Red Moscow

Sokov thought that even after Zhukov took over Vatutin's position, he would have to wait until after April if he wanted to return to the front line, but he accidentally received a call from Lunev.

"Misha," Lunev asked on the phone, "I want to talk to you, do you have time?"

"Yes." At this time, the senior commander training class has not yet started, Sokov stays at home every day, naturally bored, he said to Lunev: "Lunev, you let Koshkin come Pick me up, and I'll go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to see you immediately."

"No, you don't have to come here." Unexpectedly, Lunev said unexpectedly: "I'll go to your house now."

When Sokov called, Asiya sat aside. After Sokov put down the phone, she asked curiously, "Misha, tell me, what is Lunev looking for from you?"

"I don't know!" Sokov replied bluntly, then thought of a possibility: "Maybe it has something to do with our meeting with Marshal Zhukov yesterday."

"It's related to Marshal Zhukov?" Asya asked with some puzzlement: "When we went to see Marshal Zhukov, did we talk to him beforehand, or did Lieutenant Koshkin under him send us there? Is there any problem?"

Sokov and Assia checked the room carefully in the past two days, and found no eavesdropping equipment, so he can speak with confidence: "Is it because we spent some time alone with Marshal Zhukov? what?"

Assia thought to herself: When I was fishing with Zhukov on the ice yesterday, the major who was in charge of protecting his safety once left for a while to fetch the tent. Maybe Lunev came here just to understand the relationship between Sokov and Zhukov during this time. content of the conversation.

After thinking of this, Assia immediately relaxed a lot: "Misha, I was also there yesterday and heard the entire conversation between you and Marshal Zhukov. Even if you tell Lunev all these contents, I don't think there is any problem."

"Yes, we don't need to talk about this kind of thing." Sokov agreed: "If you tell a lie, you need 100 lies to cover it up."

Lunev came very quickly, and within half an hour after finishing the call, he arrived at Sokov's house.

He shook hands with Sokov and asked politely, "Misha, how's your body these two days?"

"Very good." Sokov replied with a smile: "If the superior sends me back to the front line at this moment, although my leg is injured and I cannot go to the front line in person, it is still possible to sit in the headquarters and command the troops."

But Lunev expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "If you are really asked to go back to command the troops, can your body really adapt?"

"No problem." After chatting with Zhukov yesterday, Sokov realized that as long as he had the opportunity, he could return to the front line immediately without waiting for the end of the academy's training. So he said confidently: "Lunev, you should be very clear about my injuries. Except for the inconvenience of my legs and feet, my injuries have basically healed, and I am fully capable of commanding troops to fight."

"Misha, to tell you the truth, I came here today to understand your physical condition." Lunev said, "If conditions permit, I can let you return to the front line as soon as possible."

Lunev originally thought that Sokov would respond to him with what he learned at the Frunze Military Academy, but the other party couldn't wait to ask: "If my physical condition allows, can I really return to the front line immediately?"

"Yes, Misha." Lunev nodded: "That's true. As long as your physical condition allows, we can arrange for you to return to the front line as soon as possible. After all, there is a shortage of excellent commanders like you."

Sokov felt that Lunev came here today, probably not to chat with himself, and must have come with some important mission, so he asked tentatively; "Lunev, we are all friends, so there is no need to go around in circles , you can tell me directly, so that I can also be mentally prepared."

Now that Sokov got straight to the point, Lunev stopped rambling, but said seriously: "Misha, at the meeting of the Supreme Command two hours ago, General Konev's share was discussed. Apply."

"General Konev's application?" Sokov asked a bit puzzled, "Is his application related to me?"

"Yes, it is indeed related to you." Lunev nodded and continued: "During yesterday's battle, the aerial bomb dropped by the enemy plane hit the headquarters of the 53rd Army, causing great casualties. Major General Tarasov, the commander of the army group, was seriously injured and could no longer continue to command the battle. Therefore, General Konev applied to the Supreme Command, hoping that you can be the commander of the army group."

