red moscow

Chapter 2915

After listening to Rokossovsky's words, Alekhin asked tentatively: "Comrade General, which university did this soldier study mechanical engineering at?"

"Well, I'm not sure about that," Rokossovsky replied uncertainly, "It seems he went to college."

Alehin frowned slightly and continued to ask, "Has he ever participated in the research and development or manufacturing of light weapons?"

Rokossovsky shook his head slowly: "I don't think he was involved."

Alehin put on a serious face and said in a serious tone: "Weapon research and development is a very rigorous job. Even a senior weapon expert needs to spend several years to develop a weapon that can barely be used. Comrade General, I don't think a young man who has never been to college and has no experience in weapon research and development and manufacturing can design a weapon suitable for use on the battlefield. Therefore, I don't think it is necessary to waste precious time on him."

After hearing what Alehin said, Rokossovsky hesitated. He felt that what the other party said made sense. The soldier recommended by Sokov to him was not a graduate of a prestigious school, nor had any experience in military production. How could he develop a weapon overnight? It seemed that there was really no need for him to waste his precious time on such things.

"Comrade Alehin!" Just as Rokossovsky hesitated, Lobachev spoke up and expressed his opinion: "I think that no matter whether this soldier graduated from a prestigious school or has experience in weapons manufacturing, his hard work should not be easily denied. This will dampen his enthusiasm for work."

"Comrade Military Commissar," Malinin asked cautiously after hearing what Lobachev said, "Do you think we should let Comrade Alekhin take a look at the blueprints after they are delivered?"

"Yes, that's what I mean." Lobachev said this and turned to Alekhin: "What do you think, Comrade Alekhin?"

Although Alehin was unwilling in his heart, since this question was asked by the military commissar Lobachev, no matter how reluctant he was, he had to bite the bullet and said, "Okay, Comrade Military Commissar, since you said so, then after the drawings are delivered, I will see how they are drawn and whether they have any reference value."

An hour later, the drawings drawn by Khabarov arrived.

Malinin placed the cylinder containing the blueprint in front of Alekhin and said politely, "Comrade Alekhin, this is the blueprint of the new rifle sent by the Infantry Brigade. Please take a look!"

Alehin snorted coldly, reluctantly opened the lid of the cylinder, pulled out the rolled-up drawing from it, placed it on the table, slowly unfolded it, and lowered his head to examine it.

At first, his face was full of disdain. He didn't think that a young man who had never been to college and had no experience in military production could design any amazing new weapons. But after watching for a while, his expression changed. First he was shocked, then he was solemn, and his attitude changed from the initial perfunctory to serious.

Seeing Alehin repeatedly looking through the two drawings, Malinin could not help but ask, "Comrade Alehin, how good are these drawings? Can you make a sample gun according to the drawings?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Alehin slapped his hand on the table and said excitedly: "This drawing is simply amazing!"

He turned his head to look at Rokossovsky and asked curiously, "Comrade General, is it true that the person who drew this picture has never been to college and has no experience in military production?"

"Probably not." Rokossovsky said uncertainly: "If he really went to college, I'm afraid that after the war broke out, even if he couldn't join the navy, he would be able to enter an academy for further study. How could he be an ordinary soldier in the army?"

Alehin asked cautiously: "Comrade General, can I see this soldier?"

Rokossovsky was a little surprised: "Do you want to meet the soldier who drew the blueprint?"

"Yes, I want to meet him." Alehin said with emotion: "I originally thought he was an ignorant person who thought he could be a weapon designer just by drawing two pictures. But after looking at his drawings, I found that I was wrong. Maybe there really are geniuses in this world. Apart from other things, just the drawing technique, without more than ten years of practice, it is impossible to draw so well."

"So this drawing is very valuable?" asked Malinin.

"Yes, it is very valuable." Alehin continued, "But there are still some details that I don't quite understand, so I want to meet him as soon as possible and ask him in person."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Rokossovsky judged from the change in Alekhin's attitude that the Armament Department might really be able to produce new light weapons based on this blueprint, and hurriedly ordered Malinin: "Call back the soldier who delivered the blueprint, and have him take Comrade Alekhin to the Infantry Brigade."

After arranging for someone to send Alekhin to the infantry brigade's defense zone, Rokossovsky thought he should still talk to Sokov so that he would know what was going on. So he called the infantry brigade headquarters: "Misha, this is Rokossovsky!"

"Hello, Comrade Commander!" Sokov guessed that Rokossovsky might be calling him to talk about the two drawings drawn by Khabarov, so he asked tentatively: "Have you seen the two drawings of the new rifle?"

"Yes, I have seen it." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "In addition to me, the Military Committee, and the Chief of Staff, there is also a weapons expert from the Armament Department who has seen the drawings you sent. After reading the drawings, the weapons expert praised the draftsman and even couldn't wait to meet the designer. I have arranged for someone to send him to the defense zone of your brigade. Remember to entertain him well."

Upon learning that the drawings drawn by Khabarov were approved by the weapons expert, he was overjoyed and said repeatedly: "Comrade Commander, don't worry, I will definitely receive this weapons expert well."

After Sokov put down the phone, he said to the people in the tent: "Comrade Commander called and said that the drawings drawn by Khabarov were approved by a weapons expert from the Armament Department."

Hearing Sokov's words, Karsokov's eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade Brigade Commander, is what you said true? Did Khabarov's weapon drawings really get the approval of weapons experts?"

"Of course it's true." Sokov said with a smile, "And the weapons expert is on his way to us. The commander asked us to receive him well."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, I think the weapons expert came here to see Comrade Khabarov." Karsokov asked, "Should we call Khabarov over?"

