Sokov originally thought that after this meeting with Lunev, he would have to wait until the injury healed at the earliest before he would have a chance to see him again. Unexpectedly, he appeared in his ward again at noon the next day. This time, the person who appeared in the ward with him was a general with two big beards.
When he saw this general for the first time, Sokov's mind immediately thought of the bearded squadron leader in "Escape from the Tiger's Mouth". The two men's beards were exactly the same.
When Sokov was recalling the name of the British pilot, he heard Lunev say: "Comrade Commander, we are here to see you again."
"Comrade Military Commissar, it's a pleasure to see you again." Sokov smiled at Lunev, and then asked tentatively: "I wonder who the general next to you is...?"
But Lunev did not introduce Sokov immediately. Instead, he turned to the general and said: "Sergey, I don't need to introduce this to you. You should be familiar with his resume."
"Yes, Lunev. Although General Sokov and I have never met, I am very familiar with everything about him." The bearded general walked to the bed, first stretched out his hand to Sokov, and found that the other party When he couldn't shake hands with himself, he took his hand back and nodded to Sokov: "Let me introduce myself. I am Shtemenko, now the chief of operations of the General Staff."
Hearing the other party's identity, Sokov quickly remembered this person's resume: After the outbreak of the Patriotic War, Shtemenko served as the deputy director of the Direction Department of the General Staff Operations Department from August 1941, and was under the supervision of the deputy staff officer. Vasilevsky appreciated him and praised him as a man who was well educated in the military and very capable of working. He not only had the ability to work, but also was very talented. He was an energetic and determined person.
In June 1942, after the Southern Front suffered a defeat, Stalin sent Beria to the Caucasus to deal with the difficulties there. Beria hoped that an officer from the General Staff would accompany him. Vasilevsky recommended him to Shtemenko, who had just become the director of the department, saying that he was a young and promising staff officer. Shtemenko worked with Beria for several months, during which time he became close comrades with Beria and Antonov.
He served as the first deputy director of the General Staff Operations Department in April 1943 and was promoted to director in May. The title of Minister of Operations sounds quite intimidating, but it is actually not easy to perform. After several generals took up this position, they were dismissed after making several reports to Stalin, which caused chaos within the Operations Department.
But after Shtemenko took over the post of Minister of War, he quickly won Stalin's trust with his high theoretical level, excellent organizational and coordination skills, clear mind, firm and steady character and outstanding military talents.
Sokov felt flattered that the popular man in front of Stalin came here to visit him. He quickly apologized to the other party and said: "Comrade Minister, please forgive me for being injured and unable to shake hands with you."
But Shtemenko didn't care about these details at all. He sat on the chair next to Sokov's bed and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, General Sokov, you have been in the hospital for so long before I came to visit. You, I hope you don’t blame me.”
After Sokov exchanged polite words with the other party, he began to murmur in his heart: He had never had any interaction with Shtemenko, so how could he come here to visit him?
In order to find out what was going on, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Minister, do you have anything to tell me when you are here today?"
Hearing what Sokov said, a smile appeared on Shtemenko's face. He turned sideways to Lunev who was standing next to him and said with a smile: "Lunev, it seems you are right, Sokov The general is indeed very smart and guessed that I came to see him because I had something to do."
After saying this, he faced Sokov again and said: "Comrade Sokov, judging from your current situation, it will take at least half a year or even longer to recover. Even after you are discharged from the hospital, can you return to the front line? It’s also an unknown, so I’m here today hoping that you can come to the General Staff Headquarters to help me.”
Sokov's eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade Minister, what do you mean, you asked me to go to the General Staff Headquarters to help you?"
"That's right." Shtemenko nodded and said: "I happen to be short of a capable deputy. If you agree, I can first let you serve as the deputy director of the Direction Department of the Operation Department. After you become familiar with your job, , and then directly assume the position of director."
It has to be said that Shtemenko's proposal is very tempting. Not only can he stay in the safe rear and work, but as long as he doesn't make any mistakes, there are many opportunities for promotion.
