Red Moscow

After Sokov and Yakov left Zhukov's office, Yakov asked curiously: "Misha, what measures do you think my father will take?"

"Tough measures will definitely be taken." Sokov knew very well that if Stalin had no reaction after hearing Churchill's "Iron Curtain" theory, it would be completely out of character for him. Although it is unclear what measures he will take, Zhukov's proposal to conduct large-scale military exercises in Europe will definitely receive his approval. Therefore, after hearing Yakov's question, Sokov revealed the period of the exercise: "I think your father will definitely agree to Marshal Zhukov's proposal to conduct large-scale military exercises in Europe to frighten the Allies. ”

"Misha, I'm very worried." Yakov said worriedly: "If we conduct large-scale military exercises in Europe, will it stimulate the Allies? You know, the war has just ended half a year ago. If we start a new The war is very detrimental to us."

"Don't worry, Yasha." Sokov thought to himself that the so-called various exercises are nothing more than showing off his muscles to the other party and telling the other party how powerful he is. If he messes with him, he will definitely not be happy. The United States and the Soviet Union had been at war for decades, but in the end they did not fight. They comforted Yakov and said: "It is impossible for us and the Allies to meet each other on the battlefield, but we will adopt another method." confrontation."

"Another way?" Yakov asked curiously: "What way can you tell me?"

After the introduction of the Iron Curtain theory, it took a long time before the Soviet Union and the United States began the Cold War mode. If he revealed this future confrontation model at this moment, I am afraid it would arouse Yakov's suspicion. So he said vaguely: "Yasha, this is just a guess on my part, and the idea is not mature enough. In order not to mislead you, I won't say anything."

"Misha, since we may boycott the victory parade in London in June, will the training of the troops continue?"

"Of course, of course we must continue." Sokov said: "As long as our superiors do not order us to stop training, the training of the reference troops cannot be stopped. And in order not to cause unnecessary panic, what we heard in Marshal Zhukov's office today The information received must be kept strictly confidential.”

"Don't worry, Misha, I will keep it a secret."

When the two returned to the military camp, Bezikov immediately greeted them and asked with concern: "Comrade generals, you are back! I wonder if Marshal Zhukov has any new instructions for us?"

"There are no new instructions for the time being." Sokov said: "What you have to do now is to continue training and be ready to go out at any time."

Early the next morning, a black car drove into the military camp and arrived at the training ground.

After the car stopped next to the training ground, a captain officer got out of the car with a briefcase under his arm. When he saw Bezikov who was supervising the troop training on the sidelines, he quickly raised his hand in salute and asked respectfully: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, where are the two generals Sokov and Yakov?"

Bezikov did not answer the other party's question immediately, but asked: "Comrade Captain, do you have anything to do with them?"

"I have an order here jointly signed by Marshal Zhukov and Comrade Beria, which needs to be delivered to them personally."

If it was just an order from Marshal Zhukov, Bezikov thought it didn't matter. It was nothing more than instructions on training. But when he heard that it was an order jointly signed by Zhukov and Beria, Bezikov felt that the matter was not simple. , and quickly said to the captain: "Comrade captain, come with me, and I will take you to the two generals."

Bezikov led the captain to a hut not far away, where Sokov and Yakov were sitting around the stove, warming themselves by the fire and drinking tea.

Seeing Bezikov entering with a strange captain, Sokov quickly asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, who is he?"

"Comrade General," Bezikov said quickly: "This is the person sent by Marshal Zhukov to convey the order. He said that there is an order jointly signed by Marshal Zhukov and Comrade Beria, and he wants to deliver it to you personally."

Sokov did not expect that the order sent by the captain was actually signed by Zhukov and Beria. He quickly stood up, put on his hat, tidied up his military appearance, and then said to the captain: "Comrade Captain, give me the order."

The captain opened the briefcase he carried with him, took out a brown paper envelope and handed it to Sokov.

Sokov took it and carefully checked the wax seal on the envelope. Seeing that it was intact, he boldly opened the envelope with confidence.

