Red Moscow

"Of course, of course I have to smoke." Faced with Sokov's kindness, the second lieutenant smiled: "I haven't smoked in the past few days, but it's killing me."

As soon as Sokov lit the cigarette for the second lieutenant, Andre came over and said, "Sokov, give me a cigarette."

When the three of them started to smoke, Sokov looked at Andre and asked: "Andre, how is the captain doing now?"

"Someone has been sent to the military hospital." Andre said sadly: "But whether he can survive depends on his personal luck."

Sokov also knew very well that the captain suffered a concussion injury in the German shelling. If he was lucky and it was only a mild or moderate concussion injury, he might be able to recover and be discharged after ten days and a half of rest in the hospital; But if it was a severe concussion injury, even if Hua Tuo was alive, there would be no way to save him.

"Comrade soldier," although the second lieutenant was rescued by Sokov, he didn't have any chance to speak on the way to Nezhin, so he still doesn't know Sokov's name. At this moment, he looked at his savior and asked humbly: "I don't know how to call you?"

"Second Lieutenant, you can call me Sokov." When Sokov said this, he looked at Andre next to him: "My friend Andre, that's what he calls me."

"Sokov, thank you, thank you for saving me and my men." The second lieutenant said in a friendly tone: "My name is Dennis, and I am the garrison platoon leader of the town. Facing the German attack, our company only After resisting for less than twenty minutes, most of the people were killed, and the rest were taken prisoner by the Germans with me. Without your rescue, I think we would have faced a very tragic fate."

Sokov agreed very much with Dennis's statement. During the Battle of Kyiv, the German army captured hundreds of thousands of Soviet commanders and fighters. The Germans probably never dreamed that they would capture so many Soviet commanders and fighters in one battle. There were not enough prisoner of war camps to accommodate so many prisoners of war, and a considerable number of prisoners of war would definitely be massacred.

"Lieutenant Dennis, you're welcome, we are all our own people." Sokov said with a smile: "If you see us in danger, you will definitely lend us a helping hand and save us from danger. come out."

While several people were chatting, Major Yosifov, who followed the lieutenant colonel into the church, met the city defense commander of Nirzyn City.

The commander of the city defense was an elderly colonel. He came over and held Yosifov's hand, and said with a smile: "Comrade Major, I have received a call from Kiev and I know that you have escorted hundreds of wounded people here. Come. Have a good journey."

"Reporting to Comrade Commander," Yosifov straightened his back and said respectfully: "Our convoy was halfway through a small town and learned that it had been occupied by a German armored force. We thought it would pass by. Only after a fierce battle could we pass there smoothly. Unexpectedly, he met a friendly soldier. With his wit and bravery, he destroyed the German armored troops and captured 10 tanks and 10 tanks without any losses to our army. 2 assault guns."

Although the garrison commander already knew about this when he received the call from his subordinates. But at this moment, hearing Yosifov say it himself, there was still a shocked expression on his face: "Comrade Major, tell me quickly what is going on."

Seeing that the garrison commander was very interested in destroying the German armored forces, Yosifov vividly recounted the situation to him.

After listening to Yosifov's story, the garrison commander clapped his hands and applauded, and then asked: "Comrade Major, I wonder where the soldier you mentioned is now?"

"Just outside the church." When Yosifov spoke, he stared at the chief of staff next to him and said hesitantly: "I wanted to bring him in just now, but..."

"But what?" asked the garrison commander.

"Comrade Commander, this is all my fault." The Chief of Staff took the initiative to admit his mistake, "Just now the Major wanted to bring a soldier in, but I stopped him. I think the person you want to see is the Major. It is obviously inappropriate for an ordinary soldier to come in. "

"I'm talking about Comrade Chief of Staff." When the garrison commander learned that his Chief of Staff had just stopped a hero like Sokov outside the church, he immediately straightened his face and said with some displeasure: "We cannot use military rank to To determine a person’s ability, hurry up and invite him in.”

After the chief of staff left, the garrison commander continued to ask Yosifov: "Comrade Major, I wonder what the name of that soldier is and which army he is from?"

