"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov said to the Lieutenant Colonel: "Can you sit next to me for a while? I need some time to hand over the work with General Romanenko."
After hearing what Sokov said, the lieutenant colonel nodded and said cheerfully: "Okay, General Sokov, I will wait for you next to you. After you complete the handover, I will escort General Romanenko back to the front army headquarters.
."
After the lieutenant colonel sat down at the other end of the conference table, Sokov asked Romanenko: "General Romanenko, I wonder what you were discussing before I came here?"
"What else can it be?" Romanenko shrugged his shoulders and said with a look of despair: "Of course it is to discuss how to build fortifications in the current defense zone to resist the German attack!"
"I wonder how the construction of your fortifications is progressing?"
"It's very bad." Romanenko shook his head and said: "Our army group's defense area is close to the swamp, and water can be found after digging three feet. The trenches that were finally dug were filled with water in less than one night.
, causing our soldiers to use water pumps to pump out all the water in the trenches."
"General Romanenko, I don't understand why you want to build fortifications?" Sokov looked at Romanenko and asked: "Do you think the German army at this time is still capable of launching a counterattack against us?"
Sokov's words stunned everyone in the 48th Group Army. They never dreamed that on the first day of taking office, the new commander actually said that he would not build fortifications.
After a while, the incoming chief of staff of the 48th Group Army said: "General Sokov, although the possibility of enemy attack is very small, we cannot take it lightly. Instead, we should build necessary defenses around the defense area in accordance with the doctrine.
."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said to the former Chief of Staff: "doctrine is dead, people are alive. We as commanders must decide whether to build fortifications based on the specific situation. Nowadays, the group army's
The defense area is close to a swamp, and I don’t think the German army has the guts to cross such a wide swamp and launch an attack on our defense area that has little chance of winning. Therefore, the matter of building fortifications can be removed from our agenda."
"But, General Sokov..." The former chief of staff seemed to want to say something to refute Sokov, but was interrupted by Sokov raising his hand.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov pointed at Sidorin and said, "This is the new Chief of Staff of the Army Group. You should hand over the work in your hands to him immediately."
The former chief of staff heard what Sokov said. Although he was full of reluctance, an order was an order. He could only agree honestly, then walked to sit down next to Sidorin and began to hand over work with him.
.
"Where is the situation map between ourselves and the enemy?"
Hearing Sokov's question, the military commissar sitting next to him immediately pushed a map spread out on the table in front of Sokov and said politely: "Comrade Commander, this is our 48th Group Army."
Situation map of the enemy and ourselves in the defense zone.”
Sokov pulled the map in front of him and looked at it carefully.
After he had a general understanding of the situation in the defense area, he raised his head and said to Romanenko: "General Romanenko, let's hurry up and complete the transfer of command authority of the troops, so that you can return to the front army headquarters as soon as possible."
After speaking, Sokov turned over the map, picked up a red and blue pencil on the table, and wrote with the red end: "Take over the position of commander of the group army." He wrote the date and his own name below.
After his name, he pushed it in front of Romanenko: "General Romanenko, it's your turn!"
Seeing Sokov's behavior, Romanenko was stunned for a moment, and then he understood what was going on. He took the red and blue pencil from Sokov's hand and wrote "Romanenko to General Sokov" below.
Hand over command of the group army."
The transfer of command has been completed here, and the former chief of staff next to him has also completed the transfer of work to Xidorin.
The command of the unit had been transferred. Romanenko stood up, stretched out his hand to Sokov, and said in a friendly manner: "General Sokov, the 48th Group Army will be entrusted to you from now on. I hope you can lead them to achieve more glorious achievements."
Achievements."
"Don't worry, General Romanenko." Sokov held the opponent's hand and said, "I will work hard to run this army well, and I will never let you down."
Now that the transfer of command of the troops was over, the lieutenant colonel came over and took Romanenko and his chief of staff out of the conference room.
After Romanenko left, Sokov asked the military commissar sitting next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you know where your communications room is?"
"It's right next door."
