The group of people returned to Peter's office, and Sokov discovered that there were several phones on the desk, including a red high-frequency phone. Peter walked to the table, picked up the red phone,
After dialing a number, he said into the phone: "I am Peter, the director of the factory. Please call me immediately from the front army headquarters and ask for Comrade Khrushchev, the military commissar."
A few minutes later, a voice came from the receiver, and Peter quickly and respectfully replied: "Hello, Comrade Khrushchev, this is Peter. Major Yakov from the Weapons and Equipment Department wants to talk to you."
Khrushchev was also surprised to learn that the person looking for him was Yakov. In order to find out what was going on, he directly ordered Peter: "Comrade director, give the phone to Major Yakov."
"Hello, Comrade Military Commissar." Yakov took the phone from Peter and said to Khrushchev with a slight apology: "I'm sorry to wake you up so late."
"Yakov, I don't think you would take the initiative to call me if there was nothing important." Khrushchev said reasonably: "Tell me, is there anything I can do for you?"
"That's right, Comrade Military Commissar." Yakov quickly replied: "We found a very special piece of technical equipment in the secret warehouse of the Red October Tractor Factory..."
"Very special technical equipment?" Hearing what Yakov said, Khrushchev couldn't help but frowned slightly: "Yakov, can you tell me what special technical equipment it is?"
"How should I put it? This very special technical equipment is actually a new type of tank." Yakov organized the vocabulary in his mind, and then explained to Khrushchev: "The Red October Tractor Factory here
The prototype has not been tested yet and is still in the confidentiality stage..."
"Yakov, I understand what you mean." Khrushchev had a very good mind. Listening to Yakov endlessly explaining this tank prototype to himself, he guessed that the other party must have hit a snag with Peter.
Then he smiled and asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
Yakov looked at Peter and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Military Commissar, we wanted to get this tank from Director Peter, but he refused."
"As far as I know, Factory Director Peter is a very principled comrade." Seeing that his guess was confirmed, Khrushchev said sarcastically: "Since you have hit a snag, can you please ask me to come forward, Peter?"
Will the factory director change his mind?"
Khrushchev's answer surprised Yakov. For a moment, he didn't know how to answer. Fortunately, Khrushchev did not continue to tease him, but asked formally: "Yakov,
What should I do to help you get this prototype tank?"
Yakov, who was already desperate, suddenly felt hope again when he heard what Khrushchev said. He quickly said: "According to factory director Peter, if you want to get this prototype car, you must get authorization from the National Defense Committee. You
I also know that it is very late now and I have no right to disturb Comrade Ustinov’s rest. If we contact him again tomorrow, we will not be able to obtain authorization until dark at the earliest. In this case, we will not be able to
This tank will be used in tomorrow's battle."
"Then what can I do for you?" Khrushchev asked briefly again.
Sokov, who was standing aside, couldn't help but become anxious when he heard the long-winded conversation between Yakov and Khrushchev. He quickly grabbed the microphone from Yakov's hand, put it to his ear and said: "You
OK, Comrade Military Commissar, I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"Oh, it turns out that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is here." Khrushchev originally thought that Yakov was the only one in Peter's office, so he said a few more words. At this moment, he noticed Sokov's presence.
So I decided to keep the story short: "Tell me, how can I help you?"
"It's very simple," Sokov said briefly: "We would like to ask you to come forward and borrow this tank from Director Peter, and then give it to us for use. Wait until tomorrow, Major Yakov will go through formal channels,
Submit an authorization application to the National Defense Commission to make this tank officially ours."
"Comrade Sokov, why do you make the problem so complicated? I can make the decision on this matter. Why do I need to ask for authorization from the National Defense Committee? It's just nonsense." Khrushchev waited for Sokov to finish speaking.
He said in a tone that left no doubt: "You hand the microphone to Peter, and I will tell him personally."
When Sokov heard what Khrushchev said, he couldn't help but feel secretly happy in his heart. Since Khrushchev had expressed his stance, when he went back later, he could take the tank back with him and let the tank crews get familiar with its operation.
He handed the microphone in his hand to Peter and said with a smile: "Comrade Factory Director, Military Commissar, please answer the phone."
I don’t know what Khrushchev said to Peter on the phone. Peter kept nodding his head and finally said: "I understand, Comrade Military Commissar, I will hand over the tank to them immediately."
Peter ended the call with Khrushchev, but did not put down the phone. Instead, he called to Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the Military Commissar still has a few words to tell you!"
Knowing that the spherical tank could be handed over to his troops, Sokov couldn't help but feel happy. When he heard that Khrushchev wanted to say a few words to him, he quickly reached out to take the microphone, put it to his ear and said: "Yes.
I, Comrade Military Commissar."
Khrushchev's voice came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I just discovered something. You are no longer the commander of the infantry brigade."
He is not the commander of the infantry brigade?! When Sokov heard this, his heart beat faster than expected. He thought to himself: It seems that he has not made any mistakes recently, why would Khrushchev say that he is not the commander of the infantry brigade now?
What? When was your position removed?
Sokov was silent for a moment and asked in a difficult tone: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you know when I was dismissed?"
"Removed?" Khrushchev's confused voice came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, who dismissed you?"
"Didn't you just say that yourself?" Sokov replied cautiously: "You said that I am no longer the commander of the infantry brigade."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you misunderstood." After Khrushchev figured out the reason, he chuckled and said: "As far as I know, you now not only have an infantry brigade, but also command a fighter regiment.
A tank battalion with more than 40 tanks, and even the artillery of the group army deployed on the east coast, have to provide artillery support for your Mamayev Heights. I see, you are about to catch up with the commander of the combined arms army.
Already."
Hearing what Khrushchev said, Sokov suddenly had a strange thought in his mind: Why did the military committee say this? Could it be that the superiors planned to appoint me as the army commander? However, the infantry army was not established in 1941.
It was canceled in September, will it be reinstated?
Sokov was so immersed in his thoughts that he did not hear what Khrushchev said later. It was not until Khrushchev noticed that there was no sound from the microphone here that he deliberately raised his voice.
Let him wake up from his thoughts. He quickly replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you have anything else to do? If not, I want to go back to the assembly workshop."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the purpose of what I said to you is to tell you." Khrushchev said sternly on the phone: "We have given you great support. If you still cannot hold on to the factory,
If so, then the only thing waiting for you is a military court. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov felt that Khrushchev's words made sense. His superiors had equipped him with an air force, tanks and even artillery. If under such circumstances, the factory could not be defended,
Even if his superiors did not pursue the case, Sokov would have no face to see anyone again. "I promise you, as long as I am alive, I will never let the enemy occupy the factory."
This chapter has been completed!