As soon as our car drove near the National Center for the Performing Arts, we were stopped by martial law fighters and traffic police. Immediately after Bezkov stopped the car, a traffic policeman in a gray uniform and a cotton police hat walked to the window on his side, raised his hand and saluted, and said politely: "Excuse me, Comrade Commander, there is a celebration going on in front, and your car cannot go any further." ”

"I know." After a simple reply, Bezkov turned to me and said, "Lida, let's get off here, it's not far away anyway." ”

I have been to this place many times, and naturally I know that Marx Square and the National Center for the Performing Arts are only about 200 meters apart, and it will not take me a few minutes to walk, so I nodded in agreement: "Okay, Colonel, let's get off here." ”

Bezikov turned the car around and drove into a parking space indicated by the traffic police. When we got out of the car, the truck in which Yushchenko and Dornikov were riding also stopped next to ours, and when I saw the fighters of the guard squad jumping out of the car like dumplings, I hurriedly called Yushchenko to the front and instructed him: "Captain Yushchenko, you stay here with the soldiers, and I can go in alone with Colonel Bezikov." ”

As we walked through the wide and empty streets, I couldn't help but ask Bezikov again: "Colonel, what are your plans for the future, do you intend to stay in Moscow forever?" ”

After hearing this, Bezkov sighed and said to me a little helplessly: "Leda, do you think I don't want to go to the front? It's easier to get promoted at the front than in the rear, you see, when I met you, you were still a lieutenant, but now you're a lieutenant general, and what about me? Until now he is still a colonel. ”

When I heard that Bezikov had plans to go to the front, I couldn't help but feel excited, and I thought that if he could go to my army group to serve as chief of staff. Or it would be better to become a division commander in the division below, so I began to persuade him side by side: "In this case, you can apply to your superiors, there is a shortage of commanders with rich combat experience everywhere, and I think your request will definitely be approved." ”

"It's useless. Lida. Bezikov waved his hand and said regretfully: "I have repeatedly proposed to Marshal Zhukov about going to the front, and even General Rokossovsky has said good things for me, hoping that I can become a brigade commander or deputy division commander under him, but Comrade Marshal resolutely disagrees." ”

From his words, I heard his true thoughts, that is, as long as Zhukov allowed it, he was still willing to go to the troops below to be a commander. Then an urgent thought came to me to talk to Zhukov later. Trying to get Bezikov to follow me to the 6th Army, it's always good to have one more familiar and trusted person by your side.

We unconsciously came to Marx Square, which is actually only a small open space of two or three hundred square meters, and there is a three-meter-high marble statue standing in the middle. At this moment, there were about a hundred officers and soldiers of the honor guard, lined up in a neat phalanx next to the statue, all standing straight like pine trees. And the front of Marx's head. There were only a dozen people standing in the sparse spot, and Stalin was standing at the forefront. He was reading aloud a manuscript in his hand, and behind him stood members of the Supreme Command or the Central Committee. And Bezikov and I were of low rank, and we could not stand side by side with the leaders standing in front, so we could only quietly stand at the back of the entire team.

The ceremony took place for a short time, and Stalin, after reading the script, turned around and said a few words to the leaders who participated in the ceremony. It was announced that today's celebration was over. After saying that, he was the first to leave, accompanied by Poskorebeshev.

With Stalin's departure, the guard of honor, also under the command of the officer, turned around and walked in the direction of Red Square with neat steps. And the leaders who participated in the celebration. After all the honor guards were gone, they also scattered in all directions, and each went back to his place of work.

Zhukov turned his head and saw me, and quickly beckoned to me, motioning for me to come to his side.

I walked quickly in front of Zhukov, stood up and raised my hand to salute him and Vasilevsky, who was standing next to me, and at the same time politely said: "Hello, Comrade Marshal, Comrade Chief of the General Staff!" ”

"Hello, Leda!" Vasilevsky asked amiably, "You just got off the train, right?" Are you tired, do you need to go back and rest first, what is the matter, we will talk about it tomorrow? ”

"Not tired, not tired at all, Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Although I was tired to death at the moment, I still slapped my face and said, "I don't know what your instructions are, I will listen to your orders." ”

Zhukov said angrily: "Follow me!" With that, he turned around and left. After walking two steps, he stopped, turned around and pointed at Bezkov and said, "Colonel, you come with me." ”

Although I don't understand the specific reason why Zhukov called Bezikov as well, he vaguely sensed that it might have something to do with me.

