Although Shechtman and Billing left, the commanders and fighters of the 254th Division stationed in the church did not evacuate with them. They had to wait until the headquarters' guard troops arrived and completed the defense handover before returning to the establishment.
Sokov and Lunev sat on the steps at the door of the church, smoking and chatting. Sokov looked at the commanders and fighters coming in and out of the church and asked Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, if it is up to you to persuade the people in the church
The enemy surrenders, can you do it?"
Sokov's words made Lunev fall into deep thought. After a long time, he shook his head gently and replied: "Comrade Commander, let me be honest with you, if there were not those few SS officers and soldiers in the church,
, I can certainly persuade Captain Grams to surrender; but with a few SS officers and soldiers interfering in the situation, I don’t think I have the ability to do a better job than Captain Mikhailev.”
Sokov was still very satisfied with Lunev's answer. At least his military commissar was aware of his own shortcomings and was not as arrogant as some people who thought they were omnipotent.
Sokov's eyes were fixed on an officer standing outside the church, and he said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, what do you think of Captain Mikhailev?"
"Yes, he is a very good young man." Lunev had a good impression of Mikhailev. Now when Sokov asked about it, he naturally had to say good things about him: "Not only is he capable, but he is also very brave. If
If you train yourself well, you might be able to become a general in the future."
"Comrade Military Commissar, my opinion about him is the same as yours." Seeing that Lunev's opinion coincided with his own, Sokov asked tentatively: "Tell me, I'll ask Colonel Shechtman to take him
How about coming over?"
"You want him to come over?" Lunev asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, what do you plan to ask him to do?"
"He is now a deputy battalion commander under Colonel Shechtman. Judging from his abilities and achievements, this position is too low." As his position rose, Sokov realized that he had capable people around him.
There were still too few people, so he said to Lunev: "I plan to let him go to Major Guchakov's 73rd Infantry Brigade to serve as battalion commander. If he performs well, he can be promoted to deputy brigade commander."
"
Lunev not only had no objection to Sokov's statement, but also nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, you are right. If such an excellent commander is allowed to hold a higher position, he will play a more important role."
Huge role. As long as you can get him from the 254th Division, I fully agree with you to let him serve as the battalion commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. But..."
"But what?"
"I don't think we have to wait until later. We can appoint him as deputy brigade commander now and also serve as battalion commander."
"That's right, we don't have to wait until later. We can directly appoint him as deputy brigade commander now. This position is perfect for him." Sokov said, then stood up and raised his hand to greet Mi, who was not far away.
Hayev: "Comrade Captain, come to me!"
Hearing Sokov calling him, Mikhailov did not dare to neglect, hurriedly ran to the steps, straightened up, put his hands close to the seam of his trousers, and said loudly: "Comrade Commander! Captain Mikhailov
Follow your orders..."
He couldn't tell for the moment. He didn't know whether it was better to say "arrive" or "report in." Both of these terms were not suitable for the situation at hand, so he did not continue.
"Don't be embarrassed, Comrade Captain!" Lunev, who was beside Sokov, said with a smile: "The commander called you here because there is something that needs your opinion."
Mikhailov frowned slightly, turned his gaze to Sokov, and waited patiently for him to continue.
"That's it, Comrade Captain." After organizing the vocabulary in his mind, Sokov said to Mikhailev: "After today's incident, I realized that you are a very capable and courageous person.
Commander. The current position is obviously not suitable for you, so I plan to transfer you to the 73rd Infantry Brigade as deputy brigade commander and concurrently as the battalion commander of one of the battalions. What do you think?
"
When he learned that he had been promoted, Mikhailev couldn't help feeling ecstatic, but when he thought of Colonel Shechtman, his expression dimmed: "Comrade Commander, what should I do with Colonel Shechtman?"
Go talk?"
"Don't worry about Colonel Shechtman. If you want, I'll go talk to him about it myself."
Sokov had already spoken to this extent. If Mikhailev refused again, it would be a bit ignorant of current affairs. He quickly replied: "Comrade Commander, I will resolutely obey your order."
Just when the corners of Sokov's mouth turned up slightly, he heard Mikhailev say: "There is no problem in letting me serve as the battalion commander, but for the position of deputy brigade commander, Comrade Commander, do you think it's better not to arrange it?
"
"Comrade Captain, you may not know that if your qualifications and military rank were not too low, Comrade Commander would have even wanted to directly promote you to the rank of regimental commander." Lunev said, "I hope you will become deputy brigade commander."
When you grow up, you can continue to achieve more meritorious deeds. In less than two years, you may become a general."
Hearing that he would have the opportunity to become a general in the future, Mikhailev seemed particularly excited. He quickly expressed his stance to Sokov and Lunev: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, thank you both for your trust in me.
I promise you here that I will definitely make new achievements in future battles."
"Very good, very good." Sokov spread his arms, patted the opponent's arm hard several times, and then continued: "Before taking office, you can select some commanders and fighters who are easy to use and let them follow them.
You go to the new unit together."
Mikhailev originally thought that Sokov would transfer him to the 73rd Infantry Division and go there alone, but now that he heard that he could choose any of his capable subordinates to go with him, he was even more ecstatic and quickly raised his hand to the two of them.
After saluting, he turned around and ran towards his army, preparing to select his trusted subordinates to accompany him to the new army to take up his post.
"Comrade Commander," he said when he saw Mikhailev going away with a happy expression: "Some people are happy and some are sad. You have poached such a good commander from Colonel Shechtman. I think Colonel
Comrades will be so sad that they can’t sleep tonight.”
Sokov laughed dryly and said to Lunev: "It is very difficult for an excellent commander like Mikhailev to be promoted quickly in the 254th Division. After all, there are commanders who are more senior than him.
There are many people there, and if he is not transferred, I am afraid that he will have to continue to hold his current position for a long time in the future."