After hearing this, Serdyuk also said with a regretful face: "Was the plan vetoed by Commander Yeremenko?" It's a shame, but I think it's a pretty good idea, and we should at least give it a try. You must know how much encouragement it will be to the morale of our army once it succeeds. ”

Shumilov did not answer Serdyuk's words, but turned his head to look at Abramov next to him. Shumilov, who was also the military commissar of the army group, apparently believed more in Abramov, who had been in the army for a long time, than Serdyuk, who had just been transferred to the army from a local leadership position, and asked with a smile: "Comrade Abramov, what do you think about this matter?" ”

My eyes fell on Chuikov to see how he reacted. Unexpectedly, I saw him sitting at the table without saying a word, staring thoughtfully at the map, and turning a deaf ear to the people talking next to him.

Regarding Shumilov's question, Abramov was silent for a moment before he cautiously said: "Since General Yeremenko has rejected this plan, he must have a reason." According to the regulations, the commander's order is not allowed to be discussed, and since the plan has not been adopted, I don't think we should continue to dwell on this issue. ”

As soon as Abramov finished speaking, Chuikov's attention was taken away from the map, he looked at Shumilov, and said slowly: "I just studied the map and figured out why Commander Yeremenko would reject this plan. ”

"For what?" Hearing him say this, Shumilov immediately asked impatiently.

"You all come and see," Chuikov pointed to the current Reynold-Orlovka line of the army group as everyone looked down at the map. Explain to everyone. "This line of defense that we have now. The two districts of Reynoch and Orlovka were only a few hills, surrounded by wide steppes, and it was impossible to build strong fortifications, and the only way to delay the German offensive as long as possible was to increase the depth of the defense in these two areas. The situation is different in the Spaldanovka region, which is almost entirely mountainous, with fortifications of the 29th Infantry Division and the 154th Marine Brigade on the 158th and 165th heights, respectively. Theoretically. There is a real merit in digging tunnels in the existing positions in Spaldanovka and relying on them to engage in positional warfare with the enemy. But ......" Chuikov said here and stopped, and the expression on his face became extremely serious.

"But what? Comrade Chuikov, can you finish the sentence at once and not whet our appetite. Hearing that Chuikov said half of what he said, Serdyuk became a little impatient.

"Yes, Comrade Chuikov, if you have something to say, just say it. I wonder what you're worried about? Shumilov also asked.

"If we build a tunnel in the Spaldanovka area, the enemy will not be able to break through for a long time. The direction of the offensive will be turned to Reynoch and Orlovka, as soon as the defenses in these two areas are broken through. They would then be able to make a detour back to the rear of Spaldanovka and encircle the 29th Division and the 154th Brigade that were holding here. Tell me, how long can the troops in the enemy's encirclement hold out in the enemy's encirclement, even if they can contain part of the enemy's forces? ”

After listening to Chuikov's analysis, Serdyuk, who had originally supported me, also became a little shaken, he looked up at me and asked: "Comrade Oshanina, if the troops holding the Spaldanovka area are surrounded by the enemy, how long do you think they will be able to hold out?" ”

Before I proposed this plan, I took into account the possibility of the troops being besieged, and since Serdyuk asked, I replied without hesitation: "Comrade Military Commissar, General Chuikov is quite right when he says that as soon as the defense line of our army group in the area of Reynok and Orlovka is broken, the defenders of the Spardanovka area will fall into the encirclement of the enemy. If there is enough material, and with the support of the air force and artillery, they will be able to support the enemy in the encirclement for a month or two. ”

"A month or two?!" Chuikov asked in disbelief: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, how can you be so sure that our troops will be able to hold out for so long surrounded by the enemy on all sides?" ”

"Yes, Comrade General. The advantage of having a tunnel is that even if the surface position is lost, we can withdraw our troops into the tunnel and fight the enemy stubbornly. This will not only preserve the vitality and exhaust the enemy, but also buy the necessary time for us to prepare for future counterattacks. ”

"Report!" While we were discussing the pros and cons of the tunnel, there was a report at the door.

