Red Moscow

Assia's face was full of envy: "You are so lucky to have the opportunity to meet Comrade Stalin."

"There will be a chance to meet the Supreme Commander himself," Sokov said with some disappointment: "But not now, at least until my injury recovers, this kind of meeting is just a luxury."

"Why?" Assia asked puzzled, "Why can't you go to see Comrade Stalin before your injury is fully recovered?"

"The reason is very simple." Sokov grinned silently, and continued: "It is impolite to go to see the Supreme Commander himself in a wheelchair, and there are certain safety hazards."

After learning why Sokov was temporarily unable to meet with Stalin, Asiya couldn't help but sighed regretfully: "I went to the dean's office today and asked him about your injury."

After staying in the hospital for more than two months, Sokov still couldn't stay any longer, and he never stopped wanting to leave here. At this moment, hearing that Asiya went to the dean's office to understand her injury, she hurriedly asked: "Asiya, what did the dean say, how long will it take for me to be discharged?"

"In another week, the plaster cast on your leg will be removed." Just as Asiya said this, seeing Sokov's face beamed with joy, she quickly added: "Don't be too happy too early. Long said, even if the plaster cast on your leg is removed, you may not be able to do without crutches within a month or two."

Sokov was quite happy when he heard that the plaster cast on his leg could be removed, thinking that this way, he would be able to get rid of the wheelchair and try to walk independently. But what Assia said later poured cold water on him, making him look depressed again.

"Misha, you have suffered such a serious injury, and it's pretty good to be able to recover to this level." Seeing Sokov's disappointed expression, Assia comforted him and said, "Don't worry, The dean said that just to be on the safe side, maybe you will be able to walk independently without relying on crutches in half a month."

Hearing what Asiya said, Sokov's mood immediately improved a lot. He understands the rules of the hospital. When introducing the patient's condition, he often likes to speak seriously, so that even if the patient has any troubles in the future, it is reasonable. among. Maybe my injury is not as serious as the dean said, maybe in mid-January, I will be able to walk alone without relying on anything.

While Sokov and Asya were chatting in the ward, Marshal Zhukov, who was studying the situation with Antonov at the General Staff, received a call from Rokossovsky: "Marshal Zhukov, I'm Rokossovsky."

Hearing the call from Rokossovsky, Zhukov said in a good mood: "The First Ukrainian Front Army and the Belarusian Front Army under your command fought well on the battlefield, and I congratulate you. "

"Thank you, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky called Zhukov, not to discuss the war, but for something else: "I called you for something else."

"What's the matter?" Zhukov asked curiously.

Rokossovsky was silent for a moment, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, I would like to ask, how long will it take for Misha to be discharged from the hospital?"

Zhukov didn't expect Rokossovsky to ask about Sokov, and he didn't know how to answer for a while. Although he had been back to Moscow for several days, he had no time to ask about Sokov.

Zhukov hesitated for a moment, then said into the microphone: "Koschka, don't hang up the phone yet, I'll help you find out about Misha's situation."

"Comrade Marshal," Shtemenko, who was standing not far away, heard what Zhukov said, and asked tentatively, "Do you want to know the current situation of Lieutenant General Sokov?"

"That's right." Zhukov nodded, looked at Shtemenko and asked, "Comrade Shtemenko, do you know?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal," said Shtemenko, nodding. "He is studying at the Frunze Military Academy."

"What, he is studying at the Frunze Military Academy?" Zhukov asked in surprise. "Has he healed?"

"Not yet. As far as I know, he goes to class in a wheelchair every day. After class, he returns to the hospital." In order to reassure Zhukov, he also specially emphasized: "General Lunev sent special personnel pick him up every day."

"What's going on here?" Zhukov asked, "Why did he suddenly go to the Frunze Military Academy?"

Seeing that Zhukov seemed to be ignorant of this matter, Shtemenko quickly reminded him: "Comrade Marshal, have you forgotten that he was able to enter the military academy because of your recommendation."

