I returned to the front in the same car as Rokossovsky. From what I knew about him, I knew that he must have something to say to me in private, so instead of sitting in the co-pilot's seat, I sat side by side with him in the back seat.

Sure enough, not long after the car left the headquarters of the Front, Rokossovsky, who had been in a somewhat depressed mood, began to complain to me about Zhukov. "Leda, you have also seen the current situation of the group army. …… All of us, from the soldier to the commander, felt that the decisive moment had come to hold on no matter what, and we all had only one thought, that we should try to do our part better, without being urged to do our part. The war-hardened army knows how much responsibility it has. ”

Hearing Rokossovsky whining so unscrupulously, I couldn't help but glance worriedly at the driver in the front seat. This little gesture of mine was immediately noticed by Rokossovsky, who waved his hand and said: "It doesn't matter, the driver is his own person, and he will not pass on the content of our conversation." ”

I sighed, and quickly continued his words: "Commander, please continue. ”

"These days, I have also learned the nervousness and impatience of some of our direct leaders. Self-control, composure, and respect for subordinates are essential qualities that any chief should possess, and these qualities are especially important in war. The veteran soldier should be trusted: he realizes that his superiors trust him, believe in his abilities, place hopes on him, and in battle, for a person, there is nothing more precious than this awareness...... It is a pity that our commanders of the Western Front sometimes did not take this into account. ”

I know the reason why Rokossovsky had such a big opinion about Zhukov: first, Rokossovsky wanted to withdraw his troops to the Istrian region to organize a new defensive zone, but this proposal was immediately rejected by Zhukov. Although the opinion was rejected, Rokossovsky, judging by the enemy situation, felt that the 16th Army could not hold the position at that time, so he went to the upper line and through Marshal Shaposhnikov, he made a request to Stalin to retreat. With the acquiescence of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, an order was given to the subordinate troops to retreat. Just as the retreat of the troops began, a telegram from Zhukov terminated Rokossovsky's order, which now seemed perfectly correct. Although Rokossovsky showed a high-spirited posture of obedience to the overall situation at that time, he already had an idea about Zhukov in his heart. After resisting in place for a few days, Rokossovsky, seeing that the situation was not good, again gave the order for the troops to retreat to the Istrian region.

When the troops of the Ludao Army Group had just begun to move towards the Istrian region, Zhukov crossed Rokossovsky and directly gave orders to the division commanders below, telling them to immediately change the route of the march and attack the German army occupying the city of Cumbre del Sol. In the absence of a unified command, the various units fought in silos, and in the absence of heavy weapons, launched attacks on the enemy, who had superior technical and equipment, with little success and heavy casualties.

As for Rokossovsky himself, because of Zhukov's order, not only did he lose contact with his troops, but he even almost took his own life in the village of Peshki. It is for this reason that Rokossovsky was so dissatisfied with Zhukov that the two did not even say a word at today's military meeting.

I can only smile bitterly at Rokossovsky's complaints. I know that after all, the two have been old comrades-in-arms for many years, don't look at the relationship between the two now, but after all, it has not reached the point where water and fire are incompatible, if I talk nonsense to help him fight unevenly, maybe when they are reconciled, this word will reach Zhukov's ears, and it will be enough for me to drink a pot at that time, so I chose to be silent with interest.

Seeing that I did not respond, Rokossovsky glanced at me, his face showed a disappointed expression, and then changed the topic to other aspects: "In order to strengthen the command and strengthen the combat effectiveness of the troops, I have made the necessary adjustments to the commanders of your division. ”

"Huh?!" I was struck by Rokossovsky's words, and I had been away from the unit for less than two days, and the command system of the unit was adjusted. I was silent for a few seconds, but I couldn't help but ask curiously, "I wonder how the Dao is adjusted?" ”

Rokossovsky looked out the window and said in a calm tone: "The three settlements on the outskirts of Mount Sol City are currently being defended by the 133rd Infantry Division, which has just retreated from Kerry. Because the commander of the division died in battle, I appointed General Leviakin as the new division commander, and at the same time transferred the mixed cadet corps of Lieutenant Colonel Mlagintsev and Commissar Slavkin. ”

I have no objection to Rokossovsky's arrangement, after all, it is not appropriate for a general like Levyakin, who has a wealth of combat experience, to be under the leadership of someone like me who is inferior to him in terms of experience and experience. The geographical location of the three settlements was crucial, and if the Germans were to occupy them, the city of Cumbre del Sol would be completely cut off from Moscow in the north and east directions.

