Half an hour after Vitkov left, Sokov received a call from Trekov. Trekov said hurriedly on the phone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, such a big thing happened, why don't you report it to me?"
Faced with Cuikov's questioning, Sokov said hesitantly: "I'm sorry, comrade Commander, I think I...we... should be able to handle this properly."
"Nonsense, it's simply nonsense." Cui Kev said sternly on the other end of the phone: "Do you really think that Vitkov can handle this matter with the help of his actions? Let me tell you that although he is the deputy chief of staff of the army, he is just a colonel. If he encounters Moskarenko sending a general to pick up the goods, do you think he can stop him?"
Sokov was already confident that Vitkov had taken action to understand the rockets. After hearing what Cuikov said, he suddenly became completely unconfident. He asked with some confidence: "Comrade Commander, what should we do?"
Cuikov snorted heavily, then said, "I just called Yelemenko and Khrushchev to report this matter to them. They also attached great importance to this matter. Comrade Khrushchev said that he would wait for Colonel Vitkov at the ferry on the east bank of the Volga River, and then the two of them went to Kamisin to help you get this batch of arms."
Sokov thought that Cuikov said this and that there would be no chance to get the rockets back. He was in despair, but when he heard that Khrushchev was going to take action himself, he suddenly felt his eyes lit up and said repeatedly: "That's great, this is really great. With Comrade Khrushchev coming forward, I believe there is no problem that cannot be saved."
Cuikov was silent for a moment and continued, "I understand how important these arms are to you very much. Therefore, after listening to Colonel Vitkov's report, I immediately contacted General Yelemenko and Comrade Khrushchev, and asked them to say hello to the above first, so that the people of the First Guards Army would not go to Kamisin to extract the arms. After getting angry with the other party, Khrushchev would accompany Vytkov to Kamisin to Kamisin to collect the arms."
"Thank you, Comrade Commander." After hearing Cui Kov's words, Sokov repeatedly thanked the other party: "On behalf of the commanders and soldiers of the entire brigade, I would like to express my gratitude to you, thank you for everything you have done for us."
"Okay, don't say these useless." Cuikov heard Sokov thank him and said impatiently: "You should defend Mamayev's post well and don't let the Germans break our defense. It's better than anything else. OK, I'm still very busy, I'll talk about it another day..."
Hearing that Cuikov was about to hang up the phone, Sokov suddenly thought that the German army would launch a new attack soon, and quickly raised his voice and shouted: "Comrade Commander, please wait a moment, I have something to say."
"What else do you have to say?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sokov said to Cuikov while organizing words in his mind: "I want to ask whether the German army's recent attack on the factory area has become weaker and weaker?"
"Yes, today the German army only launched an attack at the Derzhinsky factory." Cuikov heard Sokov's question and asked back: "What are you asking about this?"
Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, have you ever wondered why the enemy only attacked the Derrensky factory instead of other factories?"
Regarding Sokov's question, Cuikov thought about it and then replied: "I think the German army may have consumed a lot of live power in the early attack, so the attack on us will become weaker and weaker."
"Comrade Commander, do you think..."
As soon as Sokov's new question was released, he was interrupted by Cuikov. He asked a little displeasedly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you always ask questions, what do you want to ask?"
"Comrade Commander," Sokov was afraid that Cuikov would interrupt him again, so he quickly spoke: "I think the German offensive momentum is weakening now, not because they have no strength to attack again, but because they are accumulating strength and preparing for the replenishment of troops and technical equipment, they launch a fierce attack on Stalingrad again. According to my analysis, their next offensive focus should be the factory area where you are."
"Yes, now the Germans have occupied most of the city center. If they want to attack again, the factory areas with many factories will inevitably become the focus of their attack." After saying this, Cuikov asked again: "Do you have any ideas? You might as well listen."
"I think the defense of the factory area is too weak," Sokov lies in the hospital bed for too long and doesn't know much about the changes in the factory area's troops. He can only say based on his memory of history: "Even if there are several infantry divisions, they are scattered to various factories, and the troops still seem a little bit short. If they are attacked by the German army, it will be difficult to defend the factory."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I want to hear, do you have any way to create more soldiers for me?" Cui Kov said bluntly: "If you can do this, I will recommend you to your superiors to grant you the rank of general."
When Sokov first came to this era, he dreamed of becoming a general, but after being on the battlefield for a long time, this idea faded. He felt that his current rank of lieutenant colonel was enough. Therefore, he was not excited at all about the big cake drawn by Cui Kov. Instead, he said in a normal tone: "Comrade Commander, as far as I know, there are tens of thousands of workers in every factory, and their families, at least more than 100,000. Even if you only armed 20,000 or 30,000 people, it is a force that cannot be underestimated. Faced with the fierce attack of the German army, they can play a role in determining the victory or defeat of the battle."
Cuikov thought about Sokov's proposal for a long time, and finally said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, your proposal is very constructive. I will discuss with the Chief of Staff to see how to operate it. Okay, I still have a lot of things. Let's talk about it here today, I wish you good luck!"
After Sokov put down the phone, he breathed a breath of turbid air and said to Sidolin with a relaxed expression: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the commander just told me on the phone that Khrushchev would accompany Colonel Vitkov to Kamisin. In this way, even if General Moskarenko took action himself, he would not be able to take away our rockets."
Although Sokov's expression was relaxed, he was still nervous because he knew that the First Guards Army and the other two armies stationed in the north of Stalingrad were commanded by General Zhukov. If Khrushchev and Vitkov arrived there and encountered Zhukov, unexpected changes might occur again.
Time passed by Sokov's anxious waiting minute by minute. At about three o'clock in the afternoon, the radio operator sent Sokov a telegram: "Comrade Brigade Commander, this is the telegram sent to you by Colonel Vitkov."
Sokov took the telegram from the radio operator, opened it tremblingly, holding his breath to look at the contents on it. The telegram reads: "After some negotiations with the other party, I am fortunate to be unfair. Now the rocket is on its way to Mamayev Hill."