After listening to my advice, Bezikov had a disappointed look on his face. Perhaps to save my face, he said euphemistically: "Lida, even if you don't say it, I think Comrade Marshal will order the troops stationed there to do so." To tell you the truth, what the marshal is most worried about at present is that the south of Kursk is a large plain, which is conducive to the movement of German armored forces, and if we want to hold off the enemy's attack, we must deploy a considerable number of tanks there. However, in the current situation, the Ministry of Armament and Equipment is not able to provide us with a sufficient number of tanks. ”

I could hear the implication from his words, and I knew that he thought what I said was too uninspiring, and that any commander of the same level as me could say what he had just said. I smiled and said: "Comrade Colonel, even if we do not have as many tanks as the enemy, it will not be much of a problem to hold back the German armored forces. ”

"How?" Bezikov said worriedly: "If Kharkov is really lost, it will only take a day for the German tanks to advance under the city of Kursk, and our fortifications will only play a sluggish role at best." ”

"If there was an anti-tank trench that would make the German armored forces helpless." I was ready to sell him the Golan trenches, so as soon as he finished speaking, I immediately asked: "I wonder if Comrade Marshal, after listening to my ideas, would be willing to promote such anti-tank trenches in important defensive areas?" ”

"A new type of anti-tank trench?" Hearing me say this, Bezkov's eyes lit up. But after a few moments, his expression darkened again. Disapprovingly, he said: "Tank trenches can hold off German tanks." It will also limit the movement of our tanks. I think it may be difficult for Comrade Marshal to agree to promote in defensive areas. ”

This repulsive attitude towards the new anti-tank trench was expected by me for a long time, and I asked with a smile: "Colonel, I haven't said what my new anti-tank trench looks like, do you know that Comrade Marshal will not agree to promote it?" ”

Hearing me say this, he was embarrassed, and had to force a smile on his face, and reluctantly said, "Leda." Then you come and listen, I can convey your meaning to the marshal, but whether he adopts it or not, I can't do anything. ”

The reason why I wanted to recommend the Golan trench to him was because the current comparison of the armored forces of the German and Soviet armies was similar to that of Syria and Israel in later generations, so I strongly recommended this famous anti-tank trench to him.

“…… This anti-tank trench is six meters wide at the mouth, four meters wide at the bottom, and nine meters deep. The earth excavated from the general anti-tank trench should be piled on both sides of the tank trench. But this kind of thing is unusual, and all the accumulated soil is piled on our side. and build a soft soil embankment more than two meters high. ”

Bezikov was listening to me absentmindedly at first, and halfway through listening to me, he suddenly came to his senses and asked curiously: "With such anti-tank trenches, can we block the torrent of tanks from the Germans rushing to Kursk?" ”

"That's right, Colonel Bezkov." After giving him an affirmative answer, I explained in detail: "When the Germans rush to the anti-tank trenches, they will have a headache." Fill in the trenches with bulldozers, all the accumulated soil is piled up on our side, and they have nothing to fill. Follow the example of General Katukov and fill the trench as a bridge, the trench is nine meters deep, and it is useless to fill the tank just over two meters high. Even if they hired sappers to build the bridge, but because our side was more than two meters higher, the bridge they built was one high and the other was low, and the high end was built on a soft earth embankment, which would cause the tanks crossing the bridge to sway left and right, and the slightest mistake would turn into the trench. ”

"Uh-huh, Leda, this anti-tank trench you are talking about sounds like it's not bad." After listening to what I said, Bezikov nodded with satisfaction, but still said with some unease: "If the German tanks slow down to cross the bridge, there will still be many tanks that successfully climb over our trenches, and how should our army deal with these tanks?" ”

Hearing his concern, the smile on my face grew: "Colonel, you can rest assured." Tanks that are lucky enough to cross the trench will suffer an even more tragic fate. Because they are raised on the hull when crossing the earthen embankment, the weakly armored bottom will be exposed; And when you go down over the earthen embankment, the fragile top is exposed. In this way, the anti-tank guns deployed behind the earthen embankment were given two excellent opportunities to aim and fire, making them live targets for our anti-tank guns. ”

"Although this anti-tank trench can hold off the enemy, it also restricts the movement of our troops." After rejoicing for a moment, Bezkov suddenly thought of another question, and he cautiously asked: "Since the enemy is not able to pass through the trench smoothly, don't the tanks of our army face the same problem?"

Hearing his concern, I laughed and deliberately reminded him: "Colonel, don't forget, the soil is piled up on one side of our army, and if the troops turn to a counteroffensive, the bulldozers can easily push the accumulated soil into the trench to ensure the rapid passage of our tank units and launch an attack." ”

After listening to this, Bezikov raised his hand and patted his forehead, and scolded himself in annoyance: "Confused, simply confused." Then he stood up and said to me with a grin, "Leda, the anti-tank trench you just talked about is indeed very different from the tank trench we know about. Well, I'll immediately go back and report to Comrade Marshal and see what his attitude is. ”

"Go, go, go." I waved my hand at him and said lightly: "If Comrade Marshal has any questions, you can always come back and ask me." ”

When Bezikov left, I thought that at most the next day, I would be able to see him again. Who knew that he had been gone for four or five days, and I didn't see his figure. I wanted Yushchenko to inquire about the information, but Yushchenko was not qualified to go to the place where Bezikov was, so I dismissed this unrealistic idea.

In the past few days, under Sergey's careful treatment, the vision of my left eye began to slowly recover, although it is still like seeing things through a layer of ground glass, but it is much stronger than not having any sense of light at all.