"What, let me be the commander of the 53rd Army?" Sokov suppressed the ecstasy in his heart, and tried to ask in a calm tone: "Lunev, is this all true?"

"Of course it is true." Lunev replied affirmatively: "The supreme commander himself let Comrade Beria know about your recovery from injuries. If conditions permit, he will immediately rush to the front and serve as the commander of the 53rd Army. The meeting was adjourned Afterwards, Beria also entrusted me with the task of understanding your recovery from your injury."

"Lunev." Sokov grabbed Lunev's hand and said emotionally: "Please go back and tell Comrade Beria that I have fully recovered and my body can fully adapt to life on the front line. , I hope to return to the front line as soon as possible."

Lunev obviously supported Sokov's return to the front line. He waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and then continued: "Misha, it is very beneficial for you to return to the front line at this moment. Ten German divisions were killed by two of us. The front army is besieged in the Cherkasy area, and its destruction is only a matter of time. I believe that with your ability, you will be able to achieve great results in this battle."

Lunev stood up, came to the telephone, picked up the receiver to dial, and said to the receiver: "I am Lunev, please help me to pick up Comrade Beria's office."

Soon, Sokov saw Lunev bent down and said respectfully into the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Beria. I am Lunev. I have already learned about General Sokov's injuries, although he is now I'm still a little limp in walking, but there shouldn't be any problem returning to the front to command the troops....Okay, I'll tell him what you mean, truthfully."

Lunev, who put down the phone, said to Sokov with a happy face: "Misha, I have some good news for you. Comrade Beria will report to the Supreme Commander himself immediately. I believe that you will be able to return to China in a short time." front."

"Lunev, thank you so much." Lunev was very happy when he thought that he would return to the front line soon, and turned to greet Assia: "Assia, take out the wine we bought yesterday, I want Have a nice drink with Lunev."

"No need." But Lunev waved his hand and rejected Sokov's kindness: "I still have a lot of work to do today, so I can't drink, let's drink another day."

Seeing that Lunev was unwilling to drink, Sokov didn't force it, "Okay, then we'll drink it another day."

Now that Lunev had completed his task, he did not intend to stay any longer. He raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said to Sokov, "Misha, I need to rush back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately, and wait for you to return to the front line." I'll call you after the matter is confirmed. Take advantage of this time to pack up so that you can set off after receiving the order."

After Lunev left, Asiya held Sokov's hand and said with tears in her eyes, "Misha, I didn't expect you to go to the battlefield again so soon. I really miss you."

"Assia," Sokov wiped away the tears on Assia's cheeks with his fingers, and comforted her, "The situation on the battlefield is becoming more and more favorable to our army. I believe it won't take long. The war will be over and we will be together forever."

Sokov didn't know whether the following history would be deflected because of his appearance, thus affecting the real history in his memory, so he said cautiously: "According to my analysis, the Germans will persist for another year and a half to two years at most. In a few years, it will be completely defeated by us."

"It only takes one and a half to two years for us to defeat the Germans?" Assia asked in surprise, "Misha, is this true?"

"If my judgment is not wrong, the Germans will be driven out of the country by our army soon, and then we will attack their country." Sokov explained: "Don't look at the fact that the Germans are not allowed on our land. One day, when we attack them, they will become vulnerable, and it will not be long before our troops can enter Berlin and completely crush them."

Knowing Sokov, Assia firmly believed in what he said. But thinking about the separation of the two places after Sokov is about to leave, I still feel very sad. She tentatively asked: "Misha, why don't I also be transferred to the 53rd Army so that I can take care of you nearby?"

"I don't think it's necessary." Sokov felt that the front line was the front line after all, and it was not necessarily safe to stay in the army headquarters. Otherwise, Major General Tarasov, the commander of the 53rd Army, would not have been injured. So he said euphemistically: "The front line is too dangerous. I don't want to worry about you every day. You should stay in the weapons and equipment department. Yakov will take care of you here, and there will be no danger."

