"Although Paulus's 6th Army is surrounded by us, it is not easy to eat them in one bite." While adjusting my thinking, I said carefully and carefully: "Now the offensive and defensive posture has changed, from the German army attacking us a few days ago to attacking and defending us, to our attacking and defending the German army, but the German army was only dizzy by our sudden big counteroffensive, and their overall strength was not seriously damaged. Even in our encirclement, with their troops and material reserves, they can support it for a long time. In this way, they can rely on their existing fortifications and wait for their reinforcements to arrive while resisting our onslaught. ”

"Hitler still had so many troops to rescue their besieged troops?" When Ma Linin heard this, he pursed his lips and said disapprerovingly: "You must know that the current shape of the national battlefield is favorable to us, and the enemy simply cannot draw troops from other battlefields to rescue Paulus and them in the encirclement. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front, you see the enemy too vulnerable." As soon as Rokossovsky waited for Malinin to finish speaking, he immediately retorted to him: "Don't think that the enemy has fallen into our encirclement, and we can sleep peacefully." What we have to consider now is how to completely and cleanly wipe out the enemy in the encirclement in the shortest possible time, so that we can draw out enough troops to reinforce our troops in other theaters. With that, he raised his chin at me, "Lida, you go on." ”

I nodded, and then continued: "The German 295th Division, which held Gorodishe, and the German 297th Division, which held the city of Kong, were repulsed by us. Now retreat to the southwest. According to the report of the scouts. More than a dozen kilometers away from us, they occupied a defensive position that originally belonged to us, and they fortified it there. ”

"Comrade Oshanina, the situation is very serious." General Batov, who had spoken very little, waited for me to finish, sighed, and added: "The fortifications there are built on a hill, and at the foot of the white cliff is a deep and winding ravine. The steep slope is twenty or thirty meters high, and there is hardly any place to climb. Moreover, the white soil is wet and slippery, and if we attack it, we will definitely pay a lot of price. ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, what is white soil?" While General Batov was talking, I secretly asked Kirillov next to me. "It's the first time I've heard that word."

Although my voice was small, it was still heard by Rokossovsky, who was sitting opposite, and he smiled and said to Batov: "General Batov, my female division commander does not know what white soil is, please explain it to her." ”

Rokossovsky's words made me ashamed. But I could only listen to Batov explain what "white soil" was with a red face, and Batov looked at me. With a smile on his face, he said, "On the top of the sea, there are many very small animals and plants floating on it. Among them are single-celled animals called 'multiembryonic pores', and the shells of these organisms are made of lime. When these organisms die, their tiny bodies sink to the bottom of the ocean. Over time, it accumulates into a thick layer of shells. Of course, this process will take millions of years to complete. This layer gradually coalesced together and compressed into a soft limestone that we call 'white earth'. ”

As soon as Batov finished speaking, I nodded vigorously as if I didn't understand, indicating that I understood, so as not to be ridiculed by them again. Then I quickly diverted the subject: "Comrade Commander of the Front, in order to conquer the fortifications occupied by the Germans, it is necessary to use heavy artillery. However, our division's existing technical equipment is limited, and it is estimated that it will be difficult to undertake this task. ”

"Don't worry, Leda." I thought that even if Rokossovsky didn't get angry on the spot, the expression on his face would be as cold as ice, but I didn't expect him to listen to me, just waved his hand and said disapprehantly: "I said that your independent division is not capable of attacking the fortifications enough, so you don't need to participate in this attack." You just have to hold on to your existing defenses, and you are not allowed to take a step back or move forward without my orders. Got it? ”

Hearing that there was no need for our division to participate in the attack on the Germans, the stone hanging in my heart suddenly fell to the ground, and I quickly replied loudly: "Understood, Comrade Commander of the Front." ”

"General Batov, this time the task of attacking the fortification will be handed over to your 65th Army," Rokossovsky looked at Batov and asked, "When will we be able to attack?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," Batov quickly got up from his seat and replied respectfully, "I intend to send the 173rd Infantry Division to carry out this storming mission." At the same time, the 1st Cannon Regiment and the 1166th Howitzer Regiment of the 1st Artillery Division were transferred to provide the necessary artillery support for the attacking troops. ”

"Tell me about your plans." Rokossovsky said briefly.

Seeing that Rokossovsky and the others were going to discuss the battle plan, it seemed very inappropriate for me to stay here as an outsider, so I quickly stood up and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander of the Front, since you want to discuss the battle plan, then let's avoid it for a while. With that, he called Kirillov and was about to go out.

