By the time Colonel Henry took me back to the embassy, it was already completely dark.

When I walked into the hall, I saw Litvinov talking to the staff in the hall. When he saw me enter the door, he quickly sped up and said a few words to the staff, then left the other party and walked towards me. At the same time, he greeted politely: "Comrade Oshanina, you are back!" ”

It was quite awkward to hear someone call me a general or commander for a day, and suddenly hear someone call me comrade. After a moment of distraction, I hurriedly nodded at Litvinov and said in a friendly voice: "Yes, Comrade Ambassador, I am back." ”

Without waiting for me to ask anything, he took the initiative to say: "Molotov and Khrulev are in the room, and they have told me that if they see you coming back, they will invite you to Molotov's room." ”

I smiled and thanked Litvinov, and then walked through the hall and up the stairs towards Molotov's room.

When I walked outside Molotov's room, I saw two tall security officers standing in the doorway, both of whom I knew, and just as I was about to speak, one of them had turned around and knocked lightly on the door twice. When a voice came from inside, he pushed the door open a crack and poked him in, and I heard him soberly say: "Comrade People's Commissar, General Oshanina has arrived!" ”

Then Molotov's stern voice came from the room: "Please let her in!" ”

The security officer agreed, and while retracting his head, he pushed the door a little wider, and at the same time turned to me politely and said, "General, Comrade People's Commissar is waiting for you inside." Please come in! ”

I smiled and nodded to the security guards and walked into the room. As soon as I entered, the security guards gently closed the door. I walked quickly to Molotov and Khrulev, who were sitting on the sofa. He raised his hand and saluted the two of them and said, "Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Logistics, I am back." ”

Molotov looked up at me and asked with an indifferent expression: "Did you get anything out of going to Norfolk Naval Base today?" ”

"Yes, Comrade People's Commissar," I don't know why. I always feel a little unsure in my heart when I stand in front of Molotov, perhaps because he, the People's Commissar, is the equivalent of a marshal in the army. And it made me feel a sense of awe. Hearing him ask me about the harvest of the trip, I told the truth from beginning to end how I saw the destroyer Eldridge slide sideways, and of course the conversation between Henry and Ellman that I overheard later. I deliberately kept it a secret. Because I don't want anyone to know that I know English, or I'll get into a lot of trouble.

After I finished reporting on my trip to Norfolk Naval Base for today, I stood quietly in place, waiting for Molotov's next instructions. After listening to what I said, Khrulev turned to Molotov sideways and said: "Comrade People's Commissar, Oshanina's harvest today is really not small, if we can really adopt the method of lateral sliding of ships into the water, we can build large ships in some small shipyards." to compensate for the ships lost by our Navy in the war. ”

"Well, that's true." Molotov's construction of ships. Obviously, he also had a certain understanding, and after listening to Khrulev's words, he said casually: "Those small shipyards can only build some fishing boats, and if the ships needed by the navy can also be built in this way, then the ships lost by the navy can be quickly replaced." ”

I didn't even glance at me when I saw Molotov talking, and I guess it was time for me to leave again, as usual, so I asked carefully: "Comrade People's Commissar, allow me to leave?" ”

Molotov didn't speak, just waved his hand at me, signaling that I could leave.

Just as I was about to turn around and walk outside, I heard Khrulev's voice coming from behind: "Comrade Oshanina, please wait a moment. ”

I didn't know why Khrulev stopped me, so I quickly put my raised leg down again, turned to look at him, and waited for further instructions from him. But he turned to Molotov and said: "Comrade People's Commissar, I think there are some things that Comrade Oshanina should know, after all, she came to the United States with us and undertook an important mission. ”

After hearing Khrulev's words, Molotov got up from the sofa, stared at me for a long time, and then gritted his back molars and said to Khrulev: "Comrade Minister, maybe you are right. If that's the case, show her the results of your negotiations today. With that, he reached out and pointed to the empty couch next to him, and said in a commanding tone, "Sit down." ”

I sat down on the sofa he had assigned and took the document that Khrulev handed me. When I opened the folder and saw its contents, I couldn't help but be taken aback, because Khrulev showed me a list of supplies provided by the American side to assist the Soviet Union.

In addition to the tanks, airplanes, anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank guns, transport vehicles, oil and other materials that I know, there are also reconnaissance vehicles, field telephones, underwater and submarine cables, aluminum, tin, lead, molybdenum, nickel, copper and other metals, tank armor plates and various steels, petroleum products, various industrial machines, rubber and leather, and various food and drugs. On this extensive list, there are as many as 72 varieties of supplies that the United States wants to provide to the Soviet Union every month, which is far beyond my belief.

When I put the folder on the coffee table in front of me, I couldn't help but say with emotion: "I really didn't expect the United States to help us with so many things." ”

Khrulev took the folder away from me and said: "Yes, the amount of American aid to us is far greater than we originally thought. Only an industrialized country like the United States can provide us with so many supplies, and if we change to other countries, even if we can take out one-fifth of the materials, it will be enough to drag down their national strength. ”

After listening to this, Molotov said with some impatience: "Don't look at the fact that the Americans have given us so many supplies, but they are not given in vain. The $9.8 billion in foreign debt they lent us will need to be repaid in installments after the war is over. ……”

"Comrade People's Commissar," Khrulev interjected, "in the memorandum of the meeting of the previous two days. Didn't the US side say that the $10.9 billion lent to us suddenly decreased by $1.1 billion? ”

