Red Moscow

Sokov waited for Asya to close the door, and asked Lunev bluntly: "Lunev, my guess has become a reality?"

"Misha, you are right." Lunev nodded and said in a positive tone: "After the German army launched an attack on Zhytomyr, the 38th Army failed to hold it for five days and had to abandon the city. The Kiev direction has broken through."

"This is expected." Sokov knew that the two of them came here for advice from him today, so he didn't go around in circles. "You came to me today because you want to hear my analysis of the next situation? "

"That's right, General Sokov." This time, Shtemenko rushed to say: "From the current situation, the Germans will soon advance to Kiev, and now that Kiev has just been liberated, various defensive measures have not yet been put in place. , I am afraid it will be difficult to resist the German attack."

"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff," Sokov called Shtemenko's position, and asked, "I don't know what the weather is like in the Kiev area recently?"

"It's so bad that it rains almost every day, so that when the enemy attacks Zhitomir, we can't dispatch the air force to provide the necessary air support for the defenders in the city." Shtemenko originally complained Speaking of this, just after finishing speaking, the whole person was stunned.

Seeing that Stemenko was in a daze, Lunev asked with concern: "Sergey, what's wrong with you?"

After a while, Shtemenko woke up from his contemplation. He looked at Sokov and asked, "General Sokov, do you want to tell me about the weather in the Kiev area? The roads have become muddy, and the speed of German tanks advancing towards Kiev will be greatly reduced?"

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." Sokov first nodded to admit what the other party said, and then continued: "The muddy road slowed down the advance speed of the German tanks. As a result, the German attack on Kiev, or delay; or rely on purely infantry attacks without armored forces."

"If only German infantry were attacking Kiev, I think our troops should still be able to stop them." After Lunev finished speaking, he turned to Shtemenko and asked, "Sergey, what do you think of my statement?" Is it right?"

Shtemenko looked at Lunev and said quietly: "Lunev, don't you know how serious the casualties of the Ukrainian First Front Army were in order to capture Kiev? Even if only German infantry attacked the city, I am afraid that the prospect of Nor optimistic."

"Misha." Hearing what Shtemenko said, Lunev asked Sokov in a panic: "Do you think our troops are holding Kiev?"

Sokov did not immediately answer Lunev's question, but looked at Stemenko and asked: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, if I guessed correctly, the Supreme Command must be preparing to mobilize reserves to reinforce Kiev? "

"That's right, there are three armies heading to Kiev, one of which is the tank army." Regarding Sokov's guess, Shtemenko did not deny it. After all, he came here today to ask Sokov for advice. , "And after our research, I am afraid that more troops will be drawn from the reserve force of the High Command to reinforce Kiev. The newly liberated city must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Germans again."

"It is foreseeable that Kiev's defenders will be greatly strengthened in a short time." Sokov raised his own doubts: "But a large number of troops does not mean that we can defend Kiev. More than two years ago, our army The forces gathered in Kiev were even stronger, but in the end not only the city was lost, but hundreds of thousands of troops were also lost. Don’t you worry about repeating the same mistakes?”

Sokov's words were a bit harsh, and both Shtemenko and Lunev's faces turned ashen after hearing it. The last Kiev battle can be said to be the largest annihilation battle in the history of human warfare, but it is regrettable that the Soviet army played the role of the annihilated. This matter was a taboo topic for members of the General Staff, but at this moment, Sokov said it without any scruples.

If the person who said this to Stemenko was an ordinary commander, or even a general, he would be scolded. But now the person who said this was Sokov. Shtemenko came here to ask him how to keep Kiev, so naturally he couldn't lose his temper casually.

After a long time, Shtemenko tried to force a smile on his face: "General Sokov, do you think it is possible for our army to hold Kiev?" Cove may have some scruples and cannot speak freely, so he quickly added, "You just need to say what you really think in your heart. Even if you say something wrong, no one will blame you."

