Andrei recalled in his mind the material of Valennikov, who was born on December 15, 1923 in Krasnodar, Soviet Union. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoIn 1942, he graduated from a crash course at the Cherkassky Infantry School. In the same year, he joined the Red Army of the USSR and took part in the Great Patriotic War. In October 1942, he served as a platoon commander in the Battle of Stalingrad. Historically, Valentnikov was a platoon commander, why is he a company commander now? So Andrei asked: "Comrade Valennikov, when did you come to my division?" ”

Valennikov said: "Comrade division commander, I was in the anti-tank artillery company of the 35th division in September, when we were transferred to the Siberian Volunteer Division, the company commander died in the battle not long ago, and my superiors let me take over as the company commander, half a month ago I was injured in a battle and was sent to the hospital, and now I am healed, I am ready to return to the army, and it turns out that you are here, so I hope to return to the army with you!" ”

Looking at the eagerness in the eyes of the young but determined Valennikov now, Andrei smiled with relief, and a person can really see it when he is young, no wonder the Russian military circles will have such a high opinion of him in the future.

So Andrei said: "Okay, Comrade Valennikov welcomes you back to the team, but your discharge from the hospital proves that you should return to the front line without being injured!" ”

And Valennikov hurriedly took out the certificate from his bag, and after checking it, Andrei said: "Okay, Comrade Valentnikov, you first go and rest with the comrades of the new division, and then return to the Mamayev post together at night!" ”

Then Valennikov also left with one of the guards. Others began to go to rest

On the way, Andrei asked Akhromeyev: "Comrade Captain, is Comrade General okay now?" Akhromeyev understood that Andrei was talking about General Meretskov of the Volkhov Front, and hurriedly replied: "Report to Comrade Division Commander, he is fine." Ever since you were transferred to the Stalingrad Front, he has been talking about you a lot. ”

Hear Akhromeyev say this. Whether it is polite words or the truth, Andre's heart feels warm. He is an officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the eyes of everyone, the officers of the internal affairs army always rely on their special status to do mischief, many front-line commanders hate these blue hats, some people jokingly call the Ministry of Internal Affairs their own son to supervise the Red Army, the godson, because the Red Army was born out of the old army, and a large number of officers and soldiers of the old army were absorbed in order to fight for the needs of the war, although there is also a political commissar system, However, for the purpose of supervising and maintaining social stability, Dzerzhinsky set up an internal affairs unit under the Cheka to take charge of this work.

Andrei nodded, and said as he walked: "Wait until there is a chance in the future." I will contact Comrade General and personally express my gratitude to him. ”

"Comrade division commander," Akhromeyev said politely, "you don't have to wait for later, you can contact him today." ”

Although Andrei wanted to express his gratitude to Meretskov, he didn't know the call code of the other party's radio station, so he just said it casually. Hearing Akhromeyev say this, Andrei asked: "Comrade Captain, what is the contact method?" Do you have a radio call code for Comrade General. ”

Akhromeyev smiled and said: "Comrade division commander, what you said is right, I have a call code handed over to me by Comrade General himself, and I can contact you directly, and he instructed me to report and hand it over to you." ”

"Where is the code, hurry up and show me." Hearing that Captain Akhromeyev was carrying the call code of the Volkhov Front radio station, Andrei hurriedly urged him.

He took out a neatly folded note from his jacket pocket, handed it to Andrei, and said solemnly: "Comrade Division Commander. This is the call code of Comrade General, please destroy it immediately after you read it. He was not worried that Andrei would lose this call sign, because he and the people around him were from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and there was probably no one in the entire Soviet Union who could compare with their department

Andrei took the note, didn't open it at all, put it in his pocket and walked into the hideout.

Andrei was ready to go back and then contacted Meretskov by radio to express his gratitude.

