As for what happened in Berlin and Moscow at almost the same time, Malashenko, who was on the far front line, knew nothing about it. Even if he knew about it, he would probably just laugh it off and not have much reaction.
For Malashenko, who is on the frontline battlefield, no big or small thing is as important as fighting the war. How to fight tomorrow's battle is the top priority that must be considered at the moment.
"Several captains have gone back. Why don't you go and take a rest early and sit here?"
The just-concluded division-level combat summary meeting was co-chaired by Malashenko and Political Commissar Petrov. However, in the second half of the meeting, Malashenko left the meeting and went to do something that only the division commander could handle.
, and then thinking that the meeting was almost over, he never went back, leaving Comrade Political Commissar alone to handle the ending of the entire meeting and related matters.
When Comrade Political Commissar finished all the important matters and had time to do other things, he finally found Comrade Ma on the small sloped lawn not far from the tent of the division headquarters.
Malashenko held a cigarette in his hand and was staring blankly at the night sky above his head like a child looking up at the stars. Comrade Malashenko, a political commissar who did not often see Malashenko looking like this, was a little surprised.
"Huh? Are you done? I thought it would take half an hour to finish, but it went pretty quickly today."
Comrade Comrade Political Commissar who really needed some time to calm down and rest simply sat down next to Malashenko. With the cool night breeze blowing on his face, Malashenko stretched out his hand to offer the cigarette and took it.
Comrade Comrade Political Commissar, who lit the fire on his own, quickly replied.
"The main things have been finished while you are here. The only thing left is to distribute some battle plans for tomorrow. Before Varosha left, he asked me about the replenishment of troops and equipment. Regarding the loss of his regiment,
Biggest, I’m very concerned about this. Anyway, it’s not a big deal, so why are you sitting here looking at the stars?”
The topic took a turn and went back to a distant place. Malashenko, who was smoking from the corner of his mouth, smiled and replied casually.
"I'm looking at the stars in the east. The east is the direction of home. To be honest, I feel a little homesick. I don't have any relatives connected by blood. I only have a beautiful girl who still cares about me in my hometown. It feels good to think of her from time to time.
Otherwise, am I too lonely in my life? It feels really good to be so important to a girl who loves you deeply."
Comrade Lao Ma, is this a show of affection?
Not really, what kind of show of affection is it if only one person is chatting here? It can only be regarded as awkward chatting at best.
Political commissar comrades who are over fifty and have read countless people and things can see it with ease. Even if Malashenko is openly showing affection, it doesn't matter. Once a person reaches this age, what can he still argue with others and care about?
Not too much, especially for people like Comrade Political Commissar who live far more understandingly than their peers.
However, what Malashenko said made the political commissar think of some other things, some unknown things that had never been discussed before. Knowing that he would not be alive for long, if he could satisfy himself before leaving this world
Curiosity, this is not a bad thing, especially for the little guy in front of me who has watched him grow up little by little.
"Have you ever thought about what you will do after the war is over?"
"Hmm? The war is over?"
Malashenko does not like to set this "death flag" for himself, and avoids talking about this issue, which is regarded as a poisonous issue in the 21st century. Almost no one has ever heard his comrade and teacher talk about related matters.
However, whether to talk or not depends on the situation and who is asking the question. If it is a comrade political commissar who asks him questions, Malashenko will be very willing to talk about this topic and can sit like this with the comrade political commissar.
Every second spent together thinking about the future is worth cherishing.
"I, I think...well, actually I really want to take off this military rank and retire and go home."
"I am actually quite lazy at heart. I still remember how unconcerned I was when I was just twenty years old. It was as if the whole world would be destroyed tomorrow and it had nothing to do with me. I just wanted to go along with it.
The life path I decided on was to live a peaceful life every day, and I didn’t expect anything earth-shattering to happen to me, nor did I think about becoming a hero of the motherland, it’s that simple.”
"Now that I think about it, it has indeed changed a lot. I have too many memories and important people and things in the army. Logically speaking, I should not leave this place where I have found my home."
"But... ha, a man must have a sense of responsibility and responsibility. I put my life and death aside and devoted my best to the motherland at my best age. I also want to do the same for Natalia and Anya.
I have to do it before I get old, otherwise I will always feel that I will have regrets in life."
"Probably just enclose a piece of land in the countryside outside Moscow, grow some food, flowers, grass, etc., raise a few animals, and go to work in the fields with a hoe and sickle. I feel that my request is not too much.
, the organization will agree. As for what others think, it’s up to you. I grew up in such an environment, and I don’t care if I suffer more criticism.”
Major General Malashenko, the tank hero of the motherland, twice the recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union, and the commander of Stalin’s 1st Guards Tank Division, after the war, just wanted to go home and enclose the land, and live a peaceful farming life with his wife and children.
Just imagine what the result will be if such a special interview is published in tomorrow's newspaper?
Comrade Political Commissar felt that probably even Comrade Marshal would "shock me, Lao Zhu, for a whole year."
No one would have thought that a person who could achieve such great achievements would be so "unambitious". Given this situation, wouldn't most people run for the marshal? But our comrade, the teacher, did not take the ordinary path.
But based on Comrade Political Commissar's understanding of Malashenko, it's not unusual for this little guy who seems careless and lazy, but actually has a rough and tumble edge to say such a thing. And Comrade Political Commissar is also convinced that this is Malashenko.
His true thoughts, and the words that followed quickly came out of his mouth.
"So that's it, well... I have never experienced such a life, so I don't know what it will be like. But since you have chosen this way, you must have your reasons, so just do it."
After finishing his speech, Comrade Political Commissar looked like he was still unfinished, and his curiosity had obviously not completely dissipated.
"If your application for retirement is rejected and you still have to stay in the army, what will you do then?"
"Huh? Dismissed?"
Malashenko, who originally just talked about it casually, naturally didn't think about such a complicated issue. Now that he was asked about it by the political commissar, he really started to think about it seriously.
"If it's rejected, then there's probably nothing I can do. I'll go wherever I need to go, and I'll do whatever I need to do. I can only obey orders like this."
"But I feel it is unlikely. When the time comes, I will write my retirement application sincerely and affectionately. There are still so many outstanding tank commanders in the motherland, and it is not like I am missing one. I have paid so much, so I have to be satisfied with a little something. Request. It’s better to think about how to farm more appropriately. I’ve even thought about what kind of guard dog I’m going to get when the time comes. I need to get a big one.”
Malashenko, who was dreaming about the future with his political commissar under the night sky, did not know at this moment that the political commissar's casual words in 1944 would one day become a reality.
That is not what happens in the distant future. It is completely beyond Malashenko's personal control. Those big people who control his destiny will rewrite his subsequent life into a completely different scenario.
Being involuntarily forced to follow the crowd is not a good feeling no matter what.
But even so, the rebels of fate will resolutely take up the banner and fight against a fate beyond their control until the end in the invisible yet turbulent Cold War years.