"Comrade Military Commissar, please take me there. I need to speak to the commander of the front army immediately."
The military commissar of the group army led the way for Sokov. The soldiers he met along the way hurriedly pressed against the wall and stood at attention to make way for them. They did not know yet about the change of commander of the group army. When they saw the military commissar
Walking with an unfamiliar general, my heart was filled with surprise.
After the two of them walked away, the soldiers began to discuss: "Who is that general walking with Comrade Military Commissar? It seems that I have never seen him before."
"It's strange that a general came to us, but the commander didn't come out to accompany him. This is too strange."
Naturally, Sokov couldn't hear everyone's discussion. He was anxious to report to Rokossovsky about his arrival at the 48th Army.
Arriving at the communications room, after passing behind the radio station and the operator sitting in front of the radio station, the military commissar led Sokov to a telephone.
The communications staff officer sitting next to the telephone saw Sokov arriving with the military commissar. He quickly stood up from his seat, straightened his body and was about to make a report, but was interrupted by Sokov: "Comrade staff officer, next to you
Can you contact the front army headquarters with your phone number?"
The staff officer looked at the unknown general in front of him and replied in a panic: "Yes, Comrade General, the phone I am responsible for can communicate with the front army headquarters."
"Get through to the front army headquarters immediately." Sokov said briefly: "When the call is connected, tell the person on the other side who answers the phone that the newly appointed commander of the 48th Group Army, Sokov, wants to talk to Rokossov.
Commander Ski spoke."
When Sokov spoke, he did not lower his voice intentionally, so that the telegraph operators sitting not far away could clearly hear what he said, and all their eyes turned towards him. What surprised everyone was that not only the superior suddenly
Regarding the replacement of the army commander, this trusted commander is too young.
The call was quickly connected. Sokov took the receiver and put it to his ear, and Rokossovsky's familiar voice came from inside: "Misha, have you taken over the position of commander?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I have taken over the position of Commander."
"Is there any problem you need to report to me?"
"Comrade General, this is how I think about it." Sokov thought of the ongoing agenda in the conference room and felt that even if he wanted to cancel, he needed to talk to Rokossovsky first to see what he meant: "
The defense area of our group army is close to the swamp. Due to the complex terrain, it is very difficult to build defenses facing the swamp. The commanders and soldiers worked hard to dig a trench, but it was filled in less than one night.
Water, if you want to continue using it, you have to use a water pump to drain it..."
Rokossovsky heard what Sokov wanted to express from his seemingly complaining words, and unceremoniously exposed him: "Misha, you told me so many difficulties, is it?
Don’t you want to cancel the construction of fortifications?”
Seeing that Rokossovsky had easily guessed his thoughts, Sokov laughed dryly, and then said: "Comrade General, I think this kind of time-consuming and ineffective fortification construction can be terminated. Let's
Our officers and soldiers should take a good rest before the war begins."
"It's very simple to cancel the construction of fortifications. It's just a matter of one sentence." Rokossovsky asked on the phone: "But if the German army discovers that you have no fortifications and launches a sudden attack on you, what will you do?
manage?"
"Comrade General, this is what I think about." Sokov already had a preliminary idea in his mind when he was looking at the map. Since Rokossovsky asked, he took the opportunity to say: "Although you don't have to face the swamp,
Build fortifications in the direction, but I will deploy artillery or machine gun firepower at some commanding heights, so that we can use firepower to block a large area around us. If the Germans don't come, it will be over. If they come, we can teach them a lesson with artillery fire first.
, and then order the nearby troops to rush to the swamp to block it."
"Didn't you say that you don't plan to build fortifications next to the swamp?" Rokossovsky asked: "Then what will the troops coming from nearby rely on to fight the enemy?"
"Some tanks can be deployed near the swamp..."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Rokossovsky just heard this and interrupted Sokov's words: "I think you should be very clear about the terrain in the swamp. Even if a mortar is set up in some areas,
, after the cannon is fired, the cannon may get stuck in the quagmire. If you put a tank weighing dozens of tons, aren't you worried that it will sink?"