I nodded my head in agreement with his arrangement, and then asked, "What else?" ”

"The 1st Guards Tank Brigade was withdrawn from the city of Cumbre del Sol yesterday, and I have sent them to Red Village to assist the infantry in consolidating the defenses there. You must know that if we had not recovered the Red Village in time the day before yesterday, the artillery deployed by the Germans in the distance there would have been directly aimed at the Kremlin and fired. ”

Speaking of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade of General Katukov, I am even more speechless. Rokossovsky wanted to return the troops to the rebuilding for a long time, but I always refused to return them on the grounds of reconquista, and because in a series of battles, the performance of our division and tank brigade was remarkable, so Rokossovsky turned a blind eye and did not care about me. However, the current situation there is more threatening, and it is understandable to transfer the tank brigade at this time. But in this way, even if the two infantry battalions and one artillery regiment promised by Zhukov to me can be in place in time, but without the highly mobile tanks in our hands, at least before the start of the major counteroffensive, we can only carry out passive defense and cannot take appropriate counterattack actions.

I smiled wryly, didn't say anything, and simply asked, "Is there anything else?" ”

"After the transfer of General Levyakin, I appointed Colonel Chistyakov as deputy division commander and Lieutenant Colonel Chernyugov as commander of the 1073 regiment; Lieutenant Colonel Serebryakov was the chief of staff of the division, and Major Sedulin was the commander of the 1075 regiment; Major Panishev, the former commander of the second battalion of the 1077th regiment, was the commander of the 1077th regiment. ……”

After listening to a series of personnel changes in the division, my mood became more and more depressed. It's not that I'm dissatisfied with these promoted commanders, but that Rokossovsky directly carried out such a large-scale personnel reshuffle without greeting me, the division commander, and even if the starting point is good, it will still make me think badly.

Seeing that I was silent, Rokossovsky asked lightly: "Tell me what you think." ”

I organized the words I was going to say in my mind, and then I said unhurriedly: "Comrade commander, I unconditionally obey your adjustments. The transfer of the mixed cadet corps will have a limited impact on the overall defense of Cumbre del Sol City, but if even the tank units are transferred, it will be difficult to block the attack of the enemy's armored forces with the current anti-tank strength of the troops. ”

After listening to my difficulties, Rokossovsky pondered for a moment, and then replied as if he had made up his mind: "Well, you have a point. However, it is not realistic to transfer General Katukov's tank brigade back, so I should wait until I return to the headquarters and then think of transferring a tank unit from other places for you. ”

Now that he had said that, I had to reluctantly agree: "Okay, that's the only way to do it first." ”

Just then, the car suddenly stopped. "What's going on?" Rokossovsky asked loudly.

My first reaction was that I was attacked by enemy troops, so I quickly reached for my gun and looked out the window at the same time.

"Comrade Commander," the driver in front turned his head and asked Rokossovsky for instructions: "There are forks in the road ahead, one leads to the headquarters, and the other leads to the 8th Guards Division. Which way should we go? ”

"Let's go straight back to headquarters." After Rokossovsky finished speaking, he turned to me again: "Leda, I can only send you here, you can now go and change your car and rush back to the division headquarters." The tank troops you need, I will send you as soon as possible. ”

I said yes, got out of the car, and beckoned Grissa, who had been following behind, to drive over. Grissa drove the car over and stopped firmly beside me, and Yushchenko and two guards immediately opened the door and got out of the car and stood beside me, waiting for me to get into the car. I didn't get into the car immediately, but stood on the side of the road, watched Rokossovsky's black Jim sedan and the truck full of fighters following behind drive away, and then got into the car and sat in the co-pilot's seat, and ordered Grissa: "Drive, go back to the division headquarters!" ”