After saying this, Meletskov looked around and saw that General Stelimach, the chief of staff, was not there. He immediately called the Chief of Operations Semenov and gave him an order: "Colonel Semenov, record me The 22nd, 23rd, 32nd, and 33rd Infantry Brigades of the 4th Guards Infantry Corps were immediately transferred to the east side of the Sinyavino Heights to cooperate with General Starikov’s 3rd Guards Division, marching towards the Neva attack. The 53rd, 137th Infantry Brigade, and the 122nd Tank Brigade went to the right side of the high ground to strengthen the 24th Guards Division and the 265th Infantry Division of the 8th Army, cutting off Siniawi The connection between the enemies of Noel Heights and the Neva River Defense Area."

Having said this, he turned his head to look at the artillery commander Jagdyalev sitting at the table, and asked, "Old man, how many artillery regiments do you have with sufficient ammunition?"

Jagdyalev did not say anything this time. He looked down at the notebook in front of him, looked up and replied: "There is also a heavy cannon regiment and four independent mortar battalions."

After listening to the data reported by Djegtyalev, Meletskov then told Semenov: "Let General Gargan immediately send the 140th Infantry Brigade to cover these artillery units in the Siniavino Heights. Establish a position on the south side to provide artillery support for our troops attacking the high ground."

After Semenov recorded the order, he turned to the communication room and gave the order. Seeing his leaving back, I frowned slightly, and said to me that Meretskov’s commanding ability was not even worse than Zhukov’s. The commanding of such a big battle was not arranged in the headquarters. Good enough communication equipment, so that whether it is to give orders to the troops. Or receive the battle report from the battlefield. Special personnel must be sent back and forth between the headquarters and the communication room. And the two places are not too close. You know, fighters often pass by in a flash. According to them, it is easy to miss the fighters.

Not long after Semenov left, the high-frequency phone in the room rang again. This is a special line to the Kremlin. Everyone who calls at this moment knows that, without guessing, he is definitely the Supreme Commander himself.

Meletskov picked up the phone. After greeting Stalin respectfully, he smiled and said, “Comrade Stalin, I’m reporting good news to you. The 24th Infantry Division and the 265th Infantry Division of the Guards on the right side of the Signavino Heights have gone through stubborn battles. It advanced three kilometers into the German defense. At present, the force is only the last five kilometers away from the Neva River."

At this moment, he suddenly stopped reporting and pressed the microphone tightly to his ear. He seemed to be listening carefully to Stalin's inquiry. After a while, he murmured: "Comrade Stalin. The high ground is still in the hands of the Germans. The 180th Infantry Division that was stationed in Crimea last night quietly entered the high ground in the dark. Because of our army. The scouts did not find that the enemy had increased troops and strengthened the fortifications, so the five attacks carried out this morning all ended in failure.” At this point, he moved the microphone away from his ear and turned around. He waved to me standing by the wall and motioned to let me pass.

I walked quickly in front of him. Just about to speak, he raised his hand and made a silent gesture, and then handed the microphone to me. Knowing that I was about to talk to Stalin, I couldn't help feeling a little nervous, so that what I said became incoherent: "Hello! Stalin... Comrade Stalin... Comrade!"

Stalin on the other side of the microphone suddenly laughed and said jokingly: "Lida, what's the matter with you? Why are you stuttering? This is not like you."

I didn't know how to answer, so I smirked into the microphone.

Stalin coughed, didn't say anything to me, and asked straightforwardly: "Lida, tell me, if you are the commander of the front, how should you fight the next battle?"

For a big man who can decide life and death in one sentence, he may not adopt the suggestions made by his subordinates, but since he has asked them all, if you dare not say anything, the consequences will be very serious. I immediately opened my mouth and wanted to express my thoughts, but suddenly thought of the proposal that was rejected last time. I was worried that the proposal I made to him this time would suffer the same fate. I couldn't help but hesitate a little.

Stalin couldn't hear my answer for a long time. He couldn't help but urged me, and his tone became very harsh: "Lida, why don't you speak? Don't you know how to answer me?"

