The Chinese army refused to give up and joined the battle as a reserve of the 311th Infantry Division and the 503rd Reading Tank Battalion (14 tanks). Under repeated attacks, the German 132nd Infantry Division could not support it.

On the night of August 14-15, the Soviet-German forces retreated. On 16 August, the 1st and 254th Infantry Divisions replaced the dilapidated 132nd Infantry Division. After this fierce battle, the Chinese army inflicted heavy losses on 12 to 14 Russian battalions and eliminated 34 tanks. Although the surviving German soldiers were physically and mentally exhausted, they also felt that the Chinese offensive could only end here.

In fact, the Chinese army was indeed seriously damaged on this line, and its shells were basically exhausted. On August 17, the Chinese army was ordered to hold on to the occupied area. At 14:40 on August 22, Fu Xiaoan ordered the battle to be suspended. From July 22 to August 22, the Chinese army lost 20,890 men and wounded 59,047. The total casualties were nearly 80,000.

Soviet wartime statistics show that from July 21 to August 20, its 18th Army lost 26,443 men. But the accuracy of this data is questionable: according to the statistics of the Foreign Military Department of the Eastern Front of China, from July 1943 to October 2010, the number of field divisions of the Soviet army increased from 43 to 54. The number of troops dropped from 710,000 to 501,000. More than 200,000 reductions! However, the losses reported by Army Group North from July 21 to August 30 were only 48,649 people!

The loss of nearly 200,000 people in exchange for the casualties of 50,000 elite soldiers of the other side was indeed a good deal for the Soviet army in 1944. Although it seems immoral to trade human life for efficiency, Stalin clearly did not think so. In his opinion, the huge casualties testified to the heroism of the Soviet Red Army, and when the Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to award Zhukov, Zdorovtsev, Kharytonov the title of "Heroes of the Soviet Union" in recognition of their heroic actions in the air ramming Chinese bombers in the air was published in the newspapers, Stalin called the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Central Committee and said:

"To spread the heroism of the Soviet people more widely. Lenin's appeal should be remembered: 'The socialist Fatherland is in danger!' ’。 It is necessary to convince the people that Chinese villains can and should be defeated! He hung up without waiting for an answer.

Yes, people should be spiritually motivated. Reports and newspapers and periodicals daily report the deeds of thousands of soldiers, commanders, and political workers who fought for every line of defense at the cost of their lives...... In addition to purely military work, Stalin spent several hours a day dealing with economic and organizational issues. In recent days, together with Malenkov and Zhukov, he has studied the issues raised by the Leningrad party organization on the creation of militia divisions. Stalin did not anticipate that this initiative would become a powerful current, and by the end of the year nearly 60 militia divisions and 200 reading regiments would be formed, which would play a great role in the future war.

On September 4, Voznesensky and Mikoyan presented a draft resolution of the National Defense Committee "On the development of a military-economic plan to ensure national defense needs." Stalin signed the letter almost without looking, because the reception room was crowded with servicemen waiting to be received. And he could only count on worse and worse news from all fronts. Voznesensky hastily reported that on August 30 the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR had approved the plan for the general mobilization of the national economy, which provided for the transfer of the economy to the wartime track within the shortest possible period. Before Voznesensky, the chairman of the retreat committee, Shvernik Jin, met with Stalin and reported on the implementation of the resolution of the Central Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the CPB "On the order of the evacuation and resettlement of personnel and valuable materiel". According to the plan, the first to withdraw to the west were only enterprises adjacent to the state border. But only a few days later, the military defeat forced them to completely rearrange. At that time, no one could have imagined that 1,523 industrial enterprises, including 1,360 defense plants, would be transported and put into operation in a very short period of time. It is not an overstatement to overestimate this fact. It was only thanks to the unbelievable, almost miraculous self-sacrifice of the Soviet people that the entire vast industry was able to move thousands of kilometers westward, and soon began to restore the lost arsenal of military weapons. Despite the great migrations and frequent bombings, the defense industry produced 6,000 combat aircraft, 3,500 tanks, and nearly 8,000 artillery pieces and mortars in 1944.

…… After an hour and a half of meeting with the soldiers, Stalin turned back to the affairs of the party and the state, and he signed Malenkov's list of party secretaries of 1,170 major heavy industrial and military factories appointed by the Central Committee. Stalin wrote a note to Malenkov: "I propose to think about the creation of such a system in the political department of the machine-tractor station and the state farm. ”

"Today we adopted the decision to create several thousand political ministries at machine-tractor stations and state farms. With large areas of the country falling and the labor force on the front, agriculture took on the difficult task of ensuring the food supply of the army and the whole country. ”

This is how almost every day of the person who brings together all the highest positions that can be conceived in one person is in this way. The war further established his status as an absolute reader.

