Although I didn't see what the young People's Commissar looked like, I saw them carry Floning, who was still recuperating from his wounds, and I knew in my heart that it was the conversation with Stalin that day that played a role. Since he sent Ustinov, who is responsible for leading the production of the military industry, to come forward, it means that he will comprehensively carry out the production of new weapons after mastering the high-tech technology provided by Floning, after all, on the battlefield, the decisive factor for victory or defeat is not only the command ability of the officer, the courage and determination of the soldier, but also the performance of the technical equipment.

When the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were far away, I sent Bezikov downstairs to wait for me, and I was alone in the ward to change clothes. After changing my clothes, I went to the dining room to say goodbye to the old lady and Valodya.

For my imminent departure, the grandparents and grandchildren are quite reluctant, and they have already had feelings for each other during this time. The old lady was taken aback, and then wiped her tears and repeatedly told me to pay more attention to safety on the battlefield. Valodya was reluctant to let me go, so he simply hugged my legs, and finally the old lady pulled him away, and I was able to get out.

When I got out of the hospital building, I saw a jeep parked under the steps in front of the building. I thought it was Ramis and their car, so I hurried over, only to see that the driver was an unfamiliar face. I bent down and asked the driver tentatively: "Comrade soldier, may I ask, is this car going to the front?" ”

"The front line? What front? The strange driver asked a question with a puzzled look, but after catching a glimpse of the rank on my collar badge, he immediately straightened up and replied respectfully: "Report to Comrade Commander, I am a commander of my regiment who has come to visit the wounded, and when he comes out later, I will send him to the Komsomol station." ”

"So you're not here to pick me up!" I was a little disappointed to hear him say that. Saying that they would wait for me outside, and when I came out, not only did they not see Ramis and Grissa, but even Bezikov was gone, what the hell is going on? I hesitated, thinking that they might have gone to the ward, and maybe I had missed it with them. Thinking so, I didn't talk to the driver anymore, just turned around and walked into the building.

I had just climbed a few steps when I suddenly heard a voice shouting for me from afar, and when I turned my head, I saw a jeep rushing in from the hospital gate at a gallop, and then stopped steadily in front of the steps.

As soon as the car stopped, the occupants opened the door and jumped out. I knew all the people who came out, except for Bezikov, the other two, one was my guard company commander, Lieutenant Lamis, and the other was the driver Grissa. So, I turned around and smiled and greeted.

Grissa stood still, Ramis took two quick steps, came to me and saluted, and reported to me with some excitement: "Report to the division commander, Lieutenant Lamis, the commander of the guard company, has been ordered to pick you up from the hospital, and is now waiting for your instructions. ”

Instead of returning the salute, I raised my hand and pulled down the hand he held on my forehead, shook it vigorously, and then asked with concern, "How is the situation in the division?" General Leviagin and Comrade Political Commissar, are they all right? ”

He replied with a smirk: "It's all good, everyone is looking forward to your return to the army as soon as possible." No, after receiving an order from my superiors, the political commissar and the comrade general sent me to the hospital to pick you up and return to the division. As he spoke, his body turned to the side and made a gesture of please, "Comrade division commander, please get in the car!" ”

When I got to the car, I shook hands with Grissa, who was standing there, before getting into the jeep and sitting in the back. Bezikov came over, bent down and said to me: "The battle ahead is cruel, you have to take care!" ”

"Thank you!" I was extremely grateful for his concern, and quickly stretched out my hand from the window to shake it with him.

When the car started, he said loudly: "Good luck!" With that, he took a step back, stood upright, and gave a solemn military salute to our car.

Perhaps it was Bezkov who greeted the checkpoints along the way, and almost no soldiers on duty stopped our car to check our documents, and the sentries raised the railings blocking the road more than a dozen meters away, and we were able to leave the city unimpeded.

In the suburbs, the road conditions deteriorated, and in addition to the areas that were crushed and damaged by various vehicles during the rainy season, there were also craters of various sizes blown up by German planes. The bumpy, snow-covered road slowed us down unconsciously.

The sky gradually darkened, and Ramis, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat, urged Grissa: "Drive faster, drive at this speed, and when you wait for the division headquarters, it will be dark." ”

I looked at the darkening sky outside and asked Ramis, "How far is it from the division?" ”

"About ten kilometers."

After driving a short distance, I vaguely saw two forks in front of me, so I asked Ramis curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant, there are two roads ahead, which one should we take?" ”

"The one on the right," Ramis said, pointing with his hand, "the one on the left is going to the village of Peshki." ”

Hearing the name of Peshki village, I couldn't help but shudder, although two days ago I heard with my own ears that Stalin had sent troops here to defend Rokossovsky. But I haven't heard anything about it, and at the moment I wonder if the troops are still stationed in the village, and if Rokossovsky is safe?

I was thinking so crankily as I looked out of the windows on both sides, keeping an eye out of the forest on the side of the road, for fear that a few Germans might suddenly come and attack us.

I didn't expect to find something unusual, there seems to be something in the snow in the woods on the right. The snow level in these places is significantly higher than in other locations, as if thousands of troops are hidden. German! The thought popped into my head and I quickly shouted, "Stop, stop!" ”

Hearing my scream, Grissa slammed on the brakes, stopped the car where it was, and looked back at me. Ramis also turned his head to look at it, and asked with a puzzled expression: "Comrade division commander, what's wrong?" ”

I pointed to the woods on my right and said, "Look at the woods over there, there seems to be someone in ambush!" ”

Ramis lifted his submachine gun from under his seat, pushed the door open and jumped out. When I got into the car just now, I saw a submachine gun on the back seat, which should have belonged to the driver Grissa, so I quickly grabbed it and put it directly on the window, ready to shoot as soon as I saw danger.

Ramis bent over, cautiously approaching the woods. When he entered the woods after a dozen meters, a shout was heard in the woods. Because it was so far away, I couldn't hear what the other party was shouting. But Ramis heard this shout, and immediately stopped, straightened up and stood in place, and slung the submachine gun he had just held on his shoulder.

Seeing his performance, I guessed that the people who were in ambush in the woods must be our army, so I put the submachine gun in my seat, jumped down with confidence, and swaggered over.

As I walked towards the woods, three men climbed up from the snow in the woods, all dressed in white camouflage suits and carrying powerful turntable machine guns, and walked towards us with deep and shallow feet in the snow.

I walked over to Ramis and stopped, looking blankly at the three fighters approaching us.

They stopped in front of us, and one of the warriors stepped forward, lifted the camouflage suit and hat over his head, and asked in a loud voice: "Who are you?" "As soon as I lifted my hat, I saw his collar badge, which turned out to be a captain.

"We are from the 8th Guards Division," Ramis replied first, "This is the division commander, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, and I will go to the hospital today to pick up the division commander and discharge him back to the army." What part of you are in? ”

The captain walked up to me, stood up and saluted, and reported: "Report to Comrade Commander, we are from the 214th Brigade of the Airborne Forces, I am the commander of the 6th Battalion, Captain Starca, and we are on a sabotage mission behind enemy lines. ”