When Sokov said this, he did not notice that Konev winked at Zhukov, and after Zhukov saw the other person's wink, a smile flashed in his eyes.
"Comrade Sokov," Konev waited for Sokov to finish and then asked with a straight face: "Are you willing to vouch for General Ponedelin?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov rushed to say before Konev could finish, "I am willing to vouch for General Ponedelin..."
"Comrade Sokov, don't agree so casually." Before Sokov could finish speaking, Konev interrupted him: "If he really has a problem, then you will also be implicated.
Let alone the position of commander of the 27th Group Army, you will not be able to continue to hold the position, and I am afraid that you may be sent to a military court."
When Konev mentioned the military tribunal, Sokov couldn't help feeling shuddering, but then he thought about it. Although Ponedelin was wrongfully killed in real history, he was rehabilitated in 1955, proving that
He is innocent.
After thinking about this, Sokov replied resolutely: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I not only think that General Ponedelin is not a traitor, but also a hero of the motherland."
As soon as Sokov's words came out, everyone couldn't help being stunned. Not only Zhukov and Konev were stunned, but even the person involved, Ponedelin, also widened his eyes and asked in an unbelievable tone: "General Sokov, are you really?"
Do you believe that I am not a traitor, or... or... a hero of the motherland?" Perhaps because of lack of confidence, his voice had become inaudible when he said the last words.
"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov raised his voice and said to Ponedelin: "If you don't have a firm belief and always maintain your faith in the motherland and the people..." When he said this, Sokov thought of his own
Military Commissar Lunev is an important figure in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. What he said may be reported to Beria and Stalin verbatim, so he deliberately emphasized: "And loyalty to Comrade Stalin
, you were unmoved by the temptations of money and status offered by the German army. You endured suffering in the prisoner of war camp for two years, but you never gave in to the enemy. Instead, you continued to fight hard and outstandingly with them.
Fight... for everything you have done, you are worthy of the title of hero."
After listening to Sokov's words, Ponedelin's eyes became moist, and he said with some emotion: "General Sokov, you just said that you will not send us soldiers who have been captured to
Siberia, my heart is still full of doubts. But after listening to your words, I understand that what you said is true."
"General Ponedelin, you have suffered." Sokov walked over and held his hand, shaking it gently a few times: "I hope that one day you can take up arms again and use the blood of the Germans to
Wash away the humiliation you have suffered for so many years."
Ponedelin was deeply moved by Sokov's words. He held Sokov's hand tightly and was so excited that he couldn't say a word.
Zhukov and Konev, who were standing aside, looked at each other and showed knowing smiles. But the smiles did not stay on their faces for long before disappearing without a trace, even if the people next to them
If any commander happened to see this, he would think that he was deceived.
"Okay, Comrade Sokov, stop talking." Konev interrupted Sokov again and said to him: "General Ponedelin, as well as Lieutenant General Muzichenko and Major General Kirillov
How to deal with it doesn't matter what you say, what I say doesn't matter, and even what Marshal Zhukov says doesn't matter. We can only follow the regulations and hand over the three of them to the Supreme Military Court, and let professionals judge whether they are
Innocent."
Sokov had just spent so much time talking, thinking that he had convinced Zhukov and Konev, but Konev's words were like a bucket of ice water poured from his head for thirty-nine days, and his whole body suddenly became cold.
Thorough.
Soon, Muzichenko and Kirillov, also led by Samoilov, entered the headquarters. After they saluted Zhukov, Konev and others, Konev called
Several soldiers came and took the three generals to the next room to guard them, and took them away when they were about to leave.
After doing all this, Konev ordered Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, since Muzichenko and Kirillov have arrived, the more than 2,000 rescued commanders and fighters who must have accompanied them will
They are also outside. Now I order you to put them in place."
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov agreed and walked outside dejectedly.
Sokov had just taken two steps when he heard Konev calling him from behind: "Wait a minute!"
