Chapter 2341

 Sokov quite agrees with Kasan’s statement. The city where the army headquarters is located is a small place without any high-rise buildings. There are one-story bungalows on both sides of the street. Except for a few brick-concrete structures, the rest of the houses are either mud walls or wooden houses, and most of them are tents of various shapes.

"Comrade Commander," as a guard who had lived and died with Sokov, Kasan spoke very casually in front of Sokov: "I just saw Captain Feng entering the headquarters, and he seemed ready to report to you. Work. He finished reporting his work so quickly?"

"No." Sokov shook his head and said, "He should be reporting to Comrade Lukin at the moment."

Hearing what Sokov said, Kasan couldn't help but be stunned, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, why do I report to Lieutenant General Lukin and not to you?"

"The reason is very simple." Sokov smiled lightly and said, "I have been relieved of my duties by my superiors."

Even if a thunder exploded around Kasan at this moment, it would never be as shocking as Sokov's words. He was stunned for a while, and then asked cautiously: "Why is this, Comrade Commander? Why did your superiors dismiss you from your post without any reason?"

"Kasan, my superiors did not dismiss me from my post for no reason, but because I made a mistake."

 “Made a mistake?” Kasan thought to himself, “What mistake would Comrade Commander make that would lead to him being dismissed from his post by his superiors?”

Seeing Kasan's confused expression, Sokov said: "Because I ordered the artillery to fire on the Kwantung Army's defense area without authorization. Such an action may cause our upcoming Far East campaign to be noticed by the enemy. It just relieved me As for his position, he was showing mercy by not sending me to a military court."

  Sokov ordered artillery to bombard the Kwantung Army's defense area. It is certainly impossible for a soldier of Kasan's level to know. However, before he followed Sokov here, he was shelled by Japs on the way, causing two of Sokov's entourage to be killed and one injured. At that time, Sokov decisively ordered the artillery to fire on the Kwantung Army's position and sent Search troops and eliminate the infiltrating enemies. Presumably, the reason for firing at the enemy's defense area here was because of a similar situation.

However, he did not ask Sokov why he fired at the Kwantung Army's defense area. He just asked with some worry: "Comrade Commander, if we shell the enemy's defense area, we really won't let them notice our operations." Intention?”

"No, Kasan." Sokov knew the character of the Japs very well. They fought to the death with the Americans on the Pacific battlefield during World War II, and the two atomic bombs that fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused the islanders to There were heavy casualties. But after the surrender, the little devils turned out to have no temper at all, and cooperated in every possible way with the Americans who occupied the land, which surprised the Americans. He said to Kasang: "I know the character of the little devils very well. They bully the weak and fear the strong. This time I ordered the artillery to fire to rescue Captain Feng and others who were trapped behind enemy lines. If I just use normal means to attack the enemy, The little Japs were asking for Captain Feng and his companions, and I was afraid there was no way to rescue them. But as soon as the cannon was fired, the little Japs were beaten painfully. In addition, I ordered the troops closest to there to go to the Japs to ask for people. They knew There is a huge difference in strength between us and it would be unwise to become our enemy, so we just let Captain Feng’s team go.”

“So that’s it.” At this time, Kasan finally figured out why Sokov was dismissed from his post by his superiors. He was very moved. In order to rescue several of his subordinates, Sokov did not hesitate to bet his own future and decisively ordered the artillery to fire on the enemy's position. It's worth working your life for such a commander!

The two of them walked around the city for less than an hour.

Seeing that he had unknowingly returned to the vicinity of the headquarters, Kasan asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, where should we go next?"

Sokov really didn’t have anywhere to go for a while. After thinking about it, he said to Kasan: "It’s too small here and there’s not much place to visit. I’d better go back to the headquarters."

When Sokov walked into the headquarters, Yakov quickly came up to him and said to him: "Misha, you came just in time. I was just about to send someone to find you."

"What's matter?"

"That's it," Yakov said to Sokov: "Marshal Malinovsky just called and said that he has reported your matter to Marshal Vasilevsky. Comrade Marshal received the After the report, I was very angry..."

“What does Comrade Marshal plan to do with me?”

"Misha, don't worry, I haven't finished what I said yet." Yakov continued: "At the beginning, Marshal Vasilevsky was also very angry, feeling that because of your recklessness, this time in the Far East Before the campaign was launched, the Kwantung Army was aware of it and entered a state of combat readiness through emergency mobilization, so that our army had to pay greater casualties after the campaign began."

When Sokov heard this, he suddenly felt relaxed in his heart, because if Vasilevsky planned to punish himself severely, Yakov would definitely tell him directly instead of chattering like he is now. Although he guessed that things might have turned around, Sokov remained silent, quietly waiting for Yakov to tell the final result.

“Comrade Chief of Staff,” Lukin interrupted Yakov’s words at this time: “You’d better tell Misha directly about Marshal Vasilevsky’s decision, and don’t let him worry anymore.”

"Yes, yes, I will tell you the result directly." Yakov no longer talked in circles, but said straightforwardly: "Through the enemy telegram deciphered by the headquarters, I learned that the Yonggang Regiment of the 44th Army was attacked by you. Lieutenant General Hongo, the commander of the army, has issued an order to the troops to exercise restraint and not to conflict with your troops, so as not to cause greater bloodshed. After reading the telegram, Comrade Marshal praised you for your proper handling. He gave the Kwantung Army a lesson, and also made them mute and unable to speak out by eating coptis."

“So, Marshal Vasilevsky intends to punish me as Marshal Malinovsky does?”

