Sokov originally thought that after this meeting with Lunev, he would have to wait until his injury recovered at the earliest before he would have a chance to see him again. Unexpectedly, at noon the next day, he appeared in his ward again. This time
Appearing in the ward with him was a general with a big beard.
When he saw this general for the first time, Sokov's mind immediately thought of the bearded squadron leader in "Escape from the Tiger's Mouth". The two men's beards were exactly the same.
When Sokov was recalling the name of the British pilot, he heard Lunev say: "Comrade Commander, we are here to see you again."
"Comrade Military Commissar, I'm glad to see you again." Sokov smiled at Lunev, and then asked tentatively: "I wonder who the general next to you is...?"
But Lunev did not introduce Sokov immediately. Instead, he turned to the general and said: "Sergey, I don't need to introduce this to you. You should be familiar with his resume."
"Yes, Lunev. Although General Sokov and I have never met, I am very familiar with everything about him." The bearded general walked to the bed, first stretched out his hand to Sokov, and found that the other party
When he couldn't shake hands with himself, he took his hand back and nodded to Sokov: "Let me introduce myself. I am Shtemenko, now the chief of operations of the General Staff."
Hearing the other party's identity, Sokov quickly remembered this person's resume: After the outbreak of the Patriotic War, Shtemenko served as the deputy director of the Direction Department of the General Staff Operations Department from August 1941, and was under the supervision of the deputy staff officer.
Vasilevsky appreciated and praised him as a man who was well educated in the military and very capable of working. He not only had the ability to work, but also was very talented, energetic and determined.
In June 1942, after the Southern Front suffered a defeat, Stalin sent Beria to the Caucasus to deal with the difficulties there. Beria hoped that an officer from the General Staff would accompany him. Vasilevsky gave him one
He recommended Shtemenko, who had just become the director of the department, saying that he was a young and promising staff officer. Shtemenko worked with Beria for several months, during which time he formed a close friendship with Beria and Antonov.
Close comrades.
In April 1943, he served as the First Deputy Minister of the Operations Department of the General Staff, and was promoted to Minister in May. The title of Director of Operations sounds quite daunting, but in fact it is not easy to do. After taking up this position, several generals came to work for Stalin.
After several reports, he was dismissed from his post, causing chaos within the operations department.
But after Shtemenko took over the post of Minister of War, he quickly won Stalin's trust with his high theoretical level, excellent organizational and coordination capabilities, clear mind, firm and steady character and outstanding military talents.
Sokov felt flattered that the popular man in front of Stalin came here to visit him. He quickly apologized to the other party and said: "Comrade Minister, please forgive me for being injured and unable to shake hands with you."
"
But Shtemenko didn't care about these details at all. He sat on the chair next to Sokov's bed and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, General Sokov, you have been in the hospital for so long before I came to visit.
You, I hope you don’t blame me.”
After Sokov exchanged polite words with the other party, he began to murmur in his heart: He and Shtemenko had never had any interaction, so how could he come here to visit him?
In order to find out what was going on, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Minister, do you have anything to tell me when you are here today?"
Hearing what Sokov said, a smile appeared on Shtemenko's face. He turned sideways to Lunev who was standing next to him and said with a smile: "Lunev, it seems you are right, Sokov
The general is indeed very smart, he guessed that I came to see him because I had something to do."
After saying this, he faced Sokov again and said: "Comrade Sokov, judging from your current situation, it will take at least half a year or even longer to recover. Even after you are discharged from the hospital, can you return to the front line?
It is also an unknown number, so I am here today hoping that you can go to the General Staff Headquarters to help me."
Sokov's eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade Minister, what do you mean, you asked me to go to the General Staff Headquarters to help you?"
"That's right." Shtemenko nodded and said: "I happen to be short of a capable deputy. If you agree, I can first let you serve as the deputy director of the Direction Department of the Operation Department. After you become familiar with your job,
, and then directly assume the position of director."
It has to be said that Shtemenko's proposal is very tempting. Not only can he stay in the safe rear and work, but as long as he doesn't make any mistakes, there are many opportunities for promotion.
