Red Moscow

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov said affirmatively: "I believe that with the strength of the First Belarusian Front Army and the cooperation of several friendly troops, we will be able to liberate the whole of Belarus within three months." territory."

After listening to Sokov, Malinin cast a look of help at Rokosovsky, and he hoped that his commander could refute Sokov. But what he didn't expect was that Rokossovsky actually supported Sokov's statement: "Misha, if the superiors can really agree with your battle plan, then liberate the entire territory of Belarus within three months." , I think it is entirely possible.”

Since Rokossovsky was speaking for Sokov, Malinin felt that maybe after the launch of the campaign to liberate Belarus, the entire territory of Belarus could really be liberated within three months.

"Comrade General." Sokov waited for Rokossovsky to finish, and added: "It is not enough for the army to attack. It also needs the cooperation of the guerrillas active in Belarus to let them destroy railways, bridges and culverts behind enemy lines. , as well as the German army’s communication lines, military depots, etc. When the enemy is overwhelmed, our army’s offensive will be smoother.”

"That's right, you're right." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Because Belarus was occupied by the Germans shortly after the outbreak of the war, many of our troops who had been dispersed had no chance to withdraw to our country." They stayed in the local area to fight guerrillas. They are familiar with the local terrain, and with their cooperation, I think the battle will progress more smoothly than expected.”

"The reason why our army's offensive in Ukraine did not go smoothly was entirely because we did not receive support from the guerrillas." Sokov said with emotion: "They are all guerrillas in name, but they are divided into three factions. One It is the guerrilla unit formed by the dispersed troops of our army; the second is the guerrilla unit supported by the Germans. This kind of unit is our enemy. If they want to attack our army, General Vatutin will be wounded in their hands."

"Well, you are right. The Belarusian guerrillas are much simpler and more reliable than the Ukrainian guerrillas." Rokossovsky said, "It is said that they also have a unified guerrilla headquarters. , all guerrillas must obey the command of the headquarters. I am thinking, if possible, we can incorporate these guerrillas into our troops to supplement the soldiers we lack."

After the three talked for a while, Malinin tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, will you report the plan proposed by Sokov to the Supreme Command?"

"Don't worry yet, my comrade chief of staff." Rokossovsky said cautiously: "Although Misha's proposal is very good, it is a major event involving hundreds of thousands of troops, and we must be cautious. It seems to me that the two of us are further improving this plan recently, and when I go to Moscow for a meeting, I will submit this plan to the Supreme Command for discussion.”

"Okay." Since Rokossovsky is not in a hurry to hand in the plan, Ma Linin is also happy to see it succeed. After all, the plan that came up on the spur of the moment is somewhat immature and requires a professional staff member like him to carry it out. Improvement: "We will wait for the plan to be more perfect before reporting to the superior."

"Misha," Rokossovsky said to Sokov, "there's nothing else to do here, you can go back."

But Sokov did not leave immediately, but looked at Rokossovsky and asked: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, when can we go to the 47th Army?"

"Don't worry, Misha." Rokossovsky said with some hesitation: "The chief of staff and I have a lot of work recently, and we can't get away for a while. I think you should stay here for a few more days and wait for me. When there are not so many jobs in hand, it will not be too late to send you to the 47th Army."

After Sokov returned to the place Rokossovsky had arranged for them, Ponedelin immediately went up to him and asked, "Comrade Commander, did General Rokossovsky say when we should go to the new unit?" ?”

"Don't worry, General Ponejielin." Sokov said with a wry smile: "Comrade General told me that he is very busy recently and really can't spare time. Let us wait patiently for a few more days to wait for the work in his hands." We are almost busy, and it will not be too late to send us to the 47th Army."

"Comrade Commander," as soon as Sokov finished speaking, Kirillov frowned and reminded him, "I feel something is wrong!"

"What's wrong?"

"You think, it's not the first day we entered the army. Where do we go to take up the post? Do we still need the commander of the front army to accompany us? As long as we provide us with a certificate, we can go directly to the 47th Army to receive troops." Kiri Love said cautiously: "Let us continue to stay here now, I feel a little uneasy, I hope nothing will happen."

"Colonel, I don't think the situation is as bad as you said, right?" Sidolin said, "The reason why General Rokossovsky said that he would personally send the commander to take up the post is probably because he was worried that someone in the 47th Army would disrespect him." The commander was not convinced, so he went to endorse him. I think there should be no problem even if there is a delay of two more days."

Sokov can think about it, since Rokossovsky asked him to stay here for a few more days, then he should stay for a few more days. Finally, there is an opportunity to be unofficial and light-hearted. If you don't take the opportunity to relax, how can you be worthy of yourself? So he said to everyone: "Okay, there is no need to argue anymore. Since the general comrade let us stay, then we will stay. You tell the students, don't stay in the house every day, you can go out when the time is right. Come on, let's pretend we're here on vacation."

Since Sukov said so, Ponegerin and others couldn't object anymore, so they conveyed his meaning to the students. The students cheered excitedly when they heard that they didn't have to stay in the house every day with nothing to do.

In the next few days, the practitioners went shopping in small groups. Although the city had just been liberated and supplies were still scarce, as officers, they were eligible to enter a special officer store and buy their favorite products. Seeing how unrestrained and carefree they are, many officers in the front army headquarters were envious, and wished that they could become one of them, so that they could wander the streets every day and buy a lot of commodities they needed.

But such a chic day did not last for a few days. That day Sokov and Sidolin came back from shopping in the officer's store. As soon as they entered the building, an officer came to him, raised his hand and saluted and said, "Hello, General Sokov, Comrade Commander has something to do." Looking for you, please come with me."

After Sokov handed everything in his hand to Sidolin, he followed the officer to Rokossovsky's office.

