After Zhukov read the telegram, he couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then he shook the telegram in his hand and asked the staff: "Comrade staff, where did the telegram come from?"
"It was sent from the Voronezh Front Army Headquarters, Comrade Marshal." the communications staff officer replied respectfully.
"That's the only thing?"
"Yes."
After listening to the communications officer's reply, Zhukov nodded and told the driver: "Keep going!"
But not long after the car drove, it stopped again. Zhukov, who was closing his eyes to rest, opened his eyes and asked displeasedly: "What happened? Why did you stop?"
The adjutant sitting in the passenger seat quickly turned around and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, I'll go down and take a look."
Not long after the adjutant left, he returned to Zhukov's car and reported to him: "Comrade Marshal, General Susekov, Military Commissar of the Grassland Front, is waiting for you in front."
"Susekov, why is he here?" Zhukov asked in surprise.
"Comrade Marshal, I asked General Susekov. He heard that General Sokov's plane was shot down by the enemy and his whereabouts are unknown, so he went to the 27th Army Headquarters on behalf of General Konev."
Knowing that Susekov was also rushing to the headquarters of the 27th Army, Zhukov opened the door and got out of the car, and said to his adjutant: "Let's go over and see General Susekov."
Accompanied by his adjutant, Zhukov came to where Susekov and others were. "Hello, General Susekov." Zhukov took the initiative to extend his hand to the other party and said politely: "I never expected that I would meet him here.
your turn."
"Hello, Comrade Marshal." Susekov said respectfully: "I heard that something happened to Major General Sokov. I followed the order of Commander Konev and went to the 27th Army Headquarters. I didn't expect to meet him on the way.
To you."
"Are you also interested in Sokov's affairs?" Zhukov asked calmly.
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Susekov heard Zhukov's question and quickly replied truthfully: "Now that Major General Sokov's whereabouts are unknown, the 27th Army may have unstable hearts. I rushed over in a hurry just to
Stabilize the morale of the military and avoid affecting the attack that will be launched later."
"An attack to be launched later?" Zhukov asked with some surprise: "What, are your Steppe Front troops preparing to launch an attack on Kharkov? Why didn't I hear anything about it in advance?"
When Konev called Zhukov, Susekov stood aside. He knew that Konev did not report to the other party that the 27th Army was about to launch an offensive. At this moment, he truthfully reported to Zhukov: "It was not formulated by the front army.
Instead, Major General Sokov, commander of the 27th Group Army, discovered a good fighter plane and decisively prepared to launch an attack on October Town where the enemy was entrenched."
Having said this, Susekov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then added: "Their attack will start at four o'clock in the afternoon."
Zhukov raised his hand and looked at his watch and said: "There are still a few hours before the attack is about to begin. Are his troops ready?" At this time, the car behind him drove up, and Zhukov called to Susekov.
, "General Susekov, get in my car and report Sokov's battle plan to me."
The convoy was back on the road. Susekov, who was sitting side by side with Zhukov, introduced Sokov's combat plan to Zhukov in detail. Finally, he said with regret: "Now the whereabouts of Major General Sokov are unknown, and I don't know if he will."
It affects the morale and morale of the troops participating in the war."
"General Susekov, you don't have to worry about this." Zhukov waved his hand to the other party and said, "Souskov has returned to his headquarters safely."
"What, Major General Sokov has returned to his headquarters?" Susekov was shocked when he heard the news, and then asked in an unbelievable tone: "Comrade Marshal, where did you get the information?
"
Zhukov took out the brief telegram from his pocket and handed it to Susekov: "This is the telegram sent to me by the Voronezh Front not long ago, saying that Sokov has returned."
Although there was only a short line of text in the telegram, Susekov read it over and over again, tears streaming down his face: "It will be good to come back, it will be good to come back." He wiped it with his hand.
With tears in his eyes, he tentatively asked Zhukov, "Comrade Marshal, do you have a radio in your convoy? I want to report the good news to Commander Konev immediately."
