Two guards came to the major, raised their hands and saluted, "Comrade Major, what are your instructions?"
The major pointed towards the tent by the river and ordered the two of them: "Go and carry that tent over."
Although the two of them did not understand the reason why the major did this, the habit of obedience they had developed for a long time still made them run to the tent without any complaints, and prepared to move it to the location where Marshal Zhukov was fishing according to the major's order.
While the major was leading people to move the tent, Sokov and Asiya strolled up behind Zhukov and greeted with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, how many fish have you caught?"
Zhukov said he was fishing, but in fact he was holding a fishing rod and staring at the ice hole in front of him in a daze. At this moment, someone behind him interrupted his meditation, which made him very dissatisfied. He frowned and looked back, thinking
Reprimand this uninvited guest.
But what caught his eyes was Sokov's familiar face. A look of astonishment flashed across his face, "Misha, why is it you?" After saying that, he tried to stand up, but because he was sitting too high,
After a long time, both legs became numb and I couldn't stand up for a while.
Sokov quickly stretched out his hand to support him and said with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, the ice is too slippery. Don't get up too fast. Be careful of falling."
With Sokov's help, Zhukov stood up straight and asked in surprise: "Misha, why are you here?"
"I heard that you were sick, so I came here to see you." After Sokov briefly stated the reason for his visit, he continued to ask: "Comrade Marshal, how many fish did you catch today?"
"Only five or six." Zhukov pointed at a few fish thrown near the hole in the ice and said, "It's just right to entertain you."
Looking at the major and guards carrying the tent over, Zhukov couldn't help but frowned again, "What are they doing and why are they carrying the tent here?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov quickly explained to Zhukov: "I saw that the weather was too cold and you could easily get cold and sick while fishing on the ice like this, so I took it upon myself to ask the major to carry the tent over so that you could sit on it.
Fishing in the tent.”
"Sitting in a tent and fishing?!" Zhukov asked in confusion: "How do you fish in a tent?"
"It's very simple, Comrade Marshal." Sokov continued: "Let the major set up a tent here later. After setting up, the ice hole will be in the middle of the tent, and you can sit in it and fish. Fishing in the tent
The biggest advantage is that there is no northwest wind, and if you put in kitchen utensils, you can directly process the fish you just caught."
After hearing this, Zhukov thought about it carefully, nodded and said, "Misha, your idea is really good. Why have I never thought of it?"
Soon, the major and his men carried the tent over and re-erected it near the ice cave.
After the tent was set up, Zhukov walked in and took a look. He felt very satisfied: "It's good, it's much warmer in the tent, and it doesn't affect my fishing." He walked out of the tent and said to the major standing outside, "Major.
Comrade, there can’t be many people in this tent, so you can go find another tent and pitch it next to it.”
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I will send someone to get the tent right away."
Sokov walked into the tent and felt that although it was warmer than outside, it was still cold. If he had been sitting here fishing with Zhukov, he would probably be frozen. So he said tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, I think it can still be done here."
Put a layer of wood in the tent and put a heating stove, so it will be warmer."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." Zhukov readily agreed to Sokov's proposal. He told the major who had not yet left: "Major, bring a few more boards and a heating stove so that the tent can be warmer.
.”
"Comrade Marshal, do you want one stove or two stoves?"
"You must bring at least two heating stoves." Zhukov said: "Don't you need heating in the tent you are staying in?"
"Understood, Comrade Marshal, I'll go and do it immediately." The major was worried that he wouldn't be able to take so many things, so he called two guards and returned to the villa with him.
Zhukov sat down next to the ice cave and continued fishing. After fishing for a while, he said: "Misha, I have been here for several days, and you are the only one who comes to visit me."
Sokov secretly said in his heart that people are cold and warm. Seeing Zhukov lose power, no one is willing to visit him. But he can think about it in his heart, but he can't say it out loud. He chuckled and then said: "Comrade Marshal, maybe it's...
It's been very cold outside recently, and no one wants to go out. When the weather gets warmer, there may be an endless stream of people coming to see you."
