The chief of staff's office was not far away. After receiving Goryunov's call, he hurried over.
"Comrade Commander, what is your mission?"
"How long will it take for our bomber fleet to be ready to attack?"
"Going to bomb somewhere?"
"Here, it's right here." Goryunov pointed to the location marked on the map and said to his chief of staff: "Order the bomber aviation division to bomb these locations to destroy the German fighters and weaken them.
air power."
After listening to the tasks assigned by Goryunov, the chief of staff's pupils shrank suddenly, with a look of surprise on his face: "Comrade Commander, I have not received any reports in this regard. How did you know the location of the German airport?"
Goryunov pointed his hand at Rezanov who was standing next to him and said: "Chief of Staff, let me introduce to you, Comrade Rezanov. He just flew a German bomber from the Germans not long ago.
He escaped from a prisoner of war camp, and he provided the location of the German airport."
Silence, the chief of staff couldn't help but fell into silence when he learned that the information obtained by Goryunov was actually provided by the haggard young man in front of him wearing a new military uniform.
After a long time, the chief of staff withdrew his eyes from Rezanov, looked at Goryunov and asked: "Comrade Commander, is this the information you obtained from him?"
"Yes."
After receiving a positive answer from Goryunov, the chief of staff turned to Rezanov and asked: "Comrade Rezanov, I would like to ask, are you a scout?"
"No." Rezanov shook his head hurriedly and replied: "I am a fighter pilot."
"Since you are a fighter pilot, how do you know the location of the German airport?"
"Comrade General," Rezanov looked at the elderly general in front of him and replied with some embarrassment: "During the air battle in Kuban, my fighter plane was shot down by the Germans. Unfortunately, I was wounded and captured. After recovering from the injury, I
He was held in a prisoner of war camp near a German field airfield."
"Since you are being held in a prisoner of war camp, how did you know the locations of other German airports?"
Faced with the chief of staff's questioning, Rezanov explained: "I was once taken to the airport headquarters for interrogation by the Germans, and I accidentally saw the map on the wall. You also know that for us pilots, knowing
Mapping is a basic skill, and when I saw that map, I instinctively noted the location of the German airfield."
"So, you are a pilot?" the chief of staff asked in a contemptuous tone: "How did you escape after obtaining intelligence about the German airport?"
"He and five other prisoners of war flew back directly from the enemy's airport in a German heavy bomber." Seeing the chief of staff constantly questioning Rezanov, Lunev felt very uncomfortable, so he said
Interjected: "Do you have any more questions?"
The chief of staff did not know Lunev, so he could only look to his commander Goryunov for help.
"Chief of Staff, let me introduce to you. This is Lieutenant General Lunev, the military commissar of the 27th Army." Goryunov knew Lunev's identity and was worried that his chief of staff might accidentally offend him, thus attracting attention.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, he emphasized: "At the same time, General Lunev is also the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
After learning Luniev's true identity, the chief of staff couldn't help but take a breath. He never dreamed that the other party's background was so big. In order to make up for his mistake, he quickly raised his hand to salute Luniev and said apologetically
: "I'm sorry, Comrade Vice Minister, I don't know your identity..."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Lunev waved his hand, interrupted the other party, and said impatiently: "What we want to discuss now is not my identity, but how long it will take for your bomber formation to be ready.
Preparation for attack."
The chief of staff dared to offend Lunev. When he heard this question, he instinctively replied: "Comrade Deputy Minister, if it is necessary to carry out an air strike on the German airport immediately, it will take forty minutes at the earliest."
Perhaps because he was worried that Lunev thought the preparation time was too long, he specifically explained to him: "Our aircraft needs to be loaded with ammunition and filled with fuel. It will be the limit to take off after forty minutes."
Lunev understood that the other party was intimidated by his own identity, but he did not accuse the other party for this. Instead, he said kindly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it's getting late. Hurry up and give the order to the bomber formation and let them do what they want to do."
Be ready to attack."
Seeing that Lunev didn't care about him, the chief of staff was stunned for a moment, and then nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "I understand, Comrade Deputy Minister, I will immediately give an order to the bomber aviation division and let them fly in the shortest possible time.
Be ready to strike."
