Red Moscow

Sokov left the publishing house and walked home happily carrying his things.

Halfway through, he suddenly saw a long queue in front of him. Whether they were buying something, he quickly stepped forward to check.

After taking a closer look at the sign, Sokov realized it was a food store.

He thought there were some good things for sale inside, so he didn't queue up. Instead, he walked directly to the door, ready to go in and see what food was on sale.

Unexpectedly, he had just arrived at the door and was about to enter when a fat old lady standing in line near the door said: "Hey, Comrade Commander, why don't you line up!"

Sokov stopped, turned to the old lady and said, "Old man, I just went in to see what was for sale. If I want to buy something, I will come out and queue up."

In fact, many residents lined up near the door had the same idea as the old lady, thinking that Sokov was going to jump in line. But due to the other party's status, no one could criticize him rashly. Only an elderly lady can express her dissatisfaction so brazenly.

After listening to Sokov's explanation, the old lady stared at him for a while, and then said: "Then you go in. If I find you cutting in line, I will pull you out of the line regardless of your identity."

Regarding the old lady's statement, Sokov had no doubt that she would take action. After all, in later generations, he had seen more than once the old lady pulling people out of the queue who were jumping in line, or pulling up the young people who were occupying their seats from their seats.

He smiled slightly and walked into the food store.

In the store, there are always long lines in front of the bread counter, as well as the bacon, sausage, ham, and cheese counters.

When Sokov walked to the end of the food store, he saw fresh lamb chops on the counter. He couldn't help but be a little excited and wanted to buy them back to make grilled lamb chops.

Just when he was thinking this, he heard the male salesperson behind the counter say to the residents in line: "People behind, listen, the number of mutton chops today is limited, each person can only buy one pound, if you have finished buying, you still want to buy , you need to queue up again.”

Hearing the male salesman's words, Sokov couldn't help but think of the past stories some friends told him in later generations. In the mid-1990s, these friends came to Russia to study. Whenever they had free time, they would go to the food store near the school to buy things to improve their meals. At that time, all food stores implemented a purchase restriction system: each person could only buy two eggs, one piece of bread and a 500 ml bottle of salad oil. If it's not enough and you still want to buy, you have to queue up again.

There was a shortage of supplies in the mid-1990s, not to mention that in 1945, just after the war, it was completely normal for residents to queue up to buy food. Otherwise, the old lady at the door just now would not have stopped her with words when she saw him walking directly into the store.

After coming out of the food store, Sokov continued walking towards home.

Turning around and seeing the long queue outside the food store, Sokov couldn't help but think of a joke from later generations. It is said that the Soviets will popularize helicopters in the 1980s so that every family will have one.

Someone asked: Every household has a helicopter, can it be used for any purpose?

The answer is: With a helicopter, traveling will be more convenient. For example, if you hear that bread is selling in Leningrad, you can fly there in a helicopter from Moscow and queue up.

Although this is just a joke, the Soviet Union's material shortage is an indisputable fact. Apart from anything else, since there are no greenhouse vegetables, even in the late 1990s, the price of vegetables in Russia was more expensive than the price of meat in winter. It wasn’t until a large number of Chinese people came to Russia to grow vegetables in greenhouses that a wide variety of vegetables became available in Russian supermarkets in winter. Although the prices are more expensive than in summer, they are still within an acceptable range.

On the way home, Sokov passed by the officers' store and saw that the door here was deserted and not a soul could be seen. Even through the closed glass door, you can see that there is not a single customer in the store except the salesperson.

Sokov pushed open the glass door and walked into the store.

A female salesperson standing at the door saw a general walking in from outside. She quickly stepped forward and greeted politely: "Hello, Comrade General!"

"Hello!"

"How can I help you?"

"I want to buy some lamb chops." Sokov asked tentatively: "Do you have any here?"

"Yes, Comrade General." The female salesperson nodded and said, "The lamb chops were just delivered this morning. How much do you want?"

Sokov hesitated and asked: "Do you have a purchase limit here?"

