Red Moscow

Sokov didn't know that Yakov, who called him, was staying with Ustinov at the moment and discussing how to arrange his future work. He was helping Asya prepare the cooked meals. Take it out of the kitchen and place it on the dining table in the living room.

"Misha, you didn't expect that you would come back today." After Asiya waited for the meals to be set, she said apologetically to Sokov: "So there are not many ingredients prepared. If you think these meals are too little, we can go outside. Go to the restaurant to eat.”

"No need," Sokov waved his hand and said, "I think it's good to eat it at home. By the way, I brought you a gift when I came back this time." After saying that, Sokov picked it up and put it on the table. The box on the table was handed to Asiya.

"What gift is it?" Asiya took the box and opened it carefully. After seeing clearly what was inside, her eyes widened in surprise: "Misha, where did you get such a precious thing?"

Sokov hesitated for a moment and felt that he should tell Asya the truth, so he said openly: "It was given to me by a Belarusian named Bashilashvili."

"Ah, is it a gift from Belarus?" When she learned that the gift Sokov gave her actually came from a Belarus, Asiya couldn't help but asked anxiously: "It won't bring you any trouble, right? "

"Don't worry, Asiya." Sokov guessed the reason for Asiya's worries and explained to her: "After the end of the Great Patriotic War, our country's casualties exceeded 20 million, and the population There is a shortage, so the superiors intend to let the Belarusians who fled the country return to the country."

Later generations have different opinions on the number of Soviet deaths during the entire Patriotic War, ranging from 20 million to 35 million. But Sokov learned from his own special channel that the official death toll was about to be announced at 20 million, so he chose the statement of 20 million.

"What, so many people died in our country in this war?" Although the data Sokov said have been greatly reduced, Asiya was still shocked. After all, even such deaths The figures have not yet been announced to the public. Due to the state of absolute confidentiality, it is normal for ordinary people not to know. So when Asiya heard such a number, she couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Misha, is the number wrong?"

"There is no mistake." Sokov said with a wry smile: "The losses of the army alone are close to nine million people. In addition to the civilian casualties, I think this number is relatively conservative and incomplete. "

Asiya stared at Sokov for a while, then shook her head and said, "I never expected that our country would pay such a heavy price in this war."

"In order to defend your motherland, no matter how big a sacrifice you make, it is still worth it." Sokov told Asiya: "The numbers I just told you will probably not be officially announced until next year. Don’t tell others, otherwise someone may accuse me of leaking the secret and get me into unnecessary trouble.”

"Don't worry, Misha." Asiya assured Sokov: "I understand the confidentiality regulations. We can talk about these things in private. I will never tell outsiders, not even my parents. them."

Regarding Asiya's statement, Sokov nodded with satisfaction, and then said to Asiya: "Let's eat."

While Sokov and Asya had dinner, Stalin also learned about the latest work arrangements of Sokov and Yakov.

After Stalin waited for Boskrebyshev to finish his report, he lit his pipe and said slowly: "So, Misa Xiao rejected the invitations of Zhukov and Khrushchev and is unwilling to go to Berlin or Kiev?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Poskrebyshev nodded and replied in a positive tone: "He did indeed do that."

After listening to Poskrebyshev's answer, Stalin walked back and forth in the room with a newly lit pipe in his mouth, thinking about why Sokov made such a decision. After walking for an unknown amount of time, he finally stopped. Seeing that Poskrebeshev was still standing there, he asked: "Poskrebeshev, tell me your opinion on why Xiao Misha did this." What about a decision that exceeds our expectations?”

Facing this question raised by Stalin, Poskrebyshev was surprised. He never thought that the other party would ask this question to him. He said in a panic: "I'm sorry, Comrade Stalin, I don't know. I just I had an encounter with General Sokov once, but I didn’t even say a few words. I didn’t know him at all, so I couldn’t figure out why he made such a decision. I think if you want to find out what he really thinks, I’m afraid It can only be through Yakov, after all, the two of them are good friends who grew up playing together."

"Well, what you said makes sense." Stalin nodded slightly to Boskrebyshev's statement, and then said: "Yasha is a good friend with him, so he should be able to know what he really thinks. You know Where is Yasha now?"

"I know." Hearing that Stalin asked a question that he knew the answer to, he replied without thinking: "I heard that he went to the General Ordnance Department. If my guess is correct, he should be talking to Ust at the moment. Comrade Nov is chatting."

"It is indeed possible." Stalin agreed with Boskrebyshev's statement, and then ordered him: "Please help me get through to Comrade Ustinov's phone. I want to ask him personally. , see if Yasha goes to him."

Just when Poskrebyshev was about to make a call, the phone on the table rang first. Boskrebyshev quickly walked over and picked up the phone. After listening for a moment, he looked at Stalin and said, "It's Comrade Ustinov calling."

Stalin walked up to Boskrebyshev, took the microphone from his hand, put it to his ear and said: "Hello, Comrade Ustinov."

"Hello, Comrade Stalin." Ustinov said respectfully on the phone: "I didn't disturb your work."

"No, no, my work has just come to an end." Starling asked: "You called me, what's the matter?"

"That's it, Comrade Stalin." Ustinov glanced at Yakov beside him, and then said: "Yasha is in my office at the moment."

"Oh, Yasha is indeed at your place." Stalin asked, "Does what you are about to say have anything to do with Yasha?"

"It has a certain relationship." After Ustinov answered this sentence, he began to explain to Stalin the reason why Yakov appeared in his office: "Yasha came to me to discuss matters about General Sokov. . I heard from Yasha that General Sokov rejected the invitations of Marshal Zhukov and Comrade Khrushchev and was unwilling to go to Berlin or Kiev, but was preparing to go to Siberia to manage the prisoners of war of the Kwantung Army."

