Chapter 2122 See You Again, Commander
The long and bumpy train journey was far from pleasant. Malashenko was not in the mood to engage in the formal "appreciating the scenery along the way" like the sick young people of the 21st century in later generations. All Malashenko wanted to do now was End this battlefield as soon as possible and send those fascist bastards to hell as soon as possible.
"What are your plans after arriving at the station? Report to the front army headquarters first? Or are you busy with other things?"
The final destination of the trip was not far away. Comrade political commissar asked Malashenko what his plans were after getting off the bus at the station. After thinking for a moment, Malashenko also answered casually.
"Only part of the troops has arrived, and most of the rest are still on the way. I have nothing to command if I stay, so I have to leave most of the things to you."
"As for me, as you said, I'll go to the front army headquarters first. I haven't seen Commander Vatutin for a few days, and I just happened to catch up with him. I don't know how he has been doing these days. Anyway, I really miss him."
Malashenko does not have to hide his true inner thoughts from the comrades in the political commissar. He can say whatever he wants without any falsehood. Comrades in the political commissar who heard this can also understand Malashenko’s decision. After all, Malashenko and Vanessa It had long been known that Tu Jing had a close personal relationship.
"Okay, let me say hello to Comrade Commander. In addition, our division's personnel and equipment losses since entering Poland have not yet been replenished. Although the losses are not very large, they have affected the combat effectiveness after all. Do you want to Mention this matter to Comrade Commander? It would be best if you can fill it in for us as soon as possible."
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That’s not to say that this matter cannot be mentioned at all. After all, what Comrade Political Commissar said is true. This is the objective reality that must be faced.
But the problem is that Malashenko now really gets angry whenever he talks about this matter. For no other reason than he worked for so long for nothing, and in the end he only received supplies once from the old chief, Driver Luo. As for the replenishment of more personnel and equipment, they didn't even see a shadow of them. They treated their buddies like cattle and didn't even feed the horses if they wanted them to run. It really makes me angry just thinking about it.
"I will mention it to Comrade Commander, don't worry. I'm sorry. After all, it's not very kind to ask for something just after I came here, but I will do it. I am forced to have no choice but to do it. Use my old face to sell it."
Fortunately, he had a good relationship with Vatutin. Malashenko reckoned that if he had left an ordinary commander alone, not to mention whether he dared to say this, and asked for something as soon as he came, he would have said this shamelessly. , people have to decide whether to give it or not. I guess even if they are willing to give it, it won’t look good.
The strategic offensive against East Prussia is still being prepared. The battle cluster with Vatutin's Belarusian Third Front as the main force is currently resting and recuperating. Of course, it can also be said that it is waiting for campaign preparation materials and the main battle force such as the Leader Division. arrival.
All in all, it can be said that Malashenko and the leadership division have arrived at the right time, neither early nor late.
When the train actually pulled into the station and stopped, Malashenko stepped out of the carriage and came to the platform. He looked around and found that the train station in this small town was not that big, and it was still in Poland. Not German territory.
The current platform of the station is just a busy scene full of people. Various materials are being moved and unloaded back and forth. The smell of an imminent war is obviously very strong.
"Then I'll leave this place to you. You set up a contact point at the station. When I come back, I will contact the station directly to ask where to go. I will leave for the front army headquarters now. I will finish the fight early and finish it early when I come back. There will be more later. I have other things to be busy with.”
After explaining the final matters and handing over the work to the political commissar who also just got off the car, Malashenko immediately led his entourage and guard troops and embarked on the road to the front army headquarters. From the flatbed truck The jeep belonging to the division headquarters that was unloaded immediately, along with several troop transport trucks and infantry fighting vehicles, headed east after leaving the station.
"East Prussia, I'm so excited just thinking about this place! After so much experience and waiting for so long, I'm finally going to break into the German homeland. This time I want them to have a taste of the war raging on their own territory. ”
Iushkin, who was recruited by Malashenko to be the driver, seemed very excited. Of course, Malashenko, who was sitting in the passenger seat and lighting a cigarette, could understand, and he blurted out the answer while puffing out smoke.
"Just wait a few days, now is not the time. It will take two days just to transport all the jars and jars from our division by train. I don't know when the additional equipment and personnel will be in place. I hope Comrade Commander can help me more." "
There is one thing to say: As far as the current situation of the leadership division is concerned, the only person Malashenko can think of who can count on is Vatutin.
After all, Comrade Zhu, who I haven’t contacted for a long time, doesn’t know what he is busy with now. There is no way that Malashenko can ask around for his contact information and then call Comrade Zhu and say, “Hey, brother, my life is hard here. , Do you think we can get some equipment and people to help?" This is not realistic after all.
When he got off the bus at the destination later, Malashenko left behind most of his entourage and guards, and only brought a communications staff officer to the headquarters. When he finally saw Vatutin, whom he hadn't seen for some time, Malashenko felt that the commander, who was already fat, seemed to be a little "stronger". It seemed that he had been eating and drinking well recently. After all, winter is the season for gaining weight.
"Look, our main force is coming. Now we can start the death countdown for those Nazis entrenched in East Prussia."
Just like usual, no matter how Vatutin treated others, at least when he was with Malashenko, he didn't have any airs of a commander. People who didn't know might really think that this was a big brother meeting a little brother, and brothers were dependent on each other.
Malashenko, who was greeted by Vatutin with open arms, also grinned, walked up to Vatutin in two steps and gave him a solid bear hug, and greeted him comrade, and then began to fulfill his obligations as a loyal subordinate.
"Comrade Commander, Major General Malashenko, the commander of the 1st Heavy Combined Arms Division of the Stalin Guards of the 3rd Belarusian Front, reports to you. I wish you good health and please give instructions!"
A hug when meeting is a friendship of life and death, and a salute and report is the obligation of a subordinate.
Malashenko has always kept personal and official relationships very clear, but not completely unrelated. He can keep a certain distance between them and combine them to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
It is precisely because of this that Vatutin, who felt proud under the gaze of everyone in the headquarters, naturally smiled more brightly. He patted Malashenko's shoulders twice on the spot and smiled in return.
"Good job! I have heard about the battles in the suburbs of Warsaw and the southern front of Poland. It was a beautiful fight! It did not bring shame to our front! Comrade Stalin's commendation telegram arrived at our front headquarters before you."