Red Moscow

Vatutin felt a little regretful. He knew that before coming to visit Sokov, he would go to see the dean first, so that he could know exactly when Sokov could be discharged from the hospital.

Although the date of Sokov's discharge from the hospital could not be determined, Vatutin felt that since he was here, he should have a frank and honest talk with Sokov, lest he be poached by the commanders of other fronts.

"Comrade Sokov, I heard that you are currently studying at the Frunze Military Academy with injuries?"

"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov replied truthfully: "You also know that I have never systematically studied various military theories before. When I command a division, my ability is barely enough, but when it comes to command a When I was in the group army, it seemed a little powerless. I hope to improve my military theory level through this study."

Vatutin felt that the opportunity was coming, so he said without losing the opportunity: "Comrade Sokov, after you graduated, have you considered returning to the front line to test whether the military theory you have studied is feasible?"

Sokov heard the other party's words and extended an invitation to himself, but he still deliberately pretended to be confused: "Comrade General, you are right. The military theory knowledge learned in the Frunze Military Academy needs to be learned. Go to the battlefield for inspection. But I don’t know what the superiors think, maybe they will not send me to the front again, but stay in a certain department in Moscow.”

"What, keep you working in Moscow's rear organization?" Vatutin was anxious. If Sokov really stayed in the rear organization, it would be a waste of talent: "Doing this is not to bury your talent. Is it?" He said indignantly, "Your abilities can only be brought into play better on the front line."

"Comrade General," interrupted Lunev, who was standing aside, "I agree with you that it would be a waste to keep General Sokov in the rear. And if the Germans hear the news, There will definitely be a toast and we must not give the Germans that chance."

"That's right, that's right." Regarding Lunev's divine assist, Vatutin nodded repeatedly: "General Lunev, you are so right, if those Germans who were frightened by Comrade Sokov, they should be Knowing that Sokov was left to work in the rear and would never go to the front to fight them again, they will definitely be very happy."

Now that the words have been spoken, Vatutin also decided not to hide them, but said to Sokov straight to the point: "Comrade Sokov, I hope that after you graduate from the Frunze Military Academy, you can go to My 1st Ukrainian Front came to work."

Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would reject his proposal because of his position, he also specially emphasized: "Comrade Sokov, don't worry, even if you can't continue to serve as the commander of the 27th Army when you come back, I will In addition, I will arrange a powerful group army for you."

Sokov waited for Vatutin to finish speaking, and said blankly: "If I am allowed to serve as the commander of another army group, doesn't that mean that a commander of the army group will be dismissed?"

Vatutin was silent for a few seconds, and then said: "Comrade Sokov, I think that any group army in the front army organization can be given your command, and it can exert super combat effectiveness."

Sokov, who came from a later generation, knew very well in his heart that even though Vatutin is the person who commands the Ukrainian First Front Army today, after two months, the command of this army will be lost because of Vatutin's injury. Handed over to Zhukov and Konev. No matter which of the two of them is subordinate, he can get a platform to show his commanding ability.

Seeing that Sokov was silent, Vatutin thought that the other party was unwilling to go to his unit, and continued: "Comrade Sokov, I beg you to carefully consider my proposal. If you really want to go to my unit Come, let me assure you that your troops will be replenished with priority no matter in terms of soldiers or weapons and equipment."

Sokov realized that Vatutin had misunderstood, but he did not explain it. On the contrary, he made a mistake and said: "Comrade general, since you have already talked about this, if I evade it, it would be a bit too ignorant. .”

Vatutin was overjoyed when he heard the sound: "Comrade Sokov, so you agree to join my army?"

"Yes, Comrade General." In the later period of the Great Patriotic War, the three decisive forces were the First Belarusian Front Army commanded by Zhukov, the Second Belarusian Front Army commanded by Rokossovsky, and Konev. Commanded the 1st Ukrainian Front. If I can sign up in advance to go to the Ukrainian First Front Army, it will be much better than being assigned to other unimportant fronts. Besides, today Vatutin kept his posture very low in front of him, which can be described as low-key, so he replied straightforwardly: "After I graduate from the Frunze Military Academy, I would like to go to your army. "

"Great, this is really great." Seeing that Sokov agreed to his invitation, Vatutin looked very happy: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Ukrainian First Front, you are welcome to join."

"Comrade General," Sokov said with a faint smile, "I have not recovered from my injuries, and I cannot be a member of your army for the time being. I think it is better to wait until the day I officially enter the army. You will not welcome me any more." late."

Vatutin laughed dryly, and said, "It's all the same, it's all the same. Since you agreed to join my army, you are a member of the Ukrainian First Front Army. The morning and evening welcomes are the same."

"Comrade general, please have a cup of hot tea." Assia, who had not left the ward, came to Vatutin and handed over the cup of hot tea she was holding in her hand: "I added honey to it. "

Vatutin took the teacup, looked at Assia and said, "Who are you?"

"Comrade General," Sokov knew that Vatutin had never met Asiya, so he quickly introduced him, "This is my wife, Asiya, who is a military doctor."

"Oh, you're a military doctor?!" Vatutin asked with great interest: "Comrade Assia, I don't know where you are working now. Are you interested in joining my Ukrainian First Front Army? If you want to If so, I can order someone to arrange a suitable position for you in the army field hospital. In this way, you and Comrade Sokov will have more time together."

"Thank you for your kindness, Comrade General." Facing Vatutin's invitation, Asiya politely declined: "I was just transferred from the front line to work in the weapons and equipment department a few months ago, and I have no plans to leave for the time being. Excuse me."

"Oh, so you work in the weapons and equipment department." Vatutin asked, "But how do you think you work here?"