"What 10.9 billion? Obviously, it is only 9.8 billion. Molotov's tone became increasingly impatient: "In 1941, they came to the aid of the British with the weapons and supplies they gave us. It was said that it was given away for free, but in the negotiations two days ago, someone actually proposed that these things should also be costed. For this unjustified increase of 1.1 billion dollars, we, the Soviet Fatherland, resolutely do not recognize it. ”

"But, Comrade People's Commissar." I was taken aback at Molotov's apparent reluctance, while Khrulev was blunt about his scruples: "You and I both know that the Allies officially entered the war at the end of 1941. First of all, we provided assistance to our navy, and Britain and the United States provided a total of 200 torpedo boats, which improved the coastal defense and combat capability of our navy. The maximum speed of these torpedo boats reached 41 knots. Armed with two torpedo tubes and a 20-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun. These torpedo boats are worth a lot of money. ”

"Comrade Minister, I draw your attention." Molotov retorted very unceremoniously to Khrulev: "Don't forget, the United States also provided us with 60 small hunting submarines. But. These hunting submarines because there is no search system. At the moment it can only be used by our Navy for coastal patrols. It's such completely unreliable equipment, and it's even embarrassing to collect money from us. ”

Seeing that the two had a dispute over the matter of American aid, I was really embarrassed to sit next to me, because in my identity, I did not have myself as a peacemaker between the two, so I could only remain silent, watching coldly from the side, and at the same time still speculating in my heart after I left every time before. Are the two arguing as they are now?

Finally, after the argument between the two men had come to an end, I cautiously asked, "Comrade People's Commissar." I don't know if President Roosevelt mentioned in front of you that the Allies would open a second battlefield in due course. ”

Molotov's expression softened when he heard what I said, and he said: "At a meeting with President Roosevelt today, he mentioned this to me, saying that since you provided them with excellent ideas for drawing up the landing plan, the time to be responsible for the plan would be greatly shortened. In a week at most, I think the latest landing plan will be officially announced. ”

Hearing Molotov say that the Normandy landing plan could not be introduced until a week at the earliest, he couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. But on second thought, a week is indeed a very fast time for such a huge landing plan. Although my final version of the landing plan was approved by General Marshall and Sir Morgan, because of the importance of the plan, they must have repeatedly verified some details when formulating the plan, so it naturally took a long time.

Molotov waved his hand at me again and said, "Comrade Oshanina, you must be very tired after running such a long distance today, so it's better to go back and rest early." ”

I stood up, saluted the two of them, and turned to leave. When I got to the door, I suddenly remembered something, so I stopped, turned my head and asked Molotov: "Comrade People's Commissar, I wonder how long our delegation can stay in the United States?" ”

To my sudden question, Molotov's face showed a puzzled expression, and he asked puzzledly: "Comrade Oshanina, what are you asking about this?" Do you have anything else important to do in the United States? ”

Hearing Molotov's suspicious question, I immediately felt a sense of foreboding in my heart, and understood that if I did not give a convincing reason, perhaps the first thing I would do when I returned to Moscow would be to be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for examination. So, with some flustery, I replied: "That's so, Comrade People's Commissar. Before I became a member of your delegation, I was ordered to join a friendly delegation to the United States, which was responsible for telling the American people how our military and civilians were fighting the fascist aggressors, and calling on Britain and the United States to open a second battlefield as soon as possible. By the date, that delegation was almost time to arrive. ”

This reason made Molotov's expression lighten again, and he said disapprerovitically: "Comrade Oshanina, you have played a far greater role in my delegation than in that friendly delegation. In that regiment, even if you talk wildly, you will not attract the attention of American politicians, and the military will not do anything. And this time, as a representative of the base camp, you went directly to negotiate with the US military to open up a second battlefield, and the effect was not quite obvious. At least they did not shirk the prevarication as before, but seriously studied and formulated the landing plan. ”

"That's right," Khrulev echoed as soon as Molotov finished speaking: "Comrade Oshanina, Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs has already reported to the Supreme Commander himself in a telegram about your performance during this trip. As far as I know, he is very satisfied with your excellent performance. As for when we will return to China, it all depends on the outcome of our upcoming talks with the US side. ”

Knowing that I couldn't get any more useful information from the two of them after staying, I saluted them again, opened the door and walked out.

Back in my room, I couldn't help but think about it again. I never had a second chance to see Roosevelt on the day I came, except for a face-to-face with Roosevelt. If I couldn't see him again, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to befriend Mrs. Roosevelt, and I couldn't just go to the White House and find First Lady Eleanor. Roosevelt then said to her: "I am your admirer, from the Soviet Union, thousands of miles away, and I want to win your friendship." "If I do that, I guess I'll be deported the next day and then court-martialed. It's okay to be sent to the Gulag, maybe the Ministry of Internal Affairs will shoot me directly.

While I was thinking about it, there was a knock at the door, and I thought it was the embassy staff who had come to deliver something, so I got up and walked over and opened the door. As soon as I opened the door, I was surprised to see that it was Litvinov standing at the door.

He looked at me with a smile and asked, "General, can I go in?" ”

"Please come in, Comrade Ambassador." As I spoke, I turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation into the room.

After seeing him walk to the table and pull out a chair and sit down, I closed the door and asked with a smile: "Comrade Ambassador, I don't know if you came to me so late, is there something wrong?" ”

When Litvinov heard my question, a smile appeared on his face, and he said unhurriedly: "Comrade Oshanina, I came to you because there is a person who has taken a keen interest in you and wants to meet you at the right time, so let me ask you if you have any wishes in this regard." (To be continued.) )

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