I walked quickly to the door, saw a staff officer standing outside the door with a folder, and hurriedly asked in a low voice: "Comrade staff officer, what is the matter?" ”

The staff officer took out a telegram from the folder and handed it to me, reporting that "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I have just received a telegram from the 29th Infantry Division that there is movement of the enemy in front of their defensive line. ”

I took the telegram, and the staff officer raised his hand in salute and turned to leave. I looked down at what was on the telegram, and then walked briskly towards Shumilov and at the same time shouted from my mouth: "Comrade commander, Colonel Kolobtin of the 29th Infantry Division sent a telegram reporting that at his front the enemy was maneuvering. ”

"Be detailed!" Shumilov took the telegram, handed it to Chuikov without reading it, and then asked me bluntly, "What the hell is going on?" ”

Although I had only read the contents of the telegram once, I had memorized the contents of the telegram and hurriedly replied: "Comrade commander, this is the situation. Colonel Kolobtin reported that the Germans were transporting troops in other directions by trucks during the day, and that although it was now dark, the sound of car motors on the enemy's positions could still be heard at the front. The colonel sent a telegram to ask if the enemy had increased his troops in other parts of our army. ”

After reading the telegram, Chuikov handed it to Serdyuk and Abramov, and after talking to Shumilov in a low voice, he stood up, looked at me and asked: "Oshanina, what do you think?" ”

In fact, after reading the telegram, I have been thinking about this question, for what kind of German mobilization will be carried out with swagger during the day, and it will continue until the evening. Are they really ready to change the direction of the attack? I heard Chuikov ask me. I pondered for a moment and then said, "Comrade Commander. I think I should call Colonel Kolobtin at once and ask him to send scouts to get close and see what the enemy is up to. ”

When Shumilov heard me say this, he couldn't help but laugh and said: "Comrade Oshanina, in your estimation, what do you think the enemy will do?" ”

Hiding from the world, this thought suddenly popped into my head. I couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, I secretly screamed badly, and hurriedly reported to Shumilov and Chuikov in a serious manner: "Comrade two commanders, I now have an ominous premonition. The enemy is ostensibly withdrawing its troops with great fanfare, but in fact it is secretly increasing its troops. Trucking a small number of troops elsewhere during the day and a large number of troops at night is clearly a ruse. They are waiting for us to let our guard down and then suddenly launch an attack on Spaldanovka. As soon as the defenses in the Spaldanovka area were broken through, there was no danger of defending the 158th and 165th heights from the 158th and 165th heights to the headquarters of the army group. The tanks of the Germans appeared at the door of the command in just a few hours. ”

After listening to my analysis, Shumilov's smile suddenly froze on his face. Even Chuikov frowned. It took a while for the two of them to look back to normal. Shumilov picked up the high-frequency telephone on the desk, dialed the number, and said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, your analysis is very reasonable, I will call Colonel Kolobtin, and ask him to send competent scouts to the enemy's position to reconnoiter and find out what is going on." ”

As soon as the phone called, he didn't care about catching up with Kolobtin, and ordered bluntly: "Comrade Colonel, I'm Shumilov, and I now order you to immediately send competent reconnaissance personnel to the enemy's position to reconnoiter and find out what is going on?" ”

"Comrade Commander, what's going on? It's all confusing me. Kolobhutin was confused by this order from Shumilov.

Chuikov took the phone from Shumilov's hand and said solemnly: "Colonel, I'm Chuikov. According to the analysis of the acting chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, it is possible that the enemy is carrying out a ruse of transporting a small number of troops by truck to other places during the day and a large number of troops to the position after dark. The order that the commander just gave you was to find out whether Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina's analysis was accurate. It's not too early, so send someone to execute it immediately. ”

As soon as Chuikov put down the phone and was talking to Shumilov, the high-frequency phone on the desk rang. I looked at the non-stop phone in amazement, and thought to myself that Kolobtin's work would not be so efficient, and within two minutes of ending the call with him, he called to report the situation.

