Zhukov smiled and said, "Lida, I just called the commander of the garrison in Sezran, Fersht, and he told me that you and your husband Oshanin are currently together. Well, I didn't bother you, did I? The latter sentence of his voice was obviously in a mocking tone.

I smiled bitterly and replied: "Comrade Marshal, how can it be." We're just reminiscing about some of our previous experiences. ”

"What? Are you alone just to remember the past? Zhukov asked a little puzzled when he heard me say this.

"That's right, Comrade Marshal." I didn't want to dwell on this matter, so I explained the actual situation directly to Zhukov: "Oshanin has amnesia because of a previous head injury, and he can't remember me at all. I reminisced with him just to try to get him back in his memory. ”

"What, amnesia?" Zhukov didn't expect that my reunion with Oshanin would be like this, and he couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Then what are you going to do, do you need me to arrange for him to return to Moscow for treatment?" ”

"Thank you for your kindness, Comrade Marshal, I don't need it for the time being." After I politely rejected Zhukov's kindness, I thought that he could not be idle to call and chat with me in the middle of the night, and there must be something important, so I asked straight to the point: "Do you have any instructions?" ”

Hearing me ask, Zhukov immediately laughed: "Lida, you are really not simple, I haven't spoken here, you guessed that I have something to find you." ”

Oshanin, who was next to me, knew from my conversation who was calling, he quickly stood up from the table, pointed to the door, and opened his mouth to say a few words silently. I guessed from his lips that he was asking me if I needed to go out and report. Because he was not qualified to listen to my conversation with the Marshal of the Soviet Union on the side. I waved my hand at him, signaling that he didn't have to go out and just stayed here.

"When can you return to Moscow?" Zhukov suddenly asked thoughtlessly.

"What, back to Moscow?" I didn't react for a moment, and said in a daze: "Comrade Stalin gave me half a month's vacation, why should I stay in the Kuibyshev region for ten days." ”

Only listen to Zhukov's voice coming from the headphones: "We rebuilt the Sixth Army. Lieutenant General Chistyakov was originally appointed commander. However, he had a car accident this afternoon, and his condition was still very serious, and it was estimated that he would not be able to perform his duties as commander of the group army for a long time. ……”

When I heard this, I couldn't help but be shocked, and my heart beat faster and disobediently, and I said that Zhukov called me in the middle of the night to intend for me to be the commander of this Sixth Army? In that way, I will have the opportunity to participate in the Battle of Kursk, which began in early July, and establish even greater merit.

Soon I heard what I wanted to hear through my headphones: "...... After my consultation with Vasilevsky. And report to the Supreme Commander himself for his consent, and decide to reappoint you as commander of the Sixth Army, and the units of the Army Group are subordinate to the Voronezh Front of General Vatutin. Do you have any questions? ”

"No, no problem, Comrade Marshal." As soon as Zhukov's words were asked, I immediately replied eagerly: "I resolutely obey your arrangement. After saying this, I paused for a moment and then asked. I wonder what kind of troops are in the newly formed Sixth Army? ”

Zhukov for my question. He replied very cheerfully, "Leda, I knew you were going to ask this question, so I was prepared in advance." Listen, the Sixth Army was reorganized from the 21st Army, with the 51st, 52nd, 67th, and 71st Guards Infantry Divisions, as well as the 325th and 375th Infantry Divisions. There are also two tank brigades. and three artillery regiments, plus one of the most powerful battalions of Guards rocket artillery. How's that, you're still happy with your troops, right? ”

Before Zhukov's words fell, I hurriedly replied: "Satisfied, satisfied." It's just so satisfying. "I secretly calculated in my heart that although there were only six infantry divisions, as well as two tank brigades, three artillery regiments and one rocket artillery battalion, they added up to at least sixty or seventy thousand people, which is quite a lot. Besides, I have never commanded so many troops, what else can I not be satisfied with?

Zhukov briefly instructed me: "Since you have no opinion, then hurry back to take up your post as soon as possible." ”

Although Zhukov said it lightly, I did not dare to take it lightly, if I returned to Moscow as soon as possible, it would be equivalent to ending my vacation on my own initiative, and I did not know that I would not cause much trouble. So I cautiously asked: "But, Comrade Marshal, when Comrade Stalin gave me half a month's vacation, and as a result, I only spent a few days outside, and I had to go back to cancel the vacation, wouldn't it make the Supreme Commander himself angry?" ”

"No, Leda." Zhukov confidently said to me: "I have already reported this matter to Comrade Stalin, and even if you return immediately to cancel your leave, there will be no problem." ”

"Alright then, I'll rush back as soon as possible." When I said this, I was still thinking about waiting for the next day to meet Alik in Togliatti, and then I would take the evening train back to Moscow.

