Red Moscow

Under the leadership of the lieutenant, Sokov came to the headquarters of the Front Army and met the commander, General Konev, the military commissar, Lieutenant General Mekhlis, and the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Zakharov.

After entering the door, Sokov faced the three of them, raised his hand and gave a ring salute, and said loudly: "Comrade commander, hello, Major General Sokov has been ordered to report!"

"General Sokov, we have been waiting for you." The first person to greet Sokov was naturally the commander, Admiral Konev. He reached out to Sokov and asked with concern: "The journey is going well. Bar?"

Sokov looked at Konev in front of him, and found that his appearance was still very different from the pictures of later generations. At this moment, he was in the trough of his life, his face was thin and full of melancholy, and he was as beautiful as he was when he conquered Berlin. The appearance of her looks like two different people. He quickly stretched out his hands to hold each other's hand, and said respectfully: "Thank you, Comrade Commander, for your concern. On the second day of our departure, we encountered German snipers on the road and sacrificed several soldiers. But the enemy's snipers They were also wiped out by us."

Then it was Mekhlis who greeted Sokov. Looking at the general with a round face and his eyes narrowed into a line when he smiled, Sokov couldn't believe that this was the general with the "little boy" Mekhlis, known as the King of Reports. He thought to himself that the other party had reported Rokossovsky's style of work to Stalin, but he encountered a soft nail, and he didn't know if the other party had made a small report at this moment.

Although Sokov volunteered to come to the Steppe Front Army because he wanted to make contributions with Konev's potential team, but he did not expect to meet Mekhlis here. His reputation in the army is not good. Due to his blind command, the Soviet army once lost 500,000 troops in a week. But out of politeness, Sokov shook hands with the other party and greeted him politely: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissioner, nice to meet you."

Chief of Staff Zakharov waited for Sokov to greet the other two commanders before stepping forward to give him a bear hug. He patted Sokov on the back with his hands and said with a smile: "Sokov, you are really not simple. When the counterattack under the city of Moscow began, you were just a corporal, and now you are a general." .”

"General Zakharov, hello." Sokov met an acquaintance here, and said excitedly: "Since I escorted Rokossovsky back to Moscow for treatment at the beginning of last year, we haven't seen each other for a year. , are you okay?"

Seeing the doubts on the faces of Konev and others, Zakharov quickly explained to them: "I met General Sokov when I was the deputy commander of the 16th Army. Company commander."

After Zakharov's explanation, Konev's face immediately showed an expression of enlightenment. But Mekhlis just nodded with a calm expression.

"General Sokov!" After the simple greetings, Konev officially announced the appointment of Sokov: "According to the instructions of the headquarters of the Supreme Command, the appointment has extensive combat experience, and has rich combat training and organizational experience. Commander of the 27th Army, come to be the commander of the army. Now, I formally appoint you as the commander of the 27th army. General Sokov, I congratulate you."

"Thank you, Comrade Front Commander."

After Mekhlis and Zakharov shook hands with Sokov one by one and congratulated him, Konev continued: "General Sokov, let me introduce you to the mission of your army group, please." Come to the map."

When Sokov stood in front of the map, Konev continued: "Your group army is now stationed in the Koski area. Your task is to seize the time to build a solid defense to prevent possible German attacks."

Sokov looked at the location of the Kosky area. It is located in the north of Kastornoye, and there are forests, swamps and lakes everywhere. The Germans have no ability to reach this location. Order to build a solid and complete fortification in this area, not to mention the waste of money and money, and it is not useful at all.

After Konev finished introducing the situation, he waited for a while, and seeing that Sokov was silent, he asked automatically, "How is it, General Sokov, do you have anything to say?"

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," since Konev asked himself to express his opinion, Sokov naturally would not let go of this good opportunity, and quickly said: "I think what I have to do after taking office is to smoothly and high-quality Complete the combat training and political education specially formulated by the front army. As for the defense fortifications, I don't think it is necessary to build them."

Sokov's deterioration can be described as earth-shattering, and Konev's face became serious: "General Sokov, don't you know that the Hitlerites have a large number of new tanks and self-propelled artillery, if we don't have solid fortifications, we have to stop them They are simply impossible."

"Comrade Front Army Commander, you are right." Sokov agreed with Konev's statement: "According to my experience in fighting the Germans, facing a large number of new tanks and self-propelled The enemy of artillery can't stop them at all if they don't have strong fortifications."

"Since you understand this truth." Seeing that Sokov also agreed with his statement, the anger on Sokov's face subsided a little: "Then why did you still make the ridiculous suggestion of not repairing fortifications?"

"Because I feel that the enemy has no ability to reach our army's defense zone." Sokov replied without humility: "Therefore, there is absolutely no need to build such fortifications."

Hearing what Sokov said, Konev couldn't help but sneered: "General Sokov, do you think that if the Germans can't reach your defense zone, they won't be able to reach it?..."

"Comrade Commander," Mekhlis said unexpectedly at this moment: "I think General Sokov is right. We must trust our friendly forces. They will definitely be able to hold their positions and prevent the enemy from attacking us." Closer to Moscow. Our troops are now located to the east of Moscow, and I believe that even if there are no fortifications, there is no need to worry about the enemy's attack."

If someone else said this, maybe Konev would think it over. But Mekhlis, who spoke, was a layman who didn't understand military affairs, but liked to command blindly. Even because of his mistakes, the Soviet army lost 500,000 troops within a week and lost the Kerch Peninsula.

Konev glanced at Mekhlis, and said expressionlessly: "Comrade Military Commissar, as the commander of the front army, I will strictly implement the orders of the headquarters and build defense fortifications in the existing areas that may resist the German attack. Absolutely not Acting by chance, just imagine, if we did not build any fortifications in the defense zone, but the enemy broke through the defense of the friendly army and rushed in front of us, how would we stop them?"

After saying this, Konev turned to face Sokov again, and ordered him in a stern tone: "General Sokov, as a commander, don't you know that orders from superiors can only be carried out, and are not allowed?" Was it discussed? After you returned to the army, you immediately started the construction of defense fortifications, understand?"

Facing Konev's stern order, Sokov couldn't help but smiled wryly, and then replied bravely, "Understood, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I will immediately start the construction of defense fortifications after I take office."