Chapter 2147 Comrades reunited after a long absence
"General Potapov!"
"General Potapov?!" Sokov was unfamiliar with this name and asked: "What department did he belong to and what position did he hold before he was captured?"
Before Nikitin could reply, Sokov suddenly heard a "bang" sound coming from beside him. He turned around and saw that the teapot in Ponedelin's hand had fallen to the ground, and the tea inside was filled with water.
land.
Just when Sokov was about to pay attention to the other party and ask him if he had been burned by the tea, Ponejelin had already rushed to him with a quick stride, blushing, and asked excitedly: "Comrade Commander, what do you think we should do?"
Who did our men rescue from the prisoner of war camp? General Potapov?”
"Yes, that's the name Commander Nikitin mentioned." Seeing Ponedelin's excited expression, Sokov guessed that he must know Potapov, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you
Do you know him?"
"More than just acquaintances, we are old acquaintances and old friends." Ponejelin's voice became hoarse with excitement: "When the war broke out, I was the commander of the 12th Army, and he was the commander of the 5th Army.
He was later captured during the Battle of Kiev. By the way, Marshal Rokossovsky was once his subordinate when he was still the commander of the 9th Mechanized Army."
After learning Potapov's identity, Sokov immediately said into the microphone: "General Nikitin, immediately send someone to escort him to my headquarters. Remember, we must ensure his safety. Understand
?"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Although Sokov didn't know Potapov, Nikitin did and knew his identity, so he was naturally unambiguous: "I will definitely send someone to escort him to the headquarters safely.
.”
After Sokov put down the phone, he asked Ponedelin tentatively: "Deputy Commander, do you think this matter needs to be reported to the marshal?"
"It goes without saying." Ponedelin waited for Sokov to finish and said without hesitation: "In any case, Comrade Marshal was once a subordinate of General Potapov. Now Comrade Marshal's old superior has been replaced by us.
Rescue from a prisoner of war camp is a huge event and must be reported to the marshal."
"Okay." Sokov also felt that he should report the matter to Rokossovsky. This was not because Ponejelin said that Rokossovsky was an old subordinate of Potapov, but because
The rescue of a general-level figure from a prisoner-of-war camp is a big deal. How to arrange the other party? Let alone a small army commander, even Rokossovsky or Zhukov would not dare to do so without permission.
To make the decision, you must ask the Supreme Command for instructions: "I will call Comrade Marshal right now."
Another important reason for Sokov's urgent call was that Rokossovsky had once confessed that in order to avoid being discovered by the enemy about his intention to attack, he was not allowed to conflict with the Germans without instructions.
.And Sokov sent people to rescue people in the prisoner-of-war camp, which was a violation of Rokossovsky's order, so he naturally needed to call for instructions.
After the call was connected, Sokov respectfully said to Bogolyubov who answered the phone: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, is the Marshal at the headquarters?"
"Yes." Bogolyubov glanced at Rokossovsky, who was sitting not far away, and asked: "You have something to do with him?"
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov said respectfully: "I violated some of his rules and I have to make him admit his mistake in person."
After listening, Bogolyubov was confused and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, General Sokov called you. He said that he had made a mistake and needed to admit it to you face to face.
"
"He wants to admit his mistake to me?" Rokossovsky said equally puzzled: "What mistake can he make?"
Rokossovsky thought this way out of his understanding of Sokov. He felt that Sokov was not like someone who disobeyed orders and liked to make his own decisions in everything, so after he took the phone, he didn't talk nonsense.
Instead, he went straight to the point: "Misha, what did you do wrong? Why do you have to apologize to me?"
"Comrade Marshal, this is what happened." Sokov quickly told Rokossovsky truthfully about how he sent people to infiltrate into the enemy's rear, but raided the prisoner-of-war camp and rescued the captured commanders and soldiers. Finally, he told Rokossovsky the truth.
Said: "I did not obey your order, sent people into the enemy's rear without permission, violated your order, please punish me."
