red moscow

Chapter 3056

During the meal, Sokov kept glancing at Dovator, who was chatting and laughing with Rokossovsky, and kept thinking about how to remind him that in tomorrow's battle, he must not be the first to charge into the enemy lines, or he would be in mortal danger. More importantly, it wasn't just Dovator who would be sacrificed, but also the entire cavalry corps command. Tomorrow's battle would be the darkest chapter in the history of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps.

Although Sokov and Dovator were not far apart, he still didn't know how to bring it up to warn the other. He couldn't very well say, "If you go into battle tomorrow, your life will be in danger. You'd better not go into battle."

And so it went on until the end of dinner, and Sokov still hadn't found a suitable opportunity.

“Comrade Commander!” Dovator stood up and said to Rokossovsky, “Thank you for your hospitality. I must return to my unit now. Until we meet again.” With that, he shook hands with Rokossovsky and turned to leave.

Seeing that Dovator was about to leave the headquarters, Sokov quickly stood up, intending to follow him out to find a quiet place to subtly remind him to be careful in tomorrow's battle to avoid any danger to his life. However, just as he was about to take his leave, Malinin called out to him, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, don't rush off. I have something to tell you."

Sokov's facial muscles twitched. He turned to face Malinin and asked with a bitter expression, "Comrade Chief of Staff, what are your instructions?"

“I just called the logistics department, and they said the weapons and ammunition they’re replenishing should arrive around noon tomorrow.” Malinin didn’t notice the strange look on Sokov’s face and continued, “When you get back, remember to tell your men to collect them on time.”

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov, eager to find Dovator, replied casually, "I'll arrange it, don't worry."

After saying that, Sokov left the command post as quickly as possible, wanting to find Dovator as soon as possible.

But when he stepped out of the headquarters, he couldn't find any trace of Dovator. He quickly pulled over a sentry and asked urgently, "Have you seen General Dovator?"

“General Dovator?” The sentry paused, then shook his head and said, “I’m sorry, Lieutenant Colonel, I don’t know any General Dovator.”

"That's the general who came out of headquarters a few minutes ago."

"Oh, so you're talking about him." The sentry nodded and replied with certainty, "I saw him."

"Where is he now?"

"He went in that direction," the sentry said, pointing to the road on his right. "He left on horseback."

Is he a person?

“No.” The sentry shook his head and continued, “When he came, he brought four cavalrymen with him. When he entered the headquarters, those cavalrymen were waiting for him outside. Just now, after he came out, he took the four cavalrymen and headed that way.”

Upon hearing this, Sokov stomped his foot in anger. Since Dovator had left on horseback, he certainly couldn't catch up with him on foot. Was he just going to watch him go to his death?
Just as they were getting anxious, a three-wheeled motorcycle drove up and stopped at the entrance of the headquarters.

As soon as the car came to a stop, the officer who had been sitting in the sidecar got out and walked quickly into the house.

“Comrade soldier!” Sokov walked up to the motorcycle and asked the motorcyclist, “Which unit are you from, and what are you doing here?”

The motorcyclist did not answer, but stared at Sokov with a wary look.

“I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the brigade commander of the infantry brigade. Most of the troops in the village are my subordinates.” After identifying himself, Sokov explained his purpose directly: “I need to catch up with a commander and I need to temporarily requisition your motorcycle. I asked which unit you belong to because I was worried that requisitioning the vehicle would delay your important business.”

“Comrade Lieutenant Colonel!” After understanding Sokov’s intention, the motorcyclist quickly replied, “I am from the army group headquarters, ordered to escort a staff officer back to headquarters. Now that my mission is complete, I am at your disposal.”

Sokov sat in the sidecar, pointed in the direction Dovator had gone, and said to the motorcyclist, "Go along this road and catch up with the five men on horseback."

The motorcyclist agreed, started his motorcycle, and chased after Dovator along the village path.

After the motorcycle left the village and traveled a distance further, Sokov saw several people on horseback ahead and became excited, urging the motorcyclist, "Those are the people ahead, hurry up and catch up with them!"

Soon, the motorcycle caught up with Dovator and the others.

