The three of us pondered for a long time, but we didn't come up with a reason. I was not interested in continuing to guess, so I briefly told the two of them about the battle in the north, and made a list of the meritorious service of those who participated in the battle, and then yawned and went to the wall to prepare a marching bed to sleep.

Maybe it's because I'm too tired during this time, so I fall asleep unconsciously as soon as I get into bed.

I don't know how long I slept this night, until someone was gently shaking his shoulders, and at the same time a familiar voice was shouting: "Comrade Division Commander, Comrade Division Commander, wake up." ”

I heard that the person calling me was Chief of Staff Akhromeyev, and I quickly opened my eyes in a daze and asked weakly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there something wrong?" ”

Akhromeyev leaned down, leaned closer to me and whispered: "Comrade division commander, comrade military commissar of the front army is here." ”

It turned out to be the military commissar of the Front, and when I heard Akhromeyev's identity report, I just nodded lightly and closed my eyes again. As soon as I closed my eyes, I repeated this position again in my mind, and I was suddenly frightened into a deep sleepiness, oh my God, the military commissar of the Front, isn't it Khrushchev himself? How long did I sleep, I actually slept until Khrushchev arrived at my command, and I didn't wake up.

I hurriedly opened my eyes again, lifted the blanket covering my body and sat up, and saw Khrushchev, Kirillov, and several commanders with whom I was not familiar standing a few steps away, even Bantai Leyev, who was distributing supplies at the garrison of the Third Regiment. I hurriedly jumped out of bed, didn't even bother to put on my boots, raised my hand and saluted Khrushchev. At the same time, he said, "I'm sorry. Comrade Military Commissar. I fell asleep, so I couldn't go outside to meet you. ”

With a smile on his face, Khrushchev said amiably: "Our female teacher, it is me who should say sorry. You're so tired during this time and you should have a good rest, but I'm sorry to disturb you. With that, he walked over to me. He took the initiative to reach out his hand.

Seeing that Khrushchev took the initiative to stretch out his hand, of course, I couldn't shake hands with my own subordinates as casually, so I hurriedly half-bowed and stretched out my hands to shake him at the same time. When he let go, he bent his body lower and sat sideways. When he was seated, he put on his boots and told Captain Basmanov to pour him tea.

After Khrushchev sat down, he beckoned the burly general standing next to him to sit down as well, while the four lieutenant officers who came with them stood straight behind Khrushchev.

Because I don't know Khrushchev's true intention this time. My heart was very uneasy. I took a closer look at the Major General sitting next to me and recognized it as Major General Valennikov, the head of logistics of the Front Command. At that time, I sighed in my heart, and said that Khrushchev and they came here, didn't they want us to hand over the seized materials? So he cautiously asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know if you have anything important to do when you came to our independent division today?" ”

Unexpectedly, Khrushchev waved his hand at me and said, "I'll talk about this later." Then he turned his head and asked Akhromeyev: "Comrade Major, how long will it take to summon all the company and battalion commanders and regiment commanders of the troops going north?" ”

Although Akhromeyev did not understand the purpose of his question, he raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then replied respectfully: "It will take ten minutes to report to Comrade Military Commissar at the earliest." After he finished speaking, as if he was afraid that Khrushchev would not be satisfied, he added on his own, "This is already the fastest speed, and it can't be faster." ”

"Comrade Major, I'll give you twenty minutes." Khrushchev said magnanimously: "Are you going to call all these commanders here at once?" ”

As soon as Akhromeyev agreed, he began to contact the commanders of the regiments. Because Khrushchev was sitting at the table, he did not use the telephone on the table, but walked to Razumeyeva's side and communicated with the regiments by walkie-talkie.

While Akhromeyev was on the phone, Khrushchev pointed to the general sitting next to him and introduced him: "Oshanina, let me introduce you to Major General Valennikov, the new chief of staff of the Front Command, I think you should be no stranger to him." ”

After listening to Khrushchev's introduction, I quickly stood up and took the initiative to stretch out my hand to the other party, and at the same time said in a friendly manner: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, it is a pleasure to see you again, and you are welcome to the independent division to guide the work." ”

Major General Valennikov also smiled kindly at me and said enthusiastically: "Hello, Comrade Oshanina. I didn't expect us to meet again so soon. ”

Kirillov, who was on the side, asked with some confusion: "Comrade division commander, did you know General Valennikov before?" ”

"Yes, that's right, Comrade Commissar." In order to satisfy Kirillov's curiosity, I briefly talked about the last time I had withdrawn to the east bank of the Volga River, if I knew General Valennikov, and finally said, "The last time I met General Valennikov, he was still the head of logistics of the Front, but I didn't expect that he would become the chief of staff after just a few days." ”

"Since the former chief of staff, Major General Zakharov, was appointed by his superiors, Major General Valennikov was appointed to replace him." When Khrushchev said this, he raised his hand and looked at his watch, then looked up and asked Akhromeyev, who was walking towards this side, "Hey, I said Comrade Major, have you notified all the people who should be notified?" ”

Akhromeyev hurriedly stopped, stood where he was, and said respectfully: "Report to Comrade Military Commissar, all the notifications have been received," and after answering, he walked back to the table, because his rank was too low, so he did not sit down as usual, but stood behind me.

