Steel Soviet Union

With the support from his family, Malashenko, who had no regrets in his heart, became more determined.

So he said goodbye to his wife and children early the next morning, and set out again on the road to do what he had to do no matter what.

Zhukov had been guessing what kind of reply Malashenko would give him. From the moment Malashenko entered the door, he had been staring at this already very familiar face and said nothing for a long time.

"Comrade Marshal, as agreed, I am here and Malashenko will report to you."

Even now, Malashenko still has not given up, and still wants to try to persuade Zhukov back from the dangerous edge, and does not want to let him embark on the same road of no return again.

Listening to the reports echoing in my ears, my eyes were still fixed on this extremely familiar face.

After thinking for a long time, Zhukov finally spoke.

"What's your answer, Malashenko, tell me your answer."

Knowing that Zhukov would never come to him again and ask such a question for anything else, Malashenko, who had already thought about how to answer, replied without any hesitation.

"My answer has not changed, Comrade Marshal."

"I still believe that the leadership army should not be reduced to a tool that it should not be reduced to, and soldiers should not actively participate in politics for the purpose of seeking personal interests. So I still refuse to carry out that order, and I hope you can understand it. The interests and interests of our country, understand our bounden duty and obligations as soldiers, and stop——"

boom--

"Enough! Malashenko!"

Before Malashenko could finish his speech, Zhukov suddenly stood up and slapped the table with a loud shout.

Next, almost tremblingly, he raised his finger and pointed at Malashenko's nose.

"I'm so disappointed in you! Malashenko!"

"I have trusted you for a long time and entrusted you with the most important tasks and responsibilities. However, when I needed you most to execute orders and complete tasks, you repeatedly said "no" and "refuse" to me. "Can't do it"!

"What turned you into this? Has time corrupted you and turned you into a disobedient ruffian!? Look at what you have become now. You have committed and are deepening Mistakes are crimes that will result in direct execution on the battlefield!”

"I once hoped that you could look back and understand what you should do and what you shouldn't do. But now it seems that you can't bring me anything except letting me down again and again. ! You have lost the most basic sense of mission as a soldier, regard military orders as nothing, go your own way, and seriously deviate from your responsibilities as a soldier! "

"And, you-"

"Then I, together with Comrade Marshal, have done these things that the Red Army has never done. Is this my bounden duty and obligation as a soldier? Is it possible that the Red Army and our motherland have come to this day through such actions? Has such a great achievement been achieved?”

""

It was completely unexpected that Malashenko would interrupt so rudely and respond to him in a shocking way.

At this moment, Zhukov's eyes and face were full of astonishment, and he couldn't think of what words to use in response to Malashenko's question.

I am not here to quarrel with Zhukov, I just hope that this old boss who has been leading his promotion can wake up.

Malashenko, who did not want to see Malashenko continue to make mistakes again and again, switched to a calmer, almost pleading tone and continued to speak.

"Comrade Marshal, wake up!"

"Look at the road we have traveled so far, I beg you to look back! No matter what is attracting you in front of you, but please look back and see if we have been along the way. Is it really because of this that we have reached this point?”

"Countless soldiers shed blood and sacrificed, countless comrades shed blood on the battlefield, and countless comrades fell in the coldest winter of 1941, under the capital of the motherland they loved all their lives. Is it just to look at us, look at Are their comrades, superiors, generals and marshals whom they once trusted with their lives embarking on a path of betrayal for their own selfish interests?”

"Atheists don't believe in the existence of those evil spirits, but I still want to ask you a question."

"When you and I lie in the cemetery one day, beside those martyrs and comrades who have gone before us, how can we be in the same place with them!? Is it because we have stepped on them and spent our lives Are they willing to sacrifice themselves and give up their lives just to let us do what we do today?"

""

Malashenko, whose ears were filled with the echoes of his own words, could not tell what was on Zhukov's expressionless face, but it was obviously very dull, neither sad nor angry.

The deathly silence continued in the Soviet Ministry of Defense, the office that symbolized the highest power, and for a long time not a single sound came out.

Malashenko didn't know whether his words would have any effect. To be honest, he was not sure at all.

It has been a journey of ups and downs and he has reached his forties. Today, Malashenko is no longer as reckless and impulsive as he was when he was a young boy. If it were not for today's events, he would rarely have emotional fluctuations.

No matter what happens next, Malashenko, who has a clear conscience, will face it calmly and ask himself whether he is ready.

When Zhukov, who had sunk into the chair behind his desk, finally spoke quietly again, Malashenko, who had not moved even half a step since he entered the office, was still standing upright.

"Malashenko, do you remember how you got to where you are today?"

Before Malashenko could speak, Zhukov's questions and answers had already followed.

"It was me who made you a success, Malashenko. It was me who brought you to where you are today step by step."

"When you fell seriously ill in Leningrad, it was I who ordered a special plane to take you back to Moscow for rescue; when you were shot and fell on the battlefield, it was I who ordered you to be revived at all costs."

"When countless envious people were staring at the supreme and unique honor of planting the flag in the Capitol Building, it was I who awarded it to you. I rejected everyone and left the opportunity to you."

"It was I who turned you from a little captain to the general you are today! It was I who turned you from a person without even a medal on your chest to a three-time winner of the Hero of the Soviet Union award!"

"I gave you everything, everything, everything! I even prepared the general promotion order for you. Look at it, it's right here! In my hand, in front of you! There are other things The position of commander of the German Group is waiting for you! The only thing I need is that you fulfill your duties and obligations as a soldier and carry out the orders from your superiors.”

"And what about you? Look at you now, what have you done?"

"You did nothing, Malashenko. The only thing you did was to disappoint me again and again until I lost confidence."