When they received this order, Zhukov's adjutant and chief of staff had the illusion that the telegram must have come from a false order from a German spy. At such a time, he even fantasized about letting the Soviet troops, who had managed to hold their positions, launch a counterattack?

"Comrade Marshal Zhukov, this ...... This order cannot be true. The hand of the chief of staff of the Zhukov cluster holding the order paper trembled slightly because he was too annoyed. He could not believe that this order came from Stalin, nor could he believe that he was about to carry out such an order that was akin to suicide.

Zhukov also had some helplessness about this almost naïve or crazy order. He knew that this order was probably given by Stalin himself, and he even somewhat understood what kind of state the leader who had not left the open bunker for more than ten days was in order to give such an unrealistic order.

He took the order from his chief of staff, and then said with a wry smile: "This order is indeed from Comrade Stalin, but we really have no way to carry out this order." If we had left these fortified defensive positions, it would only take a few days before the Germans would have been annihilated in the wilderness. ”

"But...... Comrade Marshal Zhukov, if we refuse to carry out this real order, then ...... Then we'll be hanged. The chief of staff looked at Zhukov, who had a bitter face, and said cautiously in a trembling voice: "I think that if we can, we can draw one or two divisions...... A symbolic counterattack to the west ......"

Zhukov shook his head, and then denied this way of coping with the errand: "Unfortunately, in addition to shrinking the defensive line, I really can't draw a full reserve to counter the German attack." They have at least a million troops gathered around Moscow, and I don't have half of that number. ”

As he spoke, he walked to the map of the defense area, carefully looked at the numbers of the German troops that had been proved on it, as well as the marks of his own troops, and then sighed and continued: "If I can give up part of the position on the western side, I can still draw a few divisions of troops, but the order is for us to counterattack the western region, not give up there and counterattack other areas." ”

"Then what are we going to do? Do we sit idly by? Comrade Marshal. "The chief of staff heard Zhukov say this and knew that everything he said was true. At least for now, it seems that holding on to the spot may be able to hold on for a little longer, and if you attack rashly, you can only make your destruction more sudden and rapid.

"Now it seems that our troops can only hold on to their positions. Zhukov touched the map of the Moscow defense zone in front of him twice, and said to his chief of staff in a sad and indignant tone: "If we gave up the place that should have been abandoned a few months ago, maybe now it ...... Alas...... Needless to say, saying so much is not beneficial except for adding sorrow to oneself. ”

After he finished speaking, he instructed the adjutant behind him, who had been waiting for his order: "Tell the people sent by Stalin what I have to say, to tell the truth that we have no troops to fight back." There is no need to disguise anything, there is no need to explain anything, we just don't have the forces to fight back, it's as simple as that. We made what should be simple things so complicated that we forgot how we were supposed to speak. ”

"Yes! I see! Comrade Marshal!" the adjutant saluted, then turned and walked out of Zhukov's commander. He walked through the busy hallway to a room where he was supposed to meet guests, and pushed open the door.

Then he stood up and saluted the anxiously waiting inside, and lowered his arm before he spoke: "Marshal, please tell Comrade Stalin that we really don't have the strength to fight back." In fact, we needed reinforcements 10 days ago, and the troops lacked ammunition and heavy weapons to replenish them, and a counterattack at this time would only cause the entire defense line to collapse faster. ”

"My God, Comrade Stalin is looking forward to a counterattack by Marshal Zhukov in the south to relieve the pressure on Moscow on the front. If you can't complete the task at this time, then Moscow will be completely finished......" The envoy, hearing the adjutant's answer, looked in the adjutant's eyes in a panic and said: "In any case, please think again, for the sake of Comrade Stalin and Moscow's ......"