"Yes, yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right. The weapons experts came here just for Khabarov. What would happen if others came but he was not here?" Sokov said to Romanov, "Romanov, go call Khabarov over and tell him that there is something important."

Romanov agreed, stood up and walked out of the tent.

Unexpectedly, just as he reached the door of the tent, Sokov called him: "Romanov, wait a moment!" Hearing Sokov's voice, Romanov stopped, turned around and looked at Sokov with strange eyes, wanting to hear what the other party had to say.

Sokov thought that the weapons expert came here, in addition to meeting Khabarov and discussing the concept of designing this new weapon with him, he might also take him away. He had finally found Khabarov, how could he let him leave his side casually. It was for this reason that he called Romanov and prepared to go to Khabarov in person and discuss with him what to do next.

"You don't have to go. I'll go find Khabarov myself."

Sokov came alone to the tent where Khabarov lived, called him out, and said to him: "Anton, walk with me."

Khabarov nodded and followed Sokov to a deserted place nearby.

When they were far enough away from the tent, Khabarov stopped and asked Sokov: "Misha, why did you call me out?"

"Anton, after your drawings were sent to the army headquarters, he happened to meet a weapons expert from the weapons and equipment department. After he saw the drawings you drew, he praised them highly." Sokov said, "He is on his way now."

Khabarov grinned and said, "You know, the AK47 is a world-famous gun. Any military worker with a little bit of experience can see that this gun is extraordinary."

"Yeah, I think so too." Sokov didn't know when the weapons expert would arrive, so he didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "I think the weapons expert came here for two reasons: one is to meet you in person and ask about your design ideas..."

"What about the other purpose?"

"Another purpose should be to bring you to the weapons and equipment department and let you design more weapons there."

When Khabarov heard that the other party might take him to the Armament Department, he was unhappy: "Misha, I can't go to the Armament Department. If I go there, I'm afraid you and I won't have any chance to meet. How can we return to the future then?"

"That's right. I came here to see you because I was worried about this." Sokov said to Khabarov, "We need to discuss a way to reject the weapons expert's invitation to you."

The two discussed for a long time and finally came up with a good idea. If the weapons experts wanted Khabarov to go to the weapons and equipment department to continue designing more new weapons, Khabarov would tell them that he wanted to stay on the front line so that he could get more inspiration for designing new weapons in the battle with the enemy.

After the discussion, Sokov took Khabarov to the brigade headquarters.

When he arrived at the brigade headquarters, Sokov saw a middle-aged man in military uniform standing in the tent. He guessed that he should be the weapons expert from the army headquarters.

Before Sokov could speak, Karsokov took the initiative to introduce him: "Comrade Brigade Commander, this is Comrade Alehin, the weapons expert from the army headquarters. Comrade Alehin, this is our brigade commander."

When Alekhin saw how young Sokov was, he was surprised. But he soon regained his composure, shook Sokov's hand, and asked politely, "Hello, Comrade Commander, I'm sure you have received a call from General Rokossovsky."

"Yes, Comrade Alekhin, the commander has informed me that you will soon join our troops and asked me to entertain you well." Sokov said, pulling Khabarov behind him and said, "Let me introduce you. This is Anton Khabarov. He drew the two drawings you saw."

Upon learning that the blueprint was drawn by the young man in front of him, Alehin's face showed shock again: "Young man, did you really draw this blueprint?"

"That's right, Comrade Alekhin." Khabarov nodded and gave the other party an affirmative answer: "I drew this blueprint."

"Comrade Khabarov, I have to say that this new weapon you designed is very unique, but I have a question for you."

"Excuse me."

"According to your markings on the blueprint, this new rifle can fire both like a submachine gun and like a rifle." Alekhin looked at Khabarov and asked the question in his mind: "As we all know, submachine guns use pistol bullets, while rifles use rifle bullets. Which bullet do you plan to use for this new weapon that has the characteristics of both submachine guns and rifles?"

"Comrade Alekhin, if we use pistol bullets, the power of this gun may not be strong enough; but if we use rifle bullets, this weapon with an extremely fast firing rate will increase the amount of bullets and weight that the soldiers carry, which is obviously not advisable. Therefore, I think that in addition to this weapon, we should also design a new type of bullet that is between pistol bullets and rifle bullets." Khabarov continued according to his own ideas: "According to my idea, this is a short-barreled bullet with powerful lethality, with a size of 7.62×39 mm..."

When Alekhin was listening to Khabarov's explanation, he sometimes frowned and sometimes was delighted. It seemed that what Khabarov explained benefited him a lot.

After Khabarov had finally finished his story, Alekhin told him his origins: "Comrade Khabarov, I am here for two purposes: one is to understand your design ideas for this new rifle; the other is to have you follow me to the weapons and equipment department and strive to design more excellent weapons."

Khabarov quickly exchanged a glance with Sokov, and told him with his eyes: "It seems that you guessed right. The other party really wants to invite me to the weapons and equipment department."

He turned to look at Alehin and said apologetically: "Comrade Alehin, I'm so sorry, I may have let you down."

Alehin was shocked when he heard this, and then asked: "Comrade Khabarov, don't you want to go to the Armaments Department and let your talents be displayed there?"

"Comrade Alekhin, thank you for your kindness, but I think it's better for me to stay at the front." In order to dispel Alekhin's idea of ​​sending him to the Armament Department, Khabarov followed the words he had discussed with Sokov in advance and continued: "I think staying at the front and fighting the enemy may trigger more inspiration for me to design weapons."

Khabarov's words immediately left Alekhin speechless.

(End of this chapter)