"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, I believe that our commanders and fighters will fight bravely and tenaciously no matter how fierce the enemy is." Sukov said: "But if you want to hold Kiev, you must rely on bravery and tenacity. Not enough, not enough to crush the German plot to retake Kiev."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I think General Vatutin's ability is not suitable for commanding this Kiev defense battle." Now that Shtemenko has stated that no matter what he says, he will not pursue it, so Sokov simply told the truth: " I think other capable commanders should go to Kiev to command the battle."

"Then who do you think is more suitable?"

"I think General Rokossovsky, commander of the Belarusian Front, is the most suitable candidate."

"Why?"

Sokov remembered that in real history, Stalin was very angry at Vatutin's defeat in Zhytomyr, and personally appointed Rokossovsky as the representative of the base camp to go to the Ukrainian First Front Army to assist Vatutin Commander, and told him: "You go to his headquarters to teach him how to fight." He even hinted that if the opponent is muddy and cannot support the wall, he can be replaced if necessary.

It was precisely because of his understanding of this history that Sokov could confidently and boldly express his true thoughts: "The reason why I proposed Rokossovsky to take over the command is because it was his troops that attacked before, and he Zhou Xiang should have thought about the next step after capturing Kiev. General Rokossovsky must have expected the German army to launch a counterattack against Kiev, and he naturally has a way to deal with it.”

"I think what Misha said makes sense." After Sukov finished speaking, Lunev immediately echoed: "Before the war, the Ninth Mechanized Army under the command of General Rokossovsky was stationed in the daycare center. Mir, he is quite familiar with that city and the surrounding area. If he made an attack plan, it would definitely be more reasonable than General Vatutin's plan."

Regarding Sokov's proposal, Stemenko fell silent again.

Seeing that Shtemenko remained silent for a long time, Sokov couldn't help asking: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, am I wrong?"

"General Sokov, I have to say that your proposal is very, very bold." Regarding Sokov's proposal, Shtemenko used three "very" in one breath to represent the shock in his heart: " But I think it is simply impossible for your proposal to be implemented."

"Serge," Lunev couldn't help asking curiously, "Why is that?"

"Anyway, Vatukin is the commander of the front army." Shtemenko explained to the two: "If you want to change the commander of the front army on a front, unless the supreme commander himself nods, otherwise, even the supreme command cannot replace the commander of the front army." its dismissal."

"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, you have misunderstood me." Seeing that Shtemenko had misunderstood his own words, Sokov quickly explained to him: "General Rokossovsky will replace Ukrainian The command of the First Front Army does not mean that General Vatutin will be removed from office."

Sokov's words confused Shtemenko: "General Sokov, Rokossovsky is the commander of the Belarusian Front, how can he take over the command of the Ukrainian First Front. It's really ridiculous!"

"There is a compromise method, which is to let General Rokossovsky serve as the representative of the base camp and go to the Ukrainian First Front Army to coordinate operations." Sokov said with a smile, "I believe that as long as Rokossovsky If General Avsky goes to Kiev, then the situation will soon develop in a direction favorable to our army."

"Your proposal, I need to go back and report to Comrade Antonov." Such an important matter, even if Shtemenko is the deputy chief of staff and chief of operations, he can't make any decisions, so he can only reply tactfully. Cove: "Whether it works or not, I am very grateful for your advice."

After Shtemenko came out of the hospital, he couldn't wait to return to the General Staff, intending to report Sokov's proposal to Antonov.

But returning to the General Staff, Antonov was not found. When I asked someone, it turned out that I went to see Stalin, but I haven't come back yet. Antonov had no choice but to go back to his office and wait.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he came back to the office, Ivanov, the first deputy chief of the general staff, appeared.

After greeting Shtemenko, he asked straight to the point: "Comrade Shtemenko, I heard that you went to the hospital to see General Sokov?"

"Yes, I was ordered to go."

"What did he say to you?"

