Red Moscow

Although Sokov has never met this "mother", he has been looking for various reasons to delay meeting her. But now hearing that she was killed by a German bomb, I feel a little sad.

"Misha," seeing Sokov in a daze, Yakov continued, "My father was also very sad when he found out about this. He specially sent a special plane to bring you back from Stalingrad."

Hearing what Yakov said, Sokov realized in his heart why a special plane came to pick him up. He thought it was Ustinov's supernatural powers and could directly mobilize the plane. Only now did he understand that it was the Supreme Commander himself. The command. However, he felt that this matter was a bit of a fuss, as long as he informed himself of the news, there was no need to call him back from the front line. After all, it was during the war, and no one had lost their loved ones.

"Yasha," Sokov looked up at Yakov and asked, "Where is my mother's body, I want to see it."

"The factory building collapsed immediately after being hit by a bomb, and we haven't cleaned up the ruins yet." Yakov replied with some embarrassment: "And judging from the collapse of the factory building, even if the ruins are cleaned up, I'm afraid we won't be able to find the complete ruins." corpse."

"Comrade Sokov, the dead cannot be brought back to life, please forgive me!" Ustinov came over, stood in front of Sokov, and said tactfully: "Sooner or later we will pay back this blood debt from the Germans."

"Comrade People's Commissar," Sokov said blankly, looking at Ustinov, "I request to return immediately to the Stalingrad front, where I will deal a severe blow to the Faxi Temple invaders. For my mother, To avenge the tens of thousands of Soviet soldiers and civilians who died."

"Don't worry, Comrade Sokov." Ustinov raised his hand and patted Sokov on the shoulder twice. According to the analysis of the situation, the troops in Stalingrad will not have any major actions in a short period of time. In addition, if you spare time, go meet the technical engineer in the equipment department and introduce to him the effect of several new weapons."

"Yes!" Sokov replied, "I will fully cooperate with the work of the technical engineer."

As soon as Sokov finished speaking, the phone on the desk rang. Ustinov walked over quickly, picked up the receiver and pressed it to his ear, and said loudly: "I am Ustinov, Where are you?...What, she's here again?...No, I have already said no to this matter, and there has never been a precedent for privately buying tanks."

Buying tanks privately? ! Hearing what Ustinov said, Sokov couldn't help but quietly asked Yakov: "Yasha, do you know what's going on? Someone wants to buy our army's tanks, what's going on? thing?"

"There was a middle-aged woman named Maria, whose husband died heroically in the battle to defend Kiev." Yakov explained to Sokov: "She got the bad news not long ago, and she came from far away Siberia She rushed over and asked to join the army to avenge her husband. But because she was too old, her application for enlistment was rejected by the conscription office.

She didn't know where to find out that as long as she donated technical equipment to the army, she could make an exception and enlist in the army. So she sent someone here to ask if she could be sold one of the latest model tanks. She plans to donate to the army, and then join the army to avenge her husband, and use the blood of the enemy to honor the spirit of her lover in heaven. "

Buying tanks privately is to avenge joining the army. When Sukov heard this, he suddenly had a very familiar feeling. He frowned and thought for a long time, and vaguely remembered that in the history of the Great Patriotic War, there was indeed a woman who joined the army with a tank she bought, and made many exploits in battle. It's a pity that when I read the post, I just glanced at it and didn't read it carefully. I don't remember the name of the heroine, and I don't know if it is the same person as Yakov.

After Ustinov put down the phone, he smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, you have heard that our people are still very determined to fight against the Faxi Temple invaders, and even want to buy technology by themselves." Equipped to join the army..."

"Comrade People's Commissar," Sokov heard this, and felt that no matter whether the woman who asked to buy a tank was the heroine he saw in the later post, he should help her, so he asked Ustino The husband made a request: "Can I meet the woman?"

"You want to meet that woman who wants to buy a tank?" Ustinov had a surprised expression on his face: "Why?"

"Comrade People's Commissar, I think this woman is going to buy tanks and join the army to fight against the Germans. It is a great thing. We should support it." Sokov looked at Ustinov and said: "Instead of Beat her enthusiasm."

"However, there has never been such a precedent for privately buying tanks."

"This war between us and Germany is also unprecedented." Sokov replied: "In order to defeat the enemy, we should take all possible means and we should let more people participate in this war. to defeat the enemy more quickly."

After listening to what Sokov said, Ustinov was silent for a long time, finally nodded, and said: "I see, Comrade Sokov, maybe you are right. I will call and ask them to take the brought a woman here."

Less than twenty minutes after Ustinov made the call, the adjutant at the door entered the room with a middle-aged woman wearing a headscarf. Ustinov said to the adjutant: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, thank you, you have nothing to do here, you go out first."

After the adjutant left, Ustinov looked at the woman and asked, "Are you Maria Oktyabrskaya?"

"Yes, I am Maria Oktyabryskaya." The middle-aged woman replied: "My husband is Ilya Oktyabryskaya, who unfortunately died in the defense of Kiev. Comrade People's Commissar, I want to join the army, avenge my husband, and pay homage to his spirit in heaven with the blood of the enemy."

Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help thinking secretly: "Perhaps Maria's husband Ilya did not die, but was captured by the German army. After all, during the defense of Kiev, the Soviet army captured as many as sixty. Fifty thousand people." However, he could only think about this kind of thing in his heart, but he couldn't say it, otherwise Maria's joining the army would definitely fail.

"Can you drive a car, a tractor?" Ustinov asked.