Hearing Konev calling him, Sokov couldn't help but feel ecstatic. He thought to himself: Did General Konev change his mind and plan to give Ponedelin and the others a lighter sentence? But what he heard next was...
He was completely disappointed: "There are so many commanders and fighters to be resettled, and you may not be able to handle them alone. I think it is better to ask Comrade Lunev, the military commissar, to go with you. By the way, it is best for the chief of staff, General Samyko, to go too.
.”
In this way, the three giants of the 27th Army were kicked out of the headquarters by Konev.
After Sokov and others left, Konev immediately sat next to Zhukov and said with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, my acting skills are not bad."
"Yes, very good." Zhukov nodded and said: "When the war is over, you can consider going to a film studio. Maybe you will have better development."
After Konev laughed twice, he asked Zhukov tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, do you think Sokov can control these three generals if they are acquitted?"
"I think there should be no problem." Zhukov said confidently: "I don't know much about the situation of Muzichenko and Kirillov; but from what Misha just said, General Ponejelin
He must have been moved, and even if he is sent to be Misha's deputy in the future, he will not complain."
"Comrade Marshal," after hearing what Zhukov said, Konev asked cautiously: "Do you think General Ponedelin is suitable to be Sokov's deputy?"
"It is definitely not possible to directly serve as Sokov's deputy." Zhukov looked at Konev and said: "You must know that Ponedelin was captured by the Germans not long after the war broke out. In other words, he controlled
His tactics are still the same ones that have been proven to be inapplicable by our army’s painful lessons. If he is directly allowed to serve as Misha’s deputy, I’m afraid it will hold Misha back.”
The expression on Konev's face became solemn: "Comrade Marshal, what should we do?"
"I think that after the Supreme Military Court changes the verdict, let the three generals rest for a period of time." Zhukov replied: "When their bodies have almost recovered, they will be sent to Sokov's troops to serve as regimental commanders."
Start. After you become familiar with Sokov's new tactics, you can gradually promote them."
"If they are not even capable of fulfilling their duties as regimental commanders, how should they be placed?" Konev said cautiously: "After all, they have been separated from the army for as long as two years."
"If after inspection, it is found that they are not even qualified for the position of regimental commander, then their career will end here." Zhukov paused when he said this, thinking about how to arrange these three generals. After thinking for a long time, he said
: "Comrade Konev, with the successive victories of our army, I am afraid that more and more German prisoners will be captured in the future, and we will build a lot of prisoner of war camps to detain these prisoners. Why not just let them three
Someone go take care of these prisoner of war camps."
Sokov, who was taking Lunev and Samyko to comfort the rescued commanders and fighters, never dreamed that Konev contacted Zhukov through the radio before coming to his headquarters, and the two quickly reached a consensus.
, thinking that since Sokov tried his best to speak good words for the three generals, in addition to the fact that the three generals were innocent, he probably also wanted to recruit them all.
It was precisely because the two had discussed on the road that Zhukov remained silent when Konev first launched an attack. He wanted to see how Sokov would reply to Konev. Judging from the current situation, Sokov
The husband's response was quite decent. At least after his words came out, the anxious Ponedelin was completely devoted to him. As long as Sokov said a word, Ponedelin would definitely follow him.
And Sokov, who knew nothing, was standing on a high platform at the moment, holding a loudspeaker and speaking to the commanders and soldiers standing below: "Comrades, brothers! I'm sorry that we came to eat and caused you to suffer.
So many years of suffering.”
After finishing his opening remarks, Sokov's thinking became clearer and his speech became more organized: "Although you endured two years of suffering in the German prisoner-of-war camp and suffered inhumane
Tortured, but no one gave in to the enemy, yes, no one gave in.
I think you should be thinking about returning to your troops all the time, taking up arms again and fighting tenaciously with the enemy. Comrades, your chance for revenge has come. From now on, you will be incorporated into the 27th Group Army.