"Well, I just learned about this." Stalin asked: "Comrade Ustinov, I think you called me because you wanted me to keep Xiao Misha and arrange for me to work in the General Ordnance Department. Right?"

Hearing that Stalin had guessed his plan, Ustinov laughed twice, and then replied: "Yes, Comrade Stalin, General Sokov is an amazing military talent. He invented the assault rifle, rocket launcher and The new rocket launcher played a great role in the Patriotic War. I think it is a waste for such outstanding talents to go to the freezing Siberia to manage a group of prisoners of war. So I hope you can come forward and arrange it directly He came to work at the General Ordnance Department."

"Comrade Ustinov, you are right. Letting Xiao Misha go to Siberia to manage prisoners of war is indeed a waste of talent." Stalin agreed with Ustinov's statement: "I think we should arrange it for him More suitable for his position."

When Ustinov heard what Stalin said, he immediately beamed with joy: "Comrade Stalin, do you agree that he will work in our General Ordnance Department?"

"I do think so." Stalin said: "But before that, I want to talk to him to understand what he really thinks."

After chatting for a few more words, Starling put down the phone. After knocking the ash from his pipe into the ashtray, he said to Poskrebyshev: "You can contact Yasha tonight and ask him to come and have dinner with me at noon tomorrow."

Hearing what Stalin said, Boskrebyshev smiled awkwardly, thinking that when you just talked to Ustinov on the phone, Yakov was next to him, you just said something casually, why bother? It’s through oneself that the message is conveyed. Although he was dissatisfied, he still tried his best to put a smile on his face and said respectfully: "Okay, Comrade Stalin, I will contact Yasha as soon as possible and convey your thoughts to him."

"You have nothing to do here, you can go out." Stalin waved to Poskrebyshev and said: "I'm a little tired and want to take a rest. If there is nothing particularly important, don't disturb me. "

"Okay, Comrade Stalin." Poskrebyshev agreed, exited the room obediently, and closed the door behind him.

As soon as he sat back down in his seat, the phone on the table rang.

When he picked it up and listened, it turned out to be a call from Khrushchev. Poskrebyshev was a little surprised and asked: "Comrade Khrushchev, do you have anything important to do?"

Khrushchev had been dealing with Boskrebyshev for more than a day or two. When he heard him ask this question, he immediately guessed something and asked cautiously: "Is it true that Comrade Stalin doesn't want anyone to disturb him?"

"Comrade Stalin said he was a little tired and wanted to take a rest." Boskrebyshev explained to Khrushchev: "He specifically told me not to disturb him casually if there is nothing particularly important."

"I don't have anything special to do." Khrushchev learned that Stalin was resting, so naturally he would not get into trouble, so he told Bosklebyshev the purpose of his call: "Bosklebyshev Comrade Shev, didn’t I propose to Comrade Stalin some time ago that I hope to allow General Sokov to work in our re-established Kiev Military District? I called today just to understand the progress of this matter."

"So that's what happened." After Poskrebyshev figured out what was going on, he casually replied: "Comrade Khrushchev, I regret to tell you that General Sokov has rejected your proposal. , he is unwilling to go to Kiev."

"What, he doesn't want to come to Kiev?" Khrushchev heard what Boskrebeshev said, and was a little surprised when he was disappointed: "Comrade Boskrebeshev, why is this? I seem to have heard that , Zhukov also made a request to Comrade Stalin, hoping to let Misha go to him and serve as the garrison commander of Berlin."

Poskrebyshev waited for Khrushchev to finish speaking, and then quickly continued: "Comrade Khrushchev, General Sokov also rejected Marshal Zhukov's invitation and was unwilling to go to Berlin to serve as the garrison commander."

This time it was Khrushchev's turn to be surprised: "Not only did he refuse to come to Kiev, he even refused to go to Berlin. Comrade Boskrebyshev, do you know what happened?"

"I know that he intends to go to Siberia and serve as the head of a prisoner of war camp." Poskrebyshev replied truthfully: "As for why he rejected you and Marshal Zhukov, I don't know."

"So that's it, I know. Thank you, Comrade Boskrebeshev, and I wish you good luck!" After Khrushchev finished speaking, he hung up the phone without waiting for Boskrebeshev to speak. .

Listening to the blind tone coming from the receiver in his hand, Poskrebyshev smiled bitterly and shook his head, thinking that there were many people who cared about Sokov, not only Ustinov, but even people as far away as Kiev Khrushchev also called specifically to inquire about this matter.

Just as Poskrebyshev put down the phone, the phone rang again without warning, startling him. He calmed down, picked up the phone, and heard a female voice coming from inside: "Is it Comrade Boskrebyshev? I am the No. 3 operator of the switchboard."

When he heard that the person calling him was the operator of the Kremlin switchboard, Poskrebyshev asked in an extremely dignified tone: "What's the matter?"

"Comrade Boskrebyshev, this is it." Female operator No. 3 said: "Marshal Zhukov called from Berlin and said he had something important to talk to Comrade Stalin. Can you please put him through?"

After learning that the call was from Zhukov, Poskrebyshev did not dare to neglect it, but before doing so, he wanted to confirm whether what Zhukov said was worthy of alarming Stalin, who was resting. He said into the phone: "Get the phone to me first."

Soon, Zhukov's deep voice came from the receiver: "Is it Comrade Boskrebyshev? I am Zhukov!"

"Hello, Comrade Marshal!" Poskrebyshev stood up from his seat and asked respectfully into the microphone: "What can I do for you?"