"I don't think it's necessary." Zhukov shook his head and said, "In a quarter of an hour at most, we will arrive at the headquarters of the 27th Army. You can use the phone there to report to General Konev."
Soon, Zhukov's convoy arrived outside the 27th Army headquarters.
As soon as the car stabilized, Zhukov opened the door, jumped out of the car, and walked quickly towards the headquarters. The officers and soldiers on duty at the door couldn't help being surprised when they saw Zhukov's appearance. They were stunned at first, and then stood at attention and raised their hands.
salute.
Zhukov entered the building and walked forward along the corridor. When he met an oncoming lieutenant, he reached out to stop him and asked sharply: "Where is Sokov's headquarters?"
"Report to Comrade Marshal!" The lieutenant was frightened when he saw that the person asking for directions was actually Marshal Zhukov. He was stunned for a while before replying hesitantly: "The commander's headquarters is not far from here...
"
Before the lieutenant could finish speaking, Zhukov stepped forward and grabbed his arm, dragging him forward: "Take me there quickly."
But the lieutenant stood still and said with a complicated expression: "Comrade Marshal, the commander's headquarters is on the second floor, and the stairs are right where you just passed."
This was when Susekov hurried over and said to Zhukov breathlessly: "Comrade Marshal, you are going the wrong way. Sokov's headquarters is on the second floor. There are stairs on the right after entering the door. Go up the stairs.
can reach his headquarters."
Zhukov, led by Susekov, came to Sokov's headquarters. As soon as he entered the door, someone shouted loudly: "Marshal Zhukov is here!"
Following the shouting, everyone in the room stopped their work and paid attention to Zhukov who was standing at the door.
Zhukov glanced towards the room, heading towards the wooden table where the map was placed, because he saw a camp bed in the corner not far from the wooden table, and there were many people standing beside the bed.
Sokov was lying on that bed.
The people standing by the bed saw Zhukov striding towards their position and quickly made way for a passage so that Zhukov could reach the camp bed smoothly.
But the next scene shocked everyone. When Zhukov passed by the wooden table, he picked up a folder on the table, came to the camp bed, looked down at Sokov lying on the bed, and suddenly
He raised the folder in his hand and hit Sokov head-on.
While fighting back, Zhukov scolded fiercely: "You bastard, you don't even think about your identity, you actually imitated the behavior of a scout and went to scout out the enemy's situation yourself. What's even more outrageous is that you actually took a plane with an armed company.
There are no planes. Fortunately, the German pilot did not kill you. If you died, do you know what the consequences would be?"
When Zhukov waved the folder, the documents inside were scattered everywhere like a goddess scattering flowers. People standing nearby saw Zhukov beating Sokov, and no one dared to break up the fight. Seeing the documents flying everywhere, they quickly
Go pick up the files and take the opportunity to get yourself out of the embarrassing situation.
When Susekov saw Zhukov beating Sokov with a folder, he quickly hugged Zhukov's waist from behind and tried his best to persuade him: "Comrade Marshal, don't hit him anymore. Major General Sokov is still injured. If you hit him...
Come anyway, but there will be no one to direct the battle."
Zhukov snorted and threw the empty document holder in his hand at Sokov. Seeing Zhukov throw away the folder, Samyko quickly moved a chair over and called to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, please sit down!
"
As soon as Zhukov sat down, Lunev came over with another cup of hot tea and said with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, you must be thirsty. Please drink a cup of hot tea. I don't know your taste, so I just put it for you."
I got two sugar cubes.”
After receiving the hot tea, Zhukov thanked Runev, then lowered his head and asked Sokov, who was lying on the camp bed: "Where is the injury?" Although there was still anger on his face, everyone could tell from the tone of his voice.
I could hear a hint of caring in everyone.
Sokov Zhukov was so angry with himself that he wanted to find an excuse to vent his dissatisfaction. Therefore, when he was beaten, he did not dare to resist at all. When he heard Zhukov ask himself, he quickly forced a smile on his face.
