After the room calmed down, Sokov felt extremely tired and closed his eyes to rest for a while, but the fire from the wound hurt, which made him feel particularly awake.
Anyway, he couldn't sleep, so he began to think about how to deal with the crisis: no matter what the reason was, hundreds of commanders and soldiers surrounded the new brigade commander, and the nature of this matter was too bad. If the internal staff of the Group Army's Special Service Division knew about this and wanted to pursue the matter, he might be difficult to save the lives of those battalion commanders even if he pleaded with Cui Kov in person.
Seeing Sokov closed his eyes, Asia said softly to Yakov, who was sitting by the bed: "Comrade Major, I am going to take care of the wounded, so please take care of you here."
Yakov quickly stood up and said politely to Asia: "Asia, go and do it, I'm here." Hearing Yakov's reply, Asia nodded at him with a smile, and then walked out of the ward with a slight foot.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Asia walked out of the ward, Sokov opened his eyes and asked Yakov, who was sitting beside him in a low voice: "Yakov, you know everything. Tell me, what will your superiors deal with?" Sokov knew very well. Although he had thousands of people under his command, he really didn't know what to do with such a thing. The only person who could ask for help now was Yakov, who was sitting by his bed.
Although Sokov asked this question without any conclusion, Yakov knew what he was asking. He stared at Sokov lying on the bed and said slowly: "If such a thing happened in the past few years, both the battalion commander and the soldiers below would be sent to the military court."
"Yakov, what I asked was not the past few years." When Sokov heard Yakov say this, he murmured in his heart: In the past few years, even the future Marshal Rokosovsky almost lost his life on false charges, let alone ordinary cadres and soldiers. He was eager to come up with a solution before Berkin arrived, and urged the other party: "I am asking about this matter. What will they do if the superiors find out about it?"
Yakov was silent for a long time before speaking: "The situation in Stalingrad is not optimistic now. Once the German army occupied Mamayev's hill, they may cut off the connection between the city and the other side, and the city may not be able to be protected. In this case, as long as the city can be defended, even if something bad happens, I think the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will turn a blind eye to such things."
After hearing Yakov's words, Sokov's heart, which was hanging in his throat, finally returned to his stomach. He couldn't help but think: As long as the superiors don't pursue this matter, there will be room for everything to turn around. After Berkin comes, he will discuss with him how to deal with the aftermath.
A few minutes later, Belkin walked in from outside, but he was not alone, and he was also a colonel next to him. Sokov had been to the Army Command many times, so he naturally knew the person around Belkin, Colonel Witkov, the deputy chief of staff of the Army. He couldn't help but be surprised: "What's going on? How long has the commanders and soldiers blocked the new brigade commander happened? Why did the commander send the deputy chief of staff to deal with this matter?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Berkin saw Sokov lying on the bed, and his face showed a surprise expression: "Your complexion looks good, I believe it won't take long to heal the injury."
After Sokov and Belkin made some polite words, his eyes turned to Vitkov on the side and asked guiltily: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, why have you come to us? Do you have any new instructions from your superiors?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander, I forgot to introduce you." When Belkin heard Sokov's question, he quickly replied in front of Vitkov: "Col. Vitkov is the newly appointed acting brigade commander of his superiors. He will take over your command while you are recuperating."
"I'm sorry, Colonel Witkov." Sokov was shocked when he learned that the deputy chief of staff of the army in front of him was actually here to take over his post and was besieged by the soldiers. He said a little embarrassedly: "I heard that you had just taken office and were surrounded by some commanders and soldiers. I apologize to you for your impolite behavior."
Unexpectedly, Vitkov waved his hand and said generously: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, this matter has been cleared. It is a completely misunderstanding. They thought that their superiors sent me as brigade commander to remove you, so they led their men to surround the brigade command and asked me to ask for an explanation."
Although Vitkov was so generous in this matter, Sokov could not without any expression. He turned his head to Belkin and said to him: "Comrade Political Commissar, call me all the battalion commanders who are causing trouble here, and let them apologize to Colonel Vitkov in front of me."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, those battalion commanders are all here, right outside." Berkin seemed to have guessed what Sokov would say, and as soon as he finished speaking, he immediately replied, "I'll call them all in." After that, without waiting for Sokov to give orders, he walked directly to the door and said to the outside, "Don't stand in the corridor and stare blankly, come in."
With a burst of rapid footsteps, several officers walked into the ward, crowding Sokov's ward, which was only about ten square meters. Sokov counted the officers who had just come in, and there were six people. He couldn't help but frowned slightly, thinking that there were only five battalion commanders in the brigade, why did six people appear? His eyes swept across the faces of the six newly arrived officers one by one, and found that except for the five battalion commanders, the remaining one was the political deputy battalion commander of the Fourth Battalion.
"Tell me," Sokov stared at the battalion commanders and asked with a stern face: "What's going on today? Who gave you the right to siege the superior commanders?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander, it's all my fault." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, the deputy battalion commander of the Fourth Battalion took a step forward and took the initiative to admit his mistake to Sokov: "I made a mistake. I saw that my superiors sent a new brigade commander and thought they were going to remove your post, so I contacted the battalion commander of each battalion to find an explanation."
The words of the deputy political battalion commander made Sokov's face look surprised. He thought to himself: He is worthy of being a political worker. He can gather the battalion commanders of each battalion in such a short time and take joint actions to seek justice for himself. Thinking of this, he turned his head and asked Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, did you remind me some time ago that you should establish the brigade political department as soon as possible?"
