How to identify the correct direction in the smoke really stumped Sokov. He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, thinking about a solution in his mind.
Both Sidorin and Runev knew that Sokov was thinking about the problem, and no one disturbed him. They just followed him back and forth with their eyes, waiting for him to come up with a good idea.
I don't know which staff officer was smoking in the room, because he was right at the window. When the wind blew, the smoke drifted towards Sidorin's position, causing Sidorin to choke and cough.
"Who is smoking? Can't you see the commander is thinking about the problem?" Sidorin cursed impatiently: "Hurry up and put out the cigarette." The staff officer who was smoking was startled. He didn't expect that he just smoked a cigarette as usual, but actually aroused the dissatisfaction of the chief of staff. He trembled in fright and threw the cigarette butt out of the window.
Sokov, who was pacing, heard Sidorin's voice and saw the smoking staff officer.
Just when he was about to tell Sidorin not to take it out on the staff officer, he saw the cigarette butt flying out of the staff officer's hand. The cigarette butt rolled with sparks and disappeared out of the window.
At this moment, an idea flashed in Sokov's mind, and he immediately thought of a good idea.
"Yes." He quickly walked back to the table and said to Sidorin and Lunev: "I thought of a good way to allow our commanders to find the correct attack position in the smoke without getting lost. ." While Sokov was pacing, Sidorin and Lunev were actually thinking about this issue as well.
However, the two racked their brains and still couldn't come up with the best solution. At this moment, hearing Sokov say that there was a way, the two of them couldn't help but their eyes lit up, and then they asked: "Tell me quickly, what is a good way?"
"New rocket launchers and rocket launchers." Sokov said: "We can use these two weapons in the smoke to indicate the correct attack route to the commanders and fighters." After listening to Sokov's words, the two looked at each other and relaxed. He shook his head slowly, indicating that he did not understand.
Sidorin said: "Comrade Commander, can you explain in more detail, how should we use rocket launchers or rocket launchers to indicate the correct direction of attack for our commanders and soldiers in the smoke?" Sokov saw that the two of them did not understand him. He quickly took out a pen and paper, and while drawing a sketch, he explained to the two of them: "For example, we will arrange a single launch tube of a new rocket launcher every one or two hundred meters at the edge of the smoke zone. After the compass determined the correct orientation of the German position, it began to fire rockets. The flame tail and heat of the rockets during flight can draw a channel in the smoke, and our commanders and soldiers can rush to the direction along this channel. Enemy position."
"That's great, it's simply great." Lunev slapped the table hard, and then gave Sokov a thumbs up: "Misha, you are really a genius, you can think of such a good idea at once It’s amazing that it came out.”
"Actually, I was also inspired by the staff officer who was smoking just now." Sokov was not proud, but truthfully told the origin of his inspiration: "When he threw the cigarette butt out of the window, I saw the cigarette butt with sparks. After rolling in the air, he came up with this good idea." After saying that, Sokov picked up the cigarette case on the table, came to the staff officer, and said enthusiastically: "Want one?"
"No, no." The staff officer said in a panic: "Thank you, Comrade Commander, I don't smoke."
"You're welcome. I saw you smoking at the window and was criticized by the chief of staff." Sokov once again stretched out the cigarette case in front of the other party and said: "Come on, smoke one! The chief of staff had a bad attitude just now. , I apologize to you on his behalf.”
"Comrade Staff Officer," Sidorin heard what Sokov said and said with a smile: "It was my bad attitude just now. I apologize to you. I'm sorry! Since it is Comrade Commander who invites you to smoke, you can take it." That’s it, he doesn’t just invite people to smoke.” Having said this, the staff officer did not dare to delay any longer and quickly took out a cigarette from the cigarette case in Sokov’s hand.
However, he did not light it, but clamped it directly to his ears, and said with a smile: "Comrade Commander, I will smoke it later." Sokov returned to the table and said to Sidorin and Lunev Said: "What I just said is to place a rocket launcher one or two hundred meters apart. Do you think this distance is too close or too far?"
"I think it's a bit close." Sidorin said: "If too many rockets are fired in the same area, I'm afraid it will disperse a large area of smoke, which will give the Germans a clear view of our troops. So I think the separation distance is Whether it’s close or far away, the distance should be kept at 300 to 400 meters.”
"Okay, then the distance from the rocket launcher tube will be set at 350 meters." Sokov said to Sidorin: "The approximate distance between the launch site and the German position must be measured in advance. Accurate launch." As soon as they finished discussing business, Asia and Koshkin hurried in from outside.
Koshkin raised his hand and saluted Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I have escorted the Asiya military doctor back safely!"
"Thank you, Comrade Captain." Sokov nodded to Koshkin and said gratefully: "You must be tired from running back and forth. Go back and rest first." After Koshkin left, Sokov gave Asia He poured a cup of hot tea and said softly: "Asia, I'm so sorry for making you run back and forth for such a long time."
"It's okay, Misha." Asia took a sip of tea and said, "Yasha is our common friend. Knowing the news about his accident, even if you don't send me to visit, I will find a way to get there. .”
"Tell me, how serious is Yasha's injury?" Sokov asked, "Is everything really okay?"
"Well," Asia clicked, and then said: "I have read all the doctor's examination reports, and I can completely rule out the possibility of internal injuries. At best, I only suffered a slight concussion injury when I was shelled. There is no big problem. , just need to practice for two days and you’ll be fine.”
"What about General Chernyakhovsky?" Lunev asked: "How is his injury?"
"When I was looking for Yasha, I accidentally broke into the operating room." Asia said: "Judging from the situation in the operating room, there were no problems during the operation. Although I don't know what Chernyakhovs was doing. How serious is General Ji's injury, but generally speaking, his life should not be in danger." Listening to Asia say these words in such a sure tone, Sokov began to think in his heart: In real history, everything Ernyakhovsky would die of his injuries two days later, but he did not expect that many things would change because of the appearance of his butterfly.