Unexpectedly, Rokossovsky just glanced at me, then raised his hand and pressed down, and ordered me: "Leda, you don't have to leave, just sit here and listen, it will be very helpful for you to command the battle in the future." After saying that, he ordered Batov: "Go on, Comrade General. ”

Batov glanced at me, saw that I had returned to my position, and continued: "I plan to move the infantry to a distance of only a kilometer from the German positions and conceal them before dawn tomorrow, and the artillery to be deployed three kilometers behind the infantry. The German positions were attacked for twenty minutes with dense artillery fire, and then, while they were overwhelmed by our artillery, the infantry launched a decisive attack, seizing this fortification in one fell swoop, and tearing a hole in the enemy's tight defensive line. ”

After listening carefully to Bartov's plan, I was a little unimpressed, this style of play was a bit of a bully, with heavy artillery first bombarding the German positions, waiting for the enemy to be heavily damaged by artillery fire, and then launching a charge. If I had changed, I would have such weapons and equipment as the 65th Army. I can just as well beat the Germans to the ground for teeth.

I was hesitating whether I should say a few words. Suddenly I caught a glimpse of Captain Yushchenko trying to come in through the door. But he was stopped by the sentry guarding the door. The sentry was supposed to be from the Don Front, and no matter what Yushchenko said, the sentry blocking the door kept shaking his head and refused to let him in.

I was afraid that Yushchenko would find something to do with me, so I leaned forward and whispered to Rokossovsky: "Comrade of the Front Command, my guard battalion commander is outside, and it seems that there is something urgent looking for me. I want to go out and see. ”

Rokossovsky glanced at the door and casually spat out a word to me: "Go!" ”

I quickly stood up, walked quickly to the door, stood behind the sentry, and whispered to Yushchenko outside: "Comrade Captain, do you have something?" ”

"Comrade division commander," Yushchenko hurriedly replied to me, "the bodies of the sacrificed fighters have been brought back, what should we do with them?" ”

After listening to Yushchenko's report, I immediately remembered what Kirillov had said before entering the command post, when he pulled Yushchenko aside. Now that I think about it, it should have been arranged for Yushchenko to dispose of the remains of the martyrs. I hurriedly pushed the sentry in front of me away. Quickly walked out of the command post, pulled Yushchenko aside, and asked in a low voice: "Have all the remains of the martyrs been pulled back?" ”

"All of them are back, and there are not many of them." Yushchenko was afraid that I would not believe what he said, and he specially emphasized: "It was I who personally carried the bodies of the martyrs and the soldiers into the car, and none of them were pulled down." ”

I nodded and said, "Okay!" Very good! Our independent division does not have the habit of abandoning its comrades-in-arms. You went to collect the remains of the martyrs in person today, thank you for being the division commander! I raised my hand and saluted him.

When Yushchenko saw me saluting him, he was stunned for a moment, then reacted and raised his hand to salute back: "Comrade division commander, this is what I should do." ”

"Find a place to bury these martyrs." Because I was in a hurry to go back to observe the meeting, I could only leave the aftermath of the martyrs to Yushchenko, "You go and choose a good place for them, and I will leave this matter to you with full responsibility." ”

When I returned to my seat, I saw that Malinin was signing the order to attack on paper, and Batov was standing nearby, his eyes fixed on the fast-moving pen in Malinin's hand. Rokossovsky put me back in his place with a stern look on my face and asked with concern: "Leda, what's wrong?" ”

I smiled bitterly at Rokossovsky, and in order not to affect Malinin and Batov, I whispered to Yushchenko what had come to report. At the same time, he also told him about our distress on the road.

After hearing this, the expression on Rokossovsky's face became stern. When Batov went outside with the battle order issued by Malinin to send a report, he said to me in a serious voice: "Lida, you are now not only the deputy commander of the 62nd Army, but also the commander of the Red Banner Independent Division, and your safety is no longer your personal matter, but is closely related to thousands of commanders and fighters." Have you considered what kind of consequences will happen to you if something happens to you, then the chain of command of the independent division will be thrown into chaos, so what kind of evil consequences will it bring? ”

Although I felt in my heart that Rokossovsky was making a bit of a fuss, I had to pretend to be sincere and admit my mistake to him on the surface: "Comrade commander of the front, you are right in your criticism, I will definitely pay attention to it in the future, and I will definitely not make similar mistakes again." ”

Rokossovsky was satisfied with my attitude, he nodded, glanced at Kirillov, who was sitting next to me, and Sederikov, who was standing behind us, coughed and ordered: "It's Commissar Kirillov, right?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front." When Kirillov heard Rokossovsky call his name, he didn't know what the other party would order, so he quickly stood up, leaned forward slightly, and respectfully waited for Rokossovsky's instructions.

