Vatutin, who roughly guessed what Zhukov would ask, didn't hesitate much, and blurted out the answer after thinking for a moment.
"If nothing else goes wrong and is still staying with Kotin, except for a limited number of people who know the whole process of this matter, no one knows what Kalashnikov did and what kind of weapons he designed.
Naturally, no one pays attention to it, but for the time being, this is the best protection."
Malashenko holds the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice, wears the rank of Major General of the Tank Corps, and commands the most powerful elite tank division in the entire Red Army. Even if something goes wrong and there are still people to protect him, he can more or less protect him.
.
But Kalashnikov is just an ordinary tank soldier who retired from the front line. At this moment, he has no reputation, let alone honor. Once he becomes famous because of something bad, he will not even have the ability to protect himself.
nothing.
Under the current situation where the overall situation is uncertain, as a little-known figure, it would be better for Kalashnikov to keep a low profile for the time being, just as Vatutin said.
"Well, it should indeed be like this. At present, it is difficult to say how to characterize this matter. This is not something that you and I can decide and have the final say. I am afraid that only Comrade Stalin can make the final decision and characterize this matter."
Bypassing the National Small Arms Design Competition, they directly mass-produced firearms without production quotas and licenses privately. Hundreds of firearms were produced at one time, enough to arm an infantry battalion.
Even Zhukov felt that this kind of thing had no precedent and was a bit tricky. In the end, right and wrong could only be decided by the man sitting in the highest power seat in the Kremlin.
A high-ranking and powerful man like Zhukov can only make suggestions and give some kind words to his loving father, Comrade Stalin, on this matter. Other than that, he does not have any final decision-making power.
Thinking of this, Zhukov inevitably sighed softly after putting down his weapon.
"I can probably guess what Malashenko thinks and why he does what he does. He has influenced the direction and development of our Red Army tanks several times before, and has given Comrade Kotin a lot of valuable opinions, suggestions and battlefield experience. Kotin
Comrade Jing told me that without Malashenko, our Red Army might still be fighting with IS2 heavy tanks."
"Maybe it's because of this that he's a little anxious. After all, he's still a young man in his twenties. He's a bit abnormal if he's not impatient. He probably just wants the new weapon to be put into use quickly, so that's why he did this.
"
"But in the final analysis, this matter was still handled too poorly. Once something goes wrong, a large number of people will be involved in being dismissed and investigated. Malashenko, even Comrade Kotin and that little Kalashnikov
I can't even run away. It seems that I have to hurry up and deal with this matter after returning to Moscow. Before that, I still have to keep it a secret and don't let other people know about it."
For Malashenko, who is so courageous that he dares to take risks, it is undoubtedly the greatest luck to have immediate bosses like Vatutin and Zhukov protecting him. It is because of the efforts of these two bosses that he can be fine for the time being.
Unfortunately, there is still a possibility of finally resolving this matter perfectly. It all depends on how the loving father Comrade Stalin in the Moscow Kremlin decides.
"Well, let's do this for now, let's go talk about war..."
Thumb thump thump——
Zhukov was just in the middle of what he was saying. Before he could finish his words, a sudden knock on the door interrupted Comrade Zhu's speech and echoed throughout the house.
"Comrade Commander, I have something to report to you."
When Vatugin heard the voice outside the door, he knew it was his adjutant. If he suddenly knocked on the door to look for him, there must be something urgent that he needed to handle personally.
He closed the lid of the weapon box, locked it again, and put it back under his chair to hide it. After doing all this, Vatutin raised his head and spoke.
"Come in, the door is unlocked."
The adjutant who pushed the door and entered the room saw that there was not only Vatutin in the room. After a closer look, he realized that it was Marshal Zhukov who had a higher military rank. He immediately spoke without hesitation and made a report.
"Comrade Commander, Division Commander Malashenko has arrived. He said he came specially to see you and is now waiting in the living room."
"In addition, Colonel Dumayev and others who went to persuade the enemy to surrender have also returned. However, the situation is a bit special. Several representatives of the Germans came back with them. They said that they need to meet Comrade Commander and communicate with you in person before making a decision.
.”
"Um?"
Vatutin did not summon Malashenko. It was not like Malashenko's style to come all the way so late. He thought he might have something to come to see him face to face.
And the Germans who were sent by him to persuade them to surrender actually sent people over. Vatutin couldn't figure out what kind of medicine the Germans were selling in this gourd. What was there to talk about when the war was already going on?
? Is it possible that the German guy feels that he still has some capital and plans to negotiate terms with him?
"Comrade Commander, which side do you want to see first? I can make arrangements as soon as possible."
Both sides came to the door almost at the same time. Under such circumstances, it naturally became a question of which side to meet first.
After thinking for a while, Vatutin and Zhukov whispered softly and exchanged opinions with each other. After receiving Zhukov's nod, he immediately turned his head and gave orders to the adjutant who was still waiting at the door.
"Take the German guy to the conference room to talk. Inform Comrade Chief of Staff, Comrade Political Commissar and Malashenko to attend. Comrade Marshal and I will arrive soon."
"Okay, Comrade Commander, I'll do it right away."
Since they both needed to be met, Vatutin, in order to save time and eliminate unnecessary process considerations, decided to directly combine the two things together. Zhukov on the side did not think there was anything wrong with doing so.
Of course he nodded in agreement.
"I don't know what these German guys want to do. They are surrounded by us and they want to talk to me face to face. Why do I feel that they want to talk to us about conditional surrender?"
Vatutin bluntly told Zhukov his true thoughts, and Zhukov, who also felt the same way, nodded slightly.
"You will know if you met these Germans in the past. Our enemies like to negotiate terms no matter when. It has always been like this from the past to the present. It has not changed since the beginning."
Vatutin, Zhukov, and Malashenko met at the door of the conference room. When Vatutin and Zhukov walked past, Malashenko was leaning against the door of the conference room with a mouth in his mouth.