Red Moscow

"The specific time is not clear yet." Sokov wanted to tell Yakov the time when he would return to Moscow, but Zhukov, who originally said he would return home soon, suddenly had no movement in the past two days, and he could only passively Waiting: "If it's quick, it'll be in a day or two; if it's slow, we'll have to come back after the New Year. Marshal Zhukov has the final say on when to leave."

"Oh, that's it." Yakov said reasonably: "No matter when you come back, you must remember to notify me in advance."

Just when Sokov was about to hang up the phone, Yakov suddenly said again: "By the way, Misha, there is something I almost forgot."

"What's up?"

"Comrade Ustinov called me to the office today and mentioned you while chatting with me."

"Comrade Ustinov mentioned me?" Sokov asked in surprise: "What did he say?"

"The main thing is to ask you when you can return to Moscow and whether you can serve in the General Ordnance Department." Yakov said: "I told him that if you have no signs of returning to Moscow for the time being, then it is probably unrealistic to serve in the General Ordnance Department. ”

Sokov nodded and continued to ask: "What did Comrade Ustinov say?"

"He was silent for a while and then asked me for your phone number and said he might want to call you."

"Ustinov wants to call me?" Sokov thought in his mind: "What is he looking for me for? Even if he wants to work in the General Ordnance Department, is he too impatient?"

With this question, he asked cautiously: "Yasha, are there any new design tasks in the General Ordnance Department recently? Of course, if it involves confidentiality, you don't have to answer me."

"The research and development of new weapons has been ongoing." Yakov said disapprovingly: "There is nothing to keep secret."

Unable to get the information he wanted from Yakov, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He secretly thought that if Ustinov really called him, what would he say?

While Sokov was dazed, Yakov dropped another shocking news: "Misha, something big happened in Moscow today."

"A big thing, what big thing?"

"Marshal Chernyakhovsky was ordered to return from the Far East. As a result, the plane he was on crashed. No one on board, including the passengers and crew, survived."

Hearing Yakov mention Chernyakhovsky's name, Sokov's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. In real history, Chernyakhovsky died on February 18, 1945. However, due to his own appearance, history has gone awry here. After the opponent encountered German shelling, he was only seriously injured but did not die. Not only did he obtain the rank of marshal, he even served as the deputy commander of the Far East Army and participated in the August Operation Storm.

But Sokov never dreamed that history could be so corrective. Although the war was over, Chernyakhovsky still could not escape the fate of death. He sighed softly, and then said to Yakov: "Yasha, you once served as the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front, and Marshal Chernyakhovsky was your superior. His funeral, You will definitely attend."

"That's for sure," Yakov said. "If you happen to be able to return to Moscow when he is buried, I hope you can go with him."

"Don't worry, Yasha." Sokov said: "If I happen to be in Moscow when Marshal Chernyakhovsky's funeral is held, I will definitely go."

The two chatted for a few more words before ending the call.

After Sokov put down the phone, he couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Marshal Chernyakhovsky's sudden plane crash would cause a series of chain reactions. For example, in real history, Chernyakhovsky was on his way to inspect the troops. When he got out of the car to observe the terrain, he was shelled by the Germans and died of his injuries. However, Yakov, who was rescued by himself, unexpectedly became the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front. He accompanied Chernyakhovsky to inspect the troops. On the way, he stopped to inspect the terrain. When he was shelled by the Germans, Because they took evasive actions, they were only injured to varying degrees.

Now that Chernyakhovsky has died in an air crash, will Yakov, who should have died in a German prisoner of war camp on April 13, 1943, also have an accident? If he really had any shortcomings, he would not only lose a friend, but he would also lose an amulet.

The phone on the table rang, and Sokov thought it was Yakov calling again. Unexpectedly, he picked up the phone and realized that the caller was Zhukov: "Misha, I just received news from Moscow, saying On his way back to Moscow from the Far East, Marshal Chernyakhovsky had a plane crash, killing everyone on the plane.”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I just learned about this."

"Oh, you just knew about this?" Zhukov asked in surprise: "How did you know about this?"

"It was Yasha, Yasha told me." Sokov replied: "Comrade Marshal, you should remember that Yasha once served as deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front, and Chernyakhovsky The marshal is his superior, so he is probably the first to know about the plane crash. "

"Oh, so that's how it is. I understand." Zhukov said, "Misha, I was planning to fly back to Moscow the day after tomorrow. But now this has happened. Comrade Stalin called me and told me not to fly again. Therefore, if we want to return to Moscow, we can only take the train."

Thinking of the night attack in Poland, Sokov was still somewhat afraid. If the attacking gangs did not have heavy weapons, he might not be able to escape danger so easily. On the way back to Moscow, he didn't know whether the train he was riding would be attacked by gangs again.

But then he thought about it and realized that he was really worrying too much. If big men like Zhukov and Malenkov were to take a train back to Moscow, they would definitely be arranged to take a special train. Not to mention a few gangs, even if a regular army attacked the special train, it would be difficult to get any good results. Once attacked, not only would the nearby ground forces rush to rescue as soon as possible, but before that, there would be a group of bombers from the Air Force to teach these ignorant gangs how to behave.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov asked tentatively, "Will I take the train back to Moscow with you?" He asked this because he was worried that Zhukov would arrange for him to take a plane. Although the plane from Berlin to Moscow might not have an accident, he still had some psychological trauma after such a plane crash.

"Of course, you must return to Moscow with me. Comrade Malenkov will also be with me." Zhukov paused for a moment, as if he was thinking about something. When he spoke again, his tone became particularly stern: "Misha, I am going to give you an important task."

