After the meeting was adjourned, the commanders of the various armies got up and walked outside.

When Rokossovsky walked up to me, he stopped to greet me and at the same time said: "Lida, I'm sorry, I was supposed to stay at the headquarters and wait for you. But," he shrugged his shoulders at this point, his face full of apologies, "there is an order for me and the military commissar to rush to Moscow immediately for an important military meeting, so I can only ask Chief of Staff Malinin to receive you in our place." ”

"Comrade Commander, you don't have to be embarrassed." I politely said to Rokossovsky: "When I heard Chief of Staff Malinin mention this, I guessed that you have something more important. ”

As soon as we had spoken a few words, Vatutin and Khrushchev also came over to greet me. While shaking hands with me, Khrushchev said with a smile: "Lida, except for meeting us on the first day of your inspection of our defense area, you have spent the rest of your time on the front line. ”

Vatutin, waiting for Khrushchev to finish speaking, also echoed: "Yes, Comrade Oshanina, the next time you go back to our defense zone, we will invite you to an authentic Russian meal." ”

Rokossovsky stood next to him with a smile on his face, and after Vatutin finished speaking, he asked me with a smile: "Leda, will you come with me to the garrison of the Central Front to see what is being reviewed?" ”

To Rokossovsky's invitation, I smiled and shook my head and politely refused: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander. Although I would also like to go with you to see the troops under review, it is a pity that I still have important things to report to Comrade Marshal, and I may not be able to go with you. ”

Hearing me say this, Rokossovsky glanced towards where Zhukov was. Turning his head and saying regretfully, "Since that's the case, then I'll go first." See you tomorrow at the parade on Red Square. With that, he reached out and shook my hand, then turned to leave.

When Vatutin and Khrushchev also left, I saw Zhukov still sitting across from him, talking in a low voice with Vasilevsky and Sokolovsky. I walked slowly and walked them over. Stopped two or three steps away, straightened up, put his hands on the seams of his trousers, and looked at Zhukov with his eyes, waiting for him to give the order for the next step.

"General Oshanina, why didn't you leave?" Sokolovsky, who was sitting on Zhukov's left hand, saw me and asked curiously: "Is there something to report to the marshal?" ”

Sokolovsky's words actually made me speechless for a while. I don't know how to answer. Although he called me on Zhukov's orders and hurried me back to Moscow, he did not say that Zhukov would meet with me alone, and it was indeed a bit unruly for me to leave without receiving new orders from them.

Just as I was in a dilemma, Zhukov raised his head and glanced at me. Reaching out and pointing to the chair next to Vasilevsky, he said, "Leda." Don't be embarrassed, sit down! ”

As soon as I sat down, I heard Zhukov say, "Lida, you came late, and you probably didn't hear the first half of the meeting. The purpose of this military parade is to boost morale. Strengthen the belief in the victory of the military and the people of the whole country in defeating the fascist invaders. What we are discussing now is who is the most appropriate person to be the commander-in-chief of the parade? ”

"Isn't there a suitable candidate yet?" Zhukov's words surprised me, you must know that from the tank column on Gorky Prospect, you can judge that the scale of this parade is not small. At this moment, it is less than twenty hours before the parade begins. But they haven't even decided on the commander-in-chief of the parade, which is really incredible.

"There are a few candidates, but in the end they have not been decided." After Zhukov finished speaking slowly, he asked rhetorically: "Leda, do you have a suitable candidate?" ”

As soon as Zhukov's words fell, I instinctively replied: "I don't think I can find anyone other than Comrade Stalin who is more suitable to be the commander-in-chief of this parade." ”

As soon as I said that, I realized that I had been wrong. According to the usual practice, when Stalin paraded on Red Square, he stood on the viewing platform of Lenin's Tomb and made an important speech, and then stood on the viewing platform to review the troops that passed through Lenin's tomb in a column. I heard that the proposal to make Stalin himself the commander-in-chief of the parade was nothing more than a whim.

