When I heard the news of Oshanin's sacrifice, I didn't feel the slightest sadness, but I felt relieved and relieved. After all, I'm just a fake Leda, and if I've been in contact with Oshanin for a long time, I won't be able to escape the fate of goofs sooner or later. With his sacrifice, the risk factor of my exposure was reduced by a few points.

The three of us sat facing each other, neither of us spoke, and the room fell into a brief silence. The political commissar reached over, patted the back of my hand gently, and asked me with a pleasant face: "Lida, what are your plans in the future?" ”

"What are you going to do?" I asked in confusion.

The political commissar looked at me with a blank look on his face and hurriedly explained to me: "I mean, do you want to stay at the division headquarters, or go to the grassroots level to command a unit?" ”

I quickly stood up and saluted the two: "I want to go to the grassroots level to command the troops, and I hope that the division commander and the comrade political commissar will agree." ”

"And which troop do you want to go to?" The political commissar asked with a smile.

I thought about the people I knew in the 316th Division and the troops I was familiar with, when I used to command the guard battalion, I used to be the first class instructor Crochkov, but he had died honorably. The rest of the people who were close to me, Feltoff, Pavlov, Aggie, Agumint, and others, were stationed in the station area. They all belong to the 1077 regiment at present, and if they want to go down the army, it is most suitable to partner with these people. So I euphemistically proposed: "Comrade division commander, can you let me go to the 1077th regiment to serve as a commander?" ”

Panfilov stood up with a smile, beckoned me to sit down, then walked behind me, gently patted me on the shoulder that was not injured, and said: "Our division has suffered a great loss in recent battles, and many grassroots units are short of suitable commanders. The current 1077 regiment has a position, their deputy commander has just died, and a competent person is needed to take over this position. However, the daily battles in their defensive areas are now very brutal, and there is a danger of sacrifice at any time, so you should think about it. ”

As soon as the words fell, I replied without hesitation: "Comrade division commander, don't think about it, I am willing to go." ”

He listened to my answer, walked behind me with his hands behind his back two times, and then said, "I am not worried about your ability to work, we can see your performance on the battlefield." The key is that the new regiment commander is a general, and without greeting him in advance, he was equipped with a female deputy, I wonder what he thinks? He stopped and said to the commissar: "Comrade Egorov, you call the commander of the 1077 regiment and ask him to come over and let Leda meet him first." ”

The commissar agreed, picked up the phone on the table and began to dial. Panfilov continued: "Lida, the new regiment commander will come later, I will let you meet first and communicate with each other, so that you can work in the 1077th regiment in the future." ”

I quickly stood up again and said, "Commander, please rest assured, no matter who you partner with, I will try my best to do a good job." ”

The division commander patted me on the shoulder, asked me to sit down again, and said, "Lida, you have to be a little mentally prepared. I know you well with the commissar and trust you very much. And this regimental commander is new and doesn't know you, and I'm afraid he might ostracize you. ”

"No problem," this time I did not stand up, but sat in my position, looked up at the division commander in front of me, and said, "As long as it is not a matter of principle, I will listen to him, and there will be a lot fewer contradictions." Since he is a general and has a lot of experience in leading troops, I have a lot to learn from him. ”

The division commander nodded and said appreciatively: "It seems that you are very confident. Then he raised his voice and said, "Okay, let's try it first!" Later, when he comes, I will let you communicate first, as long as he has no opinion, you can immediately follow him to the army to take up his post. ”

"Comrade division commander," I suddenly had the urge to communicate with my former subordinates first, so I took the initiative to make my request to Panfilov: "Can I talk to Ferstorv and Pavlov, who are defending the station?" ”

"No problem," Panfilov replied very cheerfully, and just as the commissar had finished calling, he picked up the microphone and dialed a number, and then said to the inside: "I am General Panfilov, and I will pick up Ferstorff at the station." After waiting a little longer, he said loudly again: "Is it Ferstov?" I'm Panfilov. …… No, no, no...... I have no instructions for you, except an acquaintance of yours to speak to you. You wait. As he spoke, he handed over the microphone.