"Comrade Military Commissar, since we have already made a phone call, I believe that it will not take long for those commanders to arrive." Kirillov, who had never known the other party's intentions, asked tentatively, "During the time you are waiting for them, can you tell us your intentions?" ”

"Yes!" After Khrushchev said this, he turned to a lieutenant commander behind him and said: "Comrade Captain. Please leave me with the contents of your backpack. ”

With his command. The commander on the far left took a step forward. He took off the backpack he was carrying over his shoulder and handed it to Khrushchev. Khrushchev took the rucksack, thanked the captain, and put it on the table. He gently patted his backpack with his hand, smiled at us, and said, "You may not think of it, but I came this time to award medals to the troops going north. ”

"What, the Honor?!" When I heard the news, I jumped up from my seat. The first reaction was that I must have heard it wrong, you must know that it has not been long since the last award, how can I be honored again so quickly?

Seeing my surprised expression, Khrushchev hurriedly raised one hand and pressed it down, signaling me not to get excited and at the same time asking me to sit down. As I sat down, I asked puzzledly: "Comrade Military Commissar, didn't you just confer a medal on a commander who has made meritorious service in the division two weeks ago?" Why is it so soon, and it's going to be awarded a second time? As I said this, I deliberately glanced at the Order of the Red Banner that hung from Kirillov's chest.

The observant Khrushchev noticed this small gesture of mine, and he and Major General Valentnikov glanced at each other. He said to me with a smile: "Comrade Oshanina, last time was last time. This time it is so, and it cannot be confused. Besides, it was only the headquarters of the group army that awarded you medals last time; However, the military commissar of the front army headquarters was responsible for this award, and the matter was personally instructed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief himself. ”

Khrushchev's words made me even more puzzled, how could the Supreme Commander himself have time to pay attention to such a small division commander as me? But in front of so many people, I can't ask in detail.

At this moment, one after another, commanders who had been notified by Major Akhromeyev entered the headquarters, and I quickly turned around and glanced at Akhromeyev and motioned for him to receive them.

Akhromeyev nodded, turned and walked over to the commanders who had entered the command. A minute or two later, Akhromeyev walked back to us, straightened up and reported to me: "Comrade division commander, all the commanders have been assembled and are waiting for your orders, please instruct!" ”

I stood up, held the table in my hand and said to Khrushchev opposite: "Comrade Military Commissar, all the commanders have been assembled, please give them instructions." Then he made a gesture of please.

There were about 20 commanders who were summoned to the headquarters, and they stood in two rows in the room, with regimental and battalion commanders in the front row and company commanders in the back row. I took Khrushchev to the far right of the team and began to introduce his subordinates to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, this is the commander of the 1st regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, and their regiment is the main force of the troops going north this time. ”

"Good job, good comrade lieutenant colonel." Khrushchev shook his hand and said loudly: "The results you have achieved in this trip to the north have greatly boosted the morale of our army, and this matter is known not only to the entire front army, but even Comrade Stalin has learned about it in our report, and he is very satisfied with the results you have achieved. ”

Hearing that even the Supreme Commander himself knew about the results achieved by the First Regiment, the commanders could not help but get excited. Seeing that someone in the queue began to whisper to each other, I quickly coughed heavily to remind them to pay attention, after all, there was a superior leader standing in front of them.

When the ranks were quiet, I introduced the commander to the left of Sederikov, "This is the deputy regimental commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ilya, he is a new editor from Colonel Bandereev, I believe you have seen him on the east bank of the Volga. ”

Khrushchev grabbed Lieutenant Colonel Ilya's hand and said with a smile: "Yes, of course I know, I also talked to him at that time." Then he said to Ilya, "I didn't expect that not long after you arrived at the Independent Division, you made great achievements, it's really not easy." ”

When I introduced the commander of the 3rd regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Koska, Khrushchev involuntarily frowned, and then said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, what is going on, why is there no commissar in the 1st regiment?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Military Commissar." Kirillov, who was following me, hurriedly explained: "Comrade Oberstan, the political commissar of the 1st regiment, has been transferred to be in charge of the political guidance of the recruits, so he has not stayed in the unit for the time being. ”

After hearing this, Khrushchev nodded, and then shook hands with the commander of the third regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Koska, and the deputy commander of the regiment, Major Vatorak. When I introduced Captain Nikolai, who was standing in fifth place, I also made a point to emphasize the identity of the other party. It had just come from the Germans anyway. He led his troops to participate in the battle to the north. A series of results have also been achieved.

