When Sokov just said that the temporary headquarters could not go to Belarus, Ponedelin was secretly surprised. You must know that the identities of himself, Muzichenko, and Kirillov were sensitive. If Sokov hadn't guaranteed it,
I'm afraid he has been sent to Siberia to dig potatoes. Now that he can't go to Rokossovsky's army, I'm afraid his future is not optimistic.
When he heard Sokov said that he could go to Konev's army, Ponedelin saw new hope. Now hearing Sokov's question, he quickly replied: "Comrade General, although the students are not
There is nothing to pack, but I’m afraid it will take some time to prepare before leaving. I think we can set off in about an hour and a half.”
Sokov knew very well that the time Ponedelin mentioned was already the limit, so he said: "I will give you two and a half hours to prepare. When the time is up, you will gather at the entrance of the college immediately."
"What means of transportation do we take to the front?"
"Car." Sokov said: "I will contact the car and take you all the way to the front line."
"Okay." Ponejelin agreed, and then said to the students who were sitting upright: "Comrade students, please go back to your dormitories now, pack your belongings, and be ready to go."
The students in the classroom agreed enthusiastically, then stood up neatly and filed towards the door.
When only Sokov and the members of the advisory team were left in the classroom, Sokov said to Ponedelin: "General Ponedelin, after you arrive at the front line, you will be divided into two parts. One part will stay in the department.
General Nev's headquarters will serve as staff officers; while the other part will be sent to the 53rd Group Army to serve as regimental commanders."
Ponyjelin said with some surprise: "Comrade General, if you send students to grassroots units, even if they serve as regimental commanders, it may be difficult to avoid casualties. I'm worried that when you return to the unit, there will be
Many students were injured or even died."
"Yes, the possibility you mentioned completely exists." Sokov did not comment on Ponedelin's statement, but continued to follow his own thinking: "Anyone who stays on the front line has a possibility.
There is a possibility of being injured or even killed, and even the commander of the group army cannot avoid this fate. However, the more dangerous the place is, the more beneficial it is to the growth of our students."
"I understand, Comrade General." Ponejelin said: "For those students assigned to the 53rd Group Army as regimental commanders, this is a rare learning opportunity. High-intensity battles are enriching their operations.
While gaining experience, it can also take their commanding abilities to a new level.”
"General Ponedelin," Sokov said with a smile and a nod: "It's up to you to decide who will stay in General Konev's headquarters and who will serve as regimental commanders in the 53rd Army."
Hearing that Sokov entrusted him with such an important task, Ponedelin seemed a little unsure: "Comrade General, is it appropriate for you to entrust such an important task to me?"
"There is nothing inappropriate." Sokov has always adhered to the principle of employing people, which is to employ people without suspicion and without suspicion. Since he has handed over the temporary headquarters composed of trainees to Ponejelin, he means absolutely
Trust the other party: "Since I have handed over the temporary headquarters to the advisory group, as the leader of the advisory group, you naturally have the right to make any decision."
After speaking, he stretched out his hands to hold Ponedelin's hand, and said earnestly: "General Ponedelin, you have been detained by the Germans in a prisoner of war camp along the Dnieper River since you were captured. This time
You take the temporary headquarters to the Second Ukrainian Front, which is a good opportunity for revenge. Not only can you avenge your grievances, but it is also a rare opportunity for generals Muzichenko and Kirillov to turn around. I hope
You can take good care of it."
"Don't worry, Comrade General." Ponejelin said with tears of gratitude: "I will definitely perform well and live up to your trust in me."
"Comrade General," after Ponedelin finished speaking, Muzichenko and Kirillov also said: "We swear to you with our lives and honor that we will perform well when we arrive on the new battlefield.
It will definitely live up to your expectations.”
The three people's statements made Sokov feel very comfortable. He nodded and continued: "It was my idea to assign you to the 53rd Army. Guess why I did this?"
The three of them looked at each other, then shook their heads in unison, and Ponejelin asked on behalf of everyone: "Comrade General, what is your reason for doing this?"
"Is there a map?"
