Red Moscow

After a field visit, Zhukov agreed more with Rokossovsky's battle plan. When several people returned to the headquarters of the 48th Army, he called Sokov in front of him.

"Misha, I want to ask you." Zhukov asked blankly, "How do we send such a giant tank to the other side of the swamp?"

"This is easy to handle." Sokov explained: "We can let engineers drive stakes in the swamp, and then set up logs on the stakes, and the tanks can drive to the other side of the swamp through the logs."

"What about the infantry?" Zhukov continued to ask: "I just took a look. Some areas are still easy to trap people. I am worried that some soldiers will be swallowed by the swamp when the troops attack."

"Comrade Marshal, I have considered this too." Sokov took the special straw sandals from the table beside him and said to Zhukov: "These are galoshes made by the soldiers themselves, also known as swamp sleds. They are on the outside of the boots. Wearing these overshoes with a wide profile can prevent you from getting stuck in the mud as much as possible after entering the swamp."

"Also," Sokov said without waiting for Zhukov to ask again, "I plan to let the soldiers prepare some door panels or rafts to transport our machine guns, mortars and small-caliber artillery..."

After hearing this, Rokossovsky showed a knowing smile on his face. He turned to Zhukov and said, "Comrade Marshal, although Misha has only been in office for one day, he has considered all the issues that should be considered."

"That's right, Misha is very thoughtful." After echoing Rokossovsky's opinion, Zhukov said with a smile: "Koschka, this time you appointed Misha as the commander of the 48th Army. I think you're doing exactly the right thing."

After Zhukov and Rokossovsky had lunch at the headquarters, they praised Sokov a few more words before leaving the 48th Army headquarters by car.

Seeing Zhukov and Rokossovsky leave, Pugachev wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a sigh of relief: "Thank God, they finally left. You know, even if Marshal Zhukov didn't speak, he just went there One stop can form a deterrent to people."

"Comrades, let's all go back to the war room." Sokov knew the battle plan he had proposed. Regardless of the approval of Rokossovsky, it was also approved by Zhukov today. Next, I had to carry out various preparations intensively, so I called everyone back to the headquarters for a meeting: "I think we need to study what we should do next."

Besides, after Zhukov and Rokossovsky left Sokov's defense zone, Rokossovsky tentatively asked Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, where do you plan to go next?"

Zhukov, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes after hearing Rokossovsky's question and said, "I originally wanted to go to the Ukrainian First Front Army to meet Marshal Konev, but now it seems unnecessary. I You need to fly back to Moscow immediately, hand over your battle plan to Antonov, and study with him how to convince the Supreme Commander himself."

Hearing that Zhukov was going to the airport, Rokossovsky immediately told the driver: "Turn around and go to the airport."

The day after Zhukov was sent away, Rokossovsky received a call from Zhukov from Moscow. The marshal's content on the phone was very simple: "Koschka, immediately hand over the work in your hands to Malinin, and then rush to Moscow."

When Rokossovsky heard that Zhukov asked him to go to Moscow, he guessed that it was related to his combat plan in seven out of ten, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, is it related to that plan?"

"That's right." Zhukov said affirmatively: "This battle plan will be discussed at the meeting of the Supreme Command tomorrow. As the planner, you should appear at the scene and explain the plan to everyone in person."

"Okay, Comrade Marshal." I confirmed that I went to Moscow this time to lobby the people of the Supreme Command and persuade them to make my own battle plan: "I will fly to Moscow in half an hour."

"I will send someone to wait for you at the airport." After Zhukov finished speaking, he hung up the phone directly.

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Rokossovsky called Malinin to him after putting down the phone, "I just received a call from Marshal Zhukov who told me to go to Moscow immediately. During my absence , you will be responsible for the daily affairs in the army. If you can’t handle it, call me again.”

"Comrade Commander," Malinin asked nervously when he heard that Rokossovsky was going to Moscow immediately, "is it related to our battle plan?"

"Yes," Rokossovsky nodded, and said in an affirmative tone: "Tomorrow the combat plan will be discussed at the meeting of the Supreme Command, and I need to rush to the scene to explain the work."

Rokossovsky's plane had just landed at the military airport in the east of Moscow when a black car parked beside the runway started, and after following the plane for a certain distance, it stopped firmly. Next to the spinning plane.

As soon as the car stopped, a major general got out of the car and stood by the car to watch the door of the plane open. The pilot lowered the gangway, and then Rokossovsky got off the plane along the gangway.

"Comrade General," the major general walked around the black car and walked towards Rokossovsky, and said with a smile on his face, "I was ordered to pick you up."

After Rokossovsky saw the person coming, he couldn't help being taken aback, and then exclaimed: "Yakov, why is it you?"

Yakov, Stalin's eldest son, opened his arms to Rokossovsky: "Comrade General, isn't it me? I heard that you are coming to Moscow today. Marshal Zhukov specially ordered me to pick you up."

After Rokossovsky stepped forward and hugged Yakov, he got into the car parked beside him without saying much.

After getting in the car, Yakov closed the door and told the driver: "Drive, go to the Kremlin!"

After the car started, Rokossovsky asked curiously, "Yakov, when did you become a general?"

Yakov chuckled, and replied, "Naturally, I was officially awarded the rank of major general not long after I returned from Misha's army. I was promoted so quickly, and I couldn't do without Misha's help."

"By the way, Yakov, aren't you in the weapons and equipment department?" Rokossovsky was a little curious. The Supreme Command had a meeting. Why did Yakov, a weapon and equipment man, come out to join in the fun?

"Comrade General, I am no longer in the Weapons and Equipment Department." Yakov replied, "I was transferred to the General Staff last week as an assistant to the Chief of Operations, General Shtemenko."