"Comrade Commander, his name is Sokov." Yosifov said hesitantly: "As for which unit he belongs to, I really don't know. I only know that his company broke out from the Uman area. After replenishment, the organization of more than 70 people was restored."

The garrison commander learned that Sokov's unit did not have an accurate number, and he couldn't help but feel a move in his heart. Since this unit had no superiors, he might as well keep them in the city to help defend the city. I believe that with such an amazing soldier, even if the city cannot be defended, he can still deal a heavy blow to the German army.

Soon, the lieutenant colonel brought Sokov to the church.

Still far away, the lieutenant colonel said to the garrison commander: "Comrade Commander, I have invited Comrade Sokov!"

"Hello, Comrade Sokov!" The garrison commander reached out to Sokov and said with a smile: "I would like to congratulate you on your great achievements on the battlefield. I will report your achievements to my superiors. Report and apply for a medal for you.”

Although Sokov was not very interested in medals, he also understood that if he could obtain a medal at this moment, it would be of great help to his future life. He quickly expressed his gratitude to the garrison commander: "Thank you, Colonel Comrade."

The garrison commander saw the blood on Sokov's body and asked in surprise: "Comrade Sokov, are you injured?"

"No." Sokov shook his head and explained: "I am wearing the uniform of a fallen soldier, so there are blood stains on it."

"Comrade Sokov," the garrison commander continued, "I heard that your unit broke out from the Uman area and was reorganized."

"Yes, Comrade Colonel." Sokov replied: "The company originally had more than 150 people, but when it broke out from Uman, there were less than 20 people left. Later, the company commander took in the defeated troops along the way. And recruit civilians to join the army to restore the force to more than 70 people."

From Sokov's answer, the garrison commander saw that he didn't seem to know much about the situation in the army. He showed a close look on his face, and then asked: "Comrade Sokov, can you tell me how long you have been in the army?" ?”

"I just joined the army yesterday."

"What, you just joined the army yesterday?" Hearing Sokov's answer, the garrison commander was shocked. He turned to look at his chief of staff, and their eyes met. They both saw shock in the other's eyes. Neither of them expected it. , a new recruit who just joined the army could actually achieve such brilliant results.

"That's right, Comrade Colonel, I just joined the army yesterday." Sokov replied: "Because I joined the army for such a short time, I am not familiar with the situation of the company. After the captain was injured, he handed over this unit to my command. I happened to meet Major Yosifov passing by, so I followed him to Nezhin's place with my troops." Despite Sokov's understatement, the garrison commander was shocked. He thought to himself, not to mention new soldiers who had just joined the army for a day, even those who had been in the army for more than ten years would not dare to act rashly when they learned that there was a German armored unit in the town. Unexpectedly, this new warrior bravely broke into the town and successfully annihilated this enemy.

After the garrison commander invited Sokov and Yosifov to sit down, he poured tea for them personally, and then asked politely: "I wonder what your plans are next?"

"Comrade Commander," upon hearing the garrison commander's question, Yosifov quickly stood up and replied: "My escort mission has been completed. After resting here tonight, I will return to Kiev early tomorrow morning."

Sokov waited for Yosifov to finish his answer, and then stood up and said: "Comrade Colonel, we are originally stragglers, and we are willing to follow your arrangements." The reason Sokov said this was because he considered that even if he retreated to a farther rear position, They will also be temporarily incorporated into a certain army by their superiors. If he was unlucky enough to be recruited into a certain army destined to be cannon fodder, he might not survive more than 24 hours on the battlefield. It would be better to stay in Niren City and see the situation first.

Hearing Sokov's answer, a smile appeared on the garrison commander's face: "Comrade Sokov, it would be great to have you join us in the air strike of the defensive forces in the city. One more person means more strength." , This will cause greater losses to the Germans.”

While several people were chatting happily, a lieutenant suddenly came over and reported to the garrison commander: "Comrade Commander, there is a commander outside who wants to see you."

"Which part?" asked the chief of staff.

"I don't know," the officer replied, "but he's a general!"

