Red Moscow

When Yakov and Zhukov were talking, Sokov was recalling the Western August 1st military exercise in his mind.

The Western Bayi Exercise was a simulated army battle strategic corps held by the Soviet Army in September 1981 with the support of various services and tactical nuclear weapons. It was a large-depth offensive combat exercise at the offensive level of the front army. The Soviet troops who participated in the exercise In addition to the army's mechanized forces, there are also the Soviet Air Force's frontline aviation units, the Soviet medium and short-range missile units, naval ship units, Marine Corps, airborne troops and other units, with a total strength of more than 500,000. The technical equipment mobilized not only includes tens of thousands of tanks, but also bombers, fighter jets, helicopters, rocket launchers and surface ships.

In military exercises, there are usually red and blue sides. The red team attacks and the blue team defends.

In the August 1st military exercise, the blue side represents NATO's land defense line in Europe: West Germany-Denmark-Belgium; the sea barrier: the English Channel.

In order to break through the blue defense line and target Western Europe, the red troops were divided into six groups. Under the command of Soviet Defense Minister Ustinov, they launched a heavy attack.

In order to restore the real war, real guns and live ammunition were used in the August 1st military exercise.

Following the order, the red side took the lead in attacking "West Germany". Under heavy artillery fire, "West Germany" only lasted two days before being defeated across the board.

After the fall of "West Germany", "Denmark" and "Belgium" became the next targets.

At the same time, the Red Army took the enemy by surprise and sent a tank mobile unit directly into the rear of "Denmark" to cooperate with the powerful navy and air force to forcefully cross the "English Channel".

In the sky, MiG fighter jets roared past. At sea, the Kiev cruiser fired ten thousand guns. Under the sea, nuclear-powered submarines are ready to go.

Eight days later, the Red Army armored forces moved into "France" and "Poland", declaring the exercise over.

The Soviet Union's powerful three-service cooperation scared NATO. NATO observers who visited the exercise site originally thought that the Soviet Union only had a strong army, and the navy and air force were just decorations. But after the August 1st exercise, NATO finally saw the true power of the Soviet Union.

In response to the Soviet army's steel torrent, U.S. President Ronald Reagan launched the famous "Star Wars" plan. Its core content is to use various means to attack the enemy's intercontinental strategic missiles and spacecraft in outer space to prevent hostile countries from attacking the United States and the United States. A nuclear strike by its allies. Its technical means include deploying high-energy directional weapons (such as microwaves, lasers, high-energy particle beams, electromagnetic kinetic energy weapons, etc.) or conventional strike weapons in outer space and on the ground to conduct multi-level interceptions at various stages of incoming enemy strategic missiles.

The "Star Wars" project became a hot topic in the next dozen years, but few people knew at the time that the "Star Wars" project was just a propaganda tool used by the US government to bring down the Soviet Union.

"Misha, Misha!" Zhukov and Yakov chatted for a long time, but saw Sokov standing there expressionlessly, seeming to be thinking about something. Zhukov quickly asked: "What are you thinking about?"

Hearing Zhukov's voice, Sokov woke up from his meditation, and then said: "Comrade Marshal, I am thinking, if our country devotes all its strength to attacking the Allies, what are the chances of victory?"

Zhukov did not answer this question, but asked: "Misha, what do you think?"

"Comrade Marshal, although the war in Europe has ended for almost a year, the main force of our army is still deployed in Eastern Europe." Sokov said cautiously: "If we want to launch a surprise attack on the Allies, I think there is It may take one to two months to occupy the whole of Europe, including the United Kingdom.”

Although in the August 1st military exercise of later generations, the Soviet army occupied all of Europe in just eight days, the current strength of the Soviet army is not as strong as that of the Soviet army in the 1980s, so it takes one to two months. Occupying the entire Europe is a relatively bold prediction.

Sure enough, Zhukov had a surprised expression on his face when he heard what Sokov said: "Misha, are you so confident in our army?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, that's what I think."

