red moscow

Chapter 3140

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the window. Asya had breakfast with Sokov before hurrying off to work at the military hospital.

After a short while, Gulia walked lightly to Sokov, bowed slightly, and asked respectfully, "Comrade General, would you like me to take you outside for a walk? The weather is quite nice today."

Seeing that Sokov nodded in agreement, Gulia immediately and carefully pushed his wheelchair out of the villa.

The air in the courtyard was fresh and slightly cool in the early morning. Sokov took a deep breath and suddenly realized that although he had been appointed as the deputy commander of the Odessa Military District, he knew almost nothing about the overall situation of the district. This unfamiliarity made him vaguely uneasy—after all, without a detailed background to support him, his subsequent work would inevitably encounter many obstacles.

Thinking of this, he turned his head and tentatively asked Gulia, who was pushing the wheelchair, "Gulia, can you tell me about the Odessa Military Region?"

Upon hearing Sokov's question, Gulia hesitated for a moment, as if considering where to begin. She then countered, "Comrade General, what specific aspects would you like to know?"

“Just say whatever you want,” Sokov said calmly but firmly. “Since I’m going to work here, it won’t hurt to know more about the military district.”

Gulia nodded slightly, her gaze somewhat distant, as if she were retrieving information from her memory. She paused for a moment, then spoke:
"Shortly after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, the main field forces of the Odessa Military District were reorganized into the 9th Army, with General Cherevichenko, the former commander of the military district, serving as the army commander. At the same time, the military district itself was not abolished and continued to be responsible for tasks such as mobilization, conscription, logistical support, and daily administration."

On June 25, after the formal establishment of the Southern Front Army, the Odessa Military District was placed under its command.

On July 19, troops deployed by the military region in the Crimean region were reorganized and formed into an independent coastal group army.

On August 19, due to changes in the battle lines, the military district headquarters moved to Pavlograd.

On September 19, the Odessa Military District was officially dissolved by the Supreme Command.

Upon hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but interject, "Then, Lieutenant Gulia, when was the Odessa Military District rebuilt?"

“It was on March 22, 1944,” Gulya continued smoothly. “At that time, our army had recovered a large area of ​​territory in southern Ukraine, and the Odessa Military District was able to be re-established. The military district headquarters was initially located in Kirovoglar, and it was not moved back to Odessa until October of the same year.”

"What areas are currently under the jurisdiction of the military district?" Sokov continued to press.

“Currently, the military district's jurisdiction covers Odessa Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Nikolaev Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Kirovograd Oblast, the Crimean Republic, and Moldavia.” Gulia spoke steadily, clearly very familiar with this information. She paused briefly, then added, “However, the Tafli Military District was newly established in July 1945, and the Crimean and Kherson Oblasts, which were originally under our jurisdiction, were placed under its administration.”

"Besides Marshal Zhukov and Lieutenant General Lukin, who are the other main leaders of the military region?" Sokov inquired further.

“Besides you and Lieutenant General Lukin, the military district has two deputy commanders, Lieutenant General Bilyuzov and Lieutenant General Kreizel,” Gulia replied. “And the military commissioner of the district is General Krenyukov…” The sound of brakes came from outside the villa. Sokov looked in the direction of the sound and saw a black sedan parked outside the gate. He blurted out, “Gulia, go see if it’s the Marshal?”

But Gulia shook her head: "No, Comrade General! Although I can't see the license plate, judging from the appearance of the vehicle, it should be Deputy Commander Lukin's vehicle."

Sokov remained silent, his eyes fixed on the black sedan, trying to see who was getting out.

The passenger-side door opened, and an internal affairs lieutenant stepped out. He quickly went to the back seat, bent down, and opened the door. Perhaps worried that the person inside might bump their head when getting out, he even used his hand to block the top of the door.

"It really is Lukin." Sokov thought to himself when he recognized Lukin as the person getting out of the car. He hadn't expected Gulia to have such keen observation skills; it was a bit of a waste to have her as his bodyguard. He should arrange a more suitable position for her when the time was right.

The guard in the gatehouse caught a glimpse of Lu Jin appearing outside the iron gate. He quickly straightened his collar, hurried out, and expertly opened the heavy iron gate. He stood up straight, saluted, and said respectfully, "Comrade Deputy Commander, please come in! Welcome!"

Lukin nodded slightly and thanked the guard, "Thank you, comrade." He then strode steadily into the courtyard. Sunlight streamed onto the gravel path, illuminating his tall figure. The lieutenant from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who had opened the car door for him followed closely behind, his steps light and alert, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

But Lukin only took a few steps before suddenly stopping and turning to face the lieutenant. His tone was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority: “Comrade Lieutenant, I’m just coming in to say a few words to General Sokov. It won’t take long. You can wait for me outside; it’s safe here.”

The lieutenant immediately stood at attention and saluted, replying succinctly, "Yes, Deputy Commander!" He then turned and strode out of the courtyard, returning to the car outside the iron gate.

Lukin continued walking forward and came to Sokov, who was sitting in a wheelchair. He extended his right hand, shook hands with him, and asked with concern, "Misha, how are you feeling today? Is your injury any better?"

Sokov chuckled and replied, "I'm alright. My injuries are improving. Asya said I'm recovering well and might be fully healed soon. Thank you for your concern." His voice, though somewhat weak, carried an optimistic air.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lukin's expression turned slightly serious. He explained his purpose: "Misha, the resettlement plan we discussed at the hospital the day before yesterday was rejected by Marshal Zhukov. I just received a notification that it seems we need to reconsider."

Upon hearing Lukin's words, Sokov merely nodded slightly, his expression calm, and replied casually, "Yes, I knew this proposal would certainly be rejected. In fact, Marshal Zhukov visited me yesterday and specifically mentioned the proposal you submitted." Sokov then reiterated to Lukin Zhukov's remarks from the previous day—concerns about strategic planning and resource allocation—including the Marshal's emphasis on overall coordination and current practical needs.

After listening, Lukin's expression became exceptionally serious, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he were deeply pondering the deeper meaning behind Zhukov's words. He remained silent for a moment, gazing into the distance, as if weighing various factors in his mind.

After a long silence, he slowly nodded, his tone tinged with emotion, and said, "Marshal Zhukov is right. He considers the issue from a more comprehensive perspective. We have oversimplified the problem, only seeing the part and not the big picture. This afternoon when I go to headquarters, I will talk to him in person, listen to his opinions further, and adjust our plans accordingly."

(End of this chapter)