At dark, a staff officer reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major General Selivanov, commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps, wants to see you."
When he learned that the commander of the cavalry corps had arrived, Sokov quickly asked: "Where is he?"
"Right outside the door."
"Hurry up and invite him in!" After Sokov said this, he changed his mind: "I will go out to greet him personally."
Sokov came to the door of the headquarters and saw several unfamiliar soldiers standing outside. One of them had the rank of major general on his shoulder insignia. He should be the commander of the cavalry corps, Major General Selivanov.
"Hello, comrades, commanders." After Sokov greeted everyone first, he looked at the forty-year-old major general and asked: "Are you, Commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps, Sheriva?" General Nove?"
"Yes, I am Selivanov." After the major general gave Sokov a positive answer, he asked: "Are you General Sokov?"
"Yes, General Selivanov, I am Sokov." Sokov extended his hand to the other party and said enthusiastically: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 53rd Army, I welcome the arrival of the cavalry army!"
Sokov took Selivanov back to the headquarters, introduced Smirnov and Gorokhov to him, and then asked: "Comrade General, can you introduce the situation of your army?"
Selivanov nodded and began to introduce the situation of his troops: "My cavalry army has the 11th, 13th, 63rd and 66th divisions. Each division is equipped with an artillery and mortar regiment, composed of 8 76mm guns and 18 120mm pursuit guns.”
"Your firepower configuration is good." Smirnov said with some surprise: "With such equipment, not only can we defend, but we can even get the most adequate artillery support when attacking."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Selivanov replied with a wry smile to Smirnov's statement: "Although the equipment of artillery has enhanced the firepower of our army, it also brings an unfavorable factor. It’s just that the mobility of the troops has decreased.”
"General Selivanov, your mission this time is just to chase the fleeing enemies. I'm afraid you won't have much chance to use artillery." Sokov said with a smile: "Not only will you not use artillery, I'm afraid you won't have much time to use guns. , you can definitely use the saber in your hand to send the enemy to hell."
A smile appeared on Selivanov's face: "If we only deal with the fleeing enemies, our cavalry can kill them to a rout with sabers."
"Comrade General," Sokov continued to ask after pouring a cup of hot tea for him personally: "I wonder where your troops are now?"
"The 11th, 13th and 63rd Cavalry Divisions are all near the front headquarters now. I'm afraid they won't arrive until noon tomorrow at the earliest." Selivanov introduced to Sokov: "Those who are accompanying me, Only the 66th Cavalry Division."
Sokov knew that since the outbreak of the war, the cavalry division was the first to be reorganized. The original tens of thousands of people were reorganized into an organization of 3,000. It is said to be a division, but in fact the strength is not much more than a regiment: "I don't know what the number of troops is. How many troops does the 66th Division have now?"
After hearing Sokov's question, Selivanov was silent for a moment, and then replied: "The 66th Division suffered a lot of casualties in the early battles, and now there are more than 1,400 people left in the division. , the division commander also unfortunately died in the battle."
"Comrade General," Smirnov frowned and asked, "Since there is no division commander, how do you command this unit?"
Selivanov answered simply: "I will personally command this unit until my superiors send me a new division commander."
After learning that the 66th Division actually had no division commander, Sokov began to consider whether he could arrange for a few of the students he brought to join the unit.
Seeing Sokov thinking deeply, Smirnov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what are you thinking about?"
"Comrade General," Sokov did not answer Smirnov's question, but looked at Selivanov and asked: "If I can give you a division commander, will you accept it?"
If in normal times, someone wanted to recommend a candidate for division commander to Selivanov, he would definitely be disgusted. But since the person asking the question was Sokov, he acted unusually calmly: "General Sokov, I want to see with my own eyes the candidate you recommend before I can decide whether he can be appointed as the commander of the 66th Cavalry Division."
"This is what it should be." After Sokov said this, when he saw Koshkin standing at the door, he waved to him and motioned for him to come to him.
Soon, Koshkin came to Sokov. He straightened his body and asked: "Comrade Commander, what are your instructions?"