After hearing about Yakov's new position, Rokossovsky immediately understood why Zhukov sent him to pick him up. After a pause, he tentatively asked: "Yakov, so you have read our battle plan?"

"Yes, Comrade General, I have indeed seen it."

"After you read it, what do you think?"

Yakov was silent for a moment, and then said: "How should I put it, this battle plan is quite bold. Although the chance of success is very high, the chance of passing it at the meeting is not high."

Rokossovsky couldn't figure out whether this was Yakov's personal opinion or the general staff's opinion, so he tentatively asked, "Is this the general staff's opinion?"

Yakov heard what Rokossovsky said, and he said with a wry smile: "Comrade General, I am just a newcomer in the General Staff. No right to speak. I can't make sense, it must mean the General Staff."

Hearing Yakov's words, Rokossovsky immediately realized why Zhukov hurriedly urged him to come to Moscow. When he was emotional, he wanted to personally persuade the group of people in the General Staff to agree to his battle plan. , and helped himself to persuade Stalin to adopt the plan.

"Is Comrade Antonov in the Kremlin now?"

"Yes," Yakov nodded, and replied, "Nowadays, the General Staff is located in the Kremlin. If you want to find someone, you can find them there."

The car arrived at the entrance of the Kremlin. The guards at the door stopped the car. After checking everyone's ID, they said to Rokossovsky, "Comrade General, please hand over your weapons."

Rokossovsky often went in and out of the Kremlin, so he naturally understood the rules here. Hearing what the guard said, he immediately took out his gun without hesitation and handed it to the other party.

The guard took Rokossovsky's pistol, and after copying down the gun number, he tore off the record paper in half and handed it to Rokossovsky: "Comrade general, when you come out, use this paper to collect your with a gun."

The car stopped outside the building where the General Staff Headquarters was located. After getting out of the car, Yakov came to the back and opened the door of Rokossovsky, and said politely: "Comrade general, please follow me, I will take You go see the Chief of Staff."

Yakov led Rokossovsky to a room with a long conference table and more than twenty exquisitely crafted chairs in the middle of the room. There were more than a dozen generals inside, but none of them sat in their respective positions, but gathered around one end of the conference table, discussing something in a low voice.

Yakov came to Antonov, raised his hand to salute, and reported: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I have brought General Rokossovsky!"

"Comrade General," Antonov immediately stopped what he was doing when he heard that Rokossovsky was coming, and stood up straight and shook hands with Rokossovsky: "Welcome to Moscow! "

Then Shtemenko, Ivanov and others also stepped forward to shake hands with Rokossovsky to welcome him.

After the simple greetings, Rokossovsky began to get down to business. He looked at Antonov and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you read my battle plan?"

"Yes, General Rokossovsky." Antonov nodded, pointed to the generals around the table, and said, "Not only have I seen your battle plan, everyone present Seen."

From the expressions of everyone, Rokossovsky felt that the people present might not agree with his bold battle plan. But out of caution, he still asked cautiously: "So, you all don't agree with my plan?"

After Antonov glanced over the generals present, he looked at Rokossovsky and said: "According to the results of our discussions, we feel that the landing field on the Dnieper River controlled by the Third Army is the Undoubtedly it would be most appropriate to carry out the assault from the Rogachev area."

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Seeing that the other party denied his battle plan without hesitation, Rokossovsky was dissatisfied, but he could not get angry casually. He could only patiently explain to Antonov: "Don't you know that in the direction you imagined, the German army has a complete defense system and has deployed heavy troops for defense. If we attack from this direction, it is very likely that we will pay huge casualties."

"General Rokossovsky," said Deputy Chief of Staff Ivanov, "I think no matter how much you pay for the liberation of our country, it is worth it."

"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff," although Rokossovsky knew in his heart that the deputy chief of staff who spoke in front of him had long been marginalized because he had offended Stalin, but out of politeness, he patiently addressed the other party. Explanation: "We are not afraid of bloodshed and sacrifice, but at the same time we have to consider whether it is worthwhile. Knowing that attacking from this direction, our army will pay a huge price, and insisting on an unrealistic attack plan is a disservice to commanders and fighters. life is not responsible.”

"The slogan of victory with 'less bloodshed' was criticized by superiors as an incorrect slogan that led the army to hope for an easy victory after the arduous Finnish campaign," Ivanov said to Luo with a serious expression. Kosovsky said: "Comrade General, how can you, as a commander of the front army, have such a wrong idea?"

After Ivanov finished speaking, before Rokossovsky had time to refute, Shtemenko opened his mouth to defend him: "Comrade Ivanov, our army did have this kind of reference before, but it was Facts have proved to be wrong. As far as I know, General Sokov, who has achieved great results, often emphasizes the greatest victory with the least casualties. As for whether his formulation is correct or wrong, I think I Needless to say, everyone can know it.”

"General Sokov's situation is a special case, not for reference." Antonov said: "If we blindly emphasize the need to reduce unnecessary casualties, I am afraid that the commanders will worry about the excessive casualties of the troops. The situation of passive avoidance of war. Therefore, I think it is undoubtedly the best choice to attack the Belarusian German army from the area controlled by the 3rd Army."

Rokossovsky did not expect that the plan he had carefully formulated would be opposed by the General Staff. If you can't pass this level, even if you discuss it at the meeting of the Supreme Command, you may not be able to escape the fate of being rejected. He took a deep breath and said to Antonov: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, don't you really plan to think over my plan carefully?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade General, I don't think it's necessary." Antonov said to Rokossovsky apologetically, "Your plan is too bold. I will not agree to implement it. Therefore, I will give you a piece of advice. After you go back, it is best to make a new plan and choose the area where the 3rd Army is located as the main direction of our army's attack."