Red Moscow

  Chapter 1451 replaces it

"Absurd, this is simply too absurd, my comrade chief of staff." Sokov confirmed that the information provided by the chief of reconnaissance was correct, and he said to Sameko in an unbelievable tone: "It will take more than ten thousand Everyone is drunk, how much vodka is needed, this is ridiculous."

When Sameko heard Sokov use three "ridiculous" words in a row to describe the two lost troops, the muscles on his face twitched violently, "Comrade Commander, you are right, It's an absurd thing. If the scouts sent were not proven fighters, I would really think it was a rumor spread by the Germans."

Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, our offensive will start soon, and you will stay at the headquarters to take charge of the operations. I will go to the Fesky collective farm in person. Look, what's going on here."

   "Comrade commander, you can't take risks." Knowing that Sokov planned to go to the Fesky collective farm, Sameko hurriedly stopped him and said, "I think it's better to send a commander to investigate this matter."

   "Tell me, who can complete this task?"

  Sameko said without hesitation: "Since we have sent a battalion of the 73rd Infantry Brigade to the area, why not put Major Guchakov in charge of investigating this matter?"

   "No, Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't think Major Guchakov is capable of handling this matter well." Sokov said firmly: "I still have to go there myself."

   After finishing speaking, Sokov shouted to the other side of the hall: "Lieutenant Samoilov, Lieutenant Samoilov!"

  Following Sokov's shout, Lieutenant Samoilov quickly ran up to Sokov, straightened his back and asked, "Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?"

"It's getting dark outside now, and Comrade Military Commissar must have returned to his temporary residence." Sukov told the other party: "Go and invite him here immediately, and say that I have something important and I need him to accompany me." go."

   Samoilov agreed, turned and ran outside the church.

  When Samoilov left, Sokov didn't bother to talk to Sameko, picked up the phone again, and asked the communications soldier to connect to the brigade headquarters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade.

After Guchakov realized that the caller was Sokov, he thought that the other party was asking if the troops had already set off, so he hurriedly said: "Report to Comrade Commander, the battalion led by Captain Mikhaiev has set off a quarter of an hour ago. gone."

   "Comrade Major, I'm on the bell tower of the church and I've seen them set off." Sokov said into the microphone: "I'm calling you for another matter."

   Guchakov, who didn't know why, quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, what else?"

   "There was an accident at the Fesky collective farm, and I need to go there immediately to deal with it." Sokov said: "Let your deputy brigade commander, Colonel Weisbach, come to me."

  Although Guchakov couldn't understand Sokov's intentions, as soon as he put down the phone, he asked his deputy brigade commander, Colonel Weisbach, to report to the headquarters.

   After Sokov finished calling the infantry brigade, he called the 4th Guards Tank Army. He said to General Poluboyarov who answered the phone: "Comrade General, I need to go to the Fesky collective farm immediately. I want Major Bunch to accompany me. Please let him come to my headquarters immediately."

  Sameko listened to the two calls made by Sokov with question marks all over his face. After finally waiting for Sokov to put down the phone, he asked in amazement: "Comrade Commander, what are you taking Colonel Weissbach and Major Bunch to the Fesky collective farm?"

Sokov turned to look at Sameko and said solemnly: "I feel that neither the commander of the 300th infantry division nor the brigade commander of the tank brigade can perform their duties. I need to find someone to replace them. Only then can we have allies who can fight side by side, not pig teammates who drag us back."

  Hearing Sokov say the word "pig teammate", Sameko found it very strange. After careful consideration, he felt that it was very vivid. No matter how drunk the two allies are, with their performance, they may really become pig teammates who drag them down on the battlefield.

But he thought about it again. Although Sokov is now the commander of the group army, it may not be appropriate to randomly replace the commanders of the division and brigade levels of the friendly army. Brigadier commanders are all subordinate to friendly forces, so it’s inappropriate for you to change commanders at will, right?”

"It's nothing inappropriate," Sokov said carelessly, "I don't think these two division and brigade commanders are suitable to stay in their current positions, and we need to find someone to replace them temporarily. After the battle, if the superior wants to hold them accountable , let me take all the responsibility."

