Red Moscow

  Chapter 1545 People's livelihood issues

  Although the scale of the air force's attack was small, according to regulations, Sokov still needed to inform Goryunov of the matter, so that the other party would also be happy.

After the call was connected, Sokov identified himself to the other party, and then said: "General Goryunov, your pilots performed very well in the battle that ended not long ago. Since they successfully destroyed the German Artillery positions, thereby reducing the possible casualties of our army. On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 27th Army, I would like to express my gratitude to you."

Knowing that his subordinates had won the first stop, Goryunov was also very happy, but he still said politely: "Look at what you said, General Sokov, we are allies. In order to win the final victory over the enemy, It is absolutely necessary to help each other. By the way, is there anything else you need to help?"

  Sokov made this call to Goryunov, first to report the results of the squadron, and second, to see if he could get some benefits from him. Since Goryunov asked, he said without hesitation: "Comrade General, after the battle not long ago, your two squadrons have run out of ammunition and fuel. See if you can give us a test as soon as possible." Replenish?"

Since the 5th and 7th Guards Army launched an attack on Poltava, Goryunov's air force has been in trouble. Due to the strong anti-aircraft firepower in Poltava, every time it attacks, it will lose three five planes. Although the number is not large, it is not a small loss to add up. For this matter, Goryunov often drank to soothe his sorrows in his office.

  But with the provision of air cover for the landing field on the right bank, it seems that I have begun to transfer luck. Before dawn yesterday, a bomber aviation division was dispatched to bomb the German 8th Armored Division lurking near the No. 1 outpost of the landing field, and wiped out two-thirds of the division's strength in one fell swoop. But today, just two squadrons attacked and easily destroyed a German artillery position.

Goryunov knew that his good luck was brought by Sokov, so he was extremely generous to his request: "No problem, General Sokov, I will order someone to give those two pilots as soon as possible. The squadron provided ammunition and fuel supplies."

  After the two chatted about the next stage of cooperation, Goryunov suddenly asked: "General Sokov, I want to ask, after you take Klemenchug, is the city still intact?"

"Complete, of course it is complete." Although Sokov did not know why Goryunov asked such a question, he replied truthfully: "Because the 98th Guards Division that captured the city disguised itself as German troops and entered the city, Without arousing the alarm of the enemy, and therefore without too much fighting, the city was successfully captured."

   "Are the shops and restaurants open in that city?"

  Goryunov’s question really caught Sokov. Even though he had been in Klemenchug for a long time, he really didn’t know what was going on outside. He quickly covered the microphone with his hand, looked around, and found that Lunev and Gorokhov were not there, so he asked General Tsarev at the next table: "Comrade Military Commissar, I would like to ask, what is the status of the city today?" How is the situation here, are restaurants and shops open?"

The reason why Sokov asked Tsarev such a question is because Lunev took the lead two days ago, and Gorokhov and Tsarev were deputies, responsible for handling various aftermath work in the city .

"Comrade Commander," Tsarev quickly replied when he heard Sokov's question, "Shops and restaurants have opened in those areas that have not been fought. After all, there are so many people in the city, there must always be a purchase A place for food and groceries.”

  From Tsarev’s words, Sokov heard that there are still many places that have not opened, so he quickly asked the other party what he meant: “Are there many places that have not opened?”

"Not a lot," Tsarev asked with some hesitation: "Because the enemy was stubbornly resisting in certain areas, in order to seize these enemy-occupied areas, we used heavy weapons and destroyed the buildings there. And restaurants have not escaped bad luck."

Eager to learn more about the situation in the city, Sokov let go of his hand covering the microphone and said, "General Goryunov, some restaurants and shops in the city have resumed normal operations. When you come In Klemenchug, I treat you to dinner."

"Okay, then we'll make a deal." Goryunov said with a smile: "There is a restaurant in Klemenchug that serves Salo, which is very authentic. I used to eat it every time I went there, and I don't know how. Can you still eat such an authentic Salo?"

