Hearing Ponedelin's name, someone among the students present immediately exclaimed: "Is it General Ponedelin who once served as the commander of the 12th Army?"
"Yes, I am the Ponejelin you mentioned." Ponejelin looked towards the direction of the voice and found that the speaker was a captain, so he asked politely: "Do you know me?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." The captain stood up, raised his hand and saluted Ponedelin with a solemn military salute, and said with tears in his eyes: "My name is Okunev, and I am your old subordinate. War
At the time of the outbreak, I was a corporal in the 11th fortification area border defense column. I was seriously injured in the early stages of the Uman Battle and was sent to the rear to recuperate."
"You are lucky, Captain Okunev." Ponedelin looked at the other party and said: "Fortunately, you were injured and withdrew from the battle in the early stages of the battle. Otherwise, you might have died, or become a German soldier like me.
The prisoners of war were left to linger in their prisoner-of-war camps.”
This was the first time Sokov heard about the designation of the Border Column. After all, for more than two years after the war broke out, the war was carried out deep in the territory of the Soviet Union, which was still very far away from the border. However, he had the same view as Ponedelin.
Captain Okunev was a lucky man. He was injured and withdrew from the battle in the early stages of the battle. Otherwise, if he continued to fight, he would either be captured or sacrificed, and the chance of survival would be very low.
"Captain Okunev, now you can fight side by side with your old superior, General Ponedelin." Sokov smiled at Okunev and said: "Don't worry, our army will retake Ukraine."
It's just a matter of time until you are defeated, and then you will have the opportunity to demand repayment of your blood debt from the Germans."
Hearing what Sokov said, Okunev couldn't help but his eyes shone: "Comrade General, do you mean that it is possible for us to be incorporated into the First Ukrainian Front to participate in the attack on Uman?"
Okunev's words reminded Sokov that Uman's location was within the offensive area of the 1st Ukrainian Front. If Ponedelin was really allowed to go to the Uman area to avenge his hatred, he had to join in.
Vatutin's troops.
To be fair, the unit Sokov is most interested in is the Belarusian Front commanded by Rokossovsky, not the 1st Ukrainian Front commanded by Vatutin. Even if his superiors want to arrange for him to go to the 1st Ukrainian Front, in the end
It would be better to wait until Vatutin is injured and Zhukov takes over his duties before going.
"Comrade General," seeing Sokov suddenly fell silent, Ponedelin asked in a low voice, "What are you thinking about?"
"General Ponedelin," Sokov leaned close to Ponedelin's ear and whispered: "I suddenly remembered an important thing, which may cause changes in our plan."
"whats the matter?"
"If my troops want to participate in the battle to liberate Uman, they can only join the First Ukrainian Front of General Vatutin." Sokov replied quietly: "But according to the protection we just gave, we intend to join the Roman Army.
General Kossovsky’s Belorussian Front.”
"Comrade General," hearing what Sokov said, Ponedelin asked with some confusion: "Which army should we join? Is there anything wrong with it?"
For a moment, Sokov didn't know how to explain this to Ponedelin, so he could only remain silent.
Ponedelin didn't know what Sokov was thinking, but instead analyzed him: "Misha, no matter which unit you are assigned to in the future, it will not have any impact on the whereabouts of our temporary headquarters.
"Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would not understand what he meant, he further explained, "For example, if our temporary command headquarters goes to General Rokossovsky for training, you may also be assigned to Va when assigned in the future.
Troops of General Tutin or Konev."
"General Ponedelin, what you said makes sense." Sokov realized that he had gone too far. Which unit his temporary command headquarters goes to does not mean which unit he will be assigned to in the future. There must be many problems.
Big variables. Thinking of this, he said to Ponedelin: "You, Muzichenko, and Kirillov stay here and get familiar with the members of the temporary command. I will call Marshal Zhukov.
Talk to him about it."
After speaking, Sokov stood up and said to many students: "Students, you will all be members of the temporary command from now on, and Major Ponejelin will be the person in charge. If you have anything, you can ask him now."
