When I re-entered the division headquarters and looked at the familiar Qiē and Kirillov and Akhromeyev who greeted me with a smile on their faces, I suddenly had a feeling of "I, Hu Hansan, are back again."

"Welcome back, Comrade Oshanina." Kirillov said, grabbing my right hand and shaking it vigorously, and said vigorously: "When you leave like this, you don't say anything about us, even the commanders and fighters below are very concerned about you, and from time to time someone calls or personally runs to the headquarters to ask when you will be back." Well, now you're back, back to your command post. On behalf of the commanders and fighters of the whole division, I warmly welcome you back. ”

After greeting Kirillov and Akhromeyev successively, I hurriedly introduced them to Ilya and Yameen, who had come to the headquarters with me.

When they heard the introduction of Ilya, their expressions were very natural, and when they shook hands with Lieutenant Colonel Ilya, their faces were filled with sincere smiles. When I introduced Major Yaming, a smile suddenly froze on his face, and then he invariably showed a wary expression.

After a short silence, Kirillov suddenly asked me in a loud voice: "Comrade division commander, if Major Yaming were to work in my division, what position would you arrange for him?" As he spoke, he took advantage of Yaming's inattention and desperately glared at me.

Kirillov's hints, I understand very well. However, long before crossing the river, I had inquired privately with Colonel Bandereev, and although Yameen was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, when he arrived at the new division, he went to work alone, and did not bring any of his subordinates. An officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who does not even have subordinates is like a tiger without teeth, what is there to be afraid of. So I deliberately ignored Kirillov's reminder. Instead, take off the steel helmet. Scratching the back of his head, he pretended to think about it, and then said in embarrassment: "Oh, Comrade Political Commissar, don't you say it, I haven't remembered that there is really no suitable position in the division that is suitable for Major Yaming." ”

Yameen didn't see Kirillov winking at me. But he wasn't a fool either, and as soon as I said that, he immediately guessed what I meant, and his face couldn't help but turn purple for a while. After a while, without waiting for the expression on his face to return to normal, he took a step forward and said in a resolute tone: "Comrade division commander and political commissar, I hope to stay in the combat unit and fight face to face with the Germans, please let me stay." Even in the troops below. To command a battalion, or even a platoon, is fine. As a soldier. I can't leave here as if nothing had happened and go back to the rear at the height of the fighting. ”

Originally, Kirillov and I meant to make Yamin make a fool of himself in public, so that we could easily get rid of this burden, but I didn't expect that after he saw through our plan, he still insisted on staying, which made it difficult for us.

In the end, it was Akhromeyev who came out to play a round: "Well, since Major Yamin is willing to go to the combat unit, then let's fulfill his wish." Not long after the rebuilding of the Second Regiment, there is a shortage of commanders at all levels, so let him go to the Second Regiment to serve as the deputy commander. ”

I couldn't help but seriously consider Akhromeyev's suggestion: the 2nd Regiment was now in charge of Lieutenant Colonel Oleg and Commissar Vylol's best partner, and it was estimated that Yamin would not be able to fix any moths when he sent Yamin to them, so he nodded his head without hesitation.

I turned around and faced Ya Ming, and said sternly: "Major Ya Ming, at present, the second regiment of our division is in urgent need of commanders at all levels because it has not been rebuilt for a long time, and I plan to send you to the position of deputy regiment commander, do you have no opinion?" ”

Ya Ming replied with an expressionless face: "Comrade division commander, I resolutely obey your orders. ”

I turned around and walked to the table, picked up the phone and dialed the second group. Oleg, who answered the phone, heard my voice and said in surprise: "Comrade division commander, when did you come back?" ”

"Just arrived at Command." After I said this, I began to explain to him what happened to Yaming: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I know that after the rebuilding of your regiment, there is a great shortage of commanders at all levels, and today I will send you a helper. ”

"Really?" When Oleg heard that I was going to send him a new commander, he immediately became excited: "Comrade division commander, this is really good. I don't know what the name of the new commander is, what rank he is, and what position he will hold after being assigned to our regiment? ”

I turned my head to look at Yamin and said to Oleg: "The new commander is called Yamin, with the rank of major, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to take up the post of deputy commander of your regiment. ”

"What, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?!" Oleg exclaimed, and then he lowered his voice and said nervously: "Comrade division commander, have you forgotten the composition of our division's soldiers, either prisoners of the Gulag concentration camp or criminals of the punishment camp, and let a person from the Ministry of Internal Affairs serve as the deputy regiment commander, and if you don't turn our regiment upside down, how will this battle be fought in the future?" When he said the back, he involuntarily raised his voice and roared.