There are two pieces of paper in the envelope. One is the task assigned to Sokov: "Immediately lead all the personnel of the reference troops to the British Embassy, ​​impose a blockade on it, and no personnel of the embassy are allowed to go out. Signed: Zhukov, Beria! March 1946 6th.”

The other one is a certificate to pick up ammunition from a nearby ammunition depot, as well as a list of required ammunition.

After Sokov read it, he showed Yakov two more pieces of paper to read.

After seeing it, Yakov couldn't help but be shocked: "Misha, let us block the British embassy. This will cause a serious diplomatic turmoil."

"Yasha, since it is an order jointly issued by Marshal Zhukov and Comrade Beria, we only need to implement it." Sokov handed another piece of paper to Bezikov and told him: "Bezikov Lieutenant Colonel Husband, you immediately take the people to the arsenal and collect the ammunition. Once you get the ammunition, distribute it to every soldier."

When Bezikov heard Sokov's order, he was immediately startled: "Comrade general, distribute ammunition to the soldiers. Is this going to be a war?"

"We are just going to perform a security mission and distribute ammunition just in case. I think there is a high probability that the fight will not start." Sokov gestured to Bezikov and urged: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, time It’s urgent, hurry up and take someone to get the ammunition.”

Half an hour later, the collected ammunition was distributed to each soldier.

After completing this task, Bezikov came to Sokov and said to him: "Comrade General, please say a few words to our commanders and soldiers."

"Comrades," Sokov stood in front of the queue and said to the soldiers who were ready to go: "Just yesterday, the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made extremely unfriendly remarks towards our country during his visit to the United States. In order to protest against Mr. Churchill, the superiors decided to send us to blockade the British embassy to give them some color. Here, I would like to remind everyone that although the guns have live ammunition, they are just for precaution. Order, no one is allowed to shoot."

"Understood!" Hundreds of energetic soldiers stood up and replied.

"Okay!" Sokov waved his hand and announced loudly: "Let's go!"

As the order was issued, hundreds of soldiers boarded four buses parked next to the training ground.

After seeing the soldiers boarding the car, Sokov and Yakov got into the car brought by the captain and headed towards the British Embassy.

At the entrance of the British Embassy, ​​there was a Soviet police lieutenant and two British soldiers on duty.

Seeing the approaching motorcade, the three of them had expressions of astonishment on their faces.

After seeing Sokov, Yakov and Bezikov getting out of different cars, the police lieutenant ran over, raised his hand to salute Sokov and others, looked at Sokov, who had the highest military rank, and asked He said: "Comrade General, what can I do for you?"

"Comrade Second Lieutenant," Sokov said to the police second lieutenant: "We have been ordered to take over the defense of the British Embassy. Please let those British soldiers go back to their houses."

Unexpectedly, after listening to Sokov's words, the police lieutenant scratched his neck and said: "I'm sorry, my duty is to protect the safety of the British Embassy. If you cannot produce a valid order, you cannot enter the Embassy casually."

Sokov raised his chin towards Bezikov, who immediately understood and took out the order from his pocket, waved it in front of the police lieutenant and said: "Lieutenant, have you seen this order? This is Marshal Zhukov. Do you want to disobey the order issued jointly with Comrade Beria? "

If it were just an order signed by Zhukov, maybe the police lieutenant could still say a few words. But after hearing Beria's order, he was immediately trembling with fear and said in a panic: "Comrade General, this matter is of great importance. I need to ask my superiors for instructions."

"Go and ask for instructions." Sokov waved to him.

As if he had been granted amnesty, the police lieutenant quickly ran towards the duty room in the hospital, where he planned to call his superiors to report the matter.

As soon as Sokov and other police lieutenants left, they immediately called Bezikov and ordered: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, immediately let someone take over the British sentry at the door, and then send someone into the courtyard to block all entrances and exits of the building. Anyone can come and go as they please.”

"Comrade General," Bezikov glanced at the second lieutenant who was running towards the duty room and said hesitantly, "but the police second lieutenant hasn't called his superior yet."

"Who he calls is his business." Sokov said to Bezikov with a serious expression: "Our task is to impose a blockade on the British Embassy and not allow anyone to enter or exit at will. Do you understand?"

