Red Moscow

Chapter 2585

"The specific time is not clear yet." Sokov wanted to tell Yakov the time when he would return to Moscow, but Zhukov, who originally said he would return home soon, suddenly had no movement in the past two days, and he could only passively Waiting: "If it's quick, it'll be in a day or two; if it's slow, we'll have to come back after the New Year. Marshal Zhukov has the final say on when to leave."

“Oh, that’s it.” Yakov said reasonably: “No matter when you come back, you must remember to notify me in advance.”

Just when Sokov was about to hang up the phone, Yakov suddenly said again: "By the way, Misha, there is something I almost forgot."

"What's up?"

“Comrade Ustinov called me to the office today and mentioned you while chatting with me.”

“Comrade Ustinov mentioned me?” Sokov asked in surprise: “What did he say?”

"The main thing is to ask you when you can return to Moscow and whether you can serve in the General Ordnance Department." Yakov said: "I told him that if you have no signs of returning to Moscow for the time being, then it is probably unrealistic to serve in the General Ordnance Department. "

Sokov nodded and continued to ask: "What did Comrade Ustinov say?"

“He was silent for a while, and then asked me for your phone number, saying he might want to call you.”

“Ustinov wants to call me?” Sokov thought in his mind: “What is he asking me to do? Even if he wants to serve in the General Ordnance Department, is he too impatient?”

With this question, he asked cautiously: "Yasha, are there any new design tasks in the General Ordnance Department recently? Of course, if it involves confidentiality, you don't have to answer me."

“The research and development of new weapons has been ongoing.” Yakov said disapprovingly: “There is nothing to keep secret.”

 Failed to get the information he wanted from Yakov, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He secretly thought that if Ustinov really called him, what would he say?

While Sokov was dazed, Yakov dropped another earth-shattering news: "Misha, something big happened in Moscow today."

 “A big thing, what big thing?”

“Marshal Chernyakhovsky was ordered to return from the Far East. As a result, the plane he was on crashed. No one on board, including the passengers and crew, survived.”

Hearing Yakov mention Chernyakhovsky's name, Sokov's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. In real history, Chernyakhovsky died on February 18, 1945. However, due to his own appearance, history has gone awry here. After the opponent encountered German shelling, he was only seriously injured but did not die. Not only did he obtain the rank of marshal, he even served as the deputy commander of the Far East Army and participated in the August Operation Storm.

 But Sokov never dreamed that history would be so corrective. Although the war was over, Chernyakhovsky still could not escape the fate of death. He sighed softly, and then said to Yakov: "Yasha, you once served as the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front, and Marshal Chernyakhovsky was your superior. His funeral, You will definitely attend."

"That's for sure," Yakov said. "If you happen to be able to return to Moscow when he is buried, I hope you can go with him."

"Don't worry, Yasha." Sokov said: "If I happen to be in Moscow when Marshal Chernyakhovsky's funeral is held, I will definitely go."

 The two chatted for a few more words before ending the call.

After Sokov put down the phone, he couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Marshal Chernyakhovsky's sudden plane crash would cause a series of chain reactions. For example, in real history, Chernyakhovsky was on his way to inspect the troops. When he got out of the car to observe the terrain, he was shelled by the Germans and died of his injuries. However, Yakov, who was rescued by himself, unexpectedly became the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front. He accompanied Chernyakhovsky to inspect the troops. On the way, he stopped to inspect the terrain. When he was shelled by the Germans, Because they took evasive actions, they were only injured to varying degrees.

Now that Chernyakhovsky has died in an air crash, will Yakov, who should have died in a German prisoner of war camp on April 13, 1943, also have an accident? If he really had any shortcomings, he would not only lose a friend, but he would also lose an amulet.

The phone on the table rang, and Sokov thought it was Yakov calling again. Unexpectedly, he picked up the phone and realized that the caller was Zhukov: "Misha, I just received news from Moscow, saying On his way back to Moscow from the Far East, Marshal Chernyakhovsky had a plane crash, killing everyone on the plane.”

“Yes, Comrade Marshal, I just learned about this.”

"Oh, you just knew about this?" Zhukov asked in surprise: "How did you know about this?"

"It was Yasha, Yasha told me." Sokov replied: "Comrade Marshal, you should remember that Yasha once served as the deputy chief of staff of the Third Belarusian Front, and Chernyakhovsky The marshal is his superior, so he is probably the first to know about the plane crash. "

"Oh, that's it, I understand." Zhukov said: "Misha, I originally planned to fly back to Moscow the day after tomorrow. But now something like this happened, Comrade Stalin called me and refused to allow me to fly again. Plane. Therefore, if we want to return to Moscow, we can only take the train.”

Thinking of the night attack in Poland, Sokov was still a little scared. If the attacking gang did not have heavy weapons, he might not be able to escape the danger so easily. On the way back to Moscow, I wonder if the train I am traveling on will be attacked by gangs again.

 But when I thought about it, I realized that my worries were unfounded. If big names like Zhukov and Malenkov want to take a train back to Moscow, a special train will definitely be arranged for them. Not to mention a few gangsters, even a regular army may have a hard time attacking the special train. Once attacked, not only the nearby ground troops will rush to rescue as soon as possible, but before that, there will probably be a group of bombers from the Air Force to teach these gangsters how to behave.

“Comrade Marshal,” Sokov asked tentatively: “Shall I take the train back to Moscow with you?” The purpose of his question was that he was worried that Zhukov would arrange for him to fly. Although the plane from Berlin to Moscow is unlikely to have an accident, such an air crash just happened, and I still have some psychological shadow.

"Of course, of course you have to return to Moscow with me. Comrade Malenkov is also traveling with me." After Zhukov said this, he paused for a moment, as if he was thinking about something. When he spoke again, his tone became particularly stern: "Misha , I also plan to give you an important task."

