On New Year's Day 1942, the Soviet and German armies ceased all military operations against each other in an unusually tacit understanding. In this way, I had the opportunity to have the first lunch of the new year with Vlasov, Mr. Lin and the translator Zhe at the headquarters of the army group in the city of Shakhovskaya.

Ehrenburg, who I hated, went to the troops to interview, and the staff officers and communications officers in the headquarters were also kicked out by Vlasov, and there were only four of us in the room around the table enjoying a sumptuous lunch.

Perhaps because of the New Year, Vlasov prepared a sumptuous lunch, which included beef broth, caviar, vegetable salad, duck, grilled chicken, black coffee and black tea, in addition to the indispensable cheese, bread and ham omelette.

We ate and chatted, and Vlasov turned to yesterday's battle in the hamlet. "Comrade Chief of Staff, although the battle you commanded yesterday eliminated dozens of enemies, the price paid was a little greater." Vlasov's criticism made me feel a little ashamed, because in yesterday's battle, due to a command error, a total of 115 people were killed, of which 41 were killed and 27 were seriously wounded, if the German army had not only 47 men and no heavy weapons, maybe I would have ended up in total annihilation.

Mr. Lin took a cup of unsweetened black tea from Shi Zhe's hand, took a sip gently, and said unhurriedly: "Lida, Comrade Commander is reasonable. If the Germans had been fire-suppressed before the attack had been launched, and then the charge would have been launched, there would have been no such casualties in the course of the charge. ”

"yes!" Vlasov added: "At that time, you were only a little more than 100 meters away from the enemy, Lida, if you organize dozens of sharpshooters, at such a distance, you will definitely be able to wipe out all the German soldiers at the entrance of the village without casualties." ”

Hearing Vlasov say this, I couldn't help but slap the table in annoyance, yes, organize a few sharpshooters, use their rifles to kill the German soldiers at the entrance of the village, and then we will attack, so that the casualties of our army can be negligible. In the process of charging, I also killed two German soldiers with my rifle.

Mr. Lin put the teacup on the table and said in a deep voice: "Comrade Lida, there is something I want to criticize you. I heard that you shot all the surrendered German soldiers, and it was unacceptable to do so. As long as the gun surrenders, we will give preferential treatment. ”

Mr. Lin's words immediately brought to mind several scenes from red movies: the commander of the Eighth Route Army, holding a shell gun, shouted at the desperate Japanese with a righteous face: Put down your arms, surrender your guns and don't kill, we will treat the prisoners preferentially. Then the Japanese with the 38 big cover obediently put down their weapons and raised their hands in surrender.

"Comrade Deputy Commander Lin," Vlasov said suddenly, "I think Comrade Lida did the right thing in the matter of shooting the prisoners. ”

"But the enemy has laid down his arms, and we should treat our prisoners preferentially."

"The sins committed by those fascist bandits against our people should be paid with their blood. Didn't you hear Leda? The two-legged brutes, after they had spoiled our sisters, were to drive them to the entrance of the village and shoot them. If it were me, I'd shoot all these damn Germans, too. ”

"But Comrade Commander, I still feel that the prisoners should be treated preferentially, not shot them......" Mr. Lin and Vlasov began to argue about me shooting the prisoners. Hearing the two of them arguing non-stop, I could only sigh secretly in my heart, this is the difference between Eastern and Western cultures. Li Yunlong only shot a few wounded Japanese soldiers who took the initiative to die, and was demoted from regiment commander to battalion commander. I have killed so many German prisoners, if I was in the base area in China, then I would not have been demoted from division commander to company commander.

Just as the two were arguing under Shi Zhe's translation, Yushchenko's voice shouted a report came from the door. I hurriedly shouted loudly: "Is it Captain Yushchenko outside?" Come on in. ”

When Yushchenko pushed open the door and entered, the argument between Vlasov and Mr. Lin had already been heard, and everyone's attention was focused on the commander of my guard company.

Since Yushchenko was one of my subordinates, I asked, "Comrade Captain, what's the matter?" ”

"Report to the commander, deputy commander, comrade chief of staff." On this occasion, instead of calling me a division commander, he addressed me as a position in the headquarters of the army group, "There is a commander from Moscow outside, who wants to see you." ”

This time it was Vlasov who answered: "Commander from Moscow, hurry up and come in." ”

A few minutes later, a radiant commander and an old man in a dark blue coat followed Yushchenko into the headquarters.

When the commander came in, he walked past Yushchenko and walked in front of us, stood up and saluted us, saying: "Happy New Year, comrades commanders. I am Colonel Bezikov of the Central Guard Regiment and have been ordered to come and deliver you gifts. ”

"Gifts, what gifts?" While Vlasov was still talking to himself a little confused, I took two steps forward, walked up to Colonel Bezikov, saluted him, smiled and said: "Hello, Colonel Bezikov, I didn't expect us to meet again." Are your injuries healed? ”

Bezzikov held out his hand to me and smiled and said, "Hello, Leda. Thank you for your concern, my leg injury has long been healed. I haven't seen you for a long time, but I didn't expect you to be a general now. ”

While shaking hands with him, I looked at the old man who came in with him, and felt a little familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen it for a while, so I asked curiously: "Colonel Bezkov, who is this old man?" ”

Bezzikov smiled and asked rhetorically, "What?" It's only been a little over a month, and you don't know this old man? Then he let go of my hand, stepped forward and shook hands with Vlasov and Mr. Lin in turn, and then pointed to the old man and introduced to us: "This is a senior engineer of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant Fronin, under his guidance, invented and launched a new rifle. After testing, the performance of this rifle surpassed that of the rifles currently equipped by our army, so Comrade Stalin personally ordered to equip your 20th Army with all the hundred rifles produced in the first platoon. ”

The old man, who was originally standing behind Yushchenko, also stepped forward when he heard Bezikov say his name, and said in an excited tone: "Hello, comrades commanders! It's a pleasure to meet you guys. ”

After Vlasov, Mr. Lin and the old man shook hands, I stepped forward to shake hands with the future senior engineer Floning. I was about to speak, but the old man preemptively said, "Hello, Comrade General. I heard Colonel Bezikov say that you once saved my life, and here I express my heartfelt thanks to you. As a token of my appreciation, I give you an assault rifle that I made myself. Saying this, he turned to Bezkov and said: "Comrade Colonel, please give that assault rifle to my savior." ”

Bezikov took off the gun he was carrying over his shoulder and handed it to me. As soon as I took the gun, I couldn't help but be stunned, I must know that I have not only seen the picture of this gun, but also seen the real thing in the museum, it turns out that this newly invented assault rifle is the famous AK47 assault rifle in the future.