Sokov knew the purpose of Ustinov's question very well. If he knew how to drive a car or a tractor, then learning the stance of a tank would be more effective. Unexpectedly, Maria shook her head and replied, "No, I used to be a worker in a canning factory, and I didn't know how to drive a car or a tractor at all."

Knowing that Maria could not drive a car or a tractor, Ustinov spread his hands and said helplessly: "Comrade Maria, you are not too young, and you have no experience in driving a car or a tractor." , I think it's too late to learn tank driving skills at this moment."

Before Maria was brought here, there was a glimmer of hope in her heart, thinking that Ustinov was finally moved by her and agreed to join the army. But at this moment when she heard what he said, her heart suddenly became cold. She gritted her molars and said: "Comrade People's Commissar, I am indeed not young, but I have no experience in driving cars and tractors, but I can learn." .As long as you give me three months, no, two months, I will definitely learn how to drive a tank."

Sokov thought to himself, how long did it take him to learn how to drive a tank? It seems like two weeks. Other friends drive tanks for fun by crushing scrap cars, but I like the rampage feeling when driving a tank. .

"No, two months is too long." Ustinov shook his head again and said, "And you can't guarantee that you won't panic when you see the enemy on the battlefield."

"Please believe me, Comrade People's Commissar." Seeing that Ustinov rejected her request, Maria was a little anxious, and she said with dancing: "I will definitely be able to learn the skills of driving a tank in the shortest possible time." .”

"Comrade People's Commissar," Sokov saw that Ustinov was still planning to throw Maria's cold water, and quickly stood up and said, "I think Maria can go back to Stalingrad with me. I have a tank under my command. brigade, where she can learn tank driving skills. If she is lucky, she will be able to master tank driving skills proficiently in at most half a month to a month."

Maria did not expect that someone would stand up and speak for her, so she cast a grateful look at Sokov. Seeing this scene, Ustinov was silent for a moment and asked Sokov, "Comrade Sokov, do you really think she can learn to drive a tank in such a short period of time?"

"Comrade People's Commissar, the female workers of the Red October Factory learned how to use anti-aircraft guns in less than a week, and successfully shot down several German planes." Sukov said eloquently: "Since the female workers can master the skills of using anti-aircraft guns in so much time, I also think that Comrade Maria can learn the skills of driving tanks in a short time."

"Okay, Comrade Sokov." Ustinov felt that what Sokov said made sense, so he nodded and said, "Then I will hand over Maria to you. If she arrives at the appointed time If you can’t learn how to drive a tank, then send her back to her place immediately and continue to work as her cannery worker.”

Maria is not stupid. When she heard Ustinov say that, she understood that the other party agreed to her joining the army. She quickly bowed deeply to the other party and said gratefully: "Thank you, Comrade People's Commissar, I will never forget your great kindness."

"You don't need to thank me." Ustinov waved his hand first, then pointed at Sokov, and said, "Let me introduce to you, this is Colonel Sokov who just came back from Stalingrad. The Mamayev Post held by the 41st Guards Division has repelled hundreds of German attacks in two to three months. When you come to such a glorious unit, you can’t embarrass him.”

"Don't worry, Comrade People's Commissar." Maria said excitedly, "I will definitely live up to your expectations. I will fight the German invaders hard on the battlefield and avenge my husband." After finishing, Maria turned and bowed to Sokov again.

Sokov felt that the way the other party bowed was a bit like saying goodbye to the corpse, so he quickly turned sideways to avoid it, and then said: "Maria, leave your address, I will send someone to find you before I leave Moscow .”

After Maria left thankfully, Ustinov asked Sokov, "Comrade Sokov, are you really planning to take Maria back to Stalingrad?"

"That's right." Sokov nodded, and said in a positive tone: "I happen to have a tank brigade under me, and I can let Maria go there to study. War is the best teacher, I believe it won't take much Over time, Maria can become an excellent tank driver."

"She said she would sell her property and buy a newest T-34," Ustinov tentatively asked Sokov, "Do you think she really has the ability?"

"I think there should be." Although Sokov was not sure whether Maria was the heroine he knew who bought a tank to go to the battlefield, after hearing Ustinov's question, he Still nodding her head vigorously, she replied, "I think since she has already said so much, the possibility of her changing her mind is very small."

"What about the tank?" Ustinov continued to ask: "Should it be transported from here, or find a way from other places? You know, since the fall of Kharkov, Stalingrad's Red October Factory and The Dzerzhinsky plant is our largest tank production plant. Now they have to stop production because of the war."

"Because our division firmly controls the Mamayev Gang and the Workers' New Village, the losses suffered by the Red October factory have been minimized." Sokov reported to Ustinov: "Now they can not only manufacture Tanks, but there is still a part of the tank inventory. If Maria really took out the money to buy the tanks, we can pick up the goods directly in Stalingrad."

"Okay then, after we receive the money, you can take Maria to Mamayev Post." Ustinov replied readily, "As for the tanks you need, you can buy them directly from Red Cross." Pick it up from Moon Factory."

Sokov couldn't help laughing when he heard what Ustinov said. He felt that the other party was also very economical. Don't look at the production and assembly of tanks in the Red October factory, and even a part of the inventory. But when these technical equipment are used to equip the troops, there is no need to pay at all. But after Ustinov's operation, the free tanks cost money to use, which is a good calculation.

After Sokov and Yakov came out of the building, Sokov asked, "Yasha, where are we going next?"

"Don't you have a house on Lenin Avenue?" Yakov said, "I'll send you there, and you can rest in your own house for a few days. If there is anything, I will go to find you in person of."