Red Moscow

Seeing Sokov's silence, Vlasov's face darkened: "Why, aren't you willing to become my subordinate?"

Before Sokov could express his position, Yosifov stepped forward, put his arm around Sokov's shoulders, and said to Vlasov with a smile: "Comrade General, you misunderstood. It's not that Sokov doesn't want to be your subordinate." , but because I am too excited and don’t know how to answer you. You say yes, Sokov!" He said the next words to Sokov, while gently shaking the other party's shoulders, hoping to solve the problem. Kove knew what he meant.

In any case, Sokov is also a person who has seen big scenes. How can he not understand that Yosifov is helping him. He quickly followed his intention and said: "Yes, Comrade General, I was so excited because I could become your subordinate. I didn't know how to reply to you."

Sokov knew very well that if he did not agree to become Vlasov's subordinate, today's matter would definitely not end. He could only say against his will: "I am willing to take the troops to escort you to Moscow to report on your work."

"That's right, Comrade Sokov." A smile appeared on Vlasov's face again: "I believe that after a few years, you will feel that the choice you made today was the most correct one."

Sokov secretly complained: I didn’t expect that I would meet you the second time I traveled through time and be forced to become your subordinate. It was like eight lifetimes of bad luck. However, in front of Vlasov, he still tried his best to put a smile on his face and said flatteringly: "Yes, Comrade General, you are right."

"Comrade Colonel," Vlasov turned to the garrison commander and said: "This time I came from Kiev with only a driver and a guard. If Sokov and that army want to follow me to Moscow, I'm afraid I’d also like you to prepare a few trucks for me.”

"No problem, no problem." The garrison commander knew that Vlasov was a popular figure in front of Stalin, so there was no reason not to agree to his request. He nodded quickly and said: "Prepare a few trucks for you, or... No problem. How many do you want?"

Sokov thought for a while and then replied: "The original company had more than 70 people, and more than ten people died in the battle. Not long ago, more than 30 commanders and fighters of our army were rescued in a small town. , now there are 92 people including me.”

After learning the specific number of people, Vlasov did not immediately decide how many vehicles he wanted. Instead, he said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, we will set off tomorrow morning. Tonight you have to integrate the troops and move the wounded and Those who are not fit for combat will stay, and the rest will follow me to Moscow."

"I understand, Comrade General."

"Okay, you have nothing to do here." Vlasov waved his hand towards Sokov: "You can go out."

But Sokov stood there without moving, but looked at Vlasov and said: "Comrade General, it may not be easy to integrate the troops."

"Why?"

"Because I just joined the army yesterday, the people in the team are all older than me. And among the rescued commanders and fighters, there is also a second lieutenant." Sokov told Vlasov the current problems he was facing, and finally "I'm worried they won't listen to my orders," he said.

"Comrade Sokov," Vlasov came to Sokov and said with a smile: "In the army, not only the position and seniority are judged, but personal ability is also very important. You can command the troops to block the German attack. , and successfully eliminated a German army Column A, this is an amazing achievement. Although you have only been in the army for one day, I think those commanders and soldiers should be very convinced of you. Even if you are a recruit without any military rank, I think the orders you gave are. Will obey."

"Comrade Colonel," Vlasov turned to the garrison commander and said, "Look, can you send someone to help Sokov?"

"No problem, this is a trivial matter." The garrison commander said to the lieutenant colonel next to him: "Chief of Staff, please accompany Comrade Sokov."

Naturally, the lieutenant colonel would not refuse the garrison commander's order and quickly agreed loudly.

The lieutenant colonel accompanied Sokov to the outside of the church, summoned the commanders and fighters, told everyone Vlasov's words, and finally said: "Considering that there are wounded and some weak in the army, they are not suitable to participate in the battle. The personnel will not be incorporated into the guard force, but will stay in the city. Comrade Sokov has the sole discretion to decide who will stay and who will follow General Vlasov to Moscow. I hope everyone will obey his orders."

