Red Moscow

Soon after the arrogant general left, Sokov, who returned to the division headquarters, received a call from Chuikov.

"Colonel Sokov," Chuikov asked on the phone, "I heard that you had a conflict with the commander of the 1st Guards Rifle Corps. Is there such a thing?"

"Yes, there were some quarrels." Sokov asked back: "Comrade Commander, how did you know?"

"You don't know yet, he made a small report to his superiors as soon as he returned, saying that you have no respect for him, no leadership, and lawlessness... In a word, he thinks that you are not suitable to be the commander of the neighboring troops. As a member, I suggest that your superiors remove you from your post."

"Superior?" Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask which superior he complained to. Is it the Front Army Command?"

"You're mistaken, this guard army does not belong to our Don River Front Army, nor does it belong to the Southwest Front Army." Cuikov said seriously on the other end of the phone: "It belongs to the reserve team of the base camp. It was reported by the Chief of Staff. Fortunately, Comrade Chief of Staff understood you, so he suppressed the matter and passed it on to Commander Rokossovsky."

"What is the attitude of Comrade Front Army Commander?"

"He thinks you did the right thing." Chuikov said firmly: "Your division is a special unit, not everyone can directly command it. I think if the unit has been under your command, then you can still get Huge victories. But if it is handed over to some people who don't know the so-called command, I'm afraid something bad will happen."

From Chuikov's words, Sokov understood one thing. Whether Rokossovsky or Chuikov agreed with what he did today, he thanked him and said, "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Commander."

"Don't thank me, Colonel Sokov." Chuikov said with a smile: "If your division hadn't fought the enemy tenaciously in Luhansk, the city would have fallen into their hands long ago, and the attacking Sixth If the group army and Popov cluster quickly, they will suffer a devastating blow.

You don't have to worry about this, with Rokossovsky and I backing you up, you'll be fine. As long as you do your job well and hold on to Lugansk firmly, you don't have to worry about the rest. "

Before Cuikov was about to hang up the phone, he remembered another important thing: "By the way, I have one more important thing that I almost forgot to tell you."

Sokov heard the joy in Chuikov's tone, so he guessed that it was a good thing, and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me what is a good thing?"

"It is indeed a great thing for the officers and soldiers of your division." Chuikov said excitedly: "I heard from Commander Rokossovsky that the superior may promote your division to a rank of one rank. In other words, after this order is promulgated, Lieutenant Colonel Sidolin will become a colonel, and you and Colonel Bely will become generals!"

"Comrade Commander, thank you very much." Sokov was overjoyed when he learned that he would be promoted to general soon, and quickly said into the microphone: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Guards Division, I thank you."

"No, not everyone is promoted to military rank." Cuikov said thoughtfully: "The recruits and guerrillas who were incorporated into your division not long ago will not participate in this promotion."

Sokov thought about it, and it was really the case. Two brothers, Mishika and Vovga, since they led the guerrillas to join their team, one was awarded the rank of major, and the other was also awarded the rank of captain. Most of the commanders are of high rank. I am afraid that everyone has always had opinions in their hearts, but they have not spoken them out.

After Sokov finished talking with Chuikov, he said to Sidolin and the others with a smile on his face: "comrades, commanders, I want to tell you some good news. Commander Chuikov told me that in order to commend the feats established by our division, the superior , planning to promote the ranks of the vast majority of commanders and fighters to the first rank. That is to say, after a while, Chief of Staff Sidolin and Political Commissar Anisimov will become colonels. Colonel Bely will also become Major General Bely."

It is naturally a joyful thing to be promoted to the military rank, and Xidolin and others couldn't help but smile after hearing this.

After a while, Sidolin suddenly remembered that Sokov had offended the commander of the friendly army, so he asked worriedly: "Comrade commander, did the comrade commander tell you what your superiors plan to do after you have a conflict with that commander?" deal with you?"

"The First Guards Infantry Army is the reserve force of the base camp." Sokov said carelessly: "Although his military rank is higher than mine, he has no right to incorporate my troops. They are deployed in our northeast direction , is to prevent the enemy from occupying Lugansk, and they can launch a counterattack against the enemy whose foothold is not stable."

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin asked cautiously, "How many days do you think there are?"

Outsiders will definitely be confused when they hear Sidolin say this, but Bely and Anisimov both understand that Chief of Staff Sidolin is asking the Sixth Army and Popov to quickly gather together under the siege of the enemy. , can also support a few days.

Sokov thought for a while, then stretched out three fingers, and said with a serious expression: "If you put it pessimistically, they can only support for three days at most, and they will be completely defeated by the Germans."

"What, it can only be supported for three days?" Anisimov asked in surprise: "What about the best case, how long can it be supported?"

"Even if they are lucky enough to withstand the onslaught of the German army, but with the interruption of supplies, they will not be able to support them for less than a week under the siege of the enemy."

"Since the friendly forces are about to be defeated so soon, should we start making preparations?" Bely asked tentatively.

"Yes, it's time to prepare." Although what they said sounded like riddles to outsiders, they knew what they meant. Sokov agreed with Bely's plan and said to him: "I think it is possible to deploy a company of troops in the southwest direction of the city, where the rout troops can be accommodated."

"Wouldn't it be wrong to take in the stragglers of the friendly army?" Anisimov asked with some concern.

"It's okay." Sokov waved his hand and said carelessly: "We can only reorganize them in a short time and turn them into a new force with combat effectiveness only by taking in all the stragglers."

"Comrade Commissar, don't worry." Seeing what Anisimov was worried about, Sidolin comforted him and said, "If we can really use these defeated commanders and fighters in a short period of time to form an effective Combat-capable troops, maybe the superiors will promote our Guards Division to the Guards."

Speaking of this, Sidolin glanced at Sokov and said meaningfully: "At that time, the division commander can become the commander of the army, and he will be on an equal footing with the commander of the army today."