The delegation led by Molotov left for the United States on April 5. We first took a two-day and two-night train to Yekaterinburg, which is located on the Eurasian dividing line, where we changed planes and flew to Alaska, and after flying to Seattle, we rested for a day and flew to Washington in the early morning of the 9th.

Because the comfort of airplanes in this era could not be compared with later generations, when the plane landed at the military airport in Washington, I was on the plane for several days. I felt like I was about to be blown apart.

After the plane stopped and lowered the gangway, a round-faced old man with glasses greeted him with a group of people. After General Khrulev's introduction, I learned that this smiling old man was actually the Soviet ambassador to the United States, Maxim. Litvinov.

After warmly shaking hands with everyone, Litvinov guided Molotov to the side of a limousine and personally opened the door for him. After Molotov got into the car, he followed.

Khrulev and I sat in a car behind them, and after the car started, I couldn't help but ask Khrulev curiously: "Comrade Minister, how long has this Comrade Litvinov been ambassador to the United States?" ”

Khrulev pondered for a moment and replied: "After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, Comrade Stalin appointed Litvinov as the representative of foreign affairs, as well as the ambassador of the USSR to the United States. In 1942, after he became ambassador, he signed the Lend-Lease Treaty with the United States, and he was needed to assist us in our work when we were talking about military aid with the United States. ”

After listening to Khrulev's introduction to Litvinov, I shifted the topic to Molotov. I glanced at the driver in the front row, approached Khrulev, and asked in a low voice: "Do you think we can complete this mission?" ”

"I don't think it's much of a problem." Khrulev said confidently: "Although you are responsible for discussing the opening of the second battlefield this time, Comrade Molotov has already laid the groundwork for you. Back last year. When he met with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House, he held talks on the occasional opening of a second theater of war. At the meeting, he said: "The question of the second battlefield is both a military and a political issue, but it is primarily a political issue. Through negotiations, the two sides also signed an agreement on the second battlefield. ”

I looked at the tall buildings on both sides of the street and the crowds of people coming and going on the street. He continued to ask, "Where are we going, is it the embassy in the United States?" ”

Khrulev looked out the window, then shook his head and said: "I have been to Washington once before, and from the route, it does not look like going to the embassy, but a bit like the road to the White House. ”

When I went to the White House, Khrulev's words could not help but make me shudder, and I thought that I would have to rest for at least a day or two before returning to see Roosevelt. I didn't expect to get off the plane and go straight to the White House. But I was still skeptical, and asked half-convinced: "Comrade Secretary, if you really want to see President Roosevelt, you should have met the man he sent to pick us up at the airport." I paused for a moment, then added, "In Comrade Molotov's capacity, at least Secretary of State Hull needs to receive him." ”

Khrulev, apparently much more experienced in this area than I am, said lightly: "Comrade Oshanina. Don't be in a hurry, according to my analysis. The U.S. side also doesn't want too many people to know about our visit, so the people who welcome us will wait at the door of the White House, and maybe not only Hull, but even Hopkins. ”

I thought that Khrulev was just guessing, but I didn't expect to wait until our motorcade arrived at the door, outside the White House. He was really received by Hull and Hopkins.

A few minutes later, as Roosevelt and I sat around the same round table in the White House conference room, I thought I was dreaming. I pinched my leg hard, and the huge pain made me realize that I had really come to the White House in the United States. And not dreaming.

There were quite a few people sitting around the round table, in addition to President Roosevelt, Secretary of State Hull, and Hopkins, as well as Secretary of War Stimson and Chief of Staff General Marshall. On our side, only Molotov, Khrulev and I were standing, and behind us, there was a translator assigned to us by the American side.

"Mr. President, first of all, I would like to express my gratitude to you and your country for supporting us in the fight against the German fascist aggressors for a long time, and to hand over to you the letter of Comrade Stalin." Molotov stood up as he spoke, walked up to Roosevelt, and handed Roosevelt a thick envelope.

