Stalin stared blankly at his subordinates, who were also dumbfounded.

Now, the sound of gunfire from outside didn't affect them in the slightest, and for them, they just waited there in fear.

The Germans would soon rush in and arrest and even shoot all of them.

Although failure is expected early on, when the fate of failure really comes, it is undoubtedly uncomfortable.

Stalin asked them many questions, and these former supreme rulers of the Soviet Union, who were once invincible and high, could not answer a single question.

Stalin was not disappointed at all, and the reaction of these guys had already been expected by him...... He stood up with a slight trembling: "Comrades, since you have nothing more to say, then please allow me to leave here for a while......"

He didn't care about these guys anymore, but walked out of the house with staggering steps.

After a while, Beria walked in, not just him, but behind him many heavily armed soldiers.

"Comrade Beria, what do you want to do?" Speaking was Comrade Stalin's most important right-hand man, Zhdanov, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Brazzaville, secretary of the Central Committee, permanent adviser to the Supreme Command of the USSR, and political commissar of the general.

There was not the slightest expression on Beria's face: "Comrade Zhdanov, the war is coming to an end, and as members of the Supreme Command of the Soviets, you must not fall into the hands of the enemy and be subjected to a despicable trial!" ”

Zhdanov and everyone understood at once what was going to happen. He cried out, "No, you don't have the right to do that!" ”

"I have this right, it was Comrade Stalin who gave me the right!" Beria's voice was still so cold. Then he drew his pistol and shot at Zhdanov without the slightest hesitation.

Then, as if it were an order, the guns in the hands of the soldiers rang out in unison......

All of them here are members and alternate members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the United States, the core structure of the highest power in the Soviet Union, and the holders of all power in the Soviet Union. But now, under the shot of bullets. But they don't have the slightest ability to resist.

The entire office was completely stained red with blood......

Dead, all these people died, and they all died by order of Comrade Stalin......

It was probably the saddest day. Some of these people were ready to surrender to the Germans, and some were indeed ready to die for their cause.

But now, Comrade Stalin did not give them this opportunity at all......

When the last gunshot fell. Beria still did not forget his responsibility. With a pistol, he relented by a shot at each corpse.

Beria never dared to take lightly the tasks assigned by Comrade Stalin. It wasn't until it was all over that he left the place unhurriedly. As for what to do with these corpses? The enemy is almost in here, and who cares about corpses?

In another office, Beria met Stalin, who was sitting there in a daze, and he stood there silently.

After a long time, Stalin said: "It's over, you can also leave." Comrade Beria. ”

He didn't even bother to ask the people in the room how they were, because he knew what was going on. I can rest assured that I will be able to do what I have told Beria......

"And another Comrade Zhukov, what are you going to do with him?" Beria did not leave immediately.

Stalin pondered for a long time, and then said slowly: "Forget it, forget it, Comrade Zhukov has done his best, no matter what choice he makes, please don't interfere with him." ”

Stalin made his own choice, and this choice undoubtedly saved Zhukov's life.

Until this time, Zhukov did not know what terrible things had happened in the Kremlin. Although he knew that the war was irretrievable, he still persevered on the battlefield.

He was the marshal of the Soviets, the man who commanded the entire army of Moscow, and swore to fight to the end as long as the enemy had not killed or captured him.

This is the responsibility, the responsibility of a marshal!

And by this time, the Germans had officially begun their assault on the Kremlin, and a large amount of artillery fire covered this place that was once sacred in Russia.

Zhukov knew that the time had come for the end of the road. He even remembered today's day:

September 15, 1943.

On this day, it will be the end of it all......

There is nothing to regret, no.

Here he witnessed everything happening; Here he witnessed the collapse of a state of power; Here he witnessed the beginning and end of everything......

Here he will conclude his historic mission......

- He's been here, he's seen!

When he saw Volvock again, Marshal Timoshenko's most loyal subordinate was completely different from him at this time.

He represents the winner.

Moreover, Zhukov knew the purpose of the other party's coming, and he came to persuade him to surrender. In fact, by this time, Zhukov had already considered the possibility of surrender.

But the dignity of a soldier is still preventing him from taking the last step out of this worst of things......