Yakov, who was supposed to die in a German prisoner-of-war camp, is still alive and well. He even became a general and the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front.
Since Chernyakhovsky happened to be right next to him when he was being bombarded, it may be because of his presence that history has gone awry here. Maybe Chernyakhovsky will survive in the end. .
As soon as this idea came up, Sokov thought about it more and more likely. Among other things, Chief of Staff Sidorin, who was sitting opposite him at the moment, originally died on the bank of the Volga River in the early stages of the battle to defend Stalingrad. , and are still living well now.
It seems that with his appearance, the fate of many people has changed. The history that he was familiar with may have more deflections in the coming days.
Lunev looked at Sokov and asked: "Misha, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking about General Chernyakhovsky's injury?"
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, I am indeed considering this matter." Sokov nodded and said: "Once something happens to General Chernyakhovsky, then the Third Belarusian Front may lose Unified command will lead to confusion in the original offensive plan. If they cannot successfully seize the East Prussian area in accordance with the instructions of the Supreme Command, I am afraid that our troops will have to turn around again and cooperate with their actions to liberate East Prussia."
"Yes, if this kind of thing really happens, it will bring a series of adverse consequences." Lunev stood up and said to Sokov: "I'll go out and make a phone call and I'll be back soon." Asia looked at Lunev As his husband left, he asked Sokov curiously: "Misha, where did Comrade Military Commissar go?"
"He may have gone to a nearby communications room and called Moscow." Sokov explained to Asiya: "Some of his calls involved confidentiality, and we were not qualified to observe it, so we prepared a special one for him. Telecommunications room so that he could make confidential calls at any time.”
"Oh, that's it." Asia nodded, and then said: "Misha, I'm still very busy at work. If you don't have anything to do, I'll go back first."
"Comrade Asia, how could you go back like this?" Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, Sidorin said with a smile: "You finally came to our place, how could you go back like this? At least you have to Let's have a meal before leaving." Faced with Sidorin's request to stay, Asia hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll have a meal and leave. I happened to be running for most of the day, and my I'm hungry too." As soon as the cook brought the food, Lunev walked in from outside.
Judging from the expression on his face, it seemed that he had received some unexpected information from Moscow. After Luniev sat down, Sokov pushed a plate of salad in front of him and asked tentatively: "Comrade Military Commissar, have you heard any new news? If it does not involve confidentiality, can you tell me us?"
"There is nothing confidential." Lunev said: "General Chernyakhovsky's operation has been completed. The operation was successful and he is fine. However, in his current condition, I am afraid he will not be able to recover for a few months. It's time to command the troops again. Moscow will send a plane over by tomorrow night at the latest and take him to the best military hospital in the city for treatment." Knowing that Chernyakhovsky will be sent to Moscow for treatment, One thing Sokov expected was that he was concerned about who would take over Chernyakhovsky's post after he left.
Will Marshal Vasilevsky succeed him like in real history, or will there be someone new?
With such doubts, he asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, I wonder who the superiors plan to send to replace General Chernyakhovsky and command the Third Belarusian Front to continue fighting?"
"The Supreme Command just held an emergency meeting." Lunev said: "It was unanimously decided that Marshal Vasilevsky will succeed General Chernyakhovsky."
"Oh, it would be great to have Marshal Vasilevsky command the Third Belarusian Front." After Sidorin said this, he said to everyone: "Do you still remember? The commander of the First Ukrainian Front last year After General Vatutin was injured, Marshal Zhukov took over the command; now after General Chernyakhovsky was injured, Marshal Vasilevsky took over the command. What a coincidence, the two generals Injured, the two marshals took over their command..."
"Chief of Staff, don't say such things." Hearing this, Sokov quickly interrupted Sidorin's words.
"Last year General Vatutin unfortunately died due to postoperative infection, which was a huge loss for our army. I don't want such a huge loss to happen again." Sidorin is also a smart man. After hearing what Sokov said, he immediately Realized that I had made a mistake.
Although everyone here is an acquaintance, no one will take what he said out and say it everywhere, but what if any of the staff and communications personnel in the room overheard what he said and chatted with outsiders? , disapprovingly spreading these words, I am afraid it will bring unexpected trouble to myself.
"Comrade Commander is right." Sidorin quickly followed Sokov's meaning: "Now we have the best anti-inflammatory drug - penicillin, which I believe can prevent postoperative infections. I I believe it won’t be long before General Chernyakhovsky can return to his command post.” After finishing lunch, Asia stood up again and said to everyone: “It’s getting late. I'm going back to the field hospital." Sokov did not try to save Asiya this time, but stood up and said to her: "Asiya, I will take you back." The two walked out of the headquarters and walked forward along the street. When he left, Koshkin, who had received the news, followed with a dozen soldiers at a distance.
This will not disturb the chat between the two of them, but also allow Sokov to step forward to rescue him in time when he encounters danger.
"Misha," Asia asked in a low voice, "how long do you think this battle will last?"
"What?" Sokov did not answer the other party's question immediately, but asked: "Are you tired of this war?"
"How could this be possible?" Asia shook her head and said, "Every day I see so many wounded people being sent to field hospitals. Although most of them are saved, there are always a few who sacrifice themselves on the operating table or die during the operation. Post-infection. Although I am used to seeing life and death, it still makes me feel uncomfortable to see living lives disappearing in front of me. I even worry that one day I will collapse because I can't bear it all. ." As she said that, she raised her hand to wipe her tears.
Sokov quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears and comforted her, saying: "Asiya, don't worry, judging from the current situation, this war will not last long. At most, we will be able to completely defeat the German invaders in half a year." "
