Chapter 3231 Your German Emperor

Seven years is neither long nor short. It depends on how a person lives and how he understands and feels life.

Malashenko, who has been the commander of the East German group for seven years, never thought that he would face this "seven-year itch".

He maintained his enthusiasm for a long time at the beginning of his term, but now it is gone. Instead, he misses his family whom he has not seen for seven years.

Malashenko, who stood by the window and sighed, still carried the rank of general. He was looking at the Brandenburg Gate, which was not too far away from the window, and the Reichstag, which was also in his field of vision.

Recalling the bits and pieces of his struggle with his comrades here 19 years ago, it seems that he can still see the bright victory flag flying high on the roof.

Knock knock knock——

"Come in."

Malachenko, whose thoughts were pulled back to reality, turned around and walked past the window. The person who entered the commander's office in front of him was Iushkin, whom he had not seen for a long time. He looked more impressive with the rank of lieutenant general than the gunner at that time.

He raised his hand to signal Iushkin to skip those unnecessary formalities, and then took the initiative to walk to the capable general under his command. After looking up and down and patting Iushkin's arm, Malachenko smiled and said when he found that Iushkin was not shaking at all.

"Well, it seems that these days in Poland have not made you useless. You are more energetic than before."

Faced with the generous praise from the old driver, Iushkin, who was a little embarrassed, just scratched the back of his head and smiled.

"It is my honor and pleasure to return to the leader's army and to serve you again, comrade commander."

"Hmm"

Malachenko nodded and didn't say anything directly, but stared at Iushkin until Iushkin felt a little uneasy.

"I'm not used to not hearing you talk as much as before. Maybe you should continue to talk to me and let me relive the old memories."

Malachenko has never forgotten that Iushkin talked a lot of nonsense on the battlefield a long time ago, and he didn't keep his mouth shut after leaving the battlefield. In short, whether on or off the battlefield, he always had the old habit of not being able to keep his mouth shut.

After the old tank commander said this, Iushkin, who knew what he was like back then, felt even more embarrassed. He didn't look like a tank lieutenant general at all, and only smiled foolishly.

Malachenko, who no longer entangled in these trivial matters, smiled and gestured.

"Come, sit here, sit down and talk."

After everyone sat down, Malashenko, who started to talk about business, slowly spoke.

"You should have known what the superiors transferred you here for this time, right?"

Iushkin nodded after hearing this.

"Yes, comrade commander, I have received the written appointment document of the commander of the Leader Army before coming. But to be honest, leading such a force full of merits and glory forward makes me feel very stressed. Sometimes I even doubt whether I can be competent for this position."

Although the title of "Stalin" has been gone for many years, the old soldiers and comrades who once fought under the banner of the Leader Army are still accustomed to using the name "Leader Army" instead of the First Near Tank Army, including Malashenko and Iushkin.

After seeing Iushkin's expression that was indeed a little unconfident, Malashenko, who responded with understanding, nodded slowly and encouraged him.

"The key to this kind of thing is to believe in yourself, Iushkin. Believe that you can do it, and then you will be able to do it."

"Not only do I trust you, but Kulbarov and Lavrinenko also believe that you will be fine. This is our unanimous opinion and consensus."

"I have carefully read your resume report in the Bo group. It is very good. Just based on this report, it is convincing enough to let you take up your current position. To be honest, I even feel that I have delayed you. If you were put in command of the troops earlier during the war, you would probably be far more than this now, perhaps a general or even higher."

Before Malashenko finished speaking, Iushkin, who was about to say something, accidentally glanced and noticed a magazine on the coffee table next to him.

It was not a Soviet magazine, but an English magazine.

It was no big deal to be on the East Berlin front next to the enemy camp. It was commonplace.

With Malashenko's power and position, it was easy for him to obtain and read these Western magazines, and no one could blame or say anything.

However, the pattern on the cover of the magazine attracted Iushkin's attention like a magnet, and he could hardly move his eyes away.

"Comrade Commander, this is..."

"Huh? Oh, this, the Americans made it, and it was just sent to me not long ago. Making such unreliable things has always been their specialty, and this time is no exception."

As he said that, he picked up the magazine on the coffee table and gestured to Iushkin. Malashenko, who was speechless when he saw this thing at first, now can only laugh.

To say that the magazine itself is quite famous, and it is a global fame, not just a country or a region.

Malashenko did not expect that one day he would become the cover character of Time magazine, and in such a satirical and spoof form.

"The Emperor of East Germany, the most dangerous man in the Soviet Union, has been in his loyal East Germany for seven years."

After learning later, Iushkin, who can now also understand English, slowly read the title and postscript on the cover of the magazine word by word, and then looked at the portrait of Malashenko on the cover with the Capitol building flying the victory flag as the background.

Iushkin, who felt both amused and speechless, could only shake his head.

"These Americans will do this kind of empty things that have no practical significance at all. The more they do this, the more it shows their fear in their hearts and what they are afraid of. Only those who are really afraid of something will keep talking about it back and forth."

Malashenko, who did not continue with Iushkin's words, had more important things on the agenda, so he changed the subject and went straight to the point.

"Next month we will conduct a live-fire confrontation exercise with the East German troops at the tank training ground in Dresden. But this is not a deterrent or a war warning, but a military exchange to promote mutual trust between the East and the West, with the goal of reducing the risk of war."

"The commander from the West will also be there to observe. Like me, he has been in the same position for 7 years."

"This live-fire confrontation exercise will be led by the leader's army. You have less than a month to prepare, so you must hurry up. The East German side will be represented by Wittmann's 7th Tank Division, which is their most elite tank unit."

"Wittmann will use all his strength to deal with you. This is what I ask. Similarly, you must use all your strength. Of course, there is no need to have too much psychological pressure. This is not an exercise that must be won. There is no other meaning except military exchanges and discussions. Just do what you should do."