"Comrade, we don't have tanks, we don't have planes. Fighting back now is no different from suicide. If suicide could relieve the pressure on Moscow, we would not hesitate to do so, but in fact even if we counterattacked, the Germans would not retreat," the adjutant regretfully replied to the envoy's request: "Believe me, holding the ground is really to better support Moscow." ”

The messenger froze there for a few seconds, obviously unwilling to believe that the situation could be so bad. After a long time, he slowly opened his mouth and asked in a puzzled tone: "However, Comrade Stalin's military advisers did not say so, they said that as long as Marshal Zhukov opened up the situation, Moscow would be able to turn the crisis into peace and save the day. ”

It turned out to be the idea of the advisory group, no wonder! The adjutant originally thought that General Vatutin, who was in charge of the defense of Moscow, could not say such unqualified words, but now it seems that it was indeed not the person who really led the troops to persuade Stalin to make such a mediocre judgment.

......

"Why? Why hasn't Zhukov's troops fought back yet?" For the first time in the last dozen days, Stalin had stepped out of the deep tunnel bunker and stood on the devastated streets of Moscow, staring at the distant sky with somewhat dull eyes. On this day, the Germans did not carry out artillery bombardment, and the battle for the front line also stopped, and it was obvious that the German side was resting its troops, and the oppressed and breathless Soviet troops could finally rest their tired bodies.

And so in this moment, as if the war had passed, the peaceful wind blew through the dilapidated streets and alleys, and through the outer walls of the Kremlin, which had already collapsed a third of it. However, such a peaceful environment made Stalin shudder, because according to the original plan, Zhukov's troops were supposed to launch a counterattack south of Moscow, and he should be able to hear the familiar rumble of Soviet artillery.

"Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on?" Stalin pushed away the attendants who were following him and looked behind him at the generals and politicians who were following him. The counterattack he had hoped for to relieve Moscow had not been carried out on time, much to the annoyance of Stalin, who had deliberately crawled out of his bunker to watch his troops counterattack.

"Comrade Stalin, Marshal Zhukov's troops were suppressed by the Germans and simply did not have the strength to obey orders for a counterattack. An officer had to stand up and say a word for the Soviet fighters who were still fighting bloodily on the front line: "Defending to the end is the best way we can choose, and if we fight back at this time, ......"

"Shut up! Cowards! All cowards! From the beginning to the end, can't we as a nation show some courage?" When Stalin heard this, he interrupted his subordinates with some annoyance: "Don't they feel the slightest sense of shame when they see the capital of their homeland in ruins under enemy fire?"

If everyone has the so-called shame, if you remember Comrade Lenin, who promoted you and handed over the whole country to you, then you should be the first to stand up and take responsibility for what you have done. There is an indescribable helplessness and sadness in everyone's hearts, but they can no longer express it in their own words.

"Let Zhukov attack as soon as possible!" Stalin said, then turned around and walked towards the entrance of the underground bunker. He staggered step by step, and it seemed that it was already a very difficult thing for him to step out of his legs. No one spoke, just followed him, walking slowly towards the dimly lit basement entrance.

"Will Zhukov's troops be able to counterattack on time?" watched as Stalin and his entourage entered the entrance to the underground bunker, where a general stood and lit himself a cigarette. He swallowed the fog, and then asked his colleagues who were standing beside him, who also did not go in, but stayed outside to breathe in the fresh air.

"If I were Zhukov, I wouldn't have launched a counterattack at such a time...... This is no different from suicide. The general shook his head and said, "If I'm not crazy, surrendering at this time is the best option." But we were Bolsheviks, and this did not allow us to surrender to the Germans, so my choice with Marshal Zhukov was the same, which was to hold our ground and ignore Stalin's orders. ”

He did not add the word comrade to the honorable name of Stalin, and if it had been in the past, he would have been arrested a long time ago, but apparently at a time like this, no one is going to pursue such misnomerous nonsense. The smoking general spat out a puff of smoke, shook his head and said: "You, me, Zhukov, Vatutin, we have no way out. Now I'm not going to wait any longer, I'm going to leave myself a decent result. ”

He didn't go into the underground bunker again, but waved his hand and walked to the relatively safe southeast city, where his family was located, and now at this time, he had to go and say his final goodbye to his family, and then leave himself a decent funeral: "No need to send it, I will go to the front line and personally lead people to guard there." ”

At the door of the underground bunker, the general behind him wanted to speak and stopped, and finally stretched out his hand without pulling the distant colleague: "Perhaps, you are right, comrade." ”