Sokov and Pokryshkin came out of the racecourse and stood on the roadside waiting for the bus to take them back.
"Comrade Sokov, no, I should call you Captain Sokov now." Pokryshkin said: "Can you tell me what kind of meritorious deeds you have accomplished to win the title of Lenin, which is basically the highest level?
Medal and an exceptional promotion to captain."
Sokov knew that Pokryshkin was the future Air Force Marshal. If he and Victoria were stuck in this era and could not leave, having a good relationship with him would be of great help to him in the future. Therefore, he truthfully described what happened in this era.
What happened in the small town was told to Pokryshkin.
After hearing this, Pokryshkin's eyes widened in surprise: "What, you captured 12 German tanks by yourself?"
"How can I do that on my own," Sokov said modestly: "Aren't there two T-34 tanks to assist me in the operation? Otherwise, how could I have captured 12 German tanks by myself?
"
"Captain Sokov, I really underestimated you before." Pokryshkin said seriously: "If it were someone else, let alone 2 tanks to assist, even if there were 20 tanks to assist, we would have to capture 12 German tanks
Tanks are simply impossible. To put it bluntly, even if they win, it will be a tragic victory. Even if our tank troops pay huge casualties, they may not be able to capture so many German tanks."
Sokov agreed very much with Pokryshkin's statement. The reason why he was able to capture so many German tanks and assault guns single-handedly was largely due to luck. The Germans saw the two before and after.
A Soviet tank thought that it was surrounded. The armored troops could not move at all on such a narrow street, and they were just a living target. The German commander may not have wanted to die in vain, so he decisively ordered the troops to surrender. If he had encountered
It is not a German armored force, but an infantry force, then it will be another ending.
"Captain Sokov..."
Sokov interrupted: "My name is Mikhail, my friends call me Misha."
Pokryshkin immediately understood what Sokov meant and quickly changed his words: "Well, I will call you Misha from now on. You can also call me Alexander."
"Well, okay, I will call you Alexander from now on."
"I feel ashamed to say that the first time I took off for combat, I made a mistake and shot down the plane piloted by my comrade Pustego."
Hearing the name Pokryshkin mentioned, Sokov couldn't help but be a little surprised, because Pustgo was also the future Air Marshal, and Pokryshkin shot down his plane for the first time he took to the air for combat.
, I guess you will be severely punished. So I asked cautiously: "I wonder how your superiors dealt with you later?"
Pokryshkin grinned silently and continued: "Of course it is the most severe punishment. The commander of the aviation regiment ordered me to be locked up in a small dark room, and he also said that I would be sent to a military court. But.
The next day, we received an order from our superiors to provide necessary air cover for the ground troops. Because there were not enough pilots, the regiment commander showed mercy and released me from the small dark room. Fortunately, I was lucky.
In this airborne battle, we successfully shot down a Me-109 fighter jet, which can be regarded as a meritorious service."
"Well done!" Sokov gave Pokryshkin a thumbs up and said with emotion: "I think air supremacy is very important in future battlefields. If battlefield air supremacy is in the hands of the enemy,
We will be unable to launch active attacks and can only hide in defensive positions and defend passively."
"Comrade, I think what you said is wrong." Unexpectedly, as soon as Sokov finished speaking, a strange voice came from next to him: "Even if we don't have air superiority, we can still launch a fierce attack on the enemy, and even defeat the enemy."
Completely defeated.”
Sokov turned around and saw that the person speaking was a captain with a higher military rank than himself. He could only smile faintly and then said tactfully: "Comrade Captain, I don't know if you have been on the battlefield. If you have seen our army's armor,
You wouldn't say such a thing when the troops had completely lost their assault capabilities after being bombarded by German bomber formations during the assault."
"Of course I have been on the battlefield." The captain pointed to the medal on his chest and said: "Our battalion was ordered to block the German attack. The enemy, under the cover of tanks, aircraft, and artillery, launched attacks on our positions again and again.
, but they were all repelled by us. We even launched a timely counterattack when the enemy retreated and regained some positions occupied by the enemy."