"Comrade General!" Sokov shouted to Dovator as his motorcycle rode alongside the riders, "I have something important to tell you."

Dovator recognized Sokov and quickly pulled on the reins, then called to his men, "Stop! Stop!"

After the horses stopped, Dovator dismounted and approached Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what important matter brings you here in such a hurry?" "Comrade General, may I speak with you in private?"

Dovator followed Sokov to a spot away from the others and asked bluntly, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, why did you rush over here? Does the Commander have some important instructions for me?"

“No, Comrade General,” Sokov said, shaking his head. “I came to see you not because the Commander had any instructions, but because I have something important to tell you.”

"What's important?"

“I had a dream yesterday.” Sokov couldn’t tell the truth directly, so he could only use a dream to remind Dovator: “I dreamt that you were leading your troops in an attack on the enemy positions across the Ruza River when you were unfortunately killed by machine gun fire. I came here specifically to remind you. It’s best not to participate in the battle tomorrow, lest you be in danger.”

To everyone's surprise, Dovator burst into laughter: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, how could you take a dream so seriously? But I still thank you for your kindness."

Sokov realized that Dovator didn't believe him at all, and he became a little anxious: "Comrade General, please believe me, everything I said is true."

"I believe you, I believe you, of course I believe you," Dovator said dismissively. "It's getting late, you should go back first..."

“Comrade General, I’m telling the truth, I’m not joking with you,” Sokov said solemnly. “Comrade Political Commissar Karasov and your adjutant Teshman also sacrificed their lives with you.”

"Comrade Commander, is there something you need from me?" A rider appeared next to Dovator.

"No, I wasn't looking for you, Comrade Teshman."

Sokov was taken aback when he heard Dovator say this, and wondered if this man was Dovator's adjutant, Teichmann? Although he had a German name, he had a typical Asian appearance.

"But I think I heard you saying my name."

"Your name is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Dovator paused, then asked Sokov in surprise, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, although I've dealt with you a few times, I don't think I've ever told you my adjutant's name. How do you know his name?"

"Would you believe me if I said I heard it in a dream?"

Dovator pondered Sokov's statement for a long time before shaking his head and saying, "Although I have doubts about what you said, seeing that you came all the way to inform me means it must be true."

Sokov was delighted to see that Dovator had tactfully expressed his belief in him, and quickly pressed his advantage, saying, "Comrade General, since you believe what I'm saying, you'd better stay in the command post tomorrow and not go anywhere, lest you be in danger."

“Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I thank you once again for your reminder,” Dovator said solemnly. “But it is clearly impossible for me to avoid fighting. How can I, as the commander of a cavalry corps, hide in the back and refuse to participate in the battle because I am afraid of danger while my men are fighting the enemy? What would my men think of me as their commander if I did that?”

When Sokov heard Dovator say this, his heart sank to the bottom. Since Dovator did not agree with his proposal, even if he continued to talk, he probably could not change the other party's mind. It seems that some things are destined by fate, and no matter how capable he is, he cannot change them.

"Comrade General!" Sokov said to Dovator before leaving, "I've said everything I can. Since you don't want to stay in the command post, I can only hope you're safe and sound. If anything happens to you, it will be a huge loss for the cavalry."

Dovator and his men rode away on horseback. The motorcyclist dismounted and approached Sokov, tentatively asking, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what are we going to do next?"

"Comrade soldier, do you know where the brigade headquarters of an infantry brigade is located?"

Hearing Sokov's question, the motorcyclist became wary again: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, why are you asking this?"

From the other person's expression, Sokov immediately realized that the other person might have misunderstood, and quickly explained, "I asked you if you knew where the infantry brigade headquarters was because I was planning to go directly back to the brigade headquarters myself."

"I see, I understand now." The motorcyclist gestured for him to get on the motorcycle. "Lieutenant Colonel, please get on!"

The motorcycle quickly arrived at the entrance of the infantry brigade's command post.

The sentry guarding the gate saw a motorcycle approaching and assumed someone was delivering documents. He hurried over, but was surprised to see Sokov sitting in the sidecar. He immediately stopped and saluted Sokov, saying, "Hello, Comrade Brigade Commander!"

(End of this chapter)