Chapter 2383

After confirming the intelligence that Emperor Kant had been captured alive, Sokov personally called Zakharov, the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, and reported the matter to him: "The Chief of Staff of the Front Army, the vanguard of our 4th Guards Airborne Division, is on board The transport aircraft formation has successfully landed at Fengtian Airport. At this moment, the commander has sent people to take control of the airport and captured Emperor Kant alive. They did not encounter any resistance during the implementation of this action."

“Have you really taken control of Fengtian Airport?” After listening to Sokov’s report, Zakharov asked in surprise: “Is this true?”

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, of course it is true." Sokov said: "This news has been confirmed."

"Very good, very good." After Zakharov said "very good" twice in a row, he continued, "I will report this matter to the Far Eastern Force Headquarters immediately." He also told Sokov, " Misha, since you have captured Emperor Kant, the sincerity shown by the Kwantung Army is sufficient. Remember to restrain your troops and refrain from any further conflicts with the Kwantung Army for the time being, waiting for further orders from the front army headquarters."

"Understood!" Although Sokov did not want to stop fighting against the Kwantung Army, since it was an order issued by the front army headquarters, as a subordinate, no matter how reluctant he was, he could only obey unconditionally: "I will notify all troops , asking them to temporarily cease hostilities against the Kwantung Army and wait for further notification from their superiors."

After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Yakov with some frustration: "Yasha, immediately contact the three army commanders and tell them to order the troops to stay within the actual control area and not to easily engage in battle with the Kwantung Army."

“Then the operations of the 4th Guards Airborne Division will continue?”

"Of course." Sokov nodded and said in a positive tone: "There are too few troops stationed in Fengtian now. If someone in the Kwantung Army disobeys their superiors' orders and launches a riot in the city, with our little strength , it is easy to suffer big losses. Therefore, the airlift operation will continue."

“Misha.” Lukin asked with concern while waiting for Yakov to call: “I see you seem a little unhappy. Did something happen?”

"It's nothing." Sokov said with a wry smile: "We were holding back all our energy and prepared to go out in a big way to completely eliminate the enemies in front of us. Unexpectedly, an order from our superiors stopped our attack. This It's like a punch that was punched out and then pulled back halfway, which makes you feel a little uncomfortable."

"Misha, I feel the same as you. I also feel a little disappointed." Lu Jin continued: "But if you think about it from another angle, if the Kwantung Army can lay down its weapons and surrender to our army, then how many unnecessary losses can be reduced. Sacrifice. Although the technical and tactical level, combat experience, and weapons and equipment of our officers and men are far superior to those of the Kwantung Army, if the fight continues, thousands of officers and men will die. Ending the war now means that we can have more Many commanders and fighters can return to their hometowns alive."

"You are right, Comrade Deputy Commander." Sokov had to admit that what Lukin said was very reasonable. Now that the front army headquarters has issued a ceasefire order, even if he allows the troops to continue the attack, I am afraid that some of the commanders and fighters below will have grudges and will not work hard. He could only say helplessly: "After fighting for so many years, the officers and soldiers are already tired. They also hope that this war will end as soon as possible, so that they can go home early to reunite with their families and share the joy of family life."

 Afunin, who was staying at the airport, immediately drove to the headquarters after receiving Yakov's call to confirm the authenticity of the order to Sokov and others.

“Comrade Commander,” Afunin asked impatiently as soon as he saw Sokov, “Do we really want to stop the attack on the Kwantung Army?”

“Yes, General Afunin, this is an order from the Front Army Headquarters.” Sokov explained to Afunin: “Let us temporarily suspend hostile actions against the Kwantung Army and wait for further orders from our superiors.”

“Then Master Ye Liao’s plan to occupy Fengtian will continue to be implemented?”

"Of course." Sokov nodded and gave Afuning an affirmative reply: "Although the main force has stopped taking hostile actions against the Kwantung Army, the plan to occupy Fengtian remains unchanged. After the Air Force transport plane returns, you let Ye Liaoming The general personally accompanied the second group of troops to Fengtian and took over the defense from the Kwantung Army."

"Ye Liao Ming's luck is so good." Afuning said reluctantly: "If I were not the commander of the army, I would like to go to Fengtian personally and take over this city from the Kwantung Army. You know, Fengtian is ours The commander who captured the city as one of the main targets of this attack is destined to go down in history.”

