Red Moscow

Two guards came to the major and raised their hands to salute, "Comrade major, what instructions do you have?"

The major pointed to the tent by the river and told the two men, "Go and carry that tent over."

Although the two did not understand the reason why the major did this, their long-term habit of obedience made them run to the tent without complaint, and planned to move it to the fishing position of Marshal Zhukov according to the major's order.

Taking advantage of the time when the major was leading people to move the tent, Sokov walked up behind Zhukov with Assia, and greeted with a smile, "Comrade Marshal, how many fish have you caught?"

Zhukov said he was fishing, but in fact he was holding a fishing rod and staring at the ice hole in front of him in a daze. At this moment, someone behind him interrupted his contemplation, which made him very dissatisfied. He frowned and turned his head to look back, wanting to reprimand the uninvited guest.

But it was Sokov's familiar face that caught his eyes. A stunned expression flashed across his face, "Misha, why is it you?" For a long time, both legs were a little numb, and I couldn't stand up for a while.

Sokov quickly reached out to support him, and said with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, the ice is too slippery, don't get up too fast, and be careful of falling."

With Sokov's support, Zhukov stood up straight and asked in surprise, "Misha, why are you here?"

"I heard that you are sick, so I came here to see you." Sokov briefly explained his reason for coming, and then continued to ask: "Comrade Marshal, how many fish did you catch today?"

"Maybe only five or six." Zhukov pointed at the few fish thrown near the ice hole, and said, "It's just good for entertaining you."

Seeing the major and the guards carrying the tent, Zhukov couldn't help but frowned again, "What are they doing, why are they carrying the tent here?"

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov hurriedly explained to Zhukov, "I think the weather is too cold. If you sit on the ice fishing like this, you will easily get sick from the cold, so I asked the major to bring the tent here so that you can sit on the ice." Fishing in a tent."

"Fishing in a tent?!" Zhukov asked in confusion, "How do you fish in a tent?"

"It's very simple, Comrade Marshal." Sokov continued: "Let the major set up a tent here later. After setting up, the ice hole will be in the middle of the tent, and you can sit in it and fish. Fishing in the tent The biggest advantage is that there is no need to blow northwest wind, and if you put kitchen utensils on it, you can directly process the freshly caught fish.”

After listening to Zhukov, he thought about it carefully, nodded his head and said, "Misha, your idea is really good. I never thought of it."

Soon, the major brought the tent over and rebuilt it near the ice hole.

After the tent was set up, Zhukov went in and took a look, feeling very satisfied: "Not bad, it's indeed much warmer in the tent, and it doesn't affect my fishing." He walked out of the tent and said to the major standing outside, "Major Comrade, there won’t be many people in this tent, so go find another tent and set it up next to it.”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I will send someone to fetch the tent right away."

Sokov walked into the tent and felt that although it was warmer than the outside, it was still cold. If he had been sitting here with Zhukov fishing, he would probably be frozen, so he tentatively said, "Comrade Marshal, I think it's okay to stay here." Put a layer of wood in the tent and put a stove for heating, so it will be warmer."

"It makes sense, it makes sense." Regarding Sokov's proposal, Zhukov readily agreed, and he told the major who had not yet left: "Major, bring a few more boards and a heating stove so that the tent can be warmer." .”

"Comrade Marshal, one stove or two?"

"At least two heating stoves must be brought." Zhukov said, "Don't you need to keep warm in the tent you are staying in?"

"Understood, Comrade Marshal, I'll do it right away." The major was worried that he wouldn't be able to take so many things, so he called two guards and returned to the villa with him.

Zhukov sat down beside the ice hole and continued fishing. After fishing for a while, he said, "Misha, I have been here for several days, and you are the only one who came to visit me."

Sokov secretly said in his heart that people are cold and warm, and seeing Zhukov lose power, no one is willing to visit him. But this kind of words can be thought about in his heart, but he can't say it out. He chuckled, and then said: "Comrade Marshal, it may be that the weather outside has been very cold recently, and everyone is reluctant to go out. When the weather is warmer, I may come to see you There will be an endless stream of people.”