"Oh, yes, yes, there seems to be such a thing." After Shtemenko reminded him, Zhukov remembered that there seemed to be such a thing, and continued to ask: "How long will he study in the military academy?" ?”

"Eight months." Shtemenko was very clear about this matter, and he quickly reported all the content that Sokov would learn in these eight months.

"Thank you, Comrade Shtemenko." After Zhukov learned about Sokov's situation from Shtemenko, he held the microphone in his hand and pressed it to his ear, and said, "Koschka, I just got the news , Misha is now studying related military theories at the Frunze Military Academy."

When Rokossovsky learned that Sokov had entered the Frunze Military Academy, he couldn't help but secretly complained. If it was some other military academy, he could have terminated the course and served under his command. But Frunze Military Academy, as the highest military academy, had very high barriers to entry. No matter how urgent he was, it was impossible for Sokov to stop his studies and join his army. So he could only take a chance and ask, "Then when will he graduate?"

"The training course he participated in lasted eight months." Zhukov explained to Rokossovsky: "The content of the study ranged from the military theory of regimental commanders to the application of front army tactics. The study of these courses, The reminder of his future position is of great help, so he cannot be allowed to terminate his studies."

After figuring out the situation, Rokossovsky sighed and said, "Hey, that's such a pity."

"What a pity?" Zhukov asked.

"I have received an order from the Supreme Command to return the command of the First Ukrainian Front to Comrade Vatutin next Monday, and then return to the original unit." Rokossovsky explained himself to Zhukov Reason for calling: "I want Misha to return to the army with me, and I can give him command of an army group."

"Kostika, this is impossible." Zhukov retorted: "Even if Misha is not studying at the Frunze Military Academy, it is impossible for him to go to your army. You know, his injury has not healed yet, and every day He went to class in a wheelchair."

While Rokossovsky was on the phone with Zhukov, a staff officer quietly left the headquarters. After going out, he quickened his pace and ran towards a two-story building not far away. Vatutin, who was temporarily deprived of the command of the army, lived in this building. report to Vatutin.

"Lieutenant Mejericha," the sentinel guarding the door saw the staff officer rushing over, hurriedly stopped him and asked, "Do you have anything to do?"

The staff officer said anxiously: "I have something important and I need to report it to Comrade Commander immediately."

"I'm sorry," the sentinel didn't move out of the way after he finished speaking, but said to him: "Comrade Commander has already rested, what do you need, come back tomorrow."

"No, this matter is very important. I can't wait until tomorrow." After the staff officer finished speaking, he was about to rush in, but was hugged tightly by the loyal sentry, preventing him from entering.

"What happened outside?" A voice came from inside, and then a major appeared at the door.

After seeing this person clearly, the sentinel quickly let go of the staff officer and raised his hand to salute him: "Hello, Comrade Adjutant. Lieutenant Majericha wants to see the commander. I told him that the commander has rested and asked him to come back tomorrow. Who Knowing that he wants to force his way inside."

"I see. Leave this matter to me." After the adjutant finished speaking, he came to the staff officer and asked politely, "Lieutenant Majericha, what do you need to come to see the commander?"

"Comrade adjutant." The staff officer glanced at the sentinel standing beside him, and said to the adjutant in a low voice, "I have a very important situation, and I need to report it to the comrade commander immediately."

"Can you tell me what's going on?"

"I'm sorry, comrade adjutant, this matter is of great importance, I can't say it." Seeing that the adjutant didn't want to let himself in, the staff officer's attitude became tough: "I can only tell comrade commander about this matter."

The adjutant saw that the staff officer had an expression like he was eating a weight, so he had no choice but to say: "Okay, Lieutenant Majericha, I'll ask Comrade Commander, if he agrees to see you, I'll let you in. If he doesn't If you want to meet, you can only go back."

A few minutes later, when the adjutant reappeared at the door, his attitude changed 180 degrees: "Lieutenant Majericha, please come in, Comrade Commander is waiting for you inside."

The staff officer nodded, followed the adjutant into the building, and came to the room where Vatutin lived.