After hearing this, the female salesperson couldn't help laughing: "Comrade General, look what you said, this is an officer's store. As long as you bring enough money, you can buy as much as you want. If you can't take the things you want, we can still Send someone to deliver it to your door.”

"Then I'll bring you two kilograms of fresh lamb chops."

Soon, the fresh lamb chops were wrapped in paper by the salesperson and handed to Sokov. At the same time, he asked politely: "Comrade General, do you want anything else?"

"I don't want it for now, how much does it cost?"

When checking out, the female salesperson also took the initiative to say to Sokov: "Comrade General, if you want to buy something in the future, you don't need to come and buy it in person. You can just ask your security guard to come over, or make a phone call, and we can provide it." Door-to-door delivery service.”

Sokov thought to himself that he still didn't know when his superiors would arrange work for him. Before that, it was obviously impossible to assign guards to him. If he wanted to buy anything in the future, he or Asiya would have to do it in person. Or just have them delivered to your door. Thinking of this, he said to the female salesperson: "Please leave me a phone number. I will call you if I need anything."

Seeing Sokov carrying things to leave, the female salesperson asked enthusiastically: "Comrade General, I see that you have a lot of things to carry. Do you need me to send someone to take you back?"

"No, no, no." Faced with the enthusiasm of the female salesperson, Sokov waved his hand and refused: "I can still carry this little thing. Thank you for your kindness. Goodbye!"

After returning home, Sokov placed the cloth bag containing the notebook and pen on the living room table, and then walked into the kitchen carrying the lamb chops wrapped in oil paper.

The kitchen utensils in Russian kitchens are quite distinctive, with the stove on top and the oven on the bottom. Sokov guessed that this design was probably for the convenience of baking bread, but he used it to bake lamb chops or lamb legs. Since he baked it twice, Asiya fell in love with this delicacy and asked him to bake it every once in a while.

He cut the lamb chops, washed them, and set them aside to dry. Peel a few more potatoes, wash them, cut them into pieces, and place them on the bottom of the baking pan. Rub the dried lamb chops with salt, place them on top of the potato pieces, and then put them in the oven to bake.

After waiting for 25 minutes, he took out the baking sheet, sprinkled cumin on top of the lamb chops, and then pushed them in to continue baking.

As soon as he finished all this, the phone outside suddenly rang. He quickly wiped his hands and ran out to answer the phone.

Picking up the receiver, I heard Yakov's voice: "Misha, what are you doing?"

Sokov heard Yakov's voice and guessed that he might want to tell him what Stalin's final decision was. However, it was difficult to explain this kind of thing over the phone. He wanted to talk to Yakov in person, so he took the initiative to invite him: "I'm grilling lamb chops, will you come over to eat?"

"What, you are making grilled lamb chops again, then I must go over and have a taste!" After Yakov said this, he suddenly remembered a key thing, "By the way, how many lamb chops did you buy?"

"I didn't know you would come, so I only bought two kilograms." Sokov said: "If you are coming, remember to buy more when passing by the officer's store. There are fresh lamb chops delivered this morning."

Yakov on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, seeming to be thinking about something. After a while, the other party said, "Misha, I'll be there in about an hour."

"Don't worry, Asiya has a few hours to go after get off work. It's okay if you come over later."

An hour later, the doorbell rang. Sokov went over to open the door, and sure enough he saw Yakov standing outside. He was also holding an oil paper package in his hand, which looked like mutton chops he had just bought from the military officer's store.

Sokov first took the mutton chops from his hand, and then called him in: "You sit down for a while, and I'll go into the kitchen and put away the mutton chops."

"I'll clean it up with you. I have something to tell you by the way."

Sokov knew very well that Yakov must be talking to him about the novel "The Siege", so he nodded in agreement: "Okay, you can peel a few more potatoes."

When the two were busy in the kitchen, Yakov finally said: "Misha, why didn't you ask me why I came here today?"

"What other reasons could there be?" Sokov has already thought about it at this moment. Since he can't write the book "Siege", he will write it in another book. Anyway, the sales volume of "Ordinary Soldier" he plans to write after publication It was also very good, so he said disapprovingly: "It must be related to my book."

