Vatutin felt a little regretful. He would have known to see the dean before coming to visit Sokov, so that he could know exactly when Sokov could be discharged from the hospital.
Although the date of Sokov's discharge from hospital could not be determined, Vatutin felt that since he was here, he should have a frank talk with Sokov to prevent him from being poached by front commanders on other fronts.
"Comrade Sokov, I heard that you are currently studying at the Frunze Military Academy despite being injured?"
"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov replied truthfully: "You also know that I have never systematically studied various military theories before. When I commanded a division, my ability was barely enough, but when it comes to commanding a division
When forming a group army, it seems a little inadequate. I hope to improve my military theory level through this study."
Vatutin felt that the opportunity had come, so he lost no time in saying: "Comrade Sokov, after you graduate, have you considered returning to the front line to test whether the military theory you have studied is feasible?"
Sokov heard the other party's words and extended an invitation to himself, but he still deliberately pretended to be confused: "Comrade General, you are right. The military theoretical knowledge learned at the Frunze Military Academy is what you need to
I went to the battlefield for testing. But I don’t know what my superiors thought. Maybe they won’t send me to the front line anymore, but will stay in Moscow to work in a certain department.”
"What, leaving you to work in the rear organization in Moscow?" Vatutin was anxious. If Sokov really stayed in the rear organization, it would be a waste of talent: "Doing this does not bury your talents.
"?" He said angrily, "Your abilities can only be better displayed on the front line."
"Comrade General," Lunev, who was standing aside at this time, interrupted: "I agree with you. It would be a waste to let General Sokov stay in the rear. And if the Germans hear the news, they will
There will definitely be a toast to celebrate, we must not give the Germans this opportunity."
"That's right, that's right." In response to Lunev's amazing assist, Vatutin nodded repeatedly: "General Lunev, you are so right. If those Germans who were frightened by Comrade Sokov's attack would have to
They will definitely be very happy that Zhisukov is left to work in the rear agencies and will never go to the front to fight with them again."
Now that the words had been spoken, Vatutin decided not to hide it, but said straight to the point: "Comrade Sokov, I hope that after you graduate from the Frunze Military Academy, you can go to
My 1st Ukrainian Front came to work."
Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would reject his proposal because of his position, he also specifically emphasized: "Comrade Sokov, don't worry, even if you cannot continue to serve as the commander of the 27th Army when you come back, I will
In addition, we will arrange a powerful group army for you."
After Sokov waited for Vatutin to finish speaking, he said expressionlessly: "If I are asked to serve as commander of another group army, wouldn't it mean that one of the group army commanders will be dismissed?"
Vatutin was silent for a few seconds, and then said: "Comrade Sokov, I think any group army in the front army structure can be given to you to command, and it can exert super strong combat effectiveness."
Sokov, who comes from a later generation, knows very well that even though Vatutin is currently commanding the First Ukrainian Front, in two months, the command of this army will be lost due to Vatutin's injury.
Hand it over to Zhukov and Konev. No matter which one of them becomes their subordinate, you can get a platform to show your commanding talents.
Seeing Sokov's silence, Vatutin thought that the other party was unwilling to go to his army, so he continued: "Comrade Sokov, I implore you to consider my proposal carefully. If you really want to go to my army
Come, I guarantee you that your troops will receive priority in terms of personnel and weapons and equipment."
Sokov realized that Vatutin had misunderstood, but he did not explain. Instead, he said: "Comrade General, since you have said it to this extent, it would be a bit too ungrateful for me to shirk it anymore."
.”
Vatutin was overjoyed when he heard this: "Comrade Sokov, so you agree to join my army?"
"Yes, Comrade General." In the late period of the Patriotic War, the three units that played a decisive role were the 1st Belarusian Front commanded by Zhukov, the 2nd Belarusian Front commanded by Rokossovsky and Konev
The 1st Ukrainian Front Army under his command. If he could register in advance to join the 1st Ukrainian Front Army, he would be much better than being assigned to other unimportant fronts. Moreover, Vatutin lowered his posture in front of him today, which was simply okay.
