Chapter 2209 Yakov takes office

After Sokov put down the phone, he had a plan in his heart, and felt that he had a great hope of staying in Rokossovsky's army, so he happily said to everyone: "comrades, commanders, don't worry, I think this The success rate of Comrade Submarshal going out to convince the Supreme Commander himself is very high."

For Sokov's statement, Lunev agreed very much: "Misha, I think you are right. Based on the friendship between you and Yakov, if you really went to Chernyakho The Third Front Army of General Fowski, he will definitely find ways to come to our army. If he does come, you can’t install him. Let him be a staff officer. A general is a staff officer at the army headquarters. Tell others I don’t even believe it; let him command a certain unit. He has been in the Weapons and Equipment Department for so many years and has no command experience, so it is obviously inappropriate. So you rejected Comrade Marshal’s proposal at the beginning. Cove is absolutely right to come to our troops."

  The problem that Sidolin considered was that the deputy commander, General Ponegerin, had just been transferred, and the troops would be placed under the command of the Third Front Army, which missed the achievement of liberating Berlin. When I talk to my descendants about this matter in the future, they will definitely blame themselves, why didn't they follow General Pornegerin to the 50th Army, so at least there is hope to participate in the attack on Berlin. Now, although he heard Sokov say that things have turned around, he still refuses to believe it. After all, this matter is a decision made by the Supreme Command, and it cannot be changed just because Sokov and Yakov have a good personal relationship. What about the original decision?

Thinking of this, he poured cold water on Sokov and Lunev: "Did we think about the problem too simply? Even if Yakov is now in the Third Front Army, and after we were transferred to the Third Front Army, he also proposed However, it is still a question of whether General Cherniakhovsky, the commander of the front army, will agree. If he resolutely refuses to agree, the conditions for breaking the situation will not be ripe, so in the end, we will still be classified as No. Command of the Three Fronts Army."

"Chief of Staff, don't be pessimistic." Sokov thought of this strategy, which was more or less a gamble. He felt that since Yakov was captured by the German army, Stalin might be worried that similar things would happen again, so he intentionally or unintentionally Prevent Yakov from taking up a position in a unit at the front. This time Yakov came to the front line on his own initiative, but the place he was staying was only the headquarters of the front army, and he would basically not encounter any danger here. And if Yakov comes to his 48th Army, there will be many uncertain factors. In order to eliminate this hidden danger, Stalin would change his mind and prevent his 48th Army and Yakov from appearing in the same front army: "As long as we are not officially placed under the command of the Third Front, things will turn around." .”

  After waiting for more than an hour, Sokov finally got a call from Rokossovsky: "Misha, I have good news for you."

  Although Sokov guessed that Stalin must have changed his mind, for the sake of safety, he still asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, what is the good news?"

"After I negotiated with the Supreme Commander himself, it was finally decided to let your 48th Army stay in my Second Front Army." It was also a big deal for Rokossovsky to let Sukov's troops stay. It is a gratifying thing, he does not want to hand over such a powerful force to the command of friendly troops, thus weakening his own combat effectiveness.

"Great, this is really great." Confirming that his troops can continue to stay in the Second Front Army, Sokov finally laughed: "Comrade Marshal, thank you, thank you! It is because of your efforts, Only then can we remain in the Second Front."

"Misha, you can't say that." Rokossovsky said with a smile: "I have tried a few times, but they all ended in failure. But after following your advice, I tried to change the angle and The Supreme Commander himself discussed the matter. As you analyzed, when he learned that his son might volunteer to join your army because the 48th Army was assigned to the command of the Third Front, he showed a fatherly attitude Worried. Finally, after careful consideration, he decided to cancel the original decision and let you stay in my army."

When Rokossovsky was about to put down the phone, he added: "Misha, since your troops will remain in my front line, I hope that when we attack Berlin, your troops will be the first A force entering Berlin."

Although Sokov also wanted his troops to be the first to rush into Berlin, some things were out of his control, so he could only say euphemistically: "Comrade Marshal, I will do my best to live up to your treatment of me." trust."

  As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Lunev came over and asked with a smile: "Misha, so we can stay in Marshal Rokossovsky's Second Front Army?"

   "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, yes, we can stay."

"I really didn't expect your strategy to be so useful." Lunev said with emotion: "At first, I thought that even Marshal Rokossovsky himself would not be able to change the decision of the Supreme Command. In Cherniakhovsky's Third Front. But I really didn't expect that the development of things would be so dramatic, and just because of your little trick, we reversed our unfavorable situation."

  Hearing Lunev's praise, Sokov showed a bitter expression on his face: "This time I used Yasha as a shield. I wonder if he will be angry with me after he finds out about it."

   "No, Misha, I don't think so." Lunev comforted Sokov and said, "I believe he will understand your difficulties."

"Comrade Commander," and Sidolin only came back to his senses at this time, knowing that his troops no longer need to be assigned to Chernyakhovsky's Third Front, he tentatively asked Sokov: "What is this?" Is it true that we don’t need to be placed under the command of the Third Front Army?”

"That's right, my Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov raised his hand and patted Sidolin on the shoulder, telling him, "Don't be dazed, call the commanders of the divisions and tell them the news." Let them feel at ease."

  Since hearing that the troops were to be placed under the command of the Third Front Army, the emotions of the commanders at all levels of the 48th Army have fluctuated. They couldn't figure out why, as the most powerful unit in the Second Front Army, they were suddenly assigned to command by other units. In the past two days, more than one person came to Sokov, hoping that he would report to his superiors so that the superiors would take back their orders and allow the 48th Army to remain in the second front army's combat sequence.