"Comrade Commander," Lunev, who was called by Samoilov, quickly walked through the hall of the church, came to the two of them, and asked Sokov curiously: "Is there any urgent matter for you?" ?”

"Comrade Military Commissar, a big event has happened." Sokov explained to Lunev: "The 300th Infantry Division of the 5th Assault Army belonging to the Voronezh Front, and the 37th Tank Brigade of the 7th Tank Army, in Fei Contact with superiors was lost near the Kilkhoz."

   "What, lost contact with the superior?" Lunev heard this, and asked in surprise: "Is there any German army stationed there?"

  Sameko hurriedly added: "It turns out that the German 3rd Armored Division was stationed, but it has been withdrawn at some point."

   "Since we have evacuated, why did our troops lose contact with their superiors?"

  Sokov smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, you may never have imagined that our troops lost contact with their superiors not because they were annihilated by the enemy, but because everyone was drunk."

When Lunev heard this, his jaw almost fell on the ground: "Everyone is drunk? The two troops combined, even if there are not tens of thousands of people, there must be seven or eight thousand people. How could they be drunk? "

"Comrade Military Commissar, this is not something I just made up, but a real thing." Sokov said to Lunev: "I asked Lieutenant Samoilov to invite you back, just to let you come with me. Fesky Kolkhoz, find out what the **** is going on and why is everyone getting drunk?"

  Sameko on the side heard what Sokov said, and immediately understood why Lunev was called. Regardless of whether Lunev's military rank is higher than Sokov's, more importantly, he can bypass the head of the front army for many things and report directly to Moscow. This time I went to the Fisky collective farm, with Lunev by my side, even if the two incompetent division commanders were dismissed, I am afraid Vatutin would not be able to say anything.

"Okay, Comrade Commander." After listening to Sokov's introduction, Lunev realized the seriousness of the problem, and said with a serious expression: "I will accompany you to the Fesky collective farm, and we will start now .”

"Wait a minute, Comrade Military Commissar." But Sokov stood still, and said to Lunev: "I'm still waiting for two people, one is Colonel Weisbach, deputy commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. , and the other is Major Bunch of the 4th Guards Tank Corps."

   "Comrade Commander," Lunev heard that Sokov was going to take two people to the Fesky collective farm, so he couldn't help asking curiously, "What are you taking them for?"

   "Facts have proved that the two commanders of the friendly army are very incompetent." Sokov said: "I took Colonel Weissbach and Major Bunch to replace them."

Lunev did not raise any objections to Sokov's decision to change the commander of the friendly army. On the contrary, he was very supportive: "Comrade commander, I support you to change the commander of the friendly army. If the superior wants to pursue this matter in the future, I will definitely Help you take responsibility."

  Now that Lunev has made his statement, Sameko had no choice but to echo: "Comrade Commander, the military commissioner is right. If the superior wants to pursue this matter in the future, I am willing to help you share the responsibility."

   Not long after, Weisbach appeared in front of Sokov.

  Sokov stepped forward to shake hands with him, and asked with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, is it too wronged for you to accept the command of a major now?"

  As a colonel, Weissbach actually had to accept the command of a major, which made him feel aggrieved. But considering that Guchakov is the direct descendant of Commander Sokov, he dared not speak out. At this moment, when Sokov asked about this matter, he hastily stated: "Comrade Commander, I think Major Guchakov's command ability is better than mine. I think it is perfect for him to take the post of brigade commander." gone."

After waiting for him to finish speaking, Sokov patted his arm twice vigorously with both hands, and then said to him with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, anyway, you are very qualified as a deputy brigade commander. But now I have appointed a new deputy brigade commander, and you will definitely not be able to continue to hold this position in the future."

Hearing what Sokov said, Weissbach's face turned livid, but he pretended to be calm and said: "Comrade Commander, I resolutely obey your order, and I will take up whatever position you assign me. Even if I was asked to be a company commander in a grassroots company, I would not have the slightest complaint."

