Red Moscow

"I just go to the General Staff Headquarters for a meeting, and I'm not left alone by Marshal Zhukov. How much time can I waste?"

"Seryozha," Asiya waited for Sokov to finish speaking, then came to Seryosha and asked with concern: "Have you gone back to your original residence to see it today?"

"Yes, Asia, I have already seen it." Seryosha shook his head and said: "But my house has been assigned to other people by the staff of the housing management department. It seems that I can only stay with you in the future. Live at home forever.”

"No problem, you are Misha's good friend. You can stay here as long as you want." After Asiya said this, she asked curiously: "Didn't you write a letter to the housing management department here when you were in Siberia? Contact them and ask them to keep the house for you?”

"No." Seryosha said: "I asked the staff of the housing management department, and they said that according to the data, I had died on the battlefield, but I didn't have any immediate family members, so this house became empty. The Lord’s house can be distributed to anyone who needs it.”

Asya chatted with Seryosha for a few more words before turning her attention to Sokov: "Misha, what was said at the general staff meeting today?" After she asked this question, Without waiting to speak, Sokov added, "If it involves confidentiality, you don't have to tell me."

"It's nothing more than the military exercises that will be held in Europe next month." Sokov thought that there was not much classified content in today's big meeting, so he said confidently and boldly: "I have been appointed as the commander of the 4th Guards Army. I will be leaving in three days under the command of General Malinen's Central Group."

"Ah, you will be leaving in three days?" Asiya said in surprise: "Why is it so sudden?"

"Although the exercise won't start until late next month, as commanders, we always have to go and get familiar with our troops first, so as not to know that when the exercise starts, we won't even recognize the people in the headquarters, and how will we be able to command the operations then? ?”

"What about Seryosha?" Asya asked worriedly: "Don't you want to find a way to help him find a stable job?"

"I plan to ask Seryosha to go to Europe with me." Sokov said: "Although he can no longer serve as an officer, he should still have no problem being an ordinary soldier."

"Misha, don't ask Seryosha if he is willing."

"Asia, I am willing to follow Misha to Europe." Seryosha continued: "I have nothing to do in Moscow anyway, so why not follow Misha to Europe to try my luck? Maybe there will be unexpected gains. ”

"Where did Major Vaserigov go?" Asya continued to ask: "Didn't he accompany Seryosha back to his old house for breakfast? Why is there no trace of him now that Seryosha is back? ?”

"Asia, I asked Major Vaserigov to contact Lieutenant General Lukin." Sokov said: "You may not know yet, Lieutenant General Lukin has been officially appointed as the deputy commander of the Odessa Military District. In two days, I want to have a good chat with him before he leaves."

"I really didn't expect that Lieutenant General Lu Jin would get a new position just after he came back from Siberia." Asiya said enviously: "Misha, it would be great if you were appointed as the commander of the military region somewhere, even if it is a deputy position. That’s okay.”

"Asia, don't worry, I never thought your dream would come true one day."

Vaserigov came back during lunch time and reported to Sokov: "Comrade General, I have contacted my old colleague and he said that he will get in touch with Lieutenant General Lukin as soon as possible. Please don't worry."

"No rush, no rush." ​​Sokov knew very well that Vaserigov had tried his best. Although he didn't know when Lukin would be able to contact him, he did not blame him. Instead, he greeted him: "We It’s time for lunch, why don’t you sit down and eat together?”

After Vasergov found a seat and sat down, he asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade General, you are going to Europe in a few days. Who do you plan to bring with you?"

Sokov considered that his superiors arranged for people to come to him for protection work. It would obviously be inappropriate for him to take them all with him when he went to Europe. After thinking for a while, he said to Vaserigov: "Major, besides you, just take the two guards who accompanied us to Siberia. Let the remaining few people stay here."

"How long will we be gone?"

"I don't know." Sokov said in an uncertain tone: "Maybe he can come back after the exercise is over; maybe he has to stay in Europe for a while."

"Oh, got it."

After lunch, Vaserigov left the living room and went to find the two guards who had just returned from Siberia and told them to make all preparations in advance when they were about to leave for Europe.

