Chapter 927 Refusing the invitation

  The work of developing the hovercraft was immediately put on the agenda after obtaining Stalin's consent.

   Seeing the approval of the hovercraft R&D project, Sokov couldn't help but secretly heaved a sigh of relief, and proposed to Ustinov again that he could refer to the design idea of ​​the automatic sled to shorten the development time of the hovercraft. His purpose of doing this is very simple, in the hope that in the Battle of Kharkov a few months later, his troops can quickly receive supplies from their superiors, so as not to be wiped out by the German army because of running out of ammunition and food.

   Originally thought that after staying in Moscow for two or three days, he would be able to return to Stalingrad. Although his troops would not launch a new offensive for the time being, Sokov had to stay with the commanders and fighters to feel at ease. But Ustinov always disagreed with allowing Sokov to return, saying that some unexpected problems may arise during the development of the hovercraft, and Sokov needs to help solve them.

  The funeral of Sokov's mother took place the day after the research and development work began. When the body was dug out from the ruins, it was already unrecognizable. After consulting Sokov, Yakov buried him in a corner of the factory together with several other workers who died.

  After handling the funeral, Sokov asked Yakov to convey his wish to Ustinov again, hoping to return to the front line as soon as possible, but Ustinov rejected it. He still said that during the research and development process, some difficult problems may be encountered, and Sokov needs to help solve them. As for Stalingrad, there will be no major battles for the time being, and the work of the division can be handed over to the deputy division commander and chief of staff.

Yakov sighed softly after repeating what Ustinov had said, and said: "Misha, I know Dmitry Fedorovich, since he has been unwilling to let you return to Stalingrad , it must be because of my father. They want you to stay in Moscow, maybe there is some important task for you."

   Sokov was dubious about Yakov's statement. He thought that he was an ordinary colonel, so how could he deserve the attention of the Supreme Commander himself. But in any case, Yakov is the son of Stalin. Sokov has to believe what he said, and he can’t believe it all. The only thing he can do is to be patient and continue to stay in Moscow.

   Two days later, while he was still sound asleep at home, he heard someone knocking desperately on the door. Before he could climb out of the simple bed, Annie, who was sleeping in the bedroom, had already walked to the door in a pajamas, and asked vigilantly towards the outside: "Who is outside?"

   "I'm Yakov, Misha's friend." Yakov's voice came from outside the door: "You are Anne, please open the door for me quickly, I need Misha urgently."

  Hearing that she was Sokov's friend, and that she called out her name, Annie opened the door without hesitation. As soon as the door opened, Yakov rushed in with a chill, and asked Annie who was holding the door, "Where is Misha?"

"In the kitchen!"

  Yakov walked quickly to the door of the kitchen, fumbled on the wall for a while, and then turned on the light in the kitchen. As soon as the light came on, he saw Sokov sitting on the cot, covering his eyes with his hands to block the glare of the light: "Misha, I'm sorry to wake you up, there is something urgent today, you immediately follow me Take a trip."

  Sokov glanced out the window, it was still pitch black outside, and then looked at the wall clock on the wall, it was only four o'clock in the morning. But he didn't get angry, because based on his understanding of Yakov, if something big hadn't happened, the other party would never wake him up at such a time when he should be sleeping.

  Sokov turned over and got out of bed. After a brief wash, he greeted Anne and Tonya who were woken up, put on his military coat, and followed Yakov out.

  After the two left, Tonya said to Anne in surprise: "Annie, have you seen who the lieutenant colonel who came to look for Misha is?"

   "I see it very clearly, but I don't know him." Annie nodded, and after giving Tonya an affirmative answer, she asked, "Do you know him?"

"Yes, I met him once when I was in the Western Front." Although she and Annie were the only ones in the room, Tonya still lowered her voice and said, "He is Yakov, the son of the Supreme Commander himself. "

"Ah, it's him?!" Annie covered her mouth with her hands after hearing the name Tonya said: "My God, it's incredible that he and Misha are good friends gone."

  Sokov followed Yakov to the outside of the building, and found a jeep parked beside the building, and there was no one in it. Seeing this situation, Sokov understood that it was Yakov who drove here again, so he sat in the co-pilot's seat without saying a word, waiting for Yakov to drive.

  The vehicle starts and proceeds down the street. Just after leaving Lenin Avenue, Sokov saw a traffic policeman flashing out from the side of the road, raising his hand to stop the car for inspection. But with the help of the street lights, he saw clearly the passport pasted on the car window, then took a step back, stood at attention and saluted the jeep.

   "Misha," Yakov didn't pay attention to this little episode, but asked the silent Sokov: "Why didn't you ask me, I brought you out so early, what's the matter?"

   Sokov glanced at the road outside and found that the jeep was heading towards the train station, so he asked casually, "Yasha, who are you going to send me to the train station to meet?"

  Hearing Sokov's answer, Yakov showed a look of astonishment on his face, "How do you know I'm going to take you to the train station?"

"I guess." Sokov yawned and said casually, "I guess the person who wants to see me will leave by train soon, otherwise you wouldn't bother me at this time." sleep."

  Seeing that Sokov guessed his purpose, Yakov grinned silently and said, "Misha, you guessed right, I'm going to take you to Belarusian Railway Station."

   "Yasha," Sokov asked Yakov with a sideways face: "Can you tell me, what important person wants to see me?"

   "It's General Golikov. He will leave Moscow in two hours. He hopes to have a good talk with you before leaving."

"General Golikov?" Sokov said with some puzzlement: "What will he do when he finds me? You know, he is the deputy commander of the front army. If he wants to find me, he will find me when I return to the army. Isn't it more convenient?"

   "He is no longer the deputy commander of the front army." Yakov shook his head and said, "Misha, your news has lagged behind."

