Red Moscow

Rokossovsky reported Sokov's request to the Supreme Commander himself.

After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Stalin was silent for a long time, and said: "I see, Konstantin Konstantinovich. I will seriously consider this matter, and when there is a result, I will order someone to notify you as soon as possible."

After finishing talking with Rokossovsky, Stalin pressed the intercom in front of him, and after hearing Poskrebyshev's voice from inside, he said, "Let Vasilevsky and Antonov, come to me."

Vasilevsky and Antonov were at the General Staff Headquarters at the moment, studying some details of the Far East operations. They received a call from Boskrebyshev, knowing that Stalin had something to look for them, so they rushed over quickly.

Seeing the two men enter the office, Stalin nodded to them, and then asked, "Are you studying the details of the Far East campaign?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky stepped forward and replied loudly: "We have considered various situations that may arise in the battle, and calculated the time required for the battle based on these situations."

Stalin lit the pipe in his mouth, and then asked: "Then how long do you think the Far East campaign we launched will take?"

"One month, Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky replied confidently: "Although the Kwantung Army has nearly a million troops, after our research, we found that their elites were all transferred to the Pacific battlefield, and they fought with the Allies. The Kwantung Army was consumed in large quantities during the operations of the Kwantung Army. Although the Kwantung Army in the Far East has a large number of people, they are all improvised troops, and their combat effectiveness cannot be compared with the original Kwantung Army. It is based on this consideration that we feel that the It is entirely possible to resolve the battle within a month."

Stalin had great trust in Vasilevsky and Antonov, and naturally believed in what the two said. After walking back and forth twice in the room with a pipe in his mouth, he suddenly stopped and asked Vasilevsky: "Comrade Vasilevsky, I have the son of an old comrade-in-arms, and I really want to participate in this Far East operation. As the commander of the Far East Force appointed by the Supreme Command, what do you think?"

Vasilevsky was a cautious person. Before he found out who Stalin was talking about, he did not answer the other party's question easily, but asked cautiously: "Comrade Stalin, can I ask who he is?" ?”

"He is the commander of a unit, and this time he is going to be transferred to the Far East, but it happens that there is no unit he is in." Stalin said: "So he reported to me through his superiors, hoping to be transferred to a certain unit. The commander of the Far Eastern Forces was transferred so that he could participate in the Far Eastern campaign in a few months."

Due to Stalin's vague words, Vasilevsky was confused. But Antonov had received calls from Zhukov and Rokossovsky, so he naturally knew that Stalin was referring to Sokov. He was afraid that Vasilevsky might say something wrong, so he hurriedly stepped forward. Going ahead of Vasilevsky, he said: "Comrade Stalin, if the son of the old comrade-in-arms you mentioned is an excellent commander, we should support his enthusiasm for participating in the Far East campaign. Let As for the swap between him and the commander of a certain unit participating in the war, I think it is acceptable as long as the gap between the two units is not too large."

Hearing what Antonov said, a smile appeared on Stalin's face, because the other party's thoughts coincided with his own. But he didn't say anything, but asked instead: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell me, how can the gap between the two troops be considered small."

Antonov hesitated for a moment, and then said euphemistically: "For example, he is a commander of the group army, and he may command about a hundred thousand troops. Among the troops we have transferred this time, Romanov has the smallest number. Ski's 19th Army has only 30,000 to 40,000 people. If a commander of an army commanding more than 100,000 people is suddenly transferred to an army with only 30,000 to 40,000 people, people will inevitably misunderstand him and think that He made a mistake and was demoted in disguise."

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff," Stalin asked Antonov with a half-smile, "Do you have any good ideas?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Antonov nodded and said, "I think the 53rd Army is more suitable for him than the 19th Army. It is better to let him swap with the commander of the 53rd Army. The most important point is that he once Served as the commander of the group army, and can better command this force after taking office."

For Vasilevsky, the dialogue between Stalin and Antonov was like a riddle, which confused him. After finally waiting for both of them to stop talking, he finally couldn't help but said, "Comrade Stalin, what are you talking about? Why can't I understand anything?"

Antonov did not immediately answer Vasilevsky's question, but turned his attention to Stalin, wanting to see what the other party meant and whether he agreed to tell Vasilevsky the truth. After Stalin and Antonov looked at each other, they nodded slightly, indicating that the other party could tell the truth.

After receiving Stalin's instruction, Antonov said: "Comrade Marshal, the son of an old comrade-in-arms mentioned by Comrade Stalin is General Sokov, the commander of the 48th Army. He passed Zhukov and Luo Kosovsky, made a request to me, hoping to send him to the Far East to participate in the battle against the Kwantung Army."

When Vasilevsky heard what Antonov said, he immediately understood what was going on: "Oh, it turned out to be the case. I was still wondering why you suddenly brought up the 19th and 53rd armies. No Wrong, the strength of the 19th Army is indeed too small. If Sokov and Romanovsky are swapped, it will definitely cause many people to misunderstand, thinking that he made some mistakes and was demoted in disguise. "

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff," Stalin asked, "Which front is the 53rd Army planning to incorporate?"

"It's the Transbaikal Front, Comrade Stalin." Antonov replied respectfully: "The commander is Marshal Malinovsky, the military commissar is Lieutenant General Tevchenkov, and the chief of staff is General Zakharov. .”

"If I remember correctly, Zakharov should have dealt with Misha." Stalin said: "It is said that he quite appreciates Misha."

"Comrade Stalin." Vasilevsky said with a smile: "An excellent commander like Sokov is the most popular in any army. I think Marshal Malinovsky knows that Soko Husband will be delighted from ear to ear when he is about to join his army."

"Then shall we inform Rokossovsky now." Antonov asked Stalin tentatively: "Tell him that you have agreed to swap General Sokov with the current commander of the 53rd Army?"

