Red Moscow

Sokov nodded, and then made a gesture of invitation to Second Lieutenant Shurik, indicating that he could go in first and report.

Shurick raised his hand and knocked on the door twice. Without waiting for the person inside to answer, he opened the door and walked in. As soon as he entered, he closed the door so that Sokov did not see clearly what was going on in the room.

A minute later, Shurik walked out of the door and said respectfully to Sokov: "Comrade General, please come in!" After saying that, he stepped aside to make way for Sokov. .

"Thank you, Second Lieutenant Shurik." Sokov thanked Shurik and walked into the room.

There was a desk in the room opposite the door, and a man in casual clothes was sitting behind the desk. Seeing Sokov come in, he immediately stood up, walked around from behind the table, took the initiative to extend his hand to Sokov, and said in a friendly tone: "Hello, General Sokov! Let me introduce myself, I am Ruble from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Liao Fu!”

"Hello, Comrade Rublev." Sokov stretched out his hand to shake the other person's hand, then let go of his hand, and asked in a polite and distant tone: "I wonder if you asked me to come here. What's the matter?"

"General Sokov, please sit down!" After Rublev asked Sokov to sit down, he said: "I heard that you want to work in the General Ordnance Department. As an agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as a rule, we have to treat everyone people who joined for review, I hope you can understand.”

"I understand, I understand." Sokov felt more at ease when he learned that the other party was just conducting a routine review: "I will try my best to cooperate with your review."

Rublev sat back at the table again, opened a notebook on the table, picked up a pen and held it in his hand. Then he looked at Sokov and asked: "General Sokov, I heard that you are here this time. Returned from Berlin with Marshal Zhukov?"

"Yes, I did take Marshal Zhukov's special train from Berlin back to Moscow."

Rublev said with a smile: "Very good, we have a good beginning, and then we can continue to ask subsequent questions."

"Excuse me."

"I heard that you participated in the Battle of Stalingrad?"

"That's right." Sokov thought that many people knew about this part of his history, and there was no need to keep it secret at all, so he nodded and agreed: "I did participate in the Battle of Stalingrad. Before the battle began, I was an infantryman. Brigade Commander, by the end of the campaign I had been promoted to Guards Division Commander."

"It seems that you have made considerable achievements in this great battle?"

"Shortly after the Battle of Stalingrad I was decorated and promoted to major general."

After Rublev recorded what Sokov said in his notebook, he suddenly asked unexpectedly: "General Sokov, do you know Marshal Zhukov?"

When Sokov heard this question, he couldn't help but be startled, thinking that just now you were asking me if I was returning to Moscow from Berlin on the same train as Zhukov. How come in the blink of an eye, you asked me if I knew Marshal Zhukov? ? But from now on, Sokov felt a little more vigilant in his heart. He realized that Rublev must be preparing to set some language traps for himself by asking this question. If he was not careful, he might fall into his trap.

"Comrade Rublev," Sokov calmed down his emotions and said calmly: "I think you may have forgotten that shortly after I entered the door, you asked me if I was riding with Marshal Zhukov. The same special train returned to Moscow from Berlin. How come you forgot about it in the blink of an eye? "

Hearing what Sokov said, Rublev was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead with his hand, pretending to be annoyed and said: "General Sokov, you see I really don't remember things. You just said I actually forgot everything I said.”

Rublev's performance was too exaggerated, and Sokov laughed without saying a word.

After a pause, Rublev continued: "Did you have any dealings with Marshal Zhukov during the Battle of Stalingrad?"

"No, I did not have any dealings with Marshal Zhukov during the Battle of Stalingrad." After hearing this, Sokov realized that the purpose of talking to him today was probably to target Marshal Zhukov, so he replied without hesitation. : "At that time, Marshal Zhukov was in the north of the city, commanding the troops of three armies to launch an uninterrupted counterattack against the German army. However, the troops I commanded at the time were stationed at Mamayev Heights. The two places were far apart and there was no way they could meet each other. Chance."

"Oh, so that's it." Rublev continued to ask: "Then do you think the counterattack launched by the three armies led by Marshal Zhukov in the north of the city achieved the intended effect?"

