red moscow

Chapter 2931

Sokov never dreamed that he would meet Lukin, who had not yet been captured by the German army. For the sake of his safety, it would be better to send him back to his own defense zone as soon as possible.

If the bridge over the Ruza River had not been blown up, he would have ordered Laev to lead two companies of troops to escort the two generals and their men back to the defense zone of the infantry brigade. But now that the bridge had been blown up, it was impossible to return by the original route. If they took a detour from other sections, they would inevitably encounter the enemy. He was worried that Laev would not be able to get rid of the enemy and send Lukin and others back to the defense zone safely.

Just when Sokov was feeling embarrassed, Khabarov came over with a medic.

Seeing this, Sokov quickly ordered the medical officer: "Medical officer, quickly help the general check the injury on his leg."

The medic agreed, quickly came to the stretcher, and helped Lukin check the injury on his leg.

Seeing a medical worker helping Lukin check his injuries, Bolkin stood aside and supervised the examination process out of concern for his comrade.

Khabarov pulled Sokov aside and asked in confusion: "Misha, what's going on? According to historical records, wasn't Lukin injured and captured during the Vyazma breakout? How come he is here again?"

Sokov looked around cautiously and, after finding no one nearby, he whispered, "Anton, haven't you read Marshal Rokossovsky's war memoirs?"

"No, I haven't read it." Khabarov shook his head and asked, "What did Marshal Rokossovsky write in his memoirs?"

"According to the records in the memoirs," Sokov explained to Khabarov when he saw that he really didn't seem to have read the book, "Borkin and Lukin broke out together, but on their way back to our army, they were ambushed by the Germans one night. After a short battle, they broke out separately from different directions, so they didn't notice that Lukin had fallen behind. Later, we learned that Lukin lost consciousness due to his severe injuries on the night of the enemy attack and was unfortunately captured by the enemy."

Khabarov touched his nose and asked, "What should we do next? Should we continue to the designated location, take out the combat supplies hidden in the arsenal, and harass the enemy nearby; or should we collectively escort the two generals back to our defense zone?"

"Since there is a chance to save Lieutenant General Lukin from being captured, we must do everything we can to escort him back to our defense zone safely." Sokov said hesitantly, "But if we escort them back to our defense zone, then we will not be able to continue our mission of disrupting the enemy's rear."

"Misha, I think escorting Lukin and his men back to our defense zone does not conflict with continuing to carry out the mission assigned to us by our superiors." Khabarov explained his point of view to Sokov: "We can split our forces into two groups. One group will continue to the pre-selected location, take out the combat supplies stored in the hidden arsenal, and launch combat operations nearby; while the other group will have these two generals and their subordinates return to our defense zone."

Sokov waited for Khabarov to finish speaking, then sneered and asked, "Anton, please tell me, if the troops are divided into two groups, which group should I be in?"

Khabarov didn't expect Sokov to suddenly ask this question, and for a moment he didn't know what to do.

Seeing that Khabarov was slow to speak, Sokov continued, "If I lead the team to the hidden arsenal to extract the combat supplies inside, and someone else escorts Generals Lukin and Bolkin back to the defense zone, do you think I can rest assured? If I personally escort the two generals back and another commander leads the team to the arsenal, do you think he can make full use of these combat supplies?"

Sokov's series of questions made Khabarov want to cry. He thought to himself that Sokov was right. No matter which side he was in charge of, he would be worried about the people and things on the other side.

"Misha, do you want to withdraw directly?"

"I do think so."

After hearing what Sokov said, Khabarov couldn't help but worry about him: "But if you do this, I'm afraid you will be reprimanded by your superiors."

"I plan to report the situation here to the commander," Sokov said. "What we do next depends on how the headquarters responds."

Just as Sokov was about to call the radio operator to send a telegram to the army headquarters, the medical officer had already checked Lukin's injuries and came to report to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the general's leg injury is very serious. If it is not treated in time, I am afraid it will have to be amputated."

Sokov didn't want the tragedy of his previous life to repeat itself and make Lukin a disabled person again. He made a decisive decision and said to Khabarov: "Anton, you heard it too. If he is not treated in time, Lieutenant General Lukin will become a disabled person. I have made up my mind. I will send a telegram to the army headquarters immediately to report the situation here and let them arrange our next move."

"Okay, Misha." Since Sokov had made the decision, Khabarov could not object any more. He readily agreed and turned to find the radio operator.

After Khabarov left, Sokov saw the medic still standing beside him and asked curiously, "Comrade medic, why don't you go take care of Comrade General? Why are you standing here with me?"

"Comrade Brigade Commander, there is one more thing I haven't had time to report to you."

Sokov was surprised when he heard this, and then asked, "What's the matter?"

"General, they must have been out of food for a while." The medic whispered, "When I checked Comrade General's injuries just now, I saw that the soldiers standing around him were all pale and thin. They must have not eaten for several days."

Sokov raised his hand and slapped his forehead. He had taken in many defeated soldiers and naturally knew what it was like for soldiers who had been without food for several days. But just now, all his attention was focused on Lukin, and he forgot to observe the soldiers around him.

He looked around and saw Laev and Olga standing together, whispering something.

"Captain Laev, Captain Olga!" Sokov shouted to the two men, "Come here!" Hearing Sokov's call, the two men hurriedly ran to Sokov and asked respectfully, "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you have any instructions?"

Sokov nodded in the direction of Lukin and Bolkin and said, "The medical officer told me that the two generals and their subordinates will be out of food for a while. Ask the soldiers to give them some dry food."

Laev was shocked and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

"Wait a minute, Comrade Captain." But Sokov stopped him and warned him: "People who have been hungry for too long should not eat too much, otherwise their lives will be in danger."

