After Stalin finished speaking, Zhukov stood up and asked, "Comrade Stalin, our guerrillas and resistance organizations behind enemy lines are distributed in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the vast territory of Russia. To command such a huge guerrilla force, if the commander's rank is too low, many people below may not be able to command."

Stalin took the pipe from his mouth and held it in his hand. He nodded twice at Zhukov and asked, "What is the rank of General Romanov?"

"Major General, Comrade Romanov is a major general." In order to make Stalin a deeper impression, Zhukov also specially emphasized: "He was a general before the war broke out."

After Stalin heard this, he thought for a while, and then decisively said: "Comrade Zhukov, you are very reasonable. As far as I know, many commanders of the guerrillas behind enemy lines have served as military leaders in regular troops. Officer, if Romanov’s rank is too low, there is a real possibility of command failure. Let’s do this, Comrade Vasilevsky," Seeing Vasilevsky got up from his seat, Stalin told him Said, “When drafting the order later, the order for promotion to the rank of Romanov will be added at the same time, so let’s temporarily appoint him to the rank of lieutenant general.”

Although Romanov’s military rank has only been promoted by one level, when I heard Stalin utter this order, I was relieved and secretly relieved, saying that since Stalin could be promoted to Romanov’s military rank, I was right. He will not be blamed for his previous capture, and even if my capture is revealed in the future, the chances of successfully passing the barrier are greatly improved.

Stalin stood up and said gravely: "Comrades, in view of the current bad situation in Kiev, this proud city with countless legends. We have to give up again." After saying this, he seemed to be old for a while. How old, after sitting back in position. Staring at the desktop in front of him, he said nothing.

See Stalin's gaffe. I suddenly understood why he was so angry when I proposed to abandon Kiev, because the city was so significant to him that he even gave up the matter of defending Kiev last time. Zhukov was removed from the post of Chief of Staff, only to let me go out and fined him twice. It's already very kind.

Although Stalin did not speak, no one dared to interrupt his thoughts casually. After a while, he woke up from his thoughts, scanned the people sitting around the conference table, raised his hand and announced with a wave: "Okay, that's the end of today's meeting. Let's go back to work." See Everyone stood up from their seats, and then added: "Zhukov and Ustinov stay, and Khrulev and Lida stay."

I saw that after Stalin announced the adjournment of the meeting, only a few of us were left behind. I knew he wanted to understand the gains of our visit to the United States as soon as possible. Although Molotov reported to him by telegram every day, he didn't report it face-to-face in detail after all.

Since there were only five of us left in the house, Stalin let us sit near him. In order to better listen to the report. He first smiled and said to Khrulev: "Dear Andrei Vasilyevich, tell us about the gains of your trip to the United States to Zhukov and Ustinov."

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Khrulev agreed, got up from his seat, took out a stack of documents from his briefcase, and handed them to Stalin respectfully, and said with a smile on his face: "Perhaps the Red Army's great victory in Stalingrad wiped out the German army, which greatly inspired the British and American confidence in the final victory. Therefore, in the negotiation of the "Lease Bill", the United States has shown great cooperation. Except. In addition to meeting our normal needs, we have also given a lot of extra supplies."

Stalin held the pipe in his mouth. Received the stack of documents from Khrulev. He turned over quickly, and suddenly the movement of his hand stopped. When everyone was staring at him and wanted to hear what he would say, a smile appeared on his face. He took out one of them and said with interest: "President Roosevelt is very generous this time. It turned out that they only provided us with 1,000 tons of special armor plates per month, but now they have actually increased to 3,000 tons, which is totally overwhelming. double."

"Can you show me, Comrade Stalin?" Hearing Stalin's words, Ustinov quickly got up from his seat and asked Stalin respectfully.

After Stalin handed the list in his hand to Ustinov, he walked back and forth in the house with his pipe in his mouth, but his mood was much better this time. After walking two laps, it is estimated that Ustinov has finished reading the above content, then he stopped and asked with a smile: "Comrade Ustinov, after reading this list, do you have any ideas? "

Ustinov shook the list in his hand and said excitedly: "If the United States can really provide so many armor plates, then the output of our new tanks can also be doubled."

After listening, Stalin nodded and turned to ask Zhukov: "Comrade Zhukov, you say, if the output of our new tanks can be greatly increased, can we gain an advantage over the German army in the armored force?"

"Comrade Stalin, there is no doubt about it." Zhukov stood up and said slowly and resolutely: "According to our recent tests on the battlefield, a small group consisting of six new T-54/55 tanks The detachment can easily defeat a German tank battalion, but we only had one tank whose tracks were blown off. After rush repairs, we finally drove back to our defense zone by ourselves." At this point, his face couldn't help it. He smiled, "The 0:28 record, Comrade Stalin, this can be said to be a miracle."

When I heard this, I couldn't help being surprised. I didn't expect that I had only been away for half a month. Ustinov had actually put the T-54/55 tank into actual combat and achieved such an amazing record. T-54/55 can have such a good effect. If T-72 can overcome technical difficulties and put a large number of them on the battlefield, then in the future on the Soviet-German battlefield, it will all be the world of Soviet armor.

At this time, I heard Stalin ask again: "Are there any weaknesses in this new type of tank?"

After Zhukov and Ustinov looked at each other, the latter reported: "Comrade Stalin, please allow me to report to you. Since our current technology cannot be compared with a few years later, the new tanks we have built are actually It's just a simplified version. Compared with later generations of tanks, its air defense capabilities are very weak. The area where the new tanks were parked was attacked by the Germans last night. Two of them were torn apart by bombs dropped by the Germans. Another track was destroyed. It was broken and the body was seriously damaged. It is currently undergoing urgent repairs."