Rokossovsky politely said to him: "Comrade Kirillov, just now Lida told me that the commander of your guard company, Captain Yushchenko, is about to hold a funeral for several soldiers who have died. These soldiers died heroically, and if the funeral was only presided over by Captain Yushchenko, it would be a little inadequate, so I intend for you and my chief of staff, Comrade Malinin, to preside over the funeral of these soldiers. I don't know what you think? ”

"Comrade Commander of the Front," Kirillov said respectfully, "I am more than happy to obey your orders. I'm going to preside over the funerals of the martyrs. ”

Seeing that Malinin and Kirillov both got up and walked towards the door, and Sederikov was still standing stupidly in place. Rokossovsky looked at him. Curiously asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." What are you still standing here for, why don't you follow your commissars to the funeral of the martyrs? ”

Sederikov replied in a panic: "Yes, Comrade General, I'll go." With that, he hurried after Kirillov and their backs.

I knew that Rokossovsky had sent these people away, and that he must have something important to say to me. Sure enough, after seeing everyone's backs disappear at the door, he suddenly lowered his voice and said to me, "Leda." I heard that a few months ago, you were almost shot by someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs because you were implicated by Vlasov? ”

"Yes, Comrade General." Hearing him ask about this, and knowing that he was concerned about my safety, my heart was filled with gratitude to him, so I replied truthfully: "If it had not been for the fact that the pistol that shot me happened to be jammed, and General Fedyuninsky arrived in time, I guess I would not have seen you." ”

After hearing this, Rokossovsky stood up. He walked up to me from the other side of the table and tapped me on the shoulder. In a voice that only the two of us could hear, he said: "Lida, maybe you don't know, during the Purge, I was also sentenced to death, and I was on death row for more than three months, and I was taken to the execution ground at night, standing on the edge of the burial pit and waiting to be shot. The generals on my left and right were shot, but I was hit by an empty cartridge in the back of the neck. Since I never confessed to my crimes and bites, I was able to survive all my life. Later, due to the Soviet-Finnish war, the Soviet army did not go well, and the Supreme Commander himself decided to put some experienced commanders out to direct the battle, and I had the opportunity to put on the military uniform again. ”

Rokossovsky's words surprised me, because I never knew that he had faced death so close like me, but we were all lucky to survive. Seeing that I was still in a daze, he continued: "If you have the ability that is difficult for others to replace, then you will become very safe, and your life can be truly secured. Can you understand what I mean? ”

When I first heard him say this, I was still confused, but I quickly figured it out. The reason why I was lucky enough to survive to the present in this particular historical period is probably related to my own ability, so that I can turn danger into a disaster again and again, otherwise I would have become a white bone buried in the soil.

An hour later, Batov's artillery units appeared in the city of Kongjiaoyi. I vaguely heard Batov report to Chuikov that because the infantry had no transport vehicles, they had to walk on two legs, and they could not arrive until dark at the earliest.

In the early morning of the 25th, Batov's infantry and artillery left the city of Kongjiao and went to quietly occupy the so-called starting positions for the offensive. Rokossovsky and I stood on the second floor where the command post was located, looking out at the troops in the distance. Rokossovsky suddenly asked: "Leda, do you want to go and see how our troops captured the enemy's positions?" ”

"Can we go and watch the fight?" Although I had long wanted to see how Batov's troops had seized the fortifications occupied by the Germans, I had to stay in the command post and wait for news without Rokossovsky's permission. ”

In this way, before dawn, our group came to an observation post behind the lurking point of the 173rd Infantry Division. As we entered, Bartov was bending down to close his eyes to a gunner, observing the movement of the fortifications in the distance. Hearing movement behind him, he quickly straightened up and turned to look back. Seeing that it was Rokossovsky who was at the forefront, he hurriedly stood up and saluted the latter.

Rokossovsky raised his hand and returned the salute and asked straight to the point: "General Batov, how is the situation, is there any movement on the positions of the German troops?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," Batov replied honestly, "our movement seems to have been discovered by the Germans, and I see that in the trenches the Germans have entered their respective firing positions. ”

"General Batov, do you think that the Germans are blind and do not see the movement of thousands of men and horses here of us?" Rokossovsky then asked. "How many artillery pieces are there in the artillery regiment?"

Hearing Rokossovsky's question, General Batov hurriedly replied: "Report to Comrade Commander, three artillery regiments have 40 cannons, 20 howitzers, a total of 60 artillery pieces. ”

Rokossovsky raised his hand to look at his watch, then walked to the gunner, bent down to follow what Bartov had just done, and brought his eyes closer to the gunner, observing the movement in the distance. After a long time, he straightened up again, turned to us, and said, "Since the Germans have spotted us, let them stay in the trenches for the first time, and then we can destroy a few more Germans when our shelling begins." By the way, General Batov, you have to make the soldiers hurry up and rest, so that they can always maintain a full body during the battle. (To be continued......)