many years, from the division commander to the squad and platoon commander below, and they are very familiar with each other, thus ensuring the efficient operation of the new command structure. ”

I waited for Dolnikov to finish speaking, and then asked curiously: "Captain, although the troops have been formed, where do their weapons and ammunition come from?" It's not like the chain of command, even weapons and ammunition are backed up, right? ”

"Comrade Commander, let me explain this to you." Yushchenko took over the topic with a smile and said to me: "The new units are all old-fashioned weapons and equipment. For example, when the original unit is reequipped, the obsolete weapons and equipment will certainly not be melted down as scrap metal, but will be temporarily sealed for use by the newly formed reserve forces in the future. Since it is all old-fashioned equipment, the maintenance funds used in normal times are limited. But at critical moments, these troops with old-style weapons can go to reinforce well-equipped troops. It is precisely because of such a backup plan that our army can always maintain a steady stream of troops to replenish the front-line troops in the war. ”

The narration of Dolnikov and Yushchenko suddenly dawned on me. It is no wonder that the Soviet army suffered such heavy losses in the early days of the Great Patriotic War, and millions of commanders and fighters were captured, but it still maintained a strong force, which turned out to be thanks to this perfect backup plan. When I watched the replenishment of troops from the other side every day during the Battle of Stalingrad, I wondered why the Soviet army was able to form so many troops in such a short period of time.

After a day of travel, we arrived in Nizhny Lovegorod. Seeing the train stop on the platform and begin to replenish the coal and water, Dolnikov got up from his seat. Without waiting for me to ask, he took the initiative to report to me: "Comrade General, I plan to go to the military representative room at the station. ”

"To the military representative room?" I didn't know why he said that, so I asked in surprise: "Comrade Captain, what are you doing in the military representative office?" ”

"That's right, Comrade General." Dolnikov truthfully reported to me: "Since we were in too much of a hurry, we did not have time to inform the Moscow side, even if we arrived at the place. It's also a hassle for so many of us to go back to our respective stations. So I'm going to make a phone call and report back to them on our return to Moscow. ”

Hearing that this was the case, I hurriedly urged Dolnikov: "In that case, Comrade Captain. Hurry up and contact your superiors, and ask them to prepare their vehicles and wait for us on the platform. I'm going to a celebration in Marx Square in the afternoon, and I'm worried I'll be late if I don't have a car. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade General." Dolnikov patted his chest and assured me, "I'll get this done properly, and when you get off the train, you'll see the car picking you up." ”

When Dornikov left, Yushchenko, who was opposite, smiled and said to me: "Comrade commander. I see that your attitude towards Captain Dolnikov is becoming more and more friendly. ”

I didn't refute Yushchenko's statement, but followed his meaning and said: "Yes, Captain Yushchenko, although I had some misunderstandings with Captain Dolnikov before, after this period of time together, I also found that he is actually a very good young man. Naturally, the attitude towards him changed. ”

After about half an hour, Dolnikov returned to the carriage again. As soon as you enter the carriage. He reported to me: "Comrade General, I have inquired clearly, our train will arrive in Moscow on time at eleven thirty o'clock in the morning, and Colonel Bezikov and his men will be waiting for you at the station. ”

When I heard Dolnikov talk about "arriving on time", I couldn't help but think of a joke about Russian planes no matter how long they are delayed. But they can all arrive on time. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but smile on my face. Dolnikov didn't expect me to laugh just because I remembered a joke, and thought that I was satisfied with his report, and I also had a smug expression on my face. After sitting in his seat, he chatted with Yushchenko next to him.

But after the train enters the railway station in Moscow. The conductor, who had not been seen all along, appeared at the door of my compartment and said to me respectfully: "Comrade General, the Moscow station has arrived. I'll arrange for you and your men to get off first. ”

I naturally would not object to the conductor's kindness, I nodded and smiled at him: "Thank you, thank you, comrade conductor." ”

Due to the conductor's care, our group was the first to get off the train. As soon as I arrived on the platform, I saw Colonel Bezikov, who had been waiting here for a long time, and after standing up and saluting, he said to me with a smile: "Lida, hard work. With that, he held out his hand to me.

I shook the colonel's hand and said gratefully: "Hello, Colonel Bezkov, thank you for coming to pick me up in person." I hope my return has not caused you any inconvenience. ”

Bezikov smiled and said, "Lida, we are all so familiar with each other, don't put on an official show to talk to me again." Get in the car, the celebration should start in half an hour, and if you don't leave, we'll be late. ”

I got into a car driven by Bezzikov himself, while Yushchenko, Dolnikov, and the rest of the fighters sat in the back of the truck.

After the car started, I turned my head sideways and asked Bezikov, who was driving: "Colonel, is there any news in Moscow lately?" ”

"What news can there be?" Bezikov, who held the steering wheel and was concentrating on driving, said without looking back: "The biggest news is that you, the female general, have served as the commander of the 6th Army. ”

When I heard that my appointment as commander had become a headline in Moscow recently, I couldn't help but ask curiously: "I wonder what everyone thinks about this?" ”

Bezkov frowned and thought for a moment and replied: "There are both for and against." Those who support you, needless to say, you should also guess, are Marshal Zhukov, Chief of the General Staff Vasilevsky, Commander of the Central Front Rokossovsky, Young People's Commissar Comrade Ustinov, etc.; Those who oppose you are mainly local cadres, and they oppose it for the simple reason that as a woman, you may be more suitable to work in the local area than in the army. ”

I really don't care what others think, I just care about what the person who can decide the fate of everyone thinks, so I go on to ask: "What did Comrade Stalin say?" ”

Bezikov smiled bitterly and said: "Lida, you may not have imagined that the first person to propose that you take up a post in a local area is the Supreme Commander himself, and those cadres who oppose your appointment as commander of the army group will try their best to oppose you as commander of the army group because they have figured out Comrade Stalin's ideas. ”

"Since there is a lot of opposition, how did the appointment of me come through later?" Hearing Bezikov say this, I can't help but feel particularly strange, usually in such a situation, my appointment would be put on hold, and it turned out to be adopted, which is really incomprehensible.

"It's simple." Bezkov held the steering wheel with both hands, turned his head and gave me a quick look, then continued to look ahead intently and said: "Marshal Zhukov and Vasilevsky discussed, and then called Ustinov, Khrulev, Rokossovsky and others to go to Comrade Stalin together, and after repeated statements, Comrade Stalin finally agreed not to consider the matter of letting you work in the local area and appointed you as the commander of the 6th Army. ”

I really didn't expect that there would be so many twists and turns in one of my appointments, and it seems that it is not a bad thing to have a good relationship with the bigwigs in the army, at least at the critical moment, they can reach out to help me.

As our car passed through Gorky Street, I felt like a dream when I saw that the street where the tank columns had been parked was now empty again, and the inhabitants of the city were able to walk freely on the streets.

I coughed and asked, "Colonel, have those parade tanks begun to be loaded with troops?" ”

"Parade tanks?" Bezikov was stunned for a moment, then understood what I was talking about, and quickly shook his head and said: "If you want to install the troops first, you may have to wait until after June at the earliest, and the production has not officially started yet." ”

When I heard him say this, I secretly calculated in my heart that the Battle of Kursk would begin in July, and the troops would be equipped in June, and there would be more than a month of preparation time, and by then the commanders and fighters should have completely mastered the use of the new equipment. (To be continued.) )