Zhukov is well aware of his situation. He is now idle. Many friends and old subordinates will not come to visit him because they are worried about being implicated. It is an unexpected surprise to see Sokov here today.
However, out of the perspective of protecting the other person, he still asked worriedly: "Misha, you brought Asiya to visit me today, aren't you worried about being implicated?"
"There's nothing to worry about." Sokov knew that everyone can add icing on the cake, but not many people can do it when it's time for help. He came to visit Zhukov when he was in the most difficult situation, and he would definitely leave a deep impression on him.
He grinned and said: "I am not here to visit some Soviet marshal, but to visit my father's friend, an elder who has always cared and loved me. I don't think anyone will make a fuss about this matter."
What Sokov said made Zhukov feel very comfortable. He smiled slightly and said: "Misha, if someone really wants to make a fuss about this matter, even if you are here to visit your parents, I'm afraid they will
Getting into unnecessary trouble."
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov felt the need to dispel Zhukov's concerns, lest he drive him away in order to protect himself: "Your situation is only temporary. I believe it won't be long before you will come back to take charge of the overall situation.
of."
Zhukov heard what Sokov said, put down the fishing rod in his hand, turned to stare at Sokov, and asked with interest: "Misha, why do you think so?"
"Now our army has changed from a strategic stalemate stage to a strategic offensive." Sokov replied calmly: "To ensure the success of the offensive strategy, we must have an excellent commander to command our army. And you, undoubtedly
is the best candidate.”
"I don't think it's realistic." Zhukov smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I can't even contact the army now, how can I command offensive operations on all fronts?"
"Comrade Marshal, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov organized the vocabulary in his mind and continued: "I think you will be able to return to the front line to command the troops at the end of February or early March at the most."
After hearing this, Zhukov showed a surprised expression on his face: "Misha, tell me, on what basis did you come to such a conclusion?"
"Comrade Marshal, do you know the combat situation of our army in the Cherkasy area?"
"I know." Even though Zhukov has not personally commanded the troops for more than a year, as a representative of the base camp stationed on the front line, he is very familiar with the Korson-Shepchenkovsky battle near Cherkasy.
He understood very well, nodded, and then asked: "What, is there any problem?"
"If the only troops besieging the ten divisions of the German army are General Konev's Ukrainian Second Front, then there is great hope of annihilating this enemy." Sokov said cautiously: "But now those who are participating in the siege,
There is also General Vatutin’s 1st Ukrainian Front. I think that in the end of this battle, it was very likely that a considerable number of the enemy’s breakthrough was successful because the cooperation between the two fronts was not coordinated enough.”
After Zhukov heard this, his expression became solemn. After a while, he said: "Misha, to be honest, before the battle of Kursk, I didn't have much confidence in Konev. You know, war
At the beginning of the outbreak, he was promoted to the rank of general. Two years later, he is still standing still.
When I learned that the reserve force of the Steppe Front was commanded by Konev, I felt very uneasy. I was worried that once Vatutin's defense line south of Kursk was breached, Konev's troops would not be able to block the aggressive attack.
Enemy. But everything that happened next made me change my view of him. Without Konev’s Steppe Front, the outcome of the Battle of Kursk is really unknown.”
Sokov looked at Zhukov blankly and thought to himself, what are you telling me about Konev? Are you still worried that his troops will not be able to block the enemy's breakthrough?
The next second, Sokov heard Zhukov say: "If possible, I will call Konev personally to remind him of this. We finally surrounded the main force of the Germans, and we must not let them
Jump out of our encirclement."
"Comrade Marshal, I think you have misunderstood me."
"Have I misunderstood what you meant?" Zhukov raised his eyebrows and said in confusion, "Am I right?"
"What I actually want to say is that if only General Konev's troops besieged the Germans this time, they might have a chance to annihilate the enemy." Sokov said cautiously: "And the 1st Ukrainian Front that is fighting alongside them now will
This is the flaw. I am worried that the enemy will jump out of the encirclement of our army from the direction where General Vatutin is responsible."