"Comrade Captain," the medic said before Laev could speak, "Let me tell you how to provide food for our comrades in the friendly army."

When Laev and Olga went back to greet the soldiers and provide food for Lukin and Bolkin's men, Khabarov came back with the radio operator: "Misha, the radio operator is here!"

"Comrade radio operator." When the radio operator came to him, Sokov began to instruct him: "Send a telegram to the army headquarters immediately, saying that we unexpectedly met Generals Lukin and Bolkin and some of their men in the area west of Borechevo. General Lukin's leg is seriously injured. If he cannot be treated in time, he may have to be amputated. The bridge on the way back has been blown up by me. If we send someone to escort the two generals back, their safety along the way may be difficult to guarantee. I am sending a telegram to ask for instructions on what to do next."

A few minutes later, the army headquarters received Sokov's telegram.

After reading the contents of the telegram, the chief of staff showed a surprised expression on his face. He rushed to Rokossovsky and said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov sent a telegram saying that his troops unexpectedly met Generals Lukin and Bolkin and some of their subordinates in the area west of Borechevo."

"Really?" Rokossovsky was surprised and delighted when he heard Malinin say that. He snatched the telegram from Malinin's hand and read it carefully. After reading it, he nodded repeatedly and said, "Great, this is really great."

Seeing Lobachev approaching, Rokossovsky thrust the telegram into his hand and said in a trembling voice: "Comrade Military Commissar, look, the counterattack troops led by Misha actually encountered Generals Lukin and Bolkin in the area west of Borechevo."

After reading the contents of the telegram, Lobachev could not help but frown slightly. "Comrade Commander, that place is not close to us. Besides, the bridge over the Ruza River was blown up by Vera Sokov to prevent them from being attacked from the rear when they captured Borechevo. It is definitely unrealistic to return by the original route, but if we take other routes, I am afraid the safety of the two generals will be difficult to guarantee."

"Comrade Military Commissar, it's nothing." Malinin said disapprovingly, "We can ask Lieutenant Colonel Sokov to allocate some of his men to escort the two generals back."

“No.” As soon as he finished speaking, Rokossovsky rejected his proposal: “Misha’s troops are not many to begin with. If he is asked to send some of them to escort Lukin and Bolkin, it may weaken their ability to strike the enemy.”

"Comrade Commander, what are you going to do?" Lobachev looked at Rokossovsky and carefully expressed his thoughts: "I think if we want Lukin and Bolkin to return here safely, I'm afraid we have to let Lieutenant Colonel Sokov escort them personally."

Rokossovsky did not expect Lobachev to make such a suggestion to him, and he could not help but look at him in surprise.

But the next moment, Rokossovsky remembered that when the war broke out, Lukin was the commander of the 16th Army, and Lobachev was his military commissar at the time. Lobachev made this suggestion to him, no doubt because he was worried about the safety of his old partner.

After thinking it through, Rokossovsky slowed down his tone and said to Lobachev: "Comrade Military Commissar, your proposal makes sense, and I agree with it very much. But for now, I cannot give Sokov the order to escort Lukin. After all, they are now near Borechevo, and it was Zhukov who gave them the order himself."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Lobachev nodded and said repeatedly: "This matter should be reported to General Zhukov immediately, so that he can make the decision."

Zhukov was also very excited when he received a call from Rokossovsky and learned that Lukin and Bolkin were still alive: "Koschka, are you sure that Lukin is still alive?"

"That's what Misha said in the telegram. He also specifically mentioned that Comrade Lukin's legs were injured. If he can't get treatment in time, there is a risk of amputation." Rokossovsky didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "Now that the bridge over the Luza River has been blown up, it is impossible to return by the original route. In this case, we must choose another path to return to our defense zone. As you know, it is in the German-controlled area, and it is very difficult to ensure safety along the way."

Zhukov was silent when he learned that Lukin's leg was seriously injured. If it was an ordinary general, he would at most ask a few questions, but Lukin's situation was different. He was a commander who was highly regarded by the Supreme Commander himself. A few hours ago, he called him to ask if there was any news about Lukin. Unexpectedly, Rokossovsky called him at this moment to tell him that he had found Lukin's whereabouts. What made him worried was how to send him back safely.

Zhukov's first thought was to send a plane to pick up Generals Lukin and Bolkin. But then he thought, the exact location of the troops is unknown, and even if he sends a plane, it will be difficult to find their whereabouts. Moreover, the area is controlled by the German army. What if the plane is shot down by ground anti-aircraft artillery?
"Koschka!" Zhukov asked sternly, "What do you think we should do?"

"Comrade General, I think it is no longer necessary for Somisha to continue to stay behind enemy lines with his troops." Rokossovsky said cautiously, "Why not let him withdraw his troops under the pretext of escorting Lukin and Bolkin?"

Zhukov thought about Rokossovsky's proposal for less than a minute before making a decision: "Koschka, since you said so, let Lieutenant Colonel Sokov lead his men back. Remember, you must tell me to ensure the safety of Generals Lukin and Bolkin at all costs."

"Comrade General, don't worry." Rokossovsky assured Zhukov: "I will convey your words to him."

After hanging up the phone, Rokossovsky breathed a sigh of relief and said to Lobachev, "Comrade Military Commissar, Zhukov has agreed to let Sokov lead the team to escort Lukin and Bolkin back to our defense zone. Comrade Chief of Staff!" He then said to Malinin, "Call Misha back and tell him that their mission behind enemy lines has been completed. The next thing to do is to bring Generals Lukin and Bolkin back to our defense zone safely."

"That's great, that's really great." Malinin smiled happily after hearing what Rokossovsky said. "I was worried that if Lieutenant Colonel Sokov continued to stay behind enemy lines, his life would be in danger sooner or later. If we let them withdraw, we can save their lives."

(End of this chapter)