Chapter 1909 I've Always Wanted to Say Thank You to You

Malashenko rarely needs his own division headquarters security force. In most cases, this elite guard company stays behind the division headquarters, serving as an elite light infantry force to protect the division headquarters and accompany the political commissar comrades. Read Malashenko is escorted by another equally elite heavy tank company on the battlefield. They are the last line of defense to protect the safety of the division commander on the battlefield.

Therefore, it is really rare for Malashenko to personally take the divisional security company out to pick up people like now, and Malashenko himself seems a little unfamiliar. Fortunately, Malashenko, who led the team out to pick up the people, did not wait too long. Vatutin's motorcade appeared in the field of vision and drove in front of him after a short while.

"I thought it was Petrov who would come to pick me up. I heard that you were busy leading the battle yourself."

Vatutin, who got out of the back seat of the Gas Jeep in the middle of the convoy, was still the same as before. He was dressed in the uniform of a general. He could not be said to be fat, but it definitely had nothing to do with thin. His horizontal figure and chubby face made the front commander The waiter looks more like a kind neighbor uncle who seems to ask you at any time, "Are you hungry? Dinner is just about to open at my house."

Malashenko and Vatutin already have an extraordinary relationship that goes beyond ordinary superiors and subordinates. They both know this very well, so Malashenko doesn't bother to use polite words in front of people they don't know. If you talk too much, it is really unnecessary for you, and it will make you look unfamiliar.

"In fact, the battle has just ended, or today's battle has been forcibly interrupted from the original plan, and there is no need to continue."

"oh?"

Vatutin, who was walking with Malashenko on the road to the division headquarters with his hands behind his back, became interested. He knew that Malashenko would definitely explain in detail next.

"The Germans who were facing the enemy surrendered. A patchwork infantry field group with no armor and very little artillery assembled eight under-equipped infantry regiments to try to resist our offensive and take command. He is a major general of the National Defense Forces."

"As a result, in just one day and one night, we almost completely cleared out the position yesterday evening and completely surrounded the suburbs. We planned to finish off the leftovers early this morning and then continue to advance north to join the friendly forces. Who would have thought that these cowards would actually I couldn’t bear the pressure and surrendered early in the morning. It is said that this was the result of thinking all night, but who knows the truth.”

There are indeed some discrepancies between the situations reported by Malashenko and what Vatutin knows. After all, Vatutin's understanding of the overall battle situation is still based on the summary report of the front army's battle situation last night. This morning, before it was fully light, he got up early and set off, heading straight for Malashenko's leadership division. It is normal to not know whether the latest situation that just happened is true. Wingdings: ♦︎♦︎⬧︎♦︎◆︎⌧︎♦︎♦︎□︎❍︎

"Well, it seems that our tank hero is terrifyingly strong. Fasis is now able to make wise choices after briefly thinking about life. Now he has saved the lives of many outstanding young men for the motherland. This kind of victory is the best result. Meaningful, am I right?”

The first half of Vatutin's sentence was a boast, the second half was a matter of fact, and at the end he even added a "yes or no" question to Malashenko. This really made Comrade Ma, who doesn't like to be arrogant, It was a bit dumbfounding.

"The sacrifice of the motherland is too great, Comrade Commander. As long as more young hopes can be preserved, I think this is meaningful, and I agree with you on this point."

Two generals, one senior and one junior, walked in front of the team, chatting as they walked. Behind and on the left and right were the guard company brought by Malashenko and Vatutin's entourage, staff and guards.

After not walking far, they arrived at the temporary base of Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division. Vatutin could see IS6 heavy tanks one after another ready to go. Many of the crews who had temporarily disembarked were surrounding or leaning against them. Smoking and chatting beside his car, waiting for the attack order to be issued, the tense atmosphere of an imminent war seemed to not exist at all.

"I believe this is due to strength. Having absolutely invincible strength makes everyone like this, right?"

Vatutin had a lot of questions today, and Malashenko certainly knew what Comrade Commander was referring to, so he answered with a smile.

"Relaxation can relieve stress and better cope with battles. As a division commander, I don't want my soldiers to go to the battlefield with huge psychological pressure and fear of the enemy. This is of no benefit at all. Since we have the ability to crush If you want to kill the strength of those Germans, there is absolutely no need to do this. This is completely different from being careless and underestimating the enemy. Everyone knows what kind of enemy they will face. They are like this just because they firmly believe that they will win, that's all."

Vatugin, who was listening as he walked, nodded frequently, clearly agreeing with Malashenko's explanation.

When he was still two hundred meters away from the division headquarters camp, Vatutin suddenly changed the subject and talked about something that surprised Malashenko.

"You know, you have actually helped me a lot and resolved many difficult troubles and crises for me. I have always wanted to say thank you to you. This is what I should say."

""

Vatutin's unexpected words caught Malashenko off guard, but after reacting immediately, Comrade Ma wanted to quickly say a few humble words to push back this great credit. Malashenko didn't want Vatutin to feel that he owed him anything. Many things Malashenko did because he wanted to do them, and this had nothing to do with deliberately currying favor with the leader or currying favor with the powerful.

As if he had expected Malashenko to have such a reaction, and could even guess what Malashenko wanted to say next, Vatutin, who did not intend to give up the right to speak, just raised his hand slightly to signal Malashenko not to interrupt, and then continued to walk and speak, and continued to speak.

"Where should I start? Let's start with Kursk."

"The urgency of the situation on the southern front was beyond my expectations. Several times I even realized that the 1st Heavy Guards Tank Brigade was in danger. The destruction of such an ace unit would leave a huge stain on my military career. More importantly, Prokhorovka and the entire southern front of Kursk would collapse, and the result would be catastrophic."

"But as Marshal Zhukov said about you: Malashenko is good at creating miracles, and he will always surprise you."

"I must admit that I didn't expect you to withstand the pressure in such a critical situation and keep insisting on your position. He held out until the reinforcements arrived, fulfilled his mission brilliantly and completely bankrupted the German offensive plan. "

"After that, Marshal Zhukov half-jokingly told me that you had to thank Malashenko. In order to help you save the situation, he himself is still lying in a Moscow hospital with a big bullet hole in his stomach and almost lost his life. "

"It may sound a bit pretentious, but I really wanted to go to the hospital to see you at that time, even if it was just on the way. Unfortunately, time did not give me this opportunity. When I returned to Moscow to make a report and inquire about you, you had already gone to Kotin to talk about your affairs. When we meet again, you have returned to the front line. "