Red Moscow

"Misha, is this the new general-purpose machine gun you designed?" Ustinov asked after reading the sketch Sokov gave him.

"Yes, Comrade People's Commissar." Sokov nodded and said in a positive tone: "I plan to use this machine gun to replace the various light machine guns currently installed in our army. According to my vision, this machine gun It is suitable for a variety of combat environments, including complex terrains such as jungles, mountains, and cities, and can provide powerful fire support for infantry in various tactical settings such as offense, defense, and encounters.”

"Comrade Andrei," Ustinov waited for Sokov to finish, but did not immediately express his position. Instead, he asked a bald military expert next to him: "What do you think?"

"Judging from the design drawings, the design of this machine gun is quite novel." A military expert known as Andre said cautiously: "But before the prototype gun is manufactured, it can be said that it can replace the current situation of our army. It’s a bit premature to install machine guns.”

"How long will it take to produce the prototype gun?"

Regarding the question raised by Ustinov, Andrei thought for a long time before he said cautiously: "Comrade People's Commissar, if the parts of this new weapon have detailed dimensions, you can have it within three days at most. I saw a prototype gun. But now there is only a sketch. To make a qualified prototype gun, it will take countless trials and errors, and it may take half a year.”

"Half a year is too long." Ustinov shook his head and said: "It is impossible for our superiors to give us that long time." After a pause, he tentatively asked Sokov, "Misha, can you give us Do our military experts provide specific parameters of parts?”

Seeing everyone's eyes staring at him, Sokov began to think about whether he should draw three views of each component and the specific dimensions directly in front of them, or wait for a while and give them to them.

After repeated weighings, Sokov felt that he could not come up with the specific parameters of weapon parts prematurely, otherwise after he entered the General Ordnance Department, his superiors would arrange countless design tasks for him. Therefore, after pretending to hesitate, he said slowly: "It will take at least two weeks before I can provide you with the specific parameters of the parts."

"Comrade Andrei, can you wait for two weeks?" Ustinov asked again.

Seeing that Sokov could not provide the specific parameters of the new weapon's parts in a timely manner, Andrei was still somewhat disappointed. But as a military industry expert, he knew very well that designing a new weapon could not be accomplished overnight. So when Sokov said it would take two weeks to provide specific drawings, he quickly nodded and replied: "If it takes two weeks, we can definitely wait."

After he paused for a moment, he further explained to Ustinov: "With specific component parameters, we can avoid unnecessary waste when manufacturing prototype guns, thus reducing the cost of weapon development. ”

"Okay." Since military industry experts said so, Ustinov also understood that he couldn't eat hot cheese in a hurry, so he nodded in agreement. However, he still asked Sokov with concern: "Misha, if you have any difficulties, just ask them and I will try my best to solve them for you."

"Can you provide me with drawing tools and special drawing paper?" Sokov asked Ustinov tentatively: "You know, in the development of new weapons, drawings are crucial."

"No problem, no problem." Ustinov said with a smile: "You can have as many of these things as you want, and we will try our best to meet your needs."

Just when Sokov was secretly happy, Ustinov said something that made his heart freeze: "Before the drawings are completed, I hope you can stay here at the General Ordnance Department, and I will order someone to You arrange a separate office with a bedroom. If you are tired, you can rest in the bedroom.”

"Ah, Comrade People's Commissar, if I guess correctly, you plan to let me stay here until the drawings are completed before I can leave. Is that right?"

"That's right," Ustinov said in an amiable manner: "If you go home, design the drawings, and send them over in person, it will take a lot of time. So I decided to let you live here. , when the design is completed, you can go home.”

Sokov did not expect that Ustinov would actually come up with such a skill, but he had just said that it would take him at least two weeks to provide a complete design. At this moment, he could only remain silent and eat Coptis chinensis: "Okay then Well, I’ll just stay here and draw the design drawings.”

