Steel Soviet Union

Malashenko walked out of the tent alone. There were still traces of tears on his clothes, but judging from the position of the traces, it was obvious that the tears were not Malashenko's.

"How is he, Kirill?"

Political Commissar Petrov's words seemed a little uncertain and mixed with a lot of worries. Malashenko, who breathed a sigh of relief, then answered.

"I cried a lot, and now I'm much better. I'm as helpless as a child."

Commissar Petrov smiled softly after hearing this. Kirill has always been a child in his heart, unchanged from the beginning.

"What are you going to do? Are you still taking him with you?"

Malashenko, who was taking a cigarette from his pocket, did not directly answer Commissar Petrov's question. Instead, he answered after the fire flashed and the clouds shrouded the room.

"Otherwise? Do you think I would be relieved if I put him somewhere else?"

Comrade Political Commissar smiled, and his words sounded more like a joke.

"Aren't you worried even if you keep it by my side?"

"You? Forget it, my comrade political commissar."

Malashenko, who held a cigarette between his fingertips, shook his head. The best way to respond to a joke is of course a joke.

"Kiril almost hates you. At this time, letting him follow me is the best choice. When you get busy, even the staff officers at the brigade headquarters have to be bossed around by you, and the chief of staff's job is almost overtaken by you. It’s all right, there’s still room for Kirill.”

The first half of Malashenko's words was a joke, but the second half was truthful. Political Commissar Petrov also knew that he would forget about everything when he got busy, and he really had no extra free time to take care of his little nephew.

"Take care of him, Malashenko. I owe Kirill a lot. Maybe I need you to help me repay part of it."

Political Commissar Petrov, who also lit a cigarette for himself, didn't seem to be joking. The two squatted at the door of the brigade tent and communicated with each other. The staff officers and other brigade staff who looked at this scene kept away from each other and were displeased. Go ahead and bother.

"I'm just like you. I also owe Kirill. To be precise, I owe him my life. If it weren't for me, Kirill wouldn't have been shot, and he hasn't fully recovered until now."

"Anyway, I'll leave Kirill to me. Just take him back when I leave later. By the way, have you received any new orders here? I mean from the Front Army Headquarters. ”

Seeing the change of conversation, Malashenko began to talk about business. Political Commissar Petrov, who indeed had new news to tell Malashenko, quietly spoke.

"We received a call from the Front Army Headquarters asking us to guard the town of Karachi and stay put to wait for follow-up orders. The leading troops of the friendly forces in the south are expected to arrive and join us at noon at the earliest.

"Once we unite our forces, we will completely attack the outer pocket of Stalingrad. Those Germans will not be able to fly out even if they have wings. The next thing is to pin Paulus, the wild dog, to death. In the city, completely annihilate the Sixth Army, and then our mission will be completed. "

Hearing the word "mission accomplished", Malashenko, who has experienced various hardships and hardships along the way, couldn't help but feel emotional.

"It's finally almost over. I've almost forgotten the concept of time. After this battle is over, I must take a leave to go back and have a good rest. If this continues, sooner or later I will be exhausted."

Malashenko does not often complain about these trivial things. More often, he is like a war machine that can never stop.

Now that he can say something like this, Political Commissar Petrov certainly knows that Malashenko is a sign that he is already very tired, but he still needs to add some fun.

"I remember you always said that you never get tired and are tireless. Now you are anxious to take a vacation. Do you miss Natalia?"

"Hey, this is disrespectful"

Political Commissar Petrov, who has been a bachelor all his life, is now teasing himself about women. Malashenko thinks that he may be far different from Comrade Comrade Political Commissar in other aspects, but how can he get along with women? Maybe lose to this old bachelor.

"If you have time, tell me I'd better find you a wife first. Natalia loves me so much, but you look like you're in need of love from women all day long."

"Are you mocking me for being an old bachelor?"

Malashenko's eyebrows twitched. At this moment, he had to fight harder and not admit defeat.

"Yes, you are right, what next?"

Political Commissar Petrov smiled and did not answer directly, but this smile seemed a bit sinister to Malashenko.

"Comrade Brigadier, maybe we should discuss your illegal drinking secretly a few days ago. We all know that drinking is absolutely prohibited during wartime. As the top military officer, you should take the lead."

"???"

Malashenko looked confused, and his face seemed to be filled with question marks.

"Wait, wasn't that what you allowed? Why am I secretly drinking again?"

"Huh? Did I allow it? I don't remember this happening. Comrade Brigadier, do you have any evidence? If he is a co-defendant who drank with you, he is not a witness. You know this."

Malashenko, who was about to draw out his best friend Lavrinenko to continue the argument, was choked back by the words of political commissar Petrov.

The sunny smile on Commissar Petrov’s face really made people speechless. Malashenko asked himself why he hadn’t noticed before that Commissar Petrov could tell big lies without changing his face. A master who doesn't jump.

"Okay, okay, I apologize, I admit defeat. Comrade Political Commissar, you are awesome! You really defeated me. Just don't let me write a review and read it to the soldiers. That is too embarrassing. I will definitely take more than half a year to complete the brigade." A meal joke.”

Malashenko raised his hands lightly in a gesture of surrender, but out of the corner of his eye, he accidentally noticed two people standing at the door of the tent, quietly looking at him and whispering to each other.

"Did you hear that? Comrade Brigade Commander secretly drank, and Comrade Political Commissar knew about it. This is big news!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down, aren't you afraid that Comrade Brigade Commander will hear you? What's wrong with drinking some wine when it's so cold? Didn't you secretly take out the hidden goods and have a small drink last night? This is too normal. "

"Hey, you two! What are you doing!?"

! ! !

Startled by the sudden roar of the Hedong Lion by the brigade commander, the two young staff officers from the brigade immediately ducked into the tent with their heads lowered, and disappeared without even daring to reply to Malashenko. Shadow.

"I knew these brats must be drinking secretly. I often see wine bottles thrown in the trash."

Political Commissar Petrov, who personally set the rule of not drinking during the war, didn't take it too seriously. His expression was as calm as usual.

"It's such a cold day. If it's really unrealistic not to let me drink a sip, just pretend you didn't see it like me."