Asiya's face was full of envy: "You are so lucky to have the opportunity to meet Comrade Stalin."
"There will be a chance to meet the Supreme Commander himself," Sokov said with some disappointment: "But not now, at least until my injury recovers, this kind of meeting is just a luxury hope."
"Why?" Asiya asked in confusion: "Why can't you go see Comrade Stalin before your injury heals?"
"The reason is very simple." Sokov grinned silently and continued: "It is impolite to go to see the Supreme Commander in person in a wheelchair, and there are certain safety risks."
After learning the reason why Sokov was unable to meet Stalin for the time being, Asiya couldn't help but sigh with regret: "I went to the dean's office today to ask him about your injury."
After staying in the hospital for more than two months, Sokov still couldn't stay any longer. He never stopped thinking about leaving here. At this moment, he heard that Asiya had gone to the dean's office to learn about his injuries, and he quickly asked
: "Asiya, what did the dean say? How long will it take for me to be discharged from the hospital?"
"In another week, the cast on your leg will be removed." As soon as Asiya said this, she saw Sokov's face beaming with joy, and quickly added: "Don't be too happy too soon."
The director said, even if the cast on your leg is removed, I'm afraid you won't be able to do without crutches for a month or two."
Sokov originally heard that the cast on his leg could be removed, and he was quite happy, thinking that in this way, he would be able to get rid of the wheelchair and try to walk independently. But what Asiya said next poured cold water on him.
, making him look depressed again.
"Misha, you were so seriously injured, it's pretty good that you can recover to this level." Seeing Sokov's disappointed expression, Asiya comforted him and said, "Don't be anxious.
The dean said that just to be on the safe side, maybe you will be able to walk independently without crutches in half a month."
Hearing what Asya said, Sokov's mood suddenly improved a lot. He understood the rules of the hospital. When introducing the patient's condition, he often likes to be more serious, so that even if the patient has any shortcomings in the future, it is reasonable.
Maybe my injury is not as serious as the dean said. Maybe by mid-January, I will be able to walk alone without relying on anything.
While Sokov and Asya were chatting in the ward, Marshal Zhukov, who was staying at the General Staff Headquarters to study the war situation with Antonov, received a call from Rokossovsky from Kiev: "Marshal Zhukov,
I am Rokossovsky."
Upon hearing the call from Rokossovsky, Zhukov said in a great mood: "The First Ukrainian Front and the Belarusian Front under your command are fighting well on the battlefield. I congratulate you.
"
"Thank you, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky called Zhukov not to discuss the war, but for other things: "I called you for other things."
"What's the matter?" Zhukov asked curiously.
Rokossovsky was silent for a moment, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, I would like to ask, how long will it take for Misha to be discharged from the hospital?"
Zhukov did not expect that Rokossovsky would ask about Sokov, and he did not know how to answer for a while. Although he had returned to Moscow for several days, he had no time to ask about Sokov.
Zhukov hesitated for a moment, and then said into the phone: "Koschka, don't hang up the phone yet. I'll help you find out about Misha's situation."
"Comrade Marshal," Shtemenko, who was standing not far away, heard what Zhukov said and asked tentatively: "Do you want to know about Lieutenant General Sokov's current situation?"
"That's right." Zhukov nodded, looked at Shtemenko and asked: "Comrade Shtemenko, do you know?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Shtemenko nodded and said, "He is now studying at the Frunze Military Academy."
"What, he studied at the Frunze Military Academy?" Zhukov asked in surprise: "Has his injury healed?"
"Not yet. As far as I know, he goes to class in a wheelchair every day. After class, he returns to the hospital." In order to reassure Zhukov, he also emphasized: "General Lunev sent someone special
Pick him up and drop him off every day.”
"What on earth is going on?" Zhukov asked: "Why did he suddenly go to the Frunze Military Academy?"
Seeing that Zhukov seemed to know nothing about the matter, Shtemenko quickly reminded him: "Comrade Marshal, have you forgotten that he was able to enter the military academy because of your recommendation?"
"Oh, yes, yes, it seems that there is such a thing." After Shtemenko reminded him, Zhukov remembered that there seemed to be such a thing, and continued to ask: "How long will he study in the military academy?
