Chapter 633 Nemesis Arrives

"Malenkov can stay in Stalingrad to assist you, but Vasilevsky needs to return to Moscow immediately after handing over his work to you. There is still a lot of work waiting for him to complete. When do you plan to leave?"

Facing Stalin's direct question, Zhukov took a deep breath and answered without hesitation without thinking much.

"I need a day and night to study the situation and understand the situation on the front line, and then I can leave for Stalingrad immediately."

"Very good, it seems that you have considered it carefully and are ready, Zhukov."

Zhukov is a rare general who is good at commanding large-scale operations and can think carefully and plan strategically. He is very keen in analyzing and judging the situation and can make targeted adjustments in the first time according to the changes in the world on the front battlefield. Whether it is offense or defense, he can always fight beautifully and achieve a strategic victory. This is also the main reason why Stalin values ​​Zhukov.

Stalin, who had irregular work and rest schedules due to the corrupt situation on the front line, always had the habit of eating midnight snacks, which would provide him with enough energy for his busy work until two or three in the middle of the night or even four or five in the morning. Near ten o'clock was almost the time for Stalin to have a midnight snack.

A few cups of tea and ten sandwiches were the midnight snacks for tonight. Such a large amount of food was obviously not prepared for Stalin alone. Zhukov was fortunate to have a midnight snack with the supreme leader again.

Stalin, who was eating and chatting, repeatedly emphasized to Zhukov in the subsequent conversation that the only way to break the current dilemma in Stalingrad was to attack and counterattack. If he just defended blindly, he would be beaten by the Germans in the city until he lost the war. Stalin hoped that Zhukov would be the practitioner of his grand plan instead of a submissive loser.

In any case, the Battle of Stalingrad must be won.

Zhukov naturally understood that once Stalingrad was lost, the German army would use this opportunity to divide the entire battlefield into two lines, north and south. This would undoubtedly be a catastrophe for his side and would lead to catastrophic and irreversible consequences. Therefore, Zhukov stood on Stalin's side this time and supported a strong counterattack in the direction of Stalingrad.

But as the saying goes, "a good cook cannot cook without rice", no matter how good Zhukov is at fighting, it is based on having soldiers at hand.

If only the current troops in the direction of Stalingrad can defend the city, it is already good. As for launching a counterattack later and even eating up the enemy's German army cluster in one go, this requires more and more powerful forces to be put into action.

The last conversation between Stalin and Zhukov revolved around the issue of reinforcements. In the end, they decided to focus on transporting the recruited soldiers, newly graduated military academy students, weapons and ammunition, aircraft, artillery, tanks, food, medical supplies and other materials produced by various arsenals to the Stalingrad theater.

Stalin asked Zhukov whether he needed to use the newly formed strategic reserve. Zhukov answered that it was not necessary for the time being, considering that the German army was in a strong momentum and the situation in the second half of the year was still full of uncertainty. This macro-level fire brigade needs to be kept until the most critical moment. For example, losing Stalingrad is far less dangerous than the Germans hitting Moscow again.

It is quite rare that Stalin took the initiative to tell Zhukov this time that if the situation changes and the strategic reserve needs to be used, he must make a request without hesitation. Stalin's persistence in this city named after him obviously exceeded Zhukov's expectations.

The next day, before the sun had completely risen, Zhukov, who had only slept for four hours, had already arrived at the General Staff Headquarters, holding a compass and drawing tools, and lying on the war zone map spread out on the desk to personally draw and study the current situation in the Stalingrad war zone.

Next to Zhukov were the latest updated telegrams and summary reports sent last night. Zhukov needed to refer to these telegrams and archives to make his ideal war zone map to understand the front-line situation from a macro perspective.

But the more Zhukov studied, the more he frowned.

He originally thought that the current situation in Stalingrad had not yet deteriorated to the point of being completely hopeless, but now according to the latest intelligence and summary information, it seems that he was really too optimistic before.

If you have to describe it accurately, the current situation in Stalingrad is almost a dead chess game, and it is only a stone's throw away from complete destruction.

Comrade Stalin, the supreme leader and loving father of the Soviet Union, handed the supreme honor and great power to Zhukov, but at this moment Zhukov felt that the courage on his shoulders had never been so heavy.

Relying on the Red Navy fleet to defend Leningrad is a relatively evenly matched battle, and it can even be said to be relatively easy now.

Although the situation in the Battle of Moscow last year was worse, at least there was confidence and objective conditions to completely defeat the Germans.

But the current situation in Stalingrad, in Zhukov's view after a thorough study of it, is more like trying to pick up a war game that is almost like a needle in a haystack in a gambling game full of failures.

Defending this city in the name of the leader is the heaviest responsibility on Zhukov's shoulders.

Zhukov boarded the special plane to Stalingrad with anxiety and worry. On the way, Zhukov, who was sitting on the plane and thinking hard, was determined to defend the city named after the leader, just as Stalin created a miracle in this city and reversed the situation.

The straight-line distance of more than 900 kilometers is not long. Three hours later, Zhukov was able to get off the plane with a face full of inspiring confidence and boarded the Em brand off-road vehicle that came to pick him up to go to the Stalingrad Front Command.

The small off-road vehicle that was speeding all the way just stopped in front of the front headquarters. Vasilevsky, who came forward to greet Zhukov, said something that surprised Zhukov.

"When will we attack?"

Zhukov, who had not received any specific plans and news, was surprised.

"Where did the news come from?"

Zhukov, who was smiling like Vasilevsky, asked back, and his resolute face flashed with the glory of victory that was enough to make people believe.

"Hearing you say that, I suddenly feel that our soldiers should be in high spirits now."

Having arrived at the combat meeting hall with laughter and chatter, Vasilevsky, with a smile on his face, immediately raised his right arm and pointed at a figure not far away and said to Zhukov.

"When our tank hero heard the news that you were coming, he immediately whispered in my ear: As soon as General Zhukov arrives, the attack will begin."

Looking in the direction of Vasilevsky's finger.

What appeared in Zhukov's focus of vision was a young face that he had not seen for several months but was extremely familiar with.