It is more than 6,000 kilometers from Chelyabinsk to Khabarovsk. The plane taken by Sokov and others needed to refuel twice in order to reach the destination.
When he landed for the first time, Sokov didn't know how long it would take to refuel, so he sat in the cabin and chatted with Lukin. Even though they had been on the plane for several hours together, Sokov and Lukin
I really didn’t say a few words, because the plane’s engine roared so loudly that I had to shout at the top of my lungs to say anything, and it was not possible to hear every word the other party said. Now that the plane finally landed, Yaco
My husband couldn't wait to get off the plane and go to smoke. Sokov didn't want to get off the plane, so he stayed and chatted with Lukin.
"Misha, when do you think we will go to war with the Kwantung Army?"
Although Sokov knew the specific date when the Soviet troops would dispatch troops, he could not tell Lukin the correct answer at this moment. He could only say vaguely: "Judging from various signs, our troops are still in the process of gathering. If we want to complete this long distance
The assembly will take at least a month. Even if we launch the Far East campaign as soon as the assembly is completed, I am afraid we will have to wait until early August."
"You have the same idea as me." Lu Jin nodded and said: "The troops dispatched this time are basically from the Western Front. The journey is tens of thousands of kilometers. Even by train, it takes a long time. Again.
Coupled with the transportation of so much weapons, equipment and ammunition, the transportation pressure on the railway department is not generally high."
"When the war first broke out, equipment from countless factories was dismantled and shipped to the Far East." Sokov continued: "At that time, many trains were likely to be bombed by German aircraft while they were traveling. It was possible to remove equipment and related equipment.
It is a great victory to transport people to their destinations. Although today's transportation pressure is not small, there is not much danger during transportation. I believe they will be more efficient."
While the two were chatting, Sokov kept glancing at the cabin door from the corner of his eye to see when Yakov would come back. But after waiting for a full hour, he saw Yakov climbing up the gangway into the cabin.
Sokov couldn't help but ask: "Have you finished filling up the oil?"
"Yes," Yakov nodded and replied: "I originally thought there was only one of our planes refueling, but I didn't expect there were several. They should also be the commanders who went to Khabarovsk for a meeting. I looked at those planes.
A warning circle was set up near the plane, so we didn't go past."
When Sokov heard what Yakov said, he smiled and said to Bezikov who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Major, you are not responsible enough. When other planes were refueling, the guards set up cordons around the plane.
, but you stayed in the cabin and listened to our chat."
Bezikov chuckled and said: "Comrade General, you don't know something. Planes don't stop at any airport to refuel. This is a confidential military airport. There are no security issues. A cordon is set up during refueling.
, it’s simply unnecessary.”
When the plane was taxiing on the runway, Yakov said to Sokov: "Misha, the plane will need to be refueled before it can fly to its destination. Then you come with me to have a cigarette, don't always
Stay in the cabin."
A few hours later, the plane landed again.
As soon as the plane stopped on the runway, Yakov turned to Sokov and asked: "Misha, the plane is about to start refueling again, would you like to come with me to have a cigarette?"
Sokov did not answer his question immediately, but looked at Lukin next to him. Lukin saw his embarrassment and said quickly: "Misha, if you want to smoke, just follow Yakov off the plane. You don't have to stay."
Come down and stay with me."
After hearing what Lukin said, Sokov did not insist on staying, but got off the plane with Yakov.
The two of them walked outside the runway. Yakov took out the cigarette case and handed it to Sokov. While Sokov was taking the cigarette from it, he said: "It seems that my guess is not wrong. The people over there are refueling."
I saw the plane at the last airport, it should be heading for Chelyabinsk like us."
Sokov followed Yakov's gaze, and sure enough he saw another transport plane refueling on the runway dozens of meters away. There were more than 20 soldiers setting up a warning circle around the plane. Sokov
I was very curious about who was sitting on the plane and why it was so heavily guarded.
In order to clarify this problem, when Yakov handed over the lit match, Sokov waved his hand, then walked towards the plane in the distance, and said: "Yasha, I'll go take a look at that plane."
Who is on the plane?"
