Konev returned to the headquarters, walked straight to the table, picked up the empty tea cup and went to the place where the samovar was placed. He turned on the faucet below and took a cup of hot tea. He asked casually: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I left with the Military Commissar."
Did anything special happen during this period?"
"According to the report, each unit is taking the time to rest at its own station. As for special things," Zakharov said hesitantly: "General Sokov, the commander of the 27th Group Army, once called and said that he
We have discovered an excellent fighter plane. If we can launch an attack quickly, we will definitely achieve good results."
"A call from Sokov?" The teacup in Konev's hand had just touched his lips. When Zakharov said this, he immediately put down the teacup and asked curiously: "What fighter plane?"
"I didn't ask." Zakharov shook his head and said with some embarrassment: "I told him that the main force of the front army needs time to rest and replenish, and will not take the initiative to attack the enemy in the short term."
When Konev heard this, he slammed the teacup in his hand on the table and said sternly: "Chief of Staff, how can you answer like this? You know, Sokov has a very good way of fighting. Since he said he found it
If it is an excellent fighter plane, then as long as it launches an attack, it will definitely achieve good results."
After walking back and forth in the headquarters several times with his hands behind his back, he stopped and asked Zakharov: "When did Major General Sokov call?"
Zakharov raised his hand to look at the time, then raised his head and replied: "Two hours ago."
Konev nodded, walked to the table, picked up the microphone, and put it to his ear: "I am Konev, call me the 27th Army Headquarters."
The call was quickly connected, and Konev said into the phone: "I am Konev, who are you?"
The person who answered the phone was Lu Nev. When he heard that the caller was actually Konev, he was frightened and hurriedly replied: "Reporting to General Konev, I am Lieutenant General Lu Nev, Military Commissar of the 27th Group Army.
Nev, I obey your orders, please give instructions!"
"It's General Lunev." Konev knew that Lunev was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so he naturally spoke politely to him: "Is Comrade Sokov here? I have something to ask him."
Unexpectedly, after Konev's question was raised, Lunev was silent.
"General Lunev, are you still there?" Konev heard the sound suddenly went silent in the receiver, and thought the other party had hung up the phone: "Why is there no sound?"
"I'm sorry," a moment later, Lunev's hoarse voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Commander is not in the headquarters at the moment."
"Not at the headquarters?" Konev asked strangely: "Where did he go?"
"He went to the frontier for reconnaissance."
"Go to the frontier for reconnaissance?!" Konev couldn't help but frowned, "So, you are planning to attack the enemy?"
"Yes, General Konev." Even if the battle to capture October Town was not reported to the front army headquarters in advance, Konev would still know about it once the battle started. Therefore, Runev heard that Konev
To this question, he immediately answered truthfully: "According to the arrangement of Comrade Commander, the 84th Infantry Division is gradually entering the attack position. They will launch an attack on the enemy in October Town at 4 p.m."
"Well, we will launch an attack on October Town occupied by the German army at four o'clock in the afternoon." Konev looked down at the map in front of him and said thoughtfully: "From the situation we have, the enemy's position in October Town is
There are not many troops, probably only one infantry battalion, one tank company and two artillery companies. If you use one division to attack, there should be no problem in taking over the town."
Konev raised his head, glanced at Zakharov standing opposite, and asked inquisitively: "General Lunev, can you tell me why Sokov suddenly made the decision to attack October Town?"
"General Konev, this is it." Lunev quickly reported to Konev that Second Lieutenant Serelkov exchanged a cart of vodka for a cart of German prisoners, and finally said: "Comrade Commander
Based on this, I feel that the German defense in October Town will not be too tight. If we launch an attack by surprise, it is entirely possible to capture October Town in a short time."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." After listening to Lunev's story, Konev nodded repeatedly and said: "General Lunev, according to what you just said, the enemies stationed in October Town have already become tired.
It’s unbearable. Although their defense area is only a few kilometers away from you, their vigilance has been reduced to a minimum, and your attack will definitely have a surprise effect."