"Misha, I have communicated with my father many times to explain to him what your original intention was in writing this book."

"How did he say?"

"He said that before the war broke out, these important figures mentioned in the book had biased judgments about the war, which led to our army suffering huge losses in the early stages of the war." Yakov said cautiously: "Although these are It is a fact, but if it appears in a book and is read by readers, it may have a negative impact on the prestige of these people. Therefore..."

Before Yakov could finish speaking, Sokov rushed to say: "Therefore, this book must never be written, am I right?"

"I didn't say that I can't write, I just can't write for the time being." Yakov said carefully: "At least at this stage, I can't write."

"Then when can I write it?" Sokov asked rhetorically: "One year, two years, or longer."

"It's hard to say, Misha." Hearing Sokov's question, Yakov said awkwardly: "What my father means is that this book involves important people, and as long as he is still alive, he cannot write it for the time being. .”

After hearing this, Sokov thought to himself that this book was published in 1975, and the important character in the book, Marshal Zhukov, was written in 1974. It is true that all the important characters in the book were absent before the novel was officially published.

"If all the characters in the book live to be 100 years old, I might have to wait fifty years before I can write this novel again." Sokov shook his head and said in a joking tone: "I just don't know. Do I still have the inspiration to write a book at that time?”

What Sokov didn't expect was that as soon as he finished speaking, Yakov suddenly lowered his voice and said to him: "Misha, you are not an outsider. I have a secret to tell you."

"What's going on?" Sokov asked curiously.

"I once heard you say that in the book "The Siege", Zhukov will become the hero who saves Leningrad. According to your assumption, if my father did not transfer him from the reserve front to Leningrad in time, As the commander of the front army, maybe this city named after Lenin has fallen into the hands of the Germans?”

"Yasha, isn't this a fact?" Sokov asked with some confusion: "What if Marshal Zhukov hadn't been transferred to the Leningrad Front Army Commander, changing the conservative tactics of the former commander Marshal Voroshilov? France, I'm afraid it really can't stop the enemy's attack on the city. If nothing else, once the Germans occupy the commanding heights outside the city, Pulkovo Heights, they can set up artillery to carry out a blanket bombardment of the city. I'm afraid that the casualties of the residents in the city will be It will rise geometrically."

"Misha, your statement is correct. I also admit that Marshal Zhukov played a vital role in the battle to defend Leningrad."

"Since you think so, why do you doubt that I focus on describing Marshal Zhukov?"

"The reason is very simple." Yakov said helplessly: "According to the information I received, many people have recently complained to Marshal Zhukov in front of my father. At the beginning, my father did not respond to the words of these complainants. I care. But I can’t stop them from saying it every day. Now he is beginning to waver. According to my judgment, he may take some action against Marshal Zhukov.”

Sokov knew that Zhukov was now the commander-in-chief of the Soviet Army Group in Germany and the highest military administrator of the Soviet-occupied area. Some time ago, he applied to Stalin, hoping to let him be his assistant, but he politely rejected his offer. .

By April 10, 1946, Zhukov would be transferred back to China to serve as Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

Since his reputation was second only to that of the Supreme Commander himself, a group led by Minister of State Security Abakumov falsely accused Zhukov of plotting a military coup. Fortunately, in early June, several marshals such as Konev, Rokossovsky and Vasilevsky spoke up and resolutely refuted the claims that Zhukov had conspiracy intentions, so Stalin did not arrest Zhukov.

However, on June 9, Stalin still accused Zhukov based on Luo Zhi's accusation: "Immodest and too arrogant. He took credit for the decisive role in winning all major battles during the war." He pointed out that "Marshal Zhukov was filled with hatred and prepared to To recruit some frustrated and dismissed commanders to engage in activities against the government and the high command."

In July, the three important positions held by Zhukov were revoked, he was expelled from the Supreme Command, and he was immediately demoted. He was first demoted to the commander of the Odessa Military District, and soon was transferred to the Ural Military District as the commander.

It was precisely because of his understanding of this history that Sokov resolutely rejected Zhukov. He did not want to become what Stalin called a "removed commander."