Sokov leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Go to Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko immediately and ask him to come to me immediately. Tell him that this matter is extremely urgent and cannot be delayed for a minute."
After Koshkin left, Sokov smiled again and said to Selivanov: "Comrade General, I have sent someone to invite you. I believe it won't take long for you to see the commander I recommended. .”
A few minutes later, Koshkin brought Muzichenko to the headquarters.
Just as Muzichenko was preparing to salute Sokov reported. Selivanov, who was sitting next to him, suddenly exclaimed: "General Muzichenko, is it you or your ghost?"
When Muzichenko heard someone mention his name, he turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound. He found that the person greeting him was a major general. He seemed kind-hearted. In a hurry, he couldn't think of anything at all. I've seen each other sometimes.
Seeing Muzichenko's confused look, Selivanov quickly stepped forward and said, "Comrade Commander, you don't recognize me anymore? I am Selivanov. When the war breaks out, I am you." The commander of the 99th Cavalry Regiment under the Sixth Army."
When the other party mentioned the number he was familiar with, Muzichenko couldn't help but burst into tears. He finally remembered who Selivanov was, so he stepped forward and grabbed the other party's hand, and said emotionally: "It turns out it's you. Ah, Lieutenant Colonel Selivanov. I remember that during the Battle of Uman, you personally led the cavalry regiment to attack the German army, which greatly delayed the enemy's time to break through our positions. But it seems that you were injured in that battle. of."
"Comrade Commander, I didn't expect that you would still remember this after such a long time." Selivanov said with red eyes: "I was a bit seriously injured at the time. It was you who arranged the manpower to send me to Kiev. military hospital. I was treated there for a while and then sent to Moscow.”
Muzichenko knew very well that if Selivanov had not been injured in the battle and was sent to a military hospital in Moscow, I am afraid that what awaits him next would be either sacrifice or being captured like himself. There would be no second chance. Two possibilities. He couldn't help but said with emotion: "Lieutenant Colonel Selivanov, our troops were completely wiped out in the Uman area. If you hadn't been injured and evacuated at that time, I'm afraid our fate would have been similar."
Selivanov was full of curiosity about the sudden appearance of his old superior. He was eager to know the answer he wanted to know: "Comrade Commander, why did you suddenly appear here? Also, aren't you a lieutenant general? Why? What’s hanging is the shoulder insignia of a lieutenant colonel.”
After hearing a series of questions raised by Selivanov, the muscles on Muzichenko's face twitched violently twice, and then he said with a serious expression: "I was captured by the Germans during the Battle of Uman, and I was in a German prisoner-of-war camp. He stayed there for two full years, and was not rescued from the prisoner of war camp until General Sokov sent troops to capture Kremenchug."
"As for military ranks," Muzichenko explained: "General Ponedelin and I, as well as Kirillov, were severely scrutinized after we were rescued. Fortunately, General Sokov has been saying good things for us. , our review and screening ended in a hurry. However, it is obviously impossible to hold the original position and maintain the original military rank."
After Muzichenko's explanation, Selivanov understood that after returning from danger, the former commander of the group army had to undergo various reviews and screenings. If he could return to the army alive, he would be awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel. , is already a very difficult thing.
At dark, a staff officer reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major General Selivanov, commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps, wants to see you."
When he learned that the commander of the cavalry corps had arrived, Sokov quickly asked: "Where is he?"
"Right outside the door."
"Hurry up and invite him in!" After Sokov said this, he changed his mind: "I will go out to greet him personally."
Sokov came to the door of the headquarters and saw several unfamiliar soldiers standing outside. One of them had the rank of major general on his shoulder insignia. He should be the commander of the cavalry corps, Major General Selivanov.
"Hello, comrades, commanders." After Sokov greeted everyone first, he looked at the forty-year-old major general and asked: "Are you, Commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps, Sheriva?" General Nove?"
"Yes, I am Selivanov." After the major general gave Sokov a positive answer, he asked: "Are you General Sokov?"