“Comrade Marshal, please give the order.” Sokov quickly said to Zhukov: “I will definitely complete your mission.”

"This task is difficult to say, and it is not difficult to say that it is not difficult. It is to ask you to guard a person on the train and not let him come into contact with anyone." Hearing Zhukov's order, Sokov was stunned for a moment. Then he thought of a possibility and asked cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, is the person you want me to take care of, the one I saw in the basement a few days ago?"

 “That’s right, it’s him.”

Sokov recalled that he had asked Zhukov how to deal with this fake Truman. Zhukov told himself that he was about to leave office and it was up to Sokolovsky to deal with this person. But just a few days later, the other party's mind changed.

“Comrade Marshal, didn’t you say some time ago that this person would be handed over to General Sokolovsky?”

"Yes, that was indeed what we considered at the time." Zhukov said: "Although we missed the opportunity, if we let him stay in Berlin, he would be useful sooner or later. But there is something wrong with the United States. According to our The intelligence agency has analyzed that Truman will not appear on German soil again in the next two to three years, so it is obviously inappropriate to keep this person in Berlin, so he must be transferred back to Moscow.”

“Comrade Marshal, I wonder what went wrong on the American side?” Sokov muttered to himself, what could happen to the American side unless Patton died. Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "Did something go wrong with General Patton?"

"Misha, your guess is correct. According to the news we got, Patton is dead." Zhukov said: "Without Patton, if we want to enter the actual control area of ​​​​the US military under the guise of visiting him, I'm afraid it won't be possible. It’s an easy thing, let alone implementing that top-secret plan to steal the sky.”

After listening to Zhukov's words, Sokov couldn't help but secretly sighed that Zhukov was still too loyal. If it were another person, he would not consider taking the fake president back to Moscow and imprison him. Instead, he would directly kill him and make him disappear from this world. After all, the only ones who can keep secrets are dead people.

Thinking that he would leave Berlin soon, Sokov made his request to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, since we will return to Moscow soon. I wonder if I can see Adelina again before I leave?"

"No!" Unexpectedly, Zhukov rejected Sokov's request very simply: "For safety reasons, the time of our return to Moscow must be kept strictly confidential. Although I also know that Agelina even knows when you will return. Moscow will not leak this information, but her mood will definitely be affected after knowing that you are leaving. If there are lurking enemies in the translation team, they will definitely get the information they want through these details. "

Now that Zhukov has spoken to this extent, what else can Sokov say? He can only smile bitterly and say: "Okay, Comrade Marshal, I understand. Then I will not meet her until I return to Moscow." , call her again.”

 …

 Early the next morning, Sokov, who was still sleeping, was awakened by the rapid ringing of the phone.

 He rolled out of bed, walked barefoot to the telephone, grabbed the receiver, yawned and said, "I'm Sokov!"

 “Hello, Misha!” A familiar voice came from the receiver: “I am Ustinov.”

When he heard that the person who called him was actually Ustinov, Sokov suddenly woke up. He quickly stood at attention and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade People's Commissar, I am very happy to receive the call. your phone number."

"Misha, I didn't disturb your sleep." Ustinov on the other end of the phone apparently heard Sokov's yawn and said apologetically: "I forgot about the time between Moscow and Berlin. There’s still time difference.”

Sokov knew very well that Ustinov's call so early in the morning was definitely not to catch up with him, but to have something important to do, so he respectfully asked: "Comrade People's Commissar, I wonder if you called me?" , any instructions?”

"You are in Berlin now. It is unrealistic for you to work in my General Ordnance Department in a short time." Ustinov said: "But I want to make a request to you."

 “What request?”

“Stop writing any novels for the time being,” Ustinov said seriously: “I wonder if you can provide me with the design drawings of a new weapon as soon as possible.”

"Ah, the design drawings of new weapons?" After Sokov figured out the other party's intention, he asked awkwardly: "I wonder what kind of weapons you want?"

"It is obviously unrealistic for you to design new aircraft and tanks." Ustinov said: "The design of these new technical equipment requires the cooperation of a team of dozens of people. With your ability alone, it is It’s simply impossible to accomplish.”

“Comrade People’s Commissar,” Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, and then quickly added: “You asked me to design a new type of warship, but I can’t help it. I’m not the material.”

"Yes, yes, it is unrealistic for you to design a new type of warship." Ustinov said reasonably: "Then, can you design a light weapon that can be used by troops?"

“Small weapons?” Sokov held his chin with his hand and said, “It’s not impossible.”

“Really?” Ustinov seemed a little excited after hearing what Sokov said: “That’s great. When can you provide us with the sketch?”

"Comrade People's Commissar," Sokov couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw Ustinov being so impatient: "If I want to think about it carefully, I won't be able to provide you with new light weapons until after the New Year at the earliest, that is, around mid-January. I wonder if it’s too late?”

"It's not too late, not too late at all." Ustinov said with a smile: "I thought you would have to wait until March at the earliest to provide us with the sketches of new light weapons, but I didn't expect that you would be able to provide us with them in January. , this is beyond my expectation.”

Sokov couldn't help but be startled after hearing this, saying that he was still worried that Ustinov would think it was too late in mid-January. Unexpectedly, the other party thought it was very fast to be able to come up with a design sketch in March, which was not yet a formal drawing.

After putting down the phone, Sokov walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, thinking about what kind of light weapons he should make available in advance.

 Assault rifles were installed in the troops under his command as early as 1942 and can be ignored.

 The only weapons that can provide infantry with powerful firepower, apart from submachine guns and assault rifles, are machine guns. Then, let's let the Soviet army's most classic PKM light machine gun be released in advance.