Hearing Stalin's anger, I quickly replied: "No, Comrade Stalin. I have an immature idea and I am considering how to tell you this."

"Let's talk about it."

I quickly sorted out my thoughts, and then said clearly: "Comrade Stalin, our offensive forces are only five kilometers away from the Neva River. I think at this time the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front should be allowed to cross the river immediately. , Launched an offensive from behind the German army to support the offensive actions of the 8th Army. Our army’s two-way attack will inevitably disperse the German defense forces. In this way, the Volkhov Front can quickly break through the German defense zone and achieve The purpose of the battle to join forces with the Leningrad Front."

Stalin was silent for a while, and then slowly said: "Comrade Lida, the Neva cluster lacks enough tools to cross the river. It is not the right time to cross the river. They should wait until the Volkhov front army reaches the bank of the Neva River. , And then cross the river to respond. Of course, in this battle, they did not stand by. The heavy artillery of the Leningrad Front and the naval guns of the Baltic Fleet were not always providing the necessary artillery support for the 8th Army’s offensive. At the same time Leningrad. The fighter group of the front army patrols the battlefield non-stop to ensure that the Luftwaffe does not pose a threat to our ground forces."

"But, Comrade Stalin. If the Neva cluster does not cross the river immediately, after the Germans confirm that their rear is not threatened, they may only leave a small amount of troops to monitor the Neva cluster on the other side of the river, and boldly move the rest. The troops were transferred to the breakthrough area to prevent our army from attacking the Neva River."

After listening to my brief analysis, Stalin said noncommittal: "Well, I understand." Then he told me: "Lida, hand over the phone to Meretskov."

I removed the microphone from my ear in disappointment. Delivered to Meretskov. Came to the map dingy. Looking blankly at the two combat staff officers, according to the battle report, they marked the situation of the enemy and ourselves on the map.

At this time, a rhetoric of Meletskov reached my ears: "...comrade Stalin, please rest assured. Before lunch, our troops should be able to take the Siniavino Heights." Hearing this, I can only smile secretly. If we had launched an offensive last night, the Germans, who were at a disadvantage, would not be able to stop our offensive. Maybe we had stepped on the high ground at this moment. And now. The 19th Division of the Reinforcement Guards is still on the way. Whether it can reach the designated position before lunch is still unknown, let alone take the high ground.

Regarding the next battle, the generals in the front army headquarters are very optimistic. They generally believe that the overall situation has been determined. As long as the troops of the second and third echelon and the 8th army of General Starikov converge, they will be eliminated. It was only a matter of time before the Germans in the defensive zone and the Leningrad Front Army joined forces. But at the moment when everyone was unanimously optimistic, the hunch in my heart became stronger and stronger.

at noon. When everyone was preparing to eat, General Krykov sent an emergency call. Let Meletkov and the rest of the generals lose their appetite.

As soon as General Krykov heard that it was Meretskov who answered the phone, he said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, something has happened."

After hearing the sound, Meletskov was taken aback, and asked, "What happened?"

"The 327th Division of Colonel Anchufeev just rushed to the area two kilometers away from the Signavino Heights. It was hit by heavy artillery fire. The troops suffered heavy casualties. The command system has fallen into chaos, and the commander can’t find it. The regiment commander, the regiment commander could not find the battalion commander, and the battalion company commander could not find his fighters. In a word, the troops are all messed up.

"What the **** is going on? Tell me clearly, where was the fire from?" Meletskov tried hard to maintain his composure, and asked Krykov patiently.

"I don't know. Fortunately, the infantry brigade of Colonel Zicholiv departed half an hour later than Anchufeev's troops, otherwise my 2nd Assault Army might be wiped out."

Meletskov put down the phone and his face became particularly ugly. He answered at the table and said gravely: "As soon as the troops of the 2nd Assault Group entered the battlefield, they were hit by strong German artillery fire. The command failure of the troops caused heavy casualties. Now it seems that they are unable to complete the task of attacking the high ground. Therefore, I have ordered General Krykov to gather the troops as much as possible and temporarily retreat to the original station for rest."

