Chapter 150: Meeting

"It has been found that the enemy's 2nd Panzer Group led by General Guderian of the German Central Army Group has moved southward to the Ukrainian theater. At the same time, a large number of troops belonging to the Central Army Group are moving northward to Leningrad. The unit numbers and numbers are currently unknown and need further verification."

Although this intelligence telegram from the Moscow Ministry of Internal Affairs only has such a short sentence, it can be described as extremely important to Zhukov's command decision and significance.

Zhukov put away the telegram paper in his hand that still smelled of ink. After a moment, he raised his head again with the most resolute look in his eyes.

"Comrades, I just received intelligence from Moscow. The enemy's main German vanguard group, the 2nd Armored Group, has begun to move southward towards the Ukrainian theater. The Central Army Group has also drawn a large number of troops to support the battle in the north in the direction of Leningrad. Our enemies have no time to take care of other things in the Yelnya theater!"

"This is an extremely important opportunity for us. It is a great opportunity to completely defeat the enemy and regain lost territory! We must completely wipe out the German military presence in the Yelnya theater before the enemy's main force returns to support us and complete our own strategic intentions."

"Twenty-fourth The army and the 43rd army immediately prepared for a general offensive, and the offensive direction is expected to be the weak position of the northeast and southeast roots of the German army in the Yelnya theater salient! Our enemies in front of us have no more reserve reinforcements to dispatch in a short time, and now we have a local force advantage! Comrades, victory will belong to our great Red Army! "

Zhukov is indeed good at preparing for pre-war mobilization. This argument that "the German army is already at the end of its strength" combined with the current situation and implied to his senior commanders and fighters, combined with impassioned speeches, can play the role of boosting the morale of the army as Zhukov hoped.

This pre-war decision-making meeting that decided that the reserve front would immediately launch a general offensive against the Yelnya theater after a very short preparation period was soon successfully concluded with a group of senior commanders and fighters of the Red Army under the reserve front taking orders and leaving.

Just as Zhukov, who had just presided over the meeting, came to the battle map and was about to find out which direction the German army would break out from after being pinned and encircled by the Red Army in the Yelnya theater, a hurried lieutenant came to Zhukov quietly.

"Comrade Commander, Major Malashenko and his first heavy tank breakthrough battalion, who were transferred from the Western Front to support the reinforcement, have arrived in Gzhatsk. The first heavy tank breakthrough battalion is resting and waiting in the suburbs. Major Malashenko has led his deputy Captain Lavrinenko to report to the front headquarters. What instructions do you have?"

It was Zhukov's personal order to let Malashenko report to the reserve front headquarters.

Zhukov, who had only heard of this young tank major who had been praised and affirmed by his old classmate Rokossovsky and even the old Red Army Marshal Timoshenko, was very curious about Malashenko and wanted to meet him in person.

"Bring them here. I will meet them here. Remember to show respect to our tank heroes."

After hearing the order from Zhukov, the lieutenant was obviously stunned for a moment. He soon recovered and took the order.

"I understand, Commander. I will arrange it now."

A few minutes later, when Malashenko and Lavrinenko, who had rushed here in a hurry and did not even have time to wash their faces, appeared in front of Zhukov, two loud salutes in unison almost sounded in Zhukov's ears at the same time.

"Report to the commander, the 16th Army of the former Western Front has been ordered to report. Major Malashenko, the battalion commander, and Captain Lavrinenko, the deputy battalion commander, have finished their reports. I wish you good health!"

The ancient Chinese believed that "the face is born from the heart", and the real truth contained in it is that a person's core inner spirit can be roughly seen at a glance just by his face, demeanor and expression.

Looking at the two young tank soldiers in front of him who were saluting and reporting with dust on their faces but still full of energy, especially the slightly different but indescribable special feeling exuded by Malashenko, Zhukov, who was basically convinced that his old classmates Rokossovsky and Marshal Timoshenko's evaluation was correct, smiled and returned the salute, pointing to the two chairs beside him and spoke quietly.

"Sit down, young heroes who defend the motherland, let's sit down and talk slowly."

Compared with the resolute portraits in those old black-and-white photos of later generations, Malashenko, who saw General Zhukov, the "Red Army God of War" recognized by later generations, for the first time, was much more shocked.

From the battle against the White Bandits to defend the new red regime, and after experiencing various battles and battles, his resolute face has been weathered.

But even so, this legendary Red Army general like a god of war still did not detect any vicissitudes of aging on his face, and the expression revealed from this resolute face was only the trust that was enough to make people deeply convinced.

Seeing General Zhukov himself was like seeing victory and hope. This inexplicable peace of mind diluted Malashenko's anxiety about whether he would be transferred to Kiev in the future, and made the young and restless heart calm down instantly.

After Zhukov put down the things at hand temporarily, he sat down with Malashenko and Lavrinenko on an equal footing.

This Red Army god of war, who also came from a poor family and started as an ordinary soldier, relied on his outstanding talents and abilities to finally step by step to the position of Soviet hero today, finally slowly spoke to Malashenko and the others.

"I understand that you fought very hard in the first phase of the battle of Yelnya. The crew and equipment of the First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion have been almost completely replaced compared to the lineup when it was just put into battle."

"It is inappropriate to transfer you to the front line again during such a difficult and severely damaged situation, but the second phase of the battle in the Yelnya theater must have a tank unit that can serve as a spearhead breakthrough."

"What awaits you will be the desperate resistance of the trapped German troops in front of you. The upcoming battle will be more tragic than the previous one."

"Now, are you still determined to complete the mission?"