Zhukov's words made me wonder why he suddenly said this to me. "Don't he know now that the troops under my command are all improvised, not to mention excellent commanders, and even fighters with combat experience are seriously insufficient." I pondered aggrievedly: "If I am equipped with elite soldiers, then I can stay in the headquarters every day, according to the map and the battle reports I receive, to direct the troops to fight, instead of risking the danger to run to the front line whenever something happens." ”

However, before I could speak, a smile appeared on Zhukov's tense face: "You are good, Leda, and that's what I'm going to tell you." For your performance in Ukraine, and for the results you have achieved, you deserve the credit you deserve. ”

I remembered that in the telegram Zhukov sent before, it was mentioned that Rybalko and Rybalko would be awarded the title of "Gold Star Medal" and "Hero of the Soviet Union", and quickly straightened up and said according to the regulations: "Serve the Soviet Fatherland!" ”

Unexpectedly, Zhukov waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's useless for you to tell me this now, because the granting is not my responsibility." Probably seeing the look of astonishment on my face, he added, "Your award ceremony will take place tomorrow morning, and you will be awarded the medal by a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet." ”

Zhukov's words calmed me again, and I asked in amazement: "What? Comrade Marshal, what do you say? Didn't you give me the medal by a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet? ”

"That's right, in recognition of your merits. The specifications for this award are determined by the Supreme Commander himself. After hearing this, Zhukov replied with a smile: "The place of the award." Right in the Kremlin. ”

"What about after the award?" Although I knew that I would receive the highest honor in the Kremlin, I was not happy at all, because I still knew what fate awaited me next, so I cautiously asked: "Shall I go back to Kyiv to command the troops?" ”

Zhukov shook his head and replied: "Back to Kyiv, this is not very likely." Because the Dnieper Battle Cluster was originally a temporary formation, after the completion of its mission. will be disbanded. As for your arrangement, the Supreme Commander himself asked me to ask for your opinion on whether you would like to switch to local work. After all, the front line is too dangerous, and women are not suitable to stay there for a long time. ”

"Comrade Marshal, I don't think local work is very suitable for me." After answering Zhukov truthfully, I expressed my opinion along these lines: "From the outbreak of war. I've been on the front line almost all the time. Other words. I've adapted to this life in the war, and once I'm brought back to the rear, I probably won't be able to adapt. ”

"If you don't get used to it, you can get used to it slowly." When Zhukov heard my answer, a trace of dissatisfaction appeared on his face, "None of us has the right to let a young mother stay in a place where a man should have stayed for a long time. ”

"But. Comrade Marshal......"

As soon as I opened my mouth, Zhukov raised his hand and interrupted me from the rest of the words: "Okay. Don't talk about it. This is an order given by the Supreme Commander himself, which can only be carried out, and bargaining is not allowed. After saying this, he said in a slow tone, "If I am not mistaken, your husband and children are still alive." If you go to work in the rear, you can be reunited as a family. ”

When I heard Zhukov mention Oshanin, my heart couldn't help but tremble. If there is anything I am most afraid of after the crossing, it is that I am afraid of coming into contact with this real Leda's husband, and every time I accidentally think of his name, I always feel uncomfortable.

Seeing that I was slow to speak, Zhukov continued: "Leda, think about it! This is a special care from your superiors. ”

In this case, if I still insist on doing it, I will probably offend Zhukov. Thinking that Oshanin was wounded in the defense of Moscow and sent to the rear, there is no information, and as long as he cannot be contacted, then I will not be in danger of being a goof. Thinking of this, I said in embarrassment: "Comrade Marshal, but I don't know where my husband and son are now?" ”

"You don't know their whereabouts?" Zhukov was taken aback by my answer, and he asked curiously: "Could it be that since the last time we met outside Moscow, there has been no contact?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Marshal." I explained to Zhukov: "Oshanin, wounded in the battles outside Moscow, was sent to the rear, and then we lost contact. ”

"Since then, hasn't there been any contact?" Zhukov asked in surprise: "Didn't he ever write to you from the hospital in the rear either?" ”

I shrugged my shoulders and said with a look of grievance: "Comrade Marshal, you also know that since the end of the Battle of Moscow, I have been constantly changing troops. First the Leningrad Front, then the Volkhov Front, then the Stalingrad Front, and not so long ago the Southwestern Front. ……”

"Yes, yes, you're right." Before I finished speaking, Zhukov nodded vigorously and said: "Over the past year or so, you have indeed been in many troops, and it is indeed not easy to get in touch with you. By the way, what about your son? Did you find him? ”

To Zhukov's question, I nodded and said with certainty: "Yes, Comrade Marshal, during the breakthrough of Lyuban, I unexpectedly met my son Alik, who had wandered there, in a village. ”

"Wandering there?!" After repeating my words, Zhukov asked puzzledly: "Why did your son appear in the Lyuban region?" Isn't there an adult to accompany him, such as your relatives and friends? ”

"Before I participated, I gave my son Alik to my mother." I looked at Zhukov and told him about the real Leda's family history: "At present, I arrived in Leningrad with my child, because of the lack of food in the city, so the mother evacuated with the child outside the city, and in a village near Lyuban fell seriously ill, and soon died, leaving Alik alone. ”

"Where is that kid now?" Zhukov asked with concern.