After a moment of silence, Vasilevsky, who was sitting next to me, spoke. He asked me, like an old friend, "Comrade Oshanina, do you know about that important military parade on November 7, 1941?" ”

As a participant in the 1941 October Revolution parade on Red Square, I naturally have a deep memory of that significant military parade. Hearing Vasilevsky's question, I quickly nodded my head to show that I remembered, and at the same time added: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I took a mixed battalion with me when I arrived, and I also participated in this parade. ”

"Yes, since you are a witness to the military parade, then some things are easy to explain." Vasilevsky looked at me with approving eyes, smiled and said: "Do you remember who the commander-in-chief of the parade was at that time? ”

"Who else could it be?!" As soon as I heard Vasilevsky's question, I remembered the scene of Marshal Budyonny, who had two beards and rode a war horse to inspect the troops on Red Square, so I casually said: "Of course, Marshal Budyonny, and he also rode a tall military horse. ”

"That's right, he did ride a tall horse when he was reviewing the troops." Vasilevsky agreed with my statement, and he continued: "At first, Comrade Stalin also wanted to be the commander-in-chief of the parade himself, so he also took time to learn to ride a horse, and planned to ride a horse to inspect the troops. ”

When I heard this, an ominous thought suddenly popped up in my heart, and I wondered if there was some accident when Stalin was riding a horse. As soon as I wanted to ask, Vasilevsky had already given the answer to the question in my heart: "Unfortunately, in the process of practicing horseback riding, Comrade Stalin's horse was frightened and he fell from the horse. ”

"Ah, Comrade Stalin was wounded?" The news really startled me, I exclaimed, and involuntarily asked what was in my mind: "Is the injury serious?" ”

"It's not too serious." Vasilevsky replied with some hesitation: "He just had a slight injury to his left hand, and after the doctor's treatment, there is no major problem." ”

Although Vasilevsky said this, I don't think the situation with Stalin would be too optimistic, otherwise he would not have asked Zhukov and the others to discuss who would be the commander-in-chief of the parade.

Glancing at the three people sitting in front of me, my mind was spinning. I was trying to figure out who would be the most appropriate commander of the parade. Molotov, not to mention that in the United States now, even in the country, it is estimated that this errand of a military officer will definitely not fall on his head. Beria, on the other hand, belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and his rank is not qualified for the post of commander-in-chief of the parade. And the greatest possible. That is, the candidates were selected from among the three of them: Zhukov, Vasilevsky, and Sokolovsky.

When Vasilevsky asked me again: "General Oshanina, who do you think is appropriate for this position?" ”

Before answering the question, my gaze swept over the three of them in turn, considering the right person. Sokolovsky is undoubtedly the lowest of the three in terms of rank and seniority, and it is estimated that the other two will not agree to this position if he is to hold this position. And among the remaining Zhukov and Vasilevsky, it is said that Zhukov overwhelmed Vasilevsky in all aspects. However, judging from the fact that Stalin did not clearly identify a replacement, he probably did not want Zhukov to be the commander-in-chief of the parade. After much deliberation, I felt that it would be most appropriate for Vasilevsky to take up this position.

"Leda, what are you thinking, thinking about it for so long?" Zhukov's slightly dissatisfied voice sounded in my ears: "Do you have the right person?" ”

I hurriedly got up from my seat, with a bit of humility, and said carefully: "Comrade Marshal, I still think that you should be the commander-in-chief of this parade. is the most appropriate, "the reason why I did not mention Vasilevsky directly, but Zhukov. It's because I know his character very well. If I were to mention Vasilevsky directly, I would have tried his best to oppose it; And when I chose him as the best candidate, he probably resigned for the sake of face, and proposed that Vasilevsky should take the post.

