red moscow

Chapter 2786

As an officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Korovin was extremely vigilant. He pulled Sokov aside and asked in a low voice, "Comrade Major, the rocket launcher battalion fired a volley at us not long ago, causing considerable casualties to the German army. Do you really think that these two people entered our position not to steal the secrets of the rocket launcher?"

"Comrade Captain, you worry too much." Hearing what Korovin said, Sokov didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "It took no more than an hour for the rocket launcher battalion to enter our position and leave after completing the salvo. When did the efficiency of the German intelligence department become so high that it could lock onto the area where the rocket launchers appeared in such a short time?"

After hearing what Sokov said, Korovin thought about it carefully and felt that he might be a little overly sensitive. Even if the Germans knew that the rocket artillery battalion that attacked their positions was deployed in their defense zone, it was impossible for them to send people to infiltrate in such a short time.

After dispelling his doubts, Korovin asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Major, what do you plan to do with them?"

"I'll take them back to the brigade headquarters," Sokov said, "and then Colonel Katukov will send someone to take them to the army headquarters. It will be much easier to verify their identities then."

"Send them to the brigade headquarters now?"

"Yes." Although Sokov believed that Wald and the other two were his own people, Korovin would definitely not feel at ease if he asked him to take them to the brigade headquarters alone, so he took the initiative to say: "Comrade Captain, lend me a squad of soldiers to escort the two of them to the brigade headquarters."

"No problem." Korovin agreed to Sokov's request very readily, "I will immediately arrange for someone to send you to the brigade headquarters."

Ten minutes later, Sokov, Wald and Arseny, escorted by a guard squad, headed towards the brigade headquarters.

On the way, Wald looked around and found that the soldiers of the guard squad were some distance away from the three of them, so he lowered his voice and said to Sokov: "Thank you, Comrade Captain. If it weren't for you today, we might have been shot."

"The German Brandenburg troops like to send people to impersonate our officers and soldiers and go deep into our rear to cause sabotage." Sokov said to Wald, "There are too many such incidents, which have caused considerable losses to our army. As a result, many of our frontline commanders have become nervous and inevitably mistake their own people for enemies."

"Comrade Captain," Wald looked at the rank on Sokov's collar and asked curiously, "I see you are wearing the rank of captain, why did the captain just now call you major? I don't think he would make such a low-level mistake."

"During the war, there were many opportunities for promotion, but a problem also arose. The rank was promoted, but the rank I wore could not be changed in time." Sokov said briefly: "This is why Captain Korovin called me a major, but I wore the rank of captain."

"Oh, that's it, I understand."

"By the way, Lieutenant Wald, I'm curious." Sokov pointed at the military coats without ranks on Wald and Arseni and asked curiously, "Why don't you have ranks on your military coats?"

"In order not to reveal our identities, we took off the ranks on our collar badges before we set out," Wald explained. "Even if we were discovered by the Germans when we passed through the two army lines, they might think we were deserters and would not waste manpower to capture us when they saw us wearing military coats without any ranks."

"Lieutenant Wald, can you tell me what mission you are going to carry out here?" As Sokov said this, he was muttering to himself, if you are going here to obtain the German army's action plan, you can ask me, I definitely know more than the German High Command.

Hearing Sokov's question, Walder was silent for a moment, then asked cautiously: "Comrade Major, do you know District 13?"

"Area 13?" Sokov was confused. He thought to himself, I know that the United States has Area 51, which is known as the most mysterious military base in the world and is said to have contact with aliens. Could it be that the Soviet Union also had a similar military base and contacted aliens earlier than the United States? In order to find out what was going on, he humbly asked, "Lieutenant Wald, what is Area 13? Please forgive my ignorance. This is the first time I have heard of this code name."

Unexpectedly, seeing that Sokov knew nothing about District 13, Wald changed the subject: "Comrade Major, how long will it take us to reach the brigade headquarters?"

"It's a few kilometers from here to the brigade headquarters. We're walking, so it'll probably take another half an hour."

For the rest of the journey, the two stopped talking and just walked forward in silence.

Arriving at the gate of the brigade headquarters, the soldier on guard immediately recognized Sokov: "Captain Sokov is back."

Sokov guessed that the soldier on guard probably didn't know about his promotion yet, so he didn't correct him. Instead, he asked politely, "Is the brigade commander here?"

"Yes." The soldier nodded and said, "Several battalion commanders who came for the meeting just left not long ago. The brigade commander should still be inside."

After thanking him, Sokov turned to Wald and the other man and said, "Wait here for a while. I'll go in and find the brigade commander."

After entering the headquarters, Sokov found Katukov.

Seeing Sokov's appearance, Katukov seemed very happy: "Captain Sokov, no, you are now a major. Comrade Major, congratulations on your good results in today's battle and your promotion to a higher rank."

After thanking Katukov, Sokov explained his purpose: "Comrade Colonel, I came here today because two people of unknown origin were captured in the defense zone of the mixed battalion. They said they were officers of the Intelligence Bureau."

"What does Korovin think of their identities?"

"He believed that the two men must be Germans in disguise, so he ordered his men to shoot them without even trying them."

Katukov frowned and said unhappily, "How can you be so careless? Without even a trial, you arbitrarily assume that the other party is an enemy in disguise. Isn't this nonsense? What is the current situation of the two men? Have they been shot by Captain Korovin?"

"That's not the case." Sokov said, "I stopped Captain Korovin in time and brought the two here. They are now outside the door."

After listening to this, Katukov did not order anyone to bring the two men in. Instead, he looked at Sokov and asked, "Major Sokov, how do you think we should deal with these two people?"

"They should be handed over to Moscow," Sokov replied. "You don't have the authority to contact Moscow directly. Why not send someone to send them to the army headquarters and hand them over to General Potapov for disposal. Do you think this is okay?"