After chatting with Lunev for a while, Konev thought of Sokov again and asked again: "General Lunev, can you tell me where Comrade Sokov went?"
"General Konev!" Since Konev asked Sokov again, it showed that he would never give up until he figured out Sokov's whereabouts. Runev could only say hesitantly: "A few hours."
Not long ago, the Moscow Garrison Command sent us a plane to bring us the flag of the 98th Guards Division. When Comrade Commander saw that the pilot was flying a two-seater aircraft, he felt itchy and asked the pilot to take him for two laps in the sky.
.”
"Nonsense, this is simply nonsense." Konev learned that Sokov actually took a plane to the sky, and said with some laughter and tears: "He is now the commander of the group army, and he still doesn't pay attention to his own safety. Doesn't he?"
I know that your defense area is too close to the enemy's position, and it only takes a few minutes to fly into the enemy-controlled area. What if it is shot down by German ground anti-aircraft fire?"
"General Konev," Lunev said hoarsely, "Comrade Commander's plane has been shot down by the Germans, and its whereabouts are unknown."
Runev's words made Konev, who was holding the microphone, sit on the ground.
Zakharov, who was standing opposite, made Konev fall to the ground. Not knowing what happened, he quickly walked around the table, came to Konev, bent down to help him: "Comrade Commander, you
What's wrong?"
Konev pushed Zakharov away irritably and growled: "Go away, I don't need your support." He struggled to stand up from the ground, holding on to the edge of the table with one hand to prevent him from falling again.
; while asking into the microphone, "General Lunev, is everything you said true?"
"Yes, General Konev." Lunev replied: "According to the observation of the ground troops, the commander's plane was attacked by a German fighter jet while conducting reconnaissance over October Town. Although
The pilot used all his body skills to try to get rid of the enemy plane's attack, but unfortunately he was shot down."
"What measures did you take after Sokov's plane was shot down?"
Zakharov, who was pushed away by Konev, was initially confused. When he heard that Sokov's plane had been shot down, his eyes suddenly went dark and he turned to his back. Fortunately, Susekov was stopped by Susekov who happened to be walking over.
I hugged him in time so I didn't fall to the ground.
Lunev replied on the phone: "After we learned that the commander's plane was shot down, we immediately ordered people to search for the direction of the crash. When we learned that it might be in the defense area of the 98th Guards Division, I immediately ordered people to search for the direction of the crash at the headquarters.
Chuvasov's men who received the military flag immediately returned and organized forces for search and rescue. At the same time, I also sent Lieutenant Samoilov, the commander's most trusted man, to lead the guard platoon to participate in the search and rescue operation."
"General Lunev, I order you to do everything possible to find Comrade Sokov." Konev gritted his molars and said: "Even if he unfortunately died, we must find his body. Do you understand?
?”
"Yes, General Konev, we will definitely try our best to find the commander."
After Susekov helped Zakharov sit down, he looked at Konev and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, I seem to have heard something happened to Comrade Sokov?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, you are right, something happened to Sokov." Konev said solemnly: "He took a biplane and went to the enemy's defense area to conduct reconnaissance. As a result, he encountered an enemy fighter jet.
After the pilot dodged the plane, he was unfortunately shot down by the enemy. Currently, the 27th Group Army has sent manpower to search for the place where the plane crashed."
Susekov never dreamed that something would happen to Sokov. After listening to Konev's words, his face turned pale, and he stood there motionless like a sculpture.
Zakharov, who was sitting in his seat, reminded Konev in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, if such a big thing happened, do we need to report it to Marshal Zhukov? After all, Sokov is the commander he respects.
"
After hearing what Zakharov said, Susekov also came to his senses. He said to Konev: "Comrade Commander, I think what the Chief of Staff said makes sense. No matter whether General Sokov is dead or alive,
But if something big happened to him, it would be inappropriate if he didn't report it to his superiors immediately."