"Comrade Marshal, please give me the order." Sokov hurriedly said to Zhukov: "I will definitely complete your task."

"This task is difficult, but not difficult. It is to let you take care of a person on the train and prevent him from contacting anyone."

Hearing Zhukov's order, Sokov was stunned at first, and then thought of a possibility, and hurriedly asked carefully: "Comrade Marshal, the person you plan to let me take care of, is it the one I saw in the basement a few days ago?"

"Yes, it's him."

Sokov remembered that he had asked Zhukov at the time how to deal with this fake Truman. Zhukov told him that he was about to step down, and how to deal with this person would be left to Sokolovsky. But just a few days later, the other party's idea changed.

"Comrade Marshal, didn't you say some time ago that this person should be handed over to General Sokolovsky for handling?"

"Yes, that was indeed what I thought at the time." Zhukov said: "Although we missed the opportunity, if we let him stay in Berlin, he will be useful sooner or later. But there is a problem on the American side. According to our intelligence analysis, Truman will not appear on German soil in the next two to three years. Therefore, it is obviously inappropriate to keep this person in Berlin, so he must be transferred back to Moscow."

"Comrade Marshal, I wonder what the problem is on the American side?" Sokov muttered to himself. What could happen on the American side, unless Patton died. Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "Is there something wrong with General Patton?"

"Misha, your guess is correct. According to the information we received, Patton is dead." Zhukov said: "Without Patton, it may not be easy for us to enter the actual control area of ​​the US military under the banner of visiting him, let alone implement the top-secret plan of stealing the sky and changing the day."

After listening to Zhukov's words, Sokov couldn't help but sigh in his heart that Zhukov was too honest. If it were someone else, he would not consider taking the fake president back to Moscow for imprisonment, but would directly kill him and make him disappear from this world. After all, only the dead can keep secrets.

Thinking that he would soon leave Berlin, Sokov made his request to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, since we will soon return to Moscow. I wonder if I can see Adelina again before I leave?"

"No!" Unexpectedly, Zhukov rejected Sokov's request very straightforwardly: "For safety reasons, the time of our return to Moscow must be kept absolutely confidential. Although I also know that even if Adelina knows when you will return to Moscow, she will not disclose this information. But after she knows that you are leaving, her mood will definitely be affected. If there are hidden enemies in the translation team, they will definitely get the information they want through these details."

Since Zhukov has said this, what else can Sokov say? He can only smile bitterly and say: "Okay, Comrade Marshal, I understand. Then I will not meet her. I will call her after I return to Moscow."

...

The next morning, Sokov, who was still asleep, was awakened by the urgent ringing of the phone.

He got out of bed, walked barefoot to the phone, picked up the receiver, yawned and said, "I'm Sokov!"

"Hello, Misha!" A familiar voice came from the receiver: "I'm Ustinov."

When Sokov heard that the person calling him was Ustinov, he suddenly woke up. He stood at attention and said respectfully, "Hello, Comrade People's Commissar, I'm glad to receive your call."

"Misha, I didn't disturb your sleep." Ustinov on the other end of the phone obviously heard Sokov's yawn, and said with some apology: "I forgot that there is a time difference between Moscow and Berlin."

Sokov knew very well that Ustinov called so early in the morning, definitely not to reminisce with him, but to have something important, so he asked respectfully: "Comrade People's Commissar, do you have any instructions for me when you call me?"

"You are in Berlin now. It is unrealistic to ask you to come to my General Armament Department to work in a short time." Ustinov said: But I want to make a request to you."

"What request?"

"Don't write any novels for the time being," Ustinov said seriously, "I wonder if you can provide me with a design drawing of a new weapon as soon as possible."

"Ah, the design drawing of a new weapon?" After Sokov understood the other party's intention, he asked awkwardly, "I wonder what kind of weapon you want?"

"It is obviously unrealistic to ask you to design new aircraft and tanks." Ustinov said, "The design of these new technical equipment requires the cooperation of a team of dozens of people. It is impossible to complete it with your ability alone. "

"Comrade People's Commissar," Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, and then quickly added: "You asked me to design a new type of warship, but I can't do it. I'm not that kind of person."

"Yes, yes, it's not realistic to ask you to design a new type of warship." Ustinov said reasonably: "Then, can you design a light weapon that can be equipped to the troops?"

"Light weapon?" Sokov pinched his chin and said: "That's not impossible."

"Really?" Hearing Sokov say this, Ustinov seemed a little excited: "That's great. I wonder when you can provide us with a sketch?"

"People's Commissar Comrade Committee Member, "Sovkov couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw Ustinov was so impatient: "I need to think about it carefully. The earliest I can provide you with the sketch of the new light weapon is after the New Year, which is around mid-January. I wonder if it's too late?"

"Not too late, not too late at all." Ustinov said with a smile: "I thought you would have to wait until March at the earliest to provide us with the sketch of the new light weapon. I didn't expect that you could provide it in January. This is beyond my expectation."

Sovkov was stunned after hearing this, thinking that he was still worried that Ustinov would think it was too late if he said mid-January. Unexpectedly, the other party felt that it was very fast to come up with a design sketch in March, which was not a formal drawing.

After hanging up the phone, Sokov walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, thinking about what light weapons he should make available in advance.

Assault rifles were equipped in the troops under his command as early as 1942, which can be ignored.

The only weapons that can provide powerful firepower for infantry, besides submachine guns and assault rifles, are machine guns. So, let's make the Soviet Army's most classic PKM light machine gun available in advance.