Chapter 1974

  Five days later, all the troops of the Ukrainian Second Front, including the Sokov combat group, received an order from Konev to stop fighting.

   On the day the order was issued, the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, Zakharov, came to the headquarters. After seeing Sokov, he shook hands and asked Sokov, "Is there a quiet place?"

  Knowing that the other party asked this question, Sokov must have something important to explain, so he tentatively asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I wonder if you plan to talk to me in the headquarters, or do you want to talk to me outside?"

   "Go outside to talk?" Zakharov asked in surprise: "Where can we talk outside?"

   "For example, in the cafes or taverns in the city." Sokov said: "As long as I send someone to block the place in advance, no one should disturb our conversation."

"I think it's better to forget it." Zakharov thought for a moment, then waved his hands and said, "We are talking about business, and it is not suitable to talk outside. In my opinion, it is better to find a suitable person in your headquarters." place."

Sokov thought for a while, and found that the most suitable place to talk was the small conference room upstairs. As long as someone guards the door and no one is allowed to enter, no one will know the content of his conversation with Zakharov. .

   The two came to the conference room, and after sitting on both sides of the long conference table, Koshkin brought them tea, then exited the conference room and closed the door behind him.

"Comrade Sokov," Zakharov said as soon as the door was closed, "I think you already know that Marshal Konev is about to be transferred to the Ukrainian First Front Army as the commander of the Front Army, right? "

   "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov nodded, and said in an affirmative tone: "I knew it a long time ago."

   "Before Marshal Konev was officially transferred to the post of commander of the First Front Army, he asked me to come here and ask you if you really want to go with him?"

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." To Zakharov's question, Sokov gave an affirmative answer: "When the Marshal asked for my opinion some time ago, I made it clear that I was willing to follow him to the Ukrainian No. On the one hand, the army. What, is there a problem?"

"Since your going to the Ukrainian First Front Army has been confirmed, the next thing we want to talk about is your work arrangement." Zakharov took a sip of the tea in front of him and continued: "According to the highest According to the high command, you have three choices."

   "Three choices?!" Sokov asked with some surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, which three choices are they?"

  Zakharov raised a finger: "One, succeed Lieutenant General Pukhov as commander of the 13th Army."

Then he raised his second finger: "Because the superior intends to reassign the 27th Army Group to the Ukrainian First Front Army, the superior once considered letting you officially replace Trofimenko as the commander of the Army Group job."

"This is impossible." Sokov couldn't help interjecting after hearing this: "Although the 27th Army is a unit I once commanded, it is now only part of a combat group. If I follow the order of my superiors, Taking over General Trofimenko’s position as the commander of the 27th Army, maybe others will think that I made a mistake and was demoted by my superiors.”

   "That's right, Comrade Sokov, you are very thoughtful." Zakharov nodded and said, "When Marshal Konev received the call, he directly vetoed the other party's plan."

  When Sokov learned that Konev had rejected an appointment that might damage his reputation, he was somewhat grateful to him. He looked at Zakharov and continued to ask: "Chief of Staff of the Front Army, what is the third option?"

"The third is to succeed Lieutenant General Zhmachenko as the commander of the 40th Army." Zakharov may have worried that Sokov would not understand the situation, so he took the initiative to introduce to him: "This army turned out to be Mo Commanded by General Skalenko, the performance on the battlefield is not bad. But since General Moskalenko was transferred, the combat effectiveness of this unit has begun to decline, which made the superiors very dissatisfied, so I plan to find a Capable commander, come to command this army.

  In the Supreme Command, someone suggested that Moskalenko should return to command this force, but it was rejected, because the 38th Army that General Moskalenko is now commanding cannot do without him. It is in this situation that someone thought of you and suggested that you fill this important position. "

  Sokov was thinking in his heart that Pukhov had served as the commander of the 13th Army since January 1942. Regardless of his record, being able to stay in this position all the time proved that his superiors valued him very much. If he can't help but ask to go to the 13th Army to take over his position, I am afraid that even after taking office, he will encounter resistance from the troops below.

   On the contrary, since the transfer of Moskalenko by the 40th Army, the results of the troops have been lackluster. Commanders at all levels have complained. They must hope that a new person will replace Zhmachenko. If I choose to go to the 40th Army, maybe the work will go very smoothly.

   After thinking about it, Sokov looked at Zakharov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I have made up my mind. I am going to go to the 40th Army and replace General Zhimachenko as the commander of the army."

   "Comrade Sokov." Seeing that Sokov made a decision so quickly, Zakharov was secretly surprised, but couldn't help asking: "Is this your final decision?"

   "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov said affirmatively, "This is my final decision."

   "You don't think about it anymore?" Zakharov reminded him kindly: "Once I report your decision, it's too late for you to regret it."

"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, this is a decision I made after careful consideration." Sokov looked at Zakharov and said sincerely: "I will never change my decision no matter whether I will regret it in the future. .”

Seeing Sokov's resolute attitude, Zakharov nodded slightly and said: "Well, since you have made the final decision, let's do as you wish, let you serve as the commander of the 40th Army .”

After taking two more sips of tea, Zakharov introduced the situation of the 40th Army to Sokov: "In this battle, the 40th Army, as a unit of the Ukrainian Second Front Army, faced muddy roads in spring. , fought for more than 400 kilometers, and successively forcibly crossed the Nanbug River, the Dniester River, the Prut River and other large rivers. fighting in Romania."