I took the earpiece away from my ear a little, and when there was no sound inside, I brought it back to my ear and said to him: "Remember, you are the regimental commander, and you and Velol's political commissar have the final say in the regiment, and this deputy regimental commander is only assisting you in your work." As far as I know, his political theory level is very high, and if the regiment wants to carry out political and ideological work in the future, let him assist the political commissar of Velol. ”

I said this to the point that I wanted Oleg and Vylor to join forces to overthrow him and make him a deputy head in vain. If Oleg doesn't understand what I mean, I will think that he is not suitable to continue in the position of second commander, and I will consider a candidate to replace him. Oleg replied: "Comrade division commander, I understand. The Political Committee of Vellol and I have done a good job of assisting the Deputy Head of Mission in his work. ”

I heard him accentuate a few key words, and I knew that he had understood what I meant, and said with satisfaction: "Very well, I will send two guards to send Major Yaming to your regimental headquarters." ”

Putting down the phone, I walked up to Yameen and said to him bluntly: "Comrade Yamin, with all due respect, although I don't know how you got the rank of major, according to my estimate, you should not have participated in the battle. So after the second regiment. Encounter something you don't understand. You should ask Lieutenant Colonel Oleg and Comrade Vylol, the political commissar of the regiment, and do not make your own decisions. ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." After the expressionless Ya Ming agreed, he asked me in an official tone, "Can I leave?" I wanted to rush to the army as soon as possible to familiarize myself with the scope of my new position. ”

"Yes." I nodded, and then shouted to Basmanov, who was standing by the door: "Hey, Captain Basmanov, send two fighters to escort Major Yaming to the headquarters of the 2nd Regiment." ”

Basmanov agreed. Walked up to Ya Ming's side, made a gesture of invitation to him, and said, "Please, Comrade Major, I will send someone to take you to the second regiment to report." ”

After Major Yameen left, Razumeyeva and Nadya, who had returned with me, also came forward to salute Kirillov and them, and then returned to the walkie-talkie and took the place of the two male newspaper posts.

Although the October night was cold, it was not cold at all in the division headquarters. In the two days I left, Kirillov and they actually lit the stove. It makes the room hot. Kirillov greeted me: "Comrade Oshanina, please take off your military coat." It's warm and you won't feel cold even if you wear a single outfit. ”

I saw that Kirillov and Akhromeyev were wearing only ordinary military uniforms, and did not wear military coats or cotton uniforms. According to what he said, he took off the submachine gun and belt and put them on the table, and took off his military coat.

As soon as he took off his military coat, Akhromeyev suddenly cried out as if he had discovered a new continent: "Oh my God, comrade division commander, I am not mistaken, is this all true?" ”

Kirillov was confused by Akhromeyev's shouting, and he asked inexplicably: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is there to make such a fuss about?" ”

Akhromeyev pointed his finger at me and said excitedly: "Comrade commissar, look, the division commander's uniform, the new military uniform on the division commander. ”

"What's so great about the new uniform, the military uniform on the body is worn out, and it's normal to change to a new one." Kirillov turned around disapprovingly, and when he saw my new uniform, he was also stunned. After a long while, he said tentatively: "Comrade Oshanina, I am not mistaken, you are actually wearing a general's uniform. ”

"Yes, Comrade Commissar, and you, my Chief of Staff, Comrade Akhromeyev." I said proudly: "You two are not mistaken, I am wearing the general's uniform. ”

Kirillov came to his senses from the shock, and he asked curiously: "Comrade Oshanina, what the hell is going on?" You know, how it is incredible that you were a colonel when you left Mamayev Gang to cross the river the day before yesterday, and after two days at the headquarters of the Front, you became a general. ”

"There's nothing incredible." I waved my hand at them and said, "I also learned at the headquarters of the Front Army that our independent division had made meritorious contributions to the Mamayev post, so the Supreme Commander himself personally ordered that my rank be restored. I didn't want to keep pestering them about my rank, so I changed the subject in time: "By the way, Comrade Political Commissar, the commander of the new division will be here in a moment, Colonel Bandeleyev." While on the East Coast, I succeeded in convincing him that after the transfer of the troops to Chuikov, he would bring his commanders with me, and I would assign them new posts. ”

"Bandereev?!" After repeating the name, Kirillov suddenly became excited, "It turned out to be him, Alexey. Ivanovich. Bandereev, who was a timber merchant before the outbreak of the Civil War, and who joined our army after joining the army, has made many achievements. From 1939 onwards he was transferred to work at the garrison command in Moscow, with whom I had a great deal of dealings. He is a man of integrity, and it would be great if he could come and work in our division. ”

"Don't rejoice too soon, Comrade Commissar." I broke Kirillov with a basin of cold water in time: "The matter of Colonel Bandereev coming to work in our division is only something that I have negotiated with him in private, and I have not yet reported it to my superiors. Whether the superiors will allow them to stay is still unknown. ”

Hearing me say this, Kirillov's expression suddenly darkened, and he nervously asked: "Comrade division commander, when do you plan to ask your superiors about this matter?" ”

"Without further ado, I will contact the Front Command and ask them to let Colonel Bandereev and his men remain in our independent division." After saying that, I walked quickly to Razumeyeva's side, bowed my head and asked her: "Lieutenant." Do you know how to contact the Front Command? ”

"Yes." Razumeyeva replied in the affirmative.