Seeing that Sokov agreed, Ustinov was very happy. He quickly rang the bell and called an officer and told the officer: "Comrade Captain, from now on, you will be responsible for taking care of General Sokov's daily life." , until he finishes his work, got it?”

"Understood, Comrade People's Commissar."

The captain took Sokov to a room on the fifth floor and said to him: "Comrade General, this is your studio. If you need anything, just press the bell on the table. I will be in the next room." "Stand by."

"Comrade Captain, I plan to start drawing now. I wonder when I can send the drawing paper and tools over?"

"Comrade General, I will arrange this immediately." The officer replied: "What you need will be delivered to you in half an hour at most."

Sokov nodded, walked into the room, and found that there was not only a bedroom, but also a bathroom. There was also a set of sofas in the workroom. Sokov thought that he didn't have to work for the time being, so he walked to the sofa and lay down, intending to close his eyes and rest.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he closed his eyes, there was a knock on the door outside. Sokov opened his eyes and thought to himself that the captain was really efficient in his work. In just a few minutes, he delivered the drawing paper and tools he wanted, and he quickly got up and opened the door.

Unexpectedly, after opening the door, he discovered that the person standing at the door was not the captain, but a second lieutenant wearing a blue hat. Behind him were two soldiers with live ammunition. When the second lieutenant saw Sokov appear, he raised his hand and saluted, and then asked in a prim tone: "Is this General Sokov?"

"Yes, I am Sokov." Sokov asked, "What do you want?"

"I am Second Lieutenant Shurik from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I would like to ask you to come back with us to assist in the investigation."

Sokov did not expect that not long after he arrived at the General Ordnance Department building, people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to the door and even asked him to follow them for investigation. It was said that he was assisting in the investigation, but Sokov was worried that it might not be so easy to come back after he left, so he said with a straight face: "Second Lieutenant, please tell me, who wants me to go back with you to accept the investigation?" investigation?"

"I can't tell you the specific name." Second Lieutenant Shurick said expressionlessly: "I can only tell you that it was an order from a superior."

"Where are you going to investigate me?" Sokov asked.

"Comrade General," Shurik noticed Sokov's worry and said proactively, "I'm in this building, just asking a few questions."

Although Shurik said this, Sokov still remained alert enough: "Does Comrade Ustinov know about this?"

Shurick shook his head: "He doesn't know."

"Second Lieutenant, Comrade Ustinov asked me to come here today." Sokov said to Shurik: "If you want to take me to assist in the investigation, I must at least say hello to him. So that he won’t be worried if he can’t find me.”

Regarding Sokov's proposal, Shurik fell into deep thought. He was just ordered to ask Sokov to assist in the investigation, but his superiors did not say whether he needed to communicate with Ustinov about this matter, so it seemed very strange. It's difficult.

Seeing Shurik's delay in speaking, Sokov continued: "If you don't agree to my request, please forgive me for not being able to assist you in your investigation."

Although Sokov said he was nonchalant, he was uneasy in his heart. He didn't understand why the Ministry of Internal Affairs suddenly sent someone to investigate him. Could it be that something went wrong?

Worried that Shuri would take coercive measures against him, Sokov emphasized: "Your Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, General Lunev, and I used to be partners and good friends. What would happen if he knew about this?" Do you know the consequences?"

Seeing Sokov move out of Lunev, Shurik knew in his heart that the other party was someone who could not be offended, so he could only say with a grimace: "Okay, comrade general, then you can call Ustinov and tell him , let him know what to do.”

Sokov picked up the phone and after hearing a voice coming from inside, he quickly said: "Hello, comrade operator! Please help me pick up Comrade Ustinov's office. I have important things to see him."

Soon, the call was connected, and Ustinov's voice came from the receiver: "I am Ustinov!"

"Hello, Comrade People's Commissar." Sokov said: "I am Sokov!"

Ustinov did not expect Sokov to call him so soon, and asked with some surprise: "Misha, what can I do for you?"