"Look, this battlefield." Volwalker pointed to the battlefield and whispered, "Do you think there is any hope?" ”

"Nope." Zhukov said frankly: "Even if I give me ten more divisions now, I will have no way to save the war." ”

"So what are you waiting for?" Volwalker said, "Waiting to perish with this place?" ”

Zhukov shook his head slowly: "No, I don't want to see this place perish, but I still have my own responsibilities." Responsibility, you know? General Volvoker ...... Comrade Stalin, as well as our Party, entrusted me with the glorious task of directing here. Then all I have to do is complete my mission......"

"Comrade Stalin and the party?" Volvok smiled sarcastically: "Before the start of the battle for Kharkov, Comrade Stalin also said the same thing to Marshal Timoshenko, but later? Never mind. Marshal Timoshenko did not ask me to say these things...... Marshal Zhukov, your task now is not to continue this hopeless war, but to end it as soon as possible. Too many people have died and too much blood has been shed, and such a tragedy should not continue. At the same time, I also brought Ernst. The words of Marshal Bramm, when you decide to surrender and end the war. You will receive the fairest possible trial, and you have the right to defend yourself......"

"Did Marshal Ernst really say that? Will I get a fair trial? Zhukov asked.

He must admit that he is the biggest opponent in his life, Ernst . Bram didn't deceive himself, he was clearly conveying a message to himself. I will definitely be judged.

An enemy who never deceives his opponent is undoubtedly worthy of respect.

And what Zhukov needed was also a fair trial......

"Yes, that's what Marshal Ernst said." Volwalker said very seriously: "He also made the same promise to Marshal Vasilevsky, he told Marshal Vasilevsky. There will be a trial. But he promised to be impartial. You may be sentenced to life in prison, but no one can harm your life. You can even write your memoirs in prison......"

Speaking of this, he was slightly silent: "Actually, according to Marshal Ernst's original intention, you should not even be judged, because you are soldiers, and the duty of a soldier is to win the war, and you are only carrying out the orders of the government. It is the government in Moscow that deserves the most to be tried...... However, there were two reasons why Field Marshal Ernst had to abandon such an idea...... The first reason. It was you who indirectly ordered your troops to participate in the plundering of Russia and the harm done to the Russian people. You have a responsibility for the fact that a large number of civilians have been sent to labor camps or killed outright because of your connections...... Marshal Zhukov, do you admit this? ”

Zhukov nodded silently......

Yes, he admits it.

They did many things against their will, both during the Great Famine and during the Great Purge that followed, and this tormented them all the time.

It can even be said that Marshal Ernst put them to such a trial, completely and very justly.

"The second reason is also important...... Volvok's voice became more and more muffled, "for the sake of balance." You have learned that the Free Government of Russia has made a great contribution to this military campaign, and that they are a very important cornerstone for the future re-establishment of Russia under German command. Most of them are aristocrats of the tsarist era or their descendants, and they hate you and your companions, such as Marshal Vasilevsky, so someone has to make sacrifices for a smooth transition to the future of Russia......"

"I understand, I understand." Zhukov actually smiled at this time: "Do you know the truth, I am now in a more urgent mood to see Marshal Ernst. ”

"The marshal is waiting for your arrival."

Zhukov said: "I can end the war, but I must be promised a condition, the Soviet officers and soldiers who lay down their arms must not be harmed in any way, and the officers below the general level cannot be judged, and all the responsibilities should be borne by us generals or marshals." ”

"I'll pass it on, but before that, please give the order to stop fighting."

Zhukov accepted this proposal...... The gunfire was stopped in the Kremlin......

Very few people refused to carry out this order, and the war has been going on until now, and everyone is tired. They were merely mechanically and numbly carrying out the order to continue fighting, and every one of them knew that war had long since lost hope for the Soviet Union.

Zhukov's order saved them in the most timely manner.

They should even be grateful to Zhukov......

Less than a word after Zhukov gave his opinion, Volworkk returned. He told Marshal Zhukov. Field Marshal Ernst agreed to his request.

"Now it's time for you to do what you're supposed to do, Marshal Zhukov."