, participate in the battle to liberate the right bank of the Dnieper River, you can use the weapons in your hands to demand blood debt from the enemy, and use their blood to wash away the humiliation you have endured in the past two years!"
After Sokov said these impassioned words, he was slightly moved. He originally thought that there would be cheers like a mountain roaring and a tsunami below, but the actual situation was that the soldiers standing below just stared at Suokov blankly.
Sokov, no one spoke, as if they didn't understand what Sokov just said.
Seeing the indifferent reaction of the soldiers, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little chilled. But he could still understand the psychology of these recently rescued commanders and soldiers. There is no greater sorrow than death. They must have been heartbroken.
They thought that if they were rescued from the prisoner of war camp, they would be free again, but who knew that they would be escorted here without knowing what their future would be.
After guessing the thoughts of the rescued commanders and fighters, Sokov sighed softly and raised his voice: "Comrades, with your current physical condition, you may not be able to participate in new battles for the time being. But don't worry, we are still
There is enough time for you to take good care of your health. The first thing to do now is to let each soldier take a hot bath, get a haircut, and change into clean new military uniforms..."
Before Sokov could finish his words this time, earth-shattering cheers unexpectedly broke out: "Ula! Ula!! Ula!!" The commanders and fighters standing at the front started to cheer first, and then the commanders and fighters behind him also started cheering.
He reacted and cheered along with them.
From the cheers of the commanders and fighters, Sokov understood a truth: empty slogans and so-called rhetoric will not have any effect on these exhausted and hungry commanders and fighters. On the contrary, give them some direct
The benefits can make them grateful to themselves.
After thinking about this, Sokov raised his hands and pressed down. After the commanders and fighters below regained their composure, he continued: "In addition, we will arrange special military doctors to treat every commander and fighter present.
Physical examinations will be conducted, and the sick and wounded will receive timely treatment. For those commanders and fighters whose condition is more serious and require long-term treatment, we will send them to the rear to continue treatment. Now, I am announcing to you the rationing standard of three meals a day..."
Just as he said this, Sokov suddenly realized that he knew nothing about this data, and quickly turned to ask Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is the rationing standard set for them?"
"According to the report from the logistics department," Sameko replied in a low voice. "They plan to provide each commander and combatant with 250 grams of bread, 50 grams of oatmeal, and a hot soup for each meal."
After figuring out the food standards for the soldiers, Sokov directly announced to the commanders and fighters without discussing it with Samyko: "According to the discussions between the leaders of our army groups, the ration standards for you are: 500 grams of bread and 100 grams of oatmeal.
, in addition to hot soup every day, we will also give you 50 grams of sausage and the same amount of cheese..."
After the commanders and soldiers cheered again, Sokov kindly reminded them: "Brothers, because you have not eaten enough for a long time in the German prisoner-of-war camp, your gastrointestinal aspect has become very weak. For the sake of your health, the first two
We can’t let you eat too much, otherwise your life will be in danger. Therefore, for the first few meals after you arrive here, our supply will be temporarily halved. When your stomach and intestines are almost recovered, we will increase the food standard to
That’s what I just said.”
"Comrade Commander," Samyko waited for Sokov to finish, then approached him and asked softly: "What standards should be used for the first few meals to provide food for these rescued commanders and combatants?"
"Didn't you just say that?" Sokov smiled and said to Samek: "We will provide these commanders and fighters with necessary food and water according to the dietary standards you have established."
"Understood." Sameko agreed loudly and said, "I'll make arrangements right away."
After Samyko left, Sokov turned to Lunev and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, you are doing political work, do you also want to say a few words to the commanders and soldiers below?"
"Okay, then I will say a few words briefly." Lunev said, took the trumpet from Sokov's hand, and said loudly to the commanders and soldiers below: "Hello, comrades! I am the No. 1
Lieutenant General Lunev, Military Commissar of the 27th Army, I would like to say a few words to you now..."