Sokov originally thought that even after Zhukov took over Vatutin's post, he would have to wait until after April if he wanted to return to the front line, but he unexpectedly received a call from Lunev.
"Misha," Runev asked on the phone, "I want to talk to you. Do you have time?"
"Yes." The senior commander training course had not yet started at this time. Sokov stayed at home every day. Naturally, he was bored. He said to Lunev: "Lunev, let Koshkin come.
Pick me up and I'll go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to see you immediately."
"No, you don't have to come over." Unexpectedly, Lunev said unexpectedly: "I will go to your home now."
When Sokov was on the phone, Asya was sitting aside. After Sokov put down the phone, she asked curiously: "Misha, tell me, what business does Lunev have with you?"
"I don't know!" Sokov answered simply, and then thought of a possibility: "Maybe it has something to do with our meeting with Marshal Zhukov yesterday."
"Is it related to Marshal Zhukov?" Asiya asked with some confusion: "When we went to see Marshal Zhukov, did we have to deal with him beforehand, or did his lieutenant Koshkin send us there? Is there any problem?"
Sokov and Asiya have carefully checked the room in the past two days and did not find any eavesdropping equipment, so he can speak with confidence: "Is it because we have been alone with Marshal Zhukov for a while? He wants to understand what we have talked about."
What?"
Asiya thought to herself: Yesterday when Zhukov was fishing on the ice with Zhukov, the major responsible for protecting his safety had been away for a while to get the tent. Maybe Lunev came over just to get to know Sokov and Zhukov during this period.
content of the conversation.
After thinking of this, Asiya suddenly felt much more relaxed: "Misha, I was here yesterday and heard the entire conversation between you and Marshal Zhukov. Even if you tell Lunev all of this, I think there will be no problem."
"Yes, we don't have to talk about this kind of thing." Sokov said in agreement: "If you tell a lie, you need 100 lies to cover it up."
Lunev arrived quickly, arriving at Sokov's home less than half an hour after making the phone call.
He shook hands with Sokov and asked politely: "Misha, how have you been doing these past two days?"
"Very good." Sokov replied with a smile: "If my superiors send me back to the front line now, even though my legs are injured and I cannot go to charge personally, I can still sit in the headquarters and command the troops."
But Lunev expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "If you are really asked to go back to command the troops, can your body really adapt?"
"No problem." After chatting with Zhukov yesterday, Sokov realized that as long as there was a chance, he could return to the front line immediately without finishing the training at the academy. So he said with confidence: "Lunev, my
You should be very clear about the extent of his injuries. Except for the inconvenience in his legs and feet, the injuries on his body have basically healed, and he is fully capable of commanding troops in combat."
"Misha, to tell you the truth, I came here today just to understand your physical condition." Lunev said: "If conditions permit, I can allow you to return to the front line as soon as possible."
Lunev originally thought that Sokov would respond to him by referring to his studies at the Frunze Military Academy. Unexpectedly, the other party asked impatiently: "If my physical condition permits, can I really return to the front line immediately?"
"Yes, Misha." Lunev nodded: "That's true. As long as your physical condition allows, we can arrange for you to return to the front line as soon as possible. After all, there is a lack of outstanding commanders like you."
Sokov felt that Lunev was not here today just to chat with him, but must have come with some important mission, so he asked tentatively: "Lunev, we are all friends, there is no need to go around in circles if anything happens."
, you can tell me directly so that I can be mentally prepared."
Now that Sokov got straight to the point, Lunev stopped rambling and said seriously: "Misha, at the meeting of the Supreme Command two hours ago, General Konev's report was discussed.
Apply."
"General Konev's application?" Sokov said with some confusion: "Is his application related to me?"
"Yes, it is indeed related to you." Lunev nodded and continued: "In yesterday's battle, the aerial bomb dropped by the enemy plane hit the 53rd Group Army headquarters, causing huge casualties.
The commander of the group army, Major General Tarasov, was seriously injured and could no longer continue to command the battle. Therefore, General Konev applied to the Supreme Command, hoping that you could serve as the commander of the group army."