Seeing that Afuning was eager to go to Fengtian, Sokov couldn't help but have an idea. If there was a Guards commander in Fengtian, then even if the friendly forces from the east came over, he could control the city. In one's own hands. Thinking of this, he said to Afuning: "General Afuning, it's not impossible for you to want to go to Fengtian."

Hearing what Sokov said, Afnin's eyes suddenly lit up and he asked repeatedly: "Comrade Commander, is this true? Can I also go to Fengtian?"

"Of course. But before you go to Fengtian, you must hand over the command of the troops to your chief of staff."

"No problem." Afuning agreed very readily: "I immediately called my chief of staff and asked him to take over the command of the army. Then I can safely and boldly follow the troops of the 4th Division to Fengtian to take over the defense. ”

"General Afunin, the reason why I agreed to let you go to Fengtian is based on two considerations." Sokov said to Afunin: "First, the top commander of our occupied city is a military commander. , after the troops of the First Far Eastern Front to the east arrive, you will still be able to firmly hold control of the entire city in our hands."

"Comrade Commander, you can rest assured of this." Afunin expressed his stance to Sokov: "Before you arrive at Fengtian, I will definitely keep this city firmly in my hands, but I won't let you Friendly forces come to take control of the city."

Sokov nodded slightly and continued: "The second point is the issue of military discipline. I know that after you liberated Prague, there were many violations of discipline in the troops. After your troops take control of Fengtian, they must put an end to similar violations of discipline. An incident occurs. How about it? Can it be done?"

 After listening to the second point raised by Sokov, Afunin seemed a little hesitant. After a long time, he murmured: "Comrade Commander, I can only try my best to restrain the troops and try not to violate disciplines."

Sokov was very dissatisfied with Afunin's attitude. He frowned and said in a stern tone: "Why, General Afunin, can't you do something as simple as maintaining military discipline in the army?"

"Comrade Commander, please listen to my explanation." Afunin quickly defended himself and said: "Due to the shortage of troops, when our army replenished troops in Ukraine, it even added prisoners in prisons, including some criminal prisoners, into the troops. It is very difficult for these people to fundamentally abide by military discipline. Of course, after our army liberated Prague, we also dealt with some disciplinary violations seriously. At least 30 soldiers who violated disciplines were sent to the military Court, or other severe punishment." "General Afuning," Lu Jin said as he rolled over in his wheelchair: "If you feel that there are not enough political workers to restrain the troops, just speak up. I think Comrade Military Commissioner is very willing to help. Yours. You think so?" The next sentence he said was to Military Commissioner Gorokhov.

"Of course, of course." Gorokhov did not expect that Lukin would suddenly call his name, and said in a panic: "It is very appropriate for our political workers to maintain military discipline in the army. General Afnin, if If you don’t have enough manpower, I can send a group of people over to assist you.”

"No need, Comrade Military Commissioner." Afuning quickly waved his hands and said, "I think we should be able to solve this problem."

By three o'clock in the afternoon, Major General Ye Liaoming's 4th Guards Airborne Division had all been transported to Fengtian City. Before Afuning left for Fengtian, in order to maintain military discipline in the city, he specially dispatched a guard battalion to accompany him. After the plane landed, he immediately broke the guard battalion into pieces and organized it into twenty patrol teams to patrol Fengtian City. The first is to prevent the Kwantung Army in the city from causing chaos, and the second is to supervise the troops in the city and prevent them from violating discipline.

And Sokov also received a call from Zakharov: "Misha, the negotiations between the Far East General Command and the Kwantung Army have ended. The Kwantung Army will start at zero o'clock on August 19, lay down their weapons and surrender to our army, and let Get out of the area they control. I'm afraid it won't be long before the Kwantung Army's 44th Army will send representatives to negotiate with you about the specific matters of surrender."

Not long after Zakharov's call, Sokov received a call from Melekhov: "Comrade Commander, I have a special envoy from the Kwantung Army here. He said he was ordered to come to talk to you. Negotiated.”

"What's his name?" Sokov asked coldly after hearing this: "What position does he hold in the 44th Army?"

 “He said his name was Nobura Obata and he was the chief of staff of the 44th Army.”

