red moscow

Chapter 2797

The people who formulated the rescue plan obviously did not consider the problem mentioned by Sokov. The route from Mozhaysk to Mogilev was basically under the control of the Germans. It was simply a fantasy to walk 500 kilometers in the enemy-occupied area to rescue people.

When Basco heard this, he became anxious. He asked Alina, "Comrade Lieutenant, what should we do?"

Alina did not answer after hearing this, but threw the question to Sokov: "Major Sokov, what do you think we should do next?"

"I just said that the area from here to Mogilev is all enemy-occupied territory." Sokov looked at Alina and said, "It is almost impossible for me to reach Mogilev smoothly over a distance of 500 kilometers, and most of it is enemy-occupied territory. Now we have only two choices. One is to return the same way and report to your superiors; the other is to find another way to go to Mogilev."

"It's impossible to go back the same way." Alina shook her head and said, "No matter how many difficulties we are about to face, we must rush to Mogilev."

After learning about Alina's determination, Sokov made his own suggestion: "The best thing to do now is to rush to the front headquarters to find General Zhukov and ask him to send us a plane to drop us near Mogilev."

"Major Sokov, have you forgotten what I just said? The Germans control the area along the way. If our plane enters their occupied area, it will not only be intercepted by fighter planes, but also hit by anti-aircraft artillery fire from the ground. By then, we will lose our lives before we reach Mogilev."

"Comrade Lieutenant, if you and your men are not willing to take risks, then please return the same way you came." Seeing that the other party did not agree with his proposal, Sokov did not want to waste time talking to him, so he said directly: "I don't want to accompany you to die."

Hearing what Sokov said, Alina's face suddenly turned red and white, and she was obviously very angry.

Basco and Sandor next to them didn't say a word, but just looked at Alina, waiting for her to make the final decision.

Seeing Alina's indecisive look, Sokov slowed down his tone and said, "Lieutenant Alina, didn't you just say that I have the final say over the entire action team? Why did you oppose my proposal to parachute over Mogilev? Are you lying to me about what you just said?"

"No, no." Alina waved her hands hurriedly and defended herself, "I didn't lie to you. I really wanted you to be the head of the action team, and I'll just be your deputy."

Although Sokov knew that Alina was saying one thing and thinking another, he thought that if he wanted to survive smoothly in this era, it was imperative to rescue Yakov. He continued, "Since you also said that I am the leader of the team, then I will give you the first order now, which is to go to the front headquarters immediately and ask General Zhukov to provide us with an airplane to parachute over Mogilev."

After saying this, without waiting for Alina to express her attitude, he waved his hand and said to everyone: "Follow me to the front headquarters."

Zhukov's front headquarters was only seven or eight kilometers away from the Borodino battlefield. It took Sokov and others more than an hour to reach the outside of the headquarters.

The security here was very strict. As Sokov and his companions were marching, they were constantly stopped by soldiers who came out of foxholes on the roadside, forests, or wooden houses. They were sternly asked, "What do you do? Show us your ID."

Every time they encountered such an inspection, Sokov asked Alina and others to show their IDs. He knew very well that at certain times, the IDs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were the most useful. Sure enough, after the soldiers who blocked the road saw the IDs in Alina and others' hands, they all let them pass.

As they continued on their way, Alina couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected that the security here is so strict. We were stopped at least ten times in less than a kilometer. With such tight security, even if the Germans came up, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to gain any advantage."

Hearing Alina say this, Sokov couldn't help but recall that shortly after Zhukov took over as commander of the Western Front, German paratroopers did indeed airdrop near the headquarters, but soon after they landed, they were attacked by the headquarters guard troops. In just over ten minutes, this airborne force was wiped out.

Arriving at the gate of the headquarters, the sentry stopped Sokov and his companions and said, "This is the headquarters' important area. Outsiders are not allowed to enter casually!"

"Comrade soldier, we are not outsiders." Sokov said to the sentry with a smile, "I am the adjutant of General Potapov, the commander of the Fifth Army. I have important matters to discuss and need to see General Zhukov immediately. Can you let us in?"

The sentry hesitated for a moment, then turned and shouted toward the door: "Captain, Comrade Captain!"

Following the sentry's shout, a captain ran out of the house.

After seeing the person stopped by the sentry at the door, he asked unhappily, "What happened?"

"Comrade Captain," the sentry pointed at Sokov and said to the captain, "He said he is the adjutant of General Potapov, the commander of the 5th Army, and he said he has something important to discuss and needs to see General Zhukov immediately."

"Comrade Major," the captain came to Sokov, raised his hand to salute, and said politely, "Please show me your ID!"

Sokov took out his military ID and handed it over, and at the same time asked Alina and others to take out their own IDs.

The captain took Sokov's ID, quickly glanced at the contents, and frowned: "Comrade Major, why is your military ID showing the rank of captain instead of major? Explain to me, what's going on?"

"It's like this, Comrade Captain." Sokov patiently explained to the captain, "I was promoted to major a few days ago, and I haven't had time to replace my military ID, so the rank on it is still captain."

The captain was skeptical about Sokov's statement. But when he saw the credentials presented by Alina and others, he couldn't help but take a breath. You know, although Sokov is a major, he is a major in a combat unit and does not have much real power. A second lieutenant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs has more power than himself.

The captain did not dare to neglect it and quickly returned the certificate to Sokov and others, and said politely: "You can follow me in to see General Zhukov, but only two people can enter."

"Comrade Captain," Sokov knew very well that if too many people went, it would definitely affect Zhukov's work, so he made a decisive decision: "Lieutenant Alina and I will go in to see General Zhukov, and Basco and Sandor will stay outside and wait for us."

Hearing Sokov's order, Basco and Sandor answered in unison: "Yes!"

