As soon as Kolovnikov walked into the division headquarters, Boroda, who had already prepared, immediately beckoned the soldiers to bring hot water to the general and his accompanying staff officers, saying that they had worked the journey and washed their faces first. After washing up, he asked the kitchen to serve a hearty breakfast to the general.

Looking at the wide variety of breakfast and hot tea on the table, I smiled at Boroda in a friendly manner, after all, he was the person who had been the commander and adjutant of the front army, and he was better than me in dealing with people and more thoughtful than me. I smiled and said to Kolovnikov: "Comrade General, you and the comrades of the command went out early, I guess you haven't had breakfast yet." These are all made by the chef in the division, and I don't know if the Tao is to your taste. Give it a try! ”

Kolovnikov picked up a piece of roast meat with a fork, took a bite, opened his mouth and said: "The roast is delicious, not bad!" ”

I hurriedly said with a smile on my face: "Comrade General, eat more if it's delicious." You have been on the road for so long, I guess your comrades are already grumbling with hunger. ”

Kolovnikov grabbed a slice of thinly sliced cheese with his hand, and before putting it in his mouth, beckoned to the staff officers sitting at the table: "Eat, comrades!" You're welcome, you didn't have time to eat before you left in the morning, so you're probably all hungry. Then he raised his head and said to me and Boroda: "Hey, I said Comrade Oshanina, Comrade Boroda, what are you still standing on, hurry up and sit down and eat!" You must know that this is your territory, and we are here to eat. ”

Amid the good-natured laughter of everyone, Boroda and I sat down and began to eat breakfast.

As I was eating, I inadvertently looked up. I saw the lieutenant colonel sitting across from him. Facing a table full of food. His brows furrowed. Seeing his expression, I secretly said in my heart that it was not good, maybe he would use the topic to play.

Sure enough, the lieutenant colonel slapped the table and stood up, and said with a displeased expression: "Master Oshanina, I want to ask you!" The soldiers on the front line can't even guarantee three meals a day, and you and your chief of staff stay in the division headquarters every day,......"

"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." Without waiting for the lieutenant colonel to speak, General Kolovnikov stood up and interrupted his later words, saying in a tone of lesson: "The food of the 378th Division has always been very famous in our army group. When Colonel Dorofeev was still a division commander, he was known as a gourmet, and his daily diet was like this, so for a long time, the commanders of the army group and other divisions liked to come here to eat. Major Oshanina has only been in office for a few days, so the food habits here still retain the characteristics of the Dorofeev period. ”

Hear General Kolovnikov say that. The deputy chief of staff, who originally looked like a tantrum, could only sit down obediently. Eat like everyone else.

After teaching the deputy chief of staff, Kolovnikov smiled again and said to me: "I said Comrade Oshanina, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff has only been transferred to the group army not long ago, and I don't know a lot of things, so don't mind." Hurry up and eat, we're going to give awards to the fighters when we're done. ”

I hurriedly stood up and reported: "Report to the commander of the group army, thank you very much for the valuable criticism made to us by Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff. ”

After Kolovnikov heard what I said, he smiled and said, "Comrade Oshanina, I didn't expect you to be quite able to speak." Then he said to the lieutenant colonel: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, you go outside and bring people in to bring in the medals and awards, and let Division Commander Oshanina and them hurry up and sort them out, and after eating, they will prepare for the celebration meeting." ”

The deputy chief of staff did not speak, got up and saluted, and then walked outside. I hurriedly touched Boroda, who was sitting next to me, with my arm and whispered, "Comrade Chief of Staff, you should also go and help the Deputy Chief of Staff." Boroda nodded, got up and walked out of the alley.

General Kolovnikov looked at his watch and said in a loud voice: "Comrades, hurry up and eat, we have important things to do later." ”

After breakfast, Colonel Donskoy, Colonel Sholov, Lieutenant Colonel Peter, Major Yatsenyuk and their commissars also arrived, so we had a meeting in the division headquarters.

These regimental cadres are all old men of the 59th Army, and the commanders, political commissars and General Kolovnikov of these regiments are very familiar. Maybe it was because we hadn't seen each other for a long time, but at this meeting, the two sides saluted and shook hands, asked each other about the current situation, and the relationship was very close, but instead ignored me, who was the division commander, to the side.

