Red Moscow

"Misha, while I'm here today, if you have any requests, you can ask them together." Zhukov who was next to him said, "As long as it is within my ability, I will help you solve it."

Sokov was worried about how to bring his team to the new army. Hearing Zhukov say this now, he was almost dozing off and someone sent a pillow. How could he easily give up such a good opportunity? He said quickly: "Comrade Marshal , I really have something to ask for your help."

"Tell me, let me hear what's going on."

"Comrade Marshal, if I am alone when I go to the new army, then the initial work will be very difficult." Sukov asked tentatively, "I wonder if I can bring a few people with me?"

Zhukov was silent for a moment, and then said: "I remember that when you were transferred from the 21st Army to the 27th Army at the beginning of the year, you brought dozens of commanders there. Is there such a thing?"

"That's right, there is such a thing." In order for Zhukov to agree to his request, Sokov also specially emphasized: "After I served as the commander of the 27th Army, the reason why I was able to quickly open up the situation is that I used it with me. The commander played a great role."

"It's not a big problem." After listening to Sokov's request, Zhukov said confidently: "You can make a list for me when the time comes, and I will personally negotiate with Comrade Vatutin to ensure that a lot of people will be included in your list." New troops."

Seeing that Zhukov readily agreed to his request, Sokov began to think about who he should bring to the new army when the time came. Originally, it was easiest to copy the original list, but now that many people are in important command positions, it is obviously inappropriate to transfer them away.

Zhukov saw that although Sokov didn't speak, his face was full of joy, guessing that he must be planning who to choose for the new army, he couldn't help smiling. He turned his head to look at Rokossovsky, and asked by his nickname, "Koschka, do you have anything else to say to Misha? If not, let's go back."

"No more." Rokossovsky said and stood up.

Zhukov turned to Sokov and said, "Misha, do you have anything to add? If not, General Rokossovsky and I are leaving, and there are still a lot of things waiting for us to deal with outside. "

Sokov knew in his heart that the two of them took time out of their busy schedules to see him, and it was impossible to stay for too long. What he wanted to say must be said as soon as possible: "Comrade Marshal, I still have a few people, and I can't wait to see you." I want to arrange to join the new army, I wonder if it will work?"

Seeing Sokov's cautious expression when he spoke, Zhukov immediately guessed that the next few people the other party was going to talk about might be in great trouble, so he couldn't help frowning and asked, "Misha, who are you? "

"There are only three people." Sokov decided to go all out, and he said without hesitation: "I think you all know them. The former commander of the 12th Army of the Southwest Front, Major General Ponijelin, and the former commander of the 6th Army of the Southwest Front, Muzi Lieutenant General Chenko and Major General Kirillov, commander of the 13th Infantry Corps."

Rokossovsky couldn't help being shocked when he heard these names from Sokov. You must know that when the war broke out, the 9th Mechanized Army under his command was the 5th Group Army belonging to the Southwest Front Army. Hearing these familiar names now, he asked in surprise: "Misha, where did you know about these three troops?" personal?"

It turned out that Rokossovsky didn't know Ponedelin and others at all. He was rescued from the prisoner-of-war camp by Sokov, and he couldn't wait to ask: "The three people you mentioned surrendered to the Germans shortly after the war broke out. , and was sentenced to death in absentia."

"Comrade General." Sokov knew the relationship between Rokossovsky and the three of them. If he didn't explain the matter clearly, he forced the three of them to serve in the new army, which might cause Rokossov Sky had unnecessary misunderstandings: "The three of them were indeed sentenced to death in absentia, but they did not surrender to the Germans, but were unfortunately captured during the battle."

Thinking that although Ponegerin is not the highest rank among the three, he is the most famous, so he explained to Rokossovsky using him as an example: "For example, General Ponegerin, as far as I know, he During the Battle of Uman, the troops were dispersed by the superior German army, but he still commanded the staff officers and guards around him to fight the Germans bravely. After the bullets ran out, he fought hand-to-hand with the German army, and finally suffered serious injuries. Unfortunately, he became a prisoner of the Germans."

