While Lin Hua was talking, he took the time to observe Zhukov's entourage and found that he only brought two drivers, one adjutant and four guards, and he still retained the habit of driving lightly and simply.
"Mikhail," Zhukov said to Lin Hua with a gentle smile on his face: "I heard that you not only established meritorious service in the defense of the Istrian Reservoir; but also in the battle to liberate Kryukovo City During the battle, your performance was also very outstanding, and you even proposed some novel tactics. After practice, these tactics are still very effective, and I plan to promote them throughout the entire front army at the appropriate time."
"Comrade General," after hearing Zhukov's praise, Lin Hua pointed to the two medals on his chest and said proudly: "These two medals were awarded during the battle to liberate Kryukovo City and defend the Istria Reservoir. acquired."
"I know, I know all this." Zhukov stared at the Order of Lenin and said: "In recognition of your successful defense of the Istria Reservoir, there was an issue about whether you should be awarded the Order of Lenin. We have different opinions, but fortunately Rokossovsky and I both convinced our deputies, so that this medal, which represents one of the highest honors, can be hung on your chest like it is now."
"Thank you, thank you, Comrade General!" Knowing that the reason why he received such a high-level medal was entirely due to the efforts of Zhukov and Rokossovsky, Lin Hua quickly expressed his sincere gratitude to the other party, "I I will definitely not betray the trust of you and Commander Rokossovsky, and I will make new achievements for the motherland in the next battle."
In response to Lin Hua's expression, Zhukov smiled and nodded, and said with satisfaction: "I believe you." After saying this, he raised his hand and looked at his watch, and added, "Mikhail, I really want to talk to you. You have a good chat, but unfortunately time does not allow, so we say goodbye here. I wish you well!"
Facing the big hand extended by Zhukov, Lin Hua hurriedly held it with both hands. After shaking it twice, he asked nervously: "Comrade General, where do you plan to go?"
"Where else can we go?" Zhukov retracted his hand and said with a normal expression: "Of course, go to the vicinity of Voloklamsk and see how the enemy's defense is there."
Although Lin Hua knew that Zhukov, who liked to visit the frontline troops from time to time, had not even injured a hair during the entire Patriotic War, for the sake of the other party's safety, he still politely reminded him: "Comrade General, although I I don’t know the status of the German army’s defenses in the direction of Voloklamsk, but if you go any further, your life and safety will be threatened, so I implore you not to go any further.”
"That's right, Comrade General!" As soon as Lin Hua finished speaking, the adjutant who had remained silent echoed: "Lieutenant Sokov is right. Going further forward is the area actually controlled by the German army. You belong to the front army. Supreme Chief, you have no right to put your life at risk."
After the adjutant finished speaking, a look of anger appeared on Zhukov's face, as if he was about to get angry. Lin Hua guessed from the adjutant's tone that he must have tried to persuade Zhukov before he came here, but it had no effect. Lin Hua stared at Zhukov nervously, wanting to see what kind of reply he would make.
But Zhukov did not get angry, and the expression on his face became calm again. He looked at the adjutant and nodded, and said: "Comrade Major, since you said so, let's go back. Let's wait until the main force of our army arrives at the outskirts of Voloklamsk and launch an offensive battle. ." After he said these words, he nodded to Lin Hua, turned around and got into his jeep, urging the adjutant who was still standing next to the car, "Major, why don't you get in the car?"
The adjutant was overjoyed when he learned that Zhukov planned to go back. He nodded gratefully to Lin Hua and gestured to the soldiers in the car behind him, telling them to get in the car immediately.
The jeep Zhukov was riding in turned around and drove in the direction it came from. After Zhukov's car passed by, the car in which the guard was riding also made an emergency U-turn and sped up to follow.
Seeing Zhukov leaving, Lin Hua finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even though this area is already controlled by their own troops, no one can guarantee that there are no German stragglers hidden in the forests on both sides of the road. If they found a Soviet general here, they would be surprised if they didn't shoot him with a black gun.
Not long after Zhukov left, a guerrilla group of more than fifty people arrived. They were all wearing common people's clothes, and the leader was a bearded man with a burly build, wearing a dark gray short coat and a black cotton hat. He asked his men to stop where they were, and took another young man with a medium build who looked a little thin, and came over to report to Lin Hua: "Comrade Lieutenant, I am the captain of the Saviev guerrillas, and this is My political commissar Stepan. We were ordered here to accept your command, please give the order."
"Hello, Comrade Saveyev! Hello, Comrade Stepan!" Lin Hua shook hands with the two of them one by one and introduced the mission to them: "The mission given to us by our superiors is to abandon the German army in this area. Collect the supplies. The task of your guerrillas is to help our soldiers move all the supplies that hinder traffic to both sides of the road."
"Understood, Comrade Lieutenant." After listening to the tasks assigned by Lin Hua, Saveyev replied expressionlessly: "I will go and arrange work for the soldiers."
When Saviev turned around and was about to leave, Lin Hua suddenly caught a glimpse of him carrying a Mosin-Nagant rifle like himself, and stopped him: "Comrade Saviev, please wait a moment." Weiev stopped and turned to look at Lin Hua with surprised eyes, wanting to hear if there was anything else he wanted to tell him.
"Comrade Saviev," Lin Hua pointed at the rifle the other man was carrying and asked curiously, "I would like to ask, how is the equipment of your guerrillas?"
Hearing Lin Hua's question, Saviev said with a somewhat unnatural expression: "Comrade Lieutenant, we are guerrillas, not regular troops, so the equipment will definitely not be very good. There is only one machine gun in the entire guerrilla army." , five submachine guns and more than 30 rifles, many comrades only have one grenade on them."
Knowing that the guerrillas' equipment was so poor, Lin Hua decided to use his current authority to replace their equipment. So he smiled and said to Saviev: "Comrade captain, take your people to my platoon leader, Second Lieutenant Vanya, and ask him to replenish you with some equipment. Thirty German submachine guns, And matching ammunition. How about it?"
Saveyev, who had always had a bitter look on his face, suddenly showed an expression of surprise when he learned that Lin Hua was going to equip his guerrillas with thirty submachine guns: "Comrade Lieutenant, are you telling the truth?"
"Yes, Comrade Captain." Lin Hua smiled and nodded, pointing to Vanya, who was directing the soldiers to carry ammunition, "That's my platoon leader, you go tell him, just say it was me, We need to replenish thirty submachine guns for your guerrillas. Go quickly."
After confirming that Lin Hua was not joking with him, Saviev's face lit up with joy. However, he did not forget the basic etiquette. He still raised his hand and saluted Lin Hua with a solemn military salute before leaving with his political commissar Stepan.
"Comrade Lieutenant," Yakup, who was standing next to Lin Hua, asked worriedly after Saviev and the two left, "the order given to us by our superiors was just to collect supplies. And you easily put thirty Is it appropriate to hand over a submachine gun to a guerrilla group? If the superiors find out, will they blame us?"
"Comrade Captain," Lin Hua looked at Yakup and said seriously: "The reason why I provide weapons to the guerrillas is to improve their combat effectiveness. You can't let them charge at the enemy with grenades in their hands, right?" To dispel Yakup's concerns, he also emphasized, "If the superiors want to blame, I will bear the responsibility."