On this day, Sergey checked my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Then he said to me: "Comrade General. According to my judgment. In another half a month, your vision will be back to where it was before surgery. Seeing my happy expression, he quickly added, "Remember, you still can't do strenuous exercise during this time, otherwise it will cause the retina to fall off again." ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Doctor." I grinned, "I'm not much faster than a snail when I'm out walking outside." ”

My words just fell. Immediately made the little nurse next to Sergei giggle. Sergei turned his head to look at her, snorted dissatisfiedly, and frightened the little nurse obediently shut her mouth. Sergei said to me with a smile on his face: "Comrade General, if there is nothing to do, I will go to another ward for rounds." ”

I was just about to wave him away, but I suddenly remembered Vasily lying in the ward, stopped him again, and asked with concern: "By the way, Comrade Doctor, how is the condition of my subordinate Vasily?" ”

"Vasily. Which Vasily? Sergei asked rhetorically, confused.

"Comrade doctor," the little nurse hurriedly reminded him, "it is the famous sniper Vasily. Zaitsev. ”

"Oh. It's him, I know. After Sergei figured out who I was asking, his expression became serious, and he said regretfully: "The injury to his eyes is too serious, especially his right eye, even if it is cured, it is estimated that he can only have a faint sense of light, and he can no longer continue to be a sniper." ”

Listening to Sergey's words, I couldn't help but sigh secretly, feeling sorry for Vasily. If there is no such accident, he will definitely be able to achieve better results and more honors with his ability. If something goes wrong with his eyes, his best place to go is really to go to the sniper school as an instructor as I told him, and train more good snipers for our troops.

Sergei and they were walking out, Bezikov hurried in from outside. He nodded at Sergey, then shouted at me, "Lida, change your clothes, I've been ordered to take you somewhere." ”

"Comrade Colonel." Hearing what Bezikov said, Sergei, who had already walked out of the door, turned around and asked him with a frown: "May I ask, where are you going to be in a while?" ”

Although Bezikov did not understand the reason for Sergei's question, he replied truthfully: "It's not close, it takes about an hour by car." ”

After hearing this, Sergei looked at me and said to Bezikov: "Comrade Colonel, General Oshanina's eyes are still recovering, and if she rides in the car for a long time, I am afraid that the violent bumps will cause her retina to detach again. For the sake of her eyes, I suggest it's best to wait two more days. ”

Sergei's words embarrassed Bezikov. He said with a bitter face, "However, I was ordered to pick her up. If she doesn't accompany me on this trip today, I won't be able to deal with her superiors in front of me. ”

Without waiting for me to speak, Sergei rushed to warn Bezikov: "Comrade Colonel, General Oshanina's eyes are recovering slowly because they missed the optimal time for treatment. If you go out in the car today and the retina detachs again because of the violent bumps, you will be in danger of going blind. ”

Seeing Bezikov's embarrassed expression in a dilemma, I hurriedly came out to play a round. I said to Sergey: "Comrade doctor, since the colonel is here, it proves that he came on order. Although you are not a soldier, you should know that the orders of your superiors are not allowed to be discussed, but can only be carried out. ”

Hearing me say this, Sergei had no choice but to say helplessly: "Okay, Comrade General, since you insist on going out, I can't stop it." But I would like to remind you that when the vehicle is passing through uneven terrain, it is important to slow down so as not to crack your wound and cause the recovery of your vision to be lost. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Sergei." Hearing Sergei's tone slowing down, Bezkov patted his chest and said in a big way: "Today is the car I drove, and I have memorized all the precautions you said." When I'm on a bumpy area, I'll slow down. ”

Half an hour later, I sat in the passenger seat of the jeep in a brand new lieutenant general's uniform. Before driving, Bezikov kindly reminded me: "Lida, sit tight, I'm going to drive." With that, as soon as he stepped on the accelerator, the jeep slowly drove forward.

Since the city's roads are full of barricades and checkpoints, our speed is not fast. After the initial concerns, I turned my head sideways and asked Bezkov, who was driving: "Colonel, where are we going?" ”

As he drove, Bezikov replied: "A secret test base located on the outskirts. ”

"Secret test base?" After repeating the word, I asked in confusion, "What should I do there?" ”

"I don't know." Bezkov shrugged his shoulders and replied in a steady tone: "It was the order given by Comrade Marshal, and I was only ordered to send you there." ”

After listening to Bezikov's reply, I knew that if I continued to ask, I would not learn more useful information, so I did not continue to ask, but leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes to recuperate.

I don't know how long it took, but the car suddenly stopped. I hurriedly opened my eyes and asked Bezikov: "Colonel, have we arrived at the place?" After asking, without waiting for Bezkov to answer, I looked out the window with my intact right eye.

I saw a checkpoint on the road ahead, and a railing in the middle of the road blocked our way. A captain with two fully armed fighters walked towards us with neat steps. When the three of them came to a stop next to the car, the captain took two steps forward, bent down slightly, and asked, "May I ask General Oshanina and Colonel Bezikov?" ”

"Yes, it's us." Bezikov, who was beside me, immediately replied in a loud voice: "Comrade Captain, do you need to check our documents?" ”

The captain shook his head and replied: "No need, Colonel Bezkov." Then he turned at me again: "General Oshanina, I have been ordered to take you to the base, please get out of the car." ”

Hearing the captain say this, I couldn't help but turn my head to look at Bezzikov behind me, and asked in wonder, "Am I alone, what about the colonel?" ”

The captain replied without humility or arrogance: "Comrade General, I have received an order to send you in alone, as for the colonel." As he said this, he glanced at Bezkov on the bridge, and then said, "There is a rest room next to our checkpoint, where the colonel's notice can wait for you to come out." ”

"Leda, you just go with the captain." Bezkov seemed to have become accustomed to such a situation, so he said disapprovingly: "I will wait here for you to come out." (To be continued......)