"Comrade Sokov! You are here, I am still looking for you everywhere." When Sokov was thinking about how to refute the other party, he heard a familiar voice calling him. He turned around and saw that it was Vlasov.
.
Sokov raised his hand and saluted Vlasov: "Hello, Comrade General, I'm glad to see you again."
Not only Sokov saluted Vlasov, but Pokryshkin, who was standing nearby, as well as the captain and some officers who questioned Sokov, all saluted Vlasov at the same time, because they all recognized him.
Vlasov’s identity.
When Vlasov shook hands with Sokov, he smiled and said: "Comrade Sokov, I congratulate you on receiving the Order of Lenin, which represents the highest honor, and on being promoted to captain as an exception!"
"Thank you, Comrade General!"
"According to the order of my superiors, I will return to Kiev tomorrow." Vlasov looked at Sokov and asked: "How about it, are you willing to go back with me?"
An alarm bell rang in Sokov's heart. The Battle of Kiev was about to begin. He would have a narrow escape from following Vlasov back to Kiev. Even if he was lucky enough to escape from the German encirclement, when Vlasov rebelled in the future, he would be his hero.
His subordinates will definitely be implicated.
Just when Sokov was thinking about how to reply to the other party, Pokryshkin had already said first: "General Vlasov, I think Misha is very willing to return to Kiev with you."
"Misha?" Vlasov raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise: "Who is Misha?"
"Here he is." Pokryshkin pointed at Sokov and said with a smile: "His nickname is Misha."
Vlasov turned to look at Sokov and said: "Comrade Sokov, we have known each other for such a long time, but I still don't know your full name. Can you tell me your real name and father's name?"
"Comrade General, my real and patronymic names are Mikhail Mikhailovich."
"Yes, I remember. I will call you Misha from now on." Vlasov continued to ask the question just now: "You haven't answered me yet, are you willing to follow me back to Kiev?"
Sokov looked at the people around him and found that they all had expressions of eagerness to try, so he almost shouted: "Follow him, follow him."
At this moment, Sokov realized a problem. It would be a stupid move to reject Vlasov in public. In any case, Vlasov is now a popular man in front of Stalin. If he rejects his kindness,
I'm afraid it would give other commanders a bad idea. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply: "Comrade General, I am willing to obey your order and go to Kiev with you."
"That's great." Vlasov said, "I'll set off tomorrow morning, and you'll be ready to go at any time when you get back."
"Take the whole company with you?" Sokov asked tentatively.
"No need." Vlasov shook his head and said: "There are enough guards in my new army, so just leave the soldiers you brought with you to the garrison headquarters. You and I will be there tomorrow."
Together with the security guards, we returned directly to Kiev."
"Yes, Comrade General."
Vlasov saw the bus taking Sokov and the others back coming, raised his hand and patted Sokov on the shoulder, and said: "I still have things to deal with, so you go back first. When we set off tomorrow morning,
I'll ask the security guard to call you."
On the bus back to the garrison headquarters, Sokov said nothing, thinking in his mind how he could survive after going to Kiev this time.
After arriving at the place, Sokov and Pokryshkin got out of the car.
When the two came to the yard, Pokryshkin asked: "Misha, I think you seem to have something on your mind. Can you tell me?"
Sokov took out the cigarette case and handed it to Pokryshkin. When the other person took out one and put it in his mouth, he lit a match to help him light it, then lit one for himself, and then said: "Alexander
, what do you think of the situation in Kiev?"
"Although the German army has a fierce offensive, it may not be easy for them to capture Kiev." Pokryshkin said confidently: "In any case, the total strength of our regular army there plus the militia exceeds
With 1 million people, even if we can't crush the enemy's attack, there shouldn't be any problem in blocking them, right?"
Sokov looked around and saw no one around, but he still lowered his voice and said to Pokryshkin: "Alexander, do you know why General Zhukov was dismissed from the post of Chief of General Staff?"
"I don't know." Pokryshkin shook his head and asked, "Do you know the reason?"
