Khrushchev sat us back at the table, while he walked alone around the command with his hands behind his back.

After walking back and forth a few times, he stopped, faced me and said: "Listen to me, Comrade Oshanina, after going through the ceremony just now, are you wondering in your heart that I, the military commissar of the Front Army, came from the east bank of the Volga River just to honor you?" ”

Khrushchev's words confused me, and I said in confusion: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't quite understand that even if the superiors want to award us a search for the results of our northward march, it is enough for the leaders of the army group to come forward, why should you risk your life to enter this dangerous city from the east coast?" ”

"Yes, I came this time, in addition to awarding honors, there are more important things." Khrushchev also did not go around in circles and said to me bluntly: "This time it is mainly for you." ”

"Coming for me?" When he said this, I was even more confused. I could not understand what was worthy of a leader of his size for a small division commander to cross the Volga and enter this precarious city at the risk of German bombardment and shelling.

"Yes, according to the will of the Supreme Commander himself, he intends to appoint you as the deputy commander of the 62nd Army to assist Chuikov in directing the defense of the city." While Khrushchev was stunned when he saw me, he added: "At the same time, you still hold the post of division commander of the Red Banner Independent Division. ”

The deputy commander of the 62nd Army, and the Supreme Commander himself, was personally mentioned, and I was immediately stunned by this unexpected appointment. How can I be virtuous? How did Stalin deserve such attention?

I stayed for a long time. Only then did he ask in confusion and excitement: "Comrade Military Commissar, what the hell is going on, I am confused by you." ”

"You will figure it out," said Khrushchev, who sat down in his position and continued: "After a long examination of you by the relevant departments, Comrade Stalin believes that according to your abilities, you are fully capable of taking up more important posts. ”

"Investigation, what investigation?" Khrushchev constantly put one riddle after another in front of me. It made me look a little overwhelmed, "But, Comrade Military Commissar, it seems that I have never been inspected by any superiors?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Oshanina." Khrushchev seemed to see that if he did not make his words clear, I would always be in a state of confusion, and only then began to explain to me: "From the moment you were demoted from major general to major in January of this year and transferred to the ice lifeline, the investigation of you began. "Maybe he was afraid that I would interrupt him, but he unconsciously sped up." When a higher-level leader examines a cadre, he will do so when necessary. Put a comrade in a different environment to exercise, investigate, and observe. Sometimes, you don't even know that it is a test of your superiors, and you think that you have been punished for some mistake. As everyone knows, in fact, your every move is in the investigation of the troops, and only after passing all the tests can you have the opportunity to go further. Some commanders, unknowingly, thought that their future was over, and began to give up on themselves, so they were quickly eliminated. And you, from the beginning of becoming an anti-aircraft artillery battalion commander on the ice transport line, whether it is the Battle of Lyuban, the Battle of the Sinianavino Salient, or to Stalingrad, staying in the 64th and 62nd armies, you have a good appearance. In particular, after commanding the newly formed independent division, he made countless outstanding feats from the crossing of the river valley to the Mamayev Height. ”

When Khrushchev said this, I finally understood the general idea, and when he stopped, I quickly interjected and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, but there are so many excellent commanders in the army, why did Comrade Stalin choose me?" ”

Perhaps the people present were trustworthy people, so Khrushchev did not have too many scruples when he spoke, "Before the outbreak of the war, we, the old Bolsheviks, believed that the enemy was all paper tigers, and even if they attacked us first, our heroic army would defeat them. But in reality? From the very beginning of the war, we were in a position of being passively beaten, and we had to retreat in the midst of continuous resistance, leading to the fall of a large part of the country.

The reason for this situation is very simple: In our army, there are very few commanders who really understand modern warfare, most of them are outdated and rigid in their tactical thinking, the troops' logistical support capabilities are weak, and the military and cultural qualities of commanders and fighters are very low. With roughly equal forces, it was difficult to deal with the armies of the client states, and even worse against the Germans. ”

When Khrushchev said this, everyone around him was silent. I know in my heart the reason for everyone's silence, these words are indeed too bold, and if I had to say it in another person, I guess he would soon be sent to a military court or imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"I've carefully studied every battle you've commanded." Seeing that no one spoke, Khrushchev continued: "When the other troops were on the defensive, they hid in trenches or fortifications, and if the Germans did not attack, they secretly rejoiced; When the Germans attacked, they would not take a step back even if they fought to the last man. But the troops you command are different, and if the enemy attacks, you are certainly resisting; However, when the enemy stopped attacking, you did not passively defend and let the troops stay in the fortifications, but adopted the method of night attack and carried out a non-stop attack on the enemy. This style of play of yours made the Germans, who had already mastered the regular style of play of our army, very unaccustomed to it, and as a result, they paid a heavy price for it. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, you are quite right." When Khrushchev stopped, Bandereev interjected in time: "I went north with her this time, and I learned her ingenious tactics...... and then he explained in detail to the commanders present the example of me setting up an ambush at the same place twice and crushing the superior German troops with a small number of troops.