"Yes." Kirillov agreed, picked up a map on the podium and handed it to Sokov.
Sokov only glanced at it, then shook his head and said: "This is a map of Belarus. What I want is a map of Ukraine, preferably the Cherkasy area."
Muzichenko quickly picked up another map and handed it to Sokov: "Comrade General, this is the map you want."
"Come and see here." Sokov took the map. After looking at it for a moment, he pointed to the location south of Cherkasy and said to the three of them: "Now the German army has tens of thousands of troops, and the Ukrainian First Army under General Vatutin has been defeated."
The Front Army and the Second Ukrainian Front Army of General Konev were besieged in the Cherkasy area, while the 53rd Army was deployed in the southernmost part of the entire encirclement."
After Ponedelin tilted his head and looked at the map for a while, he asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade General, do you think the Germans will open a breakthrough in the defensive zone of the 53rd Army to rescue the besieged troops?
"
Seeing that Ponedelin guessed what he was thinking, Sokov showed a smile on his face: "Yes, General Ponedelin, I think the Germans will definitely do this."
"I think Comrade General's analysis is very reasonable." Muzichenko said: "Behind the 53rd Army is a big river. Now is the coldest season of the year. The ice on the frozen river is not only frozen by people.
Even armored vehicles can pass by walking on it. In such an area, it is difficult to build strong defenses. There is a very high possibility that the Germans will choose this place as a breakthrough point."
Sokov knew the direction of the German army's breakout in half a month from reading the history books of later generations. But Muzichenko drew the conclusion based on his own experience of more than 20 years, which made Sokov
Koff couldn't help but look at him with admiration.
"General Muzichenko, he is indeed a person who has been the commander of a group army. He sees the problem thoroughly." Sokov gave a thumbs up to Muzichenko and said with admiration: "I believe that the temporary headquarters is under your control."
Under the leadership of these three people, we will definitely grow into an excellent group quickly."
When Sokov stood at the entrance of the college and watched the two military buses carrying all the members of the Provisional Command leave, the car driven by Koshkin stopped next to Sokov.
"Misha!" Seeing that Sokov didn't notice her, Asia called out to him: "What are you looking at?"
Sokov turned his head and saw Asiya sitting in the car, with an expression of surprise on his face: "Asiya, you are back!"
"Yes, it was Lieutenant Koshkin who picked me up." Asiya said, opened the door and got out of the car, stretched out her hand to support Sokov: "Misha, let's go home."
After Sokov and Asya were seated in the car, Koshkin drove the car towards Lenin Street.
Looking at the two military buses in the distance, Koshkin asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade General, are the students on the two military buses in front of you the ones you recruited?"
"Yes, they are indeed on the two military buses in front."
After hearing this, Koshkin shook his head and said: "With so many regiment-level commanders crowded on two buses, if something unexpected happens along the way, the loss will be huge."
Sokov couldn't help but tremble in his heart, thinking to himself that if, as Koshkin said, the bus ran over a landmine or was shelled by the Germans, even if only one bus had an accident, dozens of people would probably be killed.
The casualties of regimental commanders will indeed bring huge losses to themselves.
"Koshkin," Sokov thought of this, changed his mind temporarily, and told Koshkin: "We are not going home yet."
"Not going back?" Koshkin asked with a surprised look on his face: "Why?"
"Lieutenant Koshkin, you are right." Sokov said with a frown: "If these two military buses are really used to transport members of the interim commander to the front line, if something unexpected happens on the way,
We will suffer huge losses. I plan to see Lunev and see if he can use other methods to send these people to the front line."
Koshkin knew that this matter was of great importance and did not dare to neglect it. He quickly turned the car around and drove in the direction of Lubyanka.
The car soon arrived outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs building, but was stopped by the sentry on duty at the door.
Although the sentry obviously knew Koshkin, he still asked Koshkin to show his ID. During the inspection, he even compared the photo on the ID with Koshkin himself.
