Shortly after the arrogant general left, Sokov, who returned to the division headquarters, received a call from Cuikov.
"Col. Sokov," asked Trekov on the phone: "I heard that you had a conflict with the commander of the First Guards Infantry Army. Is this a matter?"
"Yes, there was some quarrel." Sokov asked back, "Comrade Commander, how did you know?"
"You don't know yet. As soon as he went back, he reported to his superiors, saying that you were disrespectful to him, were incompetent, and lawless... In short, he felt that you were not suitable to serve as the commander of the neighboring troops, and suggested that his superiors remove you from their post."
"Superior?" Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, I want to ask, which superior he complained to? Is it the Front Command?"
"You are wrong. This guards do not belong to our Don River Front nor the Southwest Front." Cuikov said seriously on the other end of the phone: "It belongs to the base camp reserve team, and he reported to Chief of General Staff Wassevsky. Fortunately, the Chief of General Staff knew you, so he suppressed the matter and told Commander Rokosovsky."
"What is the attitude of Comrade Commander of the Front?"
"He thinks you did right." Cui Kefu said firmly: "Your division is a special force, and not everyone can directly command it. I think if the troops are always under your command, they can still achieve great results. But if they are handed over to some unknown people, they may have bad situations."
Sokov understood from Cuikov's words that his approach today, whether it was Rokosovsky or Cuikov, was just expressing his agreement, and said thankfully: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Commander."
"Don't thank me, Colonel Sokov." Cuikov said with a smile: "If your division had not fought the enemy tenaciously in Lugansk, the city would have fallen into their hands long ago. Then the attacking Sixth Army and Popov's rapid cluster would have suffered a devastating blow.
You don’t have to worry about this. With Rokosovsky and I support you, you will definitely be fine. As long as you do your duty and firmly guard Lugansk, you don’t have to worry about the rest.”
Before Cui Kefu was about to hang up the phone, he remembered another important thing: "By the way, I have another important thing, I almost forgot to tell you."
Sokov heard that Cuikov's tone was full of joy, so he guessed that it was a good thing and asked quickly: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me what a good thing is?"
"It is indeed a great thing for all the officers and soldiers of your division." Cuikov said excitedly: "I heard from Commander Rokosovsky that your superiors may want to promote your division to a first-level military rank. In other words, after this order is issued, Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin will become a colonel rank, and you and Colonel Bere will become generals!"
"Comrade Commander, thank you so much." Sokov was overjoyed to learn that he would be promoted to general soon and quickly said to the microphone: "On behalf of all the commanders and soldiers of the Guard Division, I would like to thank you."
"No, not everyone has been promoted to the military rank." Cui Kefu said thoughtfully: "The recruits and guerrillas who were incorporated into your division not long ago will not participate in this promotion."
Sokov thought that this was the case. Since the two brothers Mixiga and Vovga joined their rank, one was awarded the rank of major and the other was also captain, which was higher than most of the original commanders in the division. I am afraid everyone has always had opinions, but they just didn't say it out.
After finishing the call with Cuikov, Sokov said to Cidolin and others with a smile: "Comrades Commander, I want to tell you good news. Commander Cuikov told me that in order to commend the merits established by our division, the superiors are preparing to promote the majority of commanders and fighters to the first-level military rank. In other words, in a while, Chief of Staff Cidolin and Political Commissar Anisimov will be the rank of colonel. And Colonel Bere will also become Major General Berere."
It is naturally a happy thing to be promoted to the military rank. Cidolin and others couldn't help but smile after hearing this.
After a while, Sidolin suddenly remembered that Sokov had offended the commander of a friendly army, and asked worriedly: "Comrade Commander, did that commander say, what will your superiors plan to deal with you after you have a conflict with that commander?"
"The First Guard Infantry Army is the reserve team of the base camp." Sokov said carelessly: "Although his rank is higher than mine, he does not have the right to recruit my troops. They are deployed in our northeast direction to prevent the enemy from attacking against the unstable enemy when the enemy occupied Luhansk."
"Comrade instructor," Cidolin asked cautiously: "How many days do you think there are left?"
Outsiders would definitely be confused when they heard Cidolin say this, but both Bere and Anisimov understand that Chief of Staff Cidolin asked the Sixth Army and Popov to quickly cluster, how many days could they support under the enemy's siege.
Sokov thought for a while, then stretched out three fingers and said with a serious expression: "If you say it a little pessimistic, they can only support it for three days at most, and they will be completely defeated by the Germans."
"What, can only support three days?" Anisimov asked in surprise: "What is the best situation, how long can it last?"
"Even if they are lucky enough to withstand the German attack, with the interruption of supplies, they will support them under the siege of the enemy for less than a week."
"Since friendly forces are going to be defeated so soon, should we start preparing?" Bi Lei asked tentatively.
"Yes, we should prepare." Although what the few of them said sounded like riddles to outsiders, they knew what they were trying to express. Sokov agreed with the plan proposed by Bere and said to him: "I think a company of troops can be arranged in the southwest of the city to accommodate the fleeing troops there."
"The straitors who host friendly troops will not make mistakes, right?" Anisimov asked with some concern.
"It's okay." Sokov waved his hand and said carelessly: "Only by containing all the stragglers can we reorganize them in a short time and become a new combat-capable force."
"Comrade Political Commissar, don't worry." Sidolin saw what Anisimov was worried about, so he comforted him and said, "If we can really use these defeated commanders and fighters to form a combat-capable force in a short period of time, perhaps our superiors will promote our Guard Division to Guards."
Chapter completed!