"Yes, General Selivanov, I am Sokov." Sokov extended his hand to the other party and said enthusiastically: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 53rd Army, I welcome the arrival of the cavalry army!"
Sokov took Selivanov back to the headquarters, introduced Smirnov and Gorokhov to him, and then asked: "Comrade General, can you introduce the situation of your army?"
Selivanov nodded and began to introduce the situation of his troops: "My cavalry army has the 11th, 13th, 63rd and 66th divisions. Each division is equipped with an artillery and mortar regiment, composed of 8 76mm guns and 18 120mm pursuit guns.”
"Your firepower configuration is good." Smirnov said with some surprise: "With such equipment, not only can we defend, but we can even get the most adequate artillery support when attacking."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Selivanov replied with a wry smile to Smirnov's statement: "Although the equipment of artillery has enhanced the firepower of our army, it also brings an unfavorable factor. It’s just that the mobility of the troops has decreased.”
"General Selivanov, your mission this time is just to chase the fleeing enemies. I'm afraid you won't have much chance to use artillery." Sokov said with a smile: "Not only will you not use artillery, I'm afraid you won't have much time to use guns. , you can definitely use the saber in your hand to send the enemy to hell."
A smile appeared on Selivanov's face: "If we only deal with the fleeing enemies, our cavalry can kill them to a rout with sabers."
"Comrade General," Sokov continued to ask after pouring a cup of hot tea for him personally: "I wonder where your troops are now?"
"The 11th, 13th and 63rd Cavalry Divisions are all near the front headquarters now. I'm afraid they won't arrive until noon tomorrow at the earliest." Selivanov introduced to Sokov: "Those who are accompanying me, Only the 66th Cavalry Division."
Sokov knew that since the outbreak of the war, the cavalry division was the first to be reorganized. The original tens of thousands of people were reorganized into an organization of 3,000. It is said to be a division, but in fact the strength is not much more than a regiment: "I don't know what the number of troops is. How many troops does the 66th Division have now?"
After hearing Sokov's question, Selivanov was silent for a moment, and then replied: "The 66th Division suffered a lot of casualties in the early battles, and now there are more than 1,400 people left in the division. , the division commander also unfortunately died in the battle."
"Comrade General," Smirnov frowned and asked, "Since there is no division commander, how do you command this unit?"
Selivanov answered simply: "I will personally command this unit until my superiors send me a new division commander."
After learning that the 66th Division actually had no division commander, Sokov began to consider whether he could arrange for a few of the students he brought to join the unit.
Seeing Sokov thinking deeply, Smirnov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what are you thinking about?"
"Comrade General," Sokov did not answer Smirnov's question, but looked at Selivanov and asked: "If I can give you a division commander, will you accept it?"
If in normal times, someone wanted to recommend a candidate for division commander to Selivanov, he would definitely be disgusted. But since the person asking the question was Sokov, he acted unusually calmly: "General Sokov, I want to see with my own eyes the candidate you recommend before I can decide whether he can be appointed commander of the 66th Cavalry Division."
"This is what it should be." After Sokov said this, when he saw Koshkin standing at the door, he waved to him and motioned for him to come to him.
Soon, Koshkin came to Sokov. He straightened his body and asked: "Comrade Commander, what are your instructions?"
Sokov leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Go to Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko immediately and ask him to come to me immediately. Tell him that this matter is extremely urgent and cannot be delayed for a minute."
After Koshkin left, Sokov smiled again and said to Selivanov: "Comrade General, I have sent someone to invite you. I believe it won't take long for you to see the commander I recommended. .”
A few minutes later, Koshkin brought Muzichenko to the headquarters.
Just as Muzichenko was preparing to salute Sokov reported. Selivanov, who was sitting next to him, suddenly exclaimed: "General Muzichenko, is it you or your ghost?"
When Muzichenko heard someone mention his name, he turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound. He found that the person greeting him was a major general. He seemed kind-hearted. In a hurry, he couldn't think of anything at all. I've seen each other sometimes.