After the chief of staff said these words, he did not bother to go back to his office. He directly grabbed the phone on the table and called the bomber division commander. He said bluntly: "Comrade division commander, we have an urgent combat mission for you immediately."
The troops are ready to attack...What target should we attack?...Don't worry, I will send a staff officer to report the coordinates of the target to you soon."
After making the phone call, the chief of staff remembered that he was in Goryunov's office, and couldn't help showing an embarrassed expression on his face. He faced Goryunov and said: "Comrade Commander, I have given the bomber division an operational order.
Order them to take off into the air and fight as soon as they are ready for combat."
"You did a good job, Comrade Chief of Staff." After praising the other party, Goryunov waved his hand and said: "There is nothing for you to do here. You can go back to your office."
As soon as the chief of staff left, Goryunov smiled and said to Lunev: "General Lunev, my chief of staff just offended you, please forgive me."
"It doesn't matter." Lunev knew that Rezanov's identity was sensitive, and it was reasonable for the chief of staff to question it, so he said reasonably: "The purpose of my coming here today is to send Comrade Rezanov over. As for the future,
It's up to you to decide how to arrange it."
As early as when he saw Lunev appearing with Rezanov, Goryunov knew in his heart that the other party would definitely keep this person with him, but how to settle the other party gave Goryunov a headache
.
But the more worried he was, the more something was coming. Since Lunev had already mentioned the matter, it was obviously inappropriate to refuse. To be on the safe side, Goryunov said carefully: "Comrade Rezanov, you just came from
You escaped from the enemy's prisoner-of-war camp, and your health is a big problem. I think so, you stay with me to recuperate first, and after your health recovers, you can stay in the headquarters as a staff officer. What do you think?"
Rezanov was a smart man, and he knew that what Goryunov said was a delaying tactic. He wanted to wait until the matter of his return by plane faded away before he decided how to arrange himself. He nodded and said: "Comrade General, I obey.
Your arrangement."
Seeing that Rezanov was very cooperative, Goryunov nodded with satisfaction, and then shouted outside: "Here comes someone!"
Following the shout, a captain walked in from outside. He straightened his back and stood at the door, quietly waiting for Goryunov to give the order.
"Comrade Captain," Goryunov walked up to him, pointed to Rezanov's ear who was standing in the room, and said: "This is Comrade Rezanov. He was just assigned to us today. Because of his
His health has serious problems, so we will first arrange for him to go to the hospital for medical treatment, and then arrange specific work for him after he recovers."
Seeing the captain taking Rezanov away, Lunev showed a faint smile on his face. He said to Goryunov: "Comrade General, you are very right to do this. Before you fully understand his
Before you know the details, be sure not to assign him an important position, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble."
Seeing that Lunev had seen through his little thoughts, Goryunov smiled sheepishly: "General Lunev, it seems that these things cannot be hidden from your eyes."
"General Goryunov," Lunev said to Goryunov, "although judging from various signs, Rezanov did escape from the prisoner of war camp when he returned by plane, rather than being incited by the Germans and joining our army.
He is here to cause damage. But we still need to be more vigilant against him and determine whether what he reports is true or false through subsequent bombings."
When the roar of the aircraft engine came from the sky, Lunev instinctively looked up, but only saw the roof. He asked Goryunov with some embarrassment: "Comrade General, is this our bomber taking off?"
For an experienced pilot like Goryunov, who has been flying with aircraft for more than 20 years, he can tell the model and number of aircraft as long as he hears the roar of aircraft engines. He quickly replied: "That's right, Lu
General Nev, this is our bomber formation taking off one after another. After they take off, they will form a formation in the air, and after completing the formation, they will move towards the attack target."
After Rezanov was handed over to Goryunov, the bomber formations that were going to bomb the German airports also took off one after another. Lunev's goal of coming here had been achieved, so he stood up and said to Goryunov: "General
Comrade, it’s getting late, so I won’t disturb your work and wish you good luck!”
Even though Goryunov had been chatting and laughing with Lunev, it was impossible for him not to feel nervous when facing the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Now that he knew that Lunev was leaving, he naturally wanted to see him out, so he personally sent him out.
to the building where the headquarters is located.