After listening to Bantaireev's introduction, Kirillov asked in surprise: "Hell, comrade deputy division commander, why did you not give a detailed account of such a battle in the telegram sent to the division headquarters, but simply reported how many enemies were destroyed. How many weapons and ammunition were seized, and so on. "Speaking of which. He looked at me with adoring eyes. He said from the bottom of his heart: "If these two ambushes can be written into the textbooks of military schools, they will definitely become classic examples in the future." Think about it, comrade division commander, when every cadet of a military academy opens the textbook and sees this example, he will firmly remember your name. ”

"As for whether to write it or not, that's a matter for later." Khrushchev interrupted Kirillov and continued: "Comrade Oshanina, the reason why Comrade Stalin demoted you in the first place. It's because your promotion is too fast and your foundation is not solid. If you think about a recruit who has only been in the army for a few months, and suddenly becomes a general from an ordinary soldier, although he has been promoted because of many achievements, but those commanders who have been in the army for ten or twenty years and have a lower rank than you will not think so, they will think that you have been promoted through nepotism, and their dissatisfaction will affect a large number of people, so it will easily affect the morale of the army.

However, after observing and testing you for more than half a year, the Supreme Commander himself believes that you are fully capable of holding a higher-level command position. That's why he offered to put you in the post of deputy commander of the 62nd Army. ”

Although the name of the deputy commander is very large, I know it in my heart. In fact, the current real power is not comparable to that of me, the commander of an independent division, so after Khrushchev finished speaking, I cautiously asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, I can be the deputy commander of the group army, but I have a request, I don't know if you can agree?" ”

"What request, tell me?" Khrushchev asked curiously.

In fact, not only Khrushchev, but even Kirillov looked at me curiously, waiting for me to give the final answer.

I coughed lightly, cleared my throat, and said, "Comrade Military Commissar, at present, there are many numbers of troops in the city, and communication is not smooth, and my appointment cannot be communicated to them in the shortest possible time, so let me command them, and there may be a situation where the command cannot be moved. So I beg you to let me remain in the independent division, and when the time is right, cooperate with Commander Chuikov to command the troops in the city. ”

After listening to my request, Khrushchev readily agreed: "No problem, you are still holding the post of division commander of an independent division. Stay where you feel it's more advantageous. Now the nearest 13th Guards Division can be placed under your command. ”

I stood up, shook Khrushchev's hand and said gratefully: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Military Commissar. Please rest assured that I will live up to the trust placed in me by the Supreme Commander and in me. "When I said this, I was filled with emotion, a month ago, my independent division was under the command of the 13th Guards Division of General Rodimtsev, but I did not expect that now it has turned around and replaced me with the command of his troops.

"Major General Oshanina," Major General Valennikov, who had been silent, took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to me, while saying, "This is a letter of appointment for you." I didn't know when you would be able to return from the north, so I took up my post on November 1st. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, may I ask a question?" While I was reading the text, Kirillov pulled Khrushchev and asked in a low voice: "Is it okay?" ”

"Ask, Comrade Kirillov." Khrushchev and Kirillov were supposed to be acquaintances, and there seemed to be a lot of casualness between the two.

"Division Commander Oshanina personally led his troops to the north, I think you learned about it from Commander Chuikov's report a long time ago, right?" At this point in Kirillov's words, seeing that Khrushchev nodded in affirmation, he asked in confusion: "Then why did you call us every day and scold us, saying that we were making claims without asking for instructions?" ”

"Old man." From the conversation between the two, I heard that they were indeed acquaintances, "Comrade Stalin personally called to ask about Oshanina's whereabouts, do you think we can take it lightly?" If something happens to her in the middle of the battle, how can we explain it to the Supreme Commander himself? ”

"I see, I see." Kirillov finally came to his senses.

"Major Akhromeyev," I saw that Khrushchev had finished what he had to say, and hurriedly ordered Akhromeyev: "Go and call Razumeyeva and the others in." ”

Looking at the back of Akhromeyev leaving, Khrushchev suddenly asked another question that I was most reluctant to answer: "By the way, Comrade Oshanina, I heard that you are married and have a child. ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." I replied with a smile: "I was married before the war and have a son." ”

"Where are they now?"

I shook my head and replied in an uncertain tone, "I don't know. My husband, Oshanin, was seriously wounded during the defense of Moscow and was taken to a military hospital, but I have not heard from him since. As for the son, he was transferred with my mother from where he lived to Leningrad, and later from the city. Not long after the mother left the city, she fell ill and died, leaving her son wandering around. When Lyuban broke through, I met him unexpectedly and escaped from the encirclement with him. However, before the battle of the Bulge began, I handed him over to a wounded hygienist who had retreated, and there is no whereabouts for him today. ”

After listening to my family's message in one breath, Khrushchev let out a long sigh and said helplessly: "Comrade Oshanina, this is war. After a moment of silence, he said to himself, "My son Leonid has not written to me for a long time, and I don't know how he is doing now?" ”

Kirillov heard Khrushchev's words to himself, and quickly took over the conversation and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, you can call your son, with your current position, you have such a right. ”

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Khrushchev actually shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Kirillov, you also know how busy the communication lines are during the war, how can I occupy this precious line for my own personal affairs." ”

I knew in my heart Khrushchev's feelings for his son, otherwise he would not have knelt down to Stalin to intercede in order to save his son's life. Seeing that this was an opportunity to curry favor with him, I echoed Kirillov and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, Commissar Kirillov is right, you should call your son and ask him about his situation. However, not as a military commissar of the front army, but as a father's fate, he called his children, and I believe everyone can understand it. ”

My words silenced Khrushchev, but I could see that he was moved by my words, and after a short period of consideration, he finally nodded and said with some difficulty: "Well, since you all say so, then call him when I return to the east coast in the evening." (To be continued......)