"Understood." Bezikov agreed, and then ran to the side to arrange manpower.

"Misha, this is interesting." Yakov said to Sokov with a smile: "Zhukov asked the reference troops to blockade the British embassy. This is really a brilliant move. We want to boycott the victory parade in London. These officers and soldiers will definitely not be able to go to London anymore. This is the British Embassy. Letting them come here to perform their mission is equivalent to letting them set foot on British soil, which should be a kind of compensation for them. "

Under Bezikov's arrangement, the soldiers who had just gotten out of the car quickly took over the British soldiers' sentry position at the door, and also entered the compound and blocked all entrances and exits of the embassy building. The police lieutenant who was on the phone was frightened when he saw Sokov's men breaking into the British Embassy without any explanation. He quickly said into the phone: "Comrade Major, something happened. A general broke in with a large group of officers and soldiers." Entered the British Embassy, ​​took over the British soldiers' post, and blocked all entrances and exits of the embassy building, strictly restricting the entry and exit of personnel. "

The police major who answered the phone couldn't help being shocked and asked quickly: "What's going on? Whose order did they follow to block the embassy?"

"They said they came to blockade the British embassy on the orders of Marshal Zhukov and Comrade Beria."

When the police major heard Beria's name, his head trembled. He knew in his heart that this was a master who could not afford to offend. He quickly ordered his subordinates: "Since the general leading the team has already said that, they are ordered to blockade Britain." The embassy, ​​then we won’t interfere. You should leave the embassy as quickly as possible, do you understand?

Seeing that his superiors were cowed, the police lieutenant naturally did not want to stay and ask for trouble. He quickly put down the phone, found Sokov, and said respectfully: "Comrade General, I have spoken to my superiors."

"How did he say?"

"He said that since you have taken over this place, let me leave immediately." The police lieutenant asked cautiously: "Do you allow me to leave?"

"Permission!" Sokov originally felt that the police lieutenant was too annoying to stay here, and was considering how to drive him away. Now when he heard what he said, he quickly said: "Comrade Lieutenant, your work has been completed. You can leave!"

The police lieutenant raised his hand and saluted Sokov, then turned and left the embassy.

At this moment, in addition to the gate and various exits of the building, the remaining soldiers set up a cordon in the yard. Looking at the commanders and soldiers standing at three steps, one post, five steps and one sentry, Sokov suddenly remembered that in the old movie "Lin Zexu", the Qing army also adopted such a posture and blocked the British businessmen selling opium in the embassy.

The captain who conveyed the order saw that Sokov and others had completed the blockade of the British Embassy, ​​so he said to Sokov: "Comrade General, since you have completed the blockade of the British Embassy, ​​my mission has also been completed. . Allow me to leave?”

"Permission!" Sokov smiled and nodded to the captain and said, "I wish you good luck!"

Not long after the captain left, a squad leader on duty at the gate of the embassy building ran over and reported to Sokov: "Comrade General, there is a British military attaché who wants to protest to you, saying that our behavior is nothing different. Declared war on Britain."

Sokov sneered after hearing this, and then ordered the squad leader: "Bring the military attaché here, I want to hear what he wants to say."

Soon, a gray-haired major without a military cap appeared in front of Sokov. When he saw Sokov clearly leading the team, he was a little surprised. He did not expect that the Soviet general leading the team was so young. "Mr. General," the military attaché said in blunt Russian, "Why did you lead people to break into the British embassy? You know, the embassy is British territory, and your behavior is tantamount to aggression."

Hearing the military attache's remarks, Sokov smiled: "Mr. Major, the reason why we are here is entirely to protect you."

"Protect us?" A shocked expression appeared on the military attache's face: "You led troops into the embassy, ​​and you actually said it was to protect us?"

"That's right, Mr. Attaché." Sokov continued in proficient English: "Your former Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, made an extremely unfriendly statement towards our country during his visit to the United States. Our superiors have to After learning about this, I was worried that some radical people would take drastic action against you, so we were specially sent here to maintain order. You must know that the troops responsible for maintaining order are not ordinary troops. "