My experience in Moscow is legendary, but by chance, in just a few months, I was promoted from a small corporal to the rank of major general, and even directly commanded a main division. Throughout the narration process, I told my story in a plain tone, flat and straightforward, without the slightest artistic processing. What I have experienced is so unbelievable to uninformed outsiders that the answer to the truth will already make people feel that the cowhide is blowing into the sky, and if you add oil and vinegar, it will be even more unbelievable.

Although the two of them had long guessed that my experience in Moscow was not ordinary, they still let out exclamations from time to time when they really listened to me. Especially when she heard that I had been received by Stalin, Orlova screamed with excitement like an ignorant little girl.

But I didn't tell them everything, I just mentioned some things that I didn't think were important, and I didn't mention to them anything like strange subway trains and Engineer Floning, because such secrets were not known to anyone, even those closest to me.

As I spoke, Orlova got up and poured charcoal twice into the stove in the corner of the tent, and occasionally refilled our teacups with hot tea. It was a bit hot in the tent, so I got up and took off my military coat outside, revealing the military uniform I was wearing inside.

The medal hanging on his chest was seen by the two, and there was another exclamation. Kirianova shifted her gaze from the medal to my face and asked curiously: "Lida, can you tell us more about how you got these medals?" ”

Although I feel that she thinks of me as the king of stories, I still have to say about the medal. So I pointed to one of the Order of the Red Banner and said to them: "This Order of the Red Banner was awarded to me on the eve of the October Revolution, and at the same time as me, my partner at the time, Instructor Crochkov. Together we led the troops at the parade on Red Square the next day, but unfortunately he died in the defense of Volokolamsk soon after. ”

"Crochkov?" Kirianova repeated the name, frowning and trying to recall where she had heard it: "It's so familiar, I seem to have heard it before." ”

"Comrade Company Commander, of course you are familiar with this name." Orlova reminded her: "Have you forgotten that two months ago, our superiors called on us to learn from him. It is said that he led 28 soldiers to stubbornly resist the attack of the German tank troops, and all of them died heroically in the end. The slogan he shouted at the time: Russia is big, but we have no way back, because behind us is Moscow. It's a quote we all remember. ”

After her reminder, Kirianova suddenly realized: "Yes, yes, there is really such a thing." Comrade instructor, if you don't say it, I really can't remember. Then he looked at me with envy and said, "Lida, I really envy you for being a partner with such a great hero." ”

I didn't want to keep talking to them about myself, so I tried to divert the subject and asked, "Kirianova, tell me about the troops." ”

Kirianova turned her gaze to Orlova and said, "Let the instructor comrade come and brief you." ”

Orlova nodded and said, "I'll first talk about the importance of the ice transport line. Perhaps you have also heard in Moscow that Leningrad suffered from famine because of the siege, and thousands of people starved to death. At this point, she paused, noticing the change in my expression, and seeing that I nodded thoughtfully, she continued.

Actually, I nodded, not as she imagined, that the story of Leningrad being besieged by the Germans and that thousands of citizens were starving to death was not something I had heard about in Moscow, but about it in the history books of later generations.

"After the outbreak of the war, according to the meeting of the Committee for the Evacuation of Residents. The children and the elderly in the city should be sent out of the city anyway. Not only to save their lives from starvation and cold, but also to rid the city of the 'idle eaters', because every loaf of bread is now very precious.

Evacuate those who did not have the need to stay in the front-line cities, and at the same time evacuate the specialists, without whom it would have been difficult for some of the Leningrad factories and enterprises that had begun to move to the east soon after the outbreak of the war to start working. At first people went out of the railroad and later from Lake Ladoga. But since Lake Ladoga began to freeze and shipping stopped, the evacuation was temporarily halted.

Now that the ice transport line has been opened, the evacuation has officially resumed. ……”

I took a sip of the slightly cold black tea in front of me and said, "Go on." ”

"Initially, there were four road-building regiments, three separate bridge-building battalions, two workers' battalions and two separate workers' companies. Later, in order to ensure the safety of the ice transport line, the Front sent an infantry regiment. In addition to the concentration of powerful anti-aircraft artillery on the shores of Lake Ladoga and on Terenets Island; At the same time, on the ice, light rapid-fire guns were erected every three kilometers, and anti-aircraft guns with multiple barrels were erected every five hundred meters. Front and Navy aircraft conducted round-the-clock air patrols near Lake Ladoga. ”

After Orlova finished speaking, Kirianova added: "Since the area we are in is the focus of the bombing by German planes, I moved here two days ago. ”

……

Time passed imperceptibly in our chat, until a sudden voice outside the tent interrupted our conversation. "Can I come in?"

"It's a soldier in the cooking class." Orlova explained to me, and then shouted outside: "Come in." ”

The man standing outside lifted the curtain and stooped into the tent. I could see that it was a female warrior with a tray in one hand, with medium height and dark hair, and perhaps because she often smelled oil smoke in the kitchen, and looked a little chubby. She straightened up and reported to us: "Comrade commander, breakfast is ready. ”

"Put it on the table." Kirianova said lightly.

The female warrior said yes and walked over, and was about to put the plate down when she suddenly screamed and startled us. She shouted in glee, rested the plate on the table, and reached out to me with both hands.

For her gaffe, several of us were stunned, and we couldn't figure out why she would suddenly behave like this.

"Leda, you don't know me anymore?" The female soldier asked excitedly.

I looked carefully at the female soldier in front of me, and felt that I had really never seen it, so I could only smile awkwardly and shake my head.

"Comrade Liuda, what are you doing here?" Orlova asked sternly.

Liuda didn't look at her, but grabbed my hand and shook it and said, "Lida, you really can't remember?" We're neighbors, and in Pochnok I'm neighbors with your mother. ”

When I heard her mention the name of Pochnock, I knew that nine times out of ten she was true. Maybe really Leda and she used to be very familiar neighbors, and I, the impostor, didn't know anything about it. In order to hide my panic, I pretended to be suddenly aware and said, "It turned out to be you, Liuda." Look at it, I don't even recognize you in a military uniform. Without waiting for her to answer, I continued, "Do you know how my mother and child are doing?" "The real Leda had asked me to take care of her baby, and I took the opportunity to inquire about his whereabouts.

"Your mother had already left there before the Pochnok was lost, and she is currently living in an apartment on the Neva River with her children. I'll go back and find the address later, and I'll give it to you if I find it. ”