After the reorganization of the troops began, due to the endorsement of the lieutenant colonel, even if some commanders and fighters were not convinced by Sokov, they could only obey the other party's arrangements, either stay in the city, or be incorporated into the guard unit to prepare for tomorrow Travel to Moscow with Vlasov.

Early the next morning, when Vlasov came out of the church, the troops had already lined up in the square.

Sokov trotted up to Vlasov, stood at attention, saluted, and reported loudly: "Comrade General, the 72 commanders and fighters of the guard company have been assembled and are ready to set off. Please give your instructions!"

Vlasov came to the front of the unit, checked the commanders and soldiers who had lined up, and turned to ask Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, are you the only company commander in the guard company?"

"Comrade General, in addition to me, the company commander, there is also a deputy company commander." Sokov pointed at Dennis and introduced to Vlasov: "This is the deputy company commander, Second Lieutenant Dennis."

Vlasov looked at the five trucks parked not far away and asked curiously: "Comrade Sokov, what are you doing with branches all around the truck?"

When Sokov arranged for people to plant branches on the truck last night, someone also raised such a question, which surprised Sokov. Because when he traveled through the country last time, when the troops were marching in the summer, their vehicles would be camouflaged with branches. But at this time, no one understood that when the vehicles were marching during the day, they needed to be camouflaged with branches to avoid being spotted by enemy reconnaissance planes. Discover.

Seeing Vlasov at this moment, he was also confused and quickly explained to him: "It's a disguise, Comrade General. We are marching during the day. If there is no disguise, it will be easily discovered by enemy reconnaissance planes, thus attracting more enemy planes." If we attack, we will pay a lot of casualties."

After Vlasov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he stared at Sokov with a half-smile and said: "Comrade Sokov, you said that you have been in the army for a short time, but I think you know a lot of military knowledge."

Faced with Vlasov's question, Sokov quickly said perfunctorily: "Comrade General, the reason why I understand so much is because there is a veteran in my neighbor. He once participated in the Spanish Civil War and also fought against the Finnish White Army. He is a soldier and has accumulated a lot of combat experience. When I chat with him, he likes to tell me this knowledge. Over time, he likes to talk to me. , I know some common sense on the battlefield." Sokov's words dispelled Vlasov's suspicion: "Oh, it turns out that your neighbors have veterans who participated in the Spanish Civil War and the Battle of Finland. No wonder they know so much? By the way, after the Great Patriotic War broke out, did the veteran take up arms again and fight the enemy? "

"It's a pity, Comrade General." Sokov was worried that one day Vlasov would have a whim and find his imaginary neighbor, so he could only arrange the death fate of this non-existent neighbor in advance: "After the war broke out, we The city where he was located was bombed by enemy planes, and the veteran unfortunately died in the bombing. "

Vlasov originally saw that Sokov had a good knowledge of military affairs, and guessed that it was the veteran who taught him. I couldn't help but have the idea of ​​recruiting that veteran. You know, the troops on the battlefield today are basically new recruits. Not only do they lack sufficient military training, but they also don't have any combat experience. If you can get guidance from experienced veterans, it will be very helpful to improve the combat effectiveness of the army.

At this moment, when Sokov said that the veteran had died in the German bombing, he couldn't help but sigh: "That's such a pity."

Vlasov raised his hand to check the time, then waved his hand suddenly and announced: "Get ready to go."

After Sokov loudly agreed, he arranged for the soldiers to board the vehicle in an orderly manner.

Vlasov, who got into his car, felt a little doubt in his heart when he saw Sokov commanding the troops to board the car so skillfully. He thought to himself that even if the other party often listened to his neighbors telling him about the battlefield, he would only have some theoretical knowledge. But seeing Sokov at this moment, he looked like a commander who had been in the army for many years.

Seeing that Vlasov was delayed in giving the order to drive, the driver turned his head and looked over to confirm whether the general was already sitting in the car.

Vlasov saw the driver's gaze, understood the other party's intention, nodded, and then ordered: "Drive!"

