Burning Moscow

　　 Time flies so fast, I have been working in the operations department of the 54th Army for a week. In addition to sitting in the house and reading all kinds of battle reports, his daily work is occasionally sending Fejuninsky the latest battle reports for them when other staff members are too busy.

　　 At noon on March 17, I took the latest report to Feijuninsky.

The lieutenant on duty at the door of the office and I are already familiar with each other. When I saw a folder in my hand, I didn't get up. I just nodded at me and said softly, "Comrade Major, the commander is inside. Go in. "

　　 I smiled at him, walked to the door, knocked twice, then walked in with a twist.

　　 In addition to Fejuninsky, there was a round-faced commander sitting at the table. Because there is no fire in the room, the temperature is only slightly warmer than outside, so the collar of the unfamiliar commander's army coat is still tightly buttoned, and he can't see his rank at all, but according to my judgment, he is at least a general.

　　 Seeing me coming in, Feijuninski stood up from the table and asked with a smile: "Dear Major Oshanina, I don’t know what good news you brought to me today?"

　　 I replied with a wry smile: "It's a pity, Comrade General, I guess today's report will disappoint you." As I said that, I opened the folder, pulled out the report written on paper from it, and handed it to him.

　　 After the 301st Division occupied Kirishi, it has been engaged in repeated tug-of-wars with the German forces in several villages west of the city. Usually in the morning the Soviet army still occupied the village, and in the afternoon it was taken over by the German army. Even the information received this hour was that the Soviet army regained the village, and before the latest battle report was handed over to Fejuninsky, the village returned to the German hands.

　　 "Ivan Ivanovich," the unfamiliar commander said suddenly, calling Feyjuninski's real name and father's name affectionately, "Are you confident that you will continue to push the line of defense westward in the short term?"

Before Feijuninsky could speak, I answered him in my heart: "No. Without air supremacy and lack of sufficient technical equipment, with only a few heavy-equipped light infantry, I want to defeat the strong fortifications and A German army equipped with powerful firepower is absolutely impossible."

Feijuninsky threw the battle report on the table, stared at the map for a while, and then slowly said: "From the current situation, if the troops cannot be supplemented by personnel and technical equipment, they must continue to report to Liu. It’s impossible for the class to attack and move forward.” He picked up the red and blue pencils on the table, clicked on the names of Kirish and Liuban, and said unwillingly: “Although we and Liuban’s second assault The group armies are only 30 kilometers apart, but such a short distance may become an insurmountable moat."

　　 "You are too pessimistic, General Fejuninsky." The commander said in a stern tone, "You are a defeatist argument. You must know that the Red Army soldiers armed with Stalin's thought are invincible."

　　 When I heard this, I couldn't help but froze. Isn't this a famous saying that I have tampered with? Although I have said it on different occasions, with my reputation, I definitely won't let the general-level commanders in Leningrad's troops know it? !

　　 Feijuninski didn't answer, he glanced at me and said, "Major Oshanina, you are from the combat department. You have a better understanding of the situation. Tell me about your views."

　　 I glanced at the commander sitting next to me, then looked at Feijuninsky, and asked, "Can I tell the truth?"

　　 Feijuninski sat back in his seat and said impatiently: "Let you just tell me where there is so much nonsense. We need to listen to the truth in order to have an accurate judgment of the situation."

　　 "Yes." I promised and started to show off my limited military knowledge. "I agree with Comrade Commander's judgment that it is unwise to continue to fight the Germans in the current position."

　　 "To elaborate," the commander said.

I didn’t read the report in the Operation Office for nothing this week. At least I have a good understanding of the current situation of the enemy and ourselves, and I can say it very well: "My 54th Army and Volkhov Front are currently facing an elite German army. The heavy army group. In the areas occupied by them, there are solid fortifications and a complete defense system. The organization and preparation of our army's offensive is very hasty, lacking the necessary technical equipment and material supplies to support the offensive. The strong defense in the German army In front of the fortifications and the powerful firepower, even if our officers and fighters are brave and tenacious, they will still be slaughtered and crushed...."

　　 Having said that, I listened for a while and looked at the expressions of Feijuninsky and the commander. The commander murmured: "Go on." Feijuninsky nodded at me and motioned for me to continue. I went on to say: "...Once the offensive forces cannot conduct effective operations, then our offensive will not only fail to succeed, but will even cause the exhausted forces to be encircled by the Germans in the counterattack, or even divided and destroyed. The second assault. The group army’s anti-siege by the Germans in the Liuban area is an example. Although our army broke the German encirclement after fighting tenaciously and restored contact with the main force of the Volkhov front, the prospects are still not optimistic."

　　 "Major Oshanina, why are the prospects not optimistic? Let's listen." After listening to my analysis, Feijuninski did not make any comments, but just asked indifferently.

　　 "At present, the Volkhov Front can only send necessary supplies to the 2nd Assault Army through a narrow breach. Not only we know this, the German commander Leb..."

