"Do you have anything else to do, General Sokov?" Ponedelin's tone was full of disappointment.
"General Ponedelin," Sokov said with a smile, "our conversation has just begun, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Ponejelin was stunned and thought to himself that what Sokov just said was not a disguised attempt to drive him away? But since the other party asked him to stay, he would not leave for the time being and listen to what he had to say.
"Please sit down, General Ponedelin." Seeing Ponedelin standing there in a daze, Sokov quickly asked him to sit down: "Sit down so we can talk."
After Ponedelin sat down again by the bed, he asked cautiously: "General Sokov, what are you going to say to me?"
Sokov saw that Ponedelin seemed to be in a defensive mood at the moment. If he started talking directly, he might not achieve the desired results, so he slowed down and said: "General Ponedelin, we don't deal with each other for more than a day or two.
We are friends, so why not adjust the names. You call me by my nickname, Misha, and I will call you by your nickname, Ajik, okay?"
In response to Sokov's proposal, the muscles on Ponedelin's face twitched violently a few times, and then his eyes turned red. He nodded vigorously and replied: "Okay, then from now on, I will be just like you."
As a friend, I call you Misha."
The adjustment in title, in a country like Russia, means that the relationship between the two has become closer. Seeing that Ponedelin agreed to his proposal, Sokov also showed a knowing smile on his face: "Ajik
, I was unable to continue commanding the troops due to my injuries this time, and General Trofimenko took over my position. It is estimated that even after I recover from my injuries, I will not be able to return to the 27th Army."
Ponedelin felt that Sokov could not say this for no reason, so he leaned forward slightly, trying to get closer to Sokov to listen to what he would say next.
"You also know that the troops I have commanded in recent years have achieved some results on the battlefield." Sokov said modestly: "Although these are insignificant achievements, they have been recognized by my superiors and I have been able to serve successively.
The commanders of the 21st and 27th Group Armies are their recognition of me."
Hearing this, Ponedelin showed a dumbfounded expression on his face. He said to himself that the achievements you have achieved are insignificant, and the results achieved by other friendly forces can only be regarded as failures. However, he did not interrupt Sokov.
instead of listening quietly.
"...According to my guess, after I recover from my injury and am discharged from the hospital, my superiors may send me back to the front line." Sokov said cautiously: "I heard that the army organizations have now restored their military structures and returned to the front line.
After that, even if I can no longer serve as group army commander, I think it will still be possible to serve as a military commander."
Sokov stared at Ponedelin and said: "Even if the superiors only appoint me as the commander of the army, they still need some experienced commanders to assist me. Ajik, I wonder if you are willing to help me?"
Perhaps because he was worried that Ponejelin still had concerns, he added: "Don't worry, even if I can't let you serve as deputy commander, there is still no problem in being chief of staff."
Sokov's words made Ponedelin's heart beat. He hesitated and said: "But, Misha, I am only a major now. I may not be qualified to serve as deputy commander or chief of staff, right?"
"This is not a problem." Sokov said carelessly: "As long as you are in my army, let alone your current rank of major, even if you are just a second lieutenant, if I let you serve as my chief of staff, who would dare to do it?
Objections."
If someone else said this, Ponedelin might still be suspicious, but since it was Sokov who expressed his opinion, it proves that it is very likely to become a fact. Ponedelin nodded vigorously and replied: "Don't worry.
, Misha, no matter what position you ask me to hold in the army, I will fully cooperate with you."
"But you alone are not enough." Sokov said while the iron was hot: "In order to open up the situation in the new army as soon as possible, I need more people to help you."
"If you don't mind it, I can persuade Muzichenko and Kirillov to help you too." Ponedelin heard Sokov said that he hoped to get help from more people, so he took the initiative and said: "No matter what,
, one of them used to be a group army commander like me, and the other one was a corps commander, both of whom have rich command experience."
"This is really great." When Sokov sent the three people away, he hoped that they could end the screening review as soon as possible and then return to the front line to help him. Now that Ponejelin has offered to persuade Muzichenko and Kiri
Love came to help him, and he naturally wanted it: "When the time comes, I will definitely arrange suitable positions for you based on your abilities."