"What, let me take the post of commander of the 53rd Army?" Sokov suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and tried his best to ask in a calm tone: "Lunev, is this all true?"
"Of course it is true." Lunev replied affirmatively: "The Supreme Commander himself asked Comrade Beria to know about your recovery from the injury. If conditions permit, he will immediately rush to the front line and serve as the commander of the 53rd Army. The meeting adjourned
After that, Beria also gave me the task of understanding your recovery from injuries."
"Lunev." Sokov grabbed Lunev's hand and said with some excitement: "Please go back and tell Comrade Beria that I have fully recovered and my body can fully adapt to life on the front line.
, I hope I can return to the front line as soon as possible."
Lunev obviously supported Sokov's return to the front line. He waited for Sokov to finish speaking and then continued: "Misha, it is very beneficial for you to return to the front line at this moment. Ten German divisions were defeated by two of us.
A front army is besieged in the Cherkasy area, and its destruction is only a matter of time. I believe that with your ability, you will be able to achieve great results in this battle."
Lunev stood up, came to the phone, picked up the phone and dialed, and said into the phone: "I am Lunev, please help me pick up Comrade Beria's office."
Soon, Sokov saw Lunev bending down and said respectfully into the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Beria. I am Lunev. I have learned about General Sokov's injury. Although he is now
I'm still a little lame when walking, but there shouldn't be any problem if I return to the front line to command the troops... Okay, I will tell him your intentions truthfully."
Lunev put down the phone and said to Sokov with a happy face: "Misha, I have some good news for you. Comrade Beria will report to the supreme commander himself immediately. I believe it won't be long before you can return to the army."
front."
"Lunev, thank you so much." Lunev felt very happy thinking that he could return to the front line soon. He turned around and called Asiya: "Asiya, take out the wine we bought yesterday. I want
Have a nice drink with Runev."
"No need." But Lunev waved his hand and rejected Sokov's kindness: "I still have a lot of work to do today. I can't drink. I'd better drink another day."
Seeing that Luniev was unwilling to drink, Sokov did not force it, "Okay, let's drink another day."
Since Lunev had completed his mission, he did not intend to stay any longer. He raised his hand and looked at his watch and said to Sokov: "Misha, I need to rush back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately and wait for arrangements for you to return to the front line.
I will call you after the matter is confirmed. You can take advantage of this time to tidy up so that you can set off after receiving the order."
After Luniev left, Asiya held Sokov's hand and said with tears in her eyes: "Misha, I didn't expect you to go back to the battlefield so soon. I really can't bear to leave you."
"Asiya," Sokov wiped away the tears on Asiya's cheeks with his fingers and comforted her: "Now the situation on the battlefield is becoming more and more favorable to our army. I believe it won't take long to win this damn battle."
The war will be over and we can stay together forever."
Sokov was not sure whether the subsequent history would be deflected by his own appearance, thus affecting the real history in his memory, so he cautiously said: “According to my analysis, the Germans will persist for another year and a half to two years at most.
In a few years, we will be completely defeated."
"In just one and a half to two years, we can defeat the Germans?" Asiya asked in surprise: "Misha, is this true?"
"If my judgment is not wrong, the Germans will soon be driven out of the country by our army, and the next step will be for us to launch an attack on their country." Sokov explained: "Don't think that the Germans are indispensable on our land.
I, when they are attacked by us, they will become vulnerable, and it won't be long before our army can invade Berlin and completely defeat them."
Out of her understanding of Sokov, Asia firmly believed in what he said. But when she thought about Sokov's imminent departure and the separation between the two places, she still felt uncomfortable. She asked tentatively: "
Misha, how about I also transfer to the 53rd Army so that I can take care of you nearby?"
"I don't think it's necessary." Sokov felt that the front line was the front line after all, and even staying in the army headquarters was not necessarily safe, otherwise the 53rd Army Commander Major General Tarasov would not have been injured. So he tactfully
He said: "The front line is too dangerous. I don't want to worry about you every day. You should continue to stay in the weapons and equipment department. Yakov will take care of you here, and nothing will happen to you."
