Red Moscow

  Chapter 557 Tank Acquired

   A group of people returned to Peter's office, and Sokov found several phones on the desk, including a red high-frequency phone. Peter walked to the table, picked up the red phone, dialed a number, and said to the microphone: "I am Peter, the factory director, immediately connect me to the headquarters of the Front Army, and find Comrade Khrushchev, the military commissar." .”

   After a few minutes, a voice came from the receiver, and Peter quickly and respectfully replied: "Hello, Comrade Khrushchev, I am Peter. Major Yakov from the Armament Department wants to talk to you."

  Khrushchev was also very surprised when he learned that Yakov was the person looking for him. In order to find out what was going on, he directly ordered Peter: "Comrade factory director, give the phone to Major Yakov."

   "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar." Yakov took the phone in Peter's hand, and said to Khrushchev with a little apology, "I'm sorry to wake you up so late."

   "Yakov, I don't think you would have taken the initiative to call me if there was nothing important." Khrushchev said reasonably, "Tell me, what can I do for you?"

   "That's right, Comrade Military Commissar." Yakov quickly replied, "We found a very special piece of technical equipment in the secret warehouse of the Red October Tractor Factory..."

   "Very special technical equipment?" Hearing Yakov say this, Khrushchev couldn't help but slightly frowned: "Yakov, can you tell me what special technical equipment it is?"

"How should I put it, this very special technical equipment is actually a new type of tank." Yakov organized the vocabulary in his mind, and then explained to Khrushchev: "The Red October Tractor Factory here The prototype car has not been tested yet, and it is still in the confidential stage..."

"Yakov, I understand what you mean." Khrushchev's mind is very good. After listening to Yakov explaining this prototype tank to himself, he guessed that the other party must have hit a wall with Peter. He smiled and asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

  Yakov looked at Peter and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Military Commissar, we wanted to get this tank from Director Peter, but he refused."

"As far as I know, Director Peter is a very principled comrade." Seeing that his guess was confirmed, Khrushchev said jokingly: "Since you have hit a wall, why don't you ask me to come forward, Peter?" Will the factory manager change his mind?"

  Khrushchev's answer was beyond Yakov's surprise. For a moment, he didn't know how to answer. Fortunately, Khrushchev did not continue to tease him, but formally asked: "Yakov, what should I do to help you get this tank prototype?"

Yakov, who was already desperate, heard Khrushchev's words, and his heart suddenly became hopeful. He said quickly: "According to the director Peter, if you want to get this prototype car, you must obtain the authorization of the National Defense Commission. You I also know that it is very late now, and I have no right to disturb Comrade Ustinov's rest. If I contact you tomorrow, I will have to wait until dark at the earliest before I can obtain authorization. In this way, we will not be able to In tomorrow's battle, use this tank."

   "Then what can I do for you?" Khrushchev asked briefly again.

Sokov, who was standing on the side, couldn't help feeling anxious when he heard such a long-winded conversation between Yakov and Khrushchev. He quickly snatched the microphone from Yakov's hand and whispered in his ear: "You Well, Comrade Military Commissar, I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."

"Oh, it turns out that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is also here." Khrushchev thought that Yakov was the only one in Peter's office, so he said a few more words, and now aware of Sokov's presence, So I decided to make a long story short: "Tell me, how should I help you?"

"It's very simple," Sokov said briefly: "We would like to ask you to come forward and borrow this tank from the factory manager Peter, and then give it to us for use. Wait until tomorrow, Major Yakov will go through the official channel, File an authorization application with the National Defense Council to make this tank our official property."

"Comrade Sokov, why did you make the problem so complicated? I can make the decision on this matter. Why do you need to ask the National Defense Commission for authorization? It's just playing the piano." Khrushchev waited for Sokov to finish speaking. He said in an unquestionable tone: "You handed the microphone to Peter, and I will speak to him personally."

  Sokov heard Khrushchev say this, and he couldn't help feeling secretly happy. Now that Khrushchev has made his statement, he can take this tank back with him when he goes back later, so that the tank soldiers can familiarize themselves with the operation. He handed the microphone in his hand to Peter, and said with a smile: "Comrade factory director, the military commissioner, please answer the phone."

   I don’t know what Khrushchev said to Peter on the phone. Peter kept nodding his head, and finally said: "Understood, Comrade Military Commissioner, I will hand over the tank to them immediately."

  Peter ended his conversation with Khrushchev, but he did not put down the phone. Instead, he greeted Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the Military Commissioner has a few words to tell you!"

Knowing that the ball tank can be handed over to his troops, Sokov couldn't help feeling elated. Hearing that Khrushchev wanted to say a few words to himself, he quickly reached out to take the microphone and whispered in his ear: "Yes! I, Comrade Military Commissar."

   Khrushchev's voice came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I just found out that you are no longer the commander of the infantry brigade."

  Isn't he the commander of the infantry brigade? ! Hearing this, Sokov's heart beat faster, and he thought to himself: I don't seem to have made any mistakes recently, why would Khrushchev say that he is no longer the commander of the infantry brigade? When was your job dismissed?

  Sokov was silent for a moment, and asked in a difficult tone: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you know when I was dismissed?"

   "Removed?" Khrushchev's puzzled voice came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, who dismissed you?"

   "Didn't you just say it yourself?" Sokov replied cautiously: "You said that I am no longer the commander of the infantry brigade."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you misunderstood." After Khrushchev figured out the reason, he said with a smile: "As far as I know, you not only have an infantry brigade under your command, but also command a fighter regiment. A tank battalion with more than 40 tanks, and even the artillery of the Army Group deployed on the east bank will provide artillery support for your Mamayev post. I see, you are about to catch up with the commander of the combined army gone."

  Hearing what Khrushchev said, Sokov suddenly had a strange idea in his heart: Why did the military commissioner say that? Could it be that the superior intends to appoint me as the commander of the army? However, the institutional system of the infantry army was not abolished in September 1941. Is it going to be restored again?

  Sokov, who was full of imagination, was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't hear what Khrushchev said later. It wasn't until Khrushchev found that the microphone here was silent and raised his voice deliberately that he woke up from his contemplation. He quickly replied: "Comrade Military Commissioner, do you have anything else to do? If not, I want to go back to the assembly workshop."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the purpose of my telling you this is to tell you." Khrushchev said sternly on the phone: "We have given you great support, if you still cannot hold the factory If so, then the only thing waiting for you is the court-martial. Do you understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov felt that Khrushchev's words made sense. His superiors equipped him with air force, tanks and even artillery. Even if the superiors don't pursue it, Sokov will have no face to see anyone again. "I promise you, as long as I am alive, I will never let the enemy occupy the factory."

  (end of this chapter)