In front of everyone, he no longer called Ponejelin a general, but instead called him according to the rank on his shoulder straps.
After Sokov explained to all the students, he left the office alone with a cane and walked towards the dean's office again.
When the dean saw Sokov leaving and returning, he thought he had left something behind, and quickly asked: "Comrade General, did you forget something here?"
"No, Comrade Dean." Sokov waved his hand to the Dean and explained: "I would like to borrow your phone to make a call to Marshal Zhukov."
"No problem." Knowing that Sokov wanted to call Zhukov, the dean agreed readily: "I will help you get through the call right now."
A few minutes later, the call was connected. The dean handed the microphone to Sokov: "Comrade Marshal is on the other end of the phone."
"Hello, Comrade Marshal."
"It's Misha." After Zhukov heard Sokov's voice, he asked with a smile: "I heard that you graduated from the intermediate commander training class today. How was it? How were your results?"
"Comrade Marshal." Sokov knew that this was not the time to be humble, so he told him truthfully: "I am ranked first in the class in all my grades."
"Well done, Misha! You're really well done." Zhukov was very pleased to hear that Sokov was ranked first in all grades: "You were admitted without taking the exam, and I was worried that your grades were not good.
I don’t have the face to see Dean Verevkin.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal." Sokov laughed dryly and replied, "I will never embarrass you."
"The training class for intermediate commanders has been completed, so you should gather the students you like as soon as possible." Zhukov said into the microphone: "The three Ponedelins have returned to Moscow from the front line. You can arrange them at the appropriate time."
They will meet and get familiar with the students you selected."
"At this moment, Ponejelin and the students are meeting in the classroom." Sokov replied: "Comrade Marshal, I called you today because I have an important matter to discuss with you."
"What's going on? Tell me!"
"I will recruit thirty students..."
"What, thirty students?" When Zhukov heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt Sokov: "Didn't you say there are only fifteen students?"
"Comrade Marshal, the situation is like this." Sokov explained to Zhukov: "Originally, I thought that I could not recruit even fifteen students. Unexpectedly, after Comrade Dean announced my true identity, the students responded very positively.
I am proud to join my team. After some thought, I added fifteen more places and increased the recruitment to thirty people."
"Since the students reacted violently, why didn't you bring them all here?" Zhukov asked with some confusion: "You know, after these people complete the training and return to the army, they will soon be able to serve as regimental commanders.
.If they all become your subordinates, at least the entire army will not lack regiment-level cadres."
"Comrade Marshal, I thought this way at first." Sokov continued: "But you also know that these students come from various fronts. If I recruit them all under my command, I am afraid that their original superiors will be dissatisfied.
If they hurriedly protest to the Supreme Command, let alone sixty students, no, there will only be fifty-nine students after I get rid of them. I'm afraid not a single one will be left."
"Misha, what can I say about you?" After hearing Sokov's worries, Zhukov said with a bit of laughter and tears: "What if they jointly protest? If any of them has achieved greater results on the battlefield than you, the establishment of
If you have more meritorious service than you, I can also arrange for all the students in the training class to be under your command."
Among the twenty-nine trainees Sokov gave up, although there were a few who could not deal with Sokov, they were able to pass the exam and enter the Frunze Military Academy, proving that they still have a certain ability. At this moment, Zhukov expressed his willingness to support
Himself, Sokov's thoughts couldn't help but come alive again.
He hesitated for a moment and asked cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, if I understand correctly, do you want me to recruit all the students? As for the pressure from other front army commanders, will you help me resist it?"
Zhukov sneered and said: "Misha, you have a good plan. Let me deal with the leaders who have objections to you, and you can sit back and relax."
When Sokov heard what Zhukov said, he knew that the other party acquiesced to this matter. He laughed twice and said: "Comrade Marshal, if you really let all fifty-nine students join my team, I guarantee you,
In half a year at most, I can make the new unit I take over become the best in the entire army."
Zhukov was very satisfied with Sokov's statement. Just as he was about to praise the other party, he suddenly thought that Sokov had just said that he had something to report to him, and quickly asked: "Misha, you just said something important.
