I am full of confidence that we can find uranium mines in Ukraine that are still unfamiliar to all of us. If Ukraine were a country with depleted uranium, the nuclear power plant of the former Soviet Union would not be built in Chernobyl. It is precisely because I have a certain understanding of history that after Khrushchev gave me the task of accompanying the geological exploration team to look for uranium deposits, I resolutely agreed.
Seeing that I agreed to accept the task, Khrushchev nodded and said earnestly, "Rita, the search for uranium is absolutely confidential. In order to prevent leakage, you should arrange some troops with strong combat effectiveness and high loyalty to protect the safety of the geological exploration team. Do you understand? "
"I see, comrade Khrushchev." After I assured Khrushchev, I turned my eyes to konev and asked him in a deliberative tone, "marshal, can I take my former guard company back from the battlefield of suppressing bandits? This unit has experienced many battles, and its commanders and fighters have high loyalty. I think it is most appropriate for them to carry out such a task. "
After listening to me, konev did not immediately answer my question, but first asked Khrushchev, "I don't know when the geological exploration team of lavrinko will arrive?"
"The geological exploration team was just formed yesterday, and it will take some time to complete the preparatory work." Khrushchev replied, "if they want to get here, I think it will take a week at the earliest."
After getting Khrushchev's answer, konev turned to me and said, "Rita, since there is still about a week left, you can completely pull back your guard company. Take the troops you are familiar with and protect the lavrinko exploration team. You can get twice the result with half the effort. "
With konev's permission, I immediately sent a telegram to bukov, who was carrying out the task of suppressing bandits, ordering him to hand over the command to the deputy battalion commander, and then to rush back from shepetovka immediately.
For reasons of confidentiality, I didn't say in the telegram why he was recovered. But I know my bukov. If I don't have anything important, I will never let them stop suppressing bandits and let him rush back to the headquarters as soon as possible. So after handing over the command, he went back to the headquarters by jeep overnight.
In my newly assigned office, I met bukov, who had just arrived. Seeing his dusty appearance, I got up to pour him a cup of tea and handed it to him. After he drank it all, I asked with a smile, "major, would you like another cup of hot tea?"
Bukov grinned at me and handed me the cup: "Comrade commander, please have another cup."
I poured him a cup of hot tea again. Then I turned back to my desk and sat down. After calling him to sit down, I asked with concern, "Comrade major, how's the anti bandit work going?"
"Not bad." As soon as bukov sat down and heard my question, he immediately stood up from his seat and respectfully reported to me: "in this week, we have annihilated two bandit troops and destroyed a camp in the forest. A total of 75 people were killed and a large number of weapons, ammunition and food were seized. "
"Well done." I praised bukov's record and then asked, "I don't know what our casualties are?"
"More than 100 people were killed."
For a person like me who always likes to achieve the maximum results at a very small cost, I feel very uncomfortable when I hear the casualty data reported by bukov“ What, we killed more than 100 people? "
When bukov saw my face changed, he quickly explained, "Comrade commander, almost all the casualties were recruits. It turns out that only seven soldiers of the guard company were injured and none of them died."
Hearing that the loss of the guard company was negligible, my face relaxed again. I then asked, "major, if I ask you to stop suppressing bandits, when can I transfer the troops back to Rovno?"
"It may take two days for the troops to assemble." Bukov didn't ask why I stopped suppressing bandits suddenly, but explained to me with apology: "after all, the activity area near shepetovka is too large, and we are scattered in the area by company. It will take a little time to gather up the troops."
"Major, I'll give you three days." I did not wait for him to finish, but interrupted him. "In three days' time, all your reinforcement battalions will have to get to Rovno."
Bukov nodded his head hard. As soon as I finished, he asked curiously, "Comrade commander, can you tell me why we were suddenly asked to stop suppressing bandits and rush back to Rovno immediately?"
Thinking that in the coming days, bukov will be my most effective assistant, and some things can't be plotted against him. So I selectively told him some of the targets of this operation: "in another week, a geological survey team will come from Moscow, and they will look for a newly discovered mineral deposit in our area. Your task is to protect their safety in the exploration process and help them carry some exploration equipment. "
"New discoveries?" Bukov could not help frowning and pondering at what I said. A moment later, he suddenly came up to me and asked mysteriously, "Comrade commander, I don't know if they are looking for a gold mine or a diamond mine?"
I was really speechless about bukov's imagination. I gave him a wry smile and then said to him, "Comrade major, the search for mineral deposits is a top secret task. I can't tell you any more. Just remember, your task is to escort and protect this exploration team. " After I finished, bukov straightened up and asked respectfully, "Comrade commander, I want to ask a question, do we accept the command of the geological exploration team?"“ That's not necessary, "I said, waving to him." I'll do it myself this time. You just have to obey my orders. "“ I see, comrade commander. " After a moment of silence, bukov tentatively asked, "can I go back to the army?"“ You're going back to the army now? " Bukov's words surprised me. After all, he just came back from shepetovka. He just sat there for a short time and had to go back all night. It was too hard. Out of this consideration, I asked with concern, "major, you'd better rest here for one night and go back to shepetovka tomorrow." Bukov shook his head and said firmly: "Comrade commander, I want to bring the troops back as soon as possible and use my spare time to strengthen the training of the recruits, so as to improve their combat effectiveness as soon as possible." Seeing that bukov's intention had been decided, I didn't detain him any more. Instead, I told him: "Comrade major, although from here to shepetovka is the control area of our army, we have also carried out a massive anti bandit operation recently, which has dealt a heavy blow to the hungry bandits in this area. However, it is inevitable that there will be some trapped fish, so you should be more careful on your way, Take care of your safety. " Bukov nodded, raised his hand, saluted me, then turned and trotted out of my office.