At dawn, Zakharov left Sokov's headquarters. He took the plane sent by Konev and returned to the front headquarters.
As soon as Zakharov entered the headquarters, Konev came up to him, shook hands with him, and asked with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, did everything go well when I went to Sokov's this time?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, it went very well." After Zakharov let go of Konev's hand, he asked tentatively: "Is Comrade Ivanov still there?"
"Of course, of course he's still here." Konev nodded and said, "Do you want to talk to him now?"
"Yes, I need to talk to him immediately."
"He's in the room we arranged for him, you can find him there."
If someone nearby heard the conversation between the two, they would definitely be confused and not understand what they were talking about.
Zaharov nodded to Konev, turned around and walked out of the headquarters, heading to Ivanov's residence.
This Ivanov is the deputy chief of staff from the General Staff. His mission this time is to consider Sokov's abilities and conduct some tests on him. In order to avoid his appearance being too abrupt,
Therefore, he went directly to the front headquarters and asked Zakharov to take action on his behalf.
Zakharov's conversation with Sokov last night was just part of the test. He deliberately mentioned the Allied forces opening a second battlefield, just to hear what kind of judgment Sokov would make and test it in the future.
Is this judgment correct?
Ivanov opened the door and saw Zaharov standing at the door, with an expression of surprise on his face: "Comrade Zaharov, are you back so soon?"
"Yes, I'm back." When Zakharov shook hands with the other party, he asked politely: "Can we go in and talk again?"
"Okay, okay." Ivanov quickly turned aside to make way for Zakharov, and said at the same time: "Please come in, dear Matvey Vasilyevich!"
After Zakharov entered, he closed the door and invited him to sit down at the round table in the middle of the room.
"Zakharov, tell me quickly, what is the result of your test this time?"
"The situation may have some deviations from our predictions." Zakharov saw a map on the table, or a map of Europe, so he dragged it in front of him, pointed with his finger and said: "Comrade Ivanov, according to
In your judgment, if the Allied forces want to open a second battlefield and conduct landing operations in northern France, the best landing place is undoubtedly Calais."
"Yes, I did analyze it this way." Ivanov nodded and said: "If the Allied forces want to set off from the UK and land on the northern coast of France, Calais is undoubtedly the best choice."
"Yes, Comrade Ivanov, after listening to your analysis, I also feel that this choice is the most appropriate."
Ivanov heard the hidden meaning of Zaharov's words and couldn't help frowning, "Zakharov, is Sokov's judgment different from mine?"
"Of course, of course it's different." Zakharov laughed and said: "But after Comrade Sokov's analysis, he feels that the most likely place for the Allied forces to land is in Normandy."
"What, Normandy?" After hearing this, Ivanov immediately shook his head like a rattle: "The Allies are not fools. They did not land in Calais, the shortest route, but chose Normandy, which is a far away road. How is this possible?
"
After staring at the position of Normandy for a while, he shook his head and said, "It seems that Sokov's level is not as good as the legend says. At least there was a serious misjudgment in judging the location of the Allied landings."
"Comrade Ivanov, don't draw conclusions so early." Zakharov interrupted him, "I suggest that you make an evaluation after listening to Sokov's complete analysis."
"Okay." Ivanov took out a pen and paper, then raised his chin at Zaharov: "You tell me, I'll take notes here."
"First of all, it is obviously unrealistic to launch an attack from Italy. His judgment is completely consistent with yours." Zakharov began to report to Ivanov the content of his conversation with Sokov: "But what he said later
When he arrived at the landing site in France, his judgment deviated from your analysis..."
Zakharov kept telling what Sokov said to him. At the beginning, Ivanov looked indifferent. But the more he listened, the more solemn his expression became. Later, he shouted from time to time.
After reading Zaharov's story, he carefully interrogated some detailed questions and recorded them one by one in his notebook.
