Burning Moscow

Brezhnev and I exchanged a few words. Before I could say more, an acquaintance called him. Looking at the back of him and Kolpakchi leaving, I deeply regret that I didn't impress the future boss.

Just when I was feeling melancholy, I suddenly heard someone calling me next to me: "My God, isn't this Oshanina? Thank God, it's great to see you alive!"

Hearing what the other party said, I guessed it must be one of the generals I knew. I turned my head and saw that Katukov's tall body was standing in front of me. I quickly reached out to him and said excitedly: "Hello, General Katukov, I am glad to see you again. I haven't seen you for more than a year. You are now an admiral. It is estimated that in two years, you will Can be a marshal."

Katukov looked at my epaulettes, shook my hand, and said with emotion: "Oshanina, you are not easy. I remember that when I met you, you were a lieutenant colonel, and now you are also a lieutenant colonel. General. If there are no accidents, you may still be promoted to marshal within five years."

If I heard Zhukov say that I had a chance to be a marshal, I could still laugh at it as a joke. At this moment, when I heard Katukov say that, I couldn’t help but be moved. After all, I was a lieutenant general. The rank of the marshal was much closer than when he was lieutenant.

But this thought just passed by. I curbed my thoughts and asked Katukov with a smile: "Comrade General, I don't know where you are commanding troops now?"

My question caught Katukov for a moment, and then he said in amazement: "Oshanina, don't you know that my tank's First Army is currently in the battle sequence of the Voronezh Front? Two days ago, there was still The subordinates reported to me that you were going to inspect the defense area of ​​our group army. He also personally instructed the engineers on how to build fortifications."

He said that, I really feel a little embarrassed, although I ran a lot in the early stage. But I deal more with commanders of some units, and commanders at the group army level have almost no contact. I missed an old acquaintance like Katukov.

Katukov came to the military parade alone. Since he met my acquaintance, he stopped going to other places and sat directly next to me. After sitting down, he asked with concern: "By the way, I heard that you and your husband met again on the outskirts of Moscow. How is he now, in which army?"

To be honest, what I am most afraid of now is who asks me about Oshanin and the child. But this is another problem that is increasingly unavoidable. At this moment, since Katukov asked, I could only answer vaguely: "Shortly after we met last time, he led his troops to participate in the battle. During the battle, his troops were wiped out, and he was also defeated. He was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital behind. Since then, we have lost contact."

"The time has passed for more than a year. No matter how serious your husband is, he should be healed." Katukov asked with concern like an elder: "I know you have spent more than a year. Inside, Leningrad first. Then went to Volkhov Front, Stalingrad Front, and Southwest Front. Didn’t he come to you? You know how famous you are now.”

I shook my head again. With a wry smile, he said, "No, I don't know why he didn't come to me, but I still couldn't find out his whereabouts. Last time I asked Marshal Zhukov to help me find out, and I haven't heard anything yet."

After Katukov listened, he sighed and patted my shoulder to comfort me and said, "Oshanina, this is war. Don't worry, as long as he is still alive, he will be found sooner or later."

Although my heart was relieved with a sigh of relief. But on the surface, he had to pretend to be sad and said: "Yes. General Katukov, I hope to be like what you said." In order not to keep him entangled in this matter. I quickly turned the subject off, "By the way, there will be many new tanks on stage at today's military parade, which will definitely open your eyes to you."

"What, a new tank?" Katukov's attention was really distracted by me. He asked in amazement: "Oshanina, have you seen it? What kind of new tank is it? And our army is now equipped. Compared with the t-34, what is the performance improvement?"

Regarding his series of questions, I pretended to say mysteriously: "General Katukov, as you know, I am a layman in terms of tank knowledge, and it may be difficult to give you accurate answers. But you don’t have to worry, anyway. The military parade will begin soon, and you will be able to see it with your own eyes."

Seeing that he couldn't get the answer he wanted from me, a disappointed expression appeared on Katukov's face. Seeing his frustration, I quickly added: "Comrade General, I can tell you this way, a new type of tank company can easily kill a T-34 tank battalion."