"But we saw a leaflet with a photo of General Pornegerin and the German general..."

"Comrade General," Sokov interrupted Rokossovsky without waiting for Rokossovsky to finish, "It was just a German conspiracy. morale and morale."

As an old comrade-in-arms of Ponegerin, Rokossovsky did not believe that he would surrender to the Germans, but the contents of those leaflets had to make him suspicious. Hearing what Sokov said at this moment, he asked cautiously: "Comrade Sokov, can you ensure that what you said is true and credible?"

Sokov heard that Rokossovsky had changed his name, and realized that the other party was very concerned about the authenticity of the matter, so he nodded and said, "Comrade General, I can assure you with my life that I am What was said is true. When my troops took Kremenchug, they liberated a prisoner-of-war camp in which Ponedelin, Muzychenko and Kirillov were held, and Tortured to the bone."

Having said that, Sokov deliberately paused for a moment to observe the expressions of Zhukov and Rokossovsky. Zhukov obviously knew the truth of the matter a long time ago, and the expression on his face did not change the slightest when he heard Sokov say this. Rokossovsky, on the other hand, was an uninformed person with shock written all over his face.

In order to let Rokossovsky know that what he said was true, Sokov also deliberately added: "It is said that when Vlasov wanted to form an army to compete with us, he went to the prisoner-of-war camp to meet I passed General Bornegelin, but I got a lot of scolding from him."

"So, we all wrongly blamed General Pornegerin and the others." After speaking, Rokossovsky hesitated for a moment, and asked tentatively, "Then where are the three of them now?"

"I know that." Before Sokov could speak, Zhukov rushed to say: "After the three of them were rescued by Misha's troops, they were sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a period of review and found that there was no problem. They were released from custody and reinstated to their military posts."

Seeing that Zhukov knew the whereabouts of the three of them, Rokossovsky quickly asked: "Comrade Marshal, I don't know where the three of them are now. If possible, I would like to meet them."

"I'll take you there to meet them later." Zhukov said understandingly: "Not only are you and them comrades-in-arms of the Southwest Front Army, but before the war broke out, I served as the commander of the Kiev Special Military Region, and the three of them are also my subordinates. It is only natural to go and see them."

Sokov thought that after making this request, he would get a scolding from Zhukov, but the situation was obviously better than he imagined. Not only did Zhukov not blame himself, on the contrary he offered to take Rokossovsky to see Ponejielin and others.

"What about their military ranks?" Sokov asked: "Now the three of them have been demoted to majors. Even if they enter the new army, they will not be able to serve as higher-level commanders."

After hearing this, Zhukov sneered and said: "Misha, have you forgotten that they were captured at the beginning of the war, and the set of military theories and combat experience they have mastered is completely inapplicable on today's battlefield. Don’t talk about giving them an army group, even if it’s just an infantry army, or even an infantry division, I’m afraid they won’t be able to command it well.”

Sokov couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat, thinking that it was bad. Zhukov commented on them like this, maybe he wanted to imply to himself that these three people were not suitable to follow him to the new army.

Just when he plucked up his courage and was about to ask Zhukov, he heard him say to Rokossovsky: "Koschka, you have a good chat with them later, and if possible, let them come to your army as soon as possible. Go report and give them time to understand what the current war is like. If anyone can quickly adapt to the new war mode in a short period of time, when Misha takes charge of the new army, he will be transferred to assist Misha."

Rokossovsky turned his head and glanced at Sokov who was lying on the hospital bed, then turned to Zhukov and asked, "How should the unqualified people be placed?"

"That means that they have been eliminated by the times, and they are not suitable to stay on the battlefield any longer. Let them go back wherever they came from." Zhukov said with a serious expression: "This kind of person stays by Misha's side. It can have the counterproductive effect of dragging one's legs back."

"clear."

When Zhukov and Rokossovsky reached the door, they stopped suddenly, walked back to Sokov's hospital bed, bent down and said, "Misha, there is one more important thing that I almost forgot."