?”
"Eight months." Shtemenko knew this very well, and he quickly reported everything Sokov would learn in these eight months.
"Thank you, Comrade Shtemenko." After Zhukov learned about Sokov's situation from Shtemenko, he put the microphone in his hand to his ear and said: "Koschka, I just got the news.
, Misha is currently studying relevant military theories at the Frunze Military Academy."
When Rokossovsky learned that Sokov had entered the Frunze Military Academy, he couldn't help but secretly complain. If it were any other military academy, he could have stopped the course and served under his command. But Frunze
As the highest military institution, the Chicago Military Academy has a very high threshold for entry. Even if he has something urgent, he cannot ask Sokov to terminate his studies and join his army. Therefore, he can only ask questions based on luck.
: "Then when will he graduate?"
"The training course he participated in lasted eight months." Zhukov explained to Rokossovsky: "The content of the study ranged from the military theory of regiment-level commanders to the application of front army tactics. The study of these courses,
The reminder for his future position will be of great help, so he cannot be allowed to terminate his studies."
After understanding the situation, Rokossovsky sighed and said, "Hey, that's such a pity."
"What's a pity?" Zhukov asked.
"I have received an order from the Supreme Command to return the command of the First Ukrainian Front to Comrade Vatutin next Monday, and then return to the original unit." Rokossovsky explained to Zhukov.
Reason for the call: "I want Misha to return to the army with me. I can give him a group army to command."
"Koschka, this is impossible." Zhukov retorted: "Even if Misha is not studying at the Frunze Military Academy now, it is impossible for him to join your army. You know, his injury has not healed yet, and he is still injured every day.
I go to class in a wheelchair."
While Rokossovsky was talking to Zhukov on the phone, a staff officer quietly left the headquarters. After leaving the house, he quickened his pace and ran towards a two-story building not far away. He was temporarily deprived of command of the troops.
Vatutin lived in this building, and the staff officer felt it was necessary to report what he heard to Vatutin.
"Lieutenant Majerica," the sentry guarding the door saw the staff officer rushing over and quickly stopped him and asked, "What can I do for you?"
The staff officer said anxiously: "I have important matters that need to be reported to comrade commander immediately."
"I'm sorry." After the sentry heard what he said, he did not get out of the way, but said to him: "Comrade Commander has taken a rest. If you have anything to do, come back tomorrow."
"No, this matter is very important. I can't wait until tomorrow." After the staff officer finished speaking, he was about to rush in, but he was hugged tightly by the sentry who was loyal to his duty and prevented him from rushing in.
"What happened outside?" At this time, a voice came from inside, and then a major appeared at the door.
After the sentry saw this person clearly, he quickly let go of the staff officer and raised his hand to salute him: "Hello, comrade adjutant. If Lieutenant Medjelica wants to see the commander, I will tell him that the commander is resting and ask him to come back tomorrow. Who can
I didn't know he wanted to force his way in."
"I understand, leave this matter to me." After the adjutant finished speaking, he came to the staff and asked politely: "Lieutenant Medjelica, what's the matter with you that you need to see the commander in a hurry?"
"Comrade Adjutant." The staff officer glanced at the sentry standing nearby and lowered his voice and said to the Adjutant: "I have a very important situation and need to report it to Comrade Commander immediately."
"Can you tell me what it is?"
"I'm sorry, comrade adjutant, this matter is of great importance and I can't say anything about it." Seeing the adjutant, the staff officer didn't want to let him in, so his attitude became tougher: "I can only tell comrade commander about this matter."
The adjutant saw the staff officer's bastard's expression, and could only say helplessly: "Okay, Lieutenant Medjelica, I'll ask the commander, if he agrees to see you, I'll let you in. If he doesn't
If you are willing to see me, you can only go back."
A few minutes later, when the adjutant appeared at the door again, his attitude changed 180 degrees: "Lieutenant Medjelica, please come in. Comrade Commander is waiting for you inside."
The staff officer nodded and followed the adjutant into the building and came to the room where Vatutin lived.