"Not in a hurry." Stalin waved his hand and asked back. "According to the original plan, when will the troops on the western front be transported to the Far East?"

Antonov quickly replied: "The departure time of the troops will not be earlier than June 10."

"So, there are still more than 20 days." Stalin tapped his pipe on the edge of the ashtray lightly twice, knocking all the ash inside: "I think we can let Misha go back to Moscow first. "

"Let General Sokov return to Moscow?" Antonov asked with some surprise: "Are you going to meet him?"

"Not necessarily." Stalin waved his hand and said, "Arrange for him to go to a sanatorium outside Moscow for half a month. As far as I know, he has been injured many times in the past few years, and his physical condition is not very ideal. If If he is rushed to the battlefield without letting him rest for a while, I am worried that his body will not be able to bear it."

"I understand, Comrade Stalin." Antonov nodded and said, "The General Staff has a sanatorium in the east of the city. I think General Sokov can go there to recuperate for a while."

"It's not enough for him alone. His wife is also sent there." Stalin added: "I heard from Yasha that they have been married for two or three years, but they have never had children. If possible, send another The doctor will check it out to see who the problem is."

"Okay, I'll arrange it."

Two days later, Sokov received a call from Rokossovsky: "Misha, immediately hand over your work to Chief of Staff Sidorin, and then you come to me immediately."

Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov was secretly pleasantly surprised. Could it be that the Supreme Command notified me to switch with the commander of the 53rd Army Group, and Rokossovsky asked me to go to the Front Army Command just to meet him face-to-face? announce this?

After Sokov put down the phone, he immediately handed over the work of the group army to Sidolin.

After completing the handover, Lunev tentatively asked: "Misha, you said that Comrade Marshal asked you to go to the headquarters of the Front Army. Could it be related to your desire to switch positions with the commander of the 53rd Army?"

"I think this may be the case." Thinking that he had the opportunity to go to the Far East to teach the Kwantung Army a lesson, Sokov became a little impatient and wished he could rush there immediately.

But before he could go out, Sidolin sighed and said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, if the commander and the commander of the friendly army really switched positions, how would we arrange for the two of us?" ? Should I follow the commander to the new unit, or continue to stay here?"

Lunev glanced at Sokov who was standing at the door, and said helplessly, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think I can answer your question. I'm afraid we can only wait until Misha has been to the front army headquarters." , to know the final answer."

"Don't worry, Chief of Staff." Sokov comforted Sidolin and said, "As long as I have definite news, I will inform you in time."

After driving to the headquarters of the Front Army, after seeing Rokossovsky, Sokov asked urgently: "Comrade Marshal, did the Supreme Command agree to my request and let me exchange with the commander of the 53rd Army Group?" ?”

"Misha, the Supreme Command did not give a definite answer to what you said." Rokossovsky shook his head and said, "I'm afraid you will have to wait for a while before you know the final result."

Seeing that Rokossovsky didn't know the answer, Sokov couldn't help feeling a little anxious. However, thinking that there were still two and a half months before the start of the Far East campaign, he tried hard to stabilize his emotions, and asked Rokossovsky cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, why did you ask me to come here today?" what is the reason?"

"It's like this. I received a call from Chief of the General Staff Antonov, saying that your superiors have arranged for you to recuperate and let you recuperate for a period of time in a sanatorium in the forest outside Moscow."

Hearing that he was going to be sent to a sanatorium in the forest outside Moscow, Sokov couldn't help being a little stunned. He hesitated for a moment, then asked back: "Comrade Marshal, according to the usual practice, recuperation is mostly arranged on the coast of the Black Sea. Why is it my turn to recuperate, but it is arranged in the forest outside Moscow?"

Rokossovsky smiled after hearing this, and said: "Misha, the cities on the shore of the Black Sea were liberated by our army not long ago, and no one can guarantee whether there are still enemy agents hidden in them. If you are arranged to go to these places to recuperate, In case of any accident, who can take the responsibility? And in the forest outside Moscow, there have always been a large number of sanatoriums, and the workers in the factory arrange their recuperation in these places every year."

"How long is the recuperation time?" Sokov worried that the recuperation time would be too long and he would miss the Far East campaign, so he asked tentatively, "Will it take a few months?"

"It's not that long." Rokossovsky shook his head and said, "I asked Antonov, and he said that your recuperation time is only half a month at most."

Knowing that he only needs to stay in the sanatorium in the forest for half a month, Sokov felt relieved immediately: "That's good, that's good, after my convalescence is over, I can just go to the Far East and participate in the Operations of the Kwantung Army."

"One more thing." Rokossovsky remembered what Antonov had told him, and quickly added: "The superior also arranged a doctor for you to conduct a detailed physical examination for you and Assia. "

"Arranged a special doctor to conduct a physical examination for Assia and me?" Sokov asked inexplicably, "Why?" , but he is an inconspicuous little person. It would be a bit of a fuss to send a special doctor to himself.

Rokossovsky coughed heavily, and said: "I heard from Antonov that you and Assia have been married for two or three years, and you don't even have a child, so you specially arranged for a doctor , conduct a physical examination on you to see who the problem is."

After Sokov figured out the reason why his superiors sent him a specialized doctor, he blushed immediately, and quickly explained to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Marshal, I don't need to send a doctor for me. It's fine, there's nothing wrong with it. The reason why we don't have children until now is entirely because we only have the name of husband and wife, but not the reality of husband and wife."

After listening to Sokov's explanation, Rokossovsky was stunned. He thought about all kinds of possibilities in advance, but he didn't think of such a possibility. After a while, he pointed at Sokov with his finger, and said a little dumbfounded: "I really didn't expect that the two of you have no children until now, so that's what happened. I understand, and I will truthfully report to my superiors." of."