Red Moscow

Two days later, in the early morning, while Sokov was still sleeping, he heard someone knocking hard on his door.

He sat up from the bed and asked outside, "Who is it? Who is outside?"

"It's me, Comrade Commander." Bezikov's voice came from outside the door: "There is your phone number outside."

Hearing that he had his phone number, Sokov hurriedly got out of bed, put on his clothes, hurriedly put on his boots, rushed to the door and opened the door.

Bezikov, who was standing at the door, saw Sokov appear. He quickly raised his hand and saluted, and repeated what he had just said: "Comrade Commander, your phone number is outside."

"Do you know who is calling?"

"It's a call from the Front Army Headquarters." Bezikov replied: "I asked and the caller was General Zakharov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army. He said that he has something important to inform you and asks you to go immediately. Answer the phone."

"Where is the phone?" Sokov learned that the call was from General Zakharov, the Chief of Staff of the Transbaikal Front. He did not dare to neglect at all, and quickly urged Bezikov: "Hurry up and take me over to answer the phone."

Arriving at the lobby on the first floor, Bezikov pointed to the microphone placed on the bar and said, "It's right there."

Sokov looked around and found no waiters in the guest house, only a few of Bezikov's men on guard. He knew very well that in order to prevent leaks, Bezikov sent away the waiter on duty after receiving the call.

He quickly came to the bar, picked up the microphone placed on it, put it to his ear and said: "Hello, I am Major Matevosyan!"

When the other party heard what Sokov said, he couldn't help being stunned, and then said unhappily: "I want to find General Sokov, not Major Matevosyan."

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov realized that the other party might not know his pseudonym, and quickly added: "Sokov and Matievosian are the same person."

"I understand," the other party said with a smile: "So you are Misha. This damn phone made people's voices change, so that I didn't recognize that the person who answered the phone was you."

Sokov had once accepted the command of General Zakharov, so he asked respectfully: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, what are your instructions?"

"It's like this. We will hold a special military meeting at nine o'clock in the morning. Three members of your army will come to participate."

"I would like to ask, if I go to a meeting under my current pseudonym, will I be stopped by soldiers on duty?"

Zaharov was silent for a moment, and then said: "I will greet the officers on duty and ask them to let you go. Just put your heart back in your stomach."

After making the call, Sokov returned to the second floor and notified Yakov and Lukin in turn to get them ready to go. If you are late for such an important military meeting, you may be severely criticized by Vasilevsky.

Since this military meeting was very important, security near the headquarters was tight, and the convoy of Sokov and others was stopped as soon as it arrived at the checkpoint.

Bezikov, who was sitting in the passenger seat, quickly got out of the car to negotiate with the other party, hoping that the other party would be lenient and allow his convoy to enter.

But the lieutenant who carried out the execution was not affected by the fact that Bezikov had a higher military rank than himself. Instead, he said in a business-like tone: "I'm sorry, Comrade Major, I received an order from my superiors. Except for the commanders who participated in the meeting, Only vehicles can enter, and the rest must stay outside."

After some negotiations, Bezikov returned without success. He returned to the car, closed the door, and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the lieutenant on duty said that except for the commanders who attended the meeting, The vehicles you are riding in can go inside and outside, and the rest of the vehicles must stay outside and wait.”

After hearing this, Sokov said understandingly: "Comrade Major, then you can stay outside with the guard troops, and the driver will drive us in."

"Okay," Bezikov opened the car door and replied, "Then I will take someone to wait for you outside."

There was still about one or two kilometers from the checkpoint to the headquarters. When the jeep drove forward slowly, Yakov said with a grimace: "If you look around in Khabarovsk, they are basically all wearing military uniforms. Even if There are one or two small-time spies hidden among them, and we can’t find them out in the shortest possible time.”

Lukin, who was sitting next to Sokov, couldn't help but smile when he heard what Yakov said: "Yakov, before the war, I once read a science fiction novel. The technology in it can quickly identify ourselves and the enemy. .”

Hearing what Lu Jin said, Yakov immediately became interested: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I wonder what kind of technology you are talking about?"

