Red Moscow

Konev returned to the headquarters, went straight to the table, picked up an empty teacup and went to the place where the samovar was placed, turned on the faucet below to get a cup of hot tea, and asked casually: "Comrade Chief of Staff, where did the military commissar and I leave?" Did anything special happen during this time?"

"According to the report, the troops are resting at their own stations. As for the special matter," Zakharov said with some hesitation, "General Sokov, the commander of the 27th Army, once called and said that he We have found an excellent fighter, and if we can launch an attack quickly, we can definitely achieve a good record."

"A call from Sokov?" The teacup in Konev's hand just touched his lips. Hearing what Zakharov said, he immediately put down the teacup and asked curiously, "What fighter plane?"

"I didn't ask." Zakharov shook his head, and said a little embarrassedly: "I told him that the main force of the front army needs time to rest and replenish, and will not take the initiative to attack the enemy in a short time."

When Konev heard this, he slammed the teacup on the table and said sharply: "Chief of Staff, how can you answer like this? You know, Sukov is very good at fighting, since he said he found out An excellent fighter, so as long as the attack is launched, good results will definitely be achieved."

After walking back and forth in the headquarters with his hands behind his back, he stopped and asked Zakharov, "When did Major General Sokov call?"

Zakharov looked up at the time, then raised his head and replied, "Two hours ago."

Konev nodded, went to the table, picked up the microphone, and put it in his ear: "I'm Konev, connect me to the headquarters of the 27th Army."

The call was connected quickly, and Konev said into the microphone: "I'm Konev, who are you?"

The person who answered the phone was Lunev. When he realized that the caller was actually Konev, he was shocked and replied hastily, "Report to General Konev. I am Lieutenant General Lunev, Military Commissar of the 27th Army. Nev, I obey your orders, please instruct!"

"It's General Lunev." Konev knew that Lunev was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so he was naturally more polite to him: "Is Comrade Sokov there? I have something to ask him."

Unexpectedly, after Konev's question was raised, Lunev's side was silent.

"General Lunev, are you still there?" Konev heard the sudden silence from the receiver, thinking that the other party had hung up the phone: "Why is there no sound?"

"I'm sorry," Lunev's hoarse voice came from the receiver a moment later: "Comrade Commander is not at the headquarters at the moment."

"Not at the headquarters?" Konev asked strangely, "Where did he go?"

"He went to the front for reconnaissance."

"Reconnaissance at the front?!" Konev couldn't help frowning, "So, are you planning to attack the enemy?"

"Yes, General Konev." Even if the battle to capture October Town had not been reported to the Front Army Command in advance, Konev would still know about it once the battle started. Therefore, when Lunev heard Konev's question, he immediately answered truthfully: "According to the arrangement of Comrade Commander, the 84th Infantry Division is entering the attack position one after another. They will attack the enemy in October Town at 4 o'clock in the afternoon." attack."

"Well, launch an attack on October Town occupied by the German army at four o'clock in the afternoon." Konev looked down at the map in front of him, and said thoughtfully: "From what we know, the enemy is in October Town. There are not many troops, probably only one infantry battalion, one tank company and two artillery companies. If you use one division to attack, you should have no problem taking the town."

Konev raised his head, glanced at Zakharov who was standing opposite, and asked, "General Lunev, can you tell me why Sokov suddenly made the decision to attack October Town?"

"General Konev, that's how it is." Lunev hurriedly exchanged a carload of vodka for a carload of German prisoners from Lieutenant Serelkov, reported it to Konev, and finally said: "comrade commander Based on this, I feel that the German army's defenses in October Town will not be too tight, and if we launch an attack by surprise, it is entirely possible to take October Town in a short period of time."

"It makes sense, it makes sense." After hearing Lunev's narration, Konev nodded again and again and said: "General Lunev, according to what you just said, the enemy stationed in October Town has long since become exhausted. Unbearable. Although their defense zone is only a few kilometers away from you, their vigilance has been reduced to the minimum, and your attack can definitely have an unexpected effect."