But Sokov's excitement lasted less than a minute before he realized that going to the General Staff Headquarters was not the best choice. The Soviet army has always had a tradition of despising staff officers. Everyone knows that the commander-in-chief who defeated Napoleon was Kutuzov, but who knows who his chief of staff was? Unless he can become the chief of general staff like Vasilevsky and Antonov, he will be destined to spend the rest of his life in obscurity.
After thinking about this clearly, he rejected Shtemenko's proposal: "Thank you, Comrade Minister, thank you for your kindness. However, I feel that my personality is still suitable for staying on the front line, so I can only You said sorry."
But Shtemenko seemed to have guessed that his proposal would be rejected by Sokov. He was not angry at all. On the contrary, he said kindly: "General Sokov, don't reject me so quickly. You are still in the hospital anyway." If you lie down for a long time, you can slowly consider my proposal. It won't be too late to give me the final answer until the day you are discharged from the hospital."
After Shtemenko said these words, he stood up and said goodbye to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, you take good care of your injuries. I will see you again when I have time."
"Asia," Sokov saw that Shtemenko and Lunev were about to leave, and quickly called Asya who was standing aside: "help me see off Comrade Minister."
Shtemenko did not object to Sokov's arrangement. He also planned to talk to Asya privately after leaving the ward later and ask her to help him persuade Sokov to join the general staff. The Ministry serves as his deputy.
Asya sent the two of them to the stairs. Shtemenko winked at Lunev and motioned for him to talk to Asya. Lunev, who understood deeply, nodded slightly, and then said to Asiya: "Asiya, I want to talk to you."
"General Lunev," Asiya showed enough courtesy to Lunev who had helped her many times: "Everyone is so familiar with him. If you have anything to say, please just say it."
"That's it, Asiya." Lunev considered it for a moment and decided to speak out what he was thinking: "Do you think Comrade Commander will stay at the headquarters honestly after his injury has recovered and he returns to the front line? , or often go to the most dangerous combat areas?"
Asiya said without hesitation: "It goes without saying that with his character, he will definitely not be able to sit still in the headquarters. As long as there is an opportunity, he will go to the most dangerous areas to command operations."
"Yes, I think so too." Although he couldn't see Sokov's ward from where he stood at the top of the stairs, Lunev instinctively glanced sideways, and then continued: "This time It is simply a miracle that he survived. But no one can guarantee that similar miracles will happen when he runs to the front again in the future..."
Hearing what Lunev said, Asia understood what the other party meant. She asked tentatively: "General Lunev, do you want me to find an opportunity to persuade Misha to work at the General Staff?"
Lunev and Shtemenko looked at each other, and they both saw a smile in each other's eyes. "That's right, Asia." Lunev nodded and said affirmatively: "That's what I mean. For the safety of comrade Commander, it is best for him to stay in the General Staff after he recovers from his injuries. This will be beneficial to both you and him."
Lunev's words made Asia's heart beat. She knew very well that if Sokov returned to the front line after recovering from his injury, even if he would no longer take risks easily, she, as his wife, would still worry about his safety. . She nodded vigorously and assured Lunev: "General Lunev, don't worry, I will persuade him when I go back later and try to make him change his mind."
"That's great." Lunev saw that his goal had been achieved, and a happy smile appeared on his face: "Asia, then I will wait for your good news."
When Asya saw the two people walking up the stairs, she turned around and was about to leave, but she heard Shtemenko's voice from behind: "Comrade Asya, please wait a moment, I have something else to say."
Sokov originally thought that after this meeting with Lunev, he would have to wait until the injury healed at the earliest before he would have a chance to see him again. Unexpectedly, he appeared in his ward again at noon the next day. This time, the person who appeared in the ward with him was a general with two big beards.
When he saw this general for the first time, Sokov's mind immediately thought of the bearded squadron leader in "Escape from the Tiger's Mouth". The two men's beards were exactly the same.
When Sokov was recalling the name of the British pilot, he heard Lunev say: "Comrade Commander, we are here to see you again."
