Chapter 1029

Early the next morning, Zhukov sent me to his headquarters.

When I went into the big room of the headquarters, I found that in addition to Zhukov, there was another general I didn't know. They were leaning over the table and looking at the map. They both looked up at me when they heard the door.

When Zhukov saw that it was me, he pointed to the general beside him and introduced him to me: "Rita, let's get to know him. This is Comrade khluliov, director of the Logistics Department of the Red Army. Khrushiev, this is general oshanina. " With that, he continued to stare at the map in front of him.

I saw the rank on khrushiev's shoulder and stepped forward to him. Although I have never met the general, I have long heard of him, so after raising my hand, I respectfully said, "Hello, general! I've heard a lot about you. It's my pleasure to meet you here today. "

In his early fifties, khrushiev looked like a kind old man. When he shook hands with me, he also said with a smile, "Hello, general oshanina. I've heard a lot about you, too. You are the only female general in our Red Army. "

After we exchanged greetings, Zhukov said, "now that we all know each other, let's all sit down. Next, we have more important things to discuss. "

When I sat down, Zhukov looked at me and said, "Rita, I've called you here today to inform you of something important. Originally, the Supreme Command intended you to visit the United States in mid April with a friendly delegation. But now the situation has changed, and your schedule needs to be adjusted. "

When I heard what Zhukov said, I could not help feeling a little flustered. My heart said, did my trip to the United States come to nothing like this? But Zhukov's next words surprised me again. He only heard: "Comrade Stalin intends to let you go to the United States with Comrade Molotov, accompanied by general khrushov." Here, he looked at khrushiev with a smile and continued, "you three have their own division of labor. Comrade Molotov is responsible for consolidating the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and general khrushiev is responsible for negotiating a new round of us aid with the military. And you, as the representative of the base camp, have to work with those American generals to study when and where to launch the second battlefield. "

Zhukov's last words, let me worry about gain and loss again, I am an ordinary person, let me deal with those American generals who are more proficient than monkeys, don't you want me to show my shame? Thinking of this, I quickly stood up and said to Zhukov: "marshal, I have never participated in such work, and I have no experience in this field. I am worried that I am not qualified for such work..."

Before I finished, Zhukov interrupted me with a wave: "your task is assigned by Comrade Stalin himself. No one has the right to change it."

As soon as Zhukov's words came out, I knew that my arrangement for dealing with American generals was a firm one, and there was no possibility of any change. Had to harden the scalp to promise a, again sit to return to own position.

After explaining this to me, Zhukov turned his attention to khrushiev and said in a different tone, "Dear Andre vasilievych, let's discuss what we need to ask our American allies. First, tanks, anti tank weapons and anti-aircraft guns, as well as a large number of armored steel plates and various types of aircraft. Besides, we need American cars. "

When he heard this, khluliov interrupted Zhukov and politely asked, "Comrade deputy commander, with respect, the off-road performance of our domestic gascar is no worse than that of the multi-purpose off-road vehicle of Willis automobile company. I think it's more appropriate to use domestic vehicles for transportation, so at least we won't worry about spare parts. "

Unexpectedly, Zhukov shook his head and immediately rejected his proposal: "Comrade khrushiev, all our automobile factories now produce tanks or armored vehicles, so transportation vehicles can only be provided by our allies."

While recording quickly in his notebook, khrushiev read in a low voice: "tanks, anti-aircraft guns, airplanes, armor plates, cars." After writing this, he looked up at Zhukov and asked, "is that all?"

Zhukov frowned for a moment and said, "I think we need a lot of barbed wire for our defense zone in Kursk."

"How much wire do you need?" Asked khrushiev.

"At least 500 tons." Zhukov slowly said a number. While I was calculating how wide the barbed wire can be used, I heard what he said: "even if it is less than 500 tons, we can provide 400 tons of barbed wire every month. I think they can do this."

After adding this variety to the book, khrushiev took it up and read it to Zhukov: "Comrade deputy commander, I'll read it to you to see if there is anything else to add. Every month, we will provide 500 tanks, 400 aircraft of various types, 5000 jeeps, as well as anti-aircraft guns, anti tank guns, armored steel plates and 500 tons of barbed wire. " When he put down the book, he added, "by the way, do we still need American armored cars?"

Zhukov waved his hand and directly denied his proposal: "no, that kind of car is of no use to us. With our strength, we can create more advanced armored personnel carriers. By the way, if possible, let the Americans provide us with transport trucks. Our domestic trucks are basically one and a half ton trucks, and they are in urgent need of three and a half ton trucks. "

Khrushiev nodded and wrote a few more in his notebook.

