Chapter 81 The Sunset (Part 2)
After hearing the almost joking words from Petrov's mouth, Malashenko, who was still in a bad mood just now, couldn't help but reveal a knowing smile.
"I didn't expect you to be such a humorous person, political commissar, no, Uncle Peter. Did you have the same fear and sequelae of war as I do today?"
Regarding the sincere question from Malashenko's mouth, Petrov sighed softly and seemed to be transported back to those years of burning passion and glorious twists and turns.
"Hey, I'll tell you the truth, Malashenko. At that time, I was not only afraid of war. There was a time when I even doubted whether our new Soviet regime could survive those precarious and extremely difficult years. At that time, I was far from having the rock-solid faith that I have now after becoming a political commissar. If that guy Chernyaev hadn’t supported and encouraged me all the way, I might have died. You know what that means, Malashenko. "
In the eyes of Malashenko, who traveled to the Soviet-German battlefield in World War II, Lieutenant Colonel Petrov, as the division-level political commissar of the 20th Tank Division, can be said to be synonymous with the most vivid and positive image of the Soviet frontline political commissar during World War II.
In Commissar Petrov, who had personally participated in almost all major and minor wars of the Soviet army since the October Revolution, Malashenko not only failed to see the ferocious look that a certain French director of later generations deliberately created in order to deliberately discredit the Soviet Union. , the image of a political commissar who does all kinds of evil.
On the contrary, Commissar Petrov's firm stance on political education and morale issues, his diversified approach to both firmness and softness, and his obvious awareness of his own shortcomings in military command, which he only had a brief understanding of but was not proficient in, Therefore, he formed a partnership with Division Commander Chernyayev who served as the military commander and complemented each other well.
These obvious and mature advantages of Political Commissar Petrov have already been noticed by Malashenko, who is a later time traveler. It can be said that if he had just traveled to the Soviet-German battlefield, If Malashenko was in awe and fear when he first met Commissar Petrov, then now Malashenko’s personal feelings towards Commissar Petrov have gradually transformed into one with sincere respect as the main theme. Rhythm.
Because of this, when Malashenko, who had always respected and admired Political Commissar Petrov, heard the words from his mouth describing his unbearable past in his early years, Malashenko, who was deeply surprised, immediately responded with such difficulty. A confident tone came out of his mouth.
"Uncle Peter, you said you were so unbearable when you were young. This is simply unbelievable. I have always believed that you are one of the Red Army soldiers with the strongest faith."
Commissar Petrov, who smiled calmly at the words full of awe and surprise from Malashenko, had no intention of hiding his past.
"Have you read the book How Steel Was Tempered? Malashenko."
Hearing Petrov's sudden question to him, Malashenko, who was born in later generations, had already been familiar with this book by heart when he was still Lin Jie.
After nodding slowly, he spoke softly. Malashenko, who answered in the affirmative, almost without thinking, responded in the affirmative to Petrov.
"Of course, Uncle Peter, I have not only read this book, but I still remember the core spirit and classic quotations in it. The spiritual beliefs left by Comrade Ostrovsky in the book are the core values of our generation. An inexhaustible treasure for young people.”
He was not surprised when he heard the affirmative answer from Malashenko. Commissar Petrov, who was well aware of the profound impact of the book How Steel Was Tempered on Soviet young people of this era, continued to speak.
"Actually, just like the spirit expounded by Comrade Ostrovsky in the book, each of us is actually very scared and frightened when we first step out of the recruit camp onto the battlefield. This is human nature."
"But just as a piece of steel needs to be tempered many times before it can be transformed into armor and used to protect a tank, the same is true for each of our soldiers' path forward."
"Only those who can become indestructible after many hardships can stand out and sublimate into a true Red Army soldier of faith. Although countless companions will fall on this thorny, bumpy and bloody road, they will inherit the legacy of the deceased. Then continuing to fight for the living is the eternal faith and truth.”
"Chernyaev and I survived the most difficult years of our newborn Soviet Union. After that, each of us who survived inherited and grew a lot."
The political commissar Petrov paused before he finished speaking, thinking of something bad, but in the end he still chose to continue what he said.
"Although some changes that occurred later caused Chernyev to suffer from intermittent hysteria and mental disorder, this does not erase the fact that he is a senior commander of the Red Army with firm beliefs. After these years, I With the care and treatment by his side, unless he is too stimulated or drunk, he is still an outstanding and qualified teacher. "
After saying this, he turned back and cast his sights on Malashenko next to him again. There was a magic in his eyes that made people feel powerful when they saw Malashenko in front of them. Shenke seemed to be able to see Petrov, who was also young himself during the October Revolution, and finally spoke with emotion.
"I believe you are a young man who can create a legend, Malashenko. In you I can see the purest and unswerving faith in Ostrovsky's writings shining brightly, although I don’t know what this magical feeling is about, but I am sure that you will be able to go further than Chernyev and I in the military years to come!”
Looking at Commissar Petrov's pure and unfaltering eyes next to him, in the materialistic and indifferent society of later generations, I have almost forgotten the last time I saw such a look. , Malashenko, who seemed to be in a trance as if the song "The Red Army is the Strongest" in the Moscow city, was echoing in his ears again, couldn't help but be moved for a moment.
"We will definitely fulfill our mission! Comrade Political Commissar!"
When the drunken red sunset sinks into the distant horizon with its last warm afterglow, something called faith has begun to take root in a young and hot beating heart.