The distance from Nizhin to Moscow is more than 600 kilometers, and some areas passed along the way may have been occupied by the Germans. Sokov ordered a machine gun to be mounted on the top of each truck's driver's cab. Once an enemy situation is discovered, it can be fired immediately.

Sokov and Andrei sat on the driver's seat of the first truck, while Denis rode in the last vehicle to finish the line.

Looking at the fleeing crowds everywhere on both sides of the road, Andre said sadly: "It has been almost two months since the war broke out, and our army has been retreating non-stop. I don't know when we will be able to stop retreating." Footsteps, strike hard at the enemy and drive them out of our land."

"Andrei," because there was a driver next to him, Sokov couldn't speak clearly. He could only say vaguely: "Don't worry, one day our army will stop retreating and launch a counterattack against the enemy. . Not only must we drive them out of our country, but we must also go straight to their home base and defeat them completely.”

"Sokov, when do you think our counterattack can start?" Andre said with a sad expression: "In fact, we launched a counterattack in the Dubno area shortly after the war started. But it is regrettable that Yes, we failed and lost five of our most elite mechanized armies.”

"Dubno's counterattack failed due to many reasons." Sokov said here, reorganized the vocabulary in his mind, and continued: "The failure of the participating troops to arrive on the battlefield on time is a major problem. But More importantly, our army has lost air superiority on the battlefield and air cover. No matter how many tanks and armored vehicles we have, we can only be targets for German aircraft attacks. "

After Andrei listened to Sokov's words, a surprised expression appeared on his face: "Sokov, this is the first time I have heard what you said. After Dubno's counterattack failed, I heard many people say, The Germans had more troops and better equipment than we did, which led to the failure of our counterattack."

"What they said is only part of it." Seeing that Andrei didn't seem to understand what he meant, Sokov emphasized again: "In today's war, air supremacy is very important. The steel torrent without air cover can only become a living target in the face of the enemy's bombardment, and has no power to fight back. We can only watch our armored forces being destroyed by the enemy bit by bit."

Andrei may need some time to digest Sokov's statement. He quickly changed the topic: "Sokov, I want to ask you, do you think our army can crush the German attack on Kiev?"

"Kiev's strategic position is very important." Sokov said somewhat irrelevantly: "This point is not only seen by our military command, but also understood by the German military command. Therefore, this place will become the focus of the decisive battle between the two sides."

"Can our army defend Kiev?" Andrei asked again.

"Our army will try every possible way to delay the German offensive and consume their manpower." Sokov couldn't tell Andrei that in another month, the Southwestern Front deployed in Kiev and surrounding areas would face the fate of being basically wiped out. He could only say euphemistically: "Unless the Germans pay a heavy price, they will never take this great city from our army."

Andrei was not stupid. Seeing that Sokov always avoided the important questions about his own, he didn't know whether he didn't know how to answer or had some scruples. He didn't continue to dwell on this issue, but changed the topic in time: "Sokov, where do you think the Supreme Command will send General Vlasov after he returns to Moscow to report on his work?"

"The most important place now is Kiev." Sokov answered without hesitation: "According to my analysis, after General Vlasov reports on his work, the Supreme Command may appoint him to a new position and send him back to Kiev."

"Return to Kiev?" Hearing Sokov's words, he was very surprised. So, Andrei went over what the other party had just said in his mind again, and said with some worry: "Sokov, then tell me, will we come back with him?"

Sokov showed a bitter expression on his face: "Andrei, don't forget that our company is now his guard company. Do you think that if he wants to return to Kiev, our troops responsible for protecting his safety can continue to stay in Moscow?"

"So, in the near future, we may return to Kiev again?"

"Be more confident, remove the phrase 'maybe'." Sokov looked at Andrei sideways and said: "As General Vlasov's guard unit, wherever he goes, we must follow him. Therefore, as long as he is reassigned to Kiev, we must follow him to Kiev."

"Sokov, although we have known each other for a short time, I find that your vision is very accurate. Since you said that we will return to Kiev soon, then it is only a matter of time for us to go to Kiev."