Under the guidance of the captain, the two came to Zhukov's office.

Through the open door, Sokov saw Zhukov working at his desk.

The captain walked up to him, raised his hand to salute, and reported: "Comrade Commander, two officers want to see you. It seems that there is something urgent."

"Two officers want to see me?" Zhukov frowned and asked, "Which unit are they from?" "One is the adjutant of General Potapov, commander of the 5th Army," the captain reported to Zhukov, "and the other is a second lieutenant from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow."

"One is the adjutant of the 5th Army, and the other is a second lieutenant from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow." Zhukov repeated the captain's words, lowered his head and said, "I don't have time to see them. Let them go."

The captain probably didn't expect Zhukov to give such an order. He seemed a little at a loss for a moment and just stood there in a daze.

Zhukov waited for a moment and found that the captain was still standing there, so he raised his head, looked at him unhappily and asked: "Captain, do you have anything else to say?"

"No, no more." The captain said with a stutter: "I, I will be out right away."

The captain came out of Zhukov's office and said apologetically to Sokov and Alina: "I'm sorry, Comrade General doesn't want to see you, please go back."

"Major Sokov," Alina couldn't help but look a little anxious when she heard that Zhukov refused to see her: "General Zhukov doesn't want to see us, what should we do?"

Since Sokov had come here, it was unreasonable for him to leave without even seeing Zhukov. He took off his military coat and stuffed it into Alina's arms: "Help me hold the military coat, I'm going to go in and see General Zhukov."

Hearing Sokov's words, Alina couldn't help but said in surprise: "But General Zhukov has made it clear that he doesn't want to see us. Let's go back."

"It's okay," Sokov patted her arm gently and said confidently, "I'm confident I can convince him." After that, he walked into Zhukov's office.

The captain did not expect Sokov to be so agile and rush into Zhukov's office while he was not paying attention. He followed Sokov and rushed into the office, saying, "No, Comrade Major, you can't go in. Comrade Commander is working. Don't disturb him."

Zhukov was interrupted while working and anger appeared on his face. He raised his head and looked at the two people who broke in.

The captain quickly explained to Zhukov: "Comrade Commander, he insisted on coming in, and I didn't stop him."

Zhukov was about to explode when he saw the Order of Lenin on Sokov's chest. He couldn't help but flash a trace of surprise in his eyes. He knew very well that anyone who could get this medal must be at least a general. How could a major like him get the Order of Lenin? Thinking of this, he asked, "Who gave you your medal?"

"Comrade General," Sokov replied hastily and respectfully, "Comrade Kalinin gave it to me personally."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Zhukov nodded to Sokov, then told the captain: "There is nothing for you to do here, you can go out first."

"What about him, Comrade Commander?" the captain asked Zhukov.

"I need to talk to him alone, so let him stay."

After the captain left, Zhukov asked, "You said you were General Potapov's adjutant. What are you doing here?"

"Comrade General." Since Sokov wanted Zhukov to help, he couldn't hide anything from him: "We need to go to Mogilev to carry out a special mission. As you know, from here to Mogilev, it is basically an enemy-occupied area. Even if there are suitable means of transportation, it may be difficult to reach the destination smoothly. Therefore, I would like to borrow a plane from you to transport us to the Mogilev area for airdrop."

Zhukov frowned. "Major, how can you be sure that I will agree to your request and send you a plane? Unless you tell me what this operation is about?"

According to Sokov's idea, he wanted to tell Zhukov directly about the action plan. However, considering that this was a top-secret mission, Sokov could only explain it to Zhukov in other ways: "Comrade General, two months ago in the Battle of Smolensk, an artillery lieutenant of the 14th Tank Division was unfortunately captured by the Germans. It is said that he is currently being held in a prisoner-of-war camp in Mogilev. Our mission is to go to Mogilev to find his whereabouts and rescue him when the time is right."

After hearing what Sokov said, Zhukov almost slammed the table. For the sake of a captured artillery lieutenant, he actually came to him to borrow a plane and wanted to go to the Mogilev area to rescue him from the prisoner-of-war camp.

But just as his palm was about to hit the table, a name suddenly popped up in his mind, which made him shudder all over, and then he calmed down. He looked at Sokov and pointed to the ceiling with one hand: "Is the artillery lieutenant you mentioned related to it?"

"That's right." It's easier to talk to smart people. After seeing Zhukov understood what he wanted to say, Sokov continued, "In order to rescue him, the Ministry of Internal Affairs specially sent out a three-person action team, and I was just a temporary recruit."

Zhukov stood up and asked Sokov, "What's your name and which unit are you from?"

"Comrade General," Sokov said quickly when Zhukov asked him, "I am Major Sokov, General Potapov's adjutant!"

"Major Sokov?" Zhukov had a puzzled look on his face. "I seem to have heard of this name somewhere?"

Sokov said nothing, but just stood there silently.

Zhukov walked up to Sokov, looked him up and down, and said puzzledly: "I seem to have seen you somewhere, but I can't remember where."

When Sokov heard what Zhukov said, he muttered to himself: In the last life, I was one of your most respected subordinates. I even visited you to wish you a happy new year in 1946. However, he could think about these things but could not say them out loud, lest Zhukov think he was crazy.

Seeing that Sokov didn't say anything, Zhukov didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he said in a friendly manner, "My chief of staff, Lieutenant General Sokolovsky, is next door. Go find him now and contact him about borrowing the plane."

Sokov agreed, raised his hand to salute Zhukov, turned and walked out of the office.

Watching Haosokov's back disappear from the door, Zhukov returned to the table, picked up the phone, and said to the topic: "This is Zhukov, connect me to the Fifth Army Headquarters, looking for General Potapov!"

(End of this chapter)