"It's a kind of mind detector." Lu Jin said: "As long as a person enters the monitoring range of the instrument, everything he thinks in his mind will be clearly seen by the person responsible for monitoring. If there is such a thing As long as two instruments are placed at the checkpoint, it will be clear at a glance whether the person passing there is one of our own or the enemy in disguise."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, I think the instrument you are talking about is a bit like a lie detector." After hearing this, Yakov shook his head and said, "It is too cumbersome to use and is not suitable for use."

"No, no, no, this thing is much more advanced than the lie detector." Lukin explained to Yakov: "To use the lie detector on you, you have to wrap a bunch of wires on your head and hands, and Xiali asked a lot of questions and judged whether you were talking based on the display of the instrument. As for the instrument I am talking about, as long as a person enters its control area, it can automatically read everything that is thinking in your mind. If an enemy disguises himself as Our military commanders and fighters, but in front of this instrument, they will have no way to hide."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, do you think this kind of instrument can be produced?"

"It's hard to say." Lu Jin shook his head and said, "Although the things written in the novel look very real, it is unknown whether they can be developed and put into use."

Sokov also read the kind of science fiction novels Lu Jin mentioned in later generations. This kind of instrument is similar to a bug. It is placed directly in the room of the person being monitored. Everything the other person is thinking will be displayed without missing a beat. on the monitor screen. But science fiction is science fiction, and not everything that is imagined becomes reality.

Seeing Sokov's thoughtful look, Yakov asked curiously: "Misha, what are you thinking about? I see that you have been in a daze."

"When I heard Comrade Deputy Commander talk about science fiction novels, I couldn't help but think of a science fiction novel I once read."

"Misha, what is that novel about?" Yakov urged: "Hurry up and tell me."

Sokov pointed at his eyes and said: "The science fiction novel I read said that the human cornea has the function of visual persistence. After a person dies, his cornea can retain visual memory for 15 seconds. . As long as a machine that can read the memory of the cornea is produced, it can help the police quickly identify the murderer..."

When Sokov told about the science fiction novels they had read, Lukin and Yakov both widened their eyes in surprise. They did not expect that the cornea had such a magical effect.

After Sokov finally finished speaking, Yakov couldn't wait to ask: "Misha, what's the name of the book you read? I'll look for it when I have a chance."

"I don't remember." Sokov shook his head and said, "They were all books I read seven or eight years ago. I even forgot the titles."

When Sokov said he couldn't remember the title of the book, Yakov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed: "That's such a pity. I also want to look for it and learn some useful knowledge from it. Maybe it can be put to use one day in the future." .”

"Yakov." Lu Jin asked curiously: "Even if you read such science fiction novels, how will it help your future?"

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you can't say that." Yakov said with a smile: "The war will be over soon. Once the war is over, disarmament will be inevitable. Maybe Misha can still stay in the army. , and I may have to demobilize. Once demobilized, I plan to become a policeman. If there is a machine that can read the memory of the cornea in the future, it may be able to help me solve some difficult cases. "

After hearing this, Sokov said secretly in his heart: "Whether it is the machine that reads people's thoughts as Lukin mentioned, or the machine that can read the memory of the cornea, it is just the wild imagination of some authors, and it does not exist at all. may be developed.”

The car soon arrived in front of the headquarters building. After Sokov and Yakov got out of the car, they immediately took out the wheelchair from the trunk and helped Lukin get out of the car. Sokov is now wearing the uniform of a major, so the job of pushing Lukin in naturally falls on him.

When they came to the door and were about to go inside, they were stopped by the sentry on duty. He politely said to Sokov: "Comrade Major, this is an important military committee member of the headquarters. Only commanders at the group army level can enter. As the adjutant, you can only stay outside and wait."

Fortunately, Sokov had spoken to Zakharov in advance, otherwise he might have been stopped by the sentry at this moment and unable to enter. He smiled faintly at the other party and said: "Comrade soldier, I am the staff officer of the 53rd Army. You must have received the order to let me in, right?"

Hearing what Sokov said, the sentry couldn't help but be stunned. Then he turned to a second lieutenant standing not far away and shouted: "Comrade Second Lieutenant!"

