Red Moscow

  Chapter 324 Skirmish

  Before Chuikov went to the health team, he told Sokov that he must inform the 64th Army Headquarters of his injury, and Sokov fully agreed. According to Sokov's idea, isn't it just a phone call, and it's not a trivial matter that can be done in minutes.

  But when Sokov asked someone to call the army headquarters, he found that things were not as easy as he imagined. The operator of the 64th Army, hearing that Sokov wanted to find the head of the army, asked politely, "Which department do you belong to?"

   "I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade." Sokov said into the microphone: "I have something important to report to the head of the group army."

Unexpectedly, after listening to Sokov's self-report, the operator said politely and distantly: "I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, because your unit does not belong to the 64th Army, so we cannot connect you to the headquarters. Please forgive me! After finishing speaking, he hung up the phone without waiting for Sokov to speak again.

   "Damn, what's going on." Sokov put down the phone and said to Belkin with annoyed expression: "The operator said that I am not under the command of the 64th Army, and he refused to connect me to the Army Command."

Belkin waited for Sokov to finish, and then said: "Comrade Brigadier, this situation is actually understandable. Just think about it, if one day, the commander of the unit who has never heard of the number, calls Looking for you, maybe the operator of our brigade communication link will hang up his phone directly."

   "Then what should we do?" Seeing that the phone couldn't be connected, Sokov was a little helpless: "We can't send communications troops to the headquarters of the 64th Army and tell them the news that General Chuikov was injured."

"Comrade Brigadier, have you ever thought that although we don't belong to the 64th Army, we belong to the Stalingrad Front." Belkin reminded Sokov: "Since the phone of the Army Command cannot be reached, we can always try Try the phone number of the Front Army Command. If you still can't get through, we can think of other ways before it's too late."

   "This is a good way." Sokov picked up the receiver and put it to his ear, and when he heard the voice of the signal soldier coming from inside, he immediately ordered: "Get me the front army headquarters."

  The communications soldier waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and asked in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Brigadier, do you want to talk to the Front Army Command?"

  Sokov did not answer his question, but asked instead: "Can you connect?"

   "This,..." the communications soldier said in a panic, "I don't know if I can get through, I can only try."

   This was originally a matter of luck. I didn't expect that the communication soldier was lucky. It didn't take long for him to connect to the front army headquarters. Sokov didn't bother to think about whether the operator of the front army headquarters was so busy that he let his communication soldiers get through the phone of the headquarters so easily.

  He heard a human voice from the receiver, and immediately said: "Please help me find Comrade Khrushchev, I have something important to report to him."

   After a while, Khrushchev's voice came from the receiver: "I am Khrushchev, who are you?"

   "Hello, Comrade Military Commissioner." Sokov said respectfully into the microphone: "I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, Commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. I have an important matter to report to you."

"It's about Chuikov, right?" Khrushchev said before Sokov could say what it was, "The City Defense Committee of Stalingrad has already reported it to me and said it sent you The troops are going to the rescue. How is Chuikov doing?"

   When he learned that Khrushchev already knew about Chuikov's plane crash, Sokov was still a little disappointed, thinking that he had lost the opportunity to perform in front of Khrushchev. Just when he was disappointed, he heard what Khrushchev said later, and quickly replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, we have successfully rescued General Chuikov. When the plane crashed, both he and the pilot were thrown out of the cockpit. It was broken, and there may be some bruises on his body, I am arranging for a military doctor from the health team to examine him."

   "So Chuikov is with you." Hearing what Sokov said, Khrushchev finally put his heart in his stomach. He said to Sokov, "I'll rush over to see him."

  Sokov knew the location of the Front Army Command, which was not very far from Mamayev Post. He thought to himself that Khrushchev would arrive here in half an hour at most. Before his arrival, the necessary security work should be done well.

  When Sokov was arranging the soldiers of the guard company to go to the area where the health team was located to perform security tasks, the phone on the table rang suddenly. Sokov picked up the phone, and heard Vanya's panicked voice from inside: "Comrade Brigadier, something happened."

  Sokov heard what Vanya said, and he couldn't help but thumped in his heart. He thought to himself that I just ordered the commanders and fighters to take turns to enter the tunnel to experience life. Could it be that some soldiers fell ill because they couldn't stand the environment inside? Thinking of this, he asked in a panic: "Captain Vanya, speak slowly, what happened?"

   "It's like this, Comrade Brigadier." Vanya said on the phone: "Didn't you ask us to set up checkpoints in the main traffic conditions?"

   "That's right, that's what I ordered." Knowing that it wasn't a soldier who had an accident in the tunnel, Sokov felt more at ease, and he asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

"Comrade Brigadier, a general who claimed to be the commander of the 62nd Army, Lopatin, was stopped by sentries when he was about to pass through our checkpoint." Vanya said in a flustered tone: "The guards he accompanied and ours The fighters scuffled. Two of our fighters were wounded, and the other side had seven wounded."

  Sokov never dreamed that the checkpoint he arranged would conflict with Lopatin. What is even more surprising is that the soldiers at the checkpoint knocked down seven of the opponent's opponents when only two were injured. Sokov suppressed a smile and asked Vanya, "Comrade Captain, how did you deal with it?"

   "I have already apologized to General Lopatin." Vanya said on the phone: "He said he came to visit General Chuikov. I wonder if he should let him go?"

"Let's go, Comrade Captain." Sokov thought that sooner or later his troops would be placed under the command of the 62nd Army Group. Although Lopatin would be replaced by Chuikov in another month, under the current circumstances, it was still not appropriate to offend him, so he He ordered Vanya: "As long as you come to visit General Cuikov, you must let them go."