"Misha, you're here!" Rokossovsky first told Sokov to sit down, then winked at the officer, then got up and came to Sokov, and asked with concern: "These few days have passed. How are you doing?"

"It's just wonderful." Sokov replied truthfully: "Everyone feels that living here is a blessing. We, who are used to living in cars, bunkers, and tunnels, are suddenly in luxurious interior furnishings: there is heat Baths with clean water, beds with clean sheets, bright, warm, quiet rooms, no gunshots, no shells and bomb explosions can be heard. Everyone said that if possible, they would like to live in it for the rest of their lives Don't leave here."

"Misha, I am now formally notifying you: your vacation life is over!"

Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov was not only not disappointed, but on the contrary seemed a little excited: "Comrade general, so we can report to the new army soon?"

"Yes, you can pass today if you want."

"Great, this is really great." Hearing that he could go to the army today, Sokov stood up abruptly and said with some urgency: "I'll go back and inform everyone so that everyone is ready to go. "

"Wait a minute, Misha, don't worry." But Rokossovsky put his hands on Sokov's shoulders, asked him to sit down again, and then continued: "I haven't finished my sentence yet." .”

What Sokov was most afraid of hearing was that his superiors would say "I haven't finished my words", which means that certain things will be deflected later. He said nervously: "Comrade general, go ahead."

"Malinin and I, as well as Military Commissioner Terekin, have studied your offensive plan and found it completely feasible. After further improvement, we will report it to the Supreme Command."

Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help muttering in his heart: Since I adopted my plan, just call me and tell me, and there is no need to send someone to call me here?

Just as he was thinking wildly, he heard Rokossovsky continue: "I called you here today because I have a major decision to tell you."

Big decision? ! Sokov couldn't help but start beating drums in his heart, secretly saying that he wouldn't let me be the deputy commander of the Belarusian First Front Army? This title sounds quite resounding, but I am not qualified for this position.

But what Rokossovsky said the next moment made him fall into an ice cave: "After our research, we feel that you are not suitable to be the commander of the 47th Army."

"Comrade General," Sokov seemed a little flustered when he heard Rokossovsky say this: "Did I do something wrong that my superiors wanted to dismiss me?"

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Rokossovsky just smiled lightly, and then called Sokov to the map hanging on the wall. Pointing to the map, he asked Sokov, "Misha, tell me, where do you plan to attack the enemy?"

Sokov stared at the map on the wall for a while, bent down and picked up the explaining stick placed by the wall, and explained according to his own plan: "According to my plan, the troops on the right wing of the front army will attack from two directions at the same time, Launch a surprise attack against the German defenses, catch the enemy by surprise, and break through their defenses in the shortest possible time."

"Do you know where the 47th Army is?"

"Here." When Sokov just looked at the map, he had already found the location of the 47th Army. He pointed in the direction of Kovel and said, "The combat area of ​​the 47th Army is near the Kovel area."

"If you served as the commander of the 47th Army and let your troops go into battle, where would you fight the enemy?"

"Needless to say," Sokov tapped Kovel's position with his explaining stick, and said angrily, "Once it engages the enemy, the first enemy the 47th Army must face is the German army at Kovel. area forces."

"Yes, you are right." Rokossovsky nodded and said: "Since you are one of the planners of this offensive campaign, we all hope that you can also attack this time. And the 47th Army Your troops are now on the left flank of the Front Army and cannot participate in the next offensive operation, so we plan to readjust your position."

Hearing that he was readjusting his post, not dismissing himself, Sokov couldn't help secretly heaving a sigh of relief, and then asked, "Comrade General, which unit do you plan to arrange for me to go to?"

Rokossovsky did not give an answer immediately, but pointed to the map and said: "According to your plan, our right-wing troops will carry out two assaults from different locations. After our supplementary and perfected attack plan is : First, the 3rd and 48th armies attacked Bobruisk Osipovich from the Rogachev area, and the 65th and 28th armies from the Ozarich area on the lower reaches of the Berezina River , carry out an assault in the direction of Slutsk."

Sokov is also a smart man. Hearing what Rokossovsky said, he immediately understood the meaning of the other party: "Comrade General, you mean that you intend to let me be the commander of one of the army groups?"

"You are really smart, you guessed my intention right away."

Sokov felt that these four armies were only stronger than the 47th Army, and no matter which army he served as the commander, he would be a good choice: "Comrade General, which army commander do you plan to let me serve as?"

"I am going to let you be the commander of the 48th Army," Rokossovsky said. new job."

Sokov only cares about whether he can take over the command of the 48th Army this time. As for where the original commander will go, he doesn't care at all. After Rokossovsky had finished speaking, he tentatively said, "Comrade General, so I can take someone there to take office this afternoon?"

"Yes." Rokossovsky nodded: "You can take people to the defense zone of the 48th Army in the afternoon and take over the command of the troops from General Romanenko."

"Comrade General, I have another question." Sokov asked cautiously: "I have now been transferred to the 48th Army, so will the original appointments still be valid?" It may be that Rokossovsky is worried Not knowing what he meant, he added, "For example, General Pornegelin is my deputy commander, and Colonel Sidolin is my chief of staff. This will not change anything, will it?"

"No, no," Rokossovsky shook his head and said with a smile: "Although the unit you served in has changed from the 47th Army to the 48th Army, the positions originally assigned by your subordinates are not Anything will change, you can rest assured of that."

"That's good, that's good." Although the number of the unit he was going to report to had changed, the positions of the people under him had not changed, which reassured Sokov. He stood up and asked Rokossovsky respectfully: "Comrade General, allow me to go back and make preparations for departure?"

"Allow!" Rokossovsky held out his hand to Sokov: "I wish you good luck!"