　　 "Comrade Major, von Leib has been dismissed by Hitler long ago, and Kücheler, who is currently taking over his position." The commander reminded him sullenly.

　　 When I heard the commander say this, I couldn't help but blush. I didn't think I would make such a low-level mistake. Even the name of the commander of the German Army Group North was wrong. "...The commander of the German army also knows that once he is replenished, he will be on both sides of the breach." Having said that, I pointed to the two place names on the map, "Spasskaya Poli in the east. In Sty and the Great Zamohiye to the west, the German army will use the advantages of personnel and technical equipment to rush towards the 52nd and 59th Army troops guarding the breakthrough. According to intelligence analysis, I boldly judge that facing the fierceness of the German army Our army is unable to withstand the offensive. At most two days, the German troops advancing from east to west may meet in the area west of Miasnoibor. This signifies that sterility has to pay a heavy price. The opening of the breach will be completely closed by the Germans, and the line of communication that the Assault 2nd Army depends on for survival and fighting will be cut off."

　　 After listening to my analysis, the commander and Fejuninsky did not speak, and both stood up, leaning on the edge of the table, head to head, carefully studying the map.

　　 The two focused on studying the map, and no one paid any attention to me, which made me extremely embarrassed. I was either left or staying.

　　 After a long time, the two men raised their heads and looked at each other. Then the commander asked Feijuninsky: "Comrade General, do you have a phone to talk to our headquarters directly?"

　　 "Yes," Feijuninsky said, pushing a black phone in front of him.

The commander picked up the microphone, dialed a number, and said to the operator inside: "Give me the Volkhov Front Command." Less than a minute later, the phone was connected, and he said into the microphone: "The staff Is it here? I’m Meletskov. Let him answer the phone.” Soon, I heard him say into the microphone again: “Chief of Staff, I’m at Feyjuninsky’s 54th Army Command. I ordered. You, immediately find out if there are any signs of mobilization of the German troops in Spasskayapolis and Veliky Zamohiye. As soon as there is a situation, immediately call Fejuninsky’s group army command. Report to me."

After putting down the microphone, Meretskov (I knew he was General Meretskov, the commander of the Volkhov Front only when he reported his name just now) paced around the room without a word. .

Feizuninsky looked at Meretskov, who was pacing in the room, and asked me quietly, "Major Oshanina, why are you so sure that the Germans will launch an offensive in the short term and cut off the 2nd Assault Army. Supply line?"

"Comrade Commander," I hurriedly replied: "This is all my analysis based on the battle report. For a long time in the future, the attack in the direction of Liuban will be the core of the Volkhov Front Army's offensive campaign. It will be the main attack force The 2nd Assault Army will inevitably become the priority target of the German army."

At this moment, the phone on the desk rang, and Meretskov walked over first, picked up the microphone, and said, "This is Meretskov." During the whole process of answering the phone, he didn't say a word. Said, but the face has become more and more ugly. From the change in his expression, I guess what I said just now was unfortunately said.

Meletskov put down the microphone, took out a cigarette from his coat pocket, took out a cigarette, and after a few puffs, he said in a slow, low tone: "Major Oshanina’s analysis is correct. According to investigations, In the two regions of Spasskayapolis and Velikiy Zamohiye, the German army has gradually increased its troops yesterday and today, at least two or three full divisions.” At this point, he put cigarettes in The ashtray on the table was wiped out, and then he stretched out his hand to me and said, "Hello, Comrade Major, let’s meet him formally. Kirill Afanasiyevich Meretskov~www .wuxiaspot.com~Commander of the Volkhov Front."

　　 I held his outstretched hand tightly and said, "It's nice to meet you, Comrade General. I am Lida Musdakova Oshanina, the staff officer of the 54th Army Combat Department."

　　Meretskov held my hand, turned his head and said to Fejuninsky: "Comrade Commander, leave Comrade Major to me. There is a shortage of grassroots commanders like her."

"Excuse me, Comrade Volkhov Front Commander." Fejuninsky said politely, but at the same time firmly, "The major works in the headquarters of the 54th Army. You can't dig into the wall so blatantly. ."

"Okay, okay, commander of the group army!" Meletskov smiled and said, "Let Major Oshanina work with you temporarily. Anyway, it won’t be long before she said she will be transferred to us. The front army went."

　　 "Why?" Feijuninsky helped me ask the question I wanted to ask.

"You don't know yet?" Meletskov's name to Fejuninsky changed from you to you. "General Vlasov, deputy commander of the Volkhov Front, called Oshanin by name. Major Na went to the 2nd Assault Army to assist him. The transfer order was issued through the Supreme Command, and you will probably see it soon."

　　 Supreme Commander? ! Hearing this word shocked me. No, I am a small major who is transferred to work. Is it worth disturbing Stalin and his elders?

　　 "Understood, Comrade General." After pondering for a while, Feizuninsky said: "I obey the order. When the transfer order arrives, I immediately send Major Oshanina to the Volkhov Front."