Red Moscow

Sokov didn't realize that this was a text trap set by Zhukov, and replied truthfully: "How is this possible, you have been in the army longer than my age, so you naturally know the dangers of leapfrog command.

First of all, leapfrog command dampens the enthusiasm of middle-level commanders. Since you can issue combat orders to him, let him pass the orders to the troops below. But now he just walked past him and gave orders to the troops below, what's the matter with that?

Secondly, it will mess up the order of the organization, and the leapfrog command will make the intermediate commanders unable to perform their duties normally, which will lead to chaos in the command system of the entire army.

Again, it will also make it difficult for the grassroots commanders below. They will be in a dilemma because of the differences between their superiors, which may affect the execution of the entire combat mission. "

"It seems that you see this matter very clearly." Zhukov continued to ask, "Misha, tell me, are you going to solve the problem of leapfrog command now?"

"It's very simple. If we recruit a few outstanding division commanders from the academy, won't this problem be solved?"

"Oh, recruit from the academy." Zhukov asked with a smile, "Do you have a suitable target?"

"Not yet, Comrade Marshal." After Sukov finished speaking, seeing Zhukov frowned slightly, he quickly explained: "But after I graduate from the training course for intermediate commanders, I will enter the ranks of senior commanders." Training classes, and I will be able to pick the right candidates from them when the time comes."

Zhukov grinned, and then said: "The senior commander training class is only for training division-level commanders. Even if you can find a few suitable commanders, who do you plan to let be the rank of army commander?"

"I've thought about this a long time ago." Sokov said defenselessly: "I'm afraid it's very difficult to find a commander at the commander level in the training class. Even if I find it, I have no right to dig him into my subordinates. So , I'm planning to……"

"So you plan to let Muzichenko and Kirillov take the post of army commander?" Before Sokov could finish speaking, Zhukov rushed to say, "Am I right?"

"That's right, that's exactly what I thought about it." Seeing Zhukov say what he wanted to say, Sokov nodded vigorously: "And I also plan to let General Ponegerin be the chief of staff of the army group. .”

"Nonsense, it's nonsense." Unexpectedly, when Zhukov heard this, he slapped the table heavily with his palm, which shocked Sokov. He said angrily: "Don't you know that Ponedelin, Muzichenko and others have been prisoners for several years. They are all entrusted with heavy responsibilities, aren't you afraid that someone will report you later?"

In fact, Assia had reminded Sokov of Zhukov's concerns some time ago. Sokov also hesitated and hesitated at first, but after repeated thinking, he still decided to boldly use these three people. With their assistance, it will be of great benefit to my future military career.

"Comrade Marshal, I think they are completely trustworthy." Sokov understood that if he couldn't explain Zhukov in front of him, then it would be a fantasy to let Ponejielin and others be his subordinates in the future. He cautiously Said: "When my troops rescued the three of them from the prisoner-of-war camp, I reported to my superiors that they were captured by the German army, but they definitely did not do anything wrong to the motherland. Otherwise, the Germans would not have held them in prisoner-of-war camps for a long time. If they were given a chance to avenge the Germans, I believe they would be able to exert their great potential and enable the troops to achieve greater results."

"Misha, you trust the three of them so much, aren't you afraid that you may be mistaken?"

"No, Comrade Marshal, I'm not mistaken." Sokov, who came from later generations, had already known the loyalty of the three Ponejielins from history books, so after hearing Zhukov's question, he said Said conclusively: "I dare to guarantee with my wealth and life, they are absolutely trustworthy."

"Okay, Misha." In fact, Zhukov still has some good feelings for these three former subordinates. Seeing that Sokov is resolutely supporting the three of them, he said in a slow tone: "After you finish your studies , I will try to find a way to arrange the three of them into your new army, and I hope that their performance will not disappoint me."

"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal, I will never let you down." After Sokov finished speaking, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't heard from the three of them for a long time, so he tentatively asked Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, the three of them Where are you now?"

