Chuikov apparently didn't take the incident I mentioned as something out loud, and he said very cheerfully: "I have no opinion, just let Instructor Velol and her troops stay in your independent division." As for General Kolpacchi, I'll just make a phone call and talk to him. ”

I was really surprised to hear that I could leave Velore and her troops behind, I thought that my proposal would be rejected by Chuikov, and even if he didn't, it wouldn't be so smooth, but I didn't expect him to agree so easily, and even offered to negotiate the matter with the commander of the 62nd Army, General Kolpacchi.

When I thanked him again, I glanced at Vylol, who was sitting at the table, and saw that she was leaning sideways, and Sederikov, who was sitting next to her, whispered. I was just about to hang up the phone and listen to what they were talking about, but I heard Chuikov say, "Oshanina, I have good news for you." ”

Good news, when I heard his words, my first reaction was that the Supreme Commander himself had promoted me to general again? Therefore, he didn't care about what Shedelikov and Velol were talking about, so he couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade commander, I don't know what good news you have brought me?" ”

"When General Zhukov was talking to me on the phone just now, after talking about the military situation in the Stalingrad region, I specially mentioned to him about the training team of Ensign Meretskov."

When I heard that it wasn't for me to be restored, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but I still politely asked, "I wonder how General Zhukov replied to you?" ”

"He said that Senior General Meretskov had agreed to your request, and that the ensign training team would board the train after dawn and report to your independent division as much as possible."

Although it is not good news that I have been promoted. But I heard that the second lieutenant training team was about to be assigned to his command. I couldn't help but be overjoyed. He asked in a loud voice: "Comrade commander, they set off after dawn, I don't know how many days will they be able to reach the independent division?" Chuikov may have been calculating that the second lieutenant training team could arrive, so he was silent for a while before he replied: "Oshanina, I have calculated, it will be seven days at the earliest, and they will be able to report to the independent division at the earliest." ”

"What? It will take seven days. Or the fastest speed? "It took me less than a day or two to get from the Volkhov Front to the Don River, and even if they had spent more time on preparation, it would have been about the same in about three days. I asked, somewhat incredulously, "Comrade Commander, why is it taking so long?" ”

As for my question, Chuikov probably knew it a long time ago, and he said unhurriedly: "Oshanina, because the land communication from Moscow to Stalingrad has been completely cut off by the German army. When the second lieutenant training team arrived in Moscow, it had to take the train heading east. After passing through Gorky, Kazan and other cities, it finally arrives at the terminal Ufa. After getting off the train there. By car or on foot, you will go south through the cities of Samara, Uralsk, Bekovo and other cities before reaching the right bank of the Volga. After crossing the Volga River into Stalingrad and then marching towards your division's defensive zone, seven days is already the fastest march. ”

After listening to Chuikov's words, I did not think about the second lieutenant training team anymore, but thought that it was no wonder that those troops sent from the base camp would take at least half a month or even more to reach the battlefield.

After finishing the call with Chuikov, I walked up to Velore. She hurriedly stood up and asked anxiously: "Comrade Colonel, what did General Chuikov of the 64th Army say?" ”

I smiled and said to her: "Instructor Vellol, General Chuikov said that he will personally call General Kolpakchi to negotiate with General Kolpacchi about your affairs, and you and your troops can stay in our independent division with peace of mind." ”

After listening to my words, Vylor calmly replied: "Since there is an order from above, then my comrades and I will stay in the independent division." I was fortunate to be able to take part in the defense of Stalingrad under the command of such a strong and courageous commander. Speaking of this, a charming and beautiful smile suddenly appeared on his face and said, "My name is Kravguya. Denisovna. Velol, you can call me Kravgua or Velol. ”

"Kravgua. Denisovna. I honored her by her real name and patronymic name, and said happily: "I am also very happy that you and your comrades can join my independent division. Let's get acquainted again, my name is Leda. Mushdakova. Oshanina, you don't usually need to call me my rank or position, you can call me by my nickname Leda, or my surname Oshanina, of course, this is the surname of my husband's family. ”