I shook my head and replied again: "The troops I commanded at that time were going to be transferred. He handed his son over to a hygienist who had been taken to the rear because she was wounded, and asked her to take the child to a safe place. ”

Zhukov flipped through his notebook and picked up the pencil on the table. "What is the name of your son, and what is the name of the hygienist who left with him?" ”

"My son's name is Alik, and the hygienist is Nina, who belongs to the Volkhov Front." I answered Zhukov's question truthfully, and then made a request to him: "Comrade Marshal, can I get rid of you and inquire about the whereabouts of Oshanin?" ”

"No problem." Zhukov wrote down the last strokes in his notebook and readily agreed: "This matter." I will ask the comrades in the health department to inquire for you, and I believe that it will not be long before you hear the good news. ”

That's all that needs to be said. I stood silently in front of Zhukov, waiting for his next order. Zhukov looked up at me, thought for a moment with a frown, and then picked up the phone on the table. Talking into the microphone, "Lieutenant." Come in for a moment. After speaking, he put down the phone directly.

The door of the confinement room suddenly opened, and the lieutenant on duty stood straight at the door, waiting for Zhukov's order.

Zhukov took a few steps towards him and ordered: "Lieutenant, arrange a driver and take General Oshanina to the hotel." ”

"Yes!" The lieutenant stood still and agreed.

I shook hands with Zhukov and thanked him. He was about to walk towards the lieutenant. Suddenly, he said behind me, "That's right, Leda." I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning at the award ceremony. ”

I turned to smile at him and nodded in thanks, then quickened my pace to the door.

The lieutenant led me to the parking lot outside the building, went straight to a jeep with a driver, greeted him, and ordered: "Comrade Sergeant, you are responsible for sending Comrade General to the hotel." ”

When the driver heard the order, he hurriedly got out of the cab, took the initiative to open the back door for me, and invited me to get into the car. After thanking the lieutenant and the driver, I stooped down and got into the car.

When the jeep came to a stop in front of the hotel not far away, I couldn't help but smile because I had been here several times. I thanked the driver, pushed the door open, got out of the car, and walked straight to the hotel gate.

As soon as I walked through the door, a female conductor wearing a large-brimmed hat walked towards me. At the same time, the other party said politely: "Hello, comrade commander, is there anything I can do to help you?" ”

I listened to the other party's voice very familiarly, and when I looked closely, it turned out to be Liu Da, the person in charge here. Glancing at the new rank on her shoulder, and seeing that she had been promoted to lieutenant, he smiled and said, "What's the matter, Lieutenant Lyuda, don't you know me?" ”

When the other party heard me greet me so familiarly, he was stunned at first, and couldn't help but look me up and down. After watching it for a long time, she still shook her head and said regretfully: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, I don't seem to know you." ”

Hearing her say this, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in my heart. I took off the steel helmet on my head, took a step back, opened my arms, and said helplessly: "Liuda, take a closer look, do you really not know me?" ”

"Lida, it's Lida." Before Lyuda could react, a young female soldier suddenly ran next to her, and she pounced on me and gave me a big hug. At the same time, he said: "Leda, I didn't expect you to be alive, it's so good, it's so good." ”

I also put my arm around the young female soldier in front of me and said, "Aksara, it's been a long time, are you okay?" ”

The female soldier who hugged me was Akshala, a waitress at the hotel, and she didn't expect to meet me at this time, so she was extremely emotional. He choked up and said, "Leda, dear Leda, I thought you had died, and it was great to see you again." ”

And Liuda, who was silent, finally figured out my identity after seeing Aksara's performance, and she smiled beside her: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, the last time you stayed with us, it was far away from now, so I didn't recognize you in time, please forgive me!" (To be continued......)

PS: I would like to sincerely thank the book friends Moung, Wubinlong, zzzzz8888, Marshal Linlin, zxx479, Poor Road Flying Bear, and War Song Boy's Shoes in the Wind for their two votes! Thank you for your valuable votes from book friends Da Ban, jackkk2007, Chu Tiehua, Fei Hong Feifei, Liuyun Depths, Cats Coming Back from Africa, Bad OnLine, zheng1360, zz120 Children's Shoes! Thank you for the tips of book friends Sunflower, HYPP1014, Heba Zixin, and L599XL children's shoes!