"Comrade General," as soon as he finished speaking, Shumilov, who was sitting below, asked questioningly, "this can't be fake news, right?" Since 1941, the Allies have been talking about opening a second battlefield, but it has been almost two years now, and they have not seen the shadow of the second battlefield. So much so that our fighters call the canned beef they aid a 'second battlefield'. ”

His words immediately caused laughter in the audience. Vatujin also laughed a few times along with everyone, and then said: "Don't worry, comrades commanders, this time it was the President of the United States who personally called the Supreme Commander to inform him. That said, the news is absolutely accurate. ”

When everyone heard that this information came from the High Command, they did not dwell on the matter any longer, but changed the topic and began to ask Vatutin other questions. Although I think that when Vatutin just gave an account of the tasks, he estimated everything, arranged all the tasks properly, and even the situation and distribution of the enemy, and the direction of our army's attack were indicated on the map. But those who still asked him this and that, for example, how many artillery pieces were planned to be arranged for the necessary artillery preparation before the attack? Where will tank repair stations be built, and how many will be built......

For these questions, Vatu Kyoto was handed over to the chief of staff, General Zakharov, to answer. When the general had answered everyone's questions, the room became quiet.

Vasilevsky looked around the room, and then asked: "Who still has a problem?" ”

There was silence and no one spoke.

Then he asked again, but no one asked. He turned his head and whispered a few words to Vatutin and Konev, who were sitting on the left and right, then stood up and announced: "Since everyone is fine, then ......"

"Comrade Marshal." Seeing that he was about to announce the adjournment of the meeting. But there is no talk of the task of recovering Belgorod and Kharkov. He stood up decisively and asked aloud, "Is I allowed to ask questions?" ”

I had been silent when everyone was asking questions just now, and now that all the questions had been asked, I jumped out to ask questions. All eyes were on me, and perhaps some people secretly despised me and thought I was grandstanding.

Vasilevsky and Vatutin looked at each other, then turned to look at me. With a helpless face, he said: "Comrade Oshanina, if you have any questions, just ask them!" ”

Having received permission from Vasilevsky, I asked aloud: "Comrade Marshal, allow me to ask, when the counteroffensive of the enemy south of Kursk is completed, which troops will liberate Belgorod and Kharkov?" ”

My words were like pouring a scoop of cold water into a red-hot oil pan, and it was immediately frying. Other commanders talked about it, but the point is that I also remembered this matter temporarily. There was no time to consult with Kirillov and Danilov, so the two of them were like the other commanders. Staring at me with wide eyes and wide mouths.

It took a while for Vatutin to come to his senses from the shock, and he said to me sternly: "Comrade Oshanina, what we are talking about now is how to carry out a counteroffensive against the enemy in the south of Kursk. Even if the enemy is being repulsed by us in the area that is now being invaded, and if we want to attack Belgorod and Kharkov, we will have to go through repeated discussions and studies by the Supreme Command before we can draw up the relevant battle plan......"

"Comrade General, you can't scare her!" Konev, who was sitting next to him and never spoke, suddenly said something good for me: "Marshal Zhukov once said that she has a lot of ideas and will use her brains in battle, otherwise she would not have become famous among the enemy because she held the Mamayev post. I think she must still have a reason to propose the liberation of Belgorod and Kharkov at such a time, so we might as well listen to what she has to say? ”

Regarding Konev's proposal, Vasilevsky lowered his head and thought about it, and then said with certainty: "Okay, Comrade Oshanina, just tell everyone what you think, so that everyone knows what they know." ”

Vasilevsky asked me to speak, and I will certainly not be stupid to tell you that in real history, after the German troops attacking Kursk were repulsed, they were forced to go on the defensive, and Belgorod and Kharkov would soon be back in our hands. I quickly organized the vocabulary in my head, and then said: "Comrade Marshal, two comrades of the commanders of the Front." I ask such a question because I was inspired by Commander Vatutin. Seeing the blank expression on Vatutin's face, I hurriedly explained, "He said that the Allies had landed in Sicily, and the Germans would definitely have to send troops to reinforce them, so that the pressure on us would be greatly reduced, and the time would be ripe for a counteroffensive." ”

"That's right, Comrade Oshanina." Hearing this, Vatujin nodded, and said affirmatively: "That's what I said. ”

I continued: "If the Germans want to hold back the advance of the Allies into the Italian border, they must draw enough troops to intercept them. At such a time, where should they draw their troops? As far as I know, the troops under Manstein's command were also the only strategic reserves that the Germans could mobilize. ”

"Even so, what conclusion have you reached?" Vasilevsky asked with a flat expression.

"Comrade Marshal, in my judgment, with the transfer of the main forces of Manstein, the forces of the German army south of Kursk will become weak." I looked at Vasilevsky and said confidently: "And the troops of our Voronezh Front, after being strengthened by the Steppe Front, are in an advantageous position compared with the German army in terms of strength and equipment. Therefore, I boldly infer that the time is ripe for us to recover Belgorod and Kharkov. ”

When I finished, Vasilevsky was silent, as if he had fallen into deep thought. After hesitating for a moment, Vatutin asked: "Comrade Oshanina, I would like to ask you, what facts can you use to prove to us that your inference just now is correct?" ”

When Vatujin asked, he really stopped me. I can't just hang my neck and tell him that that's what the history books say, so that after repelling the German attack, we will soon be able to reclaim a big city like Kharkov. Just when he was in a dilemma, Khrushchev, who was sitting behind Vatutin, suddenly said leisurely: "Comrade General, don't forget. Comrade Oshanina had been with Comrade Molotov for the first few months. He has visited the United States. He also had in-depth exchanges with the US military. She definitely knows something that we don't have permission to know, so I think she was completely right. ”

Khrushchev indirectly supported it in public, and he also specifically mentioned my trip to the United States. His words worked, and I saw curiosity and approval in the faces of the commanders who looked at me on Friday, and even Vasilevsky kept nodding his head.