"Then I'll call you Leda from now on." Naturally, Velore changed his address from "you" to a more affectionate "you", "In terms of age, Leda, you are much younger than me, but you have participated in many battles, and you have even grown from an ordinary warrior to a good mid-level commander. ”

I heard her comment on me and couldn't help but wonder, "How do you know?" ”

"How do you know?" "When you were talking to General Chuikov, I learned a little about you from the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov. I am very concerned about myself and the troops, in what kind of commander will be led. ”

I glanced at Sederikov and asked Velore with a smile: "So, the lieutenant colonel told you everything he knew." If I am not what you want, what will you do, do you apply to your superiors for transfer or ask for reconstruction? ”

Velore smiled and replied, "If it was a commander who displeased me and my soldiers, but now, I am proud to be able to fight under your command." ”

Velol's compliment made me feel a little embarrassed, and I quickly changed the topic and asked, "Dear Velol, I haven't had time to ask you, how did you become a mixed group political instructor?" ”

Velore had already sat down and heard me ask a question. Hurriedly stood up again. Report to me her own resume: "...... I was before I joined the army. Originally, he was a political propagandist of the municipal party committee. After I joined the army in April this year, my superiors assigned me to study in a training class for political work cadres. After the end of the training class, due to the lack of sufficient political work cadres in the troops, we were awarded the rank of political instructor. With that, she pointed to the three beans on the collar badge and raised her sleeve to show me the red star on the sleeve, "Then I was sent to Krasnodar." There, at the Vinnitsa Infantry School, socio-economic lessons were taught to the fighters. When the Germans approached Stalingrad, the cadets of the Vinnitsa Infantry School were organized into mixed regiments, attached to the 62nd Army, and all of them were marched into battle. ”

"How many men are left in your troops?"

Velore was silent for a moment, and then replied decisively: "There are still 156 people left in the two companies, all of whom are cadets who have been studying in the school for more than half a year. ”

What she said was exactly what I wanted to know, so after I nodded, I turned to Shedelikov next to me and said, "Comrade Sederikov, immediately assign these cadets to the regiments. Go to each company and take up the position of squad leader and platoon leader, and let them put what they have learned in school. Teach our warriors as much as possible. ”

Without waiting for Sederikov to speak, Vylor preemptively asked, "Leda, is it appropriate to let these cadets serve as squad platoon leaders?" ”

"Of course it is, dear Velol." I smiled and said to her: "Since our division is newly formed, most of the soldiers lack military training and have no combat experience. And you and your fighters, who managed to break through after three days of fighting with the Germans, I believe that your combat experience is very valuable to the fighters of the independent division. Letting these trainees, who have been tested in battle, go to the army to serve as squad and platoon leaders is very helpful to enhancing the overall combat effectiveness of the independent division. ”

"How should the personnel be distributed?" Shederikov continued to plead.

"Each regiment is divided into forty cadets, and the rest are put in the guard barracks." In other divisions, the combat effectiveness of the guard battalion is the strongest, but here in me, it is not worth mentioning, so this time I also pretended to be public and private, and left more backbones by my side to strengthen the combat effectiveness of the guard battalion.

After looking at each other, Velol and Sederikov asked me for instructions: "Comrade division commander, please allow me and Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov to leave and carry out the task of assigning cadets to companies. ”

It seems that Velore is also an impatient and can't wait to complete the task I have been given. I didn't pour cold water on her high enthusiasm for work, but just waved my hand and said lightly: "In this case, you can go with the lieutenant colonel." ”

After saluting me, Velol and Sederikov turned and left the command.

Seeing the two leaving, Pugachev and Basmanov, who had been silent, walked up to me. The first to speak was Pugachev: "Comrade division commander, do you need me to leave the company that was on the mission just now to you to form a guard battalion?" ”

"Of course." Even if Pugachev didn't say it, I would have taken the initiative to mention it, although there is a guard battalion at present, but the actual fixed number of people is only one squad, and it was Chuikov who sent it to me. Even if Basmanov's platoon is added, it is only one platoon plus one squad, and it is still far from the goal of three companies.

