I remember that when I learned "Mulan Ci" many years ago, I was very curious, Mulan disguised herself as a man and got along with her comrades-in-arms for ten years, but no one ever recognized her identity. Now that I see the young female tanker in front of me, I seem to understand something. The reason why they are not recognized may be because they belong to the fighting nation, and they are not inferior to men of the same race in terms of physical strength and physique, so they are not as easy to see through at a glance as those weak women. In addition, their feminine characteristics are not obvious, so people who usually come into contact with them will not think that she will be a woman.

When Roschukin heard my question, he remained silent. I knew that she must have any concerns, so I asked again in an amiable tone, "Comrade Sergeant, can you tell me your real name?" ”

Roschukin bowed his head with a flushed face and replied shyly: "Comrade commander, my real name is Alexandra. Mitrovanovna. Roschukina. ”

In order to show intimacy, I continued to ask by replacing the polite and distant "you" with "you": "Can you tell me why you want to dress as a man?" ”

Roschukina raised her head and looked at me, and said with a reluctant expression: "Comrade commander, do you think I want to disguise myself as a man? When the war broke out, I went to the recruitment center to sign up, but the staff in charge of recruitment refused my application because they said that there was no need for female soldiers. I didn't give up, I changed the recruiting point again, and the result was still refused.

In this way, over the course of a year, I went to nearly 100 recruitment sites to apply for enlistment, but all of them were rejected by the staff in charge of recruitment.

Watching my peers enlist in the army or join the militia while I stay at home and do nothing makes me feel very uncomfortable. Later I simply cut it short. A woman dressed as a man to apply. And changed his name to Alexander. Roschukin. This time I finally managed to be admitted to the army.

After enlistment. I was assigned to the transport regiment and first learned to drive a vehicle in Moscow. It didn't take long for an order from the regiment to say that there was an urgent shortage of tankers in the troops, and that they hoped that everyone would sign up to learn to drive tanks. Driven by curiosity, I took the initiative to sign up for the group. And so I came to Stalingrad and was assigned to a tank unit. Learn the driving techniques of a tank. After less than two months of study, the Battle of Stalingrad broke out, and my unit was assigned to General Chuikov's 62nd Army. ”

I heard that she had also been under Chuikov, and I couldn't help but feel a little more good about her. So the tone of speech was no longer the conversation between superiors and subordinates just now, but into the tone of two friends chatting. "Roschukina, you know what? I also used to be in General Chuikov's unit and participated in the Battle of Stalingrad. ”

"I know you, Comrade Commander." Roschukina nodded vigorously and said in affirmation: "I have heard about your deeds in the army, and almost every day I hear from others the good news that you have repelled the German attack. It was your performance that made me understand. Even a woman can make a career like a man. "Speaking of which. Her gaze became hot, "Therefore, you have always been an example for me to follow!" ”

Roschukina's compliment made me a little embarrassed, I waved my hand, smiled and said, "Comrade Sergeant, you are really a great award." Actually, I'm just lucky, and if I were someone else, I could have achieved the same result. I didn't want to dwell on my own affairs all the time, so I changed the topic in time, "Roschukina, you are not simple, you have only been in the army for a year, and you have become a commander, and you have been awarded the rank of sergeant. ”

"During the Battle of Stalingrad, the tank I drove destroyed three combat targets, including a tank, a truck and a firing point, and killed more than 30 German officers and soldiers with a vehicle-mounted machine gun." Roschukina told me about her achievements, "After the battle, I was promoted to sergeant and appointed commander for my exploits. ”

"What are your plans?" After listening to her achievements, I asked with concern: "Roschukina, what are your plans in the future, whether to continue to disguise yourself as a man, or to show your true identity to your superiors?" If you want to get back to your daughter, I'll take care of it, and I believe it won't cause you any trouble. ”

Unexpectedly, as soon as this suggestion of mine came out, Roschukina waved her hands desperately and said: "No, no, comrade commander." If I had revealed my true identity now, my superiors would have transferred me out of the tank brigade. Maybe I'll be transferred to the health team as a hygienist, or a telecommunications link to a telegraph operator. ”

"These classes are good," to be honest, the purpose of my desire to restore her to her original identity was to transfer her to the rear to work as a hygienist or a newspaper operator, although those positions also have certain dangers, but at least they are safer than being a tankman. Since she said it first, I also said with a smile: "In these positions, at least it is safer than you as a tank soldier." ”

But Roschukina asked: "Comrade commander, my comrades-in-arms are going to fight the Germans, but you want me to go back to the safe rear?" Is this considered a deserter? There was a clear anger in her tone.

