I thought that my superiors would have to wait at least ten days and a half months before sending us a new deputy commander. Who knew that I would receive a call from Vatujin in the afternoon. He said to me with a smile on the phone: "Comrade Oshanina, after my discussion with Marshal Zhukov, in order not to affect the next battle, it has been decided to immediately send a new deputy commander to your Sixth Guards Army. ”

"That's wonderful, Comrade General." I was overjoyed to hear that a new deputy commander would soon take office. I hurriedly asked: "I don't know what the name of the new deputy commander is, what rank he is, where he has been before?" "I asked this series of questions because several division commanders stationed in the south of the city would soon be promoted to generals, and if the new deputy commander was of the same rank as them and had little seniority, it would be difficult for them to be convinced.

Unexpectedly, Vatutin listened to my question and actually sold me a pass: "Comrade Oshanina, this new deputy commander is also an excellent old commander, his name, I won't say it for the time being, and you will be able to see him in the evening." Probably afraid that I would have any scruples, he specially added, "As far as I know, the new deputy commander and you are also old acquaintances, and I believe that you will cooperate happily in the next battle!" ”

As soon as I put down the phone, Kirillov asked curiously: "Lida, what does Comrade Vatutin say, who is he going to send to be the deputy commander of our army group?" ”

I shook my head and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know who the new deputy commander is now. Comrade General said that we would know when he came to report in the evening. Moreover, when the new deputy commander was an acquaintance of mine, I really couldn't remember which commander I was familiar with would be sent by my superiors as my deputy. ”

"The commander you are familiar with is also qualified for the post of deputy commander?" When Kirillov heard me say this, he frowned and thought for a while, and then said thoughtfully: "Could it be General Chuikov?" His words just came out. He immediately shook his head and denied his guess, "No, definitely not." Chuikov is now the commander of the Eighth Guards Army, and he has not made any mistakes, how can he come to us as a deputy. ”

Since it was not Chuikov, we then went on to help Bezikov. Several possible candidates for the post of deputy commander were speculated. After guessing for a long time, it turned out that the people I guessed were either not of enough level or qualifications, and there were even many people I didn't know at all. I finally waved my hand and said, "Forget it, don't guess." When the new deputy commander arrives in the evening, we will know who he is. ”

To welcome the new deputy commander, before dark. I summoned all four commanders of the Guards Division to the headquarters. Hearing that a new deputy commander was coming, in addition to Rodimtsev, the other three division commanders all gathered around Bezikov and asked curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't know who the new deputy commander is?" ”

As for the question of several people, after looking at me, Bezkov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly: "Comrade division commander. You want to know who the new deputy commander is, and I want to know too. But so far. Even Comrade Commander doesn't know, let alone me. ”

Seeing Bezikov's embarrassed expression, I hurriedly came out to play a round for him and said: "Okay, comrades division commanders, everyone should be restless, who will be our deputy commander." It won't be long before the answer will be revealed, and maybe it's someone everyone knows. "At this point, I changed the subject and asked rhetorically." How did you do with the mission I assigned to you this morning? ”

Hearing my question, the three division commanders were immediately speechless. Seeing that the three of them didn't speak, I glared at me and said dissatisfiedly: "When you accepted the task in the morning, didn't you all express your determination to me, saying that you could complete the task today?" Why are you dumb and don't speak now? I casually pointed at Seryukin, "Colonel Seryukin, first report on the completion of your division." ”

Seryukin, whose name I called, said with a sad face: "Comrade commander, in the morning, let us go and clear the mines in the defense zone. Originally, I thought that the Germans could lay as many mines as they could, seven or eight hundred. According to the report of the commander of the engineer company, there are at least so many mines in our defense area. ”

When my eyes turned to Askarepov, he hurriedly replied: "Comrade commander, the situation with our 77th Guards Division is similar. Thanks to the efforts of the engineer company, almost a thousand mines were cleared from the front of the position. ”

"We're in a similar situation." As soon as Askarepov finished speaking, Chernov also said: "Fortunately, you let us clear the nearby minefield, otherwise when we advance south, we don't know how many unnecessary sacrifices will be caused." ”

"Can any of you tell me when the demining will be over?" If it weren't for the fact that Danilov encountered a mine in the morning, I would not have thought of asking several division commanders to remove all the mines inside and outside the defense zone. Although I had guessed that the Germans had left behind a lot of mines, I did not expect that there were so many of them.

"Three days, Comrade Commander." Seryugin stretched out three fingers and said to me: "If you give me three days, I will definitely be able to clear all the mines inside and outside the defense zone." ”

Although I can't remember exactly what day the Voronezh Front launched its attack on Kharkov, it would definitely not be earlier than the 10th of this month, so after hesitating for a moment, I agreed very simply: "Okay, three comrades of the division commanders, I will give you another three days, and after three days, you must clear all the mines in the defense area." Do you understand? ”

"Understood!" The three division commanders replied neatly.

After waiting for the three division commanders to finish speaking, Rodimtsev cautiously asked: "Comrade commander, I wonder when the new deputy commander will arrive?" ”

"Soon, soon, Comrade General." I was very respectful to Rodimtsev, the former superior, "Maybe wait another half an hour or less, and they will be there." ”

I was supposed to casually talk about Rodimtsev, but not long after I finished saying this, the head of the guard regiment, Yushchenko, ran into the command headquarters out of breath and reported to me: "Report to Comrade Commander, several jeeps have come outside, it seems to be from the headquarters of the Front. ”

"It should be the deputy commander who has arrived." As soon as I listened to Yushchenko's report, I made such a judgment. Then he waved at everyone, "Let's go, let's all go out to meet the new deputy commander." ”

We left the headquarters and walked a short distance along the trench when I saw a group of people approaching us. With the help of the bright moonlight, I can see clearly the one who walks in front. It was actually Comrade Khrushchev, the military commissar of the front, who hurriedly quickened his pace. When I walked four or five steps away from him, I stopped, raised my hand and saluted him first, and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar, welcome to our Sixth Guards Army!" ”

When Khrushchev shook hands with me, he smiled and said: "Lida, I have two things to do today. One is to send your new deputy commander; The second is ......"