I shook my head at Basmanov and said, "Captain Basmanov, you and Captain Pugachev go outside to go through the handover formalities, and by the way, take the connection in his hand, quickly put up the frame of the guard battalion, and appoint the company commanders." Do you understand? ”

Having heard both Pugachev and Basmanov answer loudly, I nodded and said to them: "Since everything is understood, let's go and carry out the order." ”

Seeing that only Razumeieva and I were left in the room, I walked up to her side and said with concern: "Comrade Ensign, you have been busy with work these days, and you have worked hard!" ”

Razumeyeva took off her headphones, stood up and replied loudly: "For the service of the Soviet Fatherland!" ”

After I asked her to sit down, after a short thought, I said to her in a serious tone: "Second Lieutenant Lazumayeva, although our division has the structure of a communications company, the personnel are only the squad originally sent by the group army headquarters, and there are still many casualties in the battle. If this continues, you should do your best to truly establish the communication company, and select suitable people from the division to enrich your communication company. ……”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Razumeyeva understood what I meant. He assured me: "I will do my best to go to the various units to select commanders and fighters who know how to do it." to enrich our communications company. ”

As we were talking, the walkie-talkie suddenly rang, interrupting our later conversations, and after answering it, Razumayeva said to me with some surprise: "Comrade division commander, the other party said that he is General Meretskov, do you want to talk to him?" ”

Don't say that the other party is a general, even if it is a captain. I'll have to talk to him, you know, I've just gotten out of his hands for the most elite second lieutenant training team. When I heard Meretskov's familiar voice coming from the earphones, I hurriedly greeted him with a smile: "Hello, Comrade General. ”

"I'm not good, I'm not good!" Meretskov's greetings to me, but suddenly said something I didn't expect.

I was stunned for a moment, but then I understood why he was talking the way. Although he took the initiative to hand over the second lieutenant training team to me for command, it was I who pried his corner after all. It's understandable that he's angry with me. I tried to use a relaxed tone to adjust the oppressive atmosphere: "Comrade General. Although I haven't seen you and the commanders of the headquarters for just over a month, I miss you very much, and I really wish I could have the opportunity to go back and see you. ”

"Come on, Leda, don't say anything like that." Although Meretskov said this in a huff, I could feel from his voice that his attitude had softened. "I heard that you have done a good job in crossing the river valley, and you have commanded the troops to win a lot of battles. When you left my headquarters, you were a major, and now you have become a colonel. ”

I smiled silently, and wanted to say a few words, but I couldn't find the right words to answer him, so I had to remain silent and listen to what he had to say next. "When you proposed the direction of the German offensive in the south, Stalingrad, not Moscow or the Caucasus, Comrade Stalin was so angry that he wanted to send you to the Mamayev Heights. Unexpectedly, it turned out that your original analysis was completely correct, and it seems that this Mamayev Gang really has to be defended. ”

Thinking that Meretskov had silently endured the thunderous wrath of the Supreme Commander himself for my sake, if it had not been for him, I did not know at that time whether he would have been arrested again by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and sent to a military tribunal for trial. Thinking of this, the corners of my eyes couldn't help but moisten a little, and I said to him gratefully: "Comrade General, thank you for what you did for me at the beginning. ”

"Leda," Meretskov affectionately called me by my nickname, and said in an uncertain tone, "I would like to hear your analysis and judgment again, will the Germans occupy Stalingrad?" As soon as he finished speaking, he was probably afraid that I would have any scruples, and he deliberately emphasized: "I asked you as a friend, not as a superior." You don't have to think of me as your commander, but as your friend or relative, tell me, do you think Stalingrad will fall? After saying these words, his breathing became rapid.

Meretskov's words, at this time, were very taboo, and if they were heard by the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, even if he was a general, he would not be able to escape the fate of punishment. After a moment of silence, I replied decisively: "Comrade General, rest assured, although the Germans will approach or even occupy part of Stalingrad in a short time, Stalingrad will never fall. ”