After the conversation between the two ended, Zakharov found that two hours had passed. He even felt that he was not as tired as this conversation with Ivanov even when he assisted Konev in commanding a battle.
Zakharov yawned and said to Ivanov: "Comrade Ivanov, do you have any questions? If not, I want to go to rest. As I get older, I get sleepy when I stay up late."
"It's okay, you can go and rest." Ivanov wanted to seize the time to digest what he heard. He wished that Zakharov would leave early. At this moment, hearing that the other party wanted to leave, he said casually: "If I have any objections,
When I understand something, I will go to you and discuss it in detail."
Zakharov came out of Ivanov's room and did not go to rest as he said, but returned directly to the headquarters. He felt that he had a lot to say and needed to talk to Konev.
When Konev saw Zakharov coming back, he nodded to him and raised his hand to check the time: "The conversation between you and Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff lasted almost two hours. It seems that you talked about a lot.
.”
"Yes." Zakharov pulled out a chair and sat down, saying weakly: "I feel like having a conversation by myself is more tiring than helping you direct a battle."
"Tell me what's going on."
When Zakharov went to Sokov's headquarters and talked with Ivanov, Konev was also present. Therefore, there was no need to hide many things from Konev.
However, after the conversation, for the sake of confidentiality, Zakharov looked around first. He saw that the staff officers closest to him were all seven or eight meters away, and they should not be able to hear the conversation between him and Konev.
conversation. But he still lowered his voice and said: "Comrade Marshal, you know that before I went to the Sokov headquarters, Ivanov gave me two questions."
"Remember." Konev nodded and said, "The first is to ask why the Allies cannot launch an attack on the German army from Italy, and the second is to ask where they would choose as the landing site if they were to land on the northern coast of France."
"Well, due to various factors, the Allies will definitely not launch an attack on the German army from Italy. This is something we all have reached a consensus on. And Sokov also made an accurate judgment." Zakharov said with a wry smile.
: "The biggest difference today is the location chosen by the Allied forces when they landed on the northern coast of France. The two have completely different views."
"Didn't Ivanov choose Calais?" Konev heard this and said with some confusion: "From the perspective of landing operations, this is undoubtedly the best landing point. Even if it encounters stubborn resistance from the German army,
The Allied follow-up troops can also continuously pass through the strait through various ships and land in Calais."
"Sokov believed that since we all felt that Calais was the best place to land, obviously the Germans also thought of this." Zakharov explained: "He specifically emphasized that the Germans wanted to prevent the Allied forces from landing in Calais.
To land there, strong fortifications must be built and heavy troops deployed for defense. If the Allies forcefully choose to land there, they may not be able to achieve their strategic goals even if they pay a heavy price."
The expression on Konev's face became solemn. He looked at Zakharov and asked: "So where does Sokov think the Allied forces will choose to land?"
Zakharov looked down at the table and found that it was a map of Ukraine. He ordered his staff to find a map of Europe and spread it out on the table. After the staff left, he pointed to the location of Normandy and said
Konev said: "Comrade Marshal, Sokov firmly believes that the Allies will definitely choose to land in Normandy."
Konev lowered his head to look at the map on the table. After carefully comparing Calais and Normandy, he shook his head and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have never doubted Sokov's military commanding ability. But this time
, I stand with Deputy Chief of Staff Ivanov, Sokov’s judgment is wrong. The Allied forces are going to land on the northern coast of France, and the location they choose will definitely not be Normandy, but Calais.”
"Comrade Marshal, I think your judgment this time may be wrong." Zakharov looked at Konev and defended Sokov: "After a conversation between Comrade Sokov and I, I think
His judgment is most likely correct."
"Oh, Comrade Chief of Staff, so you have no doubts about Sokov's analysis?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Zakharov nodded and said: "Comrade Sokov and I talked for a long time and in great detail. Especially on some detailed issues, I asked him repeatedly.
The thinking is very clear and the accuracy should be very high.”
