Steel Soviet Union

Everything depends on your own decision.

It is true that the words are true, but Malashenko hopes that what he hears at this moment is not these words.

"These artillery pieces are too few, Uncle Peter. Combined with what you just said about the German air force paying special attention to Mamayev Heights, I estimate that the actual artillery support we can get may not even be a base number. Moreover, the situation is not suitable for It would be too disadvantageous for our comrades.”

Looking down at the earth from thousands of miles of sky, the fire and smoke from the intensive firing of artillery positions is hard to find.

Malashenko is right. As long as those Luftwaffe pilots are not blind, the countdown minutes can even be used to calculate the removal of the artillery position on Mamayev Hill. Once the target is exposed by fire, there is almost no possibility of survival. .

Compared with Malashenko's helplessness, Commissar Petrov's indifferent expression seemed more tolerable.

"This is a war, Malashenko. If it is a war, there will be heavy casualties. The only difference is the actual cost of these heavy casualties."

"The death of a group of people may not help the reality. On the contrary, sometimes the death of one person can change the outcome of the war. You, me, our First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment of the Guards, the 62nd Army, the entire Stalin All the troops on the Gullah Front may die. Will all these great sacrifices be meaningful? No one knows until the results come, but what we have to do is to make these uncertain sacrifices meaningful."

"Even for the artillery comrades on Mamayev Hill, the truth is the same. The key always depends on your own decision."

Political Commissar Petrov’s words always brought Malashenko reflection and enlightenment, and many times they even contained puns and hidden meanings.

There are two kinds of death: lighter than a feather or heavier than a mountain. Although Commissar Petrov did not directly state it, his implicit words were obviously a hint to Malashenko.

To die a worthy death is not only a personal wish, but also the entire Soviet Red Army fighting to defend the motherland, including all the heroes fighting under the red flag.

It is impossible for Malashenko, who has been with Commissar Petrov for so long, not to understand Commissar Petrov's hints.

But some things are easier said than done. Malashenko has always been unwilling to be the kind of indirect executioner who cuts off the fate of others with his bare hands. Even if it is for "justice", he still wants to kill those poor people because of his orders. The artillerymen were still too reluctant to push into the fire pit.

But even if Malashenko does not call for artillery support, the artillery positions that will eventually launch artillery attacks on the industrial zone in the north of the city will not escape the fate of being destroyed. Moreover, without artillery support, the troops commanded by Malashenko will also be destroyed. The losses are even greater, even losing the position or even being annihilated is not impossible.

Uncertain answers, diverse choices

All of this makes this multiple-choice question before Malashenko extremely difficult to answer. Even though Political Commissar Petrov has hinted at Malashenko’s real answer, the thought that many people will be blamed for his Malashenko, who was determined to die and was almost certain to die, could not help but feel disappointed.

After a long time, Malashenko, who had remained silent, finally let out a long sigh.

"I'm so tired, Comrade Political Commissar, both physically and mentally."

"After Stalingrad is won, I may have to take a long vacation, if I really survive until then."

It takes a long process for a young heart and soul to truly grow, and Commissar Petrov is willing to be the guide and guide in this process. Commissar Petrov has always firmly believed that Malashenko deserves to do this.

"You will survive, return to Moscow with the honor of a hero, and share this honor and joy with all the people of that great city. Natalia will be proud of you."

"But before that, you still have your own mission to complete and protect this city!"

"Everyone will have intermittent moments of mental vulnerability. People's hearts always need a temporary haven to rest, and strong men are no exception. But now we need your persistence as the comrade leader, Malashenko, not yet. When you can calm down and rest.”

Poets who are often sentimental say that language is the only irreplaceable existence that human beings can survive and maintain firm faith in the long history of evolution. Being able to communicate with language allows people to have a bridge that can fill the gaps in each other's hearts and provide the comfort they need most when those close to them are feeling lost and most helpless.

Malashenko is neither sentimental nor a poet. He is just an ordinary person crawling around in the hellish city, constantly struggling to survive with his comrades from the pile of corpses. The honor of a hero is not a gold medal for immunity from death on the battlefield. Malashenko will die even if he is shot or shelled. This is the essence of an ordinary but legendary traveler from another world.

Fortunately, Malashenko has a group of most trustworthy comrades and comrades who unite around him and can provide him with the comfort that can save everything when his soul, which has been severely damaged by the war and has been bruised and bruised, needs it most.

The loss of people's hearts often comes unexpectedly in that unconscious moment, but it goes away quickly, and at this moment Malashenko can be sure that this process has already begun.

"I made you laugh again, Uncle Peter. For a moment, I even felt that I was too tired. Is this fate playing tricks on me?"

In front of Political Commissar Petrov, Malashenko told many lies out of good intentions and protection out of necessity, but it is certain that the childlike questions this time will not be included in them.

"There is no destiny, only a tomorrow that is fought for, Malashenko."

"If fate was doomed from the beginning, you and I wouldn't be sitting here. Those Nazis would have done what they wanted to do long ago. Everything within reach is used by generations of Red Army martyrs. The path we are taking is a path paved for us with their remains when they wanted to reach the witness but ended up falling halfway.”

"Do you know who told me these words?"

The sudden rhetorical question caught him off guard. The confused Malashenko shook his head subconsciously. How could Malashenko know who said these profound words?

Commissar Petrov's eyes looked deeply into the distance outside the tent as Malashenko shook his head. A smile that was somewhat gratifying and seemed to be recalling the past suddenly appeared on his face and he slowly spoke.

"The most fortunate thing for me is that we were all accompanied by our political commissar Comrade Malashenko when we were young."