Hearing that the visitor was actually a general, the garrison commander quickly led everyone to greet him.

As soon as he reached the door of the church, a general wearing glasses walked in. From the two gold stars inlaid on his red prismatic collar badge, he could confirm that he was a major general.

"Hello, Comrade General!" The garrison commander raised his hand and saluted the other party and said, "I am the city's garrison commander. Welcome to my headquarters."

Sokov, who was following behind, saw the face of the visitor clearly, and felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His whole body was stunned, and time seemed to have stopped.

He cursed in his mind, even if the generals who came were not familiar ones like Rokossovsky, at least one or two generals he didn't know should come. But the general shaking hands with the garrison commander at this moment was Vlasov, a Soviet rebel general known to later generations of Russians.

Sure enough, when the other party shook hands with the garrison commander, he took the initiative to identify himself: "I am Major General Vlasov, commander of the 4th Mechanized Army. I was ordered by my superiors to return to Moscow from Kiev to report on my duties. I happened to pass by here, so I came to rest. ”

"General Vlasov," the garrison commander said with an expression of surprise on his face: "I really didn't expect to meet you here. You must be very tired after traveling for so long. Sit down quickly, I will be there soon. Pour you a cup of hot tea."

After Vlasov sat down, he glanced at the people behind the garrison commander. When he saw Sokov, he couldn't help showing a surprised expression on his face. He was a little curious, how could an ordinary soldier stand beside several school officers? Does this soldier have a special identity?

With such doubts, Vlasov asked the garrison commander: "Comrade Colonel, what's the matter with the soldier behind you? Don't you know that when the commanders are discussing things, a soldier like him who has no position should stay away from you?"

"Comrade Commander," the garrison commander quickly explained: "This is Comrade Sokov. Not long ago, he successfully eliminated a German armored unit in a small town in the west with his wit and courage, and captured 10 tanks and 2 assault guns."

After the garrison commander reminded him, Vlasov immediately thought of everything he saw before entering the door, and asked tentatively: "The German tanks and armored vehicles parked in the square outside the church were captured in the town?"

"That's right, comrade commander." The garrison commander smiled and said: "He basically accomplished this amazing feat by himself."

After getting a positive answer, Vlasov stood up and walked in front of Sokov.

After Vlasov looked Sokov up and down, he saw several bullet holes on his uniform, and bloodstains around the holes. He asked with concern: "Comrade Sokov, there are so many bloodstains on your uniform. Are you injured?"

"No, Comrade General." Although Sokov despised Vlasov in his heart, he was a favorite of Stalin at the moment. He would be appointed as the commander of the 37th Army and the commander of the Kiev garrison soon after returning to Moscow to report on his work. No matter how much he hated him in his heart, Sokov still maintained enough politeness on the surface: "The uniform I am wearing is the uniform of a fallen comrade, so there are bullet holes and bloodstains."

"Why don't you wear your own clothes, but the clothes of a fallen comrade?" Vlasov asked with a serious expression.

"Comrade General, I just joined the army yesterday." Sokov reported to the other party: "This uniform was temporarily found by the company commander for me to wear."

"Oh, that's it." Vlasov nodded slightly, then turned his head to the garrison commander and said: "Comrade Colonel, can you ask someone to bring a new uniform to this soldier?"

"No problem, no problem." The garrison commander agreed very readily, and then called a staff officer and ordered: "Go to the logistics department, get a uniform from there, and change it for Comrade Sokov."

"Okay." The staff officer agreed and turned away.

"Comrade Sokov," Vlasov asked Sokov with a smile: "Where is your unit now?"

"Just outside the church, Comrade General."

After Vlasov asked some more questions about the unit, he suddenly asked: "Comrade Sokov, I will go to Moscow to report tomorrow, but I have too few people with me. I want your company to serve as my guard unit and escort me to Moscow. I wonder if you are willing?"

When Sokov heard Vlasov's question, he shuddered all over and thought to himself, if he agreed to Vlasov's request and became his guard unit, would he be implicated after he surrendered to the Germans in the future?