"What, General Chernyakhovsky is going to take you around the armies in a few days?" Sokov's heart was in his throat when he heard what Yakov said. He thought about how many days would pass. Heaven is the day Chernyakhovsky was killed in battle. If Yakov stayed by his side, would he be in danger?
"Yes, Misha." Yakov heard that Sokov's voice seemed a little abnormal, so he asked tentatively: "Is there something wrong?"
"Yasha, I think you'd better not go out on patrol with General Chernyakhovsky." In order to prevent Yakov from getting into trouble, Sokov racked his brains to think of a solution: "If you want to get familiar with For the commanders of each group army, the method is very simple, just ask the Military Commissioner General Makarov to accompany you. After all, he is not as busy as your commander and has more free time. "
Hearing what Sokov said, Yakov couldn't help but feel a little hesitant. He felt that Chernyakhovsky was indeed very busy at work. If he was asked to take time out to accompany him to various armies, he didn't know how long it would take. time. And if Military Commissioner Makarov accompanied him, the travel time could be greatly advanced.
After thinking about this, he said into the microphone: "I understand, Misha. I will talk to Comrade Military Commissioner tomorrow to see if he is willing to accompany me to the troops below to get to know the commanders at all levels. This It will also be very helpful for my future work.”
When Sokov heard what Yakov said, he suddenly felt more at ease. After chatting for a few more words, he put down the phone.
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Lunev immediately asked with concern: "Misha, how is Yakov doing in the new army? Are you used to the life there?"
Sokov nodded and replied: "He said that he has adapted to the life there, and even regrets why he did not come to the front line earlier. If he had come earlier, maybe he could have made greater achievements on the battlefield."
"Come on." Lunev shook his head and said: "If the war situation had not completely developed in a direction that is beneficial to our army, who would have dared to let him come to the front line? You also know that he has a special status. If something happened on the front line, The question is, which commander can shoulder this responsibility?"
"Yes, yes." Sokov agreed with Lunev's statement: "Comrade Marshal came to me some time ago to discuss whether I would like to let Yakov come to work here. The reason why I was very I simply refused because I was worried that he might be in danger if he came to my place. If anything happens, it would be fine for me to be punished, but Comrade Marshal and more people might be implicated."
"Your choice is right." Sidorin interjected: "If you had not refused, General Yakov really came to our troops, and then the superiors would place us under the command of the Third Front, then no matter what No one who comes forward can change the decision of the Supreme Commander himself. If it really comes to that point, we will completely lose the qualification to seize Berlin."
"Misha, I heard a rumor from a friend in Moscow." Lunev looked at Sokov and asked: "I wonder if you are interested in knowing?"
Sokov knew very well that Lunev's friends were all from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the gossip they knew was most likely true. Then he asked tentatively: "Isn't it related to confidentiality? If it is, I won't listen."
"Misha, don't worry, there won't be any secrets involved." Lunev said with a smile: "Maybe it will be officially announced in two days."
"Then let's hear it."
"It is said that the Supreme Command specially compensated Chernyakhovsky for his inability to participate in the attack on Berlin." Lunev said: "In a few days at most, he will be officially promoted to marshal. .”
When he learned that Chernyakhovsky would be promoted to marshal, Sidorin's eyes widened in surprise, but Sokov's performance was average. Because he knew that the Supreme Command's promotion of Chernyakhovsky to marshal had long been decided, and even the marshal's uniform had been prepared. Just wait until the time comes and the promotion order will be officially announced.
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sidorin asked curiously, "Is this true?"
"Of course it's true." Seeing that Sidorin didn't believe it, Lunev specifically explained to him: "It is said that the marshal's uniform has been prepared. Someone will send it to him in a few days and announce his promotion to marshal in public. The command."
After hearing what Lunev said, Sidorin counted on his fingers: "From the outbreak of the war to now, there have been Marshal Zhukov, Marshal Rokossovsky, Marshal Konev, and Marshal Vasilevsky. . It looks like there will be one more Marshal Chernyakhovsky."
Sokov originally wanted to interject and add, "Isn't there still Marshal Bagramyan?" But then he thought about it. Although the former Chief of Operations of the Southwest Front Army now serves as the commander of the First Baltic Coast Army, it seems that Still just a general. He was promoted to marshal, probably in the 1950s.
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin suddenly said to Sokov: "Tell me, if our troops are the first to rush into Berlin and capture Mustache alive, will you be promoted to marshal?"
After hearing this, Sokov laughed and waved his hands and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are really good at joking. Whether I can become a general in this life is still unknown, let alone a marshal. I have said before that although the Belarusian The Second Front Army also participated in the attack on Berlin, but judging from various signs, the first unit to enter Berlin will definitely not be born among us, so don't make such extravagant hopes."
"Why?" Sidorin said puzzledly: "Since the three troops are marching together, it means that everyone is striving to be the first to rush into Berlin. How come you always think that this honor has nothing to do with us?"
Sokov hesitated for a moment, but seeing that there were only three of him, Lunev and Sidorin here, there were still some things he could say, so he slowly said: "Marshal Rokossovsky was transferred to the No. Second Front Army, and his original position was replaced by Marshal Zhukov, which shows that the Supreme Commander himself intends to leave the honor of being the first to enter Berlin to Marshal Zhukov, and the others are just sparring partners."
"Comrade Commander, I think you are too extreme." Sidorin continued to express his opinion: "Our three troops are all advancing towards Berlin. If any troop progresses smoothly, it will be the first to reach Berlin. This It’s a fact that cannot be changed, could there be any changes?”