Hearing my categorical words, Meretskov breathed a sigh of relief, and he said in a loud voice: "That's good, that's good." I am sure your judgment will be accurate. Then he changed the subject to the second lieutenant training team, which he and I were both concerned about: "Lida, I promised you before that I would hand over the second lieutenant training team to your command. Now is the time for me to make good on my promise, and I have given the order to Captain Akhromeyev, the leader of the second lieutenant training team, that the troops are being assembled, and in two or three hours at most they will be driven to Moscow, from where they will take the train to Ufa and then south to Stalingrad. Perhaps afraid that I would be misunderstood, he also went out of his way to explain, "Since the land passage from Moscow to Stalingrad was completely cut off by the Germans, the troops did not wait for a big circle to the east before finally returning to Stalingrad." In this way, the delay of the troops on the road is a bit long, and it may take ten days and half a month to reach your independent division. ”

"I understand, Comrade General." Just now Chuikov told me about the route of the second lieutenant training team, so I don't expect them to be able to report to the independent division within two or three days. "I also know a little bit about the current situation of friend and foe, and there is no way to do it. Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you for your generosity. ”

Meretskov smiled and said, "Lida, to be honest, I really hope that after you have repelled the German troops attacking Stalingrad, you can return to my Volkhov Front and follow me to break the German encirclement of Leningrad." ”

"There will be such a day, Comrade General." I knew what he was hinting at, and he was worried that I would not return it after I borrowed his second lieutenant training team, so I politely replied, "As soon as the fighting on the Stalingrad side is over, I will ask my superiors to send me back to the Volkhov Front." ”

My words completely reassured Meretskov, and he said with a haha: "In that case, I wish you good luck and repel the Germans who attacked Stalingrad as soon as possible." ”

As soon as the call with Meretskov ended, Zhukov's call also came in. Hearing my voice, he smiled and said, "Lida, I have already done it for you." Comrade Meretskov was not willing to put his precious unit under the command of anyone, but I used my power to pressure him, saying that if he did not hand over the second lieutenant training team, I would give priority to other fronts in replenishing the weapons and ammunition of the soldiers. When he saw me say this, he didn't have a problem with me, so he had to obey. ”

Listening to Zhukov say this, I understood why Meretskov had such a big anger in his tone when he first spoke to me, because he was angry with Zhukov before calling me. For Zhukov, who helped me a lot, I hurriedly said gratefully: "Thank you, Comrade General, I will always remember your help to me. ……”

"Don't say it's useless." Zhukov didn't wait for me to finish, then interrupted my next words and said directly: "The grassroots commander you want, I'll help you get there." As for the backbone of the battle, in a few days there will be two militia battalions belonging to Stalingrad, which will be enriched into your division, although they will not take much longer to pick up guns than those of your fighters, but they have a certain amount of combat experience, and adding them to your division will help to improve the combat effectiveness of your division. ”

Zhukov's words made my heart warm, and I wanted to express my gratitude to him, but I didn't know where to start with a thousand words, so I could only say again and again: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade General." ”

"Commander, I'll solve it for you; The backbone of the battle, I also added it to you. When Zhukov said this, he suddenly said in an aggravated tone: "If you are strengthened and cannot stop the fierce attack of the Germans, then I will personally order the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to send you to a military court for trial, regardless of what friendship I have with you." ”

Hearing Zhukov's harsh words, I knew that he was also anxious about the unfavorable battle situation, and hurriedly expressed his attitude to him: "Please rest assured, Comrade General, as long as there is still one soldier alive in the independent division, then we will definitely not let the Germans swagger through Guò from our defense area." ”

"Very well," said Zhukov, who complimented me on my expressions of determination, and then admonished me: "Comrade Stalin also knows about the transfer of the second lieutenant training team of General Meretskov. It was only after he personally agreed to this matter that I called Meretskov. Lida, the Supreme Commander himself has high hopes for you, and I hope that you will have an outstanding performance in this general battle. ”

Zhukov's next few words made my heart beat faster suddenly, it turned out that the second lieutenant training team was able to be dispatched, not only by the good interpersonal relationship between me and Zhukov, but also by the Supreme Commander himself, no wonder in such a short period of time, this matter can be promoted. At such times, I had to once again express my attitude to Zhukov and to the Supreme Commander behind him: "Comrade General, please tell Comrade Stalin that our independent division will fight tenaciously against the fascist bandits in the battle for the defense of Stalingrad and shed the last bit of blood." (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you for the book friend winxxx children's shoes for voting two votes, and thank the book friends for voting for the dead piggy children's shoes.