When Sokov said this, he was secretly thinking that the promises he had made would be impossible to fulfill without the help of big people. Maybe he could find a way to contact Zhukov another day to see if he could help him.
While the two were talking, Asiya came in from outside carrying a teapot.
She saw Ponedelin sitting beside Sokov's bed and asked curiously: "Misha, is this your old friend?"
"Ajik, let me introduce you. This is my wife Asiya, a military doctor. When you were rescued, she had been transferred to the weapons and equipment department, so you have never seen her." Sokov followed tradition.
, first introduced his wife to the slightly higher-status Ponedelin, and then introduced him to Asya: "This is General Ponedelin."
As a military doctor, Asiya naturally knows military ranks. When she saw that although the other person wore the rank of major, Sokov still called him a general, she knew that this person had a lot of background. She hurriedly put down the teapot and stepped forward.
Shake hands with Ponedelin. "Hello, Comrade General."
"Hello, Asiya!" Ponejelin held Asiya's hand and said with some embarrassment: "Don't call me general. I have been demoted to major now. You can call me major, or
Like Misha, call me by my nickname Ajik."
"Ajik, please sit down." Asiya let go of her hand and asked Ponijelin to sit down. "I'll pour you a cup of hot tea."
When the tea was handed to Ponejelin's hand, Asiya asked curiously: "Ajik, when did you and Misha meet? Why have I never heard him mention you before?"
Ponedelin turned his head and glanced at Sokov who was lying on the hospital bed, and replied with some embarrassment: "Asia, I'm not afraid of your jokes. I turned out to be the commander of the 12th Army. I was in Ukraine shortly after the war broke out.
He was captured by the Germans during the Battle of Mann and kept in a prisoner-of-war camp. It was not until Mischa's troops liberated Klemenkoug that they rescued me and several other colleagues from the enemy's prisoner-of-war camp."
"Oh, that's it. No wonder I've never heard Misha mention you."
After Ponedelin stayed in the ward for an hour, he stood up and said goodbye to Sokov: "Misha, it's getting late. It's time for me to go back. You have a good rest and I'll see you another day."
"Ajik." Sokov benefited a lot from his conversation with Ponedelin. He was even considering that even if his superiors re-appointed him as the commander of the group army, he would have to find a way to arrange for Ponedelin to serve as commander.
The post of chief of staff of the group army. However, Ponejelin alone was not enough. He also needed more people to help him, so he asked Ponejelin: "The next time you come to visit me, can you
Muzichenko and Kirillov are also here, I want to have a good talk with them."
"No problem." After today's conversation with Sokov, Ponedelin completely let go of his worries. He nodded and said, "If my superiors allow it, I will definitely bring them to visit you."
After Ponejelin left, Asia asked with some worry: "Misha, this General Ponejelin was once captured by the Germans. Is it appropriate for you to ask him to be your deputy?"
"There is nothing inappropriate." Sokov waved his hand and said: "Although he was captured at the beginning of the war, he is a commander with rich experience. With his assistance, he can help me make up for many commanding shortcomings.
mistakes."
Asiya walked to the door, opened the door and looked outside for a moment, closed the door and came back to ask Sokov: "Aren't you afraid of being implicated? After all, he was once a prisoner. If someone settles the scores, I'm afraid you will be implicated.
"
"Don't worry, Asiya." Sokov comforted the other party and said: "Although he has been demoted from major general to major, as long as he performs outstandingly in the next war, I believe his military rank will be restored soon.
.”
Asiya expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "Is it true?"
"Of course it's true." Anyway, there were only himself and Asiya in the room, and Sokov didn't have to worry about the ears on the wall: "You should know Marshal Kulik, right? He was unlucky in commanding operations on the Kerch Peninsula, except Sevas.
Crimea outside Topol was lost, and the Supreme Commander himself was demoted from marshal to private. But not long after, he was promoted to major general, and a month later he was promoted to lieutenant general."