I took the microphone, put it to my ear, took a deep breath, and said, "Hello, Ferstov, I'm Oshanina!" ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel?! Is that you? Feerstov on the other end of the microphone asked in a hesitant tone.

"Hello, Feerstov! Of course it's me, is this still fake? I answered his question in the affirmative.

"Instructor Pavlov, come here, it's Comrade Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina." I heard him shouting loudly from another acquaintance, Pavlov, and then I faintly heard Pavlov's excited voice coming from inside: "Is it really Comrade Lieutenant Colonel?" Hurry up and give me the phone, I'm going to have a few words with her. ”

Soon Pavlov's voice was clearly heard through the earpiece: "Hello! Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how are you doing? ”

"Good!" Hearing the voices of these acquaintances, I felt very kind, and asked, "What about you?" ”

"We're also fine, and although the fight was brutal, we're all alive." His voice paused for a moment, and then he continued: "In addition to me and Ferstov, as well as Agumint and Aggie, we are all alive and well. ”

While I was chatting with Pavlov, a cold wind suddenly poured into the room and made me shiver. I looked towards the entrance, and I saw an officer who had opened the curtain and walked in. As soon as the burly officer walked in, Panfilov immediately stepped forward to shake his hand, and even the commissar Yegorov, who had been sitting all along, stood up.

I caught a glimpse of the man's collar badge in the shape of a red diamond and two gold stars, and I quickly hung up the phone and stood up to salute him.

After shaking hands with the division commander and political commissar, the man turned his head and saw me, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "It turned out to be you, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon." And reach out to me.

Hearing him call out my name so accurately, it should be someone I know. I shook hands with him and looked at the general in front of me, feeling a little familiar, but in a hurry I couldn't remember where I had seen it.

At this time, when I was stunned, political commissar Yegorov spoke: "Comrade Leda, let me introduce to you, this is the new commander of the 1077th regiment, General Levyakin, who only came to the division the day before yesterday. ……”

As soon as I heard the name Leviakin, I immediately remembered who this person was. Two days ago, he was ordered by the command of the army group to bring thousands of soldiers and Oshanin's anti-tank army dog company to the 316th Infantry Division. "It's you! Comrade General. "When I met another acquaintance on the front line, I was very excited, and I couldn't help but shake hands a little harder.

We returned to the table and sat down, and Panfilov asked General Leviakin: "Comrade regimental commander, what are the casualties of the troops?" ”

Leviagin shook his head, sighed and said: "Comrade division commander, it's just terrible, the commander of the whole regiment suffered two-thirds of the casualties, and the fighters suffered more than half of the casualties. My deputy head of the regiment has also died, and I hope you will help me with a competent assistant as soon as possible. ”

When Panfilov heard him say this, he looked a little excited, and said: "You and I have gone together. Then he added thoughtlessly: "Since you and Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina know each other, things will be much easier." ”

His words confused Leviakin, and he asked puzzledly: "Comrade division commander, you have confused me. Do I know Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, and do you have any connection with you calling me from my position in the middle of the night to the division headquarters? ”

"Yes, yes! Comrade Leviakin. Political commissar Yegorov preemptively took over the topic: "We intend to appoint Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina as your deputy, and when the 1077th regiment goes to the post of deputy commander." I called you here to ask for your opinion. ”

Leviakin turned his head and didn't speak, just stared at me. When he saw that I was a little embarrassed, he turned his head, looked at the division commander and political commissar, and slowly said: "When I was at the headquarters of the group army, I once heard Comrade Rokossovsky introduce the situation of Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina. As for sending her to the post of deputy head of our regiment, I personally think ......"