"You are really confused. Since you know that there is a gap of several kilometers in the German defense junction, why didn't you report it earlier?" Rokossovsky said angrily: "If we had known that there was such a gap, we would have planned an attack
When planning, we will take this factor that is beneficial to our army into consideration. But now if you do this, you are telling the enemy that we have discovered a loophole in their defense. Next, they will strengthen the troops in the area and block it.
Seize the gap at the junction to prevent our army from making a breakthrough from here."
Rokossovsky said a lot in one breath, took a sip of tea, and then asked: "Did you gain anything from the sneak attack on the prisoner of war camp?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov quickly replied: "Not only did we rescue more than two thousand commanders and combatants, but we also rescued a general."
"A general, what general?" Rokossovsky asked, picking up the tea cup and taking another sip.
"It's General Potapov, who was the commander of the 5th Army in the early days of the war." Sokov said cautiously: "It is said that he was once your superior. I feel it is necessary to inform you about this to see how you plan to arrange him.
?”
All the tea that Rokossovsky just drank squirted out, and even some of it splashed on Bogolyubov. He quickly apologized to the other party, picked up the rag from the table, and began to wipe the table.
of tea.
Bogolyubov quickly stepped forward to take the rag and help wipe away the tea so that Rokossovsky could make the phone call in peace.
Rokossovsky nodded to Bogolyubov and continued to speak into the microphone: "Misha, are you telling the truth? The commander you rescued from the prisoner of war camp is really the former 5th Army
Commander General Potapov?”
"That's right, Comrade Marshal, that's him." In order to increase his persuasiveness, Sokov even pushed Ponedelin out: "This was confirmed by my deputy commander, General Ponedelin."
"Where is General Potapov now?" Rokossovsky asked.
"Still in the defense area of the 120th Guards Division." Sokov said: "But I have told Nikitin to send people to my headquarters as soon as possible."
"Misha, listen." Rokossovsky said: "After the person is sent to your headquarters, let General Ponedelin perform another identification to see if it is Potapov himself. If so,
, remember to give me a call. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" Sokov understood what Rokossovsky meant. If the general who was rescued was really his old superior, Major General Potapov, then he might personally come to his
The headquarters came to see this man. So Sokov politely asked: "Do you think we need to shave him, take a bath, and change his clothes?"
"Help me entertain him well. You can do whatever you want. You don't have to ask me for instructions on everything."
After calling Rokossovsky, Sokov said to Ponedelin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the marshal said that when General Potapov arrives at our place, please carefully identify him.
See if it's the General Potapov you know."
"Okay." Ponejelin nodded and said, "I will identify it carefully."
About half an hour later, Nikitin came in from outside with a few people.
He came to Sokov, raised his hand in salute, and said: "Comrade Commander, I brought the person here!"
Sokov looked towards the people brought by Nikitin and saw an unkempt, bearded man. He looked haggard and wore a military uniform that looked empty, as if it was hanging on a hanger.
Seeing this person's appearance, Ponedelin quickly walked over. When he got closer, he looked at the person carefully and asked cautiously: "Mikhail Ivanovich, is it really you?
?"
What Ponedelin said was Potapov's real name and father's name. When the man heard someone calling him that, he couldn't help but trembled. His whole body seemed to have been cast a restraining spell, and he stood still. He stared.
Ponedelin looked at it for a long time, and finally said tremblingly: "You, you are Pavel Grigorievich, are you still alive?!"
Ponejelin grabbed the other person's arm and said with tears in his eyes: "It's me, it's me, I'm Ponejelin, I'm still alive. I didn't expect that after so many years of separation, I would still have a chance to see you alive."
"
"Me too, Pavel." Potapov and Ponedelin gave a warm hug: "When I heard that you died in the Battle of Uman, I was sad for a while. I really didn't expect that.
I can still see you alive."
"Misha!" When he heard Ponedelin calling this name, Sokov almost agreed, but the next moment he remembered that Potapov's real name was also Mikhail, and Ponedelin called him
Misha, it's Potapov, not himself.