Seeing Sokov walking towards the plane in the distance, Yakov quickly threw the match in his hand on the ground, crushed it with his toes, and quickly chased after him: "Misha, wait for me."
When the two approached the cordon of the plane, a second lieutenant immediately stepped forward to stop them and said politely: "Comrade commanders, this is the plane our commander is flying on. Please do not approach it at will."
Yakov was unhappy when he heard this: "Are you the commander of the front army with such a big air?"
The second lieutenant's face turned slightly red and he replied with some embarrassment: "He is the commander of the 39th Group Army."
"Commander of the 39th Group Army?" Yakov, as the former deputy chief of staff of the front army, still knows a little about the commanders of each group army. After hearing what the second lieutenant said, he immediately asked: "Is it Lieutenant General Lyudnikov?"
"No, Comrade General." The second lieutenant replied: "Our commander was officially awarded the rank of general on May 5."
"Oh, he is already a general." Sokov heard that this comrade who once fought side by side in the battle to defend Stalingrad has now been promoted to a general. It is really rare. He quickly said to the second lieutenant:
"Comrade Second Lieutenant, can you tell me that his old friend Sokov wants to see him? I once fought side by side with him in the barricade factory in Stalingrad."
But after listening to Sokov's words, the second lieutenant stood still and thought disdainfully: "You, a little major, have the guts to say that you have fought alongside our commander and that you are our commander."
An old friend of the Communist Party of China. Bah!"
Seeing that the second lieutenant ignored him, Sokov felt a little unable to step down, so he reminded the other party: "Comrade second lieutenant, didn't you hear what I said?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Major." The second lieutenant did not pay any attention to the young officer wearing the rank of major in front of him, but said coldly: "Our commander is resting on the plane at the moment. We cannot do it for irrelevant people.
And to disturb his rest."
"Second Lieutenant, haven't you learned the regulations of our army?" Yakov saw the problem and quickly helped Sokov and said: "Since the major gave you an order, why didn't you obey?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Lyudnikov's subordinate was quite arrogant. Not only did he ignore Sokov, he even ignored Yakov who was wearing the title of major general: "You are not mine.
My direct superior has no authority to give me orders."
Seeing that the second lieutenant refused to pass the message, Sokov shouted loudly towards the location of the plane: "Ivan, Ivan! An old friend comes to see you, why don't you come out to greet him?"
The second lieutenant heard Sokov yelling at the plane and quickly came to stop him: "Please be quiet, comrade major. If you disturb our commander's rest, you cannot bear the consequences."
Yakov also became angry at this moment: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, I am Major General Yakov, deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front. Do you think I am your superior?"
Hearing the identity reported by Yakov, the second lieutenant was immediately speechless. You must know that before the 39th Army left East Prussia, it was affiliated to the Third Belorussian Front. It is difficult to say what the identity of the major in front of him is, but Yakov is
The superior commander of one's own commander.
After a while, the second lieutenant raised his hand to salute Yakov and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, I don't know your identity. If I was rude in any way just now, please forgive me."
"Comrade Second Lieutenant." Sokov lost no time in saying to the Second Lieutenant: "Can you go and report to us now?"
"Yes, Comrade Major." Since knowing Yakov's identity, the second lieutenant's attitude has become much more respectful: "I will report immediately, please wait a moment!"
Not long after the second lieutenant got into the plane, Sokov saw the familiar figure of Lyudnikov appearing at the door of the cabin. Then the general with a toothbrush beard asked loudly: "Which old friend is looking for me?"
ah?"
"Ivan!" Sokov called Lyudnikov's name and waved to him: "I'm here!"
Lyudnikov squinted his eyes and looked in this direction. When he saw clearly that the person greeting him was Sokov, his pupils couldn't help but shrink violently. He immediately got off the plane and walked quickly towards Sokov. He was also followed by the old man.
Far away, he stretched out a hand and said loudly: "It turns out to be Misha. I really didn't expect to see you here."
After the two shook hands and hugged, Lyudnikov took a step back, looked Sokov up and down, and asked in surprise: "Misha, why are you wearing this clothes?"
