Tokareva's words of determination moved both Chuikov and Gurov. The two looked at each other for a long time, neither of them spoke, as if they were expecting the other to convince Tokareva.

After all, he was not only the military commissar of the group army, but also the political commissar, and he belonged to all this political and ideological work. He stood up, walked up to Tokareva's side, and said kindly: "Comrade Tokareva, you also know that the current situation facing the army group is very bad, yes, very bad. A few days ago, the Germans had rushed to a place just a dozen meters away from the headquarters, and if Colonel Oshanina had not arrived in time with his troops, many of our commanders and fighters present might have died. In this case, we cannot and do not have the right to leave you in a dangerous place, because you are all future mothers, and the hopes of our country are pinned on you, and it is with this consideration that the command of the army group made such a decision. ”

"Commander, commissar—"

"Commander, political commissar, we are not afraid of sacrifice, we will stay by your side."

"Commander, commissar, let's stay."

I don't know when more than a dozen female soldiers poured into the headquarters, begging and begging, hoping that Chuikov and Gurov would regain their fame. Hearing that the headquarters was suddenly chaotic like a vegetable market, the eyes of Cui Kefu, who was still bitter, suddenly became sharp, he glanced left and right, and shouted sharply: "Quiet, calm down for me, don't forget jì, you are still a soldier!" As he shouted, the female soldiers fell silent and looked at him in awe.

After everyone stopped talking. He said emotionally, "Girls." I understand your feelings for the command. Actually, except for your safety. Another reason is that we are not able to use all the communication equipment now, and we are forced to switch to other more convenient means of communication, that is, portable radio stations. So, until I have prepared a place to work for the heavy snow communications equipment, I have to temporarily evacuate you all to the east coast. ”

As soon as Chuikov finished speaking, Gurov also hurriedly echoed and said: "It is not only you who want to withdraw to the east bank, but also the rest of the female commanders and fighters in the group army. At this, he paused for a moment. He glanced at me and continued, "Even though Colonel Oshanina is in the important position of commander of the independent division, she is also on the list of evacuees. After you withdraw to the east bank, you will be assigned to the confidential unit of the front headquarters to continue your work. ”

Listening to these words of Gurov, my heart suddenly cooled in half, although the rear organs are safer than the front line, but there is no chance to make meritorious contributions, in this era of relying on military merits for promotion, as long as I enter the rear organs, my future will stand still.

See Gurov finish speaking. The female soldiers did not react excessively, so Chuikov said half-comfortingly and half-perfunctory: "Comrades. Go to the east bank of the Volga with confidence. Rest well for a while, and when the shape of the city improves, I will let you come back immediately. ”

Hearing Chuikov's half-true promise, the female soldiers became excited, especially Tokareva, the representative elected by everyone, said in an excited tone: "Commander, are all what you said true?" ”

Chuikov nodded vigorously and said affirmatively: "Yes, I always count when I speak. ”

Tokareva was convinced of Chuikov's words, and she said in a pleading tone: "Commander, military commissar, on behalf of all the female fighters, I sincerely implore you that as soon as the working conditions are met, we must be allowed to return to the city and continue to work. ”

"No problem, Second Lieutenant Tokareva." Gurov patted his chest and assured the other party: "We will inform you to come back to work in time, after all, you are very familiar with work." But shouldn't you go back and pack your things and get ready to go? ”

A group of female soldiers raised their hands and gave a solemn military salute to Chuikov and Gurov, and then collectively turned back and walked towards the outside of the headquarters in a neat section.

When the female soldiers had left, Chuikov and Gurov turned to look at me, who was standing behind them without saying a word. "Comrade Oshanina, the order is clear, in order to ensure the safety of the female soldiers, the command of the army group, after study, decided to transfer all the female soldiers to the east bank of the Volga. After my study with Comrade Military Commissar, you will be responsible for this retreat, and when you reach the east bank, you will not come back for the time being, and I will try to ask Commander Yeremenko to arrange a good position for you. ”

"Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, can you change someone?" Although Chuikov's order had already been given, I still did not give up, and I tried to try to get him to change his mind: "You must know that I am now the commander of the independent division, and I am also shouldering the heavy responsibility of holding the heights of Mamayev Heights, and at such times, the independent division cannot do without me. ”

"You don't need to worry about the affairs of the independent division, when you are away, the work will naturally be in charge of the two people, Commissar Kirillov and Chief of Staff Akhromeyev." Chuikov ruthlessly shattered my illusions, "Although I also admit that you have strong command skills, women are not suitable on the battlefield, so you should go to work in the rear organs." After we reported this matter to the command of the Front, not only General Zhukov called to ask about it, but even General Rokossovsky called, and he wanted to poach you from me. ”

"Don't, Comrade Commander, I don't want to go anywhere except the 62nd Army now." I knew in my heart that if I really agreed to Rokossovsky's request, I would be able to enter his command with ease. But there are pros and cons to everything, and once I go to the new front, the credit I made in the defense of Stalingrad will be wiped out, and I will have to start from scratch, so I will not do such a stupid thing, so I tried my best to express my attitude to Chuikov, expressing my desire to remain in the 62nd Army. "Besides, I'm in the middle of the rebellion of the Eastern Battalion right now, and if I leave at this time, I'm afraid of complications."