But Sokov's excitement only lasted less than a minute before he realized that going to the General Staff Headquarters was not the best choice. The Soviet army has always had a tradition of despising staff officers. Everyone knows that the commander-in-chief who defeated Napoleon was Kutu.
Zov, but who knows who his chief of staff is? Unless he can become the chief of general staff like Vasilevsky and Antonov, he will be destined to spend the rest of his life in obscurity.
After thinking about this clearly, he rejected Shtemenko's proposal: "Thank you, Comrade Minister, thank you for your kindness. However, I feel that my personality is still suitable for staying on the front line, so I can only express my gratitude to you."
Please say sorry."
But Shtemenko seemed to have guessed that his proposal would be rejected by Sokov. He was not angry at all. On the contrary, he said kindly: "General Sokov, don't reject me so quickly. You are still in the hospital anyway."
If you lie down for a long time, you can slowly consider my proposal. It won't be too late to give me your final answer until the day you are discharged from the hospital."
After Shtemenko said these words, he stood up and said goodbye to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, you take good care of yourself. I will come to see you again when I have time."
"Asiya," Sokov saw that Shtemenko and Lunev were about to leave, and quickly called Asiya who was standing aside: "help me see off Comrade Minister."
Shtemenko did not object to Sokov's arrangement. He also planned to talk to Asya privately after leaving the ward later and ask her to help him persuade Sokov to join the general staff.
The Ministry serves as his deputy.
Asiya sent the two of them to the stairs. Shtemenko winked at Lunev and motioned for him to talk to Asiya. The understanding Lunev nodded slightly, and then said to Asiya: "Ah
Thea, I want to talk to you."
"General Lunev," Asiya showed enough courtesy to Lunev who had helped her many times: "Everyone is so familiar with him. If you have anything to say, please just say it."
"That's it, Asiya." Lunev thought about it for a moment and decided to speak out what he was thinking: "Do you think Comrade Commander will stay at the headquarters honestly after his injury recovers and he returns to the front line?
, or often go to the most dangerous combat areas?"
Asiya said without hesitation: "It goes without saying that with his character, he will definitely not be able to sit still in the headquarters. As long as there is an opportunity, he will go to the most dangerous areas to command operations."
"Yes, I think so too." Although he couldn't see Sokov's ward at all from where he stood at the top of the stairs, Lunev instinctively glanced sideways, and then continued: "This time
It is simply a miracle that he survived. But no one can guarantee that similar miracles will happen when he runs to the front again in the future..."
Hearing what Lunev said, Asia understood what the other party meant. She asked tentatively: "General Lunev, do you want me to find an opportunity to persuade Misha to work at the General Staff?"
Lunev and Shtemenko looked at each other, and both saw smiles in each other's eyes. "That's right, Asya." Lunev nodded and said firmly: "That's what I meant.
For the safety of Comrade Commander, it is best for him to stay and work in the General Staff Headquarters after he recovers from his injuries. This will be beneficial to both you and him."
Lunev's words made Asia's heart beat. She knew very well that if Sokov returned to the front line after recovering from his injury, even if he would no longer take risks easily, she, as his wife, would still worry about his safety.
. She nodded vigorously and assured Lunev: "General Lunev, don't worry, when I go back later, I will persuade him and try to make him change his mind."
"That's great." Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Lunev showed a happy smile on his face: "Asia, then I will wait for your good news."
When Asiya saw the two people walking up the stairs, she turned around and was about to leave, but she bumped into an oncoming female officer. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Asiya quickly apologized to the other party and said:
"I walked in a hurry and didn't notice anyone behind me. Please forgive me for my rashness."
But the other party did not speak, but looked at Asiya carefully.
Seeing that the other party didn't respond, Asiya thought she was angry with herself, so she quickly repeated what she just said.
This time the other party finally reacted, stretched out his hands to grab Asiya's arms, shook them hard twice, and said excitedly: "Asiya, you are Asiya!"
Asiya looked at the other party with doubtful eyes. After looking for a while, her tightened brows relaxed and she exclaimed with the same excitement: "It turns out it's you, Agelina!"