  Now, through the joint efforts of Sokov and Rokossovsky, the superiors finally changed their minds and allowed the 48th Army to stay in the original combat sequence. This is indeed an exciting thing. After confirming the news, Sidolin immediately picked up the phone and called the division commanders to pass the good news to each of them.

   In this way, the 48th Army successfully stayed in Rokossovsky's Second Front Army. At the same time, Yakov also reached Cherniakhovsky's Third Front.

  As soon as he got off the train, he saw a general approaching and greeted him, "Is it General Yakov from Moscow?"

   "Yes, I'm Yakov." Yakov looked at the unfamiliar general opposite, and said with some confusion, "Excuse me, are you...?"

"Let me introduce myself," the general who greeted Yakov said with a smile: "I am Lieutenant General Makarov, the military commissar of the Belarusian Third Front Army, and I am on the order of the commander, General Cherniakhovsky. The station is here to meet you."

   After figuring out the other party's identity, Yakov quickly stood at attention and saluted the other party: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissioner."

Makarov pulled Yakov's hand from his forehead, shook it vigorously a few times, and said, "General Yakov, on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Belarusian Third Front, I welcome you. The car is on the platform Wait by the side, I will take you there."

   When he came to the platform, Yakov saw three jeeps, and there were seven or eight soldiers with live ammunition standing beside them. Seeing the appearance of Makarov and Yakov, he immediately paid attention to them, and one of the fighters stepped forward and opened the back door of a jeep.

  After Yakov and Makarov got into the car, the rest of the fighters also got into the other two cars. After a sound of the door closing, the convoy set off.

   On the way, Yakov asked Makarov curiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, I would like to ask, what is my position in the Front Army Command?"

   "After my discussion with the commander and the chief of staff." Makarov said: "It has been decided to appoint you as the deputy chief of staff of the Third Front Army Command."

"Ah, Deputy Chief of Staff?!" Hearing this position, Yakov seemed a little embarrassed: "Comrade Military Commissar, I have no specific experience in commanding operations, so it's not good to be the Deputy Chief of Staff right away? I I want to start from the most basic staff, is it possible?"

"What, how can you start as an ordinary staff officer?" Makarov said, shaking his head like a rattle: "Anyway, you are a general, and you have been in the General Staff before." If you have not served as a staff officer in front-line combat troops, the superiors are planning to appoint you directly as the chief of staff."

Makarov's words made Yakov a little embarrassed. He said with a wry smile: "Comrade Military Commissar, to tell you the truth, I have been staying in the Armament Department since the outbreak of the war. Later, for some reason, I just went to the General Staff, but I was only a helper, and I didn't have much experience as a staff officer. It would be a bit inappropriate to rashly arrange me as the deputy chief of staff."

Makarov chuckled: "This is a collective decision made by the heads of the Front Command. If you have any disagreements, when you see Commander Cherniakhovsky, you can tell him directly. .”

  The convoy came to the headquarters of the front army and found many people standing at the door.

   Makarov took a look, then turned to Yakov and said, "General Yakov, Comrade Commander personally brought someone out to meet you."

  Now in the Third Front Army Command, the only people who know Yakov's true identity are Cherniakhovsky, Pokrovsky, and Makarov. When the members of the headquarters learned that the commander was going out to greet him, they thought that someone of the marshal level was coming. But when they saw Yakov and Makarov coming out of the car, they all had confused expressions on their faces: "What, just a major general? Why did the commander and the chief of staff personally lead the team to greet them? Does the other party have any background?"

Cherniakhovsky stepped forward and shook Yakov's hand, and said with a smile: "General Yakov, on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Third Front Army, I welcome you. I hope that we can work together and work together in the future. Defeat the German invaders." Then he introduced the people around him to Yakov, "Come on, let's get acquainted, this is General Pokrovsky, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, and you will be partners from now on."

   "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Yakov showed enough respect to Pokrovsky: "I don't have any practical experience. In the future, I will ask Comrade Chief of Staff for advice."

   "It's easy to say, easy to say." Pokrovsky said with a smile: "If there is anything you don't understand, just ask me, and I will try my best to help you."

When everyone returned to the headquarters, Cherniakhovsky asked Yakov with a smile: "Yakov, you must be very tired after two days of train ride? Would you like to arrange for you to rest for two days and come back again?" To work?"

"No need, Comrade Commander." Yakov shook his head and said, "Although I have just been on the train for two days, it can't compare to your hard work. If you don't rest, how can I have the right to rest? Arrange work for me as soon as possible."

   "This." Hearing Yakov say this, Cherniakhovsky seemed very embarrassed. After all, he didn't know what the other party's ability was, so if he arranged a job for him rashly, what should he do if it didn't help him? He could only turn his eyes to Pokrovski for help, hoping that his chief of staff would come out to help him out: "Chief of staff, what's your opinion?"

"Comrade Commander," Pokrovsky said, "General Yakov's desire to start work as soon as possible, we understand. Since this is the case, please help me to deal with the battle reports for the past two days. By the way, getting acquainted with the situation of the troops will also facilitate the next step of work.”

  For Yakov, as long as he can get into work as soon as possible, it doesn't matter what he lets himself do. He nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, I'll start working now. Where are the battle reports you mentioned?"

   "It's in the corner," Pokrovsky said to Yakov, "please come with me, and I'll show you."

After Pokrovsky left with Yakov, Makarov asked Cherniakhovsky in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, on the first day he came, he arranged a lot of things for him. work, is that appropriate?"

"It's nothing inappropriate, Comrade Military Commissar." Cherniakhovsky said in a low voice, "I don't think there's anything wrong with letting him work on the first day. It's boring, maybe it won't be long, and I don't want to stay here any longer, and will apply to us to leave, and then we can justifiably let him leave."

  (end of this chapter)