"Okay." After hearing what Sokov said, Asiya understood that no matter what she said, the other party would not agree to her going to the front line, so she had to give up this unrealistic idea, but she was worried about Sokov's safety.
, still warned seriously: "Misha, after you return to the front line, you must stay in your headquarters and don't run to the front line casually."
At this point, she couldn't help but shed tears again: "This time you were lucky enough to save a life, but no one knows whether you will be able to have the same situation next time when a similar situation happens again.
good luck."
"Asiya, don't worry." Sokov knew very well that if he didn't agree with Asiya's words, she would not feel at ease: "I promise you, after returning to the front line this time, I will never be casual.
Run forward."
Although I said this, I was thinking in my heart, if the situation is critical, I should go to the frontier. I still have to go. At worst, if I don't tell you, you won't know that I have been to the frontier.
In the evening, Sokov received a call from Lunev: "Misha, you have been officially appointed as the commander of the 53rd Army. The car to pick you up will arrive in ten minutes. Please prepare to leave as soon as possible.
Prepare."
"Lunev, I want to ask, should I go to the frontier by car?"
"Of course not." Lunev said: "It is almost two thousand kilometers from here to the front line. If you take a car, it will take several days. Now the 53rd Army is leaderless, and it certainly cannot be without a commander for a long time. I will pick you up later.
The car will take you directly to the airport, where a plane will take you to General Konev’s headquarters.”
It was said to be ten minutes, but only five minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
Asiya walked over and opened the door, and found that the person standing at the door was actually Koshkin. She couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Lieutenant Koshkin, are you taking Misha to the airport?"
"Yes, Asya." Koshkin nodded and said, "I am here today not only to take Comrade General to the airport, but also to return to the front line as his adjutant."
Sokov stood up, walked to Koshkin, and said to him: "Comrade Adjutant, I am ready to leave. Let's leave now."
Asiya took off Sokov's military coat from the coat rack, put it on, and warned: "Misha, I won't go down to see you off, so as not to see you sad when you leave. You are out alone, so you have to
Know how to take better care of your body and don't make me worry, okay?"
"I got it, honey!" Sokov said, opening his arms around Asya and kissing her on the forehead.
"Lieutenant Koshkin," Asya said to Koshkin after breaking free from Sokov's arms: "Please worry about Misha's safety."
"Asia, please rest assured." Koshkin glanced at Sokov and said firmly: "I will ensure the safety of comrade general just like I protect my own eyes."
On the way to the airport, Sokov asked Koshkin: "Comrade Adjutant, is our plane flying directly to General Konev's headquarters?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Now that Sokov has been officially appointed as the commander of the 53rd Army, Koshkin's title to him has also changed: "We have to go to General Konev's headquarters first.
Meet your temporary headquarters members there and then rush to the 53rd Army."
Sokov said with some surprise: "What, all the members of my temporary headquarters are still in General Konev's headquarters? Isn't anyone assigned to be a commander of the grassroots units?"
"As far as I know, there are none at the moment." Koshkin knew the origins of the members of the Provisional Command very well, so he said to Sokov: "But this is fine, you can personally assign the next steps to these students based on their performance.
Where to go.”
When the car arrived at the airport, Sokov saw a transport plane parked on the runway, pointed his finger and asked Koshkin: "Comrade Adjutant, are we taking that plane to the front line?"
"Probably so." After Koshkin said this in an uncertain tone, he ordered the driver: "Driver, park the car next to the transport plane."
When the car stopped next to the transport plane, a pilot came out of the plane, came to the car, raised his hand to salute Sokov, who had just got off the car, and then asked respectfully: "Is this General Sokov?"
"Yes, I am Sokov."
"Hello, Comrade General." The pilot said: "I have been ordered to take you to the headquarters of the Second Ukrainian Front. I have been waiting for you for a long time. Please board the plane!"
