Without saying a word, I listened quietly to Colonel Petrov telling about the tragic battle that took place under the city of Kiev. This battle was the most disastrous defeat of the Red Army in the entire World War II. It can hardly be compared with such a tragic and dry battle. Use words to describe it.
"The comrades at the field hospital performed an emergency amputation on me. Fortunately, the wound was treated promptly and no ulceration or infection occurred, so I was lucky enough to save my life."
"After just resting for two days, I immediately asked my superiors to send me back to the front line of the battle. However, after completely losing my entire right arm, even the most basic shooting of a gun was a problem. On the front line, The combat force will never ask a physically disabled person to join the battle. Now that I think about it, maybe the superior's decision to reject my request was the right decision."
He raised the wine bottle aside from his mouth and poured himself a full glass again. The dazzling whirlpool of wine reflected in the dim light and swirling in the shaking glass was just like Colonel Petrov's heart at this moment.
"Those few days were probably the most disappointing time in my life. I couldn't accept the fact that I had become a useless person. It was almost the same as giving up on myself. I even refused to take medicine and even thought about committing suicide. .”
"But it was at this time that my old classmate who worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow found out about me on the front line by some means, and used a transfer order to recruit me to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow. At the same time, I also attached a promotion order in the name of commanding the troops to break through and achieve military exploits. I am probably the first person to go to the headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with one arm to take up the post."
"Only after I returned to Moscow did I realize that this guy who graduated from the Party School in the same period as me was much better than me in the front-line troops in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In terms of official rank alone, he was already a senior official. Major General, if I remember correctly, this guy should be the best among our graduating students."
After listening to Colonel Petrov's emotional words, Malashenko was thoughtful, but the slightly questioning look in his eyes was noticed by Colonel Petrov.
"It was no accident that we were able to take down this bastard Kamalov."
"Since the outbreak of the war, the situation in and outside Moscow has become extremely serious. Finns, Germans, and even Americans and British spies of all kinds always want to get what they want most from Moscow. First-hand information.”
"The German and Finnish spies who refused to settle down even planned several assassinations and sabotage operations. Some party members who were corrupted by the conditions they offered did not hesitate to betray their motherland to work for these Nazi and Fascist lackeys. So like this The situation must be contained!”
"The mission of the Special Operations Department is to detect and eliminate those spy networks in Moscow, and at the same time to uncover those dirty traitors hidden among our comrades!"
"Although a guy like Kamalov is completely bad, judging from the investigation materials currently available, he has at least not had contact with any spy organization, so it will not implicate his family. At best, it will be a trial. He is just one person."
After finishing his words, he gently raised the wine glass in his hand to signal to Malashenko. After understanding Colonel Petrov's intention, Malashenko immediately raised the wine glass on the table in front of him and drank it in one gulp.
The whole throat-piercing liquor has an indescribable flavor in this special atmosphere.
"So you have found the meaning of fighting again, right?"
The so-called battle not only takes place on the front line where artillery fire is flying, but also on the rear counter-intelligence front where overt and covert arrows intersect with each other. It is also a life-and-death struggle without gunpowder. If Uncle Petrov can really adapt to such a new environment and...
In Malashenko's opinion, it would be great if he could regain his mood.
Malashenko, who was holding a glass of wine and was silent, did not wait too long. Colonel Petrov, who thought for a moment with calm eyes and then spoke again, spoke with the same perseverance as before.
"I have thought a lot since I came to the current environment. Since I have lost an arm and cannot continue to participate in frontline battles, it is already destined. No matter how much I don't want to admit it, there will be no change at all."
"Instead of sinking like this, it is better to bravely face the cruel reality and make changes like Comrade Paul Korchagin. I have helped countless comrades who have sunk their wills to get out of their psychological shadows. The road to self-salvation should also be left to us.
To complete it. This is like a political task. For me, it is the only choice that must be completed."
Being able to see that Colonel Petrov was still able to rekindle his original fighting spirit after suffering so many blows one after another, such a result was for Malashenko, who wanted to see his Uncle Peter develop in a good direction.
Of course it is the best thing.
As the atmosphere gradually became more heated, the two of them began to toast and drink together. Even Natalia, whose drinking capacity was much inferior to these two grown men, drank a lot and her cheeks turned red.
The outspoken Malashenko and Colonel Petrov talked a lot that night, starting from reminiscing about Commander Chernyev and ending with hating Red Army scum like Kamalov.
Malashenko, who has left too many shared memories together, has never been able to pour out all the words he has been holding in his heart like tonight.
"I heard that you were rushed back to Moscow for treatment from the Leningrad front line. This is at least commander-level treatment. Malashenko, you are... hiccup... you are really getting worse now.
It’s more and more beyond my imagination.”
The more he drank, the bigger his tongue got. Gradually, Colonel Petrov began to lose his ability to keep his mouth shut. Colonel Petrov, who was always cautious in his words and deeds, would never take the initiative to talk about other people's affairs.
Issues such as treatment.
To be able to say such words to Malashenko, except that Colonel Petrov was indeed drunk, Malashenko's rapid promotion based on his own strength is what really surprised and intrigued him.
.
"Commander-level treatment? Hiccup...Uncle, please don't laugh at me. Have you ever seen that commander driving a tank to bayonet with the German Fascists? In Leningrad, I almost drove the tank into a drag.
I'm driving a car, the kind that's specifically designed to hit Germans. If it weren't for the fact that the tanks of those Germans are really terrible, I...hiccup...it's still unclear whether I can sit here and drink.