"Comrade Joseph, good news! Marshal Budyonny has led his forces to recapture Rostov-on-Don. The Ukrainians are now retreating, and Marshal Budyonny is directing the pursuit!" Shaposhnikov said with a broad smile.
When Rostov-on-Don had been occupied by the Ukrainian army, Joseph had flown into a towering rage. Several unlucky souls had been sent by Joseph to Siberia to dig potatoes. This had left Shaposhnikov walking on eggshells every day, terrified that Joseph might strip him of his post as Chief of the General Staff in a fit of anger. Now things were better. The Ukrainians had voluntarily withdrawn from Rostov-on-Don, and they could be said to have recovered their lost territory.
"Really? Good, excellent. Marshal Budyonny is indeed the most outstanding military strategist in our army." The gloom that had hung over Joseph's face for days finally dispersed, and a smile returned to his face.
When Joseph had learned that the Ukrainian army had taken the initiative to attack Buru, he had been greatly enraged. He had demanded that the Buru army immediately drive the Ukrainians from their territory and wipe them out. He had also personally appointed Marshal Budyonny, ordering him to go to Yuzefgrad and command the Buru forces there.
Budyonny had only just taken office, yet he had already achieved success. Naturally, this greatly pleased Joseph.
"How many Ukrainians have we eliminated?" Joseph asked.
"This..." Shaposhnikov suddenly did not know how to answer.
Joseph immediately realized that there seemed to be something hidden beneath the surface. The smile on his face quietly vanished as well.
"Comrade Joseph, the Ukrainians withdrew voluntarily. Although Marshal Budyonny is leading the pursuit, he has not yet caught up with them. Therefore, the casualties we inflicted upon the Ukrainians were actually not great," Shaposhnikov answered truthfully. He knew that if he concealed