I exchanged a few words with Brezhnev, and before I could say anything more, an acquaintance of his called him over. Looking at the back of him and Kol Parkucci leaving, I deeply regret that I didn't impress the future boss.

Just when I was feeling melancholy, I suddenly heard someone next to me calling out: "My God, isn't this Oshanina?" Thank goodness it's great to see you alive! ”

Hearing him say this, I guessed that he must be one of the generals I knew, and when I turned my head, Katukov's tall body stood in front of me. I hurriedly stretched out my hand to him and said excitedly: "Hello, General Katukov, it's a pleasure to see you again." I haven't seen you for more than a year, you are now a general, and it is estimated that in less than two years, you will be able to become a marshal. ”

Katukov looked at my epaulette and shook hands with me, and said with emotion: "Oshanina, you are not simple, I remember that when I met you, you were a lieutenant colonel, and now you are also a general. If there are no accidents, within five years, you still have the possibility of being promoted to marshal. ”

If I heard Zhukov say that I had the opportunity to become a marshal, I could still laugh it off as a joke, but when I heard Katukov say this again, I couldn't help but feel excited, after all, I was already a lieutenant general, and I was much closer to the rank of marshal than when I was lieutenant.

However, this thought was only fleeting, and I gathered my thoughts and asked Katukov with a smile: "Comrade General, I don't know where you are commanding the troops to fight now?" ”

My question stunned Katukov, and then he was stunned and said: "Oshanina, don't you know my 1st Tank Army. Is it currently a battle sequence of the Voronezh Front? Two days ago. There are also subordinates who report to me. I said that you went to inspect the defense area of our group army, and personally instructed those sappers on how to build fortifications. ”

I really felt a little embarrassed when he said this, although I ran a lot of places in the early stage, but I had more dealings with the commanders of some units, and the commanders at the group army level had almost no contact, so I missed an old acquaintance like Katukov.

Katukov came to the parade alone, since he met an acquaintance like me. He didn't go anywhere else, but sat right next to me. After sitting down, he asked with concern: "By the way, I heard that you and your husband were reunited on the outskirts of Moscow." How is he now, in which army? ”

To be honest, what I'm most afraid of now is who asks me about Oshanin and the child, but it's an increasingly unavoidable question. At this moment, since Katukov asked, I could only answer vaguely: "Soon after we last met, he led his troops to the battle. In the battle, his troops were completely annihilated. He was also seriously injured and was taken to the hospital in the rear. We've lost touch ever since. ”

"More than a year has passed, and your husband should have healed even if he was seriously injured." Katukov asked with concern like an elder: "I know that in the past year or so, you have been to Leningrad, then to the Volkhov Front, then the Stalingrad Front, and then to the Southwestern Front, has he not come to look for you?" You must know that your reputation is not small now. ”

I shook my head again and said with a wry smile, "No, I don't know why he didn't come to me, but I never found out where he was." Last time I asked Marshal Zhukov to inquire for me, but there is no news so far. ”

After listening to this, Katukov sighed, patted me on the shoulder and comforted me: "Oshanina, this is war. Don't worry, as long as he is alive, he will find it sooner or later. ”

Although I breathed a sigh of relief in my heart, I still had to pretend to be sad on the surface and say, "Yes, General Katukov, I hope it is like what you say." In order not to let him keep getting entangled in this matter, I quickly diverted the topic, "By the way, there will be a lot of new tanks on the scene at today's military parade, which will definitely open your eyes." ”

"What, a new tank?" Katukov's attention was indeed diverted by me, and he asked in surprise: "Oshanina, have you seen it?" What kind of new tank? Compared with the T-34 that our army is equipped with today, what is the improvement in performance? ”

To his series of questions, I pretended to be mysterious: "General Katukov, you also know that I am a layman in this matter of tank knowledge, and it may be difficult to give you an accurate answer. But don't worry, the parade will start soon, and you'll be able to see it for yourself. ”

