A few minutes later, a lieutenant sitting in the lead car jogged over and reported to the lieutenant colonel: "Comrade lieutenant colonel, there are two fallen trees on the road ahead, blocking the convoy's path."
"Lieutenant, immediately organize people to move the trees away!" the lieutenant colonel ordered the other party: "At the same time, let the soldiers in the car behind get out of the car and be on guard to ensure the safety of the convoy."
The lieutenant's words made Victor alert. He remembered that when he used to fight ambushes, he would order people to knock down two trees to block the path of the enemy convoy. When the enemy got out of the car and moved the trees, they would suddenly launch a surprise attack.
s attack.
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov asked vigilantly: "When were you notified of our departure to the 48th Group Army Headquarters?" He was worried that his group's action route would be exposed and they might be attacked by the Germans.
ambush.
The lieutenant colonel obviously guessed what Sokov was worried about, so he explained to him: "General Sokov, from the time I received the order to the time the convoy set off, it did not exceed an hour. Even if someone leaks your heart to the enemy,
It is impossible for the enemy to complete an ambush in such a short period of time."
Sokov thought about it carefully and found that what the lieutenant colonel said was very reasonable. Even at the headquarters of the front army, there were German radio and espionage personnel lurking. They found that they had to go to the headquarters of the 48th Army to send the telegram. The German army
After receiving the telegram, even if the troops have to be mobilized for an ambush, the assembly and marching time will take at least three or four hours to complete the ambush, so the possibility of being ambushed is unlikely.
Since the possibility of a German ambush is unlikely, another possibility is that there are German snipers hiding in the nearby forest. He blocked the road with trees, hoping to wait for the commander in the car to come out to check, and then conduct long-range sniping.
Kill. His goal should be to snipe and kill mid- to high-level officers. They should not have much interest in ordinary soldiers and junior officers.
After figuring out what was going on, Sokov said to the lieutenant colonel: "Comrade lieutenant colonel, since it is impossible for the enemy to ambush us, then there must be their snipers in the ambush. As long as someone with a high military rank does not get out of the car, he will not find a suitable person."
If you target a sniper target, you will choose to retreat."
Since the lieutenant colonel was sent by Ma Lining to serve as an escort, he was naturally not an idiot. He quickly called a soldier outside the vehicle and ordered him: "Go and inform the commander on the jeep behind you, no one is allowed to get out of the car. Otherwise, no one is allowed to get off.
If something happens, we will not be responsible."
After receiving the order, the soldier quickly ran to the back and informed the students sitting in the jeep that they were not allowed to get out of the car, lest they become targets of German snipers.
The convoy stopped, and the soldiers behind them got out of the car one after another. When a defensive circle was set up near the convoy, a few students did want to get out of the car to see what was going on. But after hearing the soldier's notice, they could only wait patiently.
In the car.
Soon, the two trees blocking the road were moved to the side of the road. What everyone was worried about did not happen, and the motorcade continued to move forward.
When the jeep Sokov was riding passed by the two removed trees, Sokov keenly saw that the branches of the trees were fresh, and they should have been cut down not long ago. Moreover, judging from the size of the trees,
From the looks of it, it is definitely not possible for one person to move to the middle of the road. It would take at least four or five people.
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov felt that he needed to remind the Lieutenant Colonel and the others to avoid suffering a disadvantage on the way back: "I think there are at least four or five German snipers in the forest. You should be more careful when returning.
.”
Hearing what Sokov said, the lieutenant colonel was a little surprised and asked: "General Sokov, how did you judge that there were four or five German snipers in the forest?"
"The reason is very simple," Sokov pointed out the window and said, "Didn't you see the two trees just now? Judging from their size, it would take at least four or five people to move them to the middle of the road.
Based on this, I judged that there were at least four or five enemies hiding in the forest."
"I think I still don't know." Ponejelin suddenly interrupted and said: "When they are moving trees, there must be someone around to serve as a guard. According to my analysis, this must be a German airborne team with a number of eight.
Between ten people. The reason why they didn't attack us may be that they saw that there were too many of us. But when you return, the number of vehicles will be greatly reduced, and maybe they will take the risk."