"But can this Ajik be compared with Marshal Kulik?" Asiya pursed her lips and said, "Maybe if you want him to be your deputy, your request to your superiors will be rejected."
"Asiya, since you have been here for a long time, you naturally understand that this hospital is not just for anyone who wants to come in." Seeing that Asiya has been struggling with Ponedelin's affairs, Sokov reminded him.
Said: "Since he can come here to visit me today, he is naturally authorized. I think this may be how my superiors hinted to me that I can accept this former army commander."
Asya thought about Sokov's words carefully and felt that they made some sense. The hospital here is heavily guarded. If you want to enter, you must have a special pass. If Ponedelin is still guilty, he is not qualified to enter at all.
.Since he is here today, it proves that someone behind him hopes that Sokov can accept him and take him to make great achievements.
"When I just went to fetch water, I heard that Marshal Zhukov returned to Moscow." Asiya said to Sokov: "He was the one who sent you here in the first place. I don't know if he has time to see you."
When he learned that Zhukov was actually in Moscow, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little excited. He secretly wondered whether Ponedelin's appearance here today was under Zhukov's instructions. If this was true, it meant that he had no plans for his future.
I have a well-thought-out plan.
"Asia, do you know where Marshal Zhukov lives now?"
"It's hard to say." Asiya shook her head and said, "After returning to Moscow, it is unlikely that he will live at home. He should be in the General Staff Headquarters or somewhere else."
Sokov felt that what Asiya said was very reasonable. Zhukov's status was special. Even if he returned to Moscow, he probably wouldn't have time to return to his home. If he really stayed at the General Staff or the Kremlin all day, he wouldn't be able to.
Ask Asiya to look for him, but I'm afraid he won't be found.
Although he knew that it was not easy to find Zhukov, he still reluctantly said to Asiya: "Asiya, if you are leaving the hospital recently, can you help me find out where Marshal Zhukov lives?"
where."
"Misha, do you want me to see Marshal Zhukov?"
"Yes, that's what I think." Sokov explained to Asiya: "After I recover and am discharged from the hospital, it is still unknown how my superiors will arrange for me. If Marshal Zhukov comes forward to put in a good word for me, I will definitely
Can return to the front line and continue to serve as commander of the group army."
At this point, his expression dimmed: "But I'm worried that Marshal Zhukov has been staying in the General Staff Headquarters, and you can't enter there."
"Misha, you are thinking too much." Just when Sokov was upset that he could not see Zhukov, Asya smiled and said: "As long as Marshal Zhukov is in Moscow, no matter where he stays, I can do something about it.
Meet him."
"Oh, is there any way you can meet Marshal Zhukov?"
"Have you forgotten Yakov?" Asiya reminded Sokov: "As long as I ask him to come forward, then he will definitely find a way to find Marshal Zhukov."
"Yes, yes, Asya, if you don't mention Yakov, I almost forgot about this man with great powers." Sokov suddenly said with a smile: "I believe he will definitely help me with this.
"
"Then I will go to the dean's office later and call Yakov." Asiya said to Sokov: "Ask him to help you contact Marshal Zhukov."
Sokov, who was originally beaming with joy, became serious again after hearing what Asiya said: "Asiya, I think all the phone calls in the hospital should be monitored, so you'd better go to the weapons and equipment department in person.
Find Yakov and convey my message to him. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Asiya nodded and said, "When Vera goes to work tomorrow, I will go back to the weapons and equipment department to find Yakov."
Sokov hummed, and then told Asiya: "It's best not to let anyone except the three of us know about this matter, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble."
"Okay, Misha." Asiya said in a positive tone: "When I leave the hospital tomorrow, I will tell the director that I have something urgent and need to go back to the weapons and equipment department, so that he will not have any suspicion."
"When you see Yakov tomorrow, ask him if he has time." Sokov considered for a moment and continued: "I think there are some things that need to be said to him in person. If he can come in person, of course it will be
It could not be better."
"Don't worry, I will try my best to persuade him to come to the hospital to see you."