Somehow, the dispute between Sokov and Belkin spread. Early the next morning, Asia, who rarely appeared in the brigade department, actually came to find Sokov.
Although Sokov and Belkin had an argument last night, it was all for work and did not affect their relationship. Therefore, when Asia hurried to the brigade command, she happened to see Sokov and Belkin sitting at the table having breakfast.
Seeing Asia breaking in from outside, Belkin greeted her with a smile: "Isn't this Asia? I haven't seen her for a long time. Why are you here to come to us today?" Speaking of this, he glanced at Sokov quickly from the corner of his eyes, "Are you here to see our brigade commander?"
"Asia, have you had breakfast?" Sokov saw Asia rushing into the command center, guessing that she might have something to look for him. However, he did not ask immediately, but picked up the plate containing the rind bread and handed it to Asia: "If you don't mind, just have something together!"
After saying hello to Belkin, Asia pushed away the plate Sokov handed over, and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I have something to talk to you."
When he heard that Asia had something to talk to Sokov, Belkin immediately stood up and said, "Since you have something to talk about, I'll avoid it first."
"Comrade Political Commissar, please continue to sit down and eat." Sokov raised his hand to stop Belkin's departure and said to him: "Asia and I will go to the room next to us to talk." After that, he stood up and grabbed Asia's arm, and walked towards the small house where he was resting next to him.
Entering the cottage, Sokov turned around and closed the door, greeted Asia after sitting down on the camp bed where he usually slept, and asked, "Asia, what happened?"
"Misha," Asia called Sokov's nickname and asked, "I ask you, are the rumors outside true?"
"Rumor, what rumor?" Asia's words confused Sokov. He looked at Asia and asked in confusion: "Asia, what rumor did you hear?"
"I heard a comrade who went to the health team to visit the wounded, saying that you had a big fight with the political commissar last night and threatened him, saying that no matter how many deserters appear in the army, they would be shot to death. Even a company of deserters would never show mercy." After quickly saying what she heard, Asia asked tentatively: "Misha, have you really said this?"
When Sokov heard what Asia reposted, although it was somewhat different from what he said last night, the main content was still consistent, so he nodded and said expressionlessly: "Yes, I did say this."
"Misha, why do you say such things?" Asia saw Sokov admitting, and couldn't help but feel anxious: "You know, our company system is different from other troops. There are four or five hundred people in one company. If all the companies are abandoned, can you really shoot them all? Now the wounded people who are recovering from the health team are in panic, so I came here to ask you if this is the case, and I can explain it to the wounded."
"Asia, do you know why I had a dispute with the political commissar?" Sokov felt that the truth of the dispute last night was necessary to convey it to the wounded through Asia to the goal of soothing people. After Asia nodded and expressed his willingness to listen, he told the reason for the dispute yesterday.
Asia patiently listened to Sokov's story, and a sudden enlightenment appeared on her face: "So that's it. Misha, I think you must be saying something angry at that time."
Sokov thought to himself that after the Battle of Stalingrad started, Stalin would issue the famous "Order No. 227". Anyone who gave up his position without permission would be executed on the spot. If he did not strictly enforce military discipline at this moment, when he arrived in Stalingrad, not only would many soldiers lose their lives because of this order, but would also be implicated and have an impact on his future. However, in front of Asia, he did not express his true thoughts, but said according to her meaning: "Asia, you also know that when a dispute arises, people are more excited and will inevitably say some excessive words. I hope that after you return to the health team, you will tell the wounded about this so that they can feel at ease."
When the two came out of the hut, Belkin looked at them with a smile and asked, "You guys have finished talking?"
"The talk is over." Sokov gave Belkin a positive answer and asked Asia again: "Asia, go back after breakfast here?"
"No, no," Asia waved her hand at Sokov. "There are so many wounded people in the health team to take care of. I want to go back immediately and I won't have breakfast here."
Looking at Asia's back as she left, Belkin asked thoughtfully: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if I guess correctly, Asia came over today because of the dispute we had last night, right?"
"You guessed it's right, it's just for this." Sokov said to Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, it's getting late, so eat quickly. After breakfast, we will go to the troops to check their preparations."
The day of departure came soon. Sokov and his brigade's direct troops left the station, when he saw the streets full of residents standing on both sides of the street. They rushed to the commanders and soldiers on the streets to cheer. Hearing someone shouting out the names of several soldiers from time to time, Sokov thought to himself: The person who called should be the relatives of the soldiers. He looked at the crowd on both sides of the street nervously, and he was afraid that an old lady would suddenly appear, rushing to the middle of the road to hold the hand of a soldier and crying. Maybe the scene would be out of control.
Fortunately, Sokov's worry did not happen. Occasionally, some soldiers rushed out of the queue, went to the roadside to say a few words to his family, and then went to chase the team again. Seeing this scene, Sokov's heart, which was hanging in his throat, finally put it back in his stomach.
Belkin leaned close to Sokov's ear and said loudly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, have you seen it? The residents of the city have come out to see our soldiers."
"See!" Sokov nodded vigorously and said, "Comrade Political Commissar, it seems that your political workers have done a good job these two days, and the soldiers are in a stable mood. What we are worried about should not happen."
"Yes, I think so too." Belkin echoed: "As long as our troops can leave the city smoothly, the deserter incident will probably not happen again."
After pausing for a moment, Belkin asked again: "By the way, is Comrade General Staff still in Kursk?"
"No, he left by plane last night." Sokov heard Belkin suddenly mentioning Vasilevsky and guessed what he was worried about, so he comforted him and said, "Don't worry, Comrade Political Commissar. Since Comrade General Staff has already spoken, when we arrive at Yeretz's affairs, there will definitely be enough vehicles to send our troops to Moscow."