When Zhukov finished, he suddenly asked, "how many armor plates can we get from our allies every month?"

"A thousand tons." Said khrushiev, without expression.

"Only a thousand tons?" Speaking of this number, Zhukov's face showed an expression of displeasure, "but as far as I know, the annual steel production in the United States is 50 million tons."

"Yes, comrade deputy commander, your data are very accurate." After flattering him, khrushiev explained to him, "the United States not only needs to provide us with military aid, but also needs to provide Britain with necessary war supplies. In the short term, they are unable to increase the production of steel."

"It's easy to solve the problem of increasing the production of armor plates by adding proper additives." Zhukov said in a sarcastic tone, "don't the American capitalists understand what every steelmaker knows?"

At this time, I heard a noise from the position of the door. I turned around and saw the officer on duty outside the door standing in front of the open door. Seeing that the attention of the people in the room was focused on him, he quickly reported: "Comrade marshal, two commanders of Voronezh's front army are here."

"Invite them in!" Zhukov said in a very dignified tone.

The officer agreed. Then he made a gesture of invitation to the people outside the door and said, "please come in, comrades general!"

As soon as he spoke, two big commanders in military coats and grey beaver caps marched into the headquarters. When the officer saw that they had entered the room, he quietly backed out and took the door with him.

The two generals came to Zhukov with a chill, stood still, raised their hands, and then reported: "Marshal comrade, commander (deputy commander) of Voronezh's front army, general watujing (apanashchenko) reported to you, we have come to report on your order, please give us instructions!"

Zhukov raised his hand to return a salute, and then thought of shaking hands with them one by one and greeting them. Next, khrushiev came forward to shake hands with them, and chatted with watujing.

When they finished greeting each other, I quickly went to watujing, raised my hand to salute the new general, and politely said, "Hello, comrade commander of the front army!"

When watujing shook hands with me, he complained and said, "Comrade oshanina, although you have been in the southwest front army under my command for a period of time, as your superior, I have never seen you." At this point, a smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he shook my hand and said, "you are good, lieutenant general o'shanina. That's what I want to tell you!"

Then he turned to apanashchenko, who had the same rank as him, and said, "Comrade deputy commander, this is Comrade oshanina, whom I mentioned to you on the way. She led her troops to fight tenaciously on the right bank of the Dnieper River. She not only made a mess of the enemy's rear, but also successfully liberated Kiev."

"So you are o'shanina." After listening to watujing's introduction, apanashchenko took the initiative to extend his hand to me and said friendly and candidly, "I envy you very much, Comrade General. After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, although I command an army of millions of people, I have never fought. I feel very ashamed in front of you. "

When I heard apanashchenko's words, I was speechless. I didn't know what to say in response to him, so I had to smile bitterly and keep silent. Fortunately, Zhukov saw my embarrassment and came out in time to help me out: "Comrade apanashchenko, the Far East Front Army under your command has loosened 17 infantry divisions, 3 tank divisions, 2 cavalry divisions, 2 airborne brigades and 4 infantry brigades, dozens of bombers and fighter regiments for the front in the past two years. The combat experience of these troops has played a significant role in the war. And because of your excellent management, we have provided a strong guarantee for our victory and avoided the dilemma of our army in two line operations. "

For Zhukov's praise, apanashchenko gave a simple and honest smile and said modestly, "marshal, all I have done is to adapt to the requirements of the war, and strive to turn the Far East into a fortress ready to fight. Each of our troops and soldiers in the Far East is always ready to resist the Japanese attack, or go to the western front to fight. This is the need of the leaders, the army, and the country and the nation. "

After listening to apanashchenko's statement, Zhukov nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "general apanashchenko, you are a very capable commander. It is because of this that Comrade Stalin personally ordered you to be promoted from the position of commander of the far east front army. He intends to give you an opportunity to command a fighting front army, a fighting front army, so that you can become a marshal after the end of the war, because you once led a decisive front army in the final stage of the war. "

At this point, Zhukov took a look at watujing and patted apanashchenko on the shoulder. He continued: "don't mind that you are the deputy commander of the front army. Although you were a general long before the outbreak of the war, you didn't experience the war last night, We also need to accumulate more experience around Comrade watujing so that we can command a front army alone in the future... "While they were talking, I was looking at the commander and deputy commander of Voronezh and sighing for their future destiny. Vatukin died a year later when he was attacked in Ukraine. Apanashchenko, however, suffered from the enemy's air attack in his forward command post during the Kursk battle in a few months, and unfortunately died a heroic death. Otherwise, these two generals will definitely get the rank of Marshal after the war.