After chatting with Lunev for a while, Konev thought of Sokov again, and asked again: "General Lunev, can you tell me where Comrade Sokov has gone?"

"General Konev!" Since Konev asked Sokov again, it showed that he would never let it go until he found out where Sokov was going. Lunev could only stammer: "A few hours. A few days ago, the Moscow Garrison Command sent a plane to bring us the flag of the 98th Guards Division. Comrade Commander saw that the pilot was flying a two-seater plane, and he felt itchy for a moment, so he asked the pilot to take him to the sky for two laps .”

"Nonsense, this is simply nonsense." Konev learned that Sokov actually flew into the sky, and said a little bit dumbfounded: "He is now the commander of the army group, and he is so careless about his own safety. Doesn't he I know that your defense zone is too close to the enemy's position, and it only takes a few minutes to fly into the area controlled by the enemy. What if you are shot down by the German ground anti-aircraft fire?"

"General Konev," Lunev said hoarsely, "comrade commander's plane has been shot down by the Germans, and its whereabouts are unknown now."

Lunev's words made Konev, who was holding the microphone, sit down on the ground.

Zakharov, who was standing opposite, dropped Konev to the ground. Not knowing what happened, he hurried around the table, came to Konev, and bent down to help him: "Comrade commander, you What's wrong?"

Konev pushed Zakharov away with his hands irritably, and growled, "Go away, I don't need your help." He struggled to get up from the ground, holding onto the edge of the table with one hand, so as not to fall again ; and asked into the microphone, "General Lunev, is everything you said true?"

"Yes, General Konev." Lunev replied: "According to the observation of the ground forces, the commander's plane was attacked by a German fighter plane while conducting reconnaissance over October Town. Although The pilot tried to get rid of the attack of the enemy plane with a full-body solution, but unfortunately was shot down."

"After Sokov's plane was shot down, what measures did you take?"

Pushed away by Konev, Zakharov, who was originally confused, heard that the plane that Sokov was on was shot down, and suddenly felt dark in front of his eyes, and turned his back. Fortunately, Susekov, who happened to be walking over, hugged him in time, so he didn't fall to the ground.

Lunev replied on the phone: "After we learned that the commander's plane was shot down, we immediately ordered people to find the direction where the plane fell. When I learned that it might be in the defense area of ​​the 98th Guards Division, I immediately ordered to be at the headquarters. The people from Chuvashov who received the military flag returned immediately and organized a search and rescue operation. At the same time, I also sent Lieutenant Samoilov, the most trusted comrade of the commander, to lead the guard platoon to participate in the search and rescue operation."

"General Lunev, I order you to do everything possible to find Comrade Sokov." Konev gritted his molars and said, "Even if he died unfortunately, we must find his body. Understand? ?”

"Yes, General Konev, we will definitely try our best to find the commander."

Susekov helped Zakharov sit down on the seat, looked at Konev and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, I seem to have heard something happened to Comrade Sokov?"

"Comrade Military Commissar, you are right, something happened to Sokov." Konev said solemnly: "He took a biplane and went to the enemy's defense area to carry out reconnaissance, but encountered the enemy's fighter jets. The pilot was unfortunately shot down by the enemy after dodging the plane. At present, the 27th Army has dispatched manpower to search for the place where the plane crashed."

Susekov never dreamed that something happened to Sokov. After listening to Konev's words, his face turned pale, and his whole body stood there motionless like a sculpture.

Zakharov, who was sitting in his seat, reminded Konev in a low voice: "Comrade commander, do we need to report to Marshal Zhukov for such a big incident, after all, Sokov is a commander he values ​​highly. "

Hearing what Zakharov said, Susekov also came to his senses, and he said to Konev: "Comrade Commander, I think the Chief of Staff is right, no matter whether General Sokov is dead or alive, But he has such a big thing, if he doesn't report it to his superiors immediately, I'm afraid it's wrong."

