As soon as I sat down, when I heard Shirov ask, I immediately stood up again, straightened up, and replied as in accordance with the regulations: "Report to Comrade General, I ......"

Shilov stretched out his hands, pressed down again and again, and said, "Major Oshanina, don't be so restrained, I just want to talk to you, whatever, don't be so formal." ”

I said yes, sat down again, and said, "Well, during my time on the ice line, I saw a lot of convoys every day, with trucks and sleds carrying food to the city, and thousands of residents being evacuated out of the city in a planned way. Because the next topic was particularly sensitive, I sorted out my thoughts for a while before I cautiously asked: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, so much grain has been transported into the city, and a large number of residents have been evacuated, which has reduced the population pressure in the city, and now the famine situation in the city has improved?" ”

Shilov fell silent when I asked, he slowly sat down in his chair, took a cigarette from the cigarette case on the table, lit it, took two puffs hard, and then replied in a deep voice: "No, no relief, Comrade Major." Although there were many convoys that carried food to the city around the clock, unfortunately the numbers were still too small to ensure that the ration of the city's troops and inhabitants would not continue to be lowered. ”

At this point, he put the cigarette butt in his hand in the ashtray on the table, looked up at me, and said apologetically: "Now you can understand why I will be angry with you after the convoy suffered a huge loss that day." Then he changed the subject and asked, "Do you think there are any shortcomings on the transportation line?" ”

This question sounds simple, but it's not that easy to answer. In a country where it is assumed that the enemy army is likely to approach a major city, and that they are likely to be condemned or imprisoned, the longer they stay, the more scruples they will have, and the slightest mistake will cost them their future, and even their lives.

Seeing that I was silent, Shilov may have guessed the reason why I didn't speak, so he changed the subject in time and asked in a relaxed tone: "Do you have any plans to return to Leningrad this time, you may have to stay for a few days?" ”

Want to stay for a few days? I thought I would be able to go back to the ice transport line that night, but it seems that I can't avoid seeing Lida's mother and son this time. Although he was resistant to this meeting in his heart, he had to pretend to be happy on the surface and replied to Shilov: "Comrade General, when I am done with my business, I plan to go and see my mother and children, who are in Leningrad. ”

"Really?!" When Shirov heard me say this, he couldn't help but be a little curious: "Your mother and son are in Leningrad, how is this possible?" I always thought your home was in Moscow. ”

When he said this, I immediately panicked a little, and could only say vaguely: "I used to live in a small city, but after the outbreak of the war, I came to Leningrad after several evacuations." ”

"Where do they live?"

"On Vladimir Prospekt on the Neva River......"

Before I could give me the exact address, I heard someone at the door: "Who lives on Vladimir Street?" "We looked towards the door, and it turned out that it was the commissar who pushed the door in, and just heard the address I said, so he asked.

General Shilov did not get up either, but pointed to an empty chair next to him and motioned for the commissar to sit down. Shilov is a general, at the same level as the commissar Shikin, he can sit still, but I can't put on a stand, so I quickly got up and saluted Shikin.

When we were all seated, Shilov said to Shikin: "Comrade commissar, before you came, I just talked to Major Oshanina about her family. Her mother and son live on Vladimir Street. ”

Hearing Shilov say this, Shigin asked with concern: "How are they doing now, are they staying in the city or are they evacuated?" ”

I muttered back, "I don't know about that." Their address, a cook from the women's anti-aircraft artillery company, told me that she used to be my neighbor. However, she enlisted in the army two months ago, and she can't tell what happened next. ”

Hikin nodded thoughtfully and said, "Yes, during the war, communication is inconvenient, and it is easy to lose contact with your family. Then he said decisively: "Comrade Major, I approve you to stay in the city for two more days after you have finished your official business to see your mother and children." ”

General Shirov also chimed in: "The commissar is right, I agreed, and when the business is done, I will give you two days off to visit your family." Then he added: "Now that the commissar has come, let's move on to business." He looked at me and asked: "Comrade Major, I would like to hear your opinion on the air defense situation on the ice transport line." I remind you that what I want to hear is the real situation, and don't prevaricate me with those official articles. ”

The political commissar also helped on the side: "Yes, Comrade Oshanina, we want to know about the real air defense situation of the ice transportation line, please know everything and say everything." ”