"I heard that General Zhukov told Comrade Stalin that the special terrain of Kiev was not conducive to defense at all. He suggested that Kiev be abandoned and all troops withdrawn to the left bank of the Dnieper River to deploy defenses to prevent the German army from launching an attack on Moscow. But it was disappointing.
Regrettably, Comrade Stalin refused to listen to General Zhukov’s advice and instead dismissed him from the post of chief of general staff and transferred him to the reserve front army to serve as commander.”
Although more than a month has passed since Zhukov was dismissed, there is no way for a junior officer like Pokryshkin to know about it. Therefore, he seemed very surprised when he heard what Sokov said.
Shocked: "What, Marshal Zhukov was transferred to the reserve front? When did this happen?"
"Mid to late July, I don't know the specific time."
"That's such a pity." Pokryshkin sighed softly, and then said: "Before General Zhukov became the Chief of General Staff, he was the commander of the Kiev Special Military District. I have heard many commanders say,
He is a very capable leader. I really didn't expect that he was actually transferred to the reserve front army. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to stand up."
"Alexander, I don't agree with your statement." Sokov shook his head and said: "It is gold, it will shine wherever it is. Although General Zhukov is only commanding the reserve front army now, he may one day command the troops.
He will be able to achieve impressive results, and at that time, the Supreme Commander himself will entrust him with important responsibilities again."
"I hope so." Pokryshkin remembered what Sokov had just said: "Since you know that the situation in Kiev is not optimistic, why did you agree to General Vlasov's proposal and follow him to Kiev?" He originally said
He still wanted to say that this was going to die, but in order not to affect Sokov's mood, he swallowed the last sentence.
"Alexander, there were so many people around at that time. If I rejected General Vlasov in public, wouldn't it make it impossible for him to step down?" Sokov explained to Pokryshkin: "If I really reject him, even if I reject him, I will not be able to step down.
If General Rasov doesn't say anything, I'm afraid the other officers who saw him will gossip elsewhere, which may have a worse impact on me."
"So, that's why you agreed to General Vlasov?"
"Yes, it is indeed like this."
After hearing this, Pokryshkin sighed, raised his hand and patted Sokov on the shoulder, and said in a sympathetic tone: "Misha, I wish you good luck! I hope that by the day the war ends, I will still be here.
I can see you again."
"Alexander, don't worry." Sokov said with a forced smile: "I've always had better luck. I believe I will have a chance to live until the end of the war."
The two chatted for a few more words, and then saw Andre and Dennis walking out of the building with the soldiers.
Regarding the current situation, Sokov quickly stepped forward and asked: "Are you going to patrol again?"
"Yes, Comrade Company Commander." Dennis nodded and said, "The captain of the garrison headquarters told me that due to their shortage of manpower, they hope we can patrol once every morning and evening."
Sokov wanted to complain, but suddenly he remembered that when Vlasov returned to Kiev tomorrow, he would only bring himself and his guards with him, which meant that the subordinates he brought to Moscow could only stay at the garrison headquarters.
Thinking of this, he said to the two of them: "Second Lieutenant Dennis, Andre, let me tell you something now."
"What's going on?" Andre asked curiously.
"I will return to Kiev tomorrow together with General Vlasov." Sokov said to the two men: "As for you and the rest of the soldiers, you will continue to stay in Moscow. That is to say, from now on, you will officially
Become a member of the Garrison Command."
"Ah, let us stay?" Dennis asked in surprise: "Is this true?"
"Of course it's true."
Andrei suddenly saw the Order of Lenin hanging on Sokov's chest, and a shocked expression flashed in his eyes: "Sokov, where did you pick up the Order of Lenin?"
"What you picked up? Comrade Kalinin personally awarded it to me." When Sokov spoke, he raised his hand and patted the cloth bag containing his clothes: "I was also rewarded with a new military uniform."
Andre urged: "Hurry up and take a look at the new military uniform."
When Sokov took out the new military uniform from the bag and showed it to everyone, Dennis noticed the rank on the collar badge: "This is the captain's uniform. Comrade company commander, where did you get it?"