"If you directly cancel Marshal Malinovsky's cancellation of you, it will inevitably affect his prestige." Yakov continued: "Now the group army is still acted by Lieutenant General Lukin as the acting commander. After the Far East Campaign begins, if Finding that the enemy has not strengthened its defenses proves that what you did today did not alert the Kwantung Army. At that time, you will be able to resume your duties and continue to serve as the commander of the group army." "Misha," Lu Jin said: " Although there are still thirty hours before the Far East Campaign begins, we all know in our hearts that this is just a formality. You will be reinstated as soon as the campaign begins."

But Sokov had another thought in his mind at the moment. It made no difference whether a group army commander who could only sit on the bench in the vigorous Far East campaign should be regarded as a commander or not. But seeing Lu Jin and others rejoicing that he was about to be reinstated, he couldn't throw cold water on them, so he could only squeeze out a smile on his face: "If that's the case, that would be great."

"Misha." After the room became quiet again, Lujin said to Sokov: "According to Captain Feng's reconnaissance report, the Kwantung Army in front of us has deployed some defensive positions in some important locations. The entire defense area can To describe it as lax defense."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't agree with your statement." When King Lu finished speaking, Sokov waved his hand to deny his statement: "If the defense of the entire defense zone is lax, how can Captain Feng and the others retreat? In the process, what about those who were surrounded by the enemy? You know, there was a squadron of troops besieging them at that time. If the defense was lax, how could they have fallen into the enemy's encirclement in such a short period of time? "

"I specifically asked Captain Feng about this matter." Lujin explained to Sokov: "Because Captain Feng and his previous activities were all south of Khabarovsk, the place where they conduct reconnaissance now is 30 meters away. The original area of ​​activity was more than 2,000 kilometers long, and like us, they were unfamiliar with the place. So this time when they were conducting reconnaissance behind enemy lines, they found a local to act as their guide."

When Sokov heard this, he immediately guessed a terrible possibility: "Comrade Deputy Commander, is there something wrong with the guide?"

"That's right. They completed the reconnaissance mission. On the way back, they found that the guide took them on an unfamiliar road. At that time, he also asked the guide questions. But the other party said that this was a shortcut and they could save a dozen or so steps. Kilometers. Captain Feng thought that the other party was a local and must be more familiar with the terrain than himself, so he naturally did not ask any more questions. Unexpectedly, as he walked, he found that the guide was missing. Just when he was about to send someone to look for the guide, he found that he was already there. Unknowingly, we were surrounded by the Kwantung Army.”

"So there is something wrong with the guide. He deliberately led Captain Feng and the others into the Japanese encirclement." Sokov said: "No wonder when I spoke to Captain Feng on the phone, his tone was so desperate. They were already at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. , and fell into the enemy's siege again, the chance of escape is basically zero."

"Yes, if you hadn't risked your head and decisively ordered the artillery to fire, I'm afraid they would have been wiped out by the little devils who had been ambushed there in the valley where they were ambushed." Lu Jin looked at Sokov and sighed with emotion. He said: "Fortunately, you have a commander who doesn't follow common sense, so they have a chance to survive."

Faced with Lu Jin's compliment, Sokov smiled casually and then asked: "There are 11 people in the reconnaissance team, and only 3 survived. Have the remains of the sacrificed soldiers been brought back?"

"Bring them all back." It was Yakov who answered his question this time: "After Colonel Fatyushin brought the remains of the martyrs back, he found a sunny hillside and buried them all. He also left a mark. After the war is over in the future, their relatives in China will be notified to claim the remains."

Hearing what Yakov said, Sokov couldn't help but sigh: "Yasha, I think it is unlikely to find their relatives. Maybe their family members have died at the hands of the Kwantung Army. It is precisely because of the Such a blood feud filled their hearts with hatred for the Kwantung Army, which was also the motivation that supported them in fighting."

"It's okay if you can't find their relatives." Lu Jin said: "After the war is over, a monument can be built at the place where they died, so that future generations can remember that the martyrs sleeping here are for their peace. life and gave up his precious life.”

Lukin's words reminded Sokov of some episodes in later generations: On Victory Square at the Victory Day, a little girl dedicated flowers in her hand to an old soldier with medals on his chest, and said while hugging him "Thank you for your hard work and giving us the happy life we ​​have today."

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander is right." Sokov thought of the inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Red Square and said casually: "After the war is over, we will erect a monument at the place where the martyrs died, and write on it 'No one knows your name, but your deeds will last forever'."

After Sokov finished speaking, there was silence in the entire headquarters. Whether it was Lukin, Yakov, or the staff and communications soldiers who were busy just now, everyone was repeating what Sokov had just said. : "No one knows your name, but your achievements will last forever."

"Misha, what you said is really good." Yakov gave a thumbs up to Sokov: "I really didn't expect you to say such classic words. I believe that in the near future, there will be Countless monuments will bear your words."

“Where are Captain Feng and the others?” Sokov asked Yakov: “I want to talk to him. Can you call him?”

"No problem." Yakov agreed readily to Sokov's request, "I just asked Captain Alt to take them to rest. Since you want to see him, I'll call Captain Alt and ask him to Captain Feng called over."

"Then call him over quickly." Although it is unlikely that his troops will participate in the attack, Sokov still wants to find out the strength and equipment of the enemy on the front. After knowing the details of the enemy, even if you don't fight but just accept surrender, you can avoid some detours.

“Misha,” Lukin handed Sokov a cigarette, struck a match and lit it for him, and asked with a smile: “Seeing that the war is about to begin, are you nervous?”

"A bit." Sokov said with an honest smile: "Even though I have fought for so many years, this Far East Battle can be said to be the last battle of World War II. Only by defeating the Kwantung Army, this Only when this **** war is finally over can we have true peace."

 (End of this chapter)