Red Moscow

When Rokossovsky just took over the command, Vatutin did have resentment in his heart, but after more than a month of observation, he found that the other party was indeed more experienced and comfortable than himself in commanding large corps operations, which made him understand The gap between the two was cleared, and this fact was slowly accepted.

Hearing that Lunev exposed his scars at this moment, Vatutin was not angry, but said with a wry smile: "General Lunev, what should I say? When I was just replaced by Rokossovsky, there must have been some Lost. But after a period of observation, I found that he far surpassed me in dealing with crises and commanding large corps operations. If the German army launched a counterattack against Kiev without him to replace me, Kiev may fall into another into the hands of the Germans."

Lunev was even more surprised to see Vatutin being so outspoken. He has known Vatutin for more than ten years, and he knows that the other party is a headstrong person. He can't even listen to the opinions of Zhukov and Vasilevsky. It was unexpected.

Since Vatutin was in a hurry to leave Moscow, Lunev did not continue to question him. He just wanted to get the other party on the plane quickly, and then he could go back and report.

I drove to the airport. Since the airport had been notified in advance, the plane had already been arranged to wait on the runway.

Seeing two black cars approaching, the pilot standing next to the plane hurried up to greet him and saluted Vatutin who got out of the car: "Hello, Comrade General, I am ordered to take you back to Kiev."

Vatutin glanced at the back of the transport plane and found that two fighter planes were also ready to take off, so he asked casually, "Comrade pilot, are those two fighter planes going to Kiev with us?"

"Yes, Comrade General." The pilot nodded and replied affirmatively: "Although the air superiority from Moscow to Kiev is in the hands of our air force. But in order to prevent enemy planes from passing over Kiev, it will pose a danger to your safety. , The superior specially dispatched two fighter jets to escort them."

Vatutin originally thought about not having a fighter escort, but after another thought, this is Moscow, not Kiev, and he has nothing to say about the airport. Thinking of this, he hummed lightly, and with the help of his adjutant, he boarded the plane.

Lunev watched Vatutin's plane take off into the sky and turned into a small black spot in the sky, then turned around and said to the subordinates behind him: "Okay, let's go back."

Back in Lubyanka, Lunev went straight to Beria's office to report to him.

Beria had already been notified by Lunev that Vatutin wanted to rush back to Kiev. At this moment, seeing Lunev walking in from the outside, he nodded at him and asked bluntly: "Vatutin General Jing returned to Kiev?"

"Yes, Comrade Beria." Lunev replied respectfully: "General Vatutin's plane took off a quarter of an hour ago. If all goes well, he will arrive in Kiev in two hours."

"Did he only meet Sokov when he returned to Moscow this time?"

"That's right." Lunev replied: "From the moment he got off the plane and set foot on the land of Moscow to the time he left Moscow, I followed him every step of the way. Except for Sokov, he Didn't see anyone, didn't call anyone."

"Then tell me what Vatutin said when he visited Sokov in the hospital."

Lunev promised, and made a detailed report to Beria about what he saw and heard.

After Beria finished listening, he got up and walked out from behind the desk, walked back and forth in the spacious office with his hands behind his back, and began to think about every detail of Lunev's report in his mind.

After walking for five or six minutes, he suddenly stopped and asked nonchalantly, "Lunev, what do you think of this matter?"

Lunev was taken aback for a moment, then understood what Beria meant, and quickly replied, "I think Vatutin came to Moscow this time to persuade Sokov to join his Ukrainian First Front."

"Oh, his purpose is that simple?"

"I think so." Lunev nodded and replied, "As you know, Vatutin was dismissed last month due to poor command. Although he is about to resume his command right now, if his subordinates Without one or two capable army-level commanders, it is hard to say that the Zhytomir Defense War will not happen again."

"You make sense." Beria agreed with Lunev's analysis: "As far as I know, Rokossovsky and Konev also proposed to the Supreme Command, hoping to wait for Sokov After the injury and training are over, they can be sent to their troops. It is really unexpected that Sokov has become a sought-after item on all fronts at a young age."

Hearing what Beria said, Lunev smiled lightly, and then said: "Comrade Beria, I have partnered with Sokov for nearly a year. I have the right to speak about his ability."

"tell me the story."

"Maybe because he has not received systematic military theory education, the tactics he uses when commanding operations are often different from our traditional tactics." Lunev said: "Using his new tactics on the battlefield to deal with the enemy , and often beat the enemy to the point where they have no power to parry."

In order to further strengthen his persuasiveness, he also specially emphasized: "For example, several elite SS divisions of the German army basically have no defeats against other troops of our army. But as long as they meet Sokov, they will fight They will definitely lose the battle. Because of the various tactics used by Sokov, the Germans don't know how to deal with it at all."

Beria sat down behind the desk again and said to Lunev: "Comrade Lunev, you might as well go to the hospital to see Sokov and hear what he means."

When Lunev heard what Beria said, he asked in puzzlement, "Why did you ask him?"

"Now the General Staff has taken a fancy to him and tried everything possible to keep him. Antonov even talked to Comrade Stalin specifically about this matter." Beria looked at Lunev and said, "Through your usual introduction to me, In the current situation, I think it is more appropriate for Sokov to return to the front line."

"Understood." Lunev remembered that he had accompanied Shtemenko to meet Sokov, and persuaded him to stay in the General Staff, but was politely rejected. At this moment, Beria asked himself to understand Sokov's situation. Naturally, he would not shirk his true thoughts: "I'll go to the hospital right now."

"Go," Beria waved at Lunev, and said casually, "By the way, say hello to me."