It was described as being groveling, so he replied readily: "After I graduate from the Frunze Military Academy, I am willing to join your army."
"Great, this is really great." Seeing that Sokov agreed to his invitation, Vatutin looked particularly happy: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the First Ukrainian Front, I welcome you to join."
"Comrade General," Sokov said with a faint smile: "My current injury has not healed yet, so I cannot become a member of your army for the time being. I think you will have to wait until the day when I officially enter the army. You will not welcome me anymore."
late."
Vatutin laughed dryly and said: "It's all the same, all the same. Since you agree to join my army, you will be a member of the First Ukrainian Front. The welcome will be the same early or late."
"Comrade General, please have a cup of hot tea." Asya, who did not leave the ward, came to Vatutin and handed over the cup of hot tea she was holding in her hand: "I added honey to it.
"
Vatutin took the teacup, looked at Asiya and said, "Who are you?"
"Comrade General," Sokov knew that Vatutin had never met Asiya, so he quickly introduced him: "This is my wife Asiya, she is a military doctor."
"Oh, you are a military doctor?!" Vatutin asked with interest: "Comrade Asiya, I wonder where you work now. Are you interested in joining my First Ukrainian Front? If you are willing
If so, I can order someone to arrange a suitable position for you in the army field hospital. In this way, you and Comrade Sokov can spend more time together."
"Thank you for your kindness, Comrade General." Faced with the invitation sent by Vatutin, Asiya declined politely: "I just transferred from the front line to work in the weapons and equipment department a few months ago, and I have no plans to leave for the time being. It's really
Excuse me."
"Oh, it turns out you work in the Weapons and Equipment Department." Vatutin asked, "But why do I think you work here?"
"You are right, Comrade General." Sokov explained with a smile: "After the People's Commissar Comrade Ustinov heard that I was injured, he specially arranged for Asya to come here to work and take care of my injury.
"In order to dispel Vatutin's whim, he added, "After I recover from my injury, she will return to work in the weapons and equipment department."
After figuring out what was going on, Vatutin did not mention the matter of letting Asiya work in the frontline field hospital, but chatted with Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, I heard that you are from Moscow, I don't know.
Have you ever gone home to see your relatives at home?"
"No, Comrade General." Sokov replied with a wry smile: "My father passed away when I was very young. And my mother died in a German bombing a few months ago. Now I have no one except Asya.
Besides, I don’t have any relatives anymore.”
After Vatutin raised his head and glanced at Asya, he continued to ask: "Don't you two have children?"
"No," Sokov answered simply: "The two of us registered our marriage at the marriage registration office in Stalingrad at the beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad. After the wedding, due to the busy war, the two of us got together.
With less and more separation, there is no time to think about having children."
"Judging from the current situation, the Germans are retreating steadily under the attacks of our army. If everything goes well, we will definitely be able to completely defeat the Germans within three years." Vatutin said to the two men with a smile:
"By then, you two will still be very young, and it won't be too late to have another child. When your child is born, I will definitely come to your door to congratulate you."
Sokov thought that you only have four months left in your life. How can you wait for our child to be born? But then he thought about it. It was said that Vatutin had a wound infection after being injured, and Stalin personally ordered not to allow it.
Using penicillin, I was worried that this immature anti-inflammatory drug would bring unexpected consequences to my love. In the end, Vatutin, who could not use penicillin to reduce inflammation, died of postoperative wound infection.
But this time I was injured, I had already been a guinea pig, and I was the first to use penicillin. The effect of this new anti-inflammatory drug is obvious to all. Maybe after Vatutin is injured, the hospital will also give him penicillin to free him from the disease.
The tragedy of dying due to infection.
"Comrade General," Lunev saw that Vatutin and Sokov had reached an agreement, so he reminded him in a low voice: "I have arranged a place for you to stay, and I will take you there now."