"Quiet, girls, please be quiet." A nurse passing by frowned and stopped the two from screaming: "This is the inpatient department of the hospital, please keep quiet."
Hearing the nurse's criticism, Asiya stuck out her tongue in embarrassment, and then asked Agelina in a low voice: "Agelina, why are you here? I thought you were still behind enemy lines?"
"On the eve of the liberation of Kharkiv, I was transferred back to Moscow and now work in Lubyankar." Adelina explained to Asiya: "There is a unit leader who is hospitalized here. I was ordered to
Came to visit him."
Asiya saw that Agelina only mentioned in general terms that a person in charge was hospitalized, but did not say who the person was. She guessed that the identity of the other person was sensitive and could not be exposed casually, so she did not ask curiously.
Seeing Asiya wearing a white coat, Agelina asked curiously: "Asiya, do you work in a military hospital? When were you transferred back from the front line?"
"I was transferred back to Moscow from the front after the Battle of Kursk, and was assigned to work as a military doctor in the weapons and equipment department." These things were not confidential, so Asiya told Agelina boldly, and she said with a wry smile.
: "As for why I'm here, it's because Misha was hospitalized here after being injured, and my superiors arranged for me to come and take care of him."
"What, Misha is injured?" Agelina couldn't help being shocked when she heard the news, and then said to Asiya anxiously: "Take me to see him quickly."
When Asiya brought Agelina into the ward, she saw that Sokov had closed his eyes. According to Asiya's experience, he just closed his eyes to rest and did not really fall asleep, so he walked quickly to
In front of the hospital bed, she bent down and said into his ear: "Misha, I just met an old friend outside. Do you want to meet her?"
Sokov opened his eyes and asked curiously: "What old friends? I have been on the front line for the past two years. What old friends can I have in Moscow?"
"Misha." Before Asiya could speak, Agelina appeared beside her, looking down at Sokov lying on the hospital bed, and asked with a smile: "Am I not your old friend?
?”
"Ah, it's Agelina." Seeing the girl he met when he liberated the prisoner of war camp, Sokov showed an expression of surprise: "Why are you here? I thought you were here again now.
In some kind of city, what kind of hidden mission is being carried out?"
"Yes, before the Battle of Kursk, I did lurk in the German-occupied areas to collect information beneficial to our army." Agelina replied: "Later, as a companion who knew my identity was arrested,
My identity was exposed, and I had no choice but to retreat to Moscow under the cover of other comrades."
"So that's it." Sokov nodded and continued to ask: "Then what did your superiors arrange for you? Should you stay in Moscow to work, or should you wait until the right time and then send you to lurk behind enemy lines?"
"Since my identity has been completely exposed, it is obviously impossible to carry out lurking missions behind enemy lines. Therefore, my superiors arranged for me to work in Lubyanka." After Agelina briefly explained her situation, she curiously
He asked back: "Misha, how could you, a group army commander, be so seriously injured? Did you sneak to the front again?"
Sokov laughed dryly and said with some embarrassment: "Agelina, it is indeed safe to stay in the headquarters, but if you want to understand the war on the frontier, you can only get the battle reports from the subordinates, and you cannot know in time.
The battle situation at the frontline changes. In order to prevent the situation of delaying the fighter plane, I have to run to the frontline frequently."
"You, you!" Agelina pointed at Sokov and said with a hateful expression: "Have you never thought about Asiya? What if you really have
How sad will she be if there are three long and two shortcomings?"
"That's right, that's right. Agelina, you are absolutely right." Sokov was very happy to see Agelina, his old friend. He didn't want to have any dispute with her over such a trivial matter.
, and followed her wishes and said: "I will pay attention to the lessons learned from this time in the future, and will never run to the front easily again. Even if I want to go, I must do the necessary safety and security work."
After saying this in one breath, Sokov seemed a little out of breath. After taking two deep breaths, he looked at Agelina and asked curiously: "Agelina, how did you know I'm here?"
Hospitalized?"
This chapter has been completed!