Seeing the two hugging each other and talking to each other about the past, Sokov was able to confirm that the rescued person was indeed Rokossovsky's old superior, Potapov, the commander of the 5th Army
Major General. He walked to the corner, picked up a phone, and connected to the front headquarters, preparing to report the situation here to Rokossovsky.
The call was quickly connected, and Rokossovsky's somewhat urgent voice came from the receiver: "How's it going, Misha, are you sure?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied briefly: "I think it can be confirmed. My deputy commander hugged him after meeting him, and now we are talking about the past."
When he first heard Sokov talking about his deputy commander, Rokossovsky was startled for a moment, and then remembered that Sokov should be talking about Ponedelin. This general was the commander of the 12th Army and was the commander of the 12th Army.
Potapov is a good friend. They have not seen each other for so many years, so they will definitely have a lot to talk about.
"Misha." Rokossovsky thought about it and decided not to go there for the time being, so he said to Sokov: "You take good care of him. When I have time in two days, it won't be too late to go over and see him."
"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov had no idea how to place Potapov in the future, so he asked Rokossovsky about Rokossovsky's views on the matter: "I wonder how you plan to place General Potapov?
"
Hearing Sokov's question, Rokossovsky was silent for a long time, and finally said: "This matter is a bit troublesome, let me think about it first, and then I will tell you." After that, without waiting for Sokov to say more,
After speaking, he hung up the phone directly.
"Comrade Marshal," Bogolyubov, who was standing nearby, saw Rokossovsky hanging up the phone and couldn't help but curiously asked: "I wonder how you can arrange General Potapov's position after interrupting?"
"According to convention, after a person of his level is rescued, he must be immediately sent to Lubyanka in Moscow." Rokossovsky said solemnly: "There he will undergo strict review and screening."
"So, you are planning to send General Potapov to Moscow?"
"Yes, that's what I thought about." Rokossovsky looked at Bogolyubov and said, "In fact, even if I don't send it, the superiors will order us to send it when they know that General Potapov has been rescued.
If you send it there early, we can take the initiative."
"It seems that this is the only way." Bogolyubov said with some helplessness: "It seems that no one of the generals who were sent to Lubyanka came out."
"That's not necessarily true." Rokossovsky shook his head and said: "At least Ponedelin, Kirillov and Muzichenko who were rescued by Mischa's troops were released and arranged
Go work in the army."
"I know this." Bogolyubov nodded and said, "But I seem to have heard that the three of them were released because General Sokov vouched for them. After being arranged to join the army, each of them served as
A certain position."
"I plan to discuss with Zhukov to see how to deal with Potapov's matter." Rokossovsky was worried that Bogolyubov did not understand why he wanted to find Zhukov, so he specifically explained to him: "Zhukov had been there before the war.
He served as the commander of the Kiev Special Military District, and Potapov was his subordinate. He is a person who cherishes old friendships. If he knew about this, he would definitely put in a good word for Potapov."
Rokossovsky quickly contacted Zhukov and told him the news of Potapov's rescue.
After hearing this, Zhukov's face was full of shock: "I heard that when Kiev fell, he died in the battle, but I didn't expect that he was still alive."
From the tone of Zhukov's words, Rokossovsky heard that the other party meant to help Potapov escape, so he asked tentatively: "According to convention, after General Potapov is rescued, he should be sent to Moscow immediately.
, hand it over to the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for review and screening. I wonder what you plan to do?"
Zhukov thought for a while and then said: "Koschka, I will take the time to call Poskrebyshev and ask the Supreme Commander how he is feeling recently. Pick a day when he is in a good mood and report the matter to him.
Maybe we can be extraneous to the law and give Potapov a lighter sentence."
"That's a good feeling," Rokossovsky said with relief: "If you tell the Supreme Commander about this when he is in the best mood, I think his treatment of General Potapov will not be as bad as
As harsh as before. If we say a few nice words later, maybe we can return to the army like Ponedelin and Kirillov."