Vatutin nodded, stood up and bent down and stretched out his hand to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, you take good care of yourself and I will come see you again when I have time."
Sokov knew that Vatutin was just saying polite words, but he still pretended to be grateful and said: "Thank you, I really appreciate your concern."
Vatutin came out of the hospital, turned to Lunev who was following him and said: "General Lunev, I need to return to Kiev immediately. I will not go to the accommodation you arranged."
Lunev was stunned. After a while, he finally said: "Comrade General, didn't you say you wanted to stay in Moscow for a day or two? Why are you going back to Kiev so soon?"
"General Lunev, I don't want to hide anything from you." Since the purpose of his trip has been achieved, Vatutin also felt that there was no need to hide anything from Lunev, so he told him truthfully: "I
I came to Moscow this time to persuade Comrade Sokov to join my army. Now that our mission has been completed, there is no longer any need to stay in Moscow, so we need to return to Kiev as soon as possible."
Lunev asked curiously: "Comrade General, are you really so optimistic about Sokov that you flew back from Kiev in person just to persuade him to join your army?"
Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, Vatutin said seriously: "General Lunev, if others say this, I think I can understand it. But you once served as Comrade Sokov's military commissar. What are his abilities?
Don’t you still know?”
"Comrade General, I know Sokov's commanding ability very well." Lunev explained: "Although he has repeatedly made military exploits on the battlefield, because he is too young, many commanders wear
I looked at him through colored glasses and said bad things about him behind his back. The reason I asked this was because I was worried that you had worked so hard to pull him over and arranged for him to serve as the commander of the group army, but the other commanders of the group army might be isolated.
He even gave him a wide berth."
"General Lunev, the situation you mentioned did exist in the past." Vatutin did not deny the problem Lunev mentioned, "However, with the liberation of Kiev, some commanders who had prejudiced against him in the past
Members, but their thoughts have changed."
"What changes?"
"A very simple example." Vatutin explained to Lunev with a wry smile: "For example, the 27th Army, under the leadership of Comrade Sokov and you, all the battles with the enemy ended in victory.
And the casualties each time were unusually low. But as he was injured and a new group army commander was replaced, the combat effectiveness of the entire army declined to varying degrees. Even in local operations, the entire group army made a huge effort.
Even after paying the price, we did not achieve the results we deserved."
Lunev knew somewhat about the problems encountered by the 27th Group Army. He sneered and said: "The commanders and fighters are still the same, and the weapons and equipment have not changed in any way. After being ordered to launch an attack on the enemy, not only did he not achieve anything eye-catching
Instead, he paid a heavy price."
Vatugin nodded slightly and continued: "You are right. This incident tells us that whether the army can achieve great feats does not depend on what kind of equipment they have or how many people there are in the army. What they need is a
The arbitrary commander of Qiankun. Only such a superior can lead the commanders and soldiers from one victory to another."
After the two got into the car, Lunev asked Vatutin with concern: "Comrade General, I heard that the command of your troops has now fallen into the hands of General Rokossovsky. I don't know if this is true or false.
?”
Vatutin had already taken a dim view of his temporary dismissal from his post. He said expressionlessly: "How should I put it? Our army suffered a counterattack by the German army in Zhytomyr. Not only did it cost huge casualties, but it also destroyed the city.
Lost it. It was under this severe situation that General Rokossovsky was ordered to take over my command.
However, the final facts proved that General Rokossovsky was indeed much better than me in commanding large corps in combat. In just a few days, he effectively curbed the German army's attempt to seize Kiev.
, and drove all the enemies back to the original starting point of the attack."
Luniev originally thought that when he mentioned Rokossovsky, Vatutin would complain a bit, but now it felt a bit incredible to hear the other party praise Rokossovsky so much. "Comrade General, I can't believe that you
After General Rokossovsky took over the command, not only did he not feel any resentment, but he also spoke so highly of him, which I find incredible."