You came to me about something, what is it?"
"It's like this, Comrade Marshal." Sokov then reported to Zhukov: "I organized the trainees into the temporary headquarters, and planned to let them go to the frontline troops to train for a period of time and accumulate some experience in large corps operations.
"
"Misha, you still have to study at the Frunze Military Academy for half a year. Obviously, you don't have time to command this temporary headquarters." Zhukov immediately understood the key point: "Who do you plan to put in charge?"
"I set up a special advisory group to manage this temporary headquarters, and the leader is General Ponejelin." Sokov said cautiously: "I did not assign him a specific position, he was just an advisor, so that's fine.
If someone has an opinion against him, it won't cause much trouble."
"Misha, you are very thoughtful." Zhukov nodded after hearing this, and then asked: "Then which army do you plan to send this temporary headquarters to?"
"It is best to be the Belarusian Front of General Rokossovsky." Sokov took the initiative to explain the reason: "General Ponedelin in the advisory group has been staying with General Rokossovsky before returning to Moscow today.
In the army. I think he will definitely be welcomed when he returns to the front with a temporary headquarters."
"Understood." Zhukov said: "I will call Rokossovsky later and explain the matter to him, and then your temporary headquarters can go over."
"Comrade Marshal." Seeing that Zhukov agreed to negotiate with Rokossovsky on his behalf, Sokov said gratefully: "I am really grateful to you."
"By the way, Misha, there is one more thing." Zhukov said to Sokov before hanging up the phone: "While the twenty-nine students have not returned to the army, integrate them into your team as soon as possible.
Understand?"
If just now Zhukov only acquiesced to Sokov's integration of all the students into the team, now he resolutely expressed his support, so Sokov's voice was particularly loud: "Yes, Comrade Marshal, I will put the rest as soon as possible."
All students are included in my team."
After putting down the phone, Sokov turned to the dean sitting aside and said, "Comrade dean, could you please send someone to call all the students who left back to the classroom?"
The dean heard the conversation between Sokov and Zhukov and naturally understood what was going on. He nodded with a smile and said, "No problem. I will immediately arrange for people to go to the dormitory to find those students and ask them to return to the classroom as soon as possible."
Although the students in the intermediate commander training class have graduated, they will not leave the academy until they receive their completion certificates, and will continue to stay in the dormitories assigned to them by the school.
At this moment, the students who were unsuccessful were gathered in the hall on the ground floor of the dormitory, sighing and telling about their bad fate. And Krezhiow in the crowd, his face was even more shameless. As the monitor of the training class,
He was actually screened out. If the news got out, it would be difficult to hold his head up in the army. And his follower Vadim, knowing that he had caused a big trouble, sat in the corner of the sofa in the hall without saying a word.
At this moment, someone saw the teacher Christonia hurriedly walking in from the outside, and hurriedly approached him and asked: "Comrade teacher, what can I do for you?"
The teacher did not answer him immediately, but quickly scanned the people in the hall and asked loudly: "Who can tell me how many people are here?"
When Krezhiow heard the teacher's question, he stood up habitually, took a step forward, straightened his back and reported: "Comrade teacher, the twenty-nine students who left the classroom are all here now."
"Are all twenty-nine students here?" the teacher asked.
"Yes." Krezhiow gave an affirmative answer.
"Comrade monitor," after confirming that all twenty-nine students were here, the teacher ordered Krezhiow: "Organize everyone to return to the classroom immediately."
"Go back to the classroom?" Hearing what the teacher said, Krezhiow asked in surprise: "What are we going back to do?"
"What else can be done?" The instructor glanced at Krezhiow with dissatisfaction and said unhappily: "General Sokov has planned to integrate you all into his team and let you all go back and report to him!"
As soon as the teacher's words came out, the whole hall suddenly became silent.
All the students thought they heard wrongly, and looked at each other, trying to find the answer in each other's eyes. But unfortunately, what they saw in the eyes of their classmates was the same confusion as their own.