When I arrived at Zhukov's office, Zhukov sat me down with Bezzikov and said, "Lida, I think on your way here, Colonel Bezikov has already told you everything. Right? ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Hearing Zhukov's question, I quickly stood up and replied respectfully.

"Sit down and talk." Zhukov raised his hand and pressed it down, motioned for me to sit down, and then said: "According to Comrade Stalin's idea, he intends to leave the army and go to work in the localities. Specific positions can start with the leadership of the municipal Soviets, and depending on your future performance, you may be promoted to a higher position. ”

"But Marshal Zhukov and I thought," interjected Vasilevsky, who had come with us to the office, "that you are still fit for a position in the army." When he said this, his eyes looked at Zhukov, "We have come into contact with thousands of middle and high-ranking commanders, but the number of capable commanders like you is very limited. If you are transferred to a local job, it will be a huge loss for our army. It was on the basis of this consideration that Marshal Zhukov and I went to the Supreme Commander himself several times and repeatedly persuaded him, hoping that he would let you stay in the army and develop. ”

Although I knew that my appointment as commander of the 6th Army had come down without danger, my heart was still pounding when I heard Vasilevsky say what was going on.

Finally, when Vasilevsky finished speaking, Zhukov continued: "This time you go to the 6th Army to take up your post, and I plan to send you a few more deputies to assist you." lest after you go as a bare-bones commander, it will not be conducive to the development of the work. After a pause, he shouted at Bezikov: "Colonel Bezikov." ”

Hearing Zhukov call his name, Bezikov quickly got up from his seat, stood up straight like a flagpole, and waited for Zhukov to give orders. I only heard Zhukov say: "Colonel." Do you have any opinion on the decision to send you to the post of deputy chief of staff of the 6th Army after my study with Comrade Vasilevsky? ”

When Bezikov heard Zhukov say this, he was stunned for a moment, then a joyful expression appeared on his face, and he quickly shook his head desperately and said: "No, no opinion, Comrade Marshal." I am completely at your command. ”

Zhukov glanced at him, and then said slowly: "Since there is no opinion. Then hurry up and hand over the work in your hands, and prepare to follow Lida to the 6th Army to take office. ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Betzikov replied loudly: "As soon as I go back, I will carry out the handover." ”

I heard that Zhukov had arranged for Bezikov to take up the post of deputy chief of staff in my army group, and although I was a little surprised, I was more happy. Whoever is a leader does not want to have a few people around whom he can trust, and Bezikov happens to be such a person.

Didn't wait for me to speak. I heard Zhukov ask me: "Lida, I plan to transfer a troop." You have no problem with forming a new guard regiment for you, right? ”

"No opinion, Comrade Marshal." I originally planned to let Yushchenko be in charge of the formation of the guard regiment after arriving at the 6th Army, but I didn't expect Zhukov to think about this matter in advance and make arrangements for me. For this arrangement of his. I said gratefully, "Thank you, thank you!" ”

"The guard regiment has 1,200 people, all of them commanders and fighters from the Moscow garrison command and the militia of the city." Seeing that I did not object to his arrangement, Zhukov went on to brief me on the situation of the new guard regiment: "The commander of the regiment is your old subordinate Yushchenko, whose current rank is too low. Promote him to major. The deputy head of the regiment is also an acquaintance of yours,......"

When I heard Zhukov say that the deputy commander of the guard regiment was also an acquaintance of mine, I couldn't help but look at him with wide eyes, and said in my heart that I don't know many people in Moscow, and what kind of acquaintance has popped up somewhere.

