Burning Moscow

When Colonel Henry sent me back to the embassy, ​​it was completely dark.

When I walked into the hall, I saw Livinov talking to the staff in the hall. Seeing me entering the door, he quickly speeded up and said a few words to the staff, then left the other party and walked towards me. At the same time, he said politely: "Comrade Oshanina, you are back!"

It feels awkward to hear someone call me a general or an officer for a day, and suddenly hear someone call me comrade. After being lost for a while, I quickly nodded to Livinov and said in a friendly manner: "Yes, Comrade Ambassador, I am back."

Before I could ask anything, he took the initiative to say: "Molotov and Khrulev are in the room. They have explained that if they see you back, please go to Molotov's room."

I smiled and thanked Livinov, then walked through the hall familiarly, stepped up the stairs, and walked towards Molotov's room.

When I walked outside Molotov's room, I saw two tall security personnel standing at the door, both of whom I knew. Just about to speak, one of them had turned around and knocked on the door twice. When a voice came out, he pushed the door open a crack and pushed him in. I soberly heard him say: "Comrade People's Committee, General Oshanina is here!"

Then Molotov's stern voice came from the room: "Please come in!"

The security officer agreed, and while retracting his head, he pushed the door wider, and at the same time turned to me and said politely: "General, Comrade People's Committee is waiting for you inside, please come in!"

I smiled and nodded to the security staff, and walked into the room. As soon as he entered the door, the security personnel closed the door gently. I walked quickly to Molotov and Khrulev who were sitting on the sofa, and raised my hand to salute them both. Said: "Comrade People's Committee for Foreign Affairs, Comrade Minister of Logistics, I am back."

Molotov looked up at me, and asked with an indifferent expression: "Go to Norfolk Naval Base today. Are there any gains?"

"Yes, Comrade People's Committee." I don't know why. I am standing in front of Molotov now, and I still feel a little unreliable in my heart. Maybe it's because he, the People's Committee, is equivalent to the marshal in the army, and I was born A heart of awe. Hearing him ask me about the gains of this trip, I saw the process of the destroyer Eldridge sliding down the water sideways, and told the truth from beginning to end. Of course, I overheard Henry and Eldridge. Conversation between Mann. I deliberately conceal it, because I don't want anyone to know that I understand English, otherwise there will be countless troubles to find me.

After reporting on my Norfolk Naval Base and his party today, I stood quietly on the spot, waiting for Molotov's next instructions. After listening to what I said, Khrulev said to Molotov sideways: "Comrade People’s Committee, Oshanina’s harvest today is really not small. If it is really possible to take the ship's lateral slide and launch into the water. , We can build large ships in some small shipyards to make up for the ships our navy lost in the war."

"Yeah. That's true." Molotov obviously has a certain understanding of shipbuilding, after he listened to Khrulev's words. He said casually: "Those small shipyards can only build some fishing boats. If the ships needed by the navy can also be built in this way, the ships lost by the navy can be quickly replenished."

When I watched Molotov talking, I didn't even glance at me. I guess it was the same as before. It was time for me to leave again. So I asked carefully: "Comrade People's Committee, allow me to leave?"

Molotov did not speak. Just waved to me, motioned that I can leave.

Just when I turned around and prepared to walk outside. But I heard Khrulev’s voice coming from behind: "Comrade Oshanina, please wait a moment."

I don't know why Khrulev stopped me. Hastily put the raised leg down again, turned and looked at him, waiting for his further instructions. But he turned to Molotov and said: "Comrade People's Committee, I think there are some things that should be known to Comrade Oshanina. After all, she came to the United States with us and has undertaken important missions."

Hearing what Khrulev said, Molotov got up from the sofa, stared at me for a long time, then bit his posterior teeth and said to Khrulev: "Comrade Minister, maybe you are right. If this is the case, let her see the results of your negotiations today." After saying this, he reached out and pointed to the empty sofa next to him, and said in a commanding tone, "Sit down." "

I sat on the sofa he appointed, and took the documents Khrulev handed me. When I opened the folder and saw the contents, I couldn't help being surprised, because Khrulev showed me the list of supplies provided by the US to aid the Soviet Union.

In addition to the tanks, aircraft, anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank guns, transportation vehicles, oil and other materials I know about, there are also reconnaissance vehicles, battlefield phones, underwater and submarine cables, aluminum, tin, lead, molybdenum, nickel, copper and other metals. , Tank armor plates and various steel, petroleum products, various industrial machinery, rubber and leather, and various food and medicine. On this extensive list, there are as many as 72 kinds of materials that the United States has to assist the Soviet Union every month, which is far beyond my belief.

When I put the folder on the coffee table in front of me, I couldn't help but say with emotion: "I really didn't expect the United States to help us with so many things."

Khrulev took the folder away from me, and said: "Yes, the supplies that the United States has aided us far exceed our initial expectations. Only an industrialized country like the United States can provide us with so much. If they are replaced with other countries, even one-fifth of the materials will be enough to drag down their national power."

After listening to Molotov, he said impatiently: "Don't look at the Americans who gave us so many supplies, but it is not for nothing. The 9.8 billion US dollars of foreign debt they lent us, after the end of the war, is It needs to be repaid to them in installments..."

"Comrade People's Committee," Khrulev interjected and asked: "In the memorandum of the meeting two days ago, didn't the United States say that the 10.9 billion US dollars lent to us was suddenly reduced by 1.1 billion?"

