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In Novgorod, at the headquarters of the North-Western Front, General Kuznetsov clutched the telegram in his hand, stared at the map on the table, and was speechless.

The chief of staff, Lieutenant General Vatutin, looked at Kuznetsov with concern in his eyes, and he understood Kuznetsov's mood very well at this time.

The telegram in the hands of Admiral Kuznetsov came from the High Command in Moscow, asking about the results of the siege of the city of Pustoshka and whether the famous "Your Excellency Brother-in-law" would be killed or captured alive.

Vatutin felt that his fat body was already soaked with sweat, and he really did not know how to reply to the Supreme Command at this time, let alone how to reply to Comrade General Secretary.

In the space of three days, the tide of the battle took a shocking turn, and the Northwest Front not only did not take Pustoska, but was successfully counterattacked by the German army in Pustoska, and cooperated with the 16th Army in the west to break through the Stalin line in one fell swoop, completely annihilating the 21st Mechanized Army and the 16th Infantry Corps.

However, this was not the worst outcome, south of the city of Velikiye Luki, on the road leading to the central theater of operations, the air force's reconnaissance planes found a large number of German armored units heading north, and the target was obvious, Velikiye Luki, the logistics transit base of the 10th Mechanized Corps.

If the Germans captured Velikiye Luki, the retreat of the 10th Mechanized Army and the 22nd Army would be cut off, and they would be flanked by the 16th Army, which was charging from the west like a mountain, and it was likely that the whole army would be annihilated, and it would end up in the same fate as the 21st Mechanized Army.

Vatutin raised his head and looked at Kuznetsov with admiration.

Fortunately, there is this superior with a gentle personality and even a little weak in his opinion.

Before launching a second major assault on the city of Pustoska, Kuznetsov ordered him to draw up an alternate retreat plan. And closely monitor the movements of the German troops in the southern central theater of operations.

It was under Kuznetsov's orders that the Air Force intensified its patrols to the south, which made it possible to detect the German troops going north in time and to deploy troops in time to intercept the other side.

At present, the biggest problem facing the Northwest Front is to withdraw the 10th Mechanized Army and the 22nd Army in a timely manner. Break out of the encirclement that the Germans had closed halfway.

It was at this time that a telegram from the Supreme High Command was sent to the headquarters of the North-Western Front, and it was still paying attention to the long-defunct siege and annihilation of Pustoshkana.

If the Supreme Command, and the general secretary, who is absolutely unapproachable, learn about the current war situation, what will be the consequences・・・・・・

When Vatutin was thinking wildly, he suddenly heard Kuznetsov say: "According to the alternate withdrawal plan, order the 10th Mechanized Army and the 22nd Army to retreat to the front line of Velikiye Luki, and give the order now." Also, make another plan. In the event of the loss of Veliko Luki, let the 22nd Army and the 10th Mechanized Army build a defensive line south of Lake Ilmen in the rear, along the line from Staraya Rusa to Torropecs. ”

"How are we going to reply to this telegram from the High Command?" Vatutin asked.

"Write down the current situation of the war, as well as the deployment I have just made, on the telegram, including the losses we have suffered, and do not send it out after it is written. Wait for the 22nd Army and the 10th Mechanized Army to start the retreat operation. Kuznetsov said.

"Is that really good? When our general secretary finds out, he will definitely be very angry. Maybe it's like ・・・・・・・Pavlov・・・・・・" Vatutin said.

Vatutin's last sentence was so loud that Kuznetsov did not hear the whole thing, but guessed from the name Pavlov.

"Even if I was shot like Pavlov, I would rescue our troops, even if it was with heavy losses. in front of the interests of the country. Personal gains and losses are nothing. Kuznetsov said.

Kuznetsov's voice was flat, but Vatutin felt a surge of blood rush over his head.

For the sake of the country, this commander, who usually seems to be weak, can have the courage to bear the anger of the general secretary regardless of his own safety.

If you were to be yourself, would you have the courage to make the same decision as him?

Vatutin, with mixed feelings. Led the staff officers to begin working on a new plan.

4:30 p.m. on the same day, Moscow.

Stalin's gloomy face seemed to be dripping.