At the beginning of the meeting, on behalf of the division headquarters, I first welcomed General Kolovnikov to our celebration in person, and then reported to him on the beginning and end of yesterday's battle and the situation of the advanced collectives that were ready to be commended. The commanders of the regiments also reported to him on the participation of their units in the war.

After listening to our report, General Kolovnikov first affirmed the results achieved by our division, and then patiently inquired about the detailed deployment of our division in the combat division. While praising our achievements, he also severely criticized us for not reporting to the army headquarters in advance before the battle.

I stood up and admitted my mistake to him, and said that if there was any further battle to be fought in the division, I would ask him for instructions in advance, and then take corresponding military action after obtaining his permission. Having said that, I knew very well in my heart that if I really wanted to fight, when I asked for instructions and got approval, the daylily would be cold. Therefore, in the future, I will still be in charge of everything in the division, and I will have the final say on where and when to fight.

At this moment, Major Antonov came in from outside, and after saluting us, he hesitated a little to whom to report. I pointed with my hand at General Kolovnikov, who was sitting in the center, and said: "Comrade Antonov, report to Comrade Commander of the Army Group." ”

Antonov agreed, and after saluting Kolovnikov again, he respectfully reported: "Report to Comrade Commander, I am Major Antonov, Chief of Staff of the 378th Division, and now the troops who have come out to participate in the celebration are entering the venue as a company. I'm here to ask when you can enter the venue? ”

When Antonov asked this question, his eyes were not on Kolovnikov, but at me. I understood that he was waiting for my instructions. I looked up at my watch. There were still a few minutes until seven o'clock, so he turned around and asked the general: "Comrade commander, the time is almost up, do you think we should go to the venue?" ”

Kolovnikov nodded and said, "Since the time is almost up, let's go to the venue now." Speaking of this, he turned his gaze to the regimental commanders and political commissars under me, "A few old fellows. Isn't it time for you to go back to the group? Later, at the celebration meeting, you will sing the leading role! ”

Hearing him say this, several regimental commanders and commissars stood up one after another, saluted him, and followed Antonov's back and walked out.

After they all left, Kolovnikov asked the lieutenant colonel again: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, is the medal of merit ready?" ”

The deputy chief of staff hurriedly stood up and replied: "Report to Comrade Commander, the acting division chief of staff of the 378th Division, Captain Boroda, has already helped me classify the military merit medals, and we can go to the venue at any time." ”

"Now that everything is ready, let's go to the venue." said. General Kolovnikov stood up.

The venue for the celebration meeting was set up outside the division headquarters. The platform at the entrance of the church is equivalent to the rostrum on which we preside over the conference. After going out, I deliberately looked up at the top of the gate, and did not pull any banners.

The open space in front of the church was already full of commanders and fighters who had come to attend the meeting, and they formed a neat phalanx under the leadership of commanders at all levels. Because I said hello yesterday, they all changed into new uniforms.

In front of each phalanx, there stood their respective commanders, and even the several regimental commanders and political commissars who had just come out of the headquarters also stood at the forefront of their respective troops.

I set my eyes on the phalanx of the nearest guard company to us, and beside Captain Gusev, Captain Burda and Captain Chumak, and behind the three of them was a group of lieutenant officers, I guessed that it was the deputy company commander and platoon commander of each company, for I saw that the wounded Vaskov was also standing upright in the queue with the support of others.

I whispered to Kolovnikov: "Comrade commander, the time is almost up, and the celebration can begin." ”

Kolovnikov nodded, took two steps forward, came to the edge of the platform, first glanced at the team present, and then said loudly: "Comrades! ”

At the sound of his voice, the soldiers in the team snapped to the ground, and then all the commanders and fighters, facing him, closed their eyes slightly and raised their chins high, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing the reaction of the fighters, Kolovnikov nodded with satisfaction and said straight to the point: "I am here today to present military medals and certificates of merit to those heroes who showed a brave and fearless fighting spirit in yesterday's battle. Here, I want to say to you: good, great! Good guys, you're all good! ”

After Kolovnikov's brief opening remarks, there was silence. But it was only for a short moment, and then thunderous cheers erupted in the phalanx: "Ula! Ulla!! Ulla!!! The earth-shattering shouts made people feel their blood boiling, and even I, who was staying on the platform, couldn't help but shout rhythmically with everyone.