People's Commissar of Railways? Not? Kovalev wrote: "I remember that once I was asked to go to the Kremlin for a meeting, when I was the head of the military transport department. When I saw it, there were railway officials, soldiers, and staff of the Central Committee. Also present were Kaganovich and Beria, who was in charge of transport for a while. Stalin came in. Everyone stood up. He got straight to the point: the National Defense Committee decided to create a transport committee. I propose to elect Comrade Stalin as chairman of the committee...... That's what he himself said. It's been many years since this meeting, but I remember one of the sayings: 'Transportation is a matter of life and death.' The things ahead are in the hands of the transporters. Remember: if the instructions of the National Defense Committee are not carried out, they will be sent to a military court. 'He doesn't have a high voice and speaks with an accent, but my back is numb......"

"During the war, I reported to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief dozens, if not hundreds, how many trains had been sent to a certain area of the front. As for the situation with individual trains (with particularly important supplies), I sometimes reported to Stalin every two hours, on his instructions. Once, I 'lost' a train. I said, the train is at a certain station...... But there is no such train at the station...... Stalin was furious: 'General, if you can't find this train, I'll be demoted to private and sent you to the front!' I know this threat is not just talking. Major General Moskwein was dismissed by Stalin's order, demoted to private, and sent to the front. ”

"When Bosklebeshev saw that my face was pale, he added: 'Be careful, don't ask for trouble. The master is in a rage ......'"

"When I went to report to Stalin, he was usually Molotov, Beria and Malenkov. I thought to myself that these people were only getting in the way. They never ask any questions. Just sit and listen to my reports, jot down something from time to time. Stalin, however, kept telling things, making phone calls, signing documents, calling Posrebeshev and asking him to do something...... And they sat all the time. Look at Stalin for a while, and look at the people who came in for a while...... I've seen this happen dozens of times...... It seems that Stalin needed someone to be present. Perhaps to carry out a task that may be assigned. Maybe it's to have a witness to history...... Kaganovic is usually absent: he works 18 hours a day. Another swearing, another shouting, and another threat. Kaganovich does not pity either himself or others. However, I have not seen him sit with Stalin, as the other three men. When Stalin called, I found that he often hung up the phone without saying a word. He speaks very succinctly and asks the reporter to be short and concise. Report to him conclusively, not just generally; He would immediately lower his voice gloomily and say, 'You don't know, do you?' So what do you do? ’”

"Every time I go to Stalin's, I am afraid. I'm always confronted with questions that I don't know how to answer. He's always dry and intimidating. He never said 'hello', just nodded gently. After the report, I hurried away without any problems, and I was relieved. The faster you go, the better! Boskreebeshev always told me that. I found that Stalin, with his power, memory and wisdom, seemed to make everyone feel depressed and genuinely afraid...... Those who come to him feel that they are less valuable than they really are......"

Stalin's intellect, feelings, and will permeated the entire Soviet state apparatus. Even in times of war, only a handful of people dared to argue with him and defend their views. He did use his power to suppress all the people. Fortunately, there were some outstanding generals at Stalin's side during the war, who were able to come up with and skillfully put forward proposals that Stalin often adopted and were approved of.

If one were to look at the working hours of the Supreme Commander during the first six months after the outbreak of war, he would spend 16 to 18 hours a day in his office, at his desk. However, almost everyone at the time did this. A significant part of the time was devoted to military issues. And Boskrybeshev was able to find a "gap", which allowed Stalin to meet not only with the members of the Politburo of the specific departments responsible for state affairs, but also with the people's commissars, designers, and even the directors of large factories. Stalin did not quickly adapt to the role of Supreme Commander-in-Chief. In the early months of the war, he was often obsessed with veritable "trivialities": he meddled in the distribution of mines and rifles, gave instructions on sending civilians to dig anti-tank trenches, and censored press releases. For example, a document issued by the base camp to the Air Force was sent to the Translation and Telecommunications Section, where it was held for 8 hours and 15 minutes. When Stalin learned about it, he ordered to immediately draw up an order of the People's Commissar of Defense announcing the punishment of Colonel Ivanov and Captain Krasnov, both of whom were expelled from the General Staff. When Stalin signed this order, he also wrote a directive:

"Comrades Vasilevsky and Garev: I would like to ask the chief of operations of the General Staff and the commander of the Air Force, each with his own affiliation, to straighten out the work of translating telegrams. About? Stalin. August 25, 1944. ”

This happened in the terrible and hot month of August, when the various battlefields were deciding an issue of unknown importance! It was the habit that had been formed over the years that governed Stalin: all problems had to be grasped and solved personally. One person makes decisions on behalf of everyone.

Stalin gradually became embroiled in the brutal rhythm of the war, but for the time being mostly as the one who approved or rejected the recommendations of the General Staff. He is always trying to find some new levers that will be able to influence the situation. So he signed instructions on strengthening the anti-tank operations of the Air Force. After hearing reports that recruits were not getting weapons, Stalin insisted that the base camp issue a special instruction to the units on this issue: "It should be made clear to all commanders, political workers and soldiers of the active forces that the loss of weapons on the battlefield is the most serious violation of the military oath, and that those who commit such offences shall be punished by the laws of wartime." The number of weapons collection teams within the establishment should be increased and they should be entrusted with the responsibility of collecting all weapons left behind on the battlefield......"