"Comrade Stalin," Zhukov waited for Ustinov to finish, and then continued: "If we cannot control the Kursk region's air supremacy in our hands, then no matter how much we invest in new tanks, we will still The enemy’s bombs were all lost."

"Comrade Zhukov, you are right." Maybe it was because he just saw that the number on the US aid list exceeded his imagination. Stalin was in a good mood. At this moment, he still kept a smile on his face and said: "What we learned Judging by the situation. After the German army has captured Kiev, it will concentrate its main forces in Kharkov and around the Kursk region. We have reason to believe that the Germans intend to conduct a large-scale battle with us in this area. As for the issue of air supremacy, Comrade Zhukov will discuss with Air Force Commander Novikov later."

"General Khrulev," Ustinov looked at Khrulev and asked politely, "I don't know when this batch of armor plates will arrive in the country?"

"It will take a month at the earliest." Khrulev said helplessly: "After all, we are too far away from the United States, and the time required for the huge transport fleet to cross the long Arctic Ocean route may not be too short. ."

"Comrade Stalin. I have a suggestion." After listening to Khrulev, Ustinov turned to Stalin and said: "I propose to temporarily stop the production of the T-34 tank and switch to the new T-54/55 tank. In this way, we can provide troops in the Kursk region with no less than 300 new tanks at the end of June."

I think Ustinov’s statement is very reasonable. As long as the tank factory is fully converted to new tanks, when the battle of Kursk in July breaks out, the Central Front and Voronezh Front equipped with hundreds of new tanks will be able to do so. Take the initiative of the entire battlefield.

Unexpectedly, after listening to Stalin, he waved his hands and said repeatedly: "No, no, no." Seeing the expressions of puzzlement on our faces, he also deliberately explained: "Although the new tanks are stronger than the current main battle tanks in the army. Many. But after all, the test time is still very short. If we equip troops on a large scale, what should we do if there is a breakdown on the battlefield? So. For the sake of safety, the new tanks still maintain the existing production speed. By the end of the year, when the technologies in all aspects are more mature, we can increase production."

"Understood, Comrade Stalin." When Ustinov heard what Stalin said, he had no choice but to agree and sat down again.

Stalin turned his attention to me again and asked curiously: "Lida, when President Roosevelt called me two days ago, he mentioned to me that you helped the US military formulate a plan to open up a second battlefield. "

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Hearing Stalin's question, I quickly stood up and replied respectfully: "I just put forward some of my own views on the plan they made."

"It's not easy for you to put forward an opinion that convinces all Americans." Stalin said as he walked to my side, raised his hand and patted my right shoulder a few times to show his approval. "Even if the Americans' final combat plan is different from what you suggested, can you tell us what this plan is about?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin. The United Kingdom and the United States plan to land on the French coast and open up a second battlefield..." I told the three giants that I knew about the "Overlord Plan" and finally emphasized: "Actually, the original combat plan was proposed by the British General Sir Morgan, and I just made appropriate changes."

After I finished speaking, Zhukov took the lead to ask: "Have President Roosevelt or General Marshall mentioned to you when will the Allied forces implement this landing plan?"

As early as on the return flight, I considered how to answer Stalin’s question. Although Zhukov was asking at this moment, I still answered truthfully: “According to my analysis, the implementation of the Allied landing plan will not be early. In May next year."

"Next May?" When Stalin heard this time, his brows couldn't help but frowned. He snoozed his pipe on an ashtray a few times. After pouring out the ashes inside, he restarted filling with shredded tobacco, at the same time puzzled. Question: "Why are they planning to delay for a year?"

"Comrade Stalin, please listen to my explanation." I saw Stalin's dissatisfaction, and I was afraid that he would drive me out of the station again, and quickly explained in detail: "Because the United Kingdom and the United States have to assemble a large number of troops and accumulate a huge amount of strategy. Materials, in this way, the time may not be too short."

"Then how much do you estimate that the United Kingdom and the United States will invest?" Zhukov was replaced by the questioner this time.

I organized the data in my mind, and estimated that in an ambiguous tone, I would say what I knew: "According to their combat plan, the United Kingdom and the United States will invest 1.8 to 2.2 million combat troops~www.mtlnovel. com~ plus logistics supply personnel, the total force may be close to 3 million."

"3 million?!" Hearing the number I said, Ustinov's eyes suddenly lighted up, and he excitedly said to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, since the Allies really put so much force on the European battlefield. , Then on the Soviet-German battlefield, the pressure on us will be greatly reduced. Maybe it only takes a year before we can regain all the territory."

Stalin, who installed the tobacco and put the pipe in his mouth again, just smiled. After stroking a match and lighting the tobacco, he said slowly: "If the Allies can really put in so many troops, even if we do It's worth fighting alone for a year. Comrade Zhukov!" Zhukov immediately turned his head and looked at Stalin, waiting for him to continue.

After Stalin took a cigarette, he took the pipe away from his mouth and said to Zhukov: "Lida cannot return to the front line to command the troops in the short term because she is still recuperating. I'm considering letting her work with you temporarily. For a period of time, I was responsible for supervising the construction of the fortifications of the Central Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army. What is your opinion?"

After Zhukov turned his head and glanced at me, he turned his head and said to Stalin: "I have no opinion, Comrade Stalin." After a short pause, he then asked, "But, what position should I arrange for her (to be continued) .)