Steel Soviet Union

In the telegram, Malashenko truthfully explained to Vatutin why he wanted to take leave immediately and what he planned to do after he got the leave. Possibly wrote a full telegram, like a composition, and after receiving Malashenko's telegram, Vatutin's reply came very quickly.

"Comrade Commander, has it been approved?"

"Well, the leave is approved. It's official leave for half a month. After I go back, I have to travel to a lot of places. Don't even think about going to bed and having a good sleep."

Political Commissar Petrov brought over the documents that required Malashenko's personal approval and signature. Malashenko was reading and talking to the political commissar comrades, and the tip of the pen in his hand kept signing his own signature on the documents. Name.

"Where do you plan to go as your first stop? It won't be Ke Jing's place again, right?"

"You're really right. The first stop is Chelyabinsk. I've already sent a telegram to Kotin. I'll probably get there within tomorrow by plane and then transfer by bus. I have to ask this guy to give it to me. Prepare the food, I don’t want to go hungry.”

Malashenko formally closed the last corrected document in his hand and pushed all the documents in the pile in front of the political commissar. Now the work was completely completed and all that was left was to set off.

"Are you planning to leave tonight? Or should you wait until early tomorrow morning?"

The sky outside the window was already dark. Although it was not yet a real night, it was already close at hand and there was not much time left. Malashenko looked up and saw such a scene and smiled faintly.

"Tomorrow early morning, there is no plane for me to take now. Help me arrange a car and take me to the nearest field airport tomorrow morning. Oh, by the way, the plane has also been contacted for me, so just tell me There is an order from Comrade Commander to mobilize a plane with the nearest time to fly directly to Chelyabinsk.”

"I do everything for you. If I suddenly disappear one day, who will you ask to help you?"

Comrade Comrade Political Commissar's words were half-joking and smiling, but they made Malashenko, who had not thought about it, a bit speechless and didn't know what to say.

"Okay, I'm kidding you when you look like that. Eat something, wash up, and get ready to rest. You have to be on your way early tomorrow morning and get up before dawn. Don't treat staying up late as a daily routine. Your body is the capital of revolution. "

Chatting with political commissars is like this. If it is not a wartime situation, it will always be done in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Malashenko likes this feeling very much and has always done so.

But when he thinks that one day in the future, this feeling will leave him forever and will never be found again, and that this day will still be foreseeable in the short future, even Malashenko, who has become a tough guy, can't help but feel sad. Growth sigh. ˜”*°•.˜˜.•°*”˜

"Compared to the sudden death, the time spent waiting for death after suffering from a terminal illness is even more desperate and desolate. I can only watch helplessly but can't do anything, as if I am surrounded by torture and anxiety every day. "

As Comrade Political Commissar said, Malashenko got up at four o'clock in the morning, took a car, and rushed to the nearest field airport more than 30 kilometers away.

As soon as the commander of the Fighter Aviation Regiment in charge of this field airfield heard that Malashenko wanted an aircraft, he immediately raised his voice on the phone and promised the political commissar that he would agree to it and that there would be no problem.

Although it is a field airport where the Fighter Aviation Corps is stationed, fighter jets are not the only ones parked on this airport.

In addition to the latest batch of La-5 fighter jets, there are also several latest Li-2 transport aircraft at the airport, which just landed at the airport the day before and came to deliver supplies.

According to the original plan, these Li-2 transport planes were originally scheduled to leave today and return home. By the way, they were also supposed to pick up the seriously injured people who had just been sent off from the front line and transport them back to the rear for treatment.

But now the situation has changed. Malashenko took Vatutin's order and asked to immediately deploy a special plane for his own use and fly to Chelyabinsk, which was not the intended destination of the flight.

The lieutenant colonel, who was responsible for managing the affairs of the field airport and was the highest commander here, simply intercepted a Li-2 transport plane. After explaining the situation and reasons to the crew members, the captain and the pilot nodded in agreement without hesitation, very readily.

"No problem. It's my honor to help General Malashenko on his way. Just tell me when to take off. We brothers will be ready at any time."

By the time Malashenko arrived at the airport, it was already approaching eight o'clock.

The remaining Li-2 transport planes that were in a hurry had already been fully loaded with wounded people and flew away in advance. Apart from the fighter jets, there was only one Li-2 left at the airport waiting for Malashenko.

After meeting and thanking the lieutenant colonel who arranged the flight for him, Malashenko, who had no intention of spending any more time, boarded the plane directly and took a seat in the cabin. This time he was alone on the return trip.

It was only after he sat down on the simple folding seat in the cabin that Malashenko discovered that he was actually carrying many seriously injured people who had just been evacuated from the front line on this special flight and that he was not really alone. .

Several accompanying doctors and nurses were taking care of the wounded who had already fixed stretchers on the cabin floor. Many of the wounded seemed to have missing arms and legs, and their heads were bandaged like rice dumplings. The situation was very bad.

"It was originally a direct flight to Moscow. After arriving in Moscow, these wounded comrades were sent to the best hospitals for treatment. They are all heroes defending the motherland."

"However, we temporarily changed our route to Chelyabinsk. Although the medical conditions there are not as good as those in Moscow, it is still better than staying in the frontline field hospital. After discussion, we decided to continue taking away the wounded people we originally planned to take away. Take it with you, that’s how it is, Comrade General.”

The Battle of Cherkasy had just ended, and the military planes flying between the front and the rear every day were not empty at all.

When the special plane Zhukov took before flying from Moscow to the front line, he brought as much medicine as possible that was in short supply on the front line, but Moscow had a lot of medicines.

Malashenko, who understood how valuable aviation resources were during wartime, would naturally not be so petty. After a moment of nodding to indicate that he understood, he responded to the young captain in front of him.

"You are doing the right thing. In fact, I want a special plane and it is a bit embarrassing to temporarily change the route to Chelyabinsk and delay your schedule."

"The wounded comrades deserve the best care. They are all heroes of the motherland. When we arrive in Chelyabinsk and put me down, we must arrange for them to be hospitalized and put into the best ward as soon as possible. If there is Any difficulties or problems will be solved by me. The flight change was caused by me, and I have the obligation to help the wounded comrades solve the problem. "