Zhukov is well aware of his own situation. Now that he is idle, many friends and old subordinates will not come to visit him at all because they are worried about being implicated. It was a pleasant surprise to see Sokov here today, but out of the perspective of caring for the other party, he still asked worriedly: "Misha, you bring Assia to visit me today, so you don't worry about being implicated. ?"

"There is nothing to worry about." Sokov knows that everyone can add icing on the cake, but not many people can do it in a timely manner. When he visits Zhukov at the moment when he is in the most difficult situation, he will definitely leave a deep impression on him. He grinned and said, "I'm not here to visit some Soviet marshal, but to visit my father's friend, an elder who has always cared for and cared for me. I don't think anyone will make a fuss about it."

What Sokov said made Zhukov feel very comfortable in his heart. He smiled slightly and said, "Misha, if someone really wants to make a fuss about this matter, even if you are here to visit your parents, I'm afraid they will." get into unnecessary trouble."

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov felt the need to dispel Zhukov's concerns, lest he drive him away in order to protect himself: "Your situation is only temporary, and I believe it will not be long before you will come out again to preside over the overall situation." of."

Hearing what Sokov said, Zhukov put down the fishing rod in his hand, turned to stare at Sokov, and asked with great interest, "Misha, why do you think so?"

"Now our army has changed from a strategic stalemate to a strategic offensive." Sokov replied calmly: "To ensure a smooth offensive strategy, we must have an excellent commander to command our army. And you, no doubt is the best choice."

"I don't think it's realistic." Zhukov smiled wryly and shook his head: "Now I don't even have access to the army, so how can I command offensive operations on all fronts?"

"Comrade Marshal, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov organized the vocabulary in his mind, and continued: "I think at the end of February and the beginning of March, you will be able to return to the front line to command the troops."

After Zhukov heard this, a surprised expression appeared on his face: "Misha, tell me, on what basis did you come to such a conclusion?"

"Comrade Marshal, do you know the combat situation of our army in the Cherkasy region?"

"I know." Regardless of the fact that Zhukov has not personally commanded troops for more than a year, but as a representative of the headquarters stationed on the front line, he is very concerned about the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky battle near Cherkasy He understood very well, he nodded, and then asked: "Why, what's the problem?"

"If only General Konev's Ukrainian Second Front Army besieged the ten divisions of the German army, then there is great hope for the complete annihilation of this enemy." Sukov said cautiously: "But now those who are involved in the siege, There is also General Vatutin’s Ukrainian First Front Army. I think that in the end of this battle, it is very likely that a considerable part of the enemy’s breakthrough was successful due to the lack of coordination between the two front armies.”

After Zhukov finished listening, his expression became serious. After a while, he opened his mouth and said, "Misha, to be honest, I didn't have much confidence in Konev before the Kursk battle. You know, at the beginning of the war, he was promoted to general. Two years later, he is still standing still.

At that time, when I learned that the steppe front army as a reserve force was commanded by Konev, I was very uneasy. I worried that once Vatutin's defense line south of Kursk was broken, Konev's troops would not be able to stop the menacing attack. enemy. But what happened next made me change my view of him. Without Konev's steppe front army, the outcome of the Kursk battle is really unknown. "

Sokov stared blankly at Zhukov, thinking to himself, what did you tell me about Konev, are you still worried that his troops will not be able to block the enemy's breakthrough?

In the next second, Sokov heard Zhukov say: "If possible, I will call Konev myself and remind him of this. We finally surrounded the main force of the Germans, and we must not let them Jump out of our encirclement."

"Comrade Marshal, I think you have misunderstood me."

"Misunderstood what you mean?" Zhukov raised his eyebrows, and said a little puzzled, "Am I not right?"

"I actually want to say that if only General Konev's troops besieged the German army this time, there might be a chance to wipe out the enemy." Sokov said cautiously: "And the Ukrainian First Front Army, which is fighting side by side with them now, is It is the weak point. I am afraid that the enemy will jump out of the encirclement of our army from the direction that General Vatutin is in charge of."