"When you asked these questions, you didn't arouse his suspicion, right?"
"No, definitely not." Zakharov shook his head and said, "I communicated with him alone. In order not to make him suspicious, I also said that there is a vacancy for the deputy chief of the general staff, and I want to compete for this position.
Because of your position, you must have unique views on some things.”
When Konev heard this, he was happy: "Comrade Chief of Staff, your reason is very strong. If I hear you say this, I won't have any doubts."
After confirming that Sokov was not suspicious, Zakharov asked Konev tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, you and I both know what Sokov's military ability is. Why did the superiors arrange this assessment?"
"I think there are two possibilities." Konev said with a frown: "One is that someone is dissatisfied with the position he holds and the military rank he holds, and deliberately creates obstacles behind him. The other is that the superiors may have other important uses for him.
That’s why I sent Ivanov here to inspect him.”
"Comrade Marshal, which situation do you think is most likely?"
"I don't know." Konev answered simply, "As for the orders from our superiors, we only need to implement them. There is no need to discuss them at all."
A staff officer came over and reported to the two men: "Comrade Marshal, Comrade Chief of Staff, I just received a call from the airport. Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ivanov intends to return to Moscow immediately. I wonder if we should let him go?"
Konev and Zakharov looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes. However, in front of their subordinates, both of them acted very calmly. "Since the Deputy Chief of Staff is returning to Moscow, let him leave.
That's it." Konev pretended to be calm and said: "Remember to send a few fighter jets to escort us to prevent any unexpected things from happening on the road."
As soon as the staff left, Zakharov couldn't wait to say: "Comrade Marshal, it seems that our deputy chief of staff wants to report the conversation between Sokov and me to Moscow as soon as possible."
"It seems like this." Konev said to Zakharov: "Since Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff has left, this matter has come to an end and there is no need to talk about it anymore." Seeing Zakharov look worried
He even tried to comfort the other party, "Don't worry, news will come naturally in a few days, and we will know what's going on."
Besides, after Ivanov returned to Moscow by plane, he immediately came to the General Staff Headquarters and reported what he knew to Antonov.
After listening to this, Antonov instinctively felt that Sokov's judgment was wrong. Which army would choose a longer road instead of taking a shortcut?
While Antonov was learning some details from Ivanov, the phone on the table rang. He picked up the phone and put it to his ear, and Stalin's familiar voice came from the receiver: "Antonov
Comrade Husband, I heard that Ivanov has returned from the front, is that correct?"
"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Antonov said respectfully: "He has returned from the front."
"What is the result of consideration?"
Antonov was silent. He didn't know how to answer Stalin's question for a while.
Seeing Antonov's delay in speaking, Stalin became a little impatient: "Comrade Antonov, why don't you speak?"
"Comrade Stalin, the situation is different from what we predicted." Antonov said respectfully: "Please allow me to report to you in person."
"Okay." Stalin readily agreed to his request, and also said: "Remember to bring Ivanov with you. There are some things that only he knows."
"Okay, Comrade Stalin, we'll be there in five minutes!"
Five minutes later, after listening to the report, Stalin walked back and forth in the room with a pipe in his hand and a frown on his face, wondering whether Sokov's analysis was correct or wrong.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, he finally stopped, looked at Antonov and asked: "Comrade Antonov, tell me your opinion. If you were the commander of the Allied forces, where would you choose the landing site?"
?”
"Comrade Stalin, if I were asked to make a decision without thinking, I would definitely choose Calais. After all, it is very close to the British mainland, and it won't take long even by boat." Antonov said cautiously: "But
After reading Sokov’s analysis, I felt that what he said seemed to make sense.”
"So, you agree with his opinion and think that the Allies will choose to land in Normandy?" However, Stalin did not hear any answer to his question. He looked at Antonov with some annoyance.
The other party also frowned and was thinking hard about something, so he slowed down and said: "Comrade Antonov, you might as well tell me what you are thinking."