"Okay." Hearing what Sokov said, Asiya understood that no matter what she said, the other party would not agree to go to the front line, so she had to give up this unrealistic idea, but she was worried about Sokov's safety , still seriously warned: "Misha, after you return to the front line, you must stay in your command post, and don't just run to the front line casually."

Speaking of this, she couldn't help but shed tears again: "You were lucky this time and saved your life, but no one knows if you will be able to survive this time when a similar situation happens next time." good luck."

"Assia, don't worry." Sokov knew very well that if he didn't agree with Assia, she would not feel at ease: "I assure you, after returning to the front line this time, I will definitely not be casual Run to the front."

Although I said this in my mouth, I was thinking in my heart, if the situation is critical, I should go to the frontier, and I still have to go. At worst, if I don’t tell you, you won’t know that I have been to the frontier.

In the evening, Sokov received a call from Lunev: "Misha, you have been officially appointed as the commander of the 53rd Army. The car that will pick you up will arrive in ten minutes. Please prepare for departure as soon as possible." Prepare."

"Lunev, I want to ask, do I go to the frontier by car?"

"Of course not." Lunev said: "It is almost 2,000 kilometers from here to the front line. If you take a car, it will take several days. Now that the 53rd Army has no leader, it must not be without a commander for a long time. I will pick you up later The car will take you directly to the airport, where a plane will take you to General Konev's headquarters."

It was said to be ten minutes, but after only five minutes, there was a knock on the door.

Asya went to open the door and found that the person standing at the door was Koshkin. She couldn't help asking in surprise, "Lieutenant Koshkin, are you taking Misha to the airport?"

"Yes, Assia." Koshkin nodded and said, "I am here today not only to send Comrade General to the airport, but also to return to the front line together as his adjutant."

Sokov got up and walked in front of Koshkin, and said to him: "Comrade adjutant, I'm ready to go, let's go now."

Assia took off Sokov's military coat from the coat rack, and in order to put it on, she exhorted: "Misha, I won't go down to see you off, so as not to be sad when you leave. You are out alone. Know how to take care of your body, don't make me worry, you know?"

"Understood, my dear!" Sokov said, he put his arms around Asia and kissed her on the forehead.

"Lieutenant Koshkin," Assia said to Koshkin after breaking free from Sokov's arms, "Misha's safety, I'll trouble you."

"Assia, please rest assured." Koshkin glanced at Sokov and said firmly, "I will ensure the safety of Comrade General just like protecting my own eyes."

On the way to the airport, Sokov asked Koshkin: "Comrade adjutant, is our plane going directly to General Konev's headquarters?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Now that Sokov has been officially appointed as the commander of the 53rd Army, Koshkin's address to him has also changed: "We will go to General Konev's headquarters first. There, join your interim headquarters members and rush to the 53rd Army."

Sokov said with some surprise: "What, the members of my interim headquarters are still in General Konev's headquarters? Is no one assigned to the grassroots units as commanders?"

"As far as I know, not yet." Koshkin knew the origins of the members of the interim headquarters very well, so he said to Sokov: "But this is also good, you can personally assign these students the next step based on their performance. Where to go."

When the car arrived at the airport, Sokov saw a transport plane parked on the runway, so he pointed to Koshkin and asked: "Adjutant Comrade, are we going to the front by that plane?"

"It should be." After Koshkin said this in an uncertain tone, he ordered the driver: "Driver, park the car next to the transport plane."

When the car stopped beside the transport plane, a pilot got out of the plane, came to the side of the car, raised his hand to salute Sokov who had just got off the car, and then asked respectfully, "Is this General Sokov?"

"Yes, I am Sokov."

"Hello, Comrade General." The pilot said, "I was ordered to take you to the headquarters of the Ukrainian Second Front Army. I have been waiting for you for a long time. Please board the plane!"