   "What, isn't he the deputy commander of the front army?" Sokov was taken aback, and quickly asked, "What happened, why was he dismissed?"

"It's not dismissal, but promotion." Yakov replied with a smile: "He was just appointed as the commander of the Voronezh Front Army not long ago, and he is going to take office today. Before he leaves Moscow, I want to talk to you about Talk, so call me and let me take you to see him."

  Sokov thought hard in his mind: Since Golikov has served as the commander of the Voronezh Front Army, what will happen if he wants to see himself at this moment?

  The jeep drove directly into Belarus Railway Station and onto the platform. Because the jeep has various permits on the windshield, there is no one blocking it along the way.

Yakov pointed to the train on the track, and said to Sokov: "Misha, General Golikov is in the last car. Go over and meet him quickly. I will wait for you here." Sokov He opened the door and got out of the car, tidied up his military appearance, and walked towards the last carriage with strides.

There were more than a dozen soldiers lined up outside the carriage standing guard. Seeing Sokov walking towards the carriage, a lieutenant stepped forward to stop him and said politely: "I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel, you can't go any further. gone!"

   "Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov stopped and said to the stopped lieutenant, "I am Colonel Sokov. I am here to see General Golikov. Please inform me."

  Hearing Sokov's self-report, the lieutenant had a joyful expression on his face: "You are Colonel Sokov. Comrade Commander has been waiting for you, please come with me."

  Sokov followed the lieutenant into the carriage, and he saw Golikov and another general with their backs to the door, leaning over to look at a map on the table. He quickly took two steps forward, raised his hand to his forehead, and reported loudly: "Report to Comrade Commander of the Front Army, Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division, has been ordered to come, please give instructions!"

  Golikov stood up straight, turned around and smiled at Sokov, and said, "Hi, Colonel Sokov, I'm sorry I called you here so early, I didn't disturb your rest."

Sokov said dumbfoundingly in his heart: "I woke up from my sleep so early, it's no wonder I didn't disturb you." But in front of Golikov, he could only slap his swollen face and pretend to be fat and said, " No, it didn't bother me at all. You also know that on the battlefield, it is common for us to stay up for days and nights."

"But this is not a battlefield," Golikov said with a wry smile. "You could have slept until dawn, but you were woken up because of me. Let me introduce you. Military Commissar Lieutenant General Kuznetsov."

  It seems that the troops of the Voronezh Front Army have also changed their ranks, and now even the military commissioners no longer use the ranks of political workers. He hurriedly raised his hand to salute Kuznetsov, and said politely, "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar of the Front Army."

"Colonel Sokov," Golikov hesitated for a moment after beckoning Sokov to sit down, and said with some embarrassment: "I was ordered to command the troops of the Voronezh Front Army. Before I left, I learned that you were also in Moscow. So I troubled Yakov to bring you here, because there is one thing I want to ask for your opinion."

"Is there something you want to ask for my opinion?" Sokov muttered in his heart: "Could it be that he wants to transfer me to his army?" With this question, he asked respectfully: "Commander of the Front Army, can you Tell me, what is it?"

"I'm going to take up a post in the Voronezh Front soon, and I need some excellent commanders to assist me." Golikov said slowly: "And you are the commander I want most. How about it? Are you interested in joining my front army?"

   "Comrade General," it was unacceptable for Sokov to jump ship when the victory of the Stalingrad Defense War was imminent. Once he leaves at this moment, his efforts in the past few months will be wiped out, so he said euphemistically: "You should know that my troops are now sticking to the area around Mamayev Post, and it is impossible to transfer them away."

"Under the current circumstances, I have no way to transfer the 41st Guards Division to the Voronezh Front Army." Golikov replied with a smile: "There are troops, but there is a lack of an excellent commander. As long as you are willing to join me I can let you continue to serve as division commander."

Knowing that the other party only asked him to be a division commander, Sokov suddenly felt dull. He thought that when Rokossovsky tried to dig him last time, he had proposed to let him command an army, but now Goliko A husband can only give himself a teacher. Since others gave him the position of army commander, he didn't jump ship, and he definitely wouldn't miss the opportunity to be famous in history just for the position of division commander at the same level.

After carefully considering the stakes, Sokov stood up, straightened his body and said: "General Comrade, thank you for your kindness, but I may have to live up to your kindness. Before the Paulus German Army Group is eliminated, I will not be anywhere go."

Golikov didn't expect Sokov to reject his invitation so simply, and felt disappointed in his heart, but he still asked unwillingly: "Colonel Sokov, don't you really think about my proposal?" ?”

"Comrade General, I have thought it through very clearly." Sokov said with a serious expression: "My men and I have been fighting in Stalingrad for several months, and now victory is in sight. If we want to leave them and go to other units, I will Can't do it."

   "That's such a pity." Golikov sighed and said, "I thought we would have the opportunity to hit the enemy hard like we did on Mamayev Post. Unexpectedly, alas..."

  Since Sokov was unwilling to come to the Voronezh Front Army, Golikov was disappointed and did not force it. After chatting for a while, he waved Sokov away.

  Yakov, who was in the jeep, saw Sokov return to the car, started the car, and asked curiously: "Misha, what is General Golikov looking for you for?"

   "He wanted me to follow him to the Voronezh Front."

   "What, let you go to the Voronezh Front?" Yakov instinctively stepped on the brakes when he heard the news, turned his head and asked Sokov in surprise: "Then did you promise?"

   "No." Sokov shook his head and said, "I won't go anywhere until the enemies in the Stalingrad area are completely eliminated."

"That's good, that's good." Yakov restarted the car, and said with lingering fear: "It's really inappropriate to leave at this time because the enemy in the Stalingrad area is about to be wiped out by our army. .Misha, I agree with your choice."

  (end of this chapter)