"There must be changes, my comrade chief of staff." Sokov said with a wry smile: "For example, our troops are approaching Berlin, but Marshal Zhukov's troops are blocked by the German army and cannot continue to advance. Here In this case, the High Command may give us an order to turn to other directions to eliminate the German threat to our flanks. The situation with Marshal Konev is similar. Maybe they have opened up the route into Berlin. road, but the High Command told them to give up that road to Zhukov and let the comrades of the First Front pass through that passage into Berlin."
Sokov's words were astonishing. Not only Sidorin was stunned, but even Lunev's face was full of disbelief: "Misha, no way. How could the Supreme Command make such a decision? ? Your idea is really ridiculous."
Hearing Lunev's evaluation, Sokov did not defend himself, but just laughed, and then said: "I'm just speculating, I can't be sure, so you can just treat it as a joke."
Although Sokov appeared relaxed, Lunev had doubts in his heart. He knew Sokov well and knew that the other party would not say anything unfounded, otherwise he would not have grown to where he is today. Since he said these words today, he obviously noticed something. However, it is currently impossible to verify the authenticity of these words. We can only wait until the three troops have reached the gates of Berlin, and then look back to see if what he said is unfortunately true again.
At noon the next day, Yakov, who was napping in his room, was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door. When he opened the door, he saw that it was Chernyakhovsky's adjutant. After saluting Yakov, the other party said: "Hello, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, the commander asked me to come to you and said that he is going to inspect the 3rd Army soon. I wonder if you are interested in going with him."
Hearing that Chernyakhovsky was going to the 3rd Army at this moment, Yakov had long forgotten what Sokov said to him. He said to the adjutant: "Comrade adjutant, please wait a moment. , I’ll pack up and go with you to see the commander.”
After briefly washing up, Yakov followed the adjutant to the headquarters and saw Chernyakhovsky waiting here.
Seeing Yakov coming in, Chernyakhovsky smiled and said: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, you worked an all-night shift last night, and I woke you up not long after you fell asleep. I'm really sorry. I plan to go to the 3rd Army for a walk now, how about it, are you interested in going with me?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Yakov said, "I am willing to go with you to the 3rd Army."
"Okay, the car is outside." Chernyakhovsky waved his hand and said, "Let's set off now."
There were two jeeps in total, and the car full of guards was leading the way. Yakov, Chernyakhovsky and the adjutant were sitting in the latter car.
On the way, Chernyakhovsky said to Yakov: "The 3rd Army has been under our command for several days, but I have never had time to go to them. I must have felt General Gorbatov's heart. They all have opinions on me.”
Yakov knew that Gorbatov was the commander of the 3rd Army. When he heard what Chernyakhovsky said, he smiled and said: "Comrade Commander, I think General Gorbatov will understand you." I won’t blame you for the difficulties. By the way, where is the 3rd Army now?"
The reason why he asked this was because when he handed over his shift in the morning, he learned that the 3rd Army might move to a new defense area today. And he went back to his room and slept for a few hours. During these few hours, he had no idea what happened.
"Part of the 3rd Army has moved to the city of Merizak," Chernyakhovsky introduced to Yakov: "The next step is that they will launch an attack on the city controlled by the Germans. This is It’s their first battle after they join our Third Front Army. As the commander of the front army, it is necessary for me to go and boost their morale.”
"How far is their station from the city?" Yakov now remembered what Sokov said to him on the phone last night, and he couldn't help but arouse vigilance: "When we go to inspect their defense area, will we encounter any In danger?"
After hearing this, Chernyakhovsky laughed heartily: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, you are so suspicious. Now the outside of Merizhak City is in the hands of our army. We have to go to any unit." , you don’t have to worry about any danger at all.”
Seeing that Chernyakhovsky was so confident, Yakov couldn't help but feel that he was too suspicious. Now that the vehicle was walking in the area controlled by his own troops, what danger could there be. It must be the words Yakov said to himself last night that gave him bad associations, and that's why he was thinking so wildly.
The vehicle drove forward for some distance, and the car in front suddenly stopped. Yakov became alert again: "What's going on? Why did you stop?"
"Comrade adjutant," Chernyakhovsky told his adjutant: "Go to the front and see what happened?"
The adjutant agreed, opened the door and got out of the car, and went to the front to find out the reason for the parking.
After a while, he came back and reported to Chernyakhovsky: "Comrade Commander, the car broke down. The driver said that it will probably take a few minutes to repair it. If you feel that the car is too stuffy, you can get down and walk." Walk."
"Then let's get down and take a walk." Chernyakhovsky extended an invitation to Yakov and said, "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, are you interested in getting out of the car and taking a walk with me?"
Faced with Chernyakhovsky's invitation, how could Yakov say no? He could only nodded, opened the door and got out of the car, standing on the roadside and looking into the distance.
"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff," Chernyakhovsky pointed to the city in the distance and said to Yakov: "That is the city of Merizak, our next attack target. As long as we capture this city, The road to Königsberg is now completely open.”
Yakov squinted his eyes and looked into the distance. He carefully looked at the terrain here to determine whether the next offensive battle would be as difficult as capturing the city of Memel.
Chernyakhovsky guessed his thoughts and said with a smile: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, don't worry, the terrain here is very conducive to the deployment of our army. I believe it will never become the second Memel City , if everything goes well, we may be able to capture this city in a few days."
Seeing that Chernyakhovsky was so confident, even if Yakov had any concerns in his heart, he would not speak out on this matter and pour cold water on the other party. This is a taboo thing. So he just nodded and stared at the driver who was repairing the car in front of him, wondering when the car would be repaired.
At this moment, he vaguely heard a strange sound coming from the air. After a moment, as a former artillery commander, he recognized that this sound was the scream of artillery shells flying in the air and cutting through the air. He secretly screamed something bad, and immediately jumped towards Chernyakhovsky, shouting at the same time: "Artillery attack, get down quickly!"
(End of chapter)