"I understand, General Sokov." After listening to Ponedelin's words, the lieutenant colonel nodded to the two of them and said: "When we return and pass here, I will ask the soldiers to be more vigilant to avoid being beaten by the Germans.
Caught off guard."
The convoy entered the defense area of the 48th Group Army, and the checkpoint that appeared in front of it stopped the convoy again.
But when the officer in charge of the checkpoint learned that this was a convoy escorting the new commander to take office, he did not dare to neglect and quickly ordered someone to lift the crossbar blocking the road to let the convoy pass.
After all the convoys had passed, the officer said disdainfully to one of his subordinates: "This new commander is very ambitious. He brought such a large convoy just for taking office."
"Yes, the current commander brought a guard with him when he took office, but he doesn't have such a big air."
It was impossible for Sokov to hear the private discussions between the officers and soldiers. He was currently looking out through the car window to see what the mental outlook of the unit he was about to take over was like.
The convoy soon arrived at the location of the Army Group Headquarters, but what was strange was that except for the sentries standing guard at the door, there was no welcoming crowd at all.
When the lieutenant colonel saw this situation, he couldn't help but frowned: "General Sokov, this is really strange. You have been informed of your coming here to take up the post. How come there is no one here?"
"It's okay." Although he didn't see anyone greeting him, Sokov didn't take it to heart at all. Instead, he said carelessly: "Since no one greets us, we can just go in."
Sokov asked all the students to stay. He took only Ponedelin and Sidorin with him and followed the lieutenant colonel towards the building. When they arrived at the door, the sentry at the door stopped them with expressionless faces.
Said: "Comrade commander, please show your ID!"
"Do you know who he is?" The lieutenant colonel did not expect that a small sentry would dare to block the way of his group. He couldn't help but said angrily: "They just checked our IDs!"
Sokov knew very well that since the story "Lenin and the Sentinels" appeared in the fourth-grade textbooks, the sentries on duty at the door seemed to have the confidence. No matter how high the other party's military rank or position was, as long as they did not know the other party, they would
They will firmly ask the other party to show their ID.
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, there is no need for you to be angry." Sokov stopped the angry Lieutenant Colonel and said to him with a smile: "The sentry is also performing his own duties." After saying that, he took out his ID and handed it over.
past.
The sentry looked at Sokov's ID card, raised his hand in salute, and said in a panic: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, I need to report to the officer on duty." After receiving Sokov's permission, the sentry turned towards the building.
Run away from things.
Looking at the back of the sentry, the lieutenant colonel said with some displeasure: "General Sokov, the security force here is too weak. In such a big house, there is only one sentry in broad daylight. If the enemy sneaks in in disguise,
, there is a possibility that the headquarters will be taken down."
"You are right to remind me, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Sokov felt that what the Lieutenant Colonel said was very reasonable. Even if the troops are insufficient, sufficient security forces are still needed for key departments such as the Army Headquarters: "Not only do we need to add more security guards at the door
Sentinels must also set up sandbag fortifications and place machine guns on both sides of the gate."
The sentry appeared in front of Sokov again, and he reported nervously: "Comrade General, the officer on duty will be here soon."
Two minutes later, a captain appeared in front of several people. After raising his hand and saluting everyone, he loudly announced his rank and name.
"I am Sokov, the new commander of the group army!" Sokov repeated his name again. "Coming with me are deputy commander Lieutenant General Ponedelin and chief of staff Sidorin.
Colonel."
Hearing that he was the new commander of the group army, the muscles on the captain's face trembled violently. He stood at attention and said to Sokov with some difficulty: "Excuse me, Comrade General, please allow me to report first.
..." Perhaps because he was worried about people's misunderstanding, he also specifically explained, "The superiors have orders that no one will be allowed in without a pass."
"But this is..." When the lieutenant colonel heard what the captain said, he felt a little annoyed and defended Sokov, but Sokov raised his hand to stop him from saying anything else, and instead said to the captain: "Comrade Captain, you
Go report it, we are waiting for you here."
The captain turned around and ran into the building at full speed. It took at least five minutes before he reappeared at the door.
When he was still a few steps away from Sokov and others, he raised his hands in salute and said: "Please, comrades commanders!"