Seeing that Zakharov and Susekov both persuaded themselves to report the matter to Zhukov, Konev, who had planned to temporarily conceal the matter, couldn't help hesitating.

After a while, Konev nodded slowly and said, "Okay, I will call Marshal Zhukov myself and tell him the bad news."

After finishing speaking, he picked up the high-frequency phone on the table, dialed a number, and said in a stern tone: "I am Konev. Immediately connect me to the headquarters of the Voronezh Front Army and find Marshal Zhukov, the representative of the base camp."

In less than two minutes, Zhukov's voice came from the receiver: "Dear Ivan Stepanovich, do you have any good news for me?"

"Comrade Marshal, you may be disappointed. What I bring you is bad news." Konev said in a heavy tone: "I just got the exact information that the plane taken by the commander of the 27th Army, Major General Sokov, It was shot down by a German fighter plane not long ago, and its whereabouts are unknown now."

Zhukov was taken aback for a moment, and then blurted out: "Comrade Konev, what are you kidding, the army commanded by Sokov, where did the plane come from?"

"According to General Lunev, the military commissar of the Army Group, it was the plane sent by the Moscow Garrison Command to deliver the flag of the Guards Division. Comrade Sokov may be curious, so he asked the pilot to take him to the sky to observe the enemy's situation. While conducting reconnaissance in the town, they encountered a German fighter jet. Although their plane made many evasive actions, it was unfortunately shot down. Now Sukov's whereabouts are unknown, and the 27th Army Headquarters has sent a search and rescue team. Find his whereabouts."

Zhukov swayed and sat down on the seat, and the microphone in his hand fell on the table. Seeing this, Vasilevsky, who was standing not far away, hurried over and asked with concern: "Marshal Zhukov, what happened?"

Zhukov looked up at him, pointed to the microphone on the table, and said weakly: "General Konev told me that Misha took a plane to reconnaissance over the enemy's defense zone not long ago, but was caught by a A German fighter jet was shot down, and life is now in doubt."

Vasilevsky knew that Zhukov and Sokov's father were close friends, so he also regarded Sokov as a junior very highly. Now that he heard that he had an accident, it is understandable that he became so groggy for a while.

He picked up the microphone on the table and whispered to his ear: "General Konev, hello! I'm Vasilevsky, can you repeat what you just said?"

After patiently listening to Konev's narration, Vasilevsky asked for some details, and finally said: "General Konev, if Comrade Sokov has any new news, please call us in time. "

After putting down the phone, Vasilevsky put one hand on Zhukov's shoulder, patted it lightly twice, and said: "Marshal Zhukov, although Comrade Sokov's plane was unfortunately shot down by the Germans. Yes. But I think he is not so easy to sacrifice. Maybe he was thrown out of the plane when the plane made an emergency landing and hung on a tree. Don’t worry, I believe we will be able to get Comrade Sokov in a short time Good news for a safe return."

What Vasilevsky said made Zhukov feel hopeful. Vatutin, who had no chance to speak next to him, also said: "Marshal Zhukov, according to my understanding of Comrade Sokov, he is a fateful guy. During the defense of Stalingrad, he was so seriously injured that he could survive. Come down, I believe this time will be no exception."

Staring at the map in front of him, Zhukov murmured: "The defense zone of the 27th Army is not far from the German defense zone. Once Misha really sacrificed, it will definitely affect the morale of the troops. If the Germans notice their abnormality , if you launch an attack first, the 27th Army may suffer, so Misha must not be in trouble."

After speaking, Zhukov stood up and said to Vasilevsky: "Comrade Vasilevsky, you have stayed here. I will go to the headquarters of the 27th Army to see it myself."

On the way to the headquarters of the 27th Army by car, the accompanying communications staff sent Zhukov a telegram with only a brief paragraph: "Sokov has returned safely!"