When Zhukov saw my exaggerated expression, he couldn't help but laugh dumbly, and he didn't play dumb riddles with me, and said bluntly: "The deputy commander is Major Bukov of the garrison command. If I'm not mistaken, when you were in the 8th Guards Division, he was your guard battalion commander. In addition, the candidates for the battalion commander and company commander below are up to you. ”

Unexpectedly, when Zhukov formed the guard regiment, he actually arranged my original subordinates to come in, which shows his concern and love for me. For this kindness of his, I said with some emotion: "Thank you, Comrade Marshal, for everything you have done for me. ”

Before I could finish my sentence, he raised his hand to interrupt my next words and said, "Lida, there is no need to say words of gratitude. Your 6th Army will be deployed in the Prokhorovka area, where, according to your previous analysis, in the event of an attack by the Germans against us, they will bear the brunt of the attack. Whether you can stop the fierce offensive of the German army is up to you. If your troops collapse at the slightest touch, no matter how good my relationship with you is, I will not show mercy. ”

When I heard the name Prokhorovka from Zhukov's mouth, I couldn't help but be a little flustered, knowing that it was the main battlefield of the Battle of Kursk, and with the combat effectiveness of the 6th Army, whether it could withstand the fierce offensive of the German army, I really didn't know in my heart. However, when I heard Zhukov's next few words, my blood rushed to my head, and I said to Zhukov without hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, please rest assured, if my troops cannot hold the Prokhorovka region, I will take my pistol and shoot myself in the temple without you sending me to a military court." ”

"Leda, this joke of yours isn't funny at all." Perhaps my words were too serious, and the office fell silent. After a while, it was Vasilevsky who broke the awkward atmosphere with a smile and said jokingly: "When you were a division guarding the Mamayev post, you did not lose an inch of land under the repeated attacks of several German divisions. Now that you are several times stronger than you were then, and with the assistance of the Air Force, artillery and tank armies, don't you have the confidence to hold Prokhorovka? ”

"What, there are still tank armies near our defense zone ?!" When I heard that there were tank units in the friendly troops, I suddenly felt that I saw a glimmer of victory. Seeing Vasilevsky nodding in approval, he hurriedly asked: "I don't know who the commander of the tank army is?" Is it General Rebalco? ”

I ask this because I remember that at the Battle of Kursk, General Rybalko and his troops also made great achievements. Unexpectedly, after I asked, Vasilevsky shook his head and said, "No, not General Rybalko." His tank army group will be deployed in other areas. ”

When I heard that the commander of the tank army was not Rybalko, I couldn't help but feel a little lost in my heart, and secretly said that if it was a little-known tank commander, I didn't know whether it would be good to deal with it.

Just as I was suffering from gains and losses, I heard Zhukov say: "Lida, I think you seem to be quite disappointed, is it not that you have partnered with Rybalko before, and you think that no one else can do it except him?" ”

Zhukov's words were a bit heavy, and I hurriedly shook my head desperately to deny it: "No, Comrade Marshal, you misunderstood what I meant, I am not ......"

"Although it is not Rybalko, the commander of the tank army group is also an acquaintance of yours." Zhukov still didn't wait for me to finish, so he unceremoniously interrupted me, and said to himself: "General Katukov is also a good tank commander, with him in your defense area, are you still worried about the tanks that can't stop the German attack?" ”

Originally, when I heard Zhukov say again that the commander of the tank army was my acquaintance, I couldn't help but secretly slander myself in my heart: I have been running around in various battlefields all the year round, how can I have so many acquaintances. Who knew that when I heard Katukov's name, I was overjoyed, he was better than Rybalko, and with his tank army by my side, I could basically rest easy, even if I wanted to lose the battle, it would not be easy.

Perhaps I was overjoyed when I heard that the commander of the friendly forces with whom I was going to cooperate in the future was Katukov, and was teased by Vasilevsky: "Lida, when you heard just now that the commander of the tank army is not Rybalko, it was like a frosted eggplant; Now when I hear Katukov's name, I feel as excited as if I have picked up a wallet. ”

Zhukov glanced at me, shook his head with a smile, and said to Vasilevsky: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, you may not know that Lida used to fight side by side with Katukov when she was the commander of the 8th Guards Division, and also achieved a series of brilliant results. Now that she heard that she could work with Katukov again, she was not happy. (To be continued.) )