I proposed to restore her true identity, and it was entirely for her sake. But judging from the current situation, I seem to take it for granted, and she doesn't want to restore her identity at this time. But her last words shook my resolve.

Since she was unwilling to return to her original identity, I couldn't force it any longer, so I thought about it and said, "Dear Roschukina, if you change your mind one day, you can call me and I will arrange everything for you." ”

"Thank you, Comrade Commander!" Roschukina said gratefully: "If I want to recover my daughter one day, I will definitely be able to call you and ask for your help." ”

Although I have said this, I still have no steadiness in my heart. I suddenly remembered that I had seen a movie in which a female militiaman dressed as a man joined the regular army, and was wounded in a battle, and the doctor took off her pants to change her dressing and found out her identity. And as a tankman, Roschukina has more chances of being injured in the brutal Battle of Kursk, and it is only a matter of time before her true identity is revealed.

Thinking of this, I said worriedly: "By the way, Roschukina, I have a problem in mind. If you were wounded in battle, wouldn't your identity be revealed when you were bandaged by a hygienist or a medic for you? What should you do if that happens? "My question left Roschukina speechless and froze in place.

Seeing her helpless look, I couldn't bear it, so I said my plan: "Do you think this is good, as long as the tank under your command destroys more than ten enemy tanks in the next battle, then I will help you restore your true identity and keep you in the tank brigade, anyway, in the tank unit, it is not that there are no female tankers." What do you think of my arrangement? ”

After listening to my suggestion, Roschukina first nodded, then shook her head, and said hesitantly: "Comrade commander, do you think that my tank can destroy more than ten tanks in battle?" ”

Instead of answering her question, I asked rhetorically, "Which do you think is better than the tanks you used to drive?" ”

"Needless to say, of course it's the current one, didn't you see the German tanks firing at such a close distance, and they couldn't penetrate our armor? And we fired a single shot and took out the Tiger tank, which the Germans claimed to be impenetrable. Talking about the process of taking out the German tank, Roschukina was particularly excited: "The new tank can also shoot on the move, and the hit rate can reach more than 40%, which is a world of difference compared to the zero hit of the old tank." ”

Seeing that she knew the performance of the new tank very well, I nodded with satisfaction, "Since you know the performance of the new tank, do you still have difficulties in eliminating more than ten German tanks?" ”

Roschukina had a look of surprise on her face, and after shaking her head fiercely, she replied loudly: "Please rest assured, commander, I will definitely lead the crew to destroy more than ten German tanks in the next battle." ”

"By the way, there's one more thing you haven't answered me yet." After seeing her happy again, I asked another question that I was interested in: "You've been in the army for so long, hasn't anyone ever found out that you're a woman?" ”

"Please rest assured, Commander, that my identity has not been discovered." Roschukina reported to me with some pride: "Our tankmen, unlike the infantry, do not live together in a squad or even a platoon, but are stationed separately in their respective tank groups. I had the rest of the crew sleep in makeshift tents, and I slept alone in the tank on the pretext of guarding the tank. As for bathing, I do it in the pond or river near the station. I'm careful every time that no one will see it. ”

"So that's the case, no wonder after more than a year, no one found out that you were a woman." After figuring out how she didn't let others find out who she really was, I smiled and waved at her and said, "Okay, dear Roschukina, it's okay now, you can go back to work first." ”

"Yes!" Roschukina replied loudly, raised her hand in salute, and then turned and ran towards her tank. (To be continued.) )