Facing the sentry who was so pretentious, Sokov wanted to slap him immediately. But considering that this was the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he just frowned slightly. When he saw the sentry handing the certificate back to Koshkin, he quickly asked
Said: "Can we come in?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Unexpectedly, the sentry put on a businesslike expression and said to Sokov: "Please show me your ID."
People had to bow their heads under the eaves. Since Sokov was at the door of the Ministry of Internal Affairs building, he naturally had no choice but to cooperate with the other party's inspection. He quickly took out his ID, took the ID in Asiya's hand, and folded them together.
Passed it to the sentry.
Unexpectedly, after the sentry read it, he said coldly: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, you and this female military doctor are not from our Ministry of Internal Affairs, so I can't let you in."
Facing the sentry who was obstructing him, Sokov, who wanted to take the overall situation into consideration, could only patiently explain to the other party: "Comrade sentry, I have urgent matters and need to see Deputy Minister General Lunev immediately. Please be accommodating."
"No, Comrade General." Unexpectedly, the sentry was as smelly and hard as the stones in the toilet, and he still said reluctantly: "Your ID does not work here in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"That's enough, stop making trouble." Koshkin scolded the sentry: "Don't you know that the deputy minister and comrade general used to be partners? Hurry up and pull up the railing and let us in."
"I'm sorry, Koshkin." The sentry shook his head and said, "I have no right to let you in."
Koshkin was angry: "We have an emergency and need to see Comrade Vice Minister immediately. If the incident gets out of control and causes huge losses because of your obstruction, can you bear this responsibility?"
Koshkin's attack made the sentry hesitate, but he still did not lift the railing in front of the car, but said awkwardly: "Koshkin, why don't you call Comrade Deputy Minister
, as long as he says to let you go, I will let you in immediately."
Seeing that the sentry was so stubborn, Koshkin opened the car door and walked angrily towards the duty room not far away, where he was going to call Lunev.
Hearing Lunev's voice coming from the receiver, Koshkin quickly said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Deputy Minister, I am Koshkin."
"It turns out to be Lieutenant Koshkin." Lunev, who was busy, asked casually: "What can I do for you?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Minister." Koshkin reported to Lunev: "General Sokov and his wife came, but the car we were traveling in was stopped at the door."
"Been stopped?!" Lunev asked puzzledly: "Why were you stopped?"
Koshkin looked at the sentry standing next to the car and reported to Lunev: "The sentry said that the documents of General Sokov and his wife are not valid here at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so they are determined not to let them in."
"Nonsense, absolutely nonsense." After Lunev figured out the reason why Sokov was stopped, he became angry: "What qualifications does he have to stop a general without authorization? Give him the phone immediately, and I will take care of him properly.
Teach him a lesson."
After Lunev greeted him, Sokov and Asya finally successfully entered the Lubyanka headquarters building.
Asya, who was coming here for the first time, may have heard too many legends about the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which made her extremely nervous. She grabbed Sokov's arm tightly and followed step by step, not daring to
It's a little bit over the top.
"Asiya, don't be nervous." Sokov gently patted Asiya's arm with his hand, comforting her and saying, "As long as I'm by your side, nothing will happen to you."
When she arrived at Lunev's office, Asiya saw a familiar person, and her nervousness finally eased. After Sokov and Lunev greeted her, she also stepped forward and said, "Lunev
,Nice to meet you here."
"Me too, dear Asya."
After Lunev briefly exchanged greetings with Asiya, he asked Sokov directly: "Misha, what's the matter with you here?"
"That's right, Lunev." Sokov said to Lunev: "Didn't you help me arrange two military buses to send dozens of people from the temporary headquarters to the front line?"
"Yes, although the transportation capacity is tight now, I still managed to get two military buses." Lunev asked somewhat unexpectedly: "Misha, is there anything wrong?"
"Lunev, I think it may not be appropriate to use buses to send members of the Provisional Headquarters to the front line."
"why?"
"Lunev, think about it." Sokov said: "There are almost thirty trainees in a vehicle who can serve as regimental commanders. Once the vehicle runs over a mine or is suddenly attacked by German artillery fire, the number of personnel