"It's been three days, and the battle report of the Northwest Front has not yet been sent, and I remember that the time limit given to the Northwest Front was two days. With such a small city as Pustoshka and no more than three divisions of the enemy, will it take so long to destroy these enemies? ”

Shaposhnikov smoked a cigarette with his head down, and Marshal Timoshenko touched his oily bald head, and likewise did not speak.

Vasilevsky knew that he could not snub the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, so he could only bite the bullet and reply to the general secretary with a constipated look on his face.

"The Germans will definitely resist desperately, and with that man, their will to fight and the strength of their resistance will grow exponentially, and the terrain in Pustoshka is easy to defend, but I am still convinced that the comrades of the North-Western Front will overcome the hardships and finally bring us good news, we will wait a little longer."

"Don't always stress about difficulties, a strong will of steel can overcome any difficulty. A telegram was sent to them this morning to inquire about the state of the war, and they have not yet replied to us. Stalin said.

"Comrade Kuznetsov's style of doing things has always been prudent, let's wait a little longer." Shaposhnikov said.

"At half past five, if they don't reply again, immediately send a telegram to the military council of the Northwest Front, asking them to tell us the current state of the battle." Stalin said.

In the dreary atmosphere brought by Stalin, the four of them discussed the battle situation while waiting for the war report.

At five twenty o'clock, Stalin rubbed his stomach and said to Vasilevsky: "I'll go to the restaurant for dinner first, and I'll be notified of any important news immediately." ”

Timoshenko accompanied Stalin to the restaurant for dinner, Shaposhnikov and Vasilevsky remained on duty.

No sooner had Stalin and Timoshenko disappeared than an intelligence staff officer sweated profusely over to Vasilevsky.

Seeing the expression of the staff officer, Vasilevsky intuitively felt that a tragedy was about to unfold.

After reading the telegram in his hand, Vasilevsky instantly became as sweaty as the staff officer.

Equally handing over the telegram to Shaposhnikov, Vasilevsky's greatest hope now is that Comrade General Secretary had better never return.

Shaposhnikov finished reading the telegram. Putting down the pipe in his hand, he said to Vasilevsky: "Something has happened, and it is necessary to tell Comrade General Secretary as soon as possible, and it must not be concealed."

"But ・・・・・・"

"Listen to me first, and when the general secretary comes back, remember to cooperate with me. We must minimize the anger of Comrade General Secretary. As for the North-Western Front, I really mistook Comrade Kuznetsov, who was originally an officer with a weak character and lack of decisiveness in my eyes, and I did not expect to give the order to retreat decisively and avoid even greater losses for the troops. His actions can be called heroic, and we must find a way to save him, at least to keep him from being shot. Shaposhnikov said.

"Okay, but let's resist the pressure of the General Secretary first. Then let's see how the general secretary feels. Vasilevsky said.

Although he verbally agreed to cooperate with Shaposhnikov, Vasilevsky had already sentenced Kuznetsov to death in his heart at this time, and Pavlov, who lost the battle, was Kuznetsov's best example.

Vasilevsky did not want Stalin to return, but Stalin eventually returned to the command.

"It's already 5:50, and has the telegram sent to the Military Council of the Northwest Front?" Stalin asked, smoking a pipe.

"Not yet."

Stalin glanced at Vasilevsky unhappily and felt that his power was greatly challenged.

"I told you to send them a telegram at 5:30."

"Comrade General Secretary, there is no longer such a need. This is a telegram just sent from the command of the North-Western Front, you can take a look. ”

Marshal Shaposhnikov handed the telegram to Stalin. With a cigarette butt in his right hand and a telegram in his left, Stalin read it with great interest.

In less than a minute, Vasilevsky saw Stalin's face turn from red to purple and from purple to black. It then reverts to a purplish-red color.

Stalin shook the telegram in his hand, glared at Vasilevsky and Shaposhnikov, and was about to roar, but in anger he choked on the smoke into his trachea and coughed violently.

Timoshenko hurriedly waved his hand and asked the staff officer next to him to pour a glass of water and handed it to Stalin. But he was violently beaten to the ground by Stalin.

"Incompetent, shameless." Stalin shook the telegram in his hand and roared.