Said: "Thank you Comrade Marshal for your concern. Fortunately, with the blessing of Marx, when our plane made an emergency landing, the pilot raised the nose of the plane at the last moment to slow down the momentum. Although the plane broke into two pieces when it landed, the pilot and I also
I was thrown out of the plane, but I only bruised my forehead, but the pilot unfortunately broke his leg."
Susekov, who was standing behind Zhukov, was afraid that Zhukov would continue to beat Sokov again, so he quickly interrupted and said: "Comrade Sokov, Commander Konev and I are relieved to see that you are okay. I want to give him immediate help."
Call Commander Konev and tell him the good news that you are alive."
While Susekov was on the phone, Zhukov asked Sokov: "Misha, I heard that you plan to launch an attack on October Town. Is this true?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, there is such a thing." Sokov heard Zhukov calling him by his nickname again. He knew that he flew to the enemy's defense area without authorization to conduct reconnaissance. It was over like this, and he was secretly relieved.
, and then said seriously: "I originally planned to use the 84th Infantry Division to attack the town, but after my reconnaissance, I found that the terrain in front and behind the town was very conducive to the deployment of armored forces, so I temporarily deployed from Poluboa
General Rove's Guards Tank Corps dispatched a tank brigade to participate in this attack."
"Misha, have you ever thought that since this terrain is conducive to the deployment of tank troops, once the enemy cannot hold on, they will flee the town by means of transportation. In this way, your offensive battle may turn into a rout.
battle. Don’t forget the lessons learned when our army fought in this area at the beginning of the year. We occupied a lot of territory, but the enemy did not destroy much. As a result, at the end of the battle, the enemy’s forces were all concentrated in one place, but our troops were
The lengthening of the front and the increase in the area under control resulted in weak local forces, and in the end, the enemy was defeated."
"Comrade Marshal, you can rest assured about this." Sameko interrupted: "Before the attack begins, we will send a battalion to the back of October Town to cut off the enemy's retreat route. Even after the battle begins,
This force disguised as the enemy will take the opportunity to sneak into the town and assist our frontal attack force to seize the town."
"Well, you are very thoughtful." After listening to Samyko's report, Zhukov nodded slightly and said, "Cut off the enemy's retreat in October Town, so that they can be completely wiped out."
Hearing Zhukov's praise, Sokov, Samyko, Lunev and others all had smiles on their faces.
"However," Zhukov continued: "Once the enemy learns that October Town has been attacked by you, they will definitely send troops for reinforcements. What are you going to do?"
Sameko blurted out: "The battalion that detours back to the enemy's rear will leave part of its troops to block the enemy who comes to help."
"You still have to divide your troops to help the frontal attacking troops. How many troops can be left to block the attack." Zhukov shook his head and said: "It is very difficult for a mere one or two hundred people to block the German reinforcements."
"But they are equipped with new rockets and rocket launchers. Even if there is only one company responsible for blocking missions, their combat effectiveness will not be weaker than that of a battalion of ordinary troops." Sameko said confidently: "As long as they can persist for a long time.
In two hours, we captured the town's troops and could rush over to support them."
Seeing Zhukov still shaking his head, Sokov, who was lying on the camp bed, thought of a possibility and said quickly: "Comrade Marshal, I understand what you mean."
"Do you understand what I mean?" Zhukov raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Then tell me."
"You think our plan is not perfect yet," Sokov said: "According to our plan, as long as we destroy the enemies in October Town and occupy the town, we will win. But what you mean is that we should take the opportunity to expand our results and make a big push.
They must be defeated to reinforce the troops, and follow them to pursue other targets."
Susekov, who had just finished calling Konev, happened to hear what Sokov said. Looking at Zhukov who smiled and nodded, he thought to himself: There are many commanders who know how to fight, but those who can fight like Sokov
There are not many people like the Major General who know how to figure out Marshal Zhukov's thoughts. No wonder Marshal Zhukov likes him so much. As soon as he heard that something happened to him, he hurried over from the headquarters of the Voronezh Front to learn about the situation.
"You already know my intention." Zhukov asked Sokov with a smile: "Then tell me, how do you plan to improve your combat plan and maximize the results?"