While Sokov was sitting in the living room, chatting with Seryosha and Asya, a soldier came in from outside and reported: "Comrade General, there is a commander outside who wants to see you."

"Who is it?" Sokov asked.

The soldier thought for a while and replied: "He is a lieutenant general. When he walks, his legs are a little lame."

As soon as he heard the soldier's description, Sokov immediately guessed that the person coming must be Lu Jin, so he stood up and went out to greet him.

When I came to the door, I saw Lu Jin standing outside the door.

"Lu Jin, why are you standing at the door? Please come in quickly." After saying that, he stepped forward to support the other person and walked towards the villa. He continued: "This is not the place to talk. We'd better talk in the living room. "

When Lu Jin appeared in the living room, Asiya had an expression of disbelief on her face: "Comrade Lu Jin, why did you stand up?"

"Hello Asiya, long time no see!" After Lu Jin greeted Asiya, he explained: "My superiors arranged for a prosthetic limb factory to customize a pair of prosthetic limbs for me so that I don't have to sit in a wheelchair every day. On."

"You seem to be walking quite smoothly, even without a cane."

"When I first started practicing, I used crutches for a few days." Lu Jin said with a smile: "Later I found that once I became dependent on the crutches, I would not be able to walk normally at all, so I threw away the crutches and practiced walking independently. , in just half a month, he was able to walk like an ordinary person.”

"That's great." Seeing that Lu Jin no longer has to sit in a wheelchair, Asiya felt happy for him from the bottom of her heart: "You don't have to sit in a wheelchair, and it will be more convenient for you to go wherever you go. By the way, You didn’t come here on foot, did you?”

"Of course not," Lu Jin shook his head and said, "In any case, I am the deputy commander of the Odessa Military Region appointed by my superiors. I am equipped with special vehicles, drivers and guards. I don't have to walk at all when I go out."

After saying this, Lu Jin turned to look at Sokov and asked: "Misha, you are looking for me so urgently, there must be something important, right?"

"Yes, I do have something important to see you." Sokov saw that apart from himself and Lukin, there were only Seryosha and Asya in the living room. There was no need to worry about them revealing their secrets, so he said boldly: "According to all indications, Ukraine will suffer a severe drought this summer, which will have a serious impact on food production."

"Misha," Lukin interrupted Sokov before he could finish his words: "I am the deputy commander of the military region. Food production issues are not my responsibility."

"Lu Jin, don't worry. It's not too late to listen to what I have to say before expressing your opinion." After seeing Lu Jin nodding his approval, Sokov continued: "Once there is a large-scale reduction in grain production or even no harvest, the military's There will be difficulties in food supply, and it may turn into a major famine, similar to the one in the 1920s.”

Listening to Sokov talking about the great famine in the 1920s, Lu Jin couldn't help but shudder. He thought to himself, if what Sokov said was true, I don't know how many people would die in the famine, but he Just a small deputy commander of a military region, what role can it play?

Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "Misha, what can I do to alleviate the crisis caused by this reduction in food production?"

"You definitely can't care about other places, but the Odessa Military Region where you serve can plant a large number of drought-resistant crops such as potatoes and corn on the wasteland in May and June, thus ensuring that during the harvest season, you The troops have enough food.”

"Is it that simple?" Lu Jin asked in surprise: "Just by relying on my troops to plant some potatoes and corn, can the famine be alleviated?"

"It is obviously unrealistic to alleviate the famine situation in the entire Ukraine." In order to let Lukin know what he was doing, Sokov said seriously: "But if your subordinates plant corn and potatoes on a large scale, then at least It ensures that there will be no major problems with the supplies your troops receive.”

After listening, Lu Jin nodded slightly, "Misha, what you said makes sense. If I really arrange for the commanders and soldiers to plant potatoes and corn in large quantities, even if there is a drought, then the food supply for the commanders and soldiers will be able to reduce the disadvantages." The impact is minimized.”

Seeing that Lujin recognized his statement, Sokov felt very pleased: "Lujin, if you can really do this and let the commanders and soldiers plant a large number of drought-tolerant crops, it will not only solve their food supply situation, but also We can use some of it to support local residents and minimize the disaster.”