At this moment, an officer rushed in from the outside, saluted everyone, and handed in a telegram to the artillery commander Jagdyalev. Djegdaryov only glanced at it twice and was shocked. He quickly walked to Meletkov with a telegram and said angrily: "Comrade Commander, look, this is what I sent to the high ground. A telegram from the surviving commander of the artillery unit that went there. They were attacked by superior German troops as soon as they arranged their artillery positions. As there was no cover from the infantry, the artillery positions were occupied by the Germans after the battle."

After reading the telegram, Meletskov slapped the table violently and stood up, and ordered Stelimach: "Chief of Staff, you immediately call General Gargan of the 4th Guards Corps and ask me Where is the 140th Infantry Brigade he sent for cover?"

After the chief of staff got up to make a call, Meletskov hesitated and said to the generals sitting at the table: "I suspect that the artillery fire hit by the 2nd Assault Army came from this position occupied by the Germans."

What Meretskov said surprised everyone present. Military Commissioner Zaporozec looked up at him and said: "I agree with Comrade Commander’s analysis that the German army should have captured the artillery position of our army without infantry cover, and then used our army’s artillery to bombard the movement. Of our infantry."

Although both the commander and the military commissioner reached a conclusion, some people still raised objections. A general sitting next to Zaporozhec asked with suspicion: "This is unlikely. Since the Germans sent troops to attack our artillery positions, they should blow up everything after they succeeded. After the artillery, they moved quickly. How could it be possible to stay on the ground and turn the muzzle to hit our infantry. Is it possible that there are still artillery in their sneak attack troops?"

"This kind of possibility exists, Comrade General." Meletskov said here, and turned to ask Stelimach who was calling: "Comrade Chief of Staff. Has General Gargan been contacted?"

Stelimach's face was extremely unnatural and replied: "The person on duty at the army command told me that General Gagan has gone to the army. I can't get in touch for the time being."

"Have you asked where the troops of the 4th Guards Corps are?"

Stelimach knew which unit Meretskov was asking, and hurriedly replied: "Because the 140th Infantry Brigade had no guide, it was lost in the forest and swamp and could not reach the designated position in a short time."

After listening to Stelimach’s answer, Meletskov looked down at Zaporozhec and asked in a deliberate tone: "Comrade Military Commissioner, the corps must have strict operational disciplines. The 140th Infantry Brigade was slow in its actions, which led to it. The artillery position was captured by the Germans. The Anchufeev division of the second echelon suffered heavy casualties. I suggest that the brigade commander be severely punished. What's your opinion?"

Zaporozhec nodded and said decisively: "Comrade Commander, I agree with your opinion. I suggest immediately sending someone from the Secret Service to the 140th Infantry Brigade to enforce battlefield discipline on the brigade commander and let the deputy brigade The commander is temporarily acting as the brigade commander. Comrade Chief of Staff, do you have no opinion?" His last sentence was addressed to Stelimach.

Stelimach immediately replied: "I have no opinion, so I will follow the proposal of Comrade Military Commissioner."

Meletskov heard Zaporozhets say so. Obviously froze for a while, then nodded in agreement. His expression changed. All were in my eyes. According to my analysis, the severe punishment proposed by Meletskov was only dismissal and sent to a military court. I didn’t expect Zaporozhec to directly propose that the brigade commander was on the spot. The shooting was obviously beyond his expectation, but as soon as he proposed a severe punishment, he pleaded for the brigade commander, which would inevitably affect his prestige in the headquarters, and he could only make mistakes.

Meretskov told Semenov: "Comrade Chief of Operations, let Lieutenant Turchinov, Chief of Special Services Division, carry out this task. For safety, let him bring a few more people over." He said this. At that time, I might have thought that I had just escaped from this person's hands not long ago. I was afraid that I might have any thoughts, so I even smiled at me specially.

More than an hour later, Turchinov called and said that they had found the 140th Infantry Brigade. According to the order of the Front Army Headquarters, the brigade commander of the brigade had been shot on the spot, and the deputy brigade commander was temporarily acting as the brigade commander. Position.