"What?" Katukov heard me say this and almost jumped from his seat, but fortunately he stabilized his emotions in time, grabbed my arm and asked: "One company against one camp, and Can you win easily? Comrade Oshanina, are you making me happy?"

I comforted him and said, "Comrade General, when you see the new tank, you will understand whether what I said is true or false."

Katukov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said with some dissatisfaction: "It's not even the slightest, that is, I have to wait at least two hours before I can see the new tanks you just mentioned."

This is when the infantry phalanx under review has begun to enter the arena on a large scale, which immediately attracted everyone's attention. While everyone was looking at the officers and soldiers entering the arena, I looked around the observatory. This look surprised me. I don’t know when the observatory was full of people, including soldiers in uniforms. There are also officials at all levels in civilian clothes. I originally thought that the viewing platform on the south side could only seat one or two hundred people, but at this time, there were at least five hundred people.

An hour later, twenty infantry phalanxes lined up in two neat rows outside the GUM shopping mall on the east side of the Red Square. The guards of honor of the armed forces of the sea, land and air are lined up against the History Museum, and in front of the bronze statue outside St. Basil’s Church, several guards of honor can still be seen standing there.

At 9:30, a military band of hundreds of people lined up in front of the square facing Lenin's tomb. At this time, I heard someone whispering: "The military band has been in place. It will take a long time. Comrade Stalin and the Supreme Commander should come out."

It was five points away from ten, and suddenly everyone around me stood up. Although I don't understand why everyone stood up suddenly, they still stood up. Almost at the same time. There was thunderous applause from the viewing platforms on both sides of Lenin's tomb. At this time, if I still don’t understand what it is. It's better to go directly to the Gulag concentration camp to report.

Amidst our warm applause, Stalin and the Supreme Command’s Marshal Timothy, Zhukov, Stalin, Molotov, Budionni, Voroshilov and Kuznetsov seven appeared on the top of Lenin’s tomb. There were a few other people in casual clothes on the viewing platform, except for Ustinov, I didn’t know anyone else.

Stalin walked to the microphone, raised his hand and pressed it down. Not only did the applause not stop, but it became even more enthusiastic. I originally wanted to stop applauding. Seeing the people around me still clapping desperately, I had no choice but to keep shooting. Because I suddenly remembered a paragraph saying that when Stalin appeared, if anyone stopped applauding first, then his next fate would be very miserable. Although I don't know if this is true or it is a joke, I don't dare to stop first when others don't stop applauding.

Stalin raised his hand and pressed it down a few more times, and the applause of the audience finally stopped.

As the bells of the Spasko Bell Tower and Nikolai Bell Tower on both sides of Lenin's Tomb rang at the same time, the military parade officially began. The loudspeakers on the field suddenly heard a sound: "Citizens. Please note, please note that Moscow Radio is broadcasting! Please listen to and follow the Red Square. The military parade to celebrate the great May 1st International Labor Day!"

When I heard this voice, I immediately looked up to the observatory, and saw Stalin, Zhukov, and Budjoni standing in front of the microphone. Obviously, this voice was not made by any of them. The speaker should be the announcer of Radio Moscow. He is now in a position that I can’t see. He is broadcasting live broadcasts of the Red Square parade to all Soviet soldiers and civilians.

At this time, Zhukov walked to the microphone. He said loudly: "The Soviet flag, the Lenin flag, stand at attention! All of them. Listen to my command, stand at attention! Look left. Welcome our glorious flag, salute!"

Following his order, the soldiers on both sides of the viewing platform raised their hands to salute, and the commander of the troops under review also raised his right hand to his forehead.

As the music of "Holy War" sounded in the audience, two groups of flag bearers appeared in our field of vision. The standard-bearer team consists of four people. The one walking in front is an officer. Among the three behind him, the flag-bearer is in the middle and the flag-guards are on both sides. In the front is a bright red Soviet flag, and in the back is a flag with Lenin's head.