"Yes, I did say it." Berkin didn't know why Sokov suddenly mentioned this matter, so he nodded and said, "There is enough political workers, but there is no suitable candidate to serve as director. If you want to serve as a political department in the city as soon as possible, I can temporarily serve as the director."
"No need, I already have a suitable candidate." After Sokov said this, he turned to look at the deputy political battalion commander and asked, "I'm sorry, comrade deputy battalion commander, what's your name?"
"My name is Dmitry." The deputy political battalion commander quickly replied.
"The superior has ordered us to form the brigade political department many times. Since we have not found a suitable director, the establishment of the political department has been delayed again and again." Sokov looked at the other party and said, "From now on, you will act as the director of the brigade political department. The formal appointment will be officially issued after the approval of the superior. As for the personnel of the political department, the political commissar will be equipped with you."
Dmitry didn't dream of being suddenly appointed as the acting director of the political department. He couldn't help but feel surprised and didn't know what to say for a moment. It was not until the battalion commanders standing next to him that they stretched out their hands to him and shook hands to express their congratulations that he said gratefully to Sokov: "Thank you, Comrade Brigade Commander, I will definitely work hard and live up to your trust in me."
After the special appointment, Sokov looked at the battalion commanders standing by the bed and said, "Comrades Commander, when I heard that you took your soldiers to ask for justice to help me seek justice, I was really moved. I would like to express my gratitude to you!" After that, he raised his right hand to his forehead and saluted everyone a solemn military salute. The battalion commanders did not expect Sokov to salute him, and hurriedly raised his hand to return the salute.
After removing his hand from his forehead, Sokov turned his face and continued, "I am very grateful for your actions, but I still want to criticize you here. The 73rd Infantry Brigade is the army of the Soviet motherland, not the army of Sokov alone. There must be reasons for whom I appointed as the brigade commander. As a subordinate, the orders issued by the superiors can only be implemented unconditionally. Colonel Vitkov is unwilling to argue with you, so that's all this time. If a similar incident happens next time, or who dares to disobey the orders issued by Colonel Vitkov, I will personally send him to the military court. Do you understand?"
"I understand!" Several battalion commanders answered in unison.
Sokov waved his hand at them and said, "Since you understand, you will go to your respective troops. Let's explain the matter to the soldiers to avoid similar extreme behaviors in the future."
After sending the battalion commanders away, Sokov apologized to Vitkov again: "Col. Vitkov, I promise you that no similar thing will happen again."
Seeing that the battalion commanders were like docile little sheep in front of Sokov, the attitude was very different from the way they asked him loudly, and they understood in their hearts how high Sokov's position was in the minds of the battalion commanders. Seeing Sokov repeatedly apologizing to him, he didn't understand what the other party was worried about, he smiled and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I really didn't expect that you have such a high prestige in the army, and those battalion commanders dared not even speak out in front of you. Don't worry, since you have figured out that this is just a misunderstanding, the matter will end here, and I will not report it to my superiors."
After receiving this guarantee from Vitkov, not only Sokov and Belkin were relieved. Although this matter was a bit too much, as long as the parties involved did not pursue the matter, the superiors would not have the energy to inquire.
Perhaps in order to make the relationship with Sokov, Vitkov asked him with concern about his injury and continued: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is there anything I can serve?"
Before Sokov's answer, Asia, who was worried about Sokov's injury, returned to the ward. When she saw the political commissar standing in the room, she hurriedly greeted: "Comrade Political Commissar, you are here!"
"I'm here." Belkin nodded, and then asked Asia curiously: "Where have you been going? Why don't you stay in the ward to take care of the brigade commander?"
"I just went to take care of the patient." After Asia said this, she suddenly found a colonel standing in the room. She quickly stood at attention and raised her hand to salute the other party: "Hello, Comrade Colonel."
Seeing Asia standing there in a daze, Sokov quickly explained to her: "This is Colonel Witkov, deputy chief of staff of the army. During my recovery, he will temporarily command the troops for me."
"Hello, Comrade Asia." On the way to the ward, Vitkov heard Belkin talk about the relationship between Sokov and Asia. While shook hands with Asia, he asked habitually: "Is there any place I can serve?"
If Vitkov hadn't asked this, maybe Asia chatted with him for a few words, checked Sokov's injury and turned around and left. But since he asked that, Asia thought for a moment and really made her own request: "Comrade Colonel, can you provide us with a batch of lighting lamps?"
"Car lamp?!" Hearing Asia's request, Vitkov asked in surprise: "What do you want to do with a car lamp?"
Asia pointed to the gas lamp hanging on the wall with her finger, and then said, "What else can be done? Of course it is for lighting. In addition to the ward using this gas lamp, even the gas lamps used in the operating room are also used." Speaking of this, Asia turned her head and looked at Belkin and continued, "Comrade Political Commissar, there are only four gas lamps in the operating room, and the light does not reach the light required for the operation. For example, today Misha has undergone surgery, under normal circumstances, the operation can be completed in one hour at most, but due to insufficient lighting, the military doctor Pavlov spent about an hour to find the location of the bullet..."
Asia's words made everyone in the ward understand why today's surgery took so long. The relationship was because the light was too dark and the military doctor could not see the position of the bullet, which led to the prolonged operation time. Fortunately, Sokov's injury was not too serious. If he met a serious injury, he might lose his life due to the delay in the operation time.
After Vitkov figured out what was going on, he took the initiative to express his opinion before Sokov or Belkin spoke, "Comrade Asia, don't worry, I will ask someone to replenish the gas lamps for you as soon as possible. Even if there is not in the brigade, I will ask the Army Command to supplement us."
Chapter completed!