Red Moscow

It is more than 6,000 kilometers from Chelyabinsk to Khabarovsk. The plane that Sokov and others took needs to refuel twice before reaching the destination.

When it landed for the first time, Sokov sat in the cabin and chatted with Lukin honestly because he didn't know how long it would take to refuel. Even though they had been on a plane together for several hours, Sokov and Lukin really didn't say a few words, because the plane's engine roared so loudly that they had to shout at the top of their lungs to say anything, and they might not be able to say anything. Listen to every word the other person says. Now that the plane finally landed, Yakov couldn't wait to get off the plane to smoke. Sokov didn't want to get off the plane, so he stayed and chatted with Lukin.

"Misha, when do you think we will go to war with the Kwantung Army?"

Although Sokov knew the specific date when the Soviet troops would dispatch troops, he could not tell Lu Jin the correct answer at this moment. He could only say vaguely: "Judging from various signs, our troops are still in the process of gathering. In order to complete this long distance The assembly will take at least a month. Even if we launch the Far East campaign as soon as the assembly is completed, I am afraid we will have to wait until early August."

"You have the same idea as me." Lu Jin nodded and said: "The troops dispatched this time are basically from the Western Front. The journey of tens of thousands of kilometers, even by train, takes a long time. Again Coupled with the transportation of so many weapons, equipment and ammunition, the transportation pressure on the railway department is not so great."

"When the war first broke out, equipment from countless factories was dismantled and shipped to the Far East." Sokov continued: "At that time, many trains were likely to be bombed by German aircraft while traveling. Transporting people to their destinations is a great victory. Although today's transportation pressure is not small, there is not much danger during transportation. I believe they will be more efficient."

While the two were chatting, Sokov kept glancing at the cabin door from the corner of his eye to see when Yakov would come back. But after waiting for an hour, Yakov climbed into the cabin along the gangway. Sokov couldn't help asking, "Have you finished filling up?"

"Yes," Yakov nodded and replied: "I originally thought there was only one of our planes refueling, but I didn't expect there were several. They should also be the commanders who went to Khabarovsk for a meeting. I looked at those planes. A warning circle was set up around the plane, so it didn't pass by."

When Sokov heard what Yakov said, he smiled and said to Bezikov who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Major, you are not responsible enough. When other planes were refueling, the security guards set up cordons around the plane. , while you stayed in the cabin listening to our chat."

Bezikov chuckled and said: "Comrade General, you don't know something. Planes don't stop at any airport to refuel. This is a confidential military airport. There are no security issues. A cordon is set up during refueling. , is simply superfluous."

When the plane was taxiing on the runway, Yakov said to Sokov: "Misha, the plane will need to be refueled before it can fly to its destination. Then you come with me to have a cigarette, don't always Stay in the cabin."

A few hours later, the plane landed again.

As soon as the plane stopped on the runway, Yakov turned his head and asked Sokov, "Misha, the plane is about to start refueling again. Would you like to go down with me to smoke a cigarette?"

Sokov didn't answer his question immediately, but looked at Lukin next to him. Lu Jin saw his embarrassment, and quickly said: "Misha, if you want to smoke, you can follow Yakov to get off the plane, and you don't have to stay with me."

Hearing what Lukin said, Sokov did not insist on staying, but got off the plane with Yakov.

The two of them walked outside the runway. Yakov took out the cigarette box and handed it to Sokov. While Sokov was taking the cigarette from it, he said: "It seems that my guess is not wrong. The people over there are refueling." The plane, I saw it at the last airport, should be going to Chelyabinsk like us."

Sokov followed Yakov's gaze, and sure enough he saw another transport plane refueling on the runway dozens of meters away. There were more than 20 soldiers setting up a warning circle around the plane. Sokov was very curious, who was sitting in the plane, and how could it be so heavily guarded.

In order to clarify this problem, when Yakov handed over the lit match, Sokov waved his hand, then walked towards the plane in the distance, and said: "Yasha, I'll go take a look at that plane." Who is on the plane?"