"I'm not sure whether it has achieved the intended effect." Sokov replied cautiously: "After all, my level was too low at the time, so I had no idea what kind of combat purpose they were planning to achieve, but one thing is beyond doubt. of."

"Which point?"

"Although our army's counterattack in the north direction of the city did not successfully repel the enemy." Sokov said: "But it was precisely because of their bravery and tenacity on the battlefield that they successfully contained the German Sixth Army. Part of the force prevented Paulus from concentrating all his forces to launch a final general attack on the city, creating extremely favorable conditions for the 62nd Army commanded by Chuikov to defend Stalingrad. "

But what Sokov said obviously did not satisfy Rublev. He pursed his lips and said displeasedly: "Don't you think that Marshal Zhukov's counterattack in the north of the city did not achieve its intended purpose except increasing the casualties of our army?"

"Comrade Rublev, I just said that my rank at the time was too low and I had no idea what kind of strategic goals Marshal Zhukov intended to achieve." Sokov was worried that someone would use his conversation to make something against Zhukov, so he He specifically emphasized: "However, it was precisely because of the counterattack operations in the north of the city that the German troops were effectively dispersed, preventing them from concentrating all their forces to launch a final general attack on the city."

"General Sokov, you have just said these words." Rublev reminded Sokov: "I want to hear some different opinions."

"Comrade Rublev, if you really think so, I'm afraid you will be disappointed." Sokov looked at the other party and said: "Marshal Zhukov's contribution during the Battle of Stalingrad is obvious to all. Anyone wants to deny this. , are all wrong.”

Seeing that his goal was not achieved, Rublev changed the question again: "Did you participate in the defense of Moscow?"

Sokov thought that he had participated in the major counterattack under the city of Moscow, which should also be part of the defense of Moscow, so he gave the other party an affirmative answer: "I have participated."

"Since you participated in the defense of Moscow, I would like to ask you a question."

"Excuse me."

"In November 1941, the German army launched a crazy attack to the west of Moscow, forcing our 5th and 30th armies to abandon their original positions and retreat to the outskirts of Moscow." Rublev said: " At that time, the 16th Army under the command of Marshal Rokossovsky was located between the two armies. In order to level the front and avoid being encircled by the Germans, Marshal Rokossovsky proposed to Zhukov that his troops should be allowed to retreat. He went to the Istria Reservoir area to build new defenses, but was opposed by Zhukov.

After repeatedly weighing the interests, Rokossovsky made a withdrawal request to the then Chief of General Staff, Marshal Shaposhnikov. Marshal Shaposhnikov reported the matter to the Supreme Commander himself and obtained approval before giving an order to Rokossovsky to allow his troops to retreat. However, shortly after the retreat of the 16th Army began, Zhukov brutally intervened and ordered them to stop the retreat and immediately return to their original positions. Since some positions had been occupied by the Germans, the 16th Group Army made huge sacrifices in order to seize the lost positions, resulting in a significant reduction in the strength of the army..."

Sokov looked at the internal affairs staff who were talking non-stop in front of him, and he understood more and more that today's so-called review was just a formality. The main purpose was to make him say something unfavorable to Zhukov. In this way Some people can use this as an excuse to attack Zhukov.

After thinking about this, Sokov raised his hand and interrupted the other party: "Comrade Rublev, I don't know what you said. You know, at that time I was just a guard guarding Khimki. Squad leader, I am not qualified to know about matters at the group army level or even at the front army level, so I cannot answer the question you intend to ask."

Seeing that Sokov's answer was impeccable, Rublev showed an embarrassed expression on his face, and for a moment he didn't know how to continue.

Sokov stood up and said unceremoniously: "Comrade Rublev, I want to ask you. You keep saying that you want to check whether I am qualified to stay in the General Ordnance Department, but from the moment I walked in, the questions you asked , but they are all related to Marshal Zhukov. Can you explain to me what is going on? "

"I was just asking casually." Rublev tried his best to put a smile on his face, and defended himself in pale language: "I didn't think that you and Marshal Zhukov have a good relationship, so I just wanted to chat casually to avoid making the review work too serious. Well."

At this time, there was a knock on the door. Before Rublev could speak, Lieutenant Shurik opened the door and walked in from the outside. He straightened his body and reported to Rublev: "Report, Comrade Ustinov is here." He's right outside the door, can you let him in?"