The second lieutenant came to the sentry and asked in a dignified tone: "What's the matter?"

"Comrade Second Lieutenant." The sentry pointed at Sokov and said, "This major said that we should have received an order to allow him to enter."

The second lieutenant didn't waste any time. He picked up the notebook originally tucked under his arm and asked Sokov: "Comrade major, what is your name? Which army do you belong to?"

"I am Major Matevosyan." Sokov replied clearly: "I am from the 53rd Army."

The second lieutenant opened the book, checked it, nodded and said, "Yes, Major Matievosian of the 53rd Army can enter the venue to participate in the meeting." He closed the book in his hand, then turned sideways and made a Inviting gesture, "Comrade Major, please come in."

Seeing the wheelchair pushed by Sokov, the second lieutenant also called two sentries on duty and asked them to help lift Lukin's wheelchair up the steps.

When the three of them entered the building and walked along the corridor towards the conference room, Yakov said: "Misha, I see that there are many names in the second lieutenant's notebook. It seems that those people are just like you. They are taking advantage of Came to Khabarovsk under a false name and military rank.”

"Yes, Yasha." Sokov agreed with Yakov's statement. After all, in order to prevent Xiaozhi from noticing the attack, even Marshal Vasilevsky changed his name, not to mention A little person like myself.

"Misha!" When Sokov pushed Lukin into the conference room, he heard someone greeting him. He looked around and saw Lyudnikov sitting next to the long conference table. The latter also raised his hand and patted the empty chair next to him and said, "Come and sit here with me."

Sokov thought that he was still pushing Lukin's wheelchair, so he couldn't leave him alone and ignored him, so he waved his hand, intending to refuse Lyudnikov's kindness. But Lukin spoke at this moment: "Misha, you go over and sit next to General Lyudnikov. Yakov and I can just sit in a corner."

Yakov knew very well that Lyudnikov called Sokov over. There must be something to talk about, so he echoed: "Yes, Misha, you go over and accompany General Lyudnikov. The deputy and I will Comrade Commander, just find a corner and sit down."

Seeing that the two people agreed, Sokov did not insist on his opinion. After handing the wheelchair to Yakov, he sat next to Lyudnikov.

"General Lyudnikov," Sokov asked politely after shaking hands with the other party, "How have you been these days?"

"What else can I do? I can't go anywhere except eating and sleeping every day." Lyudnikov said with a wry smile: "In just a few days, I have gained at least four or five kilograms. If I continue to stay, I will wait until When the battle begins, I’m afraid I won’t be able to lead the charge with the soldiers.”

After hearing this, Sokov laughed and said: "General Lyudnikov, do you think it is still 1941 and a division commander is needed to lead the charge? Not to mention that you are the commander of the group army now, even if you are an ordinary division commander, you will personally lead the charge. , will also be stopped by superiors."

"I was just talking casually." Lyudnikov couldn't help but say with emotion: "Now when I think back to the original Battle of Stalingrad, the battles often took place one or two hundred meters away from my headquarters, and I led him many times. The team launched a counterattack against the approaching enemy. On one occasion, more than 200 German soldiers, under the cover of tanks and armored vehicles, rushed to a position only fifty meters away from the headquarters. At that time, including the staff around me, we were not more than 50 meters away. Thirty people. In desperation, I could only call General Chuikov and ask him to order the army artillery to fire at my headquarters to destroy the enemies who were about to rush into the headquarters."

Lyudnikov's words reminded Sokov of some information he had read later. It is said that Lyudnikov's troops suffered heavy casualties in the battle to defend the barricade factory. In order to prevent the remains of the soldiers from being destroyed by artillery fire, Lyudnikov He ordered people to dig three large pits in the factory area and bury the bodies of thousands of soldiers in them. But when the defense war ended, only one of the large pits where the soldiers' bodies were buried was found, and the other two were missing.

In recognition of the 138th Division's meritorious service in the battle to defend the barricade factory, the division was awarded the honorary title of the 70th Guards Division shortly after the Battle of Stalingrad. But with the end of the war, the division was disbanded in August 1945.