The so-called salo is actually a kind of fatty pork cured with salt. It is a well-known traditional delicacy in Russia and Ukraine. It has a history of thousands of years. Because of its high fat content, it can bring people a good energy reserve. So Salo is also known as "cold food".

Hearing that Goryunov wanted to eat Salo, Sokov naturally couldn't disappoint the other party, so he smiled and said: "No problem, Comrade General, when you come to Klemenchug, I will treat you to the authentic one." Salo."

  After putting down the phone, Sokov, who was all focused on the military, felt that he should also care about people's livelihood, so he looked at Tsarev and asked, "General Tsarev, has the rationing system started in the city?"

"Two days ago we were counting the population of the city and issuing ration certificates to them." Tsarev replied: "Starting at eight o'clock today, residents in the city can use their own ration certificates to go to the designated place to collect Food rations and some daily necessities."

  Sokov thought that Lunev and Gorokhov were not there, so he asked tentatively: "Are Generals Lunev and Gorokhov in charge of supervising this matter?"

"That's right." Tsarev nodded and replied: "The two military commissars were worried that today is the first day to use the ration certificate, and the local residents might not be used to it, so they went to the city to inspect it in person. If there is any problem , can be resolved in a timely manner.”

Sokov felt that the two military commissars were very considerate. The city of Klemenchug was lost within three months after the outbreak of the war. I am afraid that the residents have not seen what the ration certificate looks like. I still have doubts about whether I can pick up the food and daily necessities I need at the designated place, and there will inevitably be some resistance. But with two military commissars sitting in charge, it is not easy to have problems.

"Comrade General," Sokov felt that the air force destroyed the German artillery position today, and there should not be much fighting in the direction of the landing field. Besides, Sameko and Derevyanko are here, and both of them can handle anything properly. Sure enough, he smiled and asked Managarov: "Comrade General, would you like to go out for a walk with me?"

Managarov's thoughts were the same as Sokov's. He also felt that there would be no more major battles today. In addition, today was the first day of the implementation of the ration certificate in the city. There was nothing wrong, so he nodded and said, "General Sokov, I am happy to accompany you."

   Seeing that Managarov agreed to go out for a walk with him, Sokov turned around and shouted: "Samoilov!"

  Following the shout, Samoilov appeared in front of Sokov, straightened his body and asked, "Comrade Commander, do you have any instructions?"

   "Go help me and General Managarov find two soldiers' uniforms, I'm useful."

  Hearing Sokov's order, Samoilov didn't say a word, but agreed loudly, then turned and walked out of the headquarters to carry out the order given by Sokov.

   Seeing the back of Samoilov leaving, Managarov asked a little puzzled: "General Sokov, we just went out for a walk, what are we doing changing into soldiers' uniforms?"

"Comrade General," Sokov explained to Managarov, seeing that he was dissatisfied with his arrangement, "I want to know the real situation in the city. If I go out in this uniform, I will only see What other people want me to see, but not what I want to see..."

What Sokov said was like a tongue twister, Managarov actually understood, he nodded and said: "General Sokov, you are right. If we go out dressed like this, I'm afraid The people below have even arranged the inspection route for us, so they really can’t see the real situation.”

   Ten minutes later, Sokov and Managarov were wearing soldiers' military uniforms and strolling through the streets of Klemenchug. Samoilov and a dozen guards were wearing casual clothes and followed far behind, so that they would not disturb the two commanders talking, and if something happened, they could also appear at the first time. By the side of the two, to ensure the safety of the two.

  The two walked forward for a while, leaving the area where the headquarters was located, and the number of civilians on the roadside gradually increased. Some were carrying things and hurried on their way; others were in the ruins by the side of the road, trying to clear out some useful things from the middle.

  Passing a block, Sokov suddenly saw a long queue at the door of a store in front of him. Managarov, who has rich experience, saw it and said to Sokov: "General Sokov, if I guessed correctly, such a long team should be waiting to receive rations."