"What, are you saying that the direction Vatutin is responsible for will be chosen by the Germans as a breakthrough?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, that is exactly the case." To increase his persuasiveness, Sokov emphasized: "You must still remember that our army suffered heavy losses in the Zhytomir region shortly after regaining Kiev.
If the Supreme Command had not dispatched General Rokossovsky in time to take over the command of the troops, Kiev might have been taken back by the Germans."
Zhukov was also full of dissatisfaction with Vatutin's performance over the past year. However, after listening to Sokov's evaluation of him, he said with a straight face: "Whether the commander of a front is qualified can only be determined by the supreme commander.
The Ministry has the final say, and it is not something you can comment on casually. Do you understand?"
Having said this, Zhukov glanced outside the tent and saw that except for his lonely tent, there was no one around. He slowed down and said to Sokov: "Misha, I know what you said is true.
It makes sense. But these words should not be said casually. It doesn't mean anything to me. If someone with ulterior motives hears it, I'm afraid you will get into trouble."
"I understand what you mean, Comrade Marshal." Sokov said with a smile: "There are no outsiders, so I can tell you what is in my heart."
"It's good that you know." After Zhukov said this, he picked up the fishing rod again and continued fishing, pretending to be casual and asked: "Misha, do you really think the Germans will jump out of the Cherkasy encirclement?"
come out?"
"Among the German troops besieged in Cherkasy, at least the Viking Division is their elite. The Germans will never tolerate this army being annihilated by us." Sokov said: "Therefore, Manstein will definitely think
Try our best to make this army jump out from the encirclement of our army."
"Then do you think if we adjust our deployment now, we will have a chance to annihilate the besieged enemies?"
"It is basically impossible to completely annihilate the enemy." Even though Sokov is not on the front line now, he knows many things in his heart. Although the troops involved in the siege have been replenished, the new recruits are basically from Ukraine and have not been through
Specialized military training. Although the number of people seems to be quite large, the overall combat effectiveness does not increase but decreases. "Unless the two front armies are merged now and then commanded by you or General Konev, there is a certain chance of annihilating the besieged.
The main force of the German army."
"Under the current circumstances, merging the two front armies will increase the number of people, but it does not mean that the combat effectiveness will be improved." Zhukov saw the pros and cons of merging the two front armies at this moment quite clearly, "There are no differences between the troops.
If we are familiar with each other, there will definitely be problems of one kind or another in cooperation, and it will also cause unnecessary confusion, which will create a good opportunity for the Germans to break through."
Seeing that Zhukov saw the problem more comprehensively than he did, Sokov did not mention the merger of the two front armies again. In his memory, the merger of the two front armies would not happen until Vatutin was injured and Zhukov's acting command ended.
Today, both front armies have their own headquarters, and merger is basically impossible.
Zhukov didn't want to continue discussing this issue, so he changed the topic in time: "Misha, has your injury healed?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I have recovered." Sokov replied with a smile: "If I didn't need to study at the Frunze Military Academy for another six months, I would have wanted to return to the front line immediately."
Zhukov did not say like others that you can learn more theoretical knowledge by staying in the academy. Instead, he said thoughtfully: "Actually, I feel that even if you continue to stay in the academy, there will be nothing to learn."
Already."
Sokov was stunned at first, and then felt ecstatic in his heart. He tentatively asked Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, do you mean that I can return to the front line immediately?"
Zhukov glanced at Sokov's injured leg and said: "If I had the right to decide, I would definitely send you to the most difficult front, because you have the ability to turn the tide of the war. But now..." He put
He spread his hands and said helplessly, "I can't even leave here now, let alone arrange for you to return to the front line."
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov felt that since he did not have to stay in the academy for another half a year, he could consider trying to return to the front line as soon as possible, so he said to Zhukov: "In this way, I don't have to complete the Frunze Military Academy.
Are you going to return to the front line early for your studies?"
"Theoretically it's possible." Zhukov said with a wry smile: "It's a pity that I don't have that right now, otherwise I would let you return to the front line as soon as possible."
This chapter has been completed!