"You are right, Comrade General." Sokov explained with a smile: "After hearing that I was injured, Comrade People's Commissar Ustinov specially arranged for Assia to come here to work and take care of my injury. In order to dispel Vatutin's whim, he added, "After I recover from my injury, she will return to work in the Armament Department."

After figuring out what was going on, Vatutin didn't mention the matter of letting Asya work in the front-line field hospital, but chatted with Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, I heard that you are from Moscow, I don't know Did you go home to see your loved ones at home?"

"No, Comrade General." Sokov replied with a wry smile: "My father passed away when I was very young. And my mother died in a German bombing a few months ago. Besides, I don't have any relatives."

After Vatutin looked up at Asiya, he continued to ask: "Don't you two have children?"

"No," Sokov replied simply: "The two of us registered our marriage at the marriage registry office in Stalingrad at the beginning of the Stalingrad Battle. With less separation and more separation, there is no time to think about having children."

"Judging from the current situation, the Germans are retreating steadily under the attack of our army. If all goes well, we will be able to completely defeat the Germans within three years." Vatutin said to the two with a smile: "At that time, both of you are still very young, and it's not too late to have another child. When your child is born, I will definitely come to congratulate you in person."

Sokov thought to himself that you only have four months left in your life, how can we wait for our child to be born? But after thinking about it, it was said that Vatutin had a wound infection after being injured, and Stalin personally ordered that the use of penicillin was not allowed, fearing that this immature anti-inflammatory drug would bring disaster to his love. In the end, Vatutin, who could not be treated with penicillin, died of postoperative wound infection.

But this time he was injured, he had already been a guinea pig, and he took the lead in using penicillin. The effect of this new anti-inflammatory drug is obvious to all. Maybe after Vatutin is injured, the hospital will also give him penicillin to save him from the tragedy of dying from postoperative infection.

"Comrade General," Lunev reminded Vatutin and Sokov in a low voice when he saw that Vatutin and Sokov had already negotiated, "I have already arranged accommodation for you, so let's take you there now."

Vatutin nodded, stood up and bent over and stretched out his hand to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, take care of your wounds, and I will come to see you again when I have time."

Sokov knew that what Vatutin said was just polite words, but he still pretended to be grateful and said, "Thank you, I really appreciate your concern."

Vatutin came out of the hospital, turned his head and said to Lunev who was following him: "General Lunev, I need to return to Kiev immediately, and I will not go to the accommodation you arranged."

Lunev was stunned. After a while, he said, "Comrade General, didn't you say you would stay in Moscow for a day or two? Why are you returning to Kiev so soon?"

"General Lunev, I don't want to hide anything from you." Now that the purpose of his trip has been achieved, Vatutin also felt that there was no need to hide anything from Lunev, so he truthfully said to him: "I The first time I came to Moscow was to persuade Comrade Sokov to join my army. Now that our mission has been completed, there is no need to stay in Moscow anymore, so we need to return to Kiev as soon as possible.”

Lunev asked curiously: "Comrade General, do you really think so highly of Sokov that you flew back from Kiev yourself just to persuade him to join your army?"

Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, Vatutin said seriously: "General Lunev, if someone else said this, I think I can understand it. But you once served as Comrade Sokov's military commissar. What is his ability? Don't you know yet?"

"Comrade General, I know Sokov's command ability very well." Lunev explained: "Although he has made many achievements on the battlefield, because of his young age, many commanders wear I look at him with colored glasses, and say some bad things about him behind his back. The reason why I ask this is that I am worried that you have worked so hard to pull him over and arrange him to be the commander of the group army, but the other commanders of the group army may be isolated He, even respect him at a respectful distance."

"General Lunev, the situation you mentioned did exist in the past." Regarding the problem Lunev said, Vatutin did not deny it, "However, with the liberation of Kiev, some previous commanders who had prejudiced against him members, but the thinking has changed.”

"What change?"

"A very simple example." Vatutin explained to Lunev with a wry smile: "For example, the 27th Army, under the leadership of Comrade Sokov and you, all battles against the enemy ended in victory. And each time the casualties were exceptionally low. But with his injury, a new commander of the army group was replaced, and the combat effectiveness of the entire army declined to varying degrees. Even in partial battles, the entire army group paid a huge price After paying the price, we did not achieve the desired results.”

Lunev knew more or less the problems encountered by the 27th Army. He sneered and said: "The commanders and fighters are still the same as before, and their weapons and equipment have not changed in any way. After being ordered to attack the enemy, not only did they not achieve any eye-catching results, but they also paid a heavy price."

Vatutin nodded slightly, and continued: "You are right. This incident tells us that whether the troops can achieve great feats does not depend on what kind of equipment they have or how many people they have. What they need is a An arbitrary commander of Qiankun. Only such a superior can lead the commanders and fighters from one victory to another."

After the two got into the car, Lunev asked Vatutin with concern: "Comrade General, I heard that the command of your troops has now fallen into the hands of General Rokossovsky. I don't know if this is true or not. ?”

Vatutin has already looked down on the fact that he was temporarily dismissed from his post. He said blankly: "How should I put it? Our army was counterattacked by the German army in Zhitomir. Not only did it pay huge casualties, but it also lost the city. General Rokossovsky was in this severe situation. In the face of the crisis, he was ordered to take over my command.

However, the final facts proved that General Rokossovsky was indeed much better than me in commanding large corps operations. In just a few days, he effectively curbed the German army's attempt to capture Kiev, and drove the enemy back to the original starting point of the attack. "

Lunev thought that when he mentioned Rokossovsky, Vatutin would definitely complain to some extent, but at this moment, it feels a bit incredible to hear the other party praise Rokossovsky so much. "Comrade general, I really didn't expect that after you were replaced by General Rokossovsky, not only did you not feel resentful for it, but on the contrary, you spoke so highly of him. I think this is simply incredible."