Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Sokov continued: "General Ponedelin and Colonel Sidorin, you already know each other. In fact, the commanders of the 48th Group Army who came with me this time are far more than them.
The two of them, in addition to Colonel Kirillov, the former commander of the 13th Infantry Corps, and dozens of cadets from the Frunze Military Academy."
"Some comrade commanders may feel that if I call so many people at once, your status may be affected. I can tell you here, don't worry, these students I brought are regiment-level commanders and will not threaten you.
They were all commanders with rich combat experience and were sent to study in the intermediate class of the Frunze Military Academy. When I graduated, the Supreme Command sent me to the 53rd Army, and they followed me.
Went to the new unit."
"You must not underestimate these students. Although they all have the rank of lieutenant colonel or major, every student sent to the combat unit has played a great role. The reason why the 53rd Group Army I used to command is
The ability to achieve such a brilliant record is closely related to them."
"Considering that they have just arrived on the battlefield and are unclear about the situation on the battlefield, I usually arrange for them to serve as deputy regimental commanders or regimental chiefs of staff. After several months of practice and testing, these trainees have faithfully performed their military duties and ruthlessly performed their duties as soldiers.
dealt a severe blow to the German invaders."
"Comrade Commander," after Sokov's words came to an end, Major General Onupriyenko, commander of the Sixth Division, stood up and said: "My commander of the 25th Guards Regiment was killed in the battle not long ago because of his defeat.
I was seriously injured and withdrew from the battle. I wonder if you can arrange a new regiment leader for me?"
"Yes." Sokov readily agreed to Onupryenko's request, but he did not specify on the spot who would worry about the commander of the 25th Guards Regiment. Instead, he said to Ponedelin: "Deputy
Comrade Commander, I will leave it to you to arrange this matter."
Ponejelin stood up and said: "No problem, after the meeting is over, I will arrange a suitable regiment leader for General Onuprienko."
Onupryenko asked Sokov to arrange a regiment commander for him, which was tantamount to releasing goodwill. Sokov turned his attention to Tolstikov and other division commanders, hoping that they would also express their stance at this time
.But to his disappointment, these division commanders didn't seem to hear what he said. They either looked down at the table in front of them or looked up at the ceiling, as if there was something good-looking on it.
"Today's meeting ends here." Seeing that everyone was unwilling to express their attitude, Sokov did not force it, but announced: "The meeting is adjourned!"
After all the division commanders left, Sokov asked Pugachev: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you know where my office is?"
"Please come with me, Comrade Commander." Pugachev said friendly: "I will take you to the office."
Sokov's office was larger than he imagined. The desk was in front of the wall opposite the door, and a rectangular conference table and the desk formed a T shape.
"Comrade Commander," Pugachev said to Sokov: "My office is next door. If you need anything, just come to me or call me." He pointed to the buttons on the phone, "
You just need to pick up the phone and press the number 2 on the base to answer my call."
"Comrade Military Commissar," Seeing Pugachev about to leave, Sokov stopped him and asked, "I wonder where the offices of the deputy commander and chief of staff are?"
"Deputy commanders and chiefs of staff usually don't have offices," Pugachev said: "They usually stay in the war room and deal with internal affairs of the group army. Only when they encounter something that cannot be handled, they will call the commander for instructions.
"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov looked at his own office and felt a little uncomfortable, so he said to Pugachev: "I don't think I want this office anymore. I'd rather go with the deputy commander."
, the chief of staff stays in the war room, so that he can learn the latest situation on the battlefield at the first time."
"But, Comrade Commander, we are now in a state of truce." Pugachev reminded Sokov: "There is nothing to do in the war room."
"Comrade Military Commissar, you are wrong." Sokov corrected him: "Although we are not fighting the Germans for the time being, we have a lot of work to deal with in peacetime. If I, the deputy commander and the chief of staff were not working in the same place,
, there will be a lot of inconvenience, so I'd better go to the war room and stay."