This time, a famous major greeted them at the entrance. He raised his palm to Sokov, who was walking over, and was about to report his rank and name, but Sokov interrupted him and asked bluntly: "Your commander?"
Where?"
The major lowered his voice and reported: "Comrade General, the commander is convening a meeting of division commanders."
"Major, take us there!" Sokov said to the major in a commanding tone.
The major did not dare to neglect and quickly walked in front to lead the way.
When everyone came to the door of a conference room in the corridor shot on the second floor, the major stopped, turned around and said to Sokov: "Comrade General, please wait a moment, I will go in and report immediately..."
"No need!" After Sokov said, he walked straight past the major and raised his hand to push open the closed door of the meeting.
There is a long conference table in the conference room, with more than a dozen people sitting around the table. At the other end of the table sits an officer with the rank of lieutenant general, who should be the current commander, General Romanenko, and two people sitting on his left and right.
General, currently his military commissioner and chief of staff.
Romanenko, who was speaking, heard the door of the conference room being pushed open. He stopped and looked at the few people who came in with confusion.
After Ponedelin and Sidorin crossed the threshold, they stood by the door and did not go any further.
Sokov and the lieutenant colonel walked towards Romanenko. When they came to him, they said politely: "Is this General Romanenko?"
Romanenko still looked at Sokov blankly, and asked with some surprise: "Comrade General, who are you? How could you just break into my conference room?"
"Hello, General Romanenko!" Sokov took out a note folded into four folds from the pocket of his military uniform and silently handed the note to the other party: "I am the new commander, General Sokov.
This is the order given to you by Commander Rokossovsky."
There was silence in the conference room. Under everyone's gaze, Romanenko unfolded the note. He recognized at a glance that it was indeed Rokossovsky's handwriting.
The note was very simple and contained only a few words: "Immediately transfer the command of the 48th Group Army to Sokov. He himself will immediately return to the front army headquarters along with the lieutenant colonel who escorted Sokov to take office."
After Romanenko read it, he handed the note to a general sitting next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, this is the order of Commander Rokossovsky."
The general, known as the military commissar, took the note and read it carefully, with an expression of disbelief on his face. After a moment, he raised his head and looked at Romanenko: "Comrade Commander, what on earth is going on?
, you did a good job, why were you suddenly dismissed?"
Romanenko did not answer the military commissar's words, but glanced at the people present and said slowly: "Comrades, we have a new group army commander here, he is General Sokov
.”
Romanenko tried his best to control his emotions and said these words in a calm tone, as if he was reading an ordinary document to his subordinates without adding the slightest personal emotion. But from his voice, everyone still felt
You could hear his voice becoming hoarse with excitement.
After the military commissar read the note, he immediately ordered: "Bring a chair to the commander!"
Upon hearing his order, the clerk in charge of taking minutes of the meeting quickly stood up, picked up a chair, and placed it next to Romanenko's seat.
However, Sokov did not sit down immediately. Instead, he pointed towards the door with his hand and said: "Lieutenant General Ponedelin and Colonel Sidorin came with me."
When the military commissar heard this, he quickly ordered two more chairs to be brought in for Ponedelin and Sidorin to sit down.
After seeing Ponedelin and Sidorin sitting down, Sokov sat on the chair prepared for him, turned to Romanenko and said: "General Romanenko, your mission in the 48th Group Army has been completed."
Done, leave the rest of the work to me."
"Yes, General Romanenko." The lieutenant colonel who escorted Sokov here also lost no time in saying: "My mission is to escort General Sokov to take office here, and then escort you and your chief of staff back.
Front Army Headquarters."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," a somewhat depressed Romanenko looked at the Lieutenant Colonel and asked tentatively: "Do you know what Commander Rokossovsky asked me to do when I returned to the Front Army Headquarters?"
"I'm sorry, General Romanenko, I'm not sure." The lieutenant colonel replied briefly: "With my rank, I'm not qualified to know many things." He made a gesture of invitation: "Please, General.
Comrade, my convoy is still waiting outside. Just waiting for you and your chief of staff to get on the bus, we can return to the front headquarters."