"Comrade General, I have already considered this." Sokov explained into the microphone: "I will order the engineers to use logs to lay some shooting platforms for tanks on the edge of the swamp. These platforms will be very strong, even if they are several
If a ten-ton tank presses on it, you won’t have to worry about getting stuck in the mud.”
"If we really want to build a shooting platform that can be used by tanks, won't the amount of work be huge?"
"No." Sokov replied: "According to my idea, it is more appropriate to deploy 15 to 20 tanks per kilometer, so the amount of work will not be too large for our engineers."
After listening to Sokov's words, Rokossovsky thought for a while and finally made up his mind. He nodded and said: "Okay, Misha, since what you said makes sense, then let's do what you said.
Do."
With Rokossovsky's consent, Sokov became more confident about the next work.
On the way back to the conference room, he remembered that he had asked the military commissar of the group army to be his guide, but he didn't even know the other person's name, so he asked apologetically: "Comrade Military Commissar, I still don't know your name.
I don’t know what to call you?”
"My name is Pugachev!"
"Pugachev?!" Sokov repeated the surname and said with a smile: "This is an amazing surname. Your ancestors gathered 80 Cossacks to launch the Pugachev Uprising in 1773.
, opened the prelude to a peasant war against the oppression of serfdom in Russian history."
Hearing what Sokov said, Pugachev's face showed a smile, "Comrade Commander, I really didn't expect that you, so young, actually know about the peasant uprising led by Pugachev. You know, this period of history has long been
It disappeared from textbooks, so most students were unaware of the peasant uprising that once threatened the tsarist rule."
"Don't worry, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov said: "When we defeat the German invaders, the peasant uprising led by your ancestors will have a chance to return to history textbooks."
"Really?" Pugachev asked dubiously.
Sokov remembered that he had seen records about this peasant uprising in a Russian eighth-grade history textbook, so he nodded and said: "This is for sure, Comrade Military Commissar, I assure you."
Although he knew that Sokov could not influence the decision of the textbook compilation committee, the other party's statement still made Pugachev happy: "Comrade Commander, on behalf of the commanders and fighters of the entire army, welcome you to us.
.If you have any difficulties at work in the future, just tell me and I will fully cooperate with you."
Sokov was originally worried that it would take some time for him to open up the situation, but he did not expect that the military commissar would be so cooperative, which would be very beneficial to his subsequent work.
The commanders who were discussing in low voices in the conference room immediately stopped talking when they saw Sokov and Pugachev walking in from the outside. They sat up straight and stared at Sokov intently to see what he would do next.
What will be done.
After Pugachev asked Sokov to sit down, he faced the division commanders in the meeting and said: "Comrade commanders, on behalf of the commander, I announce something: from now on, the construction of fortifications on the edge of the swamp will be cancelled.
Action, let the soldiers take advantage of this rare opportunity to take a good rest."
"What, no more fortifications built on the edge of the swamp?" Although Sokov had announced before going out to make a call that he would no longer discuss how to build fortifications on the edge of the swamp. But when Pugachev said this on his behalf, he would not
While the construction was going on, the teachers and commanders sitting below still began to whisper to each other and discuss in low voices.
"What if we don't build fortifications and the enemies on the other side of the swamp launch fortifications against us?"
"Yes, if there are no fortifications to support us to avoid the enemy's attack, it may be difficult for us to stop it."
"..."
When the division commanders were discussing, Sokov did not interrupt them, but quietly listened to their various opinions, thinking in his mind how to refute the different opinions raised by these division commanders one by one later.
"Quiet, comrades, division commanders, please be quiet!" Pugachev saw that everyone was talking without stopping. He couldn't help but became a little anxious. He slapped the table with his hand a few times and said loudly: "Please ask our commander to give me some help."
Everyone explained the reasons for not building fortifications."
It has to be said that Pugachev still has some authority within the army. After hearing his words, the division commanders who were still talking in low voices fell silent and turned their attention to Sokov again, waiting for him.