"Where else can it be? Naturally, they are serving in Rokossovsky's Belarusian Front Army." Zhukov said slowly: "Although the positions given to them are not very important, but according to the reactions of other commanders, they The performance is not bad. But if you really want to entrust them with important tasks, I think you still need to be cautious."

"I will pay attention, Comrade Marshal."

Zhukov looked at Sokov and said: "I came here to see you today to pass on a message to people, telling you not to reuse Ponejielin and others, otherwise it will have a negative impact on your future. But now it seems , if you can really make good use of these three people, you may be able to achieve greater results on the battlefield."

"Spreading a message for someone?" Sokov couldn't help being taken aback when he heard Zhukov say that, and asked stupidly, "Spreading a message for whom?"

"It's a person I can't offend." Zhukov didn't tell Sokov that he was helping someone to spread the word, but told him: "In the future, you still have to pay more attention to using Ponegerin and others. , if you find that they are incompetent, you must promptly remove them from their positions so as not to have a bad influence on you. Do you understand?"

"clear."

"Just understand." Zhukov raised his hand to check the time, "I still have to go to the General Staff Headquarters, and I'll see you next time I have time."

After Zhukov opened the door, Sokov turned the wheel of the wheelchair with his hands, followed him out of the dean's room, and continued to ask: "Comrade Marshal, do you think which army I can be assigned to after I finish my studies?"

"Misha, although you have already talked to Rokossovsky, you will go to his Belarusian Front Army after you recover from your injury and finish your studies." Zhukov said with a smile: "But now you are very sought-after, as far as I know , There are several front army commanders on different fronts who want you to go to their troops. Where will you go at that time, the person who can make the final decision may only be the Supreme Commander himself."

The dean was talking to the teacher who pushed Sokov over. Seeing Zhukov and Sokov approaching, he hurriedly greeted him: "Comrade Marshal, is your conversation over?"

"Yes, we've finished talking." Zhukov held out his hand to the dean and said apologetically, "Comrade Velyovkin, I'm really sorry to have kept you outside for so long."

"Comrade Marshal, it's getting late." The dean shook Zhukov's hand and said courteously, "It's better to stay for dinner. The food in our cafeteria is pretty good."

"Comrade Velyovkin, thank you for your kindness." Zhukov politely rejected the dean's kindness: "I have to rush to the General Staff Headquarters immediately, and I can only taste the food in your cafeteria next time I have the opportunity."

After seeing off Zhukov, the dean asked Sokov with a pleasant face: "Comrade Sokov, are you satisfied with our academy?"

"Satisfied, very satisfied." Sokov nodded and said affirmatively: "I have learned a lot of important knowledge here, and I believe that when I go to the battlefield, I will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge to command operations."

After chatting with Sokov for a few words, the dean ordered the teacher to push Sokov back into the classroom.

Victor and Sukharev were worried after seeing Sokov being pushed away by a teacher. Seeing him back now, they hurriedly stepped forward and asked with concern, "Did you go to the dean's office just now?"

"Yes."

"What does the dean want from you?"

Sokov looked around and saw that there were not many students in the classroom, and they were far away from him. As long as he didn't speak loudly, they couldn't hear them at all, so he lowered his voice and said to the two of them, "Look for me!" The person is not the dean, but Marshal Zhukov?"

"Ah, it's Marshal Zhukov?" Viktor said in surprise, "Comrade Marshal came to see you at the academy on purpose?"

"That's right." Sokov nodded, thinking that he could just take this opportunity to confess to Victor and Sukharev: "He asked me how many people I planned to bring when I went to the new army. past."

Hearing what Sokov said, Sukharev immediately became excited: "Comrade General, if you are going to take up a post in the new army, please be sure to bring me with you."