"The meeting has been going on for so long, everyone must be tired." Vasilevsky waved his hand and announced in public: "Rest for ten minutes, and then resume the meeting." Comrade Vatutin. Come with me. With that, he stood up and walked outside. Vatujing also quickly stood up and walked out quickly.

Seeing the departure of the Chief of the General Staff and the Commander of the Front, the commanders in the room began to talk to each other. Without waiting for Kirillov to ask me anything, I quickly got up and walked to Khrushchev's side, and after thanking him first, I asked in a low voice: "Comrade Military Commissar, why didn't you see the deputy commander, General Apanashchenko, today, where did he go?" ”

Hearing my question, Khrushchev shook his head like a rattle. "It's not clear, his command is not with us," he said. And as soon as the deputy commander is free, he likes to run to the troops at the front. It is estimated that he will now go to which division or even regiment to inspect. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander is doing this, it's really dangerous!" As I said this, I turned and beckoned to Danilov in the distance, motioning for him to come to me.

Danilov hadn't come yet, but Konev came first, and he asked curiously: "Comrade Oshanina, did you get some inside information, so you asked such a question?" ”

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, please wait a moment." When I saw that Danilov had come to me, I could only apologize to Konev and then instruct Danilov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, according to our original agreement, you go and call Colonel Bezikov and ask him to inform the divisions of General Apanashchenko's whereabouts and ensure his personal safety." ”

After Danilov left, Khrushchev smiled and nodded, and said approvingly: "Comrade Oshanina, you are really thoughtful. It is very effective to have the troops below to protect the safety of General Apanashchenko. ”

I waited until Khrushchev finished speaking before I had time to explain to Konev: "Comrade Commander of the Front, forgive me for not being able to explain too much to you, because there are a lot of secrets that you cannot know. But I assure you that as long as the units of the Fifth Guards Tank Army crushed the main German forces in the Prokhorovka area, then the enemy could no longer organize any effective resistance. At that time, not to mention the liberation of Belgorod and Kharkov, even if it was to recover Kyiv again, it was not a big deal! ”

When I mentioned the name, the faces of both Khrushchev and Konev turned red with excitement. Because the city is where Khrushchev once presided over his work; Konev, on the other hand, was thinking that the record of liberating Kyiv would give him a bright future.

"Recapture Kyiv?!" Khrushchev lowered his voice and asked tentatively: "Is the current strength of our army really strong enough to liberate Kyiv from the hands of the enemy?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Military Councilor." I respectfully said to him: "Since a few months ago I could liberate Kyiv from the Germans with an inadequately formed infantry corps." Now we have a million troops, and if we rush to Kyiv together, do you think the Germans will be able to hold back our attack? ”

"I can't stop it, I can't stop it." Konev took over the topic and said: "You must know that many of our troops have been equipped with new weapons, and the overall combat effectiveness has been greatly improved. Although our strength is still relatively weak compared with the German army's strong fighting units, if we can't beat them one-on-one, then we can compete with them in a ratio of two to one, three to one, or even four to one, and I don't believe that the Germans cannot be defeated. ”

The three of us were talking in a whisper, and Vasilevsky and Vatutin walked in from the outside with serious faces. I hurried back to my seat and saw that the two leaders who had just returned had something important to announce.

After seeing that all the commanders were seated one after another, Vasilevsky stood in front of the table, supported the table with both hands, leaned forward slightly, and said to everyone in a loud voice: "Comrade commanders, just now I reported to Comrade Oshanina on the telephone with the Supreme Commander himself. ”

At this point, he deliberately paused, looked at me with meaningful eyes, and then said unhurriedly: "After listening to this, Comrade Stalin highly praised General Oshanina's courageous fighting spirit, so he decided to give the honor of liberating the cities of Belgorod and Kharkov to the glorious Sixth Guards Army. With that, he took the lead in applauding.

I stood up amid thunderous applause and raised my hand to salute Vasilevsky. But instead of immediately putting my hand down, I saluted all the attendees. When the applause had completely subsided, I lowered my hand raised to my forehead and loudly assured Vasilevsky: "Please rest assured, Comrade Marshal, that all the commanders and fighters of the Sixth Guards Army will plant our glorious banner on the highest points in Belgorod and Kharkov." ”

Vatujin waited for me to finish, and after standing up and encouraging me a few words, he adjourned the meeting.

As Kirillov and I walked out of the crowd, he leaned close to my ear and whispered: "Lida, you are crazy, Manstein's troops are constantly attacking south of Kursk, and it is questionable whether this counterattack will succeed, how dare you volunteer to ask for the recovery of Belgorod and Kharkov." If you don't complete this task, your future is completely ruined. ”

"Don't worry, my comrade military commissar." I raised my hand and gently patted him on the shoulder, comforting him and saying, "You have known me for a long time, don't you know what kind of person I am?" When did I say something that I didn't deliver? Don't worry, I said that if I can recover the two cities to the south, I will definitely recover. At this point, I looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to us, so I whispered, "This is a rare opportunity to make a difference, and if you miss it, you will regret it in the future." ”

Seeing that I was so stubborn, Kirillov had to sigh helplessly and said: "Forget it, as for whether Kharkov can be recovered or not, it will be a matter for later." Now we have to think about how to launch a counteroffensive against the Germans. (To be continued.) )

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