"Oh, it turns out it's him." When he heard that the person who came to negotiate was Obata Nobira, Sokov showed a contemptuous smile, and then ordered Melekhov: "General Melekhov, you immediately arrange for someone to take him Send it to my headquarters."

 After ending the call, Sokov immediately sent someone to find a translator who knew Japanese to prepare for negotiations with Obata.

“Misha.” Lu Jin asked Sokov curiously: “The way you answered the phone, it seems that you know this special envoy of the Kwantung Army?”

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, I have heard of him before." Sokov smiled and explained to Lukin, Yakov and others: "Lieutenant General Obata Nobuharu was born in the heavy supply army. There is a saying in the Kwantung Army. : 'If the baggage is lost and the soldiers are counted as soldiers, the butterflies and dragonflies will turn into birds.' Although he is the chief of staff of the 44th Army, it is estimated that the division commanders below him look down on him. Come to us to negotiate surrender, and treat the officers of the Kwantung Army It is a shame for us. The person responsible for negotiating with us will become the target of everyone's reviling in the future, and this chief of staff who has served as a heavy soldier is best suited to play such a role."

Yakov laughed after hearing this, and then said: "I really didn't expect that this army chief of staff would be despised by his subordinates. If he were in our army, this would be unimaginable. You know, we The hierarchy in the military is strict, and no matter how dissatisfied you are with your superiors, you must still have superficial respect..."

Thinking of the upcoming Nobura Obata, Sokov suddenly lost interest. He asked Lukin, Yakov and Gorokhov: "Which of you is interested in presiding over the negotiations with Nobura Obata later?" ?”

Hearing Sokov ask this, the three of them couldn't help but be stunned. Then Yakov asked: "Misha, why don't you participate in the negotiations? Do you have anything else to do?"

"I got up too early today. I'm a little tired and want to go back and rest." Sokov said as he walked outside and said: "The negotiation with the little devil should be presided over by the three of you. Anyway, the negotiation As a matter of principle, they must surrender to our army unconditionally."

"Okay," Lujin saw that Sokov was unwilling to preside over such negotiations and did not force him, so he took the initiative and said: "I am the deputy commander of the group army. In the absence of the commander, all affairs in the army will be handled by me. It’s up to you.”

Looking at Sokov’s leaving back, Gorokhov asked with some confusion: “Why is Comrade Commander unwilling to preside over the negotiation meeting?”

Lukin did not speak, but smiled at Gorokhov, then shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands to indicate that he did not know.

When Yakov saw Gorokhov looking at him, he quickly waved his hands and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, don't ask me, I don't know what's going on." After saying that, he looked towards the door. Looking at it, he muttered in a low voice, "It's strange that the translator we are looking for hasn't come yet."

 An hour later, Nobura Obata, Chief of Staff of the 44th Army of the Kwantung Army, accompanied by General Melekhov, walked into the headquarters.

Before Obata Nobuira came here, he had done his homework and knew that the commander of the 53rd Army was General Sokov. As soon as he entered, his eyes searched around the room, trying to find any trace of Sokov. But to his regret, the three generals standing in front of him, including two major generals and a lieutenant general in a wheelchair, did not find the general he was looking for. He turned to the translator brought behind him and said: "Ask them where Admiral Sokov is. I came here specifically to visit him this time."

The translator who followed in did not dare to neglect, and quickly told Lu Jin and others what Obata Nobuira said. After listening to this, Lu Jin smiled slightly and then said: "Lieutenant General Obata Nobuya, your level is not worthy of our commander personally negotiating with you. I am Lu Jin, deputy commander of the group army, and I will be responsible for today's negotiations." Host.”

After Lukin finished speaking, the translator from the Soviet side quickly translated his words to Obata.

After hearing this, Nobata Nobira showed a disappointed expression on his face. He smiled bitterly and said: "I originally wanted to see with my own eyes what the commander who defeated three of our divisions looked like, but in the end I didn't have the honor to see him. It's really too bad. Sorry."

"General Obata Nobuira, don't be disappointed." Lu Jin said with a smile: "When your troops officially surrender, I think you will still have a chance to see him with your own eyes. Now, let's start the formal negotiations. Please sit down!"

 (End of this chapter)