"Don't worry, Sukharev." Sokov said with a smile, "I will not only bring you and Victor with me, but also many students in this class. If you want an army to quickly improve its combat effectiveness, it is indispensable to have an excellent regiment-level commander."

"Did you hear that, Victor." Sukharev touched Victor who was standing next to him with his shoulder: "Comrade General plans to take us to his new unit in the future."

"Where is your new army?" Compared with Sukharev, Victor seemed much calmer: "Is it the Belarusian Front Army or other troops?"

"Although I had agreed with General Rokossovsky more than two months ago that I would go to his army after my injury recovered, he readily agreed to my request at that time." Soko The husband whispered to the two: "However, Marshal Zhukov told me today that things may change."

"What change?" Victor asked nervously, "Is the superior planning to keep you behind?"

"That's not true." Seeing that Victor had misunderstood, Sokov explained to him: "Several front army commanders have applied to the Supreme Command, hoping that after I finish my studies, I can join their front army. work. Therefore, I am still unable to figure out which unit I will be assigned to in the end."

"Hey, that's really a pity." Sukharev said with a look of regret: "Then it will take a long time before we know which front army you can be assigned to."

Victor considered the issue more comprehensively than Sukharev. He frowned and said, "Comrade General, judging from the current situation, if you are assigned to the Belarusian Front Army or the Ukrainian First Front Army, then the future march to Berlin The opportunity is the greatest. And if you go to another front, I am afraid that by the end of the war, there will be no chance to get close to Berlin."

Sokov couldn't help being shocked when he heard what Victor said. He didn't expect this seemingly ordinary major to accurately name the two troops that would enter Berlin in the future. For a moment, he thought to himself: Could it be that Victor also traveled from the future?

But after thinking about it, I have known Victor for so long, and I have not found any behavior incompatible with this era. Maybe what he said is just a coincidence, and I am too worried.

"Colonel Victor, you are right," but Sokov still echoed Victor's speculation: "Judging from the current distribution of troops, the troops most likely to attack Berlin are Roxo General Vatutin's Belarusian Front, and General Vatutin's 1st Ukrainian Front. As long as we can enter one of these two forces, we have a chance to participate in the battle to capture Berlin."

For soldiers, being able to conquer the enemy's capital is an extremely honorable thing. Sukharev also became interested: "Comrade General, do you think we have such an opportunity?"

"I think there will be such a chance."

Sitting in the back row surrounded by several students, the squad leader Kryzhov saw the three of them chatting in low voices happily, and couldn't help saying sourly to the students: "Look, that Captain Sokov is not He knew what he was expressing, which made those two followers feel delighted."

A captain student looked at the three people who were chatting, and said in an uncertain tone: "Maybe Captain Sokov has proposed some new tactical theory, tell me, should we go and listen to it?"

"If you want to go, you can go." Kryzhouf said with a stern face, "Anyway, I will never go there."

Hearing what Kryzhuv said, some students immediately echoed: "Even, we will not go there. That Sokov is just a captain, but he preaches his ingenious military tactics in class all day long." In theory, he looks like a high-spirited lecturer, and I feel that he is more like a teacher than a teacher."

Major Milesiev said: "You can't say that. Although Sokov is only a captain, I think he is not simple. The instructors told us all the military theories in books, and Captain Sokov , but connecting each case with the military theory we have learned has benefited me a lot.”

"Comrade Major, I didn't expect you to be confused by him." The student who echoed Kryzhiuf said eccentrically, "Don't look at his battle examples, but he is the commander of the 27th Army, General Sokov. What does it have to do with him? I think, when our training is over and we return to the army, even if we only give him one regiment, I’m afraid he won’t be able to command well.”

"Comrade Captain," Milesyev looked at the student and said displeasedly: "I have already said that although he is only a captain, according to my observations during this period, I found that his ability is absolutely not enough. It will be worse than a division commander, or army commander, or even the head of the group army. Let alone a regiment, even if you give him a division or an army, I believe he can achieve good results."