Chuikov picked up the phone and said loudly: "I'm Chuikov, where are you?" ”

A slow voice came from the microphone: "Comrade Chuikov, I'm Golikov." ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, hello!" Chuikov hurriedly straightened up and said politely.

"The plan you submitted just now, Commander Yeremenko only said two words: ridiculous, confused. I'm worried that you won't understand what that means, so I'm calling you and Comrade Shumilov to explain. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, please speak, I'll listen."

"Ridiculous, referring to the plan proposed by your acting chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, which on the surface seems to be impeccable, but she did not think that if the enemy broke through from both flanks, detoured back to the rear of the Spaldanovka sector and surrounded our defenders, even if there was a strong position like the Maginot Line. ……”

"What's that confusion about?" Before Golikov could finish speaking, Shumilov was already beside him and asked impatiently.

"Confused, General Yeremenko means that since this plan is not advisable, you, Shumilov, who is the commander, did not veto it on the spot, but actually solemnly reported it, isn't it confused?"

After Chuikov hung up the phone, Shumilov couldn't help but smile bitterly and said self-deprecatingly: "I didn't expect that in the mind of Commander Yeremenko, I have been classified as an old fool." Chuikov was now holding his hands on the edge of the table, leaning over the map, as if thinking about something, and did not bother to answer Shumilov's words.

After listening to Shumilov's words, Serdyuk and Abramov, who were sitting next to him, couldn't help but laugh, and Serdyuk also said jokingly: "Comrade commander, General Yeremenko may not say that you are an old fool, but that the main leaders of our group armies are all fools. Know the way. This plan is agreed upon by us. It was reported to the Front Command. ”

A few people were laughing and laughing. Chuikov, who had been silent, suddenly spoke: "I think Oshanina's plan should be reported directly to Comrade Zhukov. ”

As soon as Chuikov's words came out, the room suddenly became quiet. Hearing him say this, my heart beat faster again, and my heart said, Is there a turn for the better? You must know that the battle plan I proposed two days ago was vetoed by the Front Army Headquarters, but I did not expect that after it was reported to Zhukov, it was actually approved. This led to the complete annihilation of two German legions and one Romanian army.

"What do you think? Let's share our opinions. Seeing that everyone didn't speak, Cui Kefu couldn't help but urge.

"I agree with Comrade Chuikov's proposal, and I must know that a few days ago, Comrade Oshanina put forward an operational plan, which was reported to the headquarters of the front army, but was denied by the commander at that time, General Gordov, and later it was General Zhukov himself who made the decision, and this operational plan was implemented. The last facts proved that Comrade Oshanina's plan was very perfect, otherwise we would not have been able to achieve such a great victory. "The first person to echo Chuikov was Serdyuk, who has always had a good impression of me.

Then Abramov also stated: "I agree with Comrade Chuikov. ”

Shumilov saw that everyone agreed with Chuikov's proposal. I had no choice but to say, "Well, now that everyone's opinion has been unified." I will call General Zhukov and report to him the plan proposed by Comrade Oshanina. ”

Shumilov called Zhukov, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, he carefully reported my proposal in detail.

After listening to this, Zhukov just asked angrily: "Has your plan been reported to the headquarters of the Front?" How did Commander Yeremenko reply? ”

Shumilov hastened to reply: "Report to Comrade General, after our plan was adopted within the army group, it was promptly reported to the command of the Front. As a result, Commander Yeremenko replied to our plan in two words. ”

"What word?"