"What, you mean that the direction Vatutin is in charge of will be chosen by the Germans as a breakthrough?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, that's exactly the case." Sokov emphasized emphatically in order to increase his persuasiveness: "You must remember that our army suffered a big loss in the Zhytomyr area shortly after recapturing Kiev. If the Supreme Command had not sent General Rokossovsky in time to take over the command of the troops, Kiev might have been taken back by the Germans."

Zhukov was also full of dissatisfaction with Vatutin's performance over the past year. However, after listening to Sokov's evaluation of him at this moment, he said with a straight face: "Whether the commander of a front is qualified or not can only be determined by the Supreme Command, and it is not something you can evaluate casually. Do you understand?"

Having said that, Zhukov glanced outside the tent and saw that there was no one around except his own tent, so he slowed down and said to Sokov: "Misha, I know what you said is true." Reasonable. But these words can’t be said casually, I’m fine after hearing them, if someone with ulterior motives listens, I’m afraid you will get into trouble.”

"I understand what you mean, Comrade Marshal." Sokov said with a smile on his face, "There are no outsiders, so I can tell you what is in my heart."

"It's good if you know." After Zhukov said this, he picked up his fishing rod again and continued fishing, pretending to be indifferent and asked: "Misha, do you really think that the Germans will jump out of the encirclement of Cherkasy?" come out?"

"Among the German army besieged in Cherkasy, at least the Viking Division is their elite. The Germans will never tolerate this army being annihilated by us." Sukov said: "Therefore, Manstein will definitely think Do everything possible to let this army jump out of the encirclement of our army."

"Then do you think if you adjust your deployment at this moment, do you have a chance to wipe out the besieged enemies?"

"It is basically impossible to completely wipe out the enemy." Although Sokov is not on the front line now, he knows many things in his heart. Although the troops involved in the siege have been replenished, the recruits are basically from Ukraine. Special military training, although the number of people seems to be quite large, but the overall combat effectiveness has not increased but decreased. "Unless the two front armies are merged now, and then you or General Konev will be in command, there will be a certain chance of annihilating the main force of the besieged German army."

"Under today's circumstances, merging the two front armies may increase the number of troops, but it does not mean that it can improve combat effectiveness." Zhukov is quite clear about the advantages and disadvantages of merging the two front armies at this moment. Familiarity, there will definitely be problems of one kind or another in cooperation, and it will cause unnecessary confusion, and then it will create a good opportunity for the Germans to break through."

Seeing that Zhukov saw the problem more comprehensively than himself, Sokov did not mention the merger of the two front armies. In his memory, the merger of the two front armies will not appear until Vatutin is injured and Zhukov's acting command ends. Today, both front armies have their own headquarters, and mergers are basically impossible.

Zhukov didn't want to continue discussing this issue, so he changed the topic in time: "Misha, have you recovered from your injuries?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, he has recovered." Sokov replied with a smile: "If I don't need to study at the Frunze Military Academy for another six months, I would like to return to the front line immediately."

Zhukov did not say that he could learn more theoretical knowledge by staying in the academy like others did, but said thoughtfully: "Actually, I think you have nothing to learn even if you continue to stay in the academy." gone."

Sokov was taken aback for a moment, and then he was overjoyed. He tentatively asked Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, do you mean that I can return to the front line immediately?"

Zhukov glanced at Sokov's injured leg and said, "If I had the right to decide, I would definitely send you to the toughest front, because you have the ability to turn the tide of battle. But now..." He put Spreading his hands, he said helplessly, "I can't even leave here now, let alone arrange for you to return to the front line."

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov felt that since he didn't have to stay in the academy for another half a year, he could consider returning to the front line as soon as possible, so he said to Zhukov, "In this way, I don't need to complete the Frunze Military Academy. Do you want to return to the front line early because of your studies?"

"It's possible in theory." Zhukov said with a wry smile, "It's a pity that I don't have that right now, otherwise I will definitely let you return to the front line as soon as possible."