"Lieutenant Majerica," Vatutin asked in surprise when he saw the staff officer following his adjutant through the door: "Do you have anything important to do when you come to my place so late?"
"Comrade Commander, didn't you tell me before that if anything important happened, I would inform you immediately?"
"Yes, I did say that." Vatutin asked curiously: "You are so anxious to see me today. What important thing happened?"
"Comrade Commander, it's like this. I heard the acting commander making a phone call to Marshal Zhukov in Moscow." The staff reported: "Their conversation has a lot to do with you."
"Oh, it has a lot to do with me?" Vatutin said with interest: "Tell me what it is."
"Not long ago, the acting commander said on the phone that he would transfer the command of the troops to you again next Monday."
"Great, this is really great." Vatutin, who had been sitting on the bench for almost a month, suddenly heard the news and lost control of his emotions. He stood up and walked back and forth in the room. Because of his excitement, he
As he walked, he kept rubbing his hands: "I can finally take command of the 1st Ukrainian Front again."
"Comrade Commander," the staff officer saw Vatutin walking back and forth in the room and quickly added: "I haven't finished speaking yet."
Vatutin stopped, looked at his staff and asked, "Do you have anything else to add?"
"It's like this. The acting commander called Marshal Zhukov. In addition to saying that he would return to the Belarusian Front, he also mentioned General Sokov, the former commander of the 27th Group Army."
"General Sokov and Rokossovsky were transferred back to the Belarusian Front. Is there any connection between the two?"
"I heard from the acting commander that General Sokov is an excellent army commander and I plan to take him back to the Belarusian Front and give him command of an army group."
Although Vatutin did not have much interaction with Sokov, he valued Sokov very much in his heart. Whether it was the Battle of Kursk or the subsequent Battle of Kharkov, Sokov commanded
The troops all played a decisive role.
When they first saw Sokov's repeated military exploits, some people inevitably gossiped that if they could get so many soldiers and weapons and equipment, they could achieve the same results.
Due to the large number of commanders holding such remarks, Vatutin was seriously misled, thinking that as long as he asked his superiors to assign the 27th Army to his command, the battle to liberate Kiev would become easy. But really, wait.
After assigning the 27th Group Army to his command, he sadly discovered that this unit that had repeatedly made military exploits seemed to suddenly become incapable of fighting. Because they suffered heavy losses in the battle with the Germans, they were unable to participate in the attack on Kiev.
To attack, you can only place them in less important areas for defense.
The painful lesson made Vatutin understand that whether an army has strong combat effectiveness, in addition to sufficient soldiers and well-equipped soldiers, an excellent commander is crucial. As long as he can recruit Sokov under his command, even if he will
If a group army with weak combat effectiveness is handed over to him, it will not take long to become the main force of the front army.
At this moment, when he heard that Rokossovsky wanted to transfer Sokov, he naturally refused to agree and quickly ordered his adjutant: "Please help me get through to the Kremlin immediately. I have important matters and need to report to the Supreme Commander himself immediately.
"
Although Vatutin has been contacted to command the troops, there is a telephone line where he lives that can directly contact the Kremlin.
The call was answered quickly.
Hearing Poskrebyshev's voice from the receiver, Vatutin smiled apologetically and asked: "Hello, Comrade Poskrebyshev, this is Vatutin. May I ask Comrade Stalin, who is still in his office?"
?"
"Yes, Comrade General." Poskrebyshev still showed due courtesy to Vatutin, who was temporarily dismissed from his post: "He is still in the office. What can I do for you?"
"I have important matters that need to be reported to Comrade Stalin immediately."
Regarding Vatutin's request, Poskrebyshev did not immediately agree, but said cautiously: "I would like to ask Comrade Stalin for instructions and see what he means?"
"Okay, go quickly." Vatutin said helplessly: "I'm waiting for your reply."
Poskrebyshev put the microphone on the table, stood up and walked to the door. After knocking on the door twice, without waiting for any sound from inside, he opened one of the doors and walked in.
When he heard someone coming in, Stalin stopped what he was doing, looked up at his secretary and asked: "What's the matter? Boskrebyshev!"