Then Boroda stepped forward, raised his hands and pressed down on the man, and when the shouts of the commanders and fighters subsided, he shouted loudly: "I announce that the meritorious service meeting will now begin, and I ask the acting division commander, Major Oshanina, to announce the meritorious service collectives and individuals." ”

I stepped forward, first raised my hand and saluted the commanders and fighters lined up in the open space, and then took the folder from Boroda's hand, opened it and read it aloud: "In recognition of the brave and fearless spirit shown by the commanders and fighters of the guard battalion on the front line of the Great Patriotic War, and the many achievements they have achieved, the title of Heroic Company of the First and Second Guard Companies is hereby awarded, and the collective first-class meritorious service is awarded. The commander of the 1st Company, Captain Burda, and the commander of the 2nd Company, Captain Chumark, were invited to the stage to receive the military merit medal and the certificate. ”

Burda and Chumak agreed, marched up the steps to the platform in unison, saluted us, and received the certificate of merit and the military medal in the box from Boroda's hand. After shaking hands with Boroda, the two took a step back, saluted again, and then turned and walked down the steps.

As I watched them leave, I continued, "...... The glorious title of Heroic Battalion of the Caucasian Battalion of the Sholov Regiment was awarded, and the collective first-class meritorious service was awarded, and the battalion commander Caucasov was invited to the stage to receive the award. ”

“…… The Sholov Regiment was awarded the glorious title of Hero Battalion of the Boris Battalion, and was awarded the collective first-class meritorious service, and the battalion commander Boris was invited to the stage to receive the military merit medal and the certificate. ”

“…… The 5th and 6th Tank Companies of the Donskoy Regiment were awarded the title of Glorious Tank Company, and the regimental commander Colonel Donskoy was invited to come to the stage to receive the military merit medal and the certificate. ”

After awarding military merit medals and certificates of merit for collective merit, individual military merit medals and certificates of merit began to be awarded. This time it started with the third-class merit, followed by the second-class merit, and finally the first-class merit.

There are quite a few commanders who have made meritorious service of the first class, such as Major Antonov, chief of the chief of staff, because he personally commanded the battle, and he has made meritorious service in commanding the operation, and this first-class meritorious service is well deserved. Captain Avtukhov of the Independent Telephone Company, because he ensured smooth communication during the battle, I helped him to argue with his reasoning, and Boroda agreed to grant it to him. As for Lieutenant Vaskov, none of the officers raised any objections, and he was awarded the first class merit by unanimous vote.

“…… Lieutenant Vaskov went deep behind enemy lines and rescued hundreds of captured commanders and fighters. But after the Germans discovered the movement of our troops, Lieutenant Vaskov took the initiative to lead the enemy away, so that our large army could successfully escape. In recognition of his meritorious service, the division department decided to award him a first-class military merit medal. Now, Lieutenant Vaskov is invited to the stage to receive the award. As soon as I finished speaking, there was thunderous applause on the field, and Vaskov, supported by two ensigns, walked slowly over.

When he walked onto the platform, I handed the folder in my hand to Boroda, took the certificate and the military medal in the box from his hand, and walked over to Vaskov.

Seeing Vaskov saluting me, I returned the salute with a smile, and then handed over the certificate and military medal in both hands. He gently broke free from the arm of the commander who was holding him, stretched out his hands to take what was in my hand, and deliberately freed one hand to shake my hand. After shaking hands, he took a step back and raised his hand to salute me with a standard military salute.

When the two second lieutenants held him up again, he turned to face the commanders and fighters in the open space, took out the military merit medal from the box, raised it high above his head, and shouted loudly: "Glory belongs to us, glory belongs to the motherland!" ”

His shout immediately resonated with the commanders and fighters, and almost all of them echoed him, shouting loudly after him: "Glory belongs to us, glory belongs to the motherland!" Ulla! Ulla!! Ulla!!! The atmosphere of the celebration meeting was pushed to a climax amid the shouts of the commanders and fighters who resounded through the sky. (To be continued......)

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