"I think it's okay." Katukov felt that these two people were a nuisance to him, and it would be great if he could send them away as soon as possible: "Otherwise, you can send them to the army headquarters in person." Sokov thought that the tank brigade had performed very well in the battles in the past few days, and there was not much point in staying here. It would be better to return to the army headquarters as soon as possible to see what work Potapov would assign to him. He nodded and agreed: "Okay, Comrade Colonel, I will escort them back to the army headquarters."

The distance from Katukov's brigade headquarters to Potapov's military headquarters was more than ten kilometers, so it was impossible to walk there. So Sokov borrowed a jeep from Katukov and drove to the military headquarters with Wald.

After Wald got on the car, he asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade Major, didn't you say you would bring us to see the brigade commander? Why didn't you let us in and sent us to another place?"

Sokov, who was sitting in the co-pilot seat, turned around and said to Wald in the back row, "Lieutenant Wald, the brigade does not have the authority to contact Moscow directly, so I can only send you to the army headquarters first. After the army commander contacts Moscow, I will send you back to Moscow."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Walder nodded slowly: "Then we will follow your arrangements."

The jeep passed through the defense zone of the 36th Motorized Regiment, entered the city of Mtsensk, and came to the outside of the army headquarters.

After Wald and the others got off the bus, Sokov turned to the driver and said, "Comrade driver, your mission has been completed. You can return the same way you came."

The driver looked at Sokov and asked tentatively: "Comrade Captain, do you really not need me to stay here and wait for you?"

"No need." Sokov shook his head and said to the driver with a smile: "I may not return to the tank brigade, so you don't have to stay and wait for me."

Watching the driver drive away, Sokov turned to Walder and the other man and said, "Lieutenant Walder, the two of you follow me."

The soldier standing guard at the door recognized Sokov as the commander's adjutant. When he saw him walking in, he not only did not stop him, but raised his hand to salute him.

Arriving at the door of the military headquarters, Sokov asked Wald and the other man to wait in the corridor, and then he walked straight in.

Potapov, who was looking at the map, was surprised when he saw Sokov appear. "Major Sokov, why are you here?"

Sokov raised his hand to salute Potapov and said politely: "Comrade Commander, I came to you tonight to bring you two people."

"Two people were sent to me?" Potapov asked curiously. "Who are they?"

"Two intelligence officers who had gone deep behind enemy lines entered the defense zone of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' mixed battalion when they returned from their mission. They were arrested as German spies and were almost shot." Sokov briefly introduced to Potapov: "Fortunately, I stopped Captain Korovin in time and brought the two here."

"Major Sokov, what do you intend for me to do with them?"

"First, we should verify their identities with Moscow," Sokov replied. "Once their identities are confirmed, we will send someone to send them back to Moscow."

"Do you know what mission they are on?"

Sokov thought that although Wald had mentioned the "13th District" to him, it was absolutely a strictly confidential matter and he could not tell anyone casually. Therefore, he could only say tactfully: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander. The tasks that the intelligence officers are involved in are all top secret. With my identity, I have no right to ask about it."

Potapov nodded and then asked: "Where are they?"

"Right outside the door."

Potapov thought for a moment, then turned to the chief of staff and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, go out and receive the two comrades from the Intelligence Bureau, and call Moscow to verify their identities. After their identities are confirmed, arrange for them to return to Moscow."

"Okay, Comrade Commander." The Chief of Staff nodded and agreed, "I'll go meet them both right away."

After the chief of staff left, Potapov looked at Sokov and asked, "Sokov, you have been in the tank brigade for a few days, so you must be very familiar with the situation on the front line. I want to hear your honest answer. Do you think we can stop the German attack?"

After hearing Potapov's question, Sokov thought for a while, and then answered cautiously: "Comrade Commander, with the current strength of our army, it is obviously impossible to stop the Germans from occupying Mtsensk. Although the tank brigade commanded by Katukov has achieved good results, all they have done is to slow down the enemy's advance, but they cannot completely stop the enemy from continuing to advance."

Potapov frowned, and after a long while he spoke: "Do you think the Germans will break into Moscow?"

"From our direction?" Sokov asked this question, and without waiting for Potapov to answer, he said directly: "The Germans want to break into Moscow only if they can occupy Tula. When we passed Tula a few days ago, I took a general look at Tula's defense deployment. I think with their strength, they can definitely hold Tula."

Sokov's words brought a smile to Potapov's face: "So, Guderian's tank troops will be blocked by our army at the Tula line and will not be able to get closer to Moscow. Am I right?"

"That's absolutely right, Comrade Commander." Sokov nodded and said, "As long as our army can hold Tula, Guderian's armored group will not be able to enter Moscow from the south."

After saying this, Sokov suddenly remembered the Tolstoy Manor in Yasnaya Polyana. According to some records, after the German army occupied this place, Guderian set up his headquarters in the manor. During his occupation of the manor, he did something that was outrageous to both humans and gods, that is, he dug up the remains of Leo Tolstoy from the cemetery and buried two German officers who died in the tomb. It was not until the Soviet army recaptured the Tolstoy Manor that the remaining remains of Tolstoy were buried again.

Thinking of this, he asked Potapov cautiously: "Comrade Commander, I remember that Leo Tolstoy's estate is in the town of Yasnaya Polyana in Tula Province. If the Germans occupy it, it may disturb the peace of Tolstoy's soul. Do you think it is necessary to send someone to move his coffin to another place?"

Potapov looked at Sokov in shock and asked unhappily, "Major Sokov, do you know what you are talking about? You know, Tolstoy is a world-famous writer. I think even if the Germans are inhumane, they can't dig up his coffin and grind his bones to dust, right?"

(End of this chapter)