Seeing that Sokov's attitude was so resolute, Pugachev could not say anything more, so he could only lead the three of them to the war room downstairs. The staff officers and communications soldiers in the war room were busy nervously, looking at
When Pugachev came over with two generals and a colonel, he guessed that the person coming must be a big shot, so he quickly put down his work, straightened his back and saluted them with attention.
"Comrades," Pugachev said loudly when everyone stopped what they were doing: "Let me introduce to you. This is the new commander, General Sokov, and next to him is the deputy commander.
Commander Lieutenant General Ponedelin, and Army Group Chief of Staff Colonel Sidorin."
When they learned that the people who came in with Pugachev were actually the new commander and chief of staff, the staff and communications soldiers couldn't help being secretly surprised, wondering what mistake Commander Romanenko had made, actually looking for someone
To take over his position?
Sokov knew that these people were all working, so he did not give an inauguration speech. Instead, he simply said: "Comrades, even if we know each other now, everyone should go back to their respective posts and continue to work."
After the staff and communications soldiers returned to their respective posts, Sokov quickly walked to the table and looked at the map spread out on the table, which actually had a construction schematic drawn on it.
After watching for a while, Sokov looked up at Pugachev and asked curiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, I really didn't expect that the fortifications you planned to build would be so huge?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Pugachev clicked and said helplessly: "According to the original plan, we will spend at least half a year building a complete defense system."
"Comrade Military Commissar, I'm very curious." Sokov picked up the fortification repair map and asked curiously: "You have such a large area built next to the swamp. What if you solve the water seepage problem in the trenches?"
"According to Lieutenant General Romanenko's idea," Pugachev said, "Each trench must be dug at least one and a half people deep and then laid with logs to solve the problem of water seepage in the trenches."
"If we really want to build fortifications like this, it will take a lot of effort." Sokov put the map back on the table and said to Pugachev: "Now that the construction of fortifications has been stopped, it can be said that the pressure of the commanders and soldiers has been reduced.
burden."
"That's true." Pugachev nodded and said, "If we follow what you said at the meeting, we can indeed save a lot of time, so that the commanders and fighters can get adequate rest."
"By the way, Comrade Commander." Pugachev knew very well when to change the subject: "After a series of battles in the group army, there is a certain vacancy in the regimental commander. How do you plan to settle the troops you brought?
Where are the students?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, haven't you seen that I have hinted to the division commanders in the conference room, but except for General Onupriyenko, the other division commanders have not responded at all."
"Comrade Commander," before Pugachev could speak, Ponedelin interjected: "I plan to appoint Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Miresiev as the commander of the 25th Guards Regiment. I don't know.
Do you have any different opinions?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander, I just said at the meeting that you are responsible for the appointment of personnel." Sokov said to Poniejlinfa: "As long as it is proposed by you, I will agree. After all, you have served as
After passing their teachers, you should know best what each person’s abilities are.”
"By the way, Comrade Military Commissar." Although the 25th Guards Regiment already had a candidate for its leader, Sokov didn't know who the leaders of the other two regiments were, so he asked Pugachev: "
I wonder who the leaders of the other two Guards regiments are?"
"The commander of the 4th Guards Regiment is Lieutenant Colonel Ma Daqiang, and the commander of the 10th Guards Regiment is Colonel Ivanov." Pugachev replied: "They are all excellent commanders with rich command experience. That's right.
It is because of such excellent commanders that the 6th Guards Division performed very well in this year's battles."
Seeing that Sokov was interested in the regimental commanders of each division, Pugachev took the opportunity to introduce him to him. Not only did he tell him the names and military ranks of the regiment commanders, he even asked for their ages, hobbies and specialties.
Sokov made a report. Sokov found the information provided by Pugachev very useful, so he took out his notebook and recorded it carefully.
While the two were chatting, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Sidorin instinctively grabbed the phone and said into the receiver: "I am Colonel Sidorin, Chief of Staff. Where are you?"
The other end of the phone hesitated for a moment, then said with a smile: "It turns out to be Colonel Sidorin. I am Rokossovsky. Is Misha here?"