"Ridiculous! Confused! ”

"Ridiculous! Confused! Zhukov repeated these two words with interest, and then said with a smile, "I understand what General Yeremenko meant, and when I say ridiculous, I mean that before you submitted the plan, you didn't think that the common tactic of the German army was to like to detour on both flanks. Even if your fortifications in the Spaldanovka area are comparable to the Maginot Line, once they are surrounded by the enemy, then the line of defense loses its original meaning. I think General Yeremenko's concerns are justified. ”

Hearing Zhukov say this, my heart couldn't help but sink, and I said, "Could it be that Zhukov also agrees with Yeremenko's opinion and intends to reject my plan?" Unexpectedly, just when I was on the verge of despair, I heard Zhukov say again: "Based on my understanding of Comrade Leda, the plans she put forward are usually in a different way, and they can often achieve unexpected results. Since this plan was proposed by her, then let's implement it. Yeremenko's side, I'll call him personally. ”

Hearing that our plan had been approved by Zhukov, Shumilov was overjoyed and thanked Zhukov again and again: "Comrade General Xie Luxie! Comrade Xie Lu Xie General! It's great. ”

"I still know the terrain of the Spardanovka area, the two heights of 158 and 165 are almost all rocks, and if you want to complete the excavation of the tunnel as soon as possible, you will need a lot of explosives, and I will draw from the 57th Army, which is located in your rear. Are there enough engineering troops? Do you need me to transfer some more to you from somewhere else? ”

"Comrade Xie Lu, Senior General Xie." Shumilov replied with a smile: "There are two engineer regiments in our group army, which are enough to cope with such a project, there are too many people, and they cannot be carried out anyway, and in case of enemy air raids or artillery attacks, unnecessary casualties will be caused." As long as there is enough explosives, I estimate that the tunnel will be completed in two or three days. ”

"In that case, then I wish you good luck! By the way, say hello to Leda on my behalf! After Zhukov finished speaking, he hung up the phone.

Zhukov approved our plan, and within 10 minutes, Yeremenko personally called to express support for the plan we had just reported, and offered to provide us with five tons of explosives after dawn for digging tunnels.

While Chuikov and Shumilov were working on the issue of the distribution of the engineer regiment, Colonel Kolobtin called us. As soon as the phone call was called, he could not wait to report to Chuikov, who answered the phone: "Comrade Deputy Commander, just now after I received a call from the headquarters of the group army, I immediately dispatched three reconnaissance groups of five people to approach the enemy's position to conduct reconnaissance. Unexpectedly, the enemy was well guarded, and when a group approached the enemy's position, it strayed into a minefield and all of them were killed by mines; The other group, discovered by the enemy's outposts, died heroically after a fierce exchange of fire, with the exception of one wounded who had withdrawn......"

"Comrade Kolobtin, I don't want your casualty figures." Chuikov unceremoniously interrupted Kolobutin's words and asked straight to the point, "I just want to know if you have figured out the situation of the enemy's position, are they like Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina's analysis, transporting a small number of troops during the day and a large number of troops at night?" ”

After a moment of silence, Kolobtin replied loudly: "Absolutely correct, Comrade Deputy Commander." When I heard him say this, the stone hanging in my heart fell to the ground, and it seemed that my guess was correct, but I heard the colonel continue, "The group that approached the enemy's position found that about a battalion of troops had entered the position. ”

"Wait a minute," said Chuikov, opening the notebook he had placed on the table, and looking at it, "there were two battalions of German troops in front of your position, and one company was taken away during the day, and another battalion was brought back at night, so that the front of your division would have the strength of one regiment of the enemy." ”

"That's right, Comrade Deputy Commander."

"Okay, I see." Chuikov specially reminded Kolobtin, "Comrade Colonel, the defense area of you and the Marine Brigade may be the focus of the enemy's offensive in the next stage, and you are hungry to strengthen your defense." ”

"Understood!" Kolobtin confidently replied, "Please rest assured, Comrade Deputy Commander, that we will definitely hold our ground and never allow the enemy to move forward." ”

"Comrade Colonel, I warn you, you can't take it lightly." After reminding Kolobtin, Chuikov informed him of the fact that he was going to send an engineer regiment to the Spaldanovka section, "In order to strengthen the fortifications of the Spaldanovka section, the army group will send two engineer regiments to you to dig tunnels overnight, and you must arrange manpower to respond, so as not to misunderstand, there is a fight between yourself and your own people." ”

"Yes, I promise to get the job done." (To be continued......)