Zhukov shook his head: "Misha, you are too optimistic. To be honest, I think so. If we launch an attack on the Allied forces stationed in Europe on the eve of May Day. Due to the suddenness of the war in the early stage, we will gain Great results. But as time goes by, the Allied resistance will become more and more tenacious, and they will effectively curb our army's advance. The results obtained during the war game at the General Staff Headquarters yesterday were: It will take us about half a year to ten months to occupy the entire Europe, and the number of casualties will be more than 600,000. "

When Yakov heard the data given by Zhukov, he couldn't help but gasped: "Oh my God, there are so many casualties."

Zhukov said with a serious expression: "Yasha, don't forget that in the early days of the Great Patriotic War, we lost several times more troops than this number in half a year."

"Comrade Marshal, in the early days of the Great Patriotic War, there were many reasons why our army suffered such heavy losses." Sokov expressed his opinion to Zhukov: "First of all, after Germany completed its military expansion, in order to prevent our country from noticing Its offensive intentions led to the signing of the "Soviet-German Non-Aggression Conditions" with us in 1939. In 1940, it also signed a bilateral trade agreement, and before Germany sent troops, it also exported a large number of advanced weapons to our country. In order to give us the illusion that they were focusing on Britain, they also concocted the "Sea Lion" plan to attack Britain. Their series of actions successfully confused us and caused Comrade Stalin to misjudge the strategy and believe that Germany was in the short term. It will not attack our country within a certain period of time, thus relaxing its vigilance against Germany, thus giving Germany an opportunity.”

After Sokov said this, he paused intentionally for a moment, wanting to observe Zhukov's reaction.

Zhukov raised his head and glanced at Sokov, and said with some displeasure: "Why did you stop? Keep talking."

The following content was too sensitive, and Sokov could only say vaguely: "Our army's backward organization, improper deployment, and poor command are certainly one of the reasons. But more importantly, the 'Great Purge' has left our army with a large number of soldiers." Talented military commanders were purged, thereby seriously weakening the combat effectiveness of the troops..."

"Okay, stop talking." Zhukov was worried that what Sokov said would reach Stalin's ears and cause him a lot of unnecessary trouble, so he spoke in time to stop him from continuing: "I understand what you mean. After several years of war, our officers and soldiers have learned how to fight, gained rich combat experience, and acquired more advanced weapons, thus improving the combat effectiveness of the troops. Am I right? "

"Exactly, Comrade Marshal." Sokov nodded and said, "That's what I thought about it."

"I'd like to reiterate again that the military operation we launched in Europe on the eve of May Day was just a large-scale exercise, not a formal attack. Before the exercise begins, we will also invite military observers from allied countries to the site to allow them to See our exercise with your own eyes. "Zhukov said: "In order to make the exercise more realistic, the ammunition used in the exercise will be real ammunition."

Yakov couldn't help but gasped: "Comrade Marshal, if you use real guns and live ammunition in the exercise, wouldn't that kill people?"

"Yasha, it is simply impossible for a million people to participate in a live-fire exercise without casualties." Zhukov said with a solemn expression: "Only by using real guns and live ammunition can the commanders and fighters be full of risks during the exercise. How about we achieve the purpose of our exercise? Do you want to participate?”

Seeing Zhukov asking for his opinion again, Sokov immediately said without hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, I resolutely obey your arrangements. If you ask me to participate, I will participate; I will join whichever group army you ask me to join. Even if Instead of being a group army commander, I am content with being a division commander.”

Zhukov laughed after hearing this: "Misha, when have you ever seen a division commander wearing the rank of colonel? Don't worry, I will arrange for you to go to Ma Linin. He is also your old superior, so he has to give you one no matter what. Group Army Command."

Sokov found that since leaving the army, he seemed to have lost his goal. After returning from the Far East, he was running around all day long, but in the end he accomplished nothing. If he could participate in this military exercise, it would mean He can return to the army again.

"The mission of both of you has been completed. There is no need to stay in the military camp anymore. You will all go back to your homes tonight." Zhukov said: "Tomorrow at nine o'clock in the morning, you will all come to the General Staff Headquarters to participate in the study of the exercise plan. ”

"Okay, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied readily: "I will definitely arrive at the General Staff Headquarters on time tomorrow."

After the two returned to the military camp, they first found Bezikov.