The people who should be shot were shot, and all the troops that should be deployed were deployed in place, but the five-kilometer-deep defensive zone still lay across the Volkhov Front Army's offensive forces like a sky trench.

As the remaining artillery units of the front army were wiped out by the Germans, the subsequent ground offensive had to rely on the heavy artillery of the Leningrad Front and the naval guns of the Baltic Fleet to provide the necessary artillery support for the troops. Because the distance was too far apart, artillery fire could not effectively destroy the German defensive positions. Although the troops on the left and right sides of the high ground repeatedly launched stubborn charges, they were still difficult to advance. The German army repelled every attack of our army.

At this moment, Colonel Semenov, who had just answered the phone, reported to Meletskov, saying that General Starikov had just called and reported that our fighter plane, which had been escorting the offensive troops, was on the road. One after another, he disappeared from his field of vision, and he asked the Front Army Headquarters to contact the Leningrad Front Army to see what was going on.

After listening to the report, Meletskov quickly told Stelimach: "Comrade Chief of Staff, go and contact the Leningrad Front to see why their air force suddenly withdrew from the battlefield?"

When Stelimach called on the phone, a bad feeling arose in my heart. According to my experience, once the Leningrad Front’s fighters were withdrawn, it would be tantamount to giving up air supremacy on the battlefield and waiting for the German air force to regain control. After air supremacy, our offensive forces will become the key targets of enemy planes. In this way, they will be overthrown by the German air force before they get close to their positions.

After Stelimach finished the phone call, he returned to report to Meletskov: "Comrade Commander, I have contacted the Leningrad Front, because now the Germans are mobilizing the air force and are violently attacking their heavy artillery positions and the Baltic Fleet. Air strikes, so we had to transfer our army's fighters back to defend these important targets."

After hearing this, Meletskov said disapprovingly: "Even without the support of Leningrad Air Force fighters, we can break through the German defensive zone. Comrade Chief of Staff, order the troops to speed up the attack and approach Neva as soon as possible. The river, so that the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front will cross the river to meet us."

When I heard this, I couldn't help taking a step forward, and summoned the courage to say to Meletskov: "Comrade Commander, I want to remind you that the current situation is very unfavorable for our army."

After listening, Meletskov frowned and asked, "Why?"

"With the withdrawal of the Leningrad Front Army Air Force fighters, it is tantamount to handing over the dominance of the battlefield to the Germans. Once their fighters bombard our army indiscriminately, our offensive troops will soon be defeated. Explode."

After listening to Meretskov, he thought about it. Maybe he thought I made sense, so he asked: "Then what do you think?"

"Now we have two choices. One is to withdraw the troops immediately to avoid greater losses...."

"Withdraw from the battle?" Meletskov shook his head unambiguously, and said: "Seeing that there are still a few kilometers to join the Leningrad Front, withdraw from the battle at this time, not to mention that Comrade Stalin could not pass the pass. Even the commanders of the several army groups who are fighting fiercely will not agree. What is the other option?"

"Let the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front immediately cross the river to fight. UU Kanshu www.uukanshu.com launches an offensive from behind the Germans. The opposing attacks of the two fronts will disrupt the German defense system. In this way, it is possible. Achieve the purpose of the battle of the two armies."

After I finished speaking, Stelimach also continued: "Comrade Commander, I think Major Oshanina makes sense. Judging from the situation today, the Germans are constantly shifting troops along the Neva River. , Strengthen to the defensive zone in front of our front."

After listening to Stelimach, Meletskov did not immediately express his position, but asked Zaporozhec: "Comrade Military Commissioner, what is your opinion?"

Zaporozec also felt that the current situation was not good, thought for a while, and then replied: "I also think that the Leningrad Front should be allowed to cross the river immediately, otherwise the offensive forces of our front without air supremacy and lack of artillery support. There is no way to break through the German **** five-kilometer defense zone."

Seeing that everyone’s opinions were unified, Meretskov also made his final determination. He resolutely said: "Well, since everyone’s opinions are unified, I will call Comrade Stalin and ask him to let the Leningrad Front. The troops immediately launched an operation to cross the river to support our army's offensive actions." (To be continued.)