"Yes, yes. Comrade General, please wait a moment, I asked him to answer the phone." After saying that, Sidorin covered the phone with his hand, and then said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, this is Luo
A call from General Kossovsky."
Knowing that the call was from Rokossovsky, Sokov guessed that there must be something important. He quickly took the phone from Sidorin's hand, put it to his ear and said: "Hello, Comrade General.
, I am Sokov, what are your instructions?”
"It's not an instruction. I just have something to inform you." Rokossovsky said with a smile on the phone: "I'm afraid Marshal Zhukov will come to your place for inspection in two days. You have to prepare in advance.
Don't make any mistakes, otherwise it will not be good if you make Comrade Marshal angry."
"What, Marshal Zhukov is coming to inspect?!" If Rokossovsky hadn't said this, Sokov would have almost forgotten it. He remembered that he had seen it in a movie. In order to determine the final direction of the attack, Sokov would
Accompanied by Rokossovsky, Zhukov once inspected the terrain at the edge of the swamp. He did not expect that Zhukov would come to inspect his own territory just after he took office. Although he and Zhukov were acquaintances, he still felt a little nervous:
"Comrade General, I wonder when Marshal Zhukov will come to our place?"
"Misha, I can't tell you the specific time." Rokossovsky said on the phone: "According to regulations, Marshal Zhukov's itinerary is absolutely confidential. I can only tell you the specific time until he leaves for your defense area.
time, and let you do a good job of reception."
"Don't worry, Comrade General." Sokov originally wanted to talk about some work for a while, but he didn't expect that Zhukov would be coming so soon, so he changed his mind and planned to take down the people on the high ground before Zhukov called.
The troops were well deployed and started building a tank launch platform by the swamp. He assured Rokossovsky: "When Comrade Marshal arrives, I will definitely let him see something different."
After listening to Sokov's words, Rokossovsky nodded with satisfaction and said: "Very good, Misha, I believe you will make Marshal Zhukov return satisfied."
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to the three of them with some urgency: "Comrades, I just received a call from General Rokossovsky. He said that Marshal Zhukov will be here for inspection in two days. What do you think?
What should we do before Marshal Zhukov arrives?"
"Needless to say." After hearing this, Sidorin replied without hesitation: "Of course we must seize the time to deploy artillery and machine gun firepower points on the high ground. In addition, we must also seize the construction of the tank launch platform next to the swamp.
In a word, we must start the construction of all basic projects before Marshal Zhukov arrives."
"The chief of staff is right." Sokov knew very well that the reason why Zhukov came here is for two reasons: one is to choose the next direction of attack; the other is to see the current construction status of fortifications on the edge of the swamp.
How about. "Time is running out, we must hurry up, otherwise when Comrade Marshal comes over, we will find that nothing is ready, and I will not be the only one who will lose face."
"Comrade Commander, I don't think there is any need to rush into deploying troops in the highlands and building tank launch platforms at this moment." Pugachev said with a smile: "After all, you just took office today, why not go and rest first?
Keep your spirits up, it’s not too late to wait until tomorrow.”
"Comrade Commander." Ponedelin looked at Sokov and said, "Our group of students are still outside. How do you plan to arrange them?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov said on his first day here. He was unfamiliar with the place. The only person who was familiar with the terrain and could be assigned by him was Pugachev: "I want to discuss something with you.
thing."
"Comrade Commander, if you need anything, just say it."
"That's right, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov said to Pugachev with a smile: "Didn't a group of students come with me? Now they are still staying outside, without food, water or shelter. You see
, can you handle this matter with Comrade Deputy Commander, find them a place to live first, and let them have a good rest."
"No problem, Comrade Commander." Pugachev readily agreed to Sokov's request: "Since they are the students who followed you here, they are also members of this unit at the moment. Make arrangements for them.
Accommodation is a matter of course." He looked at Ponejelin and said, "Comrade Deputy Commander, please come with me, and we will arrange accommodation for the students together."