"Lieutenant Medelitsa," Vatutin asked in surprise when he saw the staff officer follow his adjutant into the door, "Is there anything important for you to come to me so late?"

"Comrade Commander, didn't you tell me before that if something important happened, I would come to inform you immediately?"

"That's right, I did say that." Vatutin asked curiously, "You came to see me in a hurry today. What important thing happened?"

"Comrade Commander, it's like this. I heard the acting commander call Marshal Zhukov in Moscow." The staff officer reported: "Their conversation has a lot to do with you."

"Oh, it has a lot to do with me?" Vatutin said with great interest, "Let's hear it, what is it?"

"Not long ago, the acting commander said on the phone that he will hand over the command of the troops to you next Monday."

"Great, this is really great." Vatutin, who had been sitting on the bench for almost a month, suddenly lost control of his emotions when he heard the news. He stood up and walked back and forth in the room. Walking away, he kept rubbing his hands together: "I can finally command the Ukrainian First Front Army again."

"Comrade Commander," the staff officer hastily added after seeing Vatutin walking back and forth in the room, "I haven't finished my sentence yet."

Vatutin stopped, looked at the staff officer and asked, "Do you have anything to add?"

"It's like this. The acting commander called Marshal Zhukov. In addition to saying that he would return to the Belarusian Front Army, he also mentioned General Sokov, the former commander of the 27th Army."

"General Sokov and Rokossovsky were transferred back to the Belarusian Front. Is there any connection between the two?"

"I heard from the acting commander that General Sokov is an excellent commander of the army group. He is going to take him back to the Belarusian Front and give him command of an army group."

Even though Vatutin and Sokov don't have much contact, he still values ​​Sokov very much in his heart. Whether it was the Battle of Kursk or the subsequent Battle of Kharkov, the troops under Sokov's command played a pivotal role.

Seeing Sokov's repeated military exploits at the beginning, some people inevitably gossip, saying that if he can get so many soldiers and weapons and equipment, he can also achieve the same results.

Due to the large number of commanders who held such remarks, Vatutin was seriously misled, thinking that as long as he asked his superiors to assign the 27th Army to his command, the battle to liberate Kiev would become easy. But after he really assigned the 27th Army to his command, he found sadly that this army, which had repeatedly made military exploits, seemed to suddenly become incapable of fighting. Due to their heavy losses in the battle with the Germans, they could not participate in the attack on Kiev at all, and they could only be placed in less important areas for defense.

The painful lesson made Vatutin understand that whether an army has a strong combat effectiveness, in addition to sufficient soldiers and well-equipped equipment, an excellent commander is crucial. As long as he could recruit Sokov under his command, even if he handed over a group army with weak combat effectiveness, it would not take long before he could become the main force in the front army.

Now that Rokossovsky wanted to transfer Sokov away, he naturally refused to agree, and quickly ordered his adjutant: "Help me connect to the Kremlin immediately, I need to report to the Supreme Commander himself immediately for something important. "

Although Vatutin has been contacted with the command of the troops, there is a telephone line where he lives, which can directly contact the Kremlin.

The call was connected quickly.

Hearing Poskrebyshev's voice from the receiver, Vatutin asked with a smile: "Hello, Comrade Poskrebyshev, I'm Vatutin. Excuse me, Comrade Stalin, I'm still in his office ?"

"Yes, Comrade General." Poskrebyshev still showed due courtesy to Vatutin, who was temporarily dismissed from his post: "He is still in the office. What can I do for you?"

"I have something important to report to Comrade Stalin immediately."

Regarding Vatutin's request, Boskrebyshev did not immediately agree, but said cautiously: "I would like to ask Comrade Stalin for instructions and see what he means?"

"Okay, go quickly." Vatutin said helplessly, "I'm waiting for your reply."

Poskrebyshev put the microphone on the table, got up and walked to the door. After knocking on the door twice, he opened one of the doors and walked in without waiting for any sound from inside.

Hearing someone coming in, Stalin stopped what he was doing, looked up at his secretary and asked, "What's the matter? Boskrebyshev!"