"No way, this is all for confidentiality." Sokov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly: "It is said that I am too famous. Once the news of being transferred to the Far East spreads, I am afraid that
This alerted the Kwantung Army. In fact, the superiors were overly worried. How could the senior officers of the Kwantung Army know a little person like me? However, since it was an order issued by a superior, I, as a subordinate, could only obey it unconditionally.
Already."
"Let me introduce you," Sokov complained to Lyudnikov for a while, pointed at Yakov and explained to him: "This is General Yakov..."
"Hello, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." Unexpectedly, before Sokov had finished speaking, Lyudnikov took the initiative to reach out to Yakov: "I once met you at the front headquarters. You were too busy at that time.
,probably didn’t notice me.”
"Hello, General Lyudnikov." Yakov asked tentatively while shaking hands with Lyudnikov: "So, your troops have also been transferred to the Far East?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff." Lyudnikov nodded and replied in a positive tone: "My 39th Army is now affiliated with the Transbaikal Front."
Upon learning that Lyudnikov's troops were placed under the command of the Transbaikal Front, Yakov smiled and said: "General Lyudnikov, I am no longer the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front. I have been re-appointed by my superiors.
I am the chief of staff of the 53rd Army, and both our armies are under the command of Marshal Malinovsky."
After hearing what Yakov said, Lyudnikov first glanced at Sokov with doubtful eyes, and then he understood what was going on: "Misha, it turns out that you were transferred to the 53rd Army as the commander. No wonder
I think the 48th Group Army is still in the same place, but you appear here. It turns out that you have been reassigned to a new position."
Seeing that Lyudnikov had guessed the truth of the matter, Sokov did not hide it, so he nodded and said: "You are right, Ivan. In order to come to the Far East to participate in the battle against the Kwantung Army, I took the initiative to report to my superiors
I applied for a swap with the commander of the 53rd Army. The Supreme High Command agreed to my request and appointed me as the commander of the 53rd Army, while Yakov served as my chief of staff. In addition, there was an experienced
General, serves as my deputy commander."
"Experienced general?" Lyudnikov looked at the plane Sokov was flying on with doubtful eyes: "That's the plane you're flying on, right? Misha, the general you mentioned should be there at this moment.
On the plane, right?"
"Yes, he is on the plane right now." Sokov gave the other party a positive answer.
"Can I go see him?" Lyudnikov asked: "Maybe he is an acquaintance of mine."
Since Lyudnikov wanted to see his deputy commander, Sokov did not stop him and took him to his plane. The second lieutenant in charge of the security mission saw that Lyudnikov was leaving and immediately summoned people to prepare.
He followed, but Lyudnikov raised his hand to stop him: "No, Second Lieutenant. I'm just going to see a friend. There won't be any danger. You should stay here as a guard."
When Lyudnikov entered the cabin and saw Lukin sitting in a wheelchair, he couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise: "Oh my God, you are Lieutenant General Lukin!"
Before the war broke out, Lyudnikov, who had just resigned as the director of the Zhytomir Infantry Academy, was appointed commander of the 200th Infantry Division. His combat area was far away from Shepetovka, so he directed the operations there at the time.
Lu Jin did not recognize him.
Seeing that the other party recognized him, Lu Jin asked with some confusion: "Comrade General, I don't know who you are. I don't seem to know you?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov quickly introduced at the side: "This is General Lyudnikov, commander of the 39th Army. During the battle to defend Stalingrad, the troops under his command persisted in the barricade factory.
It took two months to smash the German army's attempt to occupy the factory."
After Sokov's explanation, Lukin knew who the general in front of him was. He quickly extended his hand to the other person and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, General Lyudnikov, I can only sit in a wheelchair and talk to him."
Please shake hands and please forgive me for being rude."
"Lieutenant General Lukin," Lyudnikov stretched out his hands to hold Lukin's hand and said excitedly: "I have read your deeds in the newspapers. You are really an amazing person. Even if you fall into the clutches of the enemy,
, and still carry out an unyielding struggle against them, which is worth learning from all of us."