Roosevelt took the letter, flipped it in his hand, put it on the table without looking at it, and then said to Molotov with a smile: "Mr. Molotov, I think what Generalissimo Stalin's letter talks about should have something to do with when and where we open up a second battlefield, right?" ”

To Roosevelt's speculation, replied in the affirmative: "Yes, Mr. President." If Britain and the United States can open up a second battlefield as soon as possible, we will be able to defeat the Germans at an early date and change the pattern of the whole world. ”

"Mr. Molotov, you have said before that opening up a second battlefield is a military issue," Roosevelt asked, leaning back on the back of his wheelchair and raising his eyebrows slightly, "Is it you who are here to discuss this issue with us on behalf of the Soviet military?" ”

"Mr. President," Molotov said politely, "the person in charge of negotiating with the military of your country this time was personally chosen by Comrade Stalin. After speaking, he pointed to me and introduced Roosevelt, "This is Lieutenant General Oshanina, and she will be fully responsible for discussing the second battlefield with your military." ”

Roosevelt's gaze followed Molotov's finger toward me, and when he met mine, he smiled at me, a flash of curiosity in his eyes. Then he said in a calm tone: "Mr. Molotov, I have a suggestion, would you like to hear it?" ”

"Mr. President, please speak." Molotov said politely.

"It's a time of war, and some things can't be taken as they are in peacetime." Roosevelt said unhurriedly: "I know that you have come this time with a special mission, and in order to achieve the purpose of your mission as soon as possible, I propose to conduct decentralized negotiations to improve the efficiency of each other." ”

"Negotiate separately?" After Molotov heard Roosevelt say this, he couldn't help but glance back at me and Khrulev, and then turned his head to the other party: "I don't know how to talk about it?" ”

Roosevelt kept a smile on his face and said: "You have come for the purpose of normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries, and you can talk to Secretary of State Mr. Hull about this; General Khrulev, on the other hand, came for the purpose of the Lend-Lease Act, which was the responsibility of the Minister of War, Mr. Stimson; As for the opening of the second battlefield, General Oshanina and General Marshall will be invited to the war hall to discuss in detail. I don't know what you think? ”

Roosevelt's intention was to keep the three of us apart and negotiate on three sides at the same time. Molotov thought about his suggestion for a while, and readily agreed.

I followed Marshall out of the conference room and prepared to go to the war room in the war room. In order to prevent a language barrier, the US side has specially assigned me a personal interpreter.

When we walked out of the White House and got into the car parked outside, I asked Marshall, "Mr. General, are we going to the Pentagon next?" ”

After listening to the translator's paraphrase, Marshall looked at me blankly and said, "General Oshanina, I may be about to disappoint you. The Pentagon, the future office building of our War Department, was completed at the beginning of the year and is currently undergoing interior renovations, and it will not be possible to move in until June at the earliest. ”

When I heard that I couldn't go to the Pentagon, I couldn't help but feel a little lost, but I still asked unwillingly: "Then where is the war hall where we are going?" ”

"The offices of our War Department are scattered in many places because of space problems." When I asked about the location, Marshall said helplessly: "For example, the National Mall, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia all have our offices. But we're going to the War Hall on the National Mall, not far from here, a few minutes away. You can see the famous Washington Monument from the window, and many buildings that have been famous for a long time. ”

After saying this, he suddenly stopped talking, just looked ahead silently, as if he was thinking about something important.

I looked at the chief of staff of the US military from the side and thought with interest that the reason why the United States only has a five-star general and does not have the rank of marshal is related to Marshall. Because the pronunciation of "marshal" in English is very close to "Marshall", if he is awarded the rank of marshal, others will call him "Marshall Marshall", so in order to avoid such an embarrassing title, the United States does not set up a marshal but only the rank of five-star general.

We got out of the car and entered a building, through a long hallway, to a wide war room. It was also the people inside who already knew that we were coming, and they all stood at the door waiting for us.

The people who greeted us were almost all school officers, and the generals who occasionally appeared in my field of vision were only at the brigadier level. I felt a little more at ease, and as long as there were no officers with a higher rank than me, I would not be too nervous in the next negotiations.

When I finally walked into the war room after shaking hands with the generals and colonels at the door who had been introduced by Marshall, I was surprised to find that there was another general standing with his back to the door. Looking at his broad back and big bald head without a military cap, I suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.

As I took a few tentative steps forward, the general slowly turned around and looked me up and down with a defiant gaze. Seeing that familiar face, and the three stars on his collar badge representing the rank of lieutenant general, my heart couldn't help but beat faster. I took a deep breath, tried to control my situation, and reached out to him while politely saying in English, "Hello, General Patton, it's a pleasure to see you here!" (To be continued......)