  Sokov walked to the side of the line and asked the old man in the last line: "Master, what are you doing in line here?"

  Seeing that it was a soldier who was asking himself the question, the old man replied truthfully: "We are here to receive rations of food and daily necessities."

   "Can we get it too?"

  Hearing Sokov's question, the old man shook his head first, then nodded vigorously, and replied in a panic: "It should be possible, it seems that anyone in the city can carry it."

"If you don't have a ration certificate, you can't get it." A middle-aged woman in a headscarf standing in front of the old man turned her head and said: "When the ration certificate was issued two days ago, I specifically asked if I want to receive the rationed food and daily necessities in the future. There must be a ration card issued specifically to us."

   "Can't you buy it with money?" Sokov asked tentatively.

"Buy with money?!" After repeating Sukov's words, the middle-aged woman shook her head and said, "Comrade soldier, look at what you said. If you buy things with money before the ration certificate comes into effect, maybe You can still buy it, but you have to ask for German marks, our rubles are not wanted at all.”

   After chatting with the middle-aged woman, Sokov became depressed. Fortunately, Managarov saw his embarrassment and hurriedly greeted him to leave.

As the two continued to walk along the street, Managarov asked with a smile: "Comrade Sokov, if I'm not mistaken, you are still thinking about the middle-aged woman's words, And brooding about it."

   "What words?"

"It's just that no one in the city wants rubles." Managarov casually reminded Sokov, and continued: "Actually, we can't blame them. After all, we lost rubles shortly after the war broke out." In this city, for more than two years, they used German currency."

  Sokov suddenly had a bold idea in his mind. Since the currency used in the German-occupied area is the Deutsche Mark, why not counterfeit a large number of them and put them on the market in the German-occupied area to disrupt the economy there?

  As soon as this thought came up, Sokov couldn't get it out of his mind, and he had to start thinking about some details of forging and using fake marks.

   "Two military comrades, please wait a moment." Just as Sokov was thinking wildly, a strange voice suddenly came from behind. Sokov turned his head and saw that it was a strange man. He saw that the man was wearing a peaked cap and a black coat, and the collar of the white shirt inside was a little yellow.

   "Do you have anything to do?" Sokov asked.

  The man looked around, approached Sokov and said in a low voice: "Comrade soldier, I just heard you say that you want to buy food and daily necessities in the store, right?"

   "Yes." Sokov felt that the man in front of him looked suspicious, but in order to find out the origin of the other party, he asked hypocritically: "Can you get food and daily necessities?"

The man took out a stack of cardboard, waved it in front of Sokov and Managarov, put it in his pocket quickly, and said mysteriously: "See, I have plenty of ration certificates here. I'll give you as much as you want."

  Seeing this, Managarov couldn't help asking in surprise: "Where did you get so many ration certificates?"

   "Of course I have my own way." The man said dryly, "How about it, do you want it?"

   "How much is it?" Sokov pretended to touch his pocket: "I'll give you the money."

  Unexpectedly, the man shook his head and said, "I don't want money."

   "No money?!" This time it was Sokov's turn to be dumbfounded: "You don't want money, so what do you want?"

   "Guns and bullets." The man said without hesitation: "A Mosin Nagant rifle with 120 rounds of ammunition, or a Bobosa submachine gun with two drums, can be exchanged for a ration certificate."

  Sokov asked calmly, "What do you want guns and bullets for?"

   "You don't need to worry about it."

  Sokov had confirmed that there was something wrong with the man at this moment, so he gestured towards Samoilov and others who were following behind. Seeing the signal, Samoilov immediately rushed up with two soldiers, quickly subdued the man, and then asked Sokov, "Comrade Commander, how should we deal with him?"

   "Take him back to the headquarters first." Sokov felt that he should be able to get a lot of what he wanted from this man, so he told Samoilov: "I will interrogate him after I go back."

  (end of this chapter)