And that's exactly what Shulka thought.

When Rear Admiral Vladimir heard that more than 200 amphibious landing ships that had already been built were going to be "misappropriated," his first reaction was to disagree.

"Comrade Sisoy!" Rear Admiral Vladimir said: "You know, this is a project of the Navy, and I have been tracking and urging you to complete it, and now you have finally completed part of it and you have been told that other troops need this batch of equipment and then there is nothing?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Vladimir!" Sisoy replied: "We are also carrying out orders!" ”

"What other force will need it more than our Navy?" Rear Admiral Vladimir angrily asked: "I wonder which force can snatch the amphibious landing ship from us?" ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Vladimir!" Sisoi replied, "I can't tell you more about it!" ”

"Comrade Sisoy!" Major General Vladimir said: "Do you know how big the impact is? You don't know how much this equipment will affect us, how much impact it will have on this campaign......"

"I really don't know!" With that, Sisoy hung up.

This made Major General Vladimir angry half to death.

What Major General Vladimir said was not alarmist, it turned out that the navy also had a naval plan, and they planned to land in Mariupol from the Sea of Azov to attack the German army's logistical supply lines to reduce the pressure on the Soviet army in Stalingrad and the Caucasus when the German army concentrated its strength in the Caucasus and Stalingrad.

To carry out landing operations, amphibious landing ships, of course, are needed.

But now the amphibious landing ship that has been waiting for a long time has been requisitioned by other troops before it is in place, how can this convince Major General Vladimir.

Rear Admiral Vladimir, who was out of breath, took a plane to Znamensk, the temporary foothold of the Ministry of Scientific Research, on the same day.

Sisoy politely received Major General Vladimir and said: "I am waiting for you, Major General Vladimir!" There are some things that I can't afford to answer you on the phone! ”

"What do you mean?" Major General Vladimir asked: "You mean...... There is hope for that batch of amphibious landing ships? ”

"On the contrary, Comrade Vladimir!" Sisoi shook his head: "I advise you to break off your thoughts in this regard, you can't go back to this batch of amphibious landing ships!" ”

"But these amphibious landing ships are ours and important to us......"

"This is an order from Moscow!" Sisoy directly interrupted Vladimir.

Vladimir choked at once, and then asked with difficulty: "Do they not know what the amphibious landing ship is used for?" ”

"It was Comrade Shulka who needed these amphibious landing ships, and it was he who invented the amphibious landing ships, what do you think?"

Major General Vladimir couldn't help but be stunned, and then couldn't help but scold: "It turns out that this guy is making trouble, is he going to use them in Stalingrad?" ”

Sisoy did not fail to answer, but it was equivalent to answering.

"It's classified, Comrade Vladimir!" "That's all I can tell you," Sisoy said, "and ...... The Navy also has to make a show, that is, you take over the amphibious landing ships and keep them in storage! ”

Major General Vladimir couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "This is Shulka's idea again!" He gave me a punch in the face, and he wanted me to tell him that the punch was good, the angle was right, and the force was just right! ”

Sisoy spread his hands, indicating that none of this had anything to do with him.

Major General Vladimir guessed correctly, these were indeed Shulka's ideas.

Originally, Golikov planned to put the amphibious landing ships into service as soon as he got them, but Shulka stopped them.

"We deserve greater good!" Shulka said.

"Of course we can!" Golikov said: "With these amphibious landing ships to transport supplies, we have the possibility of turning defeat into victory!" ”

"No, that's not what I'm talking about!" Shulka said: "I mean, the Germans did not know that we were capable of opening other supply lines!" ”

"What kind of benefit can this be?" Golikov said: "They will always know! But I think they will be surprised when they find that it is impossible to blockade Stalingrad at all! ”

He burst out laughing and said, "I really want to see their expressions when they hear this, it must be interesting!" ”

In this respect, Golikov, as the commander of an army group, was still unable to look at the problem objectively and rationally, and to a certain extent, he still wanted to see the enemy defeated from an emotional point of view.

It's human nature, and whoever sees an enemy disappointed, frustrated, and frustrated is at ease.

If you are a soldier or a mid- or lower-ranking officer, there is nothing wrong with such a performance.

But if he is a high-ranking military officer who directs the country, he should analyze the problem thoroughly and get the greatest benefit from it in the face of personal honor and disgrace, and even personal feelings.

Shulka was silent for a while, then said: "As soon as the Germans know that we have opened up several additional supply lines, and that these supply lines are difficult for them to intercept, they will consider attacking Stalingrad by other means or means!" ”

When Shulka said this, the others couldn't help but let out an "oh".

"You mean to say......" Major Akimovich replied, "we don't let the Germans know?" ”

"Yes!" Shulka said: "To be exact, try not to let the Germans know!" As a result, they will continue to concentrate their air power and artillery in the vicinity of Mamayev Hill to implement a blockade! We can provide them with some false targets, as a way of depleting their ammunition and energy, so that on the one hand we can protect our newly opened supply lines, and on the other hand, we can in turn increase the supply pressure on the Germans! When we've got some supplies......"

"We will be able to carry out a powerful counterattack against their artillery!" Golikov seemed to have finally understood Shulka's intentions.

"That's why I said I could get a greater benefit!" Shulka said: "Whatever the interest is, or how much, we should grasp it as much as possible, because it is important for the current Stalingrad!" ”

The officers nodded in agreement.

In any case, even if more than 200 amphibious landing ships are put into service, Stalingrad's supplies will still not be sufficient, so of course it is necessary to grasp every advantage as much as possible.

Then Golikov did not hesitate any longer: "Pass the order, block the news, arrange the amphibious landing ship for absolutely reliable troops!" ”