Hearing that Zhukov said there was something important, Sokov couldn't help feeling hairy. After taking a deep breath, he said bravely, "Comrade Marshal, please tell me, I'm already mentally prepared."

Unexpectedly, Zhukov laughed when he saw Sokov's expression: "Misha, what are you doing so nervous? What I want to tell you is a great thing."

Knowing that it was a good thing, Sokov immediately regained his spirits: "Comrade Marshal, what a good thing it is?"

"The Supreme Command has just made a resolution to commend you for your heroism and bravery in the war, as well as the great results you have achieved." Zhukov said with a smile: "It has been decided to officially promote you to lieutenant general, and you will receive A Lenin medal. New military ranks and medals will be delivered here in two days." Zhukov said, extending his hand to Sokov, "Misha, please accept my congratulations!"

Hearing this news, Sokov was completely dumbfounded. He thought that if he was injured and hospitalized this time, he might not be promoted to the military rank for the time being, and he might have to wait until after the Battle of Belarus before he could get the chance to be promoted again, but he didn't expect that Hope, already a higher rank, would just appear in his before.

As soon as Sokov mechanically shook hands with Zhukov, Rokossovsky also reached out to express his sincere congratulations, and he quickly took Rokossovsky's hand again and thanked him repeatedly.

After sending Zhukov and the two back, Asya threw herself directly in front of Sokov's hospital bed, grabbed his hand, and said emotionally: "Misha, I really didn't expect that the Supreme Command actually promoted you to lieutenant general. You also received an Order of Lenin, you are wonderful."

At this time, Sokov hadn't completely recovered from the shock. He heard Assia's words and hurriedly asked: "Assia, you also heard Marshal Zhukov say that I was promoted to lieutenant general. , can you still get an Order of the Red Banner?"

"Yes, yes, I heard it." Assia nodded vigorously twice, and at the same time corrected the mistakes in Sokov's words: "What you won was not the Order of the Red Banner, but the Order of Lenin, which is second only to the Gold Star Medal. "

After receiving confirmation from Assia, Sokov could finally confirm that what he had just heard was true and not just a dream.

"Misha," there are only Sokov and Assia in the room now, so Assia has no scruples in speaking: "Actually, based on your achievements, you should have been promoted to lieutenant general long ago, and received corresponding awards. The medal. But I don’t know why, it took so long.”

Sokov had heard rumors before that the reason why he had made great achievements in battle but had not been promoted was entirely because he was too young, and his age had become his shortcoming. Since Asiya asked, he naturally said the matter truthfully: "It is said that the Supreme Command planned to promote me to lieutenant general as early as when I was transferred to the 27th Army. But there were some different voices, saying I am too young, and if I am promoted too quickly, it will be detrimental to my future growth, so the matter of promotion has been put on hold for the time being."

"So that's the case." Asiya originally wanted to complain a few words, but after thinking about it, it seemed that the other party's behavior seemed very reasonable. After all, Sokov was just in his early twenties. If he was promoted to lieutenant general, some commanders at the same level would definitely feel dissatisfied, which would greatly affect unity. So she nodded and said: "The person who prevented you from advancing may have a good intention. To prevent you from arousing the jealousy of others because of your promotion too fast, it is very detrimental to your commanding operations on the battlefield."

Sokov agreed with Assia's statement in his heart. For example, some time ago, when the 53rd Army was temporarily placed under its own command, several senior commanders of the army either obediently obeyed or deliberately discounted the orders issued to them, so that many tasks could not be completed as planned.

Assia stood up, walked back and forth in the room, and said with some happiness: "Misha, you said such a big happy event, how can we celebrate it?"

"I can't get out of bed yet, even if I want to celebrate." Sokov said with a wry smile, "I can't lie on the bed and dance with you, can I? Let's forget it."

"No, how can such a good thing be forgotten so easily!" Assia began to think in her heart how to celebrate Sukov's promotion and honor: "I have to think about it, how should I do it?" Celebrate you."

"Assia, it's really unnecessary." Seeing Assia's persistence, Sokov said a little bit dumbfoundingly: "Isn't it just a promotion and an honor, so there's no need to make the city stormy."