Chapter 315 Welcome Back

In the huge and silent warehouse, one could hear a pin drop. Malashenko and others stood there in silence with their eyes wide open in surprise. Colonel Petrov continued to speak.

"Before, when your battalion was in Yelnya and Leningrad, it was a special case and special treatment without a political commissar. But now that it has been upgraded to a guards tank regiment, it is different from the past. If there is no political commissar, some people will point fingers and gossip behind your back. Do you understand what I mean? Malashenko."

After listening to what Colonel Petrov said, he blinked for a long time. Malashenko, who was obviously a little overwhelmed by the news of the political commissar, felt that it was too sudden. After all, the assignment of a political commissar was not good news for Malashenko, who was used to holding power alone and acting vigorously.

When he thought that he would be restricted by a political commissar who had dropped from above in the future, whether commanding operations or daily life, Malashenko, who felt a little stuffy in his chest after slowly coming back to his senses, spoke with a little reluctance.

"To be honest, comrade political commissar. Since Yelnya, I have almost become accustomed to the fighting style of leading the troops alone. I will naturally obey and accept the superiors' request to assign a political commissar to our regiment. I just hope that the new political commissar will try not to interfere with my military command. We can discuss and analyze the battle together, but I hope that the final decision and order will not be interfered with by the outside world."

In 1941, when the Great Patriotic War had just broken out, the political commissars of the Red Army undoubtedly had considerable power in the front-line troops that was enough to make Western countries feel a little unbelievable.

At the least, they could directly shoot the so-called "deserters" and "traitors to the motherland" without trial, and at the worst, they could directly intervene in the military deployment and decision-making and command made by the military chiefs at the corresponding level. Compared with the highest deputy military commander in a unit, the corresponding highest-level political commissar of this unit is more like the second-in-command who is almost on par with the military chief. The power in his hands is much greater than that of the deputy-level military chief in the armies of Western powers.

It is precisely because of this that Malashenko was worried after learning from Colonel Petrov that he would be assigned a political commissar.

What if this deputy political commissar who was airdropped is a bad guy who can't pee in the same pot with himself? Malashenko, who is worried about the future of himself and the unit, can't imagine what terrible final results this will produce.

From Malashenko's tense expression, the obvious worry can be seen. Colonel Petrov, who has climbed to the position of political commissar step by step since the initial struggle with the White Bandits and has experienced countless cruel battles and has also seen all kinds of people, can naturally understand the meaning of Malashenko's complex eyes at the moment.

He walked forward slowly, stretched out his only remaining left arm, and gently placed it on the shoulder of Malashenko, who was somewhat dejected and had a complicated expression. Political Commissar Petrov, who had always had a sincere and warm smile on his lips, finally gave the final answer at this moment.

"Who said that I would interfere with your military command and combat decisions? You have the final say on all matters related to military command. If you want to manage other matters, I won't mind, provided that you have the patience and energy."

After hearing the words from Colonel Petrov, Malashenko was caught off guard and trembled all over. Malashenko, who was still a little stunned after a brief brain freeze, immediately raised his head in shock.

"What did you just say? Comrade Political Commissar"

Looking at Malashenko's exaggerated expression of shock, which almost dropped his chin to the ground, Colonel Petrov, who still maintained the unchanged smile on his lips, confirmed again.

"I have signed all the relevant files for the job transfer before I came here, and all the work at the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been transferred and completed. Although I only have one arm left, it is not useless at least. Are you willing to let me, an old man, stay in your glorious Guards Heavy Tank Regiment?"

Looking at Colonel Petrov's sincere face without any hypocritical expression, Malashenko, who felt mixed emotions and quite excited in his heart, no longer knew what to say.

"Comrade Political Commissar, I hope you understand my mood at the moment. I mean, I mean, I am really too excited. It is my honor for you to come to our regiment as a political commissar, and it is also an honor for the entire First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment. On behalf of all the crews and officers and soldiers, I welcome your arrival!"

The true feelings between men never need too many unnecessary words and tears. Looking at the sincere and heartfelt moving expression on Malashenko's face, Colonel Petrov, who had already put an end to his worries and felt relieved, once again held Malashenko's shoulders.

"During the days after I retired from the front, I always looked back on the past like an old man who had been hammered to death. The death of Chernyaev lingered in my mind for a long time afterwards. I asked myself that I could not accept the sudden departure of my comrade who had laughed, smoked and eaten snow to quench his thirst in the same trench. In addition, I only had one arm left. I even fantasized about ending my life like this when I was drunk."

Colonel Petrov, who still had his only remaining left arm on Malashenko's shoulder, looked like a heartless person immersed in past memories, which was enough to make people sigh. However, the faint momentum that he inadvertently revealed did not seem like a person on the verge of despair. The feeling of strength and fortitude was like the warm breeze blowing across the face in spring, making people feel as if they were immersed in its atmosphere and empathized with it.

"The most precious thing for a person is life; it gives each of us only one chance. A person's life should be spent like this: when he looks back on the past, he will not regret wasting his years, nor will he be ashamed of being mediocre; so that when he dies, he can proudly say: I have dedicated my entire life and all my energy to the most magnificent cause in the world - fighting for the liberation of mankind."

"Even today, these words that gave me light when I was in trouble are still with me. I think you can understand these words, Malashenko."