When Runev returned to the army headquarters, it was already dark.
Sokov saw Lunev coming back and asked curiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, why did you come back? You know, we have received the battle report from the Air Force."
Lunev smiled bitterly and said: "There is no way. We are hundreds of kilometers away from the Air Force Command. Even if the driver drives at the fastest speed, it will take more than four hours one way." After saying this, he paused.
After a moment, he asked with concern: "How is it? What kind of results has our air force achieved?"
"According to the report from the Air Force," Sokov replied with a smile: "They bombed five German airports in total. According to incomplete statistics, more than 100 enemy planes were destroyed on the ground. This is an amazing result."
"Destroyed so many enemy planes?" On the way back, Lunev guessed that this air force attack would definitely achieve good results, but he did not expect that the results would be so brilliant, destroying hundreds of enemy planes. He couldn't help but
He said with emotion: "It seems that Rezanov's intelligence has been put to great use."
"Yes," Sokov said in agreement: "If Rezanov had not provided the specific location of the German airport, the results of our bombing would have been greatly reduced."
"General Sokov," before Lunev could speak, Managarov's voice sounded from the side: "I once suspected that he might mislead our army with false targets and make our bomber group enter the ambush circle of German fighter jets.
, but the facts prove that your judgment is correct."
Managarov stood up and walked to Sokov, stretched out his hand to him, and said apologetically: "General Sokov, please accept my apology. This time I made a mistake in my judgment and almost killed a man.
The hero of our army."
Sokov reached out and shook hands with the other person, and said reasonably: "Comrade General, don't blame yourself. Under the circumstances at that time, I almost made a mistake in judgment. Fortunately, I corrected it in time."
Didn't Managarov know that Sokov said this to save face for himself? He could only smile bitterly and say a few words, then walked back to his seat and sat down, and continued to discuss the future with Chief of Staff Derevyanko.
The next combat issue.
"Comrade Commander," Lunev asked Sokov tentatively after waiting for Managarov to leave: "So, Comrade Rezanov has made a meritorious service?"
"Yes, you have accomplished a great service, and it has been a great achievement!"
"He was only a second lieutenant in the Air Force before. Logically speaking, even if he escaped from the prisoner of war camp, he could only be demoted when he returned to the army." Lunev said thoughtfully: "But he has made such a contribution,
Not to mention being demoted, even being promoted to military rank is entirely possible."
"You are right, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov nodded and said: "When I just talked to Commander Konev, he mentioned this matter. Although he cannot directly interfere with the Air Force's affairs, if Gogo
If General Ryunov had no expression towards Rezanov, he would have personally intervened in the matter and promoted him to a higher rank."
Samyko picked up the cigarette case on the table, handed Sokov and Lunev a cigarette each, and said: "I really didn't expect that Comrade Rezanov escaped from the German prisoner of war camp this time.
, not only brought back a heavy bomber, but also mastered the specific locations of several German airfields, allowing our air force to carry out precise strikes against the enemy. This is really amazing."
Sokov lit the cigarette, took a puff, and said to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, there are two air force squadrons at the airport north of our city. If Goryunov is not willing to promote Rezanov to the military rank, we can consider
Let him take up positions in these two squadrons."
"Comrade Commander, these two squadrons are also subordinates of General Goryunov." Samyko reminded Sokov: "Can he agree to our arrangement?"
"I think there should be no problem." Lunev interjected: "In any case, Rezanov has made such a great contribution this time. Even if he cannot be accommodated at his headquarters, he should be placed there.
Let's come here. In any case, without us, he might not have a chance to go to the Air Force Command."
"Let's wait a few days and then talk." Sokov was thinking in his mind that a brave and resourceful soldier like Rezanov would still be a commander even if he no longer served in the air force and stayed in his own army as a commander.
Good choice: "If General Goryunov fails to arrange him properly, I will ask Commander Konev for help and transfer him back to us as an infantry commander."
Although from the air force to the infantry, this span is a bit too big. However, neither Samyko nor Lunev felt the slightest sense of violation after hearing this. Instead, they agreed with Sokov's proposal: "Yes, if it passes.
After a few days of no news, he was transferred to our army group as infantry commander."
This chapter has been completed!