The realities on the battlefield themselves soon corrected the procedures, style and methods of the work of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Soviets.

At nightfall, Yanjing, Jurentang, the Grand Presidential Palace of the Chinese Federation.

"Why don't you rest......" Huang Yunzhi looked at what Yang Shuoming was still sitting under the lamp and watching, and couldn't help but remind.

"I'll stay a little longer and then go to sleep." Yang Shuoming waved his hand at her.

Huang Yunzhi came to his side, and couldn't help but be surprised when she saw that the document in Yang Shuoming's hand seemed to be a verdict, and when she saw Dongfang Bai's name on it, her face couldn't help but change.

"Bai'er, what's wrong with him?" She asked.

"The country has its own laws, and the family has its own rules, and it is the same if he makes a mistake." Yang Shuoming sighed and handed her the verdict in his hand, "Although it turns out that his judgment is correct, the credit is the merit and cannot be offset like this." ”

Huang Yunzhi didn't understand what Yang Shuoming was talking about, she took the verdict and read it carefully.

"On July 7, 1944, the Military Trial Division of the Huaxia Supreme Court, composed of Mei Runan, a military judge at the group army level, and Bao Shixun, a division-level military judge, and Huang Debin, with the participation of clerk and military judge Ma Qiang, secretly tried the cases of the following defendants in Yanjing City:

1. Dongfang Bai, born in 1913, was formerly the commander of the armored instructor and army general; 2. Hu Lian, born in 1907, former commander of the 1st Armored Brigade and lieutenant general of the army; , who were charged with offences under Articles 63-2 and 76 of the Penal Code of the Chinese Federation; 3. Yu Chengwan, born in 1902, former commander of the 11th Mechanized Infantry Corps, lieutenant general; 4. Du Yuming, born in 1904, former commander of the 17th Armored Division, lieutenant general; The two men were charged with offences under article 180, paragraph 2, of the Criminal Code of the Chinese Federation...... The defendants, Dongfang Bai and Hu Lian, were participants in the Battle of Sverdlov, the former using his position as commander of the armored teaching group, and the latter taking advantage of the position of brigade commander to not act according to the campaign plan for the purpose of meritorious service, so that the subordinate command personnel fell into an unexpected and dangerous battle, disrupted the command of the troops, surrendered to the enemy without a fight, and suffered heavy losses in the combat effectiveness of our army......"

The rest is all this tune; Huang Yunzhi skipped these page numbers and just read the last page:

"Therefore, it was confirmed that Dongfang Bai and Hu Lian were guilty of the crimes provided for in Articles 63-2 and 76 of the Criminal Law of the Chinese Federation; Yu Chengwan and Du Yuming are guilty of the crimes provided for in Article 180, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law of the Chinese Federation. On the basis of the above facts and articles 319 and 320 of the Chinese Federal Code of Criminal Procedure, the Military Chamber of the Supreme Court of China ruled as follows:

1. Dongfang Bai 2. Hu Lian 3. Yu Chengwan 4. Du Yuming deprived Dongfang Bai of the rank of general of the army, deprived the other three of them of the rank of lieutenant general, and all four of them were demoted to major generals of the army, and all four were sentenced to 11 years in prison, and they were sentenced to serve before the war, and they were sent to serve in the army before the sentence...... This judgment is final and cannot be appealed. ”

"Bai'er, this kid...... Alas......" Huang Yunzhi gently put the verdict on the table, "They are also dedicated to the country and want to end this war as soon as possible...... This sentence is a bit heavy for the few of them......"

"The law has a sentence, and it is not a question of whether it is serious or not, but that such a thing cannot be allowed to happen in the army again." Yang Shuoming said, "If everyone is like them, and they don't abide by military discipline, we don't have to fight this war, and we will already lose." ”

Hearing Yang Shuoming's heavy words, Huang Yunzhi didn't dare to argue with him anymore.

"What are you going to do with them?" Huang Yunzhi asked with some concern, "Serving before the army, don't you want to send them to the front line as ordinary soldiers, right?" ”

"Instead, they ask to be sent to the front in any capacity: they will prove with their blood their loyalty to the Motherland and to the duty of the soldiers. They asked the Tribunal to believe that everything that had happened was due to a situation of extreme disadvantage. They do not deny their guilt. They will atone for their sins in battle. Yang Shuoming made his beloved wife's words laugh, "Although I am old, I am not confused to this extent." There are many powerful generals who fight us in China, and there is no such wasteful way. ”

"And what do you want to do?" Huang Yunzhi also laughed.

"All four of them are young generals with a lot of combat experience. This time they made such a big deal that the High Command decided to disband the armored teaching cluster, disperse it among the newly recruited troops, and reorganize. I plan to let them take charge of the training in the new units, and when the time comes, let them return to the battlefield to show their skills. Yang Shuoming said his plan.

"Then I'm relieved." A stone fell to the ground in Huang Yunzhi's heart, and her expression relaxed.

(To be continued)