"Immediately get in touch with the Chief of Staff of Zakharov of the Front Command. Said I had something to report to him. "After instructing Razumeyeva. I returned to my table, only to find that there was a Lieutenant Colonel Ilya in the room that we had forgotten. He smiled apologetically at him and asked politely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I don't know what kind of command position you want to hold in the independent division?" ”

"I do what you tell me to do." Ilya replied politely, and then gave us a brief introduction to his resume: "During the Soviet-Finnish war, I had just been promoted to platoon commander, commanding a platoon to fight against the Finnish White Army; After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War. My unit participated in the great counteroffensive under Moscow, and I was a company commander at the time; A few months ago, our army launched the Battle of Kharkov against the Germans, and I was one of the participants, but I commanded a battalion, and in the battle, although we lost three-quarters of our commanders and fighters, the rest managed to break out of the enemy's encirclement. ”

After listening to his statement, Kirillov nodded with satisfaction, turned to me and said, "Comrade Oshanina. It is clear that Lieutenant Colonel Ilya is also an excellent commander with a wealth of combat experience. I sent him to a regiment to serve as a deputy to Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov. ”

When Kirillov called Sederikov, I said to Ilya, who had a melancholy face: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't worry, you are an excellent commander, and if you go to serve in the troops below, I assure you that there will never be anything wrong with the military commander of the regiment." ”

With my comfort, the melancholy on Ilya's face disappeared, and a knowing smile appeared, and then he assured me: "Comrade division commander, please rest assured that after arriving in the first regiment, I will definitely assist Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov in commanding the troops." ”

Kirillov put down the phone, walked up to us, and said to Ilya: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I have already called Lieutenant Colonel Sedelikov of the 1st Regiment, and he said that he will do his best to rush to the command to pick you up and take up your post. ”

Major Yaming just now took office, and only sent two fighters to escort him, which Qiē Ilya saw in his eyes. And when it was his turn to take office, it was the military commander in the regiment who came to pick him up in person, and he was so close that his eyes were red. After saluting the two of us, he excitedly said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" ”

I was just about to say a few more words, but Razumeyeva next to the walkie-talkie called me: "Comrade division commander, I have connected with the headquarters of the front, and the chief of staff, General Zakharov, is waiting to talk to you." ”

I hurriedly ran to the walkie-talkie, put on the headphones, smiled at the microphone and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." ”

Instead of asking me what was going on with him, Zakharov asked me with concern: "Comrade Oshanina, have you returned to your command?" ”

"We all arrived safely, thank you for your concern." After thanking him, I went straight to the point and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am calling you so late because I want your help on something!" ”

"Help, help?" Zakharov may have a good opinion of me, so he spoke very politely, and when he heard that I had something to ask him for help, he even said in a big way: "As long as it is within my authority, I will definitely help you." ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." I tried to speak to him in a calm tone: "I have heard that the commanders of the new divisions at all levels will all return after handing over their recruits to the troops. ”

"Yes, according to the regulations." Zakharov asked curiously: "Does this have anything to do with what you are going to ask me for?" ”

"Well, yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." I said with certainty: "You also know that my independent division has not been formed for a long time, and there is a great shortage of commanders at all levels in the unit, but it has not been replenished. So I want to beg you, let Colonel Bandereev and his subordinates, after handing over the recruits to Commander Chuikov, all come to my separate division, I don't know if it will work? ”

After I finished speaking, I held my breath and quietly waited for Zakharov's reply. There was silence in the headphones, and Zakharov's voice could not be heard, and I knew that he was thinking, so I didn't dare to disturb, so I could only wait patiently.

I don't know how long I waited, but Zakharov's voice finally came out of the headphones: "Comrade Oshanina, although I would like to help you, this matter is not something that can be calculated by me. ”

"Do you need to ask the commander or the military commissar?" As soon as he said that, I asked cautiously.

"That's not the case, you're mistaken." Zakharov hurriedly corrected me and said: "There is no need to alarm the commander and the military commissar in this matter, as long as Colonel Bandereev agrees, I have no opinion, in this case, they can logically stay in the independent division and enrich the commander of your independent division." ”

"This is wonderful, Comrade Chief of Staff." Hearing Zakharov say this, I knew that this matter had come to pass, and hurriedly reported to him excitedly: "I have obtained the consent of Colonel Pandereev, and since you have no opinion, then when he finishes handing over the troops, ask him to bring his subordinates to me to report." ”

"What position are you going to give them?" Zakharov asked again.

"Comrade Pandereev holds the post of deputy commander of the independent division, and his subordinates will also go to the regiments of the independent division to serve as deputy commanders in the regiment or battalion." (To be continued......)