Seeing that both Zakharov and Susekov persuaded him to report the matter to Zhukov, Konev, who had originally planned to conceal the matter for the time being, couldn't help but hesitate.
After an unknown amount of time, Konev nodded slowly and said, "Okay, I'll call Marshal Zhukov personally and tell him the bad news."
After saying that, he picked up the high-frequency phone on the table, dialed a number, and said in a stern tone: "I am Konev, please call me immediately to the Voronezh Front Army Headquarters and find Marshal Zhukov, the representative of the base camp."
In less than two minutes, Zhukov's voice came from the receiver: "Dear Ivan Stepanovich, do you have any good news to tell me?"
"Comrade Marshal, you may be disappointed. I bring you bad news." Konev said with a heavy tone: "I have just received exact information that the plane on which the commander of the 27th Group Army, Major General Sokov, was traveling.
He was shot down by a German fighter jet not long ago, and his whereabouts are now unknown."
Zhukov was stunned for a moment, then blurted out: "Comrade Konev, are you kidding? Where did the army commanded by Sokov get the planes from?"
"According to General Lunev, the military commissar of the group army, it was a plane sent by the Moscow Garrison Command to carry the flag of the Guards Division. Comrade Sokov may have been curious, so he asked the pilot to take him to the sky to observe the enemy's situation. As a result, in October
While conducting reconnaissance in the town, they encountered a German fighter jet. Although their plane made many evasive maneuvers, it was unfortunately shot down. Sokov's whereabouts are now unknown. The 27th Army Headquarters has dispatched a search and rescue team and is on the way.
Find his whereabouts."
Zhukov swayed and fell into his seat, and the microphone in his hand fell on the table. Seeing this, Vasilevsky, who was standing not far away, quickly came over and asked with concern: "Marshal Zhukov, what happened?
?”
Zhukov raised his head and glanced at him, put his finger on the microphone on the table, and said feebly: "General Konev told me that not long ago, Misha took a plane to conduct reconnaissance over the enemy's defense area, and was intercepted by an enemy.
A German fighter jet was shot down, and now life or death is uncertain."
Vasilevsky knew that Zhukov and Sokov's father were sworn friends, so he also held Sokov in high regard. Now that he heard about his accident, it was understandable that he became so gloomy for a while.
He picked up the microphone on the table, put it to his ear and said: "Hello, General Konev! I am Vasilevsky. Can you repeat what you just said?"
After Vasilevsky patiently listened to Konev's story, he asked for some details, and finally said: "General Konev, if Comrade Sokov has any new information, please call us in time.
"
After putting down the phone, Vasilevsky put a hand on Zhukov's shoulder, patted him twice gently, and said: "Marshal Zhukov, although Comrade Sokov's plane was unfortunately shot down by the Germans.
But I don’t think he will be sacrificed that easily. Maybe he was thrown out of the plane when it made an emergency landing and hung on a tree. Don’t worry, I believe it won’t be long before we can get Comrade Sokov.
Good news of safe return."
What Vasilevsky said made Zhukov's heart ignite hope. Vatutin, who had no chance to speak next to him, also said: "Marshal Zhukov, according to my understanding of Comrade Sokov, he is a man of great fortune.
This guy was able to survive being seriously injured during the Battle of Stalingrad, and I believe this time will be no exception."
Zhukov stared at the map in front of him and murmured: "The defense area of the 27th Army is not far from the German defense area. Once Misha really sacrifices, it will definitely affect the morale of the troops. If the Germans notice something abnormal about them,
, if we launch the attack first, the 27th Army may suffer a loss, so Misha must not have anything happen to her."
After saying this, Zhukov stood up and said to Vasilevsky: "Comrade Vasilevsky, you continue to stay here. I will go to the 27th Army Headquarters to have a look in person."
On the way to the headquarters of the 27th Group Army by car, the accompanying communications staff sent Zhukov a telegram with only a brief content: "Sokov has returned safely!"