"Well, I understand." After Lu Jin said this, he changed the subject in time: "Misha, I heard that manpower will be officially arranged in the next two days to serve as the commander of the European forces. I wonder if I have given it to you. Find the right position?"

"Yes." Sokov nodded and said: "In the morning meeting, I was officially appointed as the commander of the 4th Guards Army under the Central Cluster. In a few days, I will rush to Europe. Thinking of our separation, I wonder when we will meet again, so I am anxious to find you and tell you what I am worried about. "

"Misha, don't worry." Lu Jin patted his chest and assured Sokov: "After I arrive in Odessa, I will arrange manpower as soon as possible, select a suitable location, and plant a large number of drought-resistant potatoes and corn to prevent the troops from attacking. There is a problem with the food supply.”

"Lu Jin, if you really do this, what you do will definitely be recorded in history in the future."

The two chatted for a long time. Lujin raised his hand to check the time, then stood up and said to Sokov: "Misha, I will go to Odessa soon, and I need to go back to do some preparations. I won’t sit here for long. I hope we can meet again one day.”

Sokov, Asya and Seryosha took Lukin to the gate.

Sokov held Lu Jin's hands tightly and said: "Lu Jin, you should pay more attention to your body. If possible, treat your illnesses so that you can live longer. ”

"Misha, thank you for your concern, I will take care of my health." When Lujin shook hands with Sokov, he also warned: "You have been injured many times, and your health must not be very good, so you should take more care of yourself. I hope that in another twenty years, the two of us can still sit together and talk.”

"Twenty years is not enough," Sokov said with a smile: "We will live for at least another fifty years. Wait until the early morning of New Year's Day in 2000, and go to Red Square together to listen to the New Year's bell of the millennium ringing in the Kremlin. Voice."

Lu Jin knew very well that he was now 54 years old. If he wanted to live for more than fifty years and live into the millennium, he would have to live at least 108 years old, which was simply impossible. However, in order not to disappoint Sokov, he still pretended to be very happy and said: "Then we have agreed to go to the Red Square together to listen to the ringing of the new year's bell of the millennium."

Watching Lu Jin's black car go away, Sokov turned around and saw Asiya calculating something with her fingers. He asked with a smile: "Asiya, what are you calculating?"

"Let me calculate, how many years are left until the millennium?"

"Isn't this a very simple addition and subtraction question? There are still 54 years left."

"Misha, if I remember correctly, Comrade Lu Jin was born in 1892 and is already 54 years old this year." Asiya said cautiously: "Don't say it's him. Whether you can survive until that time depends on It’s an unknown.”

"Then let's live hard." Sokov said with a smile: "Maybe you and I will have the opportunity to hear the New Year's bell when the millennium arrives."

Seeing Seryosha standing in front of the duty room next to the door, chatting with the soldiers on duty, Asia suddenly stopped the smile on her face and said to Sokov: "Misha, come in with me. I have I want to ask you."

Seeing Asiya's serious look, Sokov didn't know what happened, so he followed her back to the living room and asked first, "Asiya, what's the matter with you?"

"There are only two of us here, and I want to know an answer." Asia said with a straight face.

"What answer?"

"Who is Karina?"

Hearing Asiya's name, Sokov couldn't help but trembled, and then his face turned red. He didn't know where Asiya knew Karina's name, but he still tried to pretend to be calm. He asked back: "Asiya, why do you ask this?"

"Don't change the subject, just tell me the truth, who is Karina?"

After the muscles on Sokov's face twitched violently twice, he murmured: "It's a staff member of Vladimir City Hall. I met him while filming a movie. Because we could chat, we talked more. A few words.”

"Just chatting and not doing anything else?" Asiya asked.

Sokov saw from the expression on Asiya's face that the other party didn't seem to know as much as he thought, and he felt much more at ease. He calmed down his emotions and continued: "When I was filming the movie, I had a working relationship with her unit, so we naturally had more interactions. We still sat together drinking tea and eating together."

"Oh, just sitting together drinking tea and eating, nothing else?"