Who knew that I was thinking like this, Zhukov added: "May 5 is Marx's birthday, and in the afternoon on Marx Square, we will hold a small commemorative ceremony, and I hope you will appear on time." ”

I looked up at my watch, and it was the early hours of May 4th, which meant that I had to take an early train to barely catch the celebration in Moscow. However, since Zhukov's words have been spoken, it is unrealistic to want him to take them back, so I can only dismiss the idea of going to Togliatti.

I put down the phone and thought about it, picked up the microphone again, and dialed the phone on duty. After ringing twice, someone on the other side immediately picked up the phone, and then a lazy voice came out of the headset: "Hey, where are you?" ”

I heard the voice of the director of the guest house, and hurriedly said: "Comrade director, I am Oshanina. ”

Hearing me report to my home, the other party's voice suddenly became energetic: "It turned out to be Comrade General, you haven't rested so late, do you have any instructions?" ”

"Comrade Director, I get rid of you two things." Now that time is pressing, I will not go around in circles with the other party, but say bluntly: "First, I want to rush back to Moscow as soon as possible. So please help me book the earliest train back to Moscow; 2. You call two of my subordinates and ask them to rush to my room immediately to report. ”

"Comrade General, you have just been here for a short time, why are you in a hurry to leave?" The director was a verbose man, and instead of simply accepting my orders like an ordinary soldier, he babbled and spoke. I didn't say a word. He may have heard no sound from my side, realized his gaffe, and hurriedly changed his tone and said, "Comrade General, please rest assured, I will carry out your order immediately." ”

Putting down the phone again, I walked back to the table and said apologetically to Oshanen, "I'm sorry, my dear, it looks like our reunion is going to be rescheduled." I just received an order from my superiors. Let me rush back to Moscow as soon as possible to accept a new assignment. ”

Oshanin nodded like garlic, and said in a loud voice: "I know, I know, I almost heard the conversation between you and the marshal just now. With that, he stood up and held out his hand to me, with a sincere smile on his face, and said, "Leda." Congratulations on your more important appointment. ”

I reached out and shook him gently, and I took it back. Diverting the subject, he said: "By the way, my dear, our child is now in the children's home in the city of Togliatti, you should take the time to visit him." "When Oshanin nodded in agreement, I suddenly remembered that he had amnesia, and even I couldn't remember who it was. Not to mention the child who hadn't seen each other for so long, he quickly added, "The child's name is Alex, don't forget it." ”

"Don't worry, I've got you covered. I won't forget it......" Before he finished speaking, there was a quick knock on the door, and at the same time, Yushchenko's anxious voice came from outside: "Comrade General, please open the door, please open the door." ”

I walked to the door in two steps and pulled the door open. As soon as the door opened, with the help of the light shining through the door, I saw that in addition to Yushchenko, there were also Dornikov standing outside, and I quickly turned to the side, waved my hand inside, and said, "You two are coming very fast, don't stand outside, come in." ”

After the two of them entered the door, they stood in front of me, straightening their waists, and Yushchenko asked: "Comrade General, I don't know if you are looking for us so late, is there anything important?" ”

Before I could speak, Oshanin came over and said to me politely: "Lida, you have important things to do, and it is not suitable for me to stay here, so I will go back first." ”

"Okay, okay, you go back first." I listened to his words, and I didn't care, just said casually: "It's not early, you remember to rest early." ”

After watching Oshanin's figure disappear from the door, Yushchenko asked me strangely: "Comrade General, why did you let your husband leave?" ”

Yushchenko's remarks made me realize that there was really no need to let Oshanin leave, and when I was talking to Zhukov on the phone just now, I did not let him avoid him, and when I deployed to my subordinates to return to Moscow at this moment, there was no need to avoid him, but since he had left, I could not pursue him back, and I could only make a mistake.