Seeing Sokov walking towards the plane in the distance, Yakov quickly threw the match in his hand on the ground, crushed it with his toes, and quickly chased after him: "Misha, wait for me."

When the two approached the cordon of the plane, a second lieutenant immediately stepped forward to stop them and said politely: "Comrade commanders, this is the plane our commander is flying on. Please do not approach it at will."

Yakov was unhappy when he heard this: "Are you the commander of the front army with such a big air?"

The second lieutenant's face turned slightly red and he replied with some embarrassment: "It's the commander of the 39th Group Army."

"Commander of the 39th Group Army?" Yakov, as the former deputy chief of staff of the front army, still knows a little about the commanders of each group army. After hearing what the second lieutenant said, he immediately asked: "Is it Lieutenant General Lyudnikov?"

"No, Comrade General." The second lieutenant replied: "Our commander was officially awarded the rank of general on May 5."

"Oh, he is already a general." Sokov heard that this comrade who once fought side by side in the defense of Stalingrad has now been promoted to a general. It is really rare. He quickly said to the second lieutenant: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, can you tell me that his old friend Sokov wants to see him? I once fought side by side with him in the barricade factory in Stalingrad."

But after listening to Sokov's words, the second lieutenant stood still and thought disdainfully: "You, a little major, have the guts to say that you have fought alongside our commander, and that you are our commander." An old friend of the cadre. Pooh!"

Seeing that the second lieutenant ignored him, Sokov felt a little unable to step down, so he reminded him: "Comrade second lieutenant, didn't you hear what I said?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade Major." The second lieutenant did not take the young officer wearing the rank of major in his eyes at all, but said coldly: "Our commander is resting on the plane at the moment. We can't do it for irrelevant people. And disturb his rest."

"Second Lieutenant, haven't you learned the regulations of our army?" Yakov saw the problem and quickly helped Sokov and said: "Since the major gave you an order, why didn't you obey?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Lyudnikov's subordinate was quite arrogant. Not only did he ignore Sokov, he even didn't notice Yakov who was wearing the title of major general: "You are not mine. The direct superior has no right to give me orders."

Seeing that the second lieutenant refused to pass the message, Sokov shouted towards the location of the plane: "Ivan, Ivan! My old friend is here to see you, why don't you come out to greet him?"

The second lieutenant heard Sokov yelling at the plane and quickly came to stop him: "Please be quiet, comrade major. If you disturb our commander's rest, you cannot bear the consequences."

Yakov also became angry at this moment: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, I am Major General Yakov, deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front. Do you think I am your superior?"

Hearing Yakov's identity, the second lieutenant was immediately speechless. You must know that the 39th Army belonged to the Third Belorussian Front before leaving East Prussia. It was hard to say what the identity of the major in front of him was, but Yakov was the superior commander of his commander.

After a while, the second lieutenant raised his hand to salute Yakov and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, I don't know your identity. If there was anything rude just now, please forgive me."

"Comrade Second Lieutenant." Sokov lost no time in saying to the Second Lieutenant: "Can you go and report to us now?"

"Yes, Comrade Major." Since knowing Yakov's identity, the second lieutenant's attitude has become much more respectful: "I will report immediately, please wait a moment!"

Not long after the second lieutenant got into the plane, Sokov saw the familiar figure of Lyudnikov appearing at the door of the cabin. Then the general with a toothbrush beard asked loudly: "Which old friend is looking for me?" ah?"

"Ivan!" Sokov called Lyudnikov's name and waved to him: "I'm here!"

Lyudnikov squinted his eyes and looked in this direction. When he saw clearly that the person greeting him was Sokov, his pupils couldn't help but shrink violently. He immediately got off the plane and walked quickly towards Sokov. Still following him far away, he stretched out a hand and said loudly: "It turns out to be Misha. I really didn't expect to see you here."

After the two shook hands and hugged, Lyudnikov took a step back, looked Sokov up and down, and asked in surprise: "Misha, why are you wearing this clothes?"