"What 10.9 billion? Obviously only 9.8 billion." Molotov's tone became more and more impatient: "In 1941, the weapons and materials they and the British aided to us were given away for free. As a result, during the negotiations in the first two days, someone actually proposed that these things should also be calculated. For this unreasonable increase of 1.1 billion US dollars, our Soviet motherland firmly does not recognize it."

"But. Comrade People's Committee." I was surprised at Molotov's apparent recklessness. But Khrulev bluntly stated his scruples: "You and I all know that the allies first assisted our navy after the United States officially entered the war at the end of 1941. The United Kingdom and the United States assisted 200 torpedo boats. It is our country. The navy’s coastal defense capabilities have been improved. These torpedo boats have a maximum speed of 41 knots and are equipped with two torpedo tubes and a 20mm automatic anti-aircraft gun. These torpedo boats can be worth a lot of money.”

"Comrade Minister, I draw your attention." Molotov retorted Khrulev unceremoniously and said: "Don't forget, the United States has also provided us with 60 small submarine hunting boats. But. These submarine hunting boats are because of this. Without a search system, it can only be used by our navy for coastal patrols. Such completely unreliable equipment is actually embarrassed to charge us money."

Seeing the two people arguing about the US aid, I was really embarrassed sitting next to me, because in my capacity, I didn’t have a peacemaker between the two of them, so I could only keep silent. I watched indifferently from the side, and at the same time I was still wondering whether the two of them were arguing as they do now every time I left before.

After finally waiting for the two people's argument to come to an end. I asked carefully: "Comrade People's Committee, I wonder if President Roosevelt mentioned in front of you that the Allied forces will open up a second battlefield when appropriate."

After Molotov heard what I said. His expression became softened, and he said: "When he met with President Roosevelt today, he mentioned this to me, saying that because you provided them with excellent ideas for drawing up their landing plans, the time for making the plan will be reduced. It has been greatly shortened. At most one week, I think the latest landing plan will be officially released."

Hearing Molotov said that it would take a week at the earliest for the Normandy landing plan to be launched, I was a little disappointed. But then I thought about it, for such a huge landing plan. One week is indeed fast. Although my final landing plan was approved by General Marshall and Sir Morgan, it was of great importance. When they are making plans, they must be in some details. There will be repeated verifications, so the time taken will naturally be very long.

Molotov waved to me again and said, "Comrade Oshanina, you must be very tired after running so long today, so go back and rest early."

I stood up, saluted the two, then turned and left. When I walked to the door, I suddenly remembered something, so I stopped and turned to ask Molotov: "Comrade People's Committee, I wonder how long our delegation can stay in the United States?"

With regard to the question I raised suddenly, Molotov showed a puzzled expression on his face, and he asked inexplicably: "Comrade Oshanina, what are you asking about this? Is it important to you in the United States? Thing?"

Hearing Molotov’s questioning with suspicion, I immediately felt an inexplicable feeling. I understood that if I didn’t give him a convincing reason, the first thing I would do when I returned to Moscow was Was sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for review. So, I replied in a flustered manner: "That’s it, Comrade People’s Committee. Before becoming a member of your delegation, I was ordered to join the friendly delegation visiting the United States, and I was responsible for telling the American people that my people are. How to fight against the fascist invaders, and to call on Britain and the United States to open up a second battlefield very quickly. According to the date, the delegation should almost arrive."

For my reason, Molotov’s expression became lighter again. He said disapprovingly: "Comrade Oshanina, in my delegation, your role is far greater than that of the friendly delegation. Yes. In that regiment, even if you talk about it in a big way, it will not attract the attention of American politicians, and the military will not do anything. And this time you, as a representative of the base camp, directly negotiated with the US military to open up a first. The effect on the Second World War was not obvious. At least they did not shirk their prevarication as before, but seriously studied and formulated a landing plan."

"That's right," Khrulev waited for Molotov to finish, and echoed: "Comrade Oshanina, regarding your performance during this visit, Comrade the People’s Committee for Foreign Affairs has already reported to the Supreme Commander in the telegram. I have reported. As far as I know, he is very satisfied with your outstanding performance. As for when to return to China, it depends entirely on our next talks with the US."

Knowing that while I was staying, I couldn't get more useful information from the two of them, so after saluting them again, I opened the door of the room and walked out.

Back in my room, I couldn't help thinking about it again. Except for a face-to-face meeting with Roosevelt on the day of my arrival, I never had a chance to see him a second time. If I can’t see him again, naturally I won’t have the opportunity to befriend Mrs. Roosevelt. I can’t go directly to the White House to find first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and then say to her: "I am your admirer, from Thousands of miles away in the Soviet Union, I want to win your friendship." If I really do this, it is estimated that I will be sent back to the country the next day, and then sent to a military court. Being sent to the Gulag concentration camp is not bad, maybe the Ministry of Internal Affairs will shoot me directly.

When I was thinking about it, there was a knock on the door. I thought it was the embassy staff who came to deliver something~www.NovelMTL.com~ and got up and walked over to open the door. When the door was opened, to my surprise, Livinov was standing at the door.

He looked at me with a smile and asked, "General, can I go in?"

"Come in, comrade ambassador." As I said, I turned to the side and made a gesture of invitation to the room.

Seeing him walking to the table and pulling out a chair to sit down, I closed the door and asked with a smile: "Comrade Ambassador, I don't know if you are looking for me so late, what's the matter?"

When Livinov heard my question, a smile appeared on his face. He said unhurriedly: "Comrade Oshanina, I came to you because someone has a strong interest in you and wants to be I will meet with you at the right time, so let me ask to see if you have any intentions in this regard." (To be continued.)

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