Instead of answering Yushchenko's words, I announced directly to the two: "I just received a call from Marshal Zhukov, who ordered me to rush back to Moscow as soon as possible. So our plan to go to Togliatti during the day today is cancelled, you go back at once and call all the fighters, and we will rush to the railway station as soon as possible and take the earliest train back to Moscow. ”

"Comrade General," Dolnikov, who had not spoken since entering the door, asked with some puzzlement, "I don't know what is urgent, you can't wait to return to Moscow even before your son has time to visit, can you tell me the reason?" ”

If Dolnikov were my old subordinate, I would definitely put on a straight face and say in an official tone: "Don't you know that the orders of your superiors are not allowed to be discussed, but can only be carried out?" But he was only the one who had been arranged by my superiors to protect my safety, so I could only patiently explain to him: "Comrade Marshal said on the phone that I had been appointed commander of the reconstituted Sixth Army and that I must immediately rush back to Moscow to take up my post. And more importantly, on the afternoon of the 5th, in Marx Square, there was an important celebration that I had to attend. ”

As soon as I finished speaking, Dolnikov realized the seriousness of the matter, and he volunteered: "Then I will first go and call up the fighters and prepare them to go." ”

I knew that the two dozen of us didn't say that we could leave, and we definitely had to make some preparations, so when I heard him say this, I also nodded, and said with a smile: "Go, Comrade Captain, call everyone up and let them get ready to go." As soon as the director of the hostel bought us a ticket to return, we set off. ”

Soon after Dolnikov left in a hurry, the phone rang in the house, and when I picked it up, it turned out to be a call from the director. He heard my voice and immediately reported to me: "Comrade General, there is a train to Moscow at half past three in the morning, and I have already bought my ticket. I'll send it to you now, do you think it's appropriate? ”

"No need, Comrade Director." I looked up at my watch, it was almost two o'clock, and with the director's long-winded personality, I didn't know how much time it would take to get to my room, so I ordered him: "You wait for us in the hall, and get the ticket when I go down later." ”

Five minutes later, all of us had gathered in the hall, and although there were twenty or so people, no one spoke, and the hall was still quiet, and no other guests were disturbed. The director walked up to me, held up a handful of tickets in his hand, and said flatteringly: "Comrade General, the tickets are all here, please keep them." ”

I took the ticket, handed it to Yushchenko next to me, and asked the director with a smile: "Comrade director, how much is the total amount of so many tickets, I will give it to you." ”

As soon as my words came out, not only the director was stunned, but even Dolnikov beside me let out a strange "huh". Seeing their reactions, I was a little puzzled, but Yushchenko reminded me in a whisper: "Comrade General, this is the time of the war, and we don't need money to buy tickets. ”

Hearing Yushchenko say this, the director also echoed: "Yes, yes, soldiers don't need money to buy tickets, they only need to provide the number of their unit and their own name, rank, and position when buying tickets." ”

When I left the guest house and headed for the station, I thought that it was martial law time in the evening, and we didn't have passes, so if we let the patrol continue to check it, we might miss the train. So I called Dolnikov to the front and ordered: "Captain, take your men and open the way in front." As soon as you encounter a patrol that is being checked, send them away in the name of your Ministry of Internal Affairs, so as not to delay our time, understand? ”

Dolnikov was on a business trip with me, and he had not been able to act in his capacity as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he was probably very aggrieved, but when he heard my order, he immediately agreed excitedly, and walked at the front of the whole team with his three subordinates.

Yushchenko, who was walking beside me, looked at the four people in front of him and whispered to me a little unhappily: "Comrade General, how can you let them go so much? You must know that the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs have to find someone else's fault even if they ignore it, and now that you have given them such rights, it is strange that they do not cause trouble. ”

I understood Yushchenko's psychology very well, so I explained to him in a low voice: "Captain Yushchenko, we have limited time, and if we allow the patrol on the street to check again and again, we will miss the car." In extraordinary times, it is necessary to use some extraordinary means. ”

What happened next proved that my arrangement was very appropriate. At least five patrols had just come over to stop us for an interrogation, but Dolnikov had sent them away using the identity of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. What was even more unexpected was that after entering the railway station, Dolnikov found the military representative of the station and forcibly chartered a sleeping car, so that all of us could stay together, instead of being scattered in different carriages with the soldiers of the guard squad when we came.

When the train started, Yushchenko, who was sitting in my box, said with emotion: "Comrade General, in thirty hours or so we will be in Moscow, and then you will be the official commander of the army group, and then I will be able to call you by the title of commander as before." (To be continued.) )

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