Zhukov nodded calmly, and then he gave this order to all the Soviet soldiers:

"Officers of the Soviets. Soviet soldiers, it's September 15, 1943. On this day, I must tell each and every one of you with a heavy heart, that the war is over, despite my reluctance...... Yes, we have failed. We should not continue to shed innocent blood, and as your commander-in-chief, I think I should do what I can. For example, you are ordered to lay down your arms and surrender...... Believe me, I'm more reluctant than anyone else to give such an order, but I have to...... When the Battle of Moscow began. I firmly believe that I am willing to shed the last drop of my blood for my cause and my beliefs. I firmly believe that I am willing to fight and die here. But now that there is no longer any need for the war to continue, all of us know what it means to continue fighting...... Please lay down your weapons and live well, I beseech you...... Now, I declare, we have been defeated. All the soldiers of the Soviet Red Army in Moscow who have ceased or are still resisting, all the armed forces of the Soviets. Surrender to the Germans on the other side! ”

This order spread in Moscow in a variety of ways.

Some Russians wept bitterly. Some Russians put down their weapons with expressionless faces, and some Russians directly chose to commit suicide......

Most of the Soviet soldiers chose to surrender to the Germans, rather than the so-called Free Russian Army. At the very least, it is easier to convince oneself to defeat in the hands of a far more powerful enemy than in a direct one.

The battlefield, which was still noisy, suddenly became extremely quiet......

Everyone's mood is so heavy...... Now, the resistance of the whole of Moscow is gone, and there are no more of the few guards in the Kremlin. The Germans could have entered with a swagger.

When Zhukov walked out of his headquarters, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The weight of a thousand pounds on his body was finally put down.

He met his friend Vasilevsky, Marshal Timoshenko and, of course, Ernst. Bream.

This legendary skeleton baron.

"At the time of the First World War, we were enemies." Zhukov said straight to the point: "At that time, we had a fight, but I lost to you, and since that day, I have been extremely eager to see you, but I did not expect that this wish would take so many years to come true." ”

"Anyway, we met anyway." Wang Weiyi smiled and said, "Fate has already made arrangements. ”

The two of them chatted like old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years.

There is no hostility at all, and there is no swagger of the winners, or the despondency of the losers. At this moment there is complete equality between them.

Groups of German soldiers walked in front of them, and groups of Russian prisoners walked in front of them.

Zhukov pointed to the Russian prisoners: "What are you going to do with it?" ”

"I think they'll be released soon." Wang Weiyi replied very seriously: "They are just carrying out the orders of their superiors, and the responsibility is not on them, but on their respective governments." Some of them, we have been in great trouble and have suffered a lot of sacrifices, but so what? A soldier who faithfully carries out the orders of his superiors and fights bravely is the most respectable ......"

"Thank you, Your Excellency, Marshal." Zhukov sighed softly: "As their marshal, I must be responsible for them, even if I am also a prisoner now. Your Excellency, where is my detention? ”

"A very quiet place." Wang Weiyi said without concealment: "Before the trial begins, I will guarantee that you will not be disturbed in any way, and no one will be able to disturb you and Marshal Vasilevsky, this is my promise to you." ”

Zhukov once again expressed his gratitude.

Georgi. Konstantinovich. Zhukov, in August 1915, Zhukov was conscripted into the army, entered the cavalry unit, and participated in the First World War.

In February 1931, he was promoted to commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, in February 1932 he was appointed deputy director of the Cavalry Directorate Department, in March 1933 he was appointed commander of the 4th Cavalry Division, from the autumn of 1937 to the spring of 1938 he was the commander of the 3rd and 6th Cavalry Corps, and in 1938 he was promoted to deputy commander of the Belarusian Special Military District after a short period of military adviser in China. In September 1939, the Japanese army carried out armed provocations in the area of the Haraha River, and the situation in the Far East was tense. Zhukov was appointed commander of the 1st Army of the Soviet Army in Mongolia and commanded the operation against Japan. In a short period of time, he successfully organized and implemented the Battle of the Khalha River, and won a great victory in destroying more than 50,000 enemies at a small cost of 9,000 casualties.

In this battle, Zhukov showed his first edge, showing his superb command and organizational skills. He was adept at coordinating the actions of infantry, artillery, tanks, and aviation, boldly carrying out roundabout encirclement, and annihilating the enemy's main forces by surprise. His theory of the concentrated use of tanks was also confirmed in actual combat.

Zhukov triumphantly arrived in Moscow and was praised by the whole country and was awarded the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union".

In May 1940, he was promoted to general ahead of schedule, and soon after was appointed commander of the Kiev Special Military District, the largest military district of the Soviet Union. On January 11, 1941, Zhukov became Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Army.

On September 15, 1943, Zhukov, who had been promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union, surrendered to the Germans in Moscow! (To be continued......)