Seeing that he couldn't get the answer he wanted from me, Katukov's face showed a look of disappointment. Seeing his frustrated look, I hurriedly added: "Comrade General, I can tell you that a new tank company can easily take out a T-34 tank battalion. ”

"What?" Katukov almost jumped out of his seat when I said this, but fortunately he stabilized his emotions in time, grabbed my arm and asked: "A company against a battalion, and still an easy victory?" Comrade Oshanina, you're not making me happy, are you? ”

I comforted him and said, "Comrade General, when you see the new tank, you will understand whether what I said is true or false. ”

Katukov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said with some dissatisfaction: "It's not even half a point, that is, I will have to wait at least two hours to see those new tanks you just mentioned." ”

This is the infantry phalanx that has been inspected and has begun to enter on a large scale, and it immediately attracts everyone's attention. While everyone was watching the commanders and fighters entering the venue, I looked around the viewing platform, which was full of people at any time, both uniformed soldiers and officials of all levels in civilian clothes. I originally thought that the viewing platform on the south side could only seat one or two hundred people, but at this time, it was at least more than five hundred.

An hour later, twenty infantry phalanxes lined up in two neat columns outside the Gum Mall on the east side of Red Square. The honor guards of the navy, army and air force lined up with their backs to the historical museum, and in front of the bronze statue outside the church of St. Basil, several honor guards can be faintly seen standing there.

At half-past nine. A military band of several hundred people marched in front of the phalanx facing Lenin's tomb. Then. I heard someone whispering, "The marching band is in place." It will take no longer for Comrade Stalin and the people of the Supreme High Command to come out. ”

It was five minutes before ten o'clock, and suddenly everyone around me stood up. I didn't understand why everyone stood up all of a sudden, but they stood up anyway. Almost at the same time, thunderous applause erupted from the viewing platforms on either side of Lenin's tomb. At this time, if I still don't understand what is going on, I might as well go to the Gulag concentration camp and report it.

To our applause, Stalin and Marshal Timoshenko, Zhukov, Stalin, Molotov, Budyonny, Voroshilov and Kuznetsov from the viewing platform on the top of Lenin's tomb. There were also a few people in civilian clothes, and I didn't know anyone except Ustinov.

Stalin walked up to the microphone, raised his hand and pressed down, and the applause not only did not stop, but became more enthusiastic. I wanted to stop clapping, but when I saw that the people around me were still clapping desperately, I had to keep clapping. Because I suddenly remembered a joke about when Stalin appeared, if anyone stopped applauding first. Then his fate will be very tragic. Although I don't know if it's true, it's still a joke. But seeing that others didn't stop applauding, I didn't dare to stop first.

Stalin raised his hand and pressed down a few more times, and the applause of the audience finally stopped.

The parade officially began as the bells of the Sparsco and Nikolai bell towers on both sides of Lenin's tomb rang at the same time. Suddenly, the loudspeaker in the field sounded: "Citizens, pay attention, pay attention, Moscow radio is broadcasting!" Please listen and follow the military parade on Red Square to celebrate the great May Day! ”

As soon as I heard this voice, I looked up to the viewing platform and saw that only Stalin, Zhukov, and Budyonny were standing in front of the microphone, and it was clear that this voice was not made by any of them. The person who spoke should be the announcer of the Moscow radio station, who was at the moment in a position that I could not see, and was broadcasting the grand occasion of the military parade on Red Square to all the Soviet military and civilians.

At this time, Zhukov walked up to the microphone and said loudly: "The flag bearers of the Soviet Union and the Lenin banner, stand upright!" All of them, listen to my commands, stand upright! Look to the left, greet our glorious banner, salute! ”

Following his order, the soldiers on the viewing platforms on both sides raised their hands in salute, and the commanders of the troops on the parade also raised their right hands to their foreheads.

As the music of "Holy War" sounded in the audience, two groups of flag bearers appeared in our field of vision. There are four members of the flag-bearer, with an officer in front and three people in the close, with the flag-bearer in the middle and the flag-bearer on both sides. In front is a bright red Soviet flag, while in the back is a flag with Lenin's head.