Sokov vaguely remembered that he seemed to have seen a piece of information somewhere, saying that after Marshal Konev became the commander of the Ukrainian First Front, the Supreme Command had merged the First and Second Fronts. Reached 1.2 million people. But later, because someone pointed out that if such a huge army is handed over to the command of one person, it may be powerless. So the troops that had just been merged were divided into two again, but many troops that originally belonged to the Second Front Army remained in the battle sequence of the First Front Army.

   "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army," Sokov also took two sips of the tea in front of him to ease his emotions, and then asked, "I wonder when Marshal Konev will take office?"

Zakharov smiled and said to Sokov: "Marshal Konev received a notice from the Supreme Command yesterday, asking him to participate in this year's May 1st military parade. Even if he wants to take office in the new army, he will have to wait for this grand occasion." Let’s talk about it after the celebration, after all, we haven’t held a May Day military parade for two years since the outbreak of the war.”

   "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, apart from the fact that the May Day military parade has not been held for two years, the October Day military parade seems to have not been held for two years since the German army approached the city in 1941."

"Yes, Comrade Sokov, you remember right." Zakharov nodded and said, "Our most elite troops are all attacking the enemy on the battlefield. If they are sent back to the military parade, it may affect the battlefield." Therefore, the military parade for the past two years has been temporarily suspended. Just wait, when we completely defeat the German invaders, our country will definitely hold a grand military parade.”

Hearing what the other party said, Sokov couldn't help thinking to himself: No, just one and a half months after the Germans surrendered, Stalin held a grand military parade on June 22, and hundreds of captured German flags were thrown on the ground. In front of Lenin's Mausoleum, and was stepped on by countless pairs of feet.

Thinking that he would also have the opportunity to participate in such a grand ceremony in the future, Sokov couldn't help becoming excited, and he said to Zakharov in a hoarse voice: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I think what you said will definitely come true. Hopefully I can live to that day to be part of that grand celebration.”

"Yes, Comrade Sokov, you will definitely be able to participate in that grand celebration in person." Zakharov began to imagine a bright future for Sokov: "By then, maybe you will be able to personally lead a square team, Strutting across Red Square with your head held high."

Just as Sokov was thinking about it, he heard Zakharov say something that disappointed him: "Comrade Sokov, if you really went to the First Ukrainian Front, have you considered it, Boss?" What should Lieutenant General Nedelin, Colonel Muzichenko, and Colonel Kirillov do?"

  Sokov couldn't help being taken aback after hearing this, and then asked back: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, did someone say something again?"

"Although no one said hello to this matter, I am afraid that everyone understands that the three of them can stay in the battle group, largely because of your presence." Zakharov looked at Sokov and said: "But If you leave this army, do you think anyone will continue to use them? I believe it will not take long for the three of them to be replaced by others and become irrelevant members of the army again."

  Sokov was thinking in his heart that Zakharov came here not to figure out his next plan, but for the three of Ponejielin. Thinking of this, he asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, do you have any good ways to prevent the three of them from being marginalized?"

   "The only way is to let the three of them go to the new army with you." Zakharov said: "With their abilities, even without your care, they are still very competent as division commanders or even army commanders."

Sokov agreed with Zakharov's statement: "You are right, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, anyway, the three of them were the commanders or commanders of the army group at the beginning of the war. I can’t compare with them in military age or combat experience. I don’t need to take care of them at all, and they can also complete the tasks assigned by their superiors very well.”

"Marshal Konev said that you can take a group of people away when you leave, but only if it does not affect the normal operation of the troops." Zakharov continued: "In my opinion, apart from taking away the Frunze military Those students from the academy can also take the three of them away together."

   "Can this work?" Sokov raised his own doubts: "Marshal Konev said hello in advance, and the people I took away when I left cannot affect the normal operation of the troops."

"That's right, the three of them are indeed holding important positions now." Zakharov said with a sneer, "But have you ever thought that maybe you went to the Second Front Army today, and the three of them will go to the Second Front Army tomorrow?" Was fired?"

   "Well, I will find an opportunity to talk to the three of them, explain the problems we are facing now, and then ask them what they really think."

   It is the most ideal result for Sokov to be able to take away the three of them. When he arrived in a new unit, it was very difficult to quickly open up the situation, relying only on his identity as commander and the group of students he brought over. But if the three of them were around, the situation would be very different. Although they did not hold important positions, their old acquaintances and subordinates were scattered everywhere. There should be many in the 40th Army , As long as they say hello, I believe those people will fully cooperate with me to carry out my work.

Zakharov stood up and said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, my task of coming here today has been completed." After speaking, he took the initiative to reach out his hand, "There is still something to do at the headquarters, I need to hurry up." Hurry back, we will meet later."

   Sokov got up and shook hands with Zakharov, then sent him to the door of the conference room. Sokov wanted to send it, but was stopped by the other party: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, just send it here. Good luck! Goodbye!"

  Looking at the back of Zakharov leaving, Sokov stood there in a daze, thinking in his heart how he should explain this matter clearly to the three of them.

   "Comrade Commander," Koshkin couldn't help asking seeing Sokov standing there in a daze, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Koshkin's voice woke up Sokov from his contemplation, and he quickly told the other party: "You immediately call General Ponedelin, Colonel Muzichenko, and Colonel Kirillov. Call, let them come to see me as soon as possible, and just say that I have something important to ask them."

   "Where do you want them to meet you?"

   "It's right here." Sokov pointed to the meeting room next to him: "I will wait here for the three of them to come."

  (end of this chapter)