Half an hour later, Lunev came to Sokov's ward.

Seeing Lunev enter the door, Sokov, who was chatting with Assia and Vera, asked a little unexpectedly: "Lunev, have you settled down Comrade General?"

"He has returned to Kiev."

"What, back to Kiev?" Sokov asked in surprise, "After leaving the hospital, did you go back to Kiev?"

"That's right, that's right." Lunev said, "I sent him on the plane myself."

"Then what is his purpose here?" Sokov asked in an uncertain tone, "Is it just to see me?"

Lunev smiled: "Misha, you may not know that you are in high demand now. Not only General Vatutin has taken a fancy to you, but even the two commanders Rokossovsky and Konev, They also called the Supreme Commander himself, hoping that after you graduate from the Frunze Military Academy, you will go to work in their army."

"No way." Sokov expressed doubts about Lunev's statement: "This kind of thing can't be a joke, otherwise it will cause you unnecessary trouble."

"How can I just joke with you about this kind of thing." Lunev said seriously: "As far as I know, in addition to the three commanders of the front army I just mentioned, there are also commanders on other fronts who are also interested in you." Interest. It’s just that their identities cannot be compared with the previous three, so they can’t directly call the Supreme Commander himself, but put forward their own demands through the General Staff, and hope you can join them.”

"Hehe," Sokov laughed dryly, and then said to Lunev, "Lunev, you really know how to joke. How can I make everyone miss you so much?"

"You can't say that, I have the most say in your ability." Lunev said: "At least I have never seen any mistakes in your command, and the results of the troops you commanded , even more than the sum of several armies. This means that whoever can recruit you into their command can bring the combat effectiveness of the front army to a new level."

"Lunev, I want to ask you one thing." Although Sokov will not be able to graduate from the Frunze Military Academy until July of the following year, he knows very well that with the development of the war, the front line urgently needs Experienced commanders are afraid that they will be reassigned to the front line as soon as they recover from their injuries. No matter which unit he goes to in the future, he must first use the present to form a strong team, so he made his request to Lunev, "I hope you can agree to me."

"Tell me, Misha, if you have anything, just talk about it." Lunev knew that Sokov would not ask for help easily, and since he opened his mouth, it proved that this matter would not be completed, but he still insisted on saying : "As long as it is within my ability, I will definitely assist you with all my strength."

"When I was studying at school during this period, I found that there were several excellent commanders in the intermediate training class. No matter which front I will be assigned to in the future, I hope to let these commanders be my subordinates." Suo After Kof finished his request in one breath, he asked back: "I wonder if you can help me with this matter?"

After figuring out what was going on, Lunev's heart suddenly felt at ease. Anyway, it's not too difficult to take charge of this matter by himself, as long as he greets Velyovkin, the dean of the Frunze Military Academy, It is enough to postpone the assignment time of the students.

"No problem." Lunev said: "You tell me the names of those students, and I will talk to the dean another day. After their training is over, I will not arrange new positions for them for the time being and let them wait for you." Let's talk about it after finishing school. Do you think it's okay?"

"That's really great." Hearing what Lunev said, Sokov smiled on his face. He took out a small book, tore off a piece of paper full of words from the middle, and handed it to Lunev: "The names of the students I want are all on it, please tell the dean, and don't let them leave the school after their training is over."

Lunev took the note and looked at it carefully. There were twelve people in one, four of them were majors, and the rest were captains. After reading it, he said with emotion: "After completing the training and returning to the army, these trainees will be promoted to the first level of military rank and serve as deputy regimental commander or chief of staff. If you let them become your subordinates, at least one can be guaranteed. The commander of the division absolutely obeys the orders you give and executes them without any compromise."

Sokov knew that Lunev had a feeling for it. When the troops broke through the Dnieper River and were stationed in Klemenchug, the 53rd Army was temporarily assigned to him to command. There is resistance, and as a result, he is not resolute in carrying out his own tasks, thus delaying a lot of fighter opportunities.

"That's right." Sokov continued: "Twelve regiment-level commanders can completely control the troops of three regiments in one division, so that when I entrust them with difficult and important tasks, I don't have to worry about someone going against me." I'm a naysayer."

"Just a group of regiment-level cadres, I'm afraid it's not enough." Lunev reminded: "Or, when you enter the advanced training class, you can pick a few division commanders and assign them to your new unit. go?"

"I'm afraid it won't work." Sokov knew himself. Even though he had served as the commander of two army groups and made great achievements on the battlefield, there were still many commanders who didn't buy into him. If you enter the advanced training class by yourself, it is obviously unrealistic to try to attract people like the intermediate class. "These commanders who participated in the advanced training class, I am afraid that before coming to the academy, they have already been assigned future positions. It is impossible to keep them."

"That's true." Lunev agrees with Sokov's statement. The commanders of the advanced class will be division commanders or even army commanders in the future. Even if the dean of the academy reluctantly keeps them, I'm afraid Within half a day, the superiors of these students called to protest. Therefore, he asked with some concern: "Misha, the division commander in the army, what do you think?"

"It would be best if there are ready-made division commanders and chiefs of staff in the divisions I command." Sokov is not worried about this: "Even if there is no one, I can find a way to find someone from other places."

"Do you have a suitable candidate?"

"Lunev, have you forgotten the three of them, Ponejielin?" Sokov reminded Lunev: "They have been in General Rokossovsky's army for a while, and they must have mastered the three of them." I have learned the skills of fighting the German army now. If I am the commander, General Ponedelin can be my chief of staff, and Muzichenko and Kirillov can serve as army commanders or division commanders.”