Sokov glanced at the officers and soldiers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs standing outside the door, and said into the microphone: "That's it, Comrade People's Commissar, there is a second lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs named Shurik, and he said that he would take me to their place to assist in the investigation. I’m telling you this specifically so that you can’t find me if something happens.”

"What, you have an officer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs there?"

"Yes."

"Let the officer come and answer the phone." Ustinov said angrily: "This is just nonsense. How can you be investigated casually?"

"Second Lieutenant Shurik," Sokov said to Shurik, "Comrade Ustinov wants to speak to you."

Shurik quickly came to Sokov, straightened his appearance, then took the microphone from Sokov's hand and put it to his ear: "Hello, Comrade People's Commissar!"

"It's nonsense, it's nonsense." Ustinov raised his voice: "General Sokov is the military expert I invited. If you take him away and affect the subsequent development of new weapons, this responsibility lies with you. Who will bear it?”

"Comrade Comrade People's Commissar," Shurik said cautiously: "We are just asking General Sokov to come to our place to understand the situation, and we will not leave this building. As long as we ask the questions that need to be asked, we will let him come back. ”

After hearing Shurik say that he would not leave the building, Ustinov remembered that the Ministry of Internal Affairs officers and soldiers were indeed dispatched to this building. As long as Sokov did not leave the door, there should be no problem. It was out of this consideration that he said to Shurik: "Second Lieutenant, please give the phone to General Sokov. I have something to say to him."

Shurik did not dare to neglect and quickly handed the microphone in his hand to Sokov: "Comrade General, your phone number."

"Hello, Comrade People's Commissar." Sokov asked: "What should I do, should I follow them?"

"Misha, it's okay, it's just a general inquiry, nothing serious." Ustinov said: "I still have work to do, and I will come to you after I finish it. I don't think they dare to do anything to you."

With Ustinov's endorsement, Sokov's worries disappeared. He put down the phone and then said to Shurik: "Let's go, Lieutenant, take me there."

After walking a few steps out of the house, the captain sent by Ustinov to protect Sokov came over with his men.

Seeing three people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs following Sokov, the captain was surprised and asked: "Comrade General, what's going on? Why are there people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

"Comrade Captain, it's okay. The comrades from the Ministry of Internal Affairs asked me to go back to assist in the investigation." Sokov said to the captain: "Comrade People's Commissar also knows about this. He will come to me after he finishes his work."

"Comrade General, do you need me to go with you?" asked the captain.

Sokov shook his head and said, "I don't think it's necessary. I'll just go there to answer a few questions and will be back soon. You stay here and prepare the tools and paper for drawing. When I come back, I can officially start my work."

Under Shurik's leadership, Sokov came to the ground floor. He thought that the other party had deceived Ustinov and said that he would not take him out of the building. As a result, when he was about to go out, there suddenly appeared a staircase leading to the underground. Seeing this, Sokov suddenly realized that the office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel stationed in the General Armament Department was in the basement of this building.

Walking down the steps to the end, there are two closed doors. Shurik went forward and knocked on the small window. The small window opened, revealing a face. He knocked outside and then closed the small window. After a while, a big door opened, and Shurik turned around and greeted Sokov: "Comrade General, let's go in."

When Sokov followed Shurik into the iron gate, he felt that this scene was very familiar. Wasn't it the scene when Zhukov took him to see the fake president in Berlin? Could it be that the purpose of the lieutenant bringing him here was related to the fake president who accompanied him to Moscow?

If it was really related to the fake president, Sokov guessed that there might be such a result: the fake president disappeared, and as a person who had seen the real face of the fake president, even if he was not in danger of being killed because of his high military rank, he would probably sign a confidentiality agreement to prevent himself from leaking the secrets of the fake president.

After walking several dozen meters along the dim corridor, Shurik, who was leading the way, stopped in front of a closed door, then turned to Sokov and said, "Comrade General, we are here."