   After a few minutes, a few car horns sounded outside the tent. Sokov knew that people in the brigade would not honk their horns casually outside, so the cars parked outside the tent must be cars from other places. He hurriedly opened the curtain and walked out of the tent, only to see two jeeps and a truck parked at the door, and a short and fat general was standing beside the car smoking a cigarette.

   Seeing Sokov coming out of the tent, the general asked him, "Are you Lieutenant Colonel Sokov? I am Lieutenant General Lopatin."

   "Hello, Comrade General." Seeing that the opponent's military rank was much higher than his own, Sokov hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and at the same time said politely: "Welcome to Mamayev Post."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Lopatin threw the cigarette in his hand on the ground, stopped after taking two steps towards Sokov, and said loudly: "When I passed the checkpoint just now, my men and your subordinates had an accident. There was a conflict. After some fighting, seven of my subordinates were injured, tell me, how should we deal with this matter?"

"Comrade General, my people are performing official duties. I have strictly checked the passers-by. I don't think they did anything wrong." Regarding Lopatin's duties, Sokov did not admit his mistake, but said plausibly: "On the contrary , Comrade General, there was a conflict between your subordinates and my subordinates, the responsibility should be on your side."

"My troops were still passing the road leading to Mamayev Post yesterday." Hearing what Sokov said, Lopatin said displeasedly, "Why did you suddenly set up a checkpoint today? What is your intention?" ?”

"Comrade General, I think you, as the commander of the Army Group, should be very clear that the German army is approaching this city step by step. Although their troops have not yet reached Stalingrad, they have sent many agents to try to disguise themselves as me. Military commanders, sneak into this city." Sokov said without fear: "The purpose of my card is to prevent the Germans from sneaking into our army's defense area, lest they carry out sabotage and cause unnecessary losses to us. .”

Looking at the hills in front of him, Lopatin said angrily: "You are just two ordinary hills here. Even if the Germans get here, what else can they destroy? Don't scare me here. If today If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, I will never forgive you lightly..."

   "General Lopatin, how do you plan to deal with Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?" Just as Lopatin was overwhelming others, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside him. Sokov turned his head and found that Khrushchev had arrived near the tent at some point and was helping him smooth things over.

   "Hello, Comrade Military Commissioner." Seeing Khrushchev who suddenly appeared, whether it was Lopatin or Sokov, they immediately stood at attention and raised their hands to salute him. When Sokov raised his hand to his forehead, he also said to Khrushchev: "Welcome to Mamayev Gang to inspect the work."

   "Work, you can inspect it later." Khrushchev approached Sokov and asked in a low voice, "I don't know where Chuikov is now?"

  Sokov pointed to a row of buildings near the river, and said, "Report to Comrade Military Commissar, it's right there in that row of buildings. Outside the room where General Chuikov lives, I specially arranged for guards."

   Khrushchev did not immediately walk in the direction of the health team, but checked with Sokov again: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is Chuikov really okay?"

"It's just that the skin on his forehead was scratched. The assistant military doctor who went to rescue him had already treated the wound." Sokov replied, "Comrade Military Commissar, if you go there now, you may still see him alive and well with others." Let's talk."

Khrushchev nodded, walked in front of Lopatin, and now said to him: "General Lopatin, since the mission of the infantry brigade is to defend this Mamayev post, then on the surrounding traffic arteries It is very necessary to set up checkpoints and check pedestrians and vehicles passing by. On the way here, I also heard about this, so I specifically asked the people at the time. After investigation, I think the soldiers on duty did the right thing , they are doing their job.”

   Seeing that Khrushchev wanted to speak for Sokov, Lopatin did not pursue the matter any further, but looked at the other party and asked, "Comrade Military Commissar, are you also here to visit Chuikov?"

"That's right, I just came here to see Chuikov." Khrushchev glanced behind Lopatin and said with some regret: "I really didn't expect that the commanders of the 62nd Army arrived. Why did the 64th Army come here?" The people from the group army haven't arrived yet?"

"Comrade Military Commissar, I can explain this matter." Seeing that Khrushchev was a little angry, Sokov quickly explained to him: "I once called the headquarters of the 64th Army to try to arrest General Cuikov. Inform them of the news of the injury. Unexpectedly, the operator refused to connect us to the phone at all, so I called you. I think they may not know the news of General Chuikov’s injury until now.”

"Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you don't need to say any more." Before Sokov could finish speaking, Khrushchev interrupted him: "I will personally inform them about Chuikov's injury, so you don't have to." Don't worry about it anymore. We'll have a flaw test later, you stay here, and I can go with General Lopatin."

  Sokov guessed that Khrushchev must have something important to discuss with Chuikov during the inspection, and it would be inconvenient for him to be there, so he let him stay. As soon as Khrushchev finished speaking, he quickly and loudly replied: "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, I will resolutely obey your orders."

   "Let's go, General Lopatin." Khrushchev put an arm on Lopatin's shoulder and said to him with a smile, "Let's visit General Chuikov now."

After the two walked away, Belkin, who appeared from nowhere, came to Sokov's side, and asked with some concern: "Comrade Brigadier, our soldiers clashed with General Lopatin. Will you find a chance to wear small shoes for us?"

"Don't worry, my Comrade Political Commissar." Sokov thought that after a while, Lopatin would tell Stalin that he could not hold Stalingrad, and hoped that the headquarters would allow him to lead his troops to withdraw to the east bank of the Volga River. He was dismissed by Stalin and replaced by Chuikov. Even if his troops were assigned to the 62nd Army, as long as he was dismissed, even if he wanted to make things difficult for him, he would have no chance. Therefore, he said solemnly: "I believe that General Lopatin is a generous person, and he will never haggle with us because of such a trivial matter."

  (end of this chapter)