"Can anyone tell me what happened in three days? The Stalin line was lost, and the enemy, who had been surrounded by our regiments, ran away and ate one of our mechanized armies and half of the Eleventh Army. ”

Glancing at the telegram, Stalin then shouted: "Where are they going to retreat if they want to abandon their existing positions and continue to retreat?" Siberia? Or the Bering Strait? Incompetent, a bunch of incompetent waste. ”

Shaposhnikov and Vasilevsky knew this would happen, so they could only keep their heads down and remain silent, allowing Stalin to vent their anger.

The entire command room was silent, except for Stalin's roar.

Three minutes later, Stalin's roaring still did not stop.

"Immediately send a telegram with my order for the NKVD troops to arrest Kuznetsov and immediately escort him to Moscow for trial by a military court." Stalin shouted.

Vasilevsky squinted at Shaposhnikov, thinking that Shaposhnikov would open his mouth to intercede for Kuznetsov, but heard Shaposhnikov say: "The general secretary is right, Kuznetsov must be removed from his post immediately." When he returns to Moscow, I will ask him face to face why a battle that is bound to be won is fought like this. Even if there is a trap, in the face of our absolute power, the enemies of the city of Pustoshka will not be able to escape. ”

"After the removal of Kuznetsov, who will replace him?" Marshal Timoshenko asked.

Stalin was so angry that he couldn't think of how to answer Timoshenko's question.

Shaposhnikov said: "It is better to have the Chief of Staff Comrade Vatutin, the situation facing the North-Western Front at the moment is very dangerous and needs a person familiar with the situation of the war to command, and it is only fitting for him to succeed Kuznetsov." ”

"That's him, from the base camp reserves, drop another army group to the Northwest Front, so that Comrade Vatutin must stabilize the situation, and the Germans must not be allowed to move forward." Stalin said.

"I give the order at once, but we must remind Comrades Vatutin and Zhukov that they can no longer fall into the trap of the Germans, as Comrade Kuznetsov did." Vasilevsky said.

"What trap? What's the matter with Zhukov? Stalin asked.

The approving and smiling on Shaposhnikov's face flickered, and he asked: "Do you think there is a trap here?" ”

"Yes, you think, after the Germans pushed back the Western Front to the Smolensk line, they secretly sent troops north twice in succession, the first time was the 1st Panzer Army, we were defenseless, let the enemy copy behind the Northwestern Front, we launched a counteroffensive, and this led to the Battle of Pstoshka. However, the German fascists went so far as to send the 3rd Panzer Army to attack Velikiye Luki in a roundabout way, intending to use the same tactics to cut off the retreat of the 22nd Army and the 10th Mechanized Army, but fortunately, the comrades of the North-Western Front were prepared to fail to allow the enemy's trick to succeed, but they still inflicted heavy losses on the North-Western Front, and we must prevent the enemy from using the same means against the Western Front again. Vasilevsky said.

"You mean that the enemy's armored forces will go south and outflank the rear of the Western Front in a roundabout way?" Stalin asked.

"Yes, according to the telegram of the North-Western Front, they will retreat south of Lake Ilmen to continue their defense, so that their line of defense protrudes to the east, and the enemy will most likely turn south from here to attack the flank of the Western Front, and then cut off their connection with the rear." Vasilevsky said.

"What you say makes sense, I think we must strengthen the Northwest Front by one more army group to protect the headquarters of the two fronts, so as to block the German south." Timoshenko said.

"Transfer the 27th and 34th armies, and then inform Comrade Zhukov that you must pay close attention to your right flank and not be surrounded by German troops." Stalin said.

"Also, give Marshal Budyonny an order to advance Operation Guillotine to August 5, and he still has half a month to prepare." Stalin said.

Half an hour later, Stalin left the General Staff.

Looking at the roof, Timoshenko said depressedly: "In less than a month, the commanders of the two fronts were sent to a military court・・・・・・

"Comrade Kuznetsov, unlike Pavlov, he will not die." Shaposhnikov said.

"Even if he is not shot, it is enough to say that we are forced to change the commanders of the two fronts in less than a month." Timoshenko said.

"Then try to let the same tragedy happen to the Germans." Shaposhnikov said.

[It's about to be 515, I hope to continue to hit the 515 red envelope list, and the red envelope rain will be able to give back to readers and promotional works on May 15. A piece is also love, and it must be better! (To be continued.) )