And back to the resting place, Andrei had just sat down next to the correspondent who suddenly came over and reported: "Comrade division commander, the other party said that he is General Meretskov, do you want to talk to him?" ”

Not to mention a general, even a captain. Andrei also had to talk to him, you know, he dug the foot of the wall and robbed the second lieutenant training team from others, this is a clear robbery. Andrei hurriedly ran to where the radio was, and when he heard Meretskov's familiar voice coming from the headphones, he greeted General Meretskov with a smile: "Hello, Comrade General. ”

"I'm not good, I'm not good!" Meretskov was very dissatisfied with Andrei's greetings, this kid is a bastard in his whole life.

Andrei smiled awkwardly at first, he understood the reason why Comrade General spoke like this. After all, it was he who pried his corner. He is understandably angry. So Andrei tried to ask for forgiveness in a sincere tone, as the little guy who abducted his daughter-in-law without going through his father-in-law, faced the old man with the same sincerity: "Comrade General." Although I haven't seen you and the commanders of the headquarters for just over a month, I miss you very much, and I hope to have the opportunity to go back and see you later. ”

"Come on, Andre, don't talk like that with a little girl, I'm not so easy to fool." Although Meretskov said this in a huff, from his voice, Andrei keenly felt that his attitude had softened. "I heard that you did well in Stalingrad, and commanded the troops to win a lot of battles. When you left my headquarters, you were a major, and now you've become a general. ”

Andrei shook his head helplessly, he wanted to say a few words, he knew that now, it was better to remain silent and listen to what he was going to say next. To deal with the old man, you have to let him continue to speak.

"At the beginning, your analysis report suggested that the main direction of the German offensive in the south was Stalingrad, which led Comrade Stalin to send you to Mamayev Heights. Unexpectedly, it turned out that your original analysis was completely correct, and it seems that you have not failed in your mission, and the Mamayev Gang is still firmly controlled by our army. ”

"Andrey," Meretskov affectionately called Andrei by his nickname, and said in an uncertain tone: "I want to hear your analysis and judgment again, what will happen to the battle situation behind Stalingrad?" As soon as he finished speaking, he was probably afraid that I would have any scruples, and he deliberately emphasized: "I asked you as a friend, not as a superior." You don't have to think of me as your commander, but as your friend or relative, please tell me, do you think Stalingrad will fall or will it continue to be tug-of-war? After saying these words, his breathing became rapid.

Andrei understood Meretskov's concerns, and he was the one who knew what he wrote earlier, although he was a general, who dared to talk nonsense, you must know that it was not good, Andrei and Meretskov had to go to Lubyanka as guests, and Andrei didn't want to hide it from this generous elder who took care of himself, so Andrei said: "Comrade general, don't worry, as long as the supply lines of our army are not cut off, the German army will not be able to occupy Stalingrad, in this city, wait for the German army's energy to run out, Our army can completely counterattack and eat the Germans in the end!"

Then Andrei said: "Of course, now we still have to wait to accumulate energy for the counterattack, please rest assured, although the Germans will occupy part of the city in a short time, but Stalingrad will never fall." ”

Hearing my categorical words, Meretskov breathed a sigh of relief, and he said in a loud voice: "That's good, that's good." I am sure your judgment will be accurate. Then he changed the subject to the second lieutenant training team, which he and I were both concerned about: "Andrei Ensign training team, I sent it to you, I hope you can bring it to me"

"I understand, Comrade General. Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you for your generosity. ”

Meretskov smiled and said: "Andrey, to be honest, I really hope that after you have repelled the German troops attacking Stalingrad, you can return to my Volkhov Front and follow me to break the German encirclement of Leningrad." ”

"There will be such a day, Comrade General." Andrei knew the meaning of Meretskov's words, he would borrow a pig and not pay it back, so Andrei responded politely, "As soon as the war on the Stalingrad side is over, I will ask my superiors to send me back to Leningrad." ”

This reassuring Meretskov said: "In that case, I wish you good luck and repel the Germans who attacked Stalingrad as soon as possible." ”