When Khrushchev walked up to Nikolai and extended his hand to him, I sensed that Nikolai seemed to have concerns, and his body unconsciously shrank back. But soon he regained his senses, stretched out his hands to take Khrushchev's hand, and greeted him politely.

This little gesture, naturally, did not hide from Khrushchev's eyes, and while holding Nikolai's hand, he said: "Comrade Captain. I don't care what mistakes you have committed before, but as long as you stand by our side and defend our great motherland with weapons, we will not erase your merits, and you will be commended for the preservation of these merits. ”

When Khrushchev said this, he helped Nikolai remove a big stone that had always weighed on his heart, and he held Khrushchev's hand tightly with tears streaming down his face, so excited that he could not say a word.

After shaking hands with everyone, Khrushchev returned to the front of the line and began to speak in front of everyone. Khrushchev is worthy of being a senior leader for many years. The level of speech is high. Although it is an impromptu speech, I will not talk about it if it is clear. The choice of words and sentences was very accurate, and the speed of his speech was so slow that he could not find any fault, and the commanders and fighters from time to time gave the warmest applause to what he said.

Khrushchev felt that he had almost said what he had to say, so he stopped and turned to Major General Valentnikov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, declare it clear." ”

Major General Valennikov nodded, took out a document from his briefcase, walked to the front of the team, and began to read it out loud: "In recognition of the outstanding achievements of the Red Banner Independent Division in this northward operation, the Stalingrad Front hereby promulgates this commendation order. ...... "While Valentnikov was reading the commendation order, Khrushchev made a gesture at me, signaling me and Pantai Laiev to stand in the queue as well. I hurriedly said hello to Bandereev and stood with him on the left hand side of Sederikov.

Just listen to Valentnikov continue to read: "...... awarded the commander of the Red Banner Independent Division, Major General Oshanina, the Order of Suvorov of the 2nd degree; awarded the Order of Suvorov of the 2nd degree to the deputy division commander Colonel Bandereev;

Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, commander of the 1st regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ilya, deputy commander of the regiment, commander of the 3rd regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Koska, deputy commander of the regiment, Major Vatorak, commander of the 2nd battalion of the 1st regiment, Captain Sherebryanny and others of the Order of Suvorov of the 3rd degree;

Awarded to the commander of the 1st Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Captain Nikolai, the commander of the installation unit, Lieutenant Prulli, the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, Captain Dubrovsky, the commander of the 1st Company, Captain Rosenberg and others. Order of the Nevsky;

Major Terenkov, commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Regiment, Captain Basmanov, commander of the guard battalion, and all commanders of the northbound units above the company level were awarded the Order of the Great Patriotic War of the 2nd degree. ”

When Major General Valentnikov read out the commendation order, Khrushchev himself wore the medal for us, and the four lieutenants followed closely with the medal box on the table.

When Khrushchev put the fifth medal on my chest, he said with emotion: "Comrade Oshanina, you are really not simple, you have so many medals. I believe that even in the 62nd Army, you will not find anyone with as many medals as you. ”

I didn't know how to answer his words, but I just smiled, then raised my hand to salute him, and at the same time said loudly: "Serve the Soviet Fatherland!" ”

After the award was over, the commanders who had unexpectedly received the medal left happily. Seeing that the commanders were almost gone, Khrushchev turned to the four lieutenants and said: "You go outside and wait, and the chief of staff and I will go out later." ”

The four lieutenant-level officers did not say anything about Khrushchev's order, but raised their hands and saluted, then turned around neatly and walked towards the outside of the headquarters.

When I saw Khrushchev's arrangement, I wondered if he had something to say to me, so I said to Razumeyeva, who had been sitting in front of the radio: "Girls, it must be very uncomfortable for you to stay at the headquarters every day, now go out and get some fresh air, and then come back when I call you." ”

Razumeyeva and Nadya said yes and got up to leave.

Seeing that there were only six people left in the command, namely, me, Khrushchev, Valentikov, Bandeleev, Kirillov, and Akhromeyev, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Military Commissar, there are only so many of us left in the command, you can say it boldly and with confidence, if you have anything to say, you can say it boldly and with confidence." Then I added in a nutshell, "Don't worry, what you said today will never leak out." ”

After hearing this, Khrushchev and Major General Valentnikov looked at each other, and they laughed loudly. After the laughter stopped, Khrushchev said to Valentikov: "How is it, Comrade Chief of Staff. I still remember that on the way here, I told you that as long as I drove a few staff officers out of the headquarters, Comrade Oshanina would be able to guess that I had something to say to her privately, and I would make corresponding arrangements. I'm not wrong, right? ”

"That's right, you're like a god." Major General Valennikov flatteringly said: "It seems that you still know Comrade Oshanina best." (To be continued......)

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