"Lieutenant Colonel Bezikov," Sokov said to Bezikov: "Our mission here has been completed and we will leave tonight. From now on, the temporarily formed reference unit will be officially disbanded, and everyone will return as soon as possible. Build it.”

Although Bezikov had known for a long time that the reference troops would not be able to go to London, when he heard Sokov personally saying that the reference troops were disbanded, he still felt very uncomfortable: "Comrade General, I really didn't expect that we worked so hard. After so long, I still didn’t have the chance to go to London.”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't be discouraged." Yakov was still in a state of excitement after hearing Zhukov's exercise plan. At this moment, hearing what Bezikov said, he quickly comforted: "Maybe one day in the future, you can still Leading the troops onto the streets of London. "According to Yakov's idea, the Soviet army will conduct military exercises with millions of people in Europe. They may actually go to war with the Allies one day. As long as there is a fight, the Soviet army will be disbanded. It is possible for the reference troops to set foot on the soil of London as a member of the occupation force.

"Yasha," Sokov interrupted Yakov and said to him: "Please help me find Asya. I want to take her home with me."

When Yakov heard what Sokov said, he was stunned for a moment, then understood something, nodded quickly, and then turned and walked away.

After Yakov left, Sokov held Bezikov's hand and said sincerely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, just stay in the Kremlin with peace of mind. Maybe one day in the future, you will have the opportunity to become a general." Woolen cloth."

For a soldier, becoming a general is such a desirable thing, and Bezikov is no exception. He is now a lieutenant colonel. If nothing happens, he may be promoted to general in five years.

Sokov and Bezikov chatted for a long time before Yakov came over with Asiya: "Misha, Asiya is here!"

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov saw Asiya coming and shook hands with Bezikov again: "Let's go. See you later!"

After leaving the Kremlin, Yakov asked curiously: "Misha, why did you stop me from talking just now? Could it be that what I said doesn't exist?"

"This possibility does not exist, so don't give Lieutenant Colonel Bezikov an empty promise that cannot be fulfilled." There were only three people in the car, including Asya, so Sokov naturally didn't have to worry about what he said: "Although five There will be a large-scale military exercise on the eve of the war, but have you ever thought that when a world war has just ended and people are calming down, who would rashly launch a new war? Our military exercise is just to act as a deterrent to the allies. , it is basically impossible to meet each other on the battlefield. "

"We allied with Britain and the United States just to deal with the common enemy - Germany. Now that this country has surrendered and we have no common enemy, conflicts between us will definitely break out." Yakov said plausibly; "In order to solve the problem I think these conflicts need to be resolved through military means in the end.”

"Yes, there is no common enemy between us and our allies. It is only a matter of time before we turn against each other." Sokov continued to express his opinion: "Especially after Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech, the situation has changed in disguise. We declare that we are no longer friends of allies, but enemies with different stances.”

"Since you have admitted that the allies and we have become enemies, and each has deployed a large number of troops near the actual line of contact between the two sides, if anything happens, it will evolve into a large-scale military conflict or even a war. "

Hearing these remarks made by Yakov, Sokov was really dumbfounded. Is it wrong to say what Yakov said? It seems inappropriate. The Soviet Union and its allies are changing from allies to enemies. It is not accurate to say that what he said is right. After all, according to my understanding of history, the United States and the Soviet Union were in the Cold War. For decades, there was no military conflict, let alone war.

Asiya, who was sitting in the back seat, saw Yakov driving the car and Sokov sitting in the passenger seat. They were arguing about something for the first time and blushed. She couldn't help but interjected and asked: "Misha, Yasha, you guys Can you tell me what you are arguing about?"

The two people who were arguing didn't remember Asiya's existence until they heard Asiya's question. Sokov quickly turned to Asiya and said, "Asiya, it's nothing. It's just that Yasha and I have different views on certain matters, and we are just expounding our own opinions."

"That's right." Yakov also realized that it was obviously inappropriate to argue about this matter in front of Asya, and quickly echoed: "Yasha and I were just discussing some issues, did we disturb you to take a rest? Don’t worry, we won’t argue anymore, just close your eyes and relax.”

After Yakov drove Sokov and his wife downstairs, he stuck his head out and said, "Misha, I'll pick you up at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. You should be ready early."

"Okay, I'm waiting for your arrival."