With Zhukov, a loyal general, and the 2 million main troops in his hands, Stalin felt safer.

In addition, Stalingrad is also a strategic location, which can be connected to the important cities of Kharkiv and Kiev in front, which can be regarded as a transportation artery.

At the same time, to the south is the Baku oil field, the most important oil-producing base of the Soviet Union, and there are no worries about energy.

Stalingrad itself is an industrial city, which can produce tanks such as the T-34, and can be regarded as a reliable logistics supply base.

At the same time, more than 1,000 kilometers to the east, it is Chelyabinsk, which is really not possible, and it can also retreat east and go back to Chelyabinsk.

Thinking of this, Stalin thought more and more that the decision to go to Stalingrad was a good idea.

He called his secretary, as well as the accompanying commander-in-chief of the convoy, General Vatutin: "Is there any problem with changing the itinerary and going south to Stalingrad?" ”

After hearing this question, Vatutin was stunned at first. Stalin's plan to retreat to Chelyabinsk had been drawn up long beforehand, and the change was a big deal.

"Comrade Stalin, the great leader, changing the itinerary at this time is prone to problems...... It's better to go to Chelyabinsk first and then make changes...... "Vatutin really didn't want Stalin to change his itinerary.

As a commander, he wants his troops to complete their tasks as planned, and he doesn't want to go into trouble.

In his opinion, Stalin's temporary change of march route was a big problem. On the one hand, changing the plan at short notice creates a loophole in the original arrangement, and on the other hand, changing the plan also means more variables.

Putting aside security reasons for the time being, it is just a temporary change of destination, and who can say whether the leader has been held hostage?

If the people on the Chelyabinsk side questioned this issue, and Stalin's side felt that the Chelyabinsk side had defected, and the two sides did not trust each other, then it would be called a complete end.

Therefore, Vatutin, a person who understood, hurriedly said to Stalin: "We change the path at will, and I am afraid that there will be some misunderstanding on the Chelyabinsk side." ”

"What misunderstanding?" Before Stalin could speak, Stalin's secretary asked with a frown.

Vatutin hurriedly explained: "We changed our path temporarily, and no one can prove whether the leader was held hostage by me or others, in case the other party questions this issue, we have no way to explain it......

"Why should they question it? I'm fine, right in Stalingrad, don't they believe it yet? Stalin frowned and asked rhetorically.

On weekdays, he moves one place and changes another place temporarily, and there is really no problem.

Because it was a time of peace, the control of the country was still there, and there was no war. But this is not the case now, and the Soviet Union is now in chaos.

Everywhere became out of control because of the war, and a large part of the country became a subjugated area. Changing the route of the leader in this case is indeed enough to cause concern.

"Comrade Stalin, if you insist, now we will stop at Vladimir...... Then we called Chelyabinsk and Moscow, explained the situation, got their confirmation, and then went to Stalingrad. Vatutin, with his chin held high, gave his advice.

He had already backed down, after all, he had no right to interfere with Stalin's decision. So he had ignored the impact of the temporary change of path on his escort work, hoping that it wouldn't cause even more trouble.

When Stalin heard this advice, he was very unhappy - he had not had this feeling of having to ask for instructions from both sides in order to act.

The last time I had to ask someone else to do anything else was when Comrade Lenin was still alive......

"Then stop here, wait for the two sides to finish reporting, and then go south!" It is much more reasonable for the secretary to do such a thing, standing beside Stalin, and opening his mouth to Vatutin, he instructed: "Comrade General, please hurry up and arrange it!" Tonight, we stayed in Vladimir! ”

Stalin waved his hand impatiently, motioned for Vatutin to go out first, and then looked at his secretary.

The secretary squeezed out a smile in embarrassment, and explained to himself that he was in charge of his own affairs: "You are surrounded by Vatutin's soldiers......

As he spoke, he looked at the door of the carriage and made sure that it was closed before he continued: "If something goes wrong, we will really become Vatutin's prisoners!" ”

Hearing what his confidant secretary said, Stalin furrowed his frown and said, "Hmph! He can't figure it out! ”

After all, Stalin's guards were the strongest combat power, and the cavalry and other troops led by Vatutin, in fact, were all peripheral security forces and could not enter the core.

But after all, these peripheral forces are outnumbered, and once chaos really breaks out, Stalin's situation will not be too good.

Thinking of this, Stalin felt that it would be safer to go to Zhukov, a trustworthy commander.

So, he looked at his secretary and said: "By the fastest way, inform Moscow and Chelyabinsk!" I'm going to Stalingrad! ”

Hearing what his immediate boss said, the secretary quickly nodded and said, "Obey!" Comrade Stalin, the great leader! I'll arrange it! ”

Eighty percent of these people who followed Stalin out of Moscow were people who relied on Stalin's snort. They are unlikely to be convicted of Stalin, but they are also philistines who do not have much assertive ability.

If these people were not philistine, then they would not have appeared after Stalin's death, when Khrushchev came to power, and then turned against Stalin and liquidated Stalin.

It was with this knowledge that Stalin was convinced that Vatutin would not blackmail him, the Son of Heaven, to order Zhukov and other princes.

The first is that Vatutin does not have that ability, and the second is that Germany will not give him this time.

While Stalin's convoy stopped moving in the Vladimir region, the Germans did not rest.

Guderian's armored vanguard, already advancing in the direction of Tula. Stalin's foresight that Ryazan was not chosen as a route of retreat became apparent, and the Germans were not far from Ryazan.

And Stalin, who fled, was still stopped not far from Moscow at this time, waiting for the announcement of the change of retreat route......