"No way, this is all for confidentiality." Sokov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly: "It is said that my reputation is too great. Once the news of being transferred to the Far East spreads, I'm afraid it will Let the Kwantung Army be alert. In fact, the superiors are overly worried. How can the senior officers of the Kwantung Army know a little person like me? But since it is an order issued by a superior, I, a subordinate, can only obey it unconditionally. ”

"Let me introduce you," Sokov complained to Lyudnikov for a while, pointed at Yakov and explained to him: "This is General Yakov..."

"Hello, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." Unexpectedly, before Sokov had finished speaking, Lyudnikov took the initiative to reach out to Yakov: "I once met you at the front headquarters. You were too busy at that time. , probably didn't notice me."

"Hello, General Lyudnikov." Yakov asked tentatively as he shook hands with Lyudnikov: "So, your troops have also been transferred to the Far East?"

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." Lyudnikov nodded and replied in a positive tone: "My 39th Army is now affiliated with the Transbaikal Front."

Upon learning that Lyudnikov's troops were placed under the command of the Transbaikal Front, Yakov smiled and said: "General Lyudnikov, I am no longer the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front. I have been re-appointed by my superiors. I am the chief of staff of the 53rd Army, and both our armies are under the command of Marshal Malinovsky."

After hearing what Yakov said, Lyudnikov first glanced at Sokov with doubtful eyes, and then he understood what was going on: "Misha, it turns out that you were transferred to the 53rd Army as the commander. No wonder I think the 48th Group Army is still in the same place, but you appear here. It turns out that you have been reassigned to a new position."

Seeing that Lyudnikov had guessed the truth of the matter, Sokov did not hide it, so he nodded and said: "You are right, Ivan. In order to come to the Far East to participate in the battle against the Kwantung Army, I took the initiative to report to my superiors I applied for a swap with the Commander of the 53rd Army. The High Command agreed to my request and appointed me as the Commander of the 53rd Army, while Yakov served as my Chief of Staff. In addition, there was an experienced General, as my deputy commander."

"Experienced general?" Lyudnikov looked at the plane Sokov was flying on with doubtful eyes: "That's the plane you're flying on, right? Misha, the general you mentioned should be at this moment On the plane, right?"

"Yes, he is on the plane at the moment." Sokov gave the other party a positive answer.

"Can I go see him?" Lyudnikov asked: "Maybe he is an acquaintance of mine."

Since Lyudnikov wanted to see his deputy commander, Sokov did not stop him and took him to his plane. The second lieutenant in charge of the security mission saw that Lyudnikov was about to leave. He immediately summoned people to follow him, but Lyudnikov raised his hand to stop him: "No, second lieutenant. I'm just going to see a friend. There won't be any." If there is any danger, you should continue to stay here as a guard."

When Lyudnikov entered the cabin and saw Lukin sitting in a wheelchair, he couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise: "Oh my God, you are Lieutenant General Lukin!"

Before the war broke out, Lyudnikov, who had just resigned as the director of the Zhitomir Infantry Academy, was appointed commander of the 200th Infantry Division. His combat area was far away from Shepetovka, so he directed the operations there at the time. Lukin did not know him.

Seeing that the other party recognized him, Lu Jin asked with some confusion: "Comrade General, I don't know who you are. I don't seem to recognize you?"

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov quickly introduced at the side: "This is General Lyudnikov, commander of the 39th Army. During the battle to defend Stalingrad, the troops he commanded persisted in the barricade factory. It took two months to crush the German army’s attempt to occupy the factory.”

After Sokov's explanation, Lukin knew who the general in front of him was. He quickly extended his hand to the other person and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, General Lyudnikov, I can only sit in a wheelchair and talk to him." You shake hands, and please forgive my faux pas."

"Lieutenant General Lukin," Lyudnikov stretched out his hands to hold Lukin's hand and said excitedly: "I have read your deeds in the newspapers. You are really an amazing person. Even if you fall into the clutches of the enemy, , and still carry out an unyielding struggle against them, which is worth learning for all of us.”