If the person who asked the question was Antonov, Shtemenko would truthfully report Sokov's words to him. Although the person who was asking the question was the first deputy chief of the general staff, he was someone who was not seen by Stalin. Even though he joined the General Staff in 1936, he was kicked out of the General Staff by Stalin because of a mistake, and his rank was lowered. In 1942, due to the lack of staff, he was transferred back to the General Staff Headquarters to serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff. After being discovered by Stalin, he was almost driven away again. Fortunately, Vasilevsky and others interceded for him, and Stalin agreed to let him stay in the General Staff, but the prerequisite was that he would never appear in front of him.

Therefore, to his question, Shtemenko could only reply in an official tone: "I'm sorry, General Ivanov, the content of the meeting with General Sokov is confidential, and I can only report it to Comrade Antonov. "

Seeing that Shtemenko was unwilling to tell him the truth, Ivanov showed an embarrassing expression. Although he was second only to Antonov in the General Staff, because he had offended Stalin, Most people keep him at a respectful distance, and apart from contacts at work, he has no friends at all.

Ivanov knew that if he continued to ask, there would be no results, so he chatted casually, got up and left.

After Ivanov was sent away, Shtemenko called for a new battle report and began to study the situation in the direction of Kiev and which direction it would develop.

In the evening, Antonov finally returned from the Kremlin.

As soon as he returned to his office, Antonov picked up the phone on the desk and called Shtemenko's office: "Comrade Shtemenko, are you back?"

"Yes, Comrade Chief of the General Staff. I have been back for more than two hours."

"Have you learned anything from talking with General Sokov?"

Shtemenko hesitated for a moment, feeling that Sokov's proposal was too bold, and it was inconvenient to say such things over the phone, and it would be more appropriate to report to Antonov in person. Thinking of this, he said to the topic; "Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to report this to you in person, is that okay?"

"Okay." Antonov said, "I'm in my office, come here directly."

Soon, Stemenko appeared in Antonov's office.

He closed the door casually and walked quickly to Antonov's desk.

Antonov looked up at Shtemenko, and pointed to the empty chair opposite: "Please sit down, Comrade Shtemenko, I think you must have brought me amazing news."

"That's right, when General Sokov talked to me, he made a very bold suggestion."

"What advice?"

Shtemenko knew that this matter was of great importance. In order to avoid leaking the news, he closed the door on purpose when he entered, so that he could speak freely: "He said that although the German army had gained a temporary advantage, the road became muddy due to the continuous rain. This prevents the German tanks from advancing quickly to Kiev. In this case, the Germans have only two options, one is to delay the attack time; the other is to abandon the armored forces and simply attack Kiev with infantry.”

"His conjecture coincides with my assumption." After Antonov finished speaking, he continued to ask: "Apart from that, what else did he say?"

"He said that if he wanted to hold Kiev, he had to change the commander." After taking a deep breath, Shtemenko mustered up his courage and said, "He felt that if General Vatutin continued to command, Kiev might be lost. "

Hearing what Shtemenko said, there was a flash of shock in Antonov's eyes, but he quickly stabilized his emotions, pretending to be nonchalant and asked, "Then who does he think should replace Vatutin?" Where's the general?"

"General Rokossovsky." Shtemenko said with a wry smile: "He suggested that General Rokossovsky be the representative of the headquarters, but he assisted Vatutin in commanding operations when he arrived in Kiev."

Unexpectedly, when Antonov heard this, he stood up suddenly from his seat, looked at Stemenko, and asked in shock: "Comrade Shtemenko, General Sokov really gave you this said?"

"That's right, that's what I said." Shtemenko was afraid that Antonov would not believe what he said, and even brought out Lunev: "If you don't believe me, you can call Lunev here to ask When I asked, he also heard it at the time.”

"It's unbelievable, it's simply unbelievable." Antonov shook his head and said, "This Sokov is not simple at all."