Speaking of this, he actually stopped selling the pass, not only the division commander and the political commissar stared at him intently, but even I waited for his reply very nervously. Fortunately, he didn't make us wait long before he gave his answer: "I personally think that with her work ability and tenacious fighting spirit, she is fully qualified for this position." ”

After listening to his opinion, the three of us invariably breathed a sigh of relief. The division commander immediately took over the topic and said: "Since you also agree to this appointment of the division headquarters, then let Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina return to the 1077th regiment with you later." ”

"This!" Leviagin said with some hesitation: "Comrade division commander, can you let Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina change the time to take up his post in my regiment?" When I went back at this time, I was afraid that there would be a problem with the road. Besides, as you know, small groups of enemies on motorcycles often sneak into the rear of our army to harass them, and I am responsible for the safety of Comrade Lieutenant Colonel! ”

Although Leviakin's reasons were unusually good, Panfilov frowned and asked: "Then what do you think is the best time to postpone it?" ”

Leviagin turned his head to look at me, hesitated slightly, and then leaned closer to the division commander and whispered something in his ear, because the voice was too small for me to hear what he was saying, but I understood very well that he was stating to the division commander the reason why he could not let me go to the army for the time being. But the time was short, and after he finished whispering, he straightened up and said loudly, "How about tomorrow at noon?" ”

Panfilov tapped his fingers lightly on the table, frowning and considering Leviakin's proposal, and after a long time, he slowly nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Leviakin, just do as you say, I will ask Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina to report to your regiment at noon tomorrow." ”

After the three of them arranged my work properly, Leviagin stood up, pulled the hem of the military uniform with both hands, and said: "Then it is decided, there are still tasks to be assigned in the regiment, and I will go back first." ”

Panfilov and Yegorov also stood up and told Leviakin: "Be careful on the way back." ”

"I will." Leviagin replied and raised his hand to salute the two of them, then turned to leave.

As soon as the day dawned, a new round of German offensive began.

Heavy gunfire came from outside, and the phone in the house began to ring nonstop, and the three of us took turns answering the incoming calls. The contents of these calls were much the same, either reporting where the Germans were attacking or requesting reinforcements from Panfilov. For the former, Panfilov said a word, and then drew the location of the German attack on the map with a pencil. To those who asked for help, he replied very simply: I have no reserves, you must be nailed to your positions like nails, and you must not retreat a single step, because behind you is Moscow.

Hearing Panfilov say this, I knew very well in my heart that it was not that he would not be saved when he saw death, but that he really had no soldiers to send. As far as I know, the earliest divisional guard battalions have long since been lost in battle, and now the guard strength is no more than a platoon, and it is composed of staff officers of the division headquarters and logistics personnel of some organs. It is okay for such a unit to serve as a guard, and if they are sent to the front, it is no different from sending them to death.

As time went on, the situation became more and more unfavorable for our side. Judging from the feedback information, although the defense line of our army has not yet been broken through by the Germans, it is constantly retreating.

At ten o'clock, I received the last call from Aggie from the position, in which he said in an excited tone: "...... Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the fascist bandits have stormed the positions, and we are fighting stubbornly, fighting with them for every basement. ……”

Hearing this, I interrupted him and asked: "What about Ferstov?" ”

"Just now he was fighting hand-to-hand with the enemy in the trenches, and now he is not moving, and he is estimated to have died!"

When I heard the news, my heart tightened, and I asked, "What about the instructor Pavlov?" ”

"Sacrificed!"

"Where's Agumint?"

"Sacrificed too!"

After hearing all this bad news, my heart felt like falling into an ice cellar, and when it was over, my most powerful subordinates had died! Before I could speak, a dense burst of gunfire suddenly came from the earpiece, and then Aji's voice came again: "The enemy has come in, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, take care!" ”

Suddenly there was a loud gunfire inside, and after a loud bang, there was no sound in the microphone.

Aggie also died!

A series of blows made me stop thinking and my brain went blank.