Events turned out as I expected, although Zhukov heard my words. A happy expression appeared on his face, but he still said in an official tone: "Tomorrow I will accompany Stalin to the viewing platform on Lenin's tomb to inspect the troops, and I think that the post of commander-in-chief of this parade will be held by Comrade Vasilevsky, after all, he is the chief of the General Staff of our Red Army." It was up to him to review the troops. No one will raise an objection. ”

After hearing this, Vasilevsky said humbly: "Comrade Zhukov, where is this going to work, you must know that in terms of seniority and age, I am not as good as you, and I think it is best for you to be the commander-in-chief of this parade." ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokolovsky, who was across from me, also said: "I also think that there is no one more suitable for this position than you." Besides, since you were a cavalryman before, it would be very convenient to parade the troops on a war horse, so you might as well consider the suggestion of Comrade Vasilevsky. ”

Although Vasilevsky and Sokolovsky and I unanimously asked Zhukov to be the commander-in-chief of the parade, he waved his hand and resolutely refused: "No, no. I cannot be the commander-in-chief of the parade, I think that Comrade Vasilevsky will still take this post. Do you have any objections? ”

"No objections." Hearing Zhukov's very cheerful suggestion that Vasilevsky should be the commander-in-chief of the parade, the stone in my heart fell to the ground, and I hurriedly continued: "Comrade Marshal, I think that the suitable candidate General Vasilevsky should be reported to the base camp, and Comrade Stalin should decide who should be the commander-in-chief of the parade. ”

"That's right," Vasilevsky didn't know what to think about, not at all interested in the official hat that fell on his head, and was still trying his best to excuse himself.

"I think the proposal of Vasilevsky to be the commander-in-chief of the parade is very suitable" Zhukov did not take to heart at all about Vasilevsky's high-spirited demeanor, but said bluntly: "I will report the resolution of Vasilevsky as the commander-in-chief of the parade to Comrade Stalin later." ”

"But Comrade Marshal," Vasilevsky said with some emotion, seeing that the post of commander-in-chief of the parade finally fell to him, "whether in terms of military age, seniority, or outstanding military exploits, I cannot compare with you." As far as I know, the commanders and fighters are privately talking about the presence of Zhukov wherever it means that a counteroffensive is imminent. For the vast number of commanders and fighters, you are their guiding light, and they hope to achieve one great victory after another under your command......"

I never thought that a person in such a high position as Vasilevsky would be so flattering, and I couldn't help but be stunned. I hadn't woken up from the shock for a long time after he had finished speaking.

Seeing that the opinions could not be unified, Zhukov leaned back, leaned back in his chair and looked at the two of them, and said categorically in a firm tone: "Comrade Vasilevsky, since I, as your superior, have already decided on the personnel of the commander-in-chief. Then whether you want to or not, you must honestly go to me tomorrow to be the commander-in-chief of the parade. He was deeply afraid that Vasilevsky would repent, and specifically emphasized, "You have also been in the army for more than ten or twenty years, and at the same time, as a high-ranking general, you should know that you must unconditionally carry out the orders of your superiors, whether you agree or disagree." Do you understand? ”

"Understood." I can see that Vasilevsky does not seem to want to take up this command post at all, so as long as there is a glimmer of hope, he is trying to shirk it: "Comrade Marshal, I want to see Zhukov more than I, Vasilevsky, the troops I want to participate in the review." ”

"During the parade, I stood on the viewing platform on Lenin's tomb, and the officers and soldiers who were on the parade could also see me." Zhukov saw at a glance Vasilevsky's little trick and did not hesitate to expose him: "So you don't want to use these reasons to make me change my mind." ”

Zhukov's stubbornness and persistence made Vasilevsky hesitate. From the painful expression on his face, I knew that he was not hypocritical, but really did not want to be the commander-in-chief of this parade. I secretly said in my heart that he was in the midst of blessings and did not know blessings, if it weren't for my qualifications being too shallow, even I would want to apply to be the commander-in-chief of this parade.

Seeing that Vasilevsky did not express his position for a long time, Zhukov stood up and walked to his side, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him: "Comrade Vasilevsky, don't forget, you are the chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, and the troops you are referring to see that you are the commander-in-chief of the parade can also play a role in boosting morale. Okay, let's stop dwelling on this issue, that's it. (To be continued.) )