"Colonel Weissbach," Sokov felt that he should communicate with Weissbach in advance to make him mentally prepared: "I called you here because I want you to go to the Fesky collective farm with me. "

Although Guchakov had already said that Sokov planned to take him to the Fesky collective farm before Weisbach came to the headquarters, but at this moment when he heard what Sokov said, he couldn't help but ask: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask, didn't the new deputy brigade commander, Captain Mikhaiev, take the first battalion to the Fesky collective farm? What am I going to do there?"

   "What to do, of course, let you take over the troops." Sokov said bluntly: "I plan to let you temporarily act as the commander of the 300th Infantry Division. I wonder if you are willing to take on this responsibility?"

Weisbach never dreamed that Sukov asked him to go to the Fesky collective farm together in order to let him act as the commander of the 300th infantry division. His breathing suddenly became short of breath, and it took a long time before he replied: " Comrade Commander, I resolutely obey your orders."

   If a few minutes ago, he said that he would resolutely obey Sokov's order, it was more or less perfunctory, but his answer now is from the bottom of his heart.

   Not long after, Major Bunch also came to the headquarters.

  Equally confused, he came to Sokov, raised his hand to salute, and reported in accordance with the regulations: "Comrade Commander, Major Bunch, tank battalion commander, is here on your order, please instruct!"

"Comrade Major," Sokov said with a smile as he shook hands with Major Bunch, "Since your tank battalion was emptied in Kazakhya Compass Town, you have been staying in the army headquarters with nothing to do, isn't it in your heart? Always wanted to go back to the battlefield and command more tanks to charge into battle?"

Major Bunch, who was caught by Sokov, replied: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I hope you can help me replenish the tank battalion as soon as possible, so that I can command the troops again to teach the Germans a lesson. "

   "Comrade Major, I don't think you will have the chance to serve as the tank battalion commander again in the future."

  Hearing what Sokov said, Major Bunch's expression changed drastically, fearing that he would never have the opportunity to command tanks again in the future. But the few people around, having experienced the scene just now, knew what Sokov would say next, so they behaved very calmly, holding the attitude of watching a show, and patiently waiting for what happened next.

"Comrade Commander," Sokov called General Poluboyarov. He only asked Major Bunch to accompany him to the Fisky Kolkhoz, but didn't say anything, so Bunch didn't know that Soko The real purpose of the husband calling himself here. At this moment, seeing that the other party did not intend to let me be the commander of the tank battalion again, thinking that he would hold him accountable when he was in Compass Town of Kazakia, he defended himself in a flustered expression: "The tank battalion was lost in the battle. I admit this It's my responsibility, you can punish me however you want, but please make sure I stay in the tank army, even if it's just an ordinary soldier."

   "That's right, Major Bunch, I'm going to punish you." Sokov suppressed a smile and said, "I'm going to punish you as the acting brigade commander of the 37th Tank Brigade."

After listening to Sukov's words, Major Bunch was dumbfounded. After a long time, he murmured: "Comrade Commander, you said that you let me act as the commander of the 37th Tank Brigade. I heard correctly, right? ?”

"You heard me right, Major Bunch." Seeing that Major Bunch was sweating on his forehead, Sameko explained to him with a smile: "Comrade Commander called Colonel Weisbach and you here, It is to take the two of you to the Fesky collective farm to receive the infantry division and tank brigade there."

"Comrade Commander," after listening to Sameko's explanation, although Major Bunche knew that the chief of staff of the army group could not tell lies to him, the pie that fell from the sky was too big, and he was knocked dizzy He asked Sokov stupidly: "Is what the chief of staff said true? Are you really going to appoint me as the acting brigade commander of the 37th Tank Brigade?"

"That's right, that's how I thought about it." Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, then suppressed the smile on his face, and said to everyone: "It's getting late, we have to rush to the Fesky collective farm as soon as possible, Receive the troops there." After a short pause, he told Sameko again, "Comrade Chief of Staff, you will be in charge of the next battle. If there is anything you can't handle, you can send me a telegram. I will bring a radio station. Action, can keep in touch with you at any time."

  (end of this chapter)