"Comrade Military Commissar, it's a pleasure to see you again." Sokov smiled at Lunev, and then asked tentatively: "I wonder who the general next to you is...?"
But Lunev did not introduce Sokov immediately. Instead, he turned to the general and said: "Sergey, I don't need to introduce this to you. You should be familiar with his resume."
"Yes, Lunev. Although General Sokov and I have never met, I am very familiar with everything about him." The bearded general walked to the bed, first stretched out his hand to Sokov, and found that the other party When he couldn't shake hands with himself, he took his hand back and nodded to Sokov: "Let me introduce myself. I am Shtemenko, now the chief of operations of the General Staff."
Hearing the other party's identity, Sokov quickly remembered this person's resume: After the outbreak of the Patriotic War, Shtemenko served as the deputy director of the Direction Department of the General Staff Operations Department from August 1941, and was under the supervision of the deputy staff officer. Vasilevsky appreciated him and praised him as a man who was well educated in the military and very capable of working. He not only had the ability to work, but also was very talented. He was an energetic and determined person.
In June 1942, after the Southern Front suffered a defeat, Stalin sent Beria to the Caucasus to deal with the difficulties there. Beria hoped that an officer from the General Staff would accompany him. Vasilevsky recommended him to Shtemenko, who had just become the director of the department, saying that he was a young and promising staff officer. Shtemenko worked with Beria for several months, during which time he became close comrades with Beria and Antonov.
He served as the first deputy director of the General Staff Operations Department in April 1943 and was promoted to director in May. The title of Minister of Operations sounds quite intimidating, but it is actually not easy to perform. After several generals took up this position, they were dismissed after making several reports to Stalin, which caused chaos within the Operations Department.
But after Shtemenko took over the post of Minister of War, he quickly won Stalin's trust with his high theoretical level, excellent organizational and coordination skills, clear mind, firm and steady character and outstanding military talents.
Sokov felt flattered that the popular man in front of Stalin came here to visit him. He quickly apologized to the other party and said: "Comrade Minister, please forgive me for being injured and unable to shake hands with you."
But Shtemenko didn't care about these details at all. He sat on the chair next to Sokov's bed and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, General Sokov, you have been in the hospital for so long before I came to visit. You, I hope you don’t blame me.”
After Sokov exchanged polite words with the other party, he began to murmur in his heart: He had never had any interaction with Shtemenko, so how could he come here to visit him?
Hearing what Sokov said, a smile appeared on Shtemenko's face. He turned sideways to Lunev who was standing next to him and said with a smile: "Lunev, it seems you are right, Sokov The general is indeed very smart and guessed that I came to see him because I had something to do."
After saying this, he faced Sokov again and said: "Comrade Sokov, judging from your current situation, it will take at least half a year or even longer to recover. Even after you are discharged from the hospital, can you return to the front line? It’s also an unknown, so I’m here today hoping that you can come to the General Staff Headquarters to help me.”
Sokov's eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade Minister, what do you mean, you asked me to go to the General Staff Headquarters to help you?"
"That's right." Shtemenko nodded and said: "I happen to be short of a capable deputy. If you agree, I can first let you serve as the deputy director of the Direction Department of the Operation Department. After you become familiar with your job, , and then directly assume the position of director."
But Sokov's excitement lasted less than a minute before he realized that going to the General Staff Headquarters was not the best choice. The Soviet army has always had a tradition of despising its staff officers. Everyone knows that the commander-in-chief who defeated Napoleon was Kutuzov, but who knows who his chief of staff was? Unless he can become the chief of general staff like Vasilevsky and Antonov, he will be destined to spend the rest of his life in obscurity.
But Shtemenko seemed to have guessed that his proposal would be rejected by Sokov. He was not angry at all. On the contrary, he said kindly: "General Sokov, don't reject me so quickly. You are still in the hospital anyway." If you lie down for a long time, you can slowly consider my proposal. It won't be too late to give me the final answer until the day you are discharged from the hospital."