When the standard-bearers walked toward the Museum of History amidst the thrilling music, the broadcast began to understand: "The members of the standard-bearer team come from the guard of honor of the Central Guard Corps. The regiment is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is mainly responsible for the execution. Since its establishment, the ceremonial activities participated by the leaders of the state, the officers and soldiers of the honor guard have performed their duties and become irreplaceable participants in the Red Square military parade. It is the soldiers of the Central Guard Corps who are honored to kick off the Red Square military parade.

The flag bearer team of the Soviet Union is composed of the captain of the flag bearer team, the flag bearer and the flag bearer. Since its establishment, the guard of honor has participated in many celebrations. They have shown their euphoria in major cities in China and even abroad. "

When the flag bearers arrived at the History Museum, the music of "Holy War" came to an abrupt end, and Zhukov's voice sounded again: "Stop!"

When Vasilevsky and another officer rode a white horse, rushed out of the small door under the Spasco clock tower, and broke into the Red Square, Zhukov shouted again: "All stand at attention! Go to the left to welcome the review, get ready! "As soon as his voice fell, the military band played a majestic march.

Vasilevsky and his deputy rode horses and rushed towards the center of the Red Square. At the same time, the commander of the Moscow Garrison, who was riding a dark horse, also greeted him on two black horses with his deputy.

The four gathered in front of Lenin’s tomb, and the commander of the garrison raised his hand to salute Vasilevsky, and reported: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, the queue is over, please review!"

After Vasilevsky waited for the garrison commander to complete the report, he rode horses one after another with his deputy and ran towards the history museum, while the garrison commander and his deputy also turned to the pier and followed closely. The war horse kept advancing at a constant speed.

Vasilevsky and the others circled in front of the standard-bearer team, and they came to the reception phalanx and shouted at the commanders and soldiers: "Hello, comrades!"

The commanders in the phalanx immediately replied: "Hello! Comrade Chief of the General Staff!"

Vasilevsky said again: "Wish you a happy Labor Day on May 1st!"

At this time, the commanders in the phalanx shouted, "Wula! Wula! Wula!"

Vasilevsky continued to ride on the front line, stopped before the other one anyway, and continued to repeat everything just now.

After completing the inspection of the phalanx, the garrison commander and his deputies stayed in front of the history museum, while Vasilevsky and his deputies rode their horses to the center of the observatory on the tomb of Lenin and reported to Stalin. When his horse stopped in front of Lenin's tomb, two officers immediately ran over and reached out to hold the horse's reins. After Vasilevsky left, they led the horse and ran to one side quickly.

Vasilievsky kept his hand on his forehead and walked up the steps to the viewing platform on Lenin's tomb. When he came to Stalin, his voice echoed through the microphone: "Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Armed Forces, the queue of the referee department is over! The Red Army Chief of Staff Vasilevsky."

Stalin waited for him to finish ~www.NovelMTL.com~ and immediately shook hands with him. At the same time, a low voice sounded on the field again: "Stop!" With this command, we all put down the right hand that had been raised on the side of our forehead.

The next step was Stalin's inspiring speech to the people of the whole country through the radio.

While Stalin was speaking, I touched Bezikov next to me and asked him softly, "Colonel, who is the old man with goatee beside Stalin and Marshal Zhukov?"

Bezikov took a look and replied in a low voice: "His name is Kosygin: He used to be the People’s Committee of Textiles. Now he is the Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee. He is in charge of the production of consumer goods. Starting this year, he will also serve as a meeting of the Russian Federation of Soviets. Chairman's position." At this point, he asked me in surprise, "Don't you know him?"

"I have seen him a few times, but I never knew his name." In order to conceal my ignorance, I deliberately said: "I am not familiar with it at first, so it is not easy to inquire other people's names casually; after a long time, I am embarrassed to ask again. Up."

Stalin's speech was very brief, almost as soon as I chatted with Bezikov, his speech was over. Then it's time for the parade to be divided. (To be continued.)