When I said this, Chuikov really remembered the rebellion, and I reported it to him. And with the permission of the superiors. Hurriedly beckoned me to sit down. He asked sternly, "How's it going?" ”

I see that things seem to be turning around. Hurriedly reported to him, when I just said that I went behind enemy lines in disguise last night, and Karpov studied the details anyway. Gurov interrupted me and said to me in a reproachful tone: "Comrade Oshanina, you are the commander of an independent division, how can you take risks casually? Fortunately, this Karpov really wants to join us, and if you meet someone with ulterior motives, can you come back safely. It's all a problem. If something goes wrong, won't the independent division be a mess? ”

I laughed twice and said lightly: "Comrade Military Commissar, if I don't make this trip myself, how can I judge whether the other side really wants to surrender or fakely wants to surrender, I am not only responsible for the receiving troops sent out, but also cannot live up to the expectations of Comrade General Zhukov." ”

"What is General Zhukov's expectation?" Chuikov asked, puzzled.

"Comrade General believes that if this rebellion succeeds, it will not only severely demoralize the German troops who are attacking Stalingrad. And it is essential to continue to disintegrate the morale of the troops of those Eastern battalions. I hurriedly told him what I understood.

"How are Karpov's troops going to get out of the German siege anyway?" For this army, which is about to become its own people. Chuikov was also worried about their safety.

"Our division leaders initially had two plans to get out of the predicament, one was to let the Karpov battalion leave the camp at night, go east through the defense area of the German 113th Division, reach the Volga River, and after joining up with the receiving troops we sent, return to our camp along the river. The second is to let them quietly lurk in the rear of the German army while the German army is attacking our division's defense area, and when the enemy retreats, they will quickly cross the battlefield and join up with the receiving troops. ”

"No, no." After listening to our first two plans, Chuikov shook his head again and again and said: "The idea is good, but if we are not careful in implementation, maybe the Dongfang Battalion will not come out, but will take all the responding troops in." ”

In response to Chuikov's comment, I nodded approvingly and said: "Yes, Comrade Commander, these two plans are very imperfect, so when I discussed with Karpov last night, he proposed a better one. At this point, I deliberately paused for a moment to see if Chuikov was going to express his opinion, and when he saw that he was looking at me intently, he continued: "The captain said that there is a deep contradiction between the German army and the Italian army, and if the two sides can fight, then the enemy, in order to ensure the stability of the defensive line, will transfer a part of the German troops in the front line back to monitor the Italian army, and the vacated defense area may be transferred to the eastern battalion to guard it." As soon as they entered the front line, they could calmly leave the enemy's positions and swagger into our positions. ”

"The key is how to sow discord between the two armies?" Gurov asked thoughtfully, "We can't send a few men to their camp and speak ill of both sides, can we?" ”

"On the way back, the truck we were in passed by the Italian army camp, because it had only been raining for a short time, and the wheels of the truck accidentally splashed water on the Italian sentries as they ran over puddles. Seeing the enemy insulting from behind, I suddenly had an idea, asked the driver to turn the car back, and beat the Italian severely, I thought that this would be enough to provoke a conflict between the two sides. ”

"Well done. I didn't expect you to inadvertently achieve the goal of sowing contradictions between Germany and Italy. After hearing this, Chuikov complimented me, and just as I got carried away, he poured cold water on me: "Since the rebellion has almost gone on, then even if you are not there, I think Kirillov and Akhromeyev can do it well." ”

Seeing that Chuikov looked unwilling to send me to the east bank of the Volga River, I had the heart to seek death, and the defense of Stalingrad was less than two months away, and a full-scale counteroffensive was about to be launched. Thinking of this, I asked unwillingly: "Comrade commander, in fact, if you want to direct the retreat of the female soldiers, you can completely let the other female commanders be responsible?" ”

"Other female commanders? Who is it? Gurov asked curiously, "Do you have the right person?" ”

I nodded vigorously, stood up and said confidently: "For example, Comrade Li Jiya, the regimental political commissar of the 1078th Women's Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, is a very good candidate. ”

When Gurov heard me say this, the expression on his face suddenly darkened, and he sighed and said regretfully: "Comrade Li Jiya has died heroically in the air defense battle three days ago. ”

I sat down in my seat and secretly screamed in my heart: It's over, maybe it's because of Li Jiya's sacrifice that Cui Kefu and his wife have a heart of pity and pity, and issued an order for all female soldiers to withdraw to the east coast. Originally, if Li Jiya was still alive, I could still push the matter of directing the retreat to her, but now that she is sacrificed, it seems that I can't shirk it.

Seeing that I was sitting in a daze, Chuikov patted me on the shoulder and said: "You immediately return to the Mamayev post, hand over the work of the division to the political commissar Kirillov, and then rush to the dock to direct the retreat of the female soldiers." (To be continued......)