When the flag-bearers walked in the direction of the History Museum amid the sound of blood-boiling music, the radio began to understand: "The members of the flag-bearers are from the honor guard of the Central Garrison Regiment, which is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is mainly responsible for carrying out ceremonial activities with the participation of state leaders. It was these soldiers of the Central Garrison Regiment who had the honor of kicking off the military parade on Red Square.

The flag bearers of the Soviet Union consisted of the captain of the flag bearer, the flag bearer, and the flag bearer. Since its establishment, the honor guard has participated in many celebrations, and they have shown their own joy in major cities in China and even abroad. ”

When the flag-bearers arrived at the Historical Museum, and the music of "Holy War" came to an abrupt end, Zhukov's voice sounded again: "Rest! ”

When Vasilevsky and another officer, on white horses, rushed through the small gate under the Sparsco bell tower and broke into Red Square, Zhukov shouted again: "All stand upright!" I greet a review to the left and prepare! As soon as he finished speaking, the military band played a majestic march again.

Vasilevsky and his deputy rode to the center of Red Square on horseback, and at the same time, the commander of the Moscow garrison, who was riding a black horse, also rode up with his deputy on two black horses.

The four of them met in front of Lenin's tomb, and the commander of the garrison raised his hand to salute Vasilevsky and reported: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, the parade of troops is complete, please review!" ”

After Vasilevsky waited for the garrison commander to finish his report, he and his lieutenant rode forward and backward, running in the direction of the Historical Museum, while the garrison commander and his deputy also turned the dock to follow, and the four war horses kept moving at a constant speed.

Vasilevsky went around in a circle in front of the standard-bearers, came to the phalanx to be paraded, and shouted at the commanders and fighters: "Hello, comrades! ”

The commanders in the phalanx immediately replied: "Hello! Comrade Chief of the General Staff! ”

Vasilevsky also said: "I wish you all May Day and a happy holiday! ”

At this time, the commanders and fighters in the phalanx opened their throats and shouted: "Ula! Ulla! Ulla! ”

Vasilevsky continued to ride his horse to the front, stopping in front of another and repeating what had just happened.

After completing the review of the phalanx, the garrison commander and his deputies remained in front of the Historical Museum, while Vasilevsky and his deputies rode to the center of the viewing platform on Lenin's tomb to report to Stalin. When his horse stopped on the front of Lenin's tomb, two officers immediately ran over and reached out to take the reins of the horse. After Vasilevsky left, they led their horses and ran quickly to the side.

Vasilevsky raised his hand to his forehead and walked up the steps to the viewing platform on Lenin's tomb. He came to Stalin, and his voice resounded through the microphone: "Comrade Supreme Commander of the Soviet Armed Forces, see the troops in formation!" Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army Vasilevsky. ”

As soon as Stalin finished speaking, he immediately stepped forward to shake his hand. At the same time, a deep voice sounded on the field again: "Take a break!" With this command, we all lowered our right hands, which had been raised on our foreheads.

Then Stalin made an inspiring speech to the people of the whole country on the radio.

While Stalin was speaking, I touched Bezkov next to me with my hand and asked him softly: "Colonel, who is that old man with a goatee next to Stalin and Marshal Zhukov?" ”

Bezikov glanced at me and replied in a low voice: "His name is Kosygin: he was formerly People's Commissar of Textiles, now he is Deputy Chairman of the People's Commissariat for the production of consumer goods, and from this year he also holds the post of Chairman of the Council of Soviet Forces of the Russian Federation. At this point, he asked me in surprise, "Don't you know him?" ”‘’

"I've seen him a few times, but I've never known his name." In order to hide my ignorance, I also deliberately defended: "At first, I was not familiar with it, and it was not easy to ask for other people's names casually; It's been a long time, and I'm too embarrassed to ask again. ”

Stalin's speech was brief, almost as soon as I was chatting with Bezikov, and his speech was over. Then it's time for the parade to proceed. (To be continued.) )