It seemed that I could not dodge this time, so I could only stand up and reply stubbornly: "At present, the air defense force of the ice transportation line is still very weak, and it is far from enough to defend such a large area with only three antiaircraft artillery battalions and several antiaircraft machine gun batteries. If the command can send enough anti-aircraft artillery units to the ice, then the air defense of the transport line will be fully guaranteed. ”

After listening to my words, Shilov shook his head and said: "In the short term, it is impossible to add new anti-aircraft artillery units to the ice transport line. Do you know the number of anti-aircraft artillery units deployed in Leningrad during the outbreak of war? ”

"Comrade General, I don't know about this. It is important to know that these military data are confidential. ”

"Yes, yes, I know it's a secret." Shilov said with some irritation: "To be honest, I still don't know how many anti-aircraft artillery units Lu Dao was attached to at that time. Speaking of this, he took out two cigarettes from his cigarette case, threw one to the political commissar, lit it himself, and then continued: "As early as October last year, according to the order of General Zhukov, the commander of the front army at that time, in order to strengthen the defense of our army, most of the antiaircraft artillery units in the city were transferred to the front line and fired at the German tanks and armored vehicles with antiaircraft guns or antiaircraft machine guns. ”

Hearing this, I couldn't help but smile bitterly, using anti-aircraft guns to shoot tanks and armored vehicles, and I was the initiator of this. However, judging by General Shilov's expression, the end of these anti-aircraft artillery units was not very good. Sure enough, he continued, "...... Of these, a considerable number of anti-aircraft artillery units were lost in defensive battles. The other part is currently undertaking the task of air defense of the breakthrough on the Neva River, so the anti-aircraft artillery units that can be transferred to the ice transport line are quite limited. ”

Shiggin shrugged his shoulders and said, "No way, Comrade Oshanina. At the moment, we hope that your troops will be able to ensure the air defense of the transport lines with the available numbers and technical equipment. ”

Hearing what Higgin said, I suddenly had a strange thought at this moment, why did he say this to me, you must know that there are three anti-aircraft artillery battalions and several anti-aircraft machine gun batteries that are now responsible for air defense duties on the transportation line. I was just one of many commanders, and I could not command any of the other units except the second battalion. When he said this, did he want to set up a unified anti-aircraft artillery command and then let me be the commander?

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but shake my head vigorously, trying to get this ridiculous idea out of my mind. To tell the truth, I was still a rookie in military command, and the reason why I was able to rise to prominence in the past was just luck, I was lucky to win two battles and get the favor of my superiors, and now I am dealing with new superiors in a new environment, and it is almost impossible to meet the promotion opportunities like before.

Seeing my shaking of my head, Shilov and Shiggin were both misunderstood. The two asked in unison, "What's the matter, you don't have faith." ”

I hastened to reply: "Comrade General, Comrade Political Commissar, it is not without confidence. I am only one of the many commanders of the anti-aircraft artillery unit, and I can only ensure that I am responsible for the air defense in the area, and I can't do anything about the rest of the area. ”

"You don't have to worry about this, you just need to guard your lot." Shilov then added, "As for the commanders of other sections, we will negotiate with them." ”

Shilov's words made me faintly disappointed, it seems that I really thought too much, I have only been in Leningrad for a few days? I guess they reluctantly let me be the commander of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion because they saw that I had been awarded the rank of general by Stalin and that I had a good relationship with Zhukov, who is now famous.

As he spoke, the phone on the desk rang. Shilov picked up the microphone, and as soon as he fed it, he immediately stood up and replied loudly: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front, do you have any instructions?" "It turned out that the call was from Lieutenant General Huo Jin.

Putting down the phone, he said to me: "Comrade Major, the commander of the front army originally wanted to come and talk to you, but now there is something to do. He told you not to leave for a while, and he will summon you when he has time. Then he said to me in a kind tone: "Now you are going to see your mother and son on Vladimir Street, do you need me to send you a car?" ”

"Comrade General Xie Lu, no need, I'd better hitchhike by myself."

"Well, I won't send you. Be careful along the way and good luck! ”

After saluting the two of them, I turned around and took off my military coat and hat hanging from the coat rack and walked out of the room.