He had just finished talking about the first intention. I couldn't wait to interrupt him and anxiously asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know where the new deputy commander is?" ”

Seeing that I was in such a hurry, Khrushchev couldn't help but smile and shook his head, and said: "Well, since you are in such a hurry, I will first let you meet the new deputy commander." With that, he leaned to the side. Leaning back against the dirt wall, he turned his head to a commander behind him. "Please come up, Comrade General, and come and say hello to your new partner, Comrade Oshanina."

I stared at the person who was standing behind Khrushchev in amazement, walked up to me with a smile, raised my hand to salute me first, and said: "Hello. General Oshanina, I didn't expect us to meet again. ”

I hesitated for a long time before reaching out to take the other man's hand, shaking it vigorously and saying, "Hello, General Chistyakov." I really didn't expect it. Your superiors actually sent you to the post of deputy commander. "When I said this, I obviously felt that I was not confident enough, and if he had not had been in a car accident two months ago, I would not have been the commander of the Sixth Guards Army. Now that the original commander has returned to the army, he can only be aggrieved to be a deputy commander, which makes me feel extremely embarrassed.

After Kirillov, who was following me, shook hands with Khrushchev and Chistyakov in turn, Khrushchev spoke first: "Okay, everyone knows each other, stop standing at the door, if there is anything, let's go in and talk about it." ”

Everyone returned to the headquarters, and then I asked Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, you just said outside that you are here today to do two things, one is to send our deputy commander Comrade Chistyakov to his post, I don't know what the other thing is?" ”

When Khrushchev heard my question, he couldn't help laughing, he turned his head to look at Chistyakov and said: "Comrade Chistyakov, as soon as Lida saw you, she couldn't care about anything. Now that I'm back at Command, I can't wait to see what else I'm trying to do. ”

After smiling cooperatively, Chistyakov said to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, Comrade Oshanina and I are old acquaintances, we had a relationship between superiors and subordinates as early as the 8th Guards Division, and later in the defense of Stalingrad, we also had two dealings. Now that I'm back working under her, I'm very happy. As for her gaffe on the outside just now, it may have been caused by reuniting with my old comrade-in-arms. ”

Khrushchev waited for Chistyakov to finish speaking, then turned his face to my side again, and then said: "Lida, I know that you are eager to know my other intentions, so I will not sell it, but tell you directly." Before the assault on Belgorod, Marshal Zhukov promised you that if your troops performed well in this offensive, then after the battle was over, you would be promoted to the rank of three division commanders under you. Isn't that the thing? ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, there is such a thing." When I heard Khrushchev ask this, I understood in my heart that the promotion of Seryukin and the three of them to general was already a certainty.

Khrushchev stood up and shouted outside: "Someone! ”

As he shouted, an officer walked in from outside, carrying small suitcases in both hands, one of which was still carrying two suitcases. He walked over to the table, placed the small suitcase on the table, took two steps back, and stood aside.

Khrushchev turned to the three division commanders under me and said: "Three division commanders, according to your heroic performance in this battle, Marshal Zhukov officially awarded you the rank of major general after reporting to the Supreme High Command for permission!" After speaking, he opened the box on the top, held it in his hand, and named the name of the first person: "Comrade Seryukin!" ”

Colonel Seryukin, commander of the 89th Guards Division, no, now it is Major General Seryukin. Hurriedly took two steps forward, walked in front of Khrushchev, raised his chin high, straightened his waist, and waited for Khrushchev's next order.

Khrushchev handed him the suitcase in his hand and said: "Major General Seryukin, I congratulate you on obtaining a higher rank, and I hope that you will continue to show a heroic and tenacious style in future battles......"

Seryukin saluted first, took the suitcase in his hand, and at the same time replied loudly: "Serve the Soviet Motherland!" ”

Then Khrushchev conferred the rank of major general on the commanders of the 77th and 90th Guards Divisions, and handed them a small suitcase containing a brand-new uniform.

After completing the simple promotion ceremony, Khrushchev explained to us why his superiors sent Chistyakov to serve as deputy commander: "...... Comrade commanders, the resume of General Chistyakov, I will not repeat it here. I would like to tell you that the reason why his superiors appointed him as the deputy commander of the Sixth Guards Army was because he was good at impeccable pre-war preparation and the advantage of expanding the depth after breaking through the enemy's positions, which is precisely what your Sixth Guards Army lacks at present......"

Although Khrushchev was introducing Chistyakov, his words "one point is exactly what your Sixth Guards Army lacks at the moment" made my heart start to beat a drum. I thought that in the eyes of my superiors, I would be satisfied with the military skills I had shown. I didn't expect that there would be such a shortcoming, so much so that my superiors would send such a deputy commander to assist me. But when I thought about it, this is not a bad thing, learn from each other's strengths, and since I lack this knowledge, I should learn from him generously. If you don't improve your abilities as soon as possible, your future path to ascent will become full of obstacles.

After Khrushchev finished speaking, Kirillov asked a question that we all cared about: "Comrade Military Commissar, I wonder when we will launch an offensive on Kharkov?" (To be continued.) )

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