Red Moscow

Chapter 2430

Coming out of the Ministry of Defense building, Sokov suddenly stopped and turned to ask Yakov: "How many kilograms are equal to 1 pood?"

Yakov was stunned when Sokov asked: "Misha, why are you asking this?"

“Don’t ask, tell me quickly, how many kilograms is equal to 1 pood?”

Although Yakov didn't know why Sokov asked this question, he still answered truthfully: "The pood was one of the main measurement units during the Tsarist period, 1 pood = 40 Russian pounds = 16.38 kilograms."

The reason why Sokov suddenly asked this question was because he remembered that there was a famine in Ukraine in 1946. Since basically all the people were hungry, the relevant departments had to set up porridge shacks in serious famine areas to solve the famine problem. .

There are two main reasons why famine occurs in Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe.

 First, although the war is over, the damage caused by the war has not been completely repaired. The war between the Soviet Union and Germany on this land caused great damage to the local area. A large number of casualties caused a sharp reduction in the labor force, so that at that time, most of the people working in the fields in Ukraine were women.

 Second, after World War II, the Soviet Union was in a state of chaos all over the country. In order to quickly recover from the trauma caused by the war, the Soviet Union began to increase the expropriation of Ukrainian grain. Stalin personally set the amount of grain collection for that year at 400 million poods, equivalent to 6.552 billion kilograms of grain.

Sokov knew in his heart that it was the excessive expropriation of grain before the Ukrainian agricultural economy had been completely restored that led to the famine. If he went to Ukraine and became Khrushchev's deputy, he would probably be responsible for a large-scale famine. A gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall, but hides himself as far away as possible.

"Misha," Yakov saw Sokov standing there in a daze, so he shook his shoulders and asked, "Why do you ask this?"

Sokov said perfunctorily: "I heard people use the unit of pood when talking about the weight of grain. I think if my superiors really arranged for me to go to Siberia, the report submitted to me would be marked in the unit of pood. It’s not like I can’t understand the weight of grain.”

"Oh, so that's what happened." After Yakov believed Sokov's statement, he asked again: "I don't understand why you chose to go to Siberia instead of going to Siberia when there was a better option. ?”

"Yasha, you don't know something. Going to Siberia is the best choice for me."

“Why?” Yakov asked puzzledly, “Can you tell me the reason?”

"In the war that just ended, Germany not only fought against our country, but also fought against the British and American Allied Forces. The entire country was reduced to ruins." Sokov said: "If I served as the garrison commander of Berlin, what I would do My job is not only to manage the troops stationed in Berlin, but also to organize manpower to assist relevant parties in rebuilding Germany's basic civilian facilities. I can command the troops to fight, but if I are engaged in these specific reconstruction tasks, I will be somewhat unable to do so. ”

“Even if you don’t want to go to Berlin, you can still go to Kiev.” Yakov said: “With your friendship with Comrade Khrushchev, you will be able to gain a foothold soon.”

"Yasha, I went to Kiev. I'm afraid the situation is not much better than going to Berlin." Sokov explained to Yakov: "Ukraine is the place where the war first broke out. Industry and agriculture have been severely damaged. Now The war is over, and the reconstruction work is extremely heavy. Moreover, the original Ukrainian front armies must be involved in the issue of disarmament. Millions of soldiers must be demobilized and they must be given jobs. I do not feel that I have the ability to handle these matters. Ability. Rather than being dismissed from your job due to poor performance in the future, it is better to choose a job that is more suitable for you. Don’t you think so?"

Yakov laughed dryly after hearing this, and then said: "Misha, what you said makes some sense. But I think there is another job that is more suitable for you."

This time it was Sokov's turn to be surprised: "What job?"

“Come to the General Ordnance Department and work with me.” Yakov looked at Sokov and said, “What do you think, think about it?”

“No, no, no.” Sokov waved his hands and said, “The war is over. Even if I can come up with a few new weapons, they won’t be used.”

"Misha, what you said is wrong." Yakov said: "This war is indeed over for us. But without strong enough military strength and advanced weapons and equipment, our descendants will still be Unable to enjoy a truly peaceful life.”

Sokov knew very well that although World War II was over, the world was not truly at peace. A few years later, a large-scale war broke out on the eastern peninsula. China, which had just stood up, beat more than a dozen countries, including the United States, to the ground. If they have advanced weapons, they can greatly reduce troop casualties.

Thinking of this, Sokov felt that before he went to Siberia to officially take office, he could go to the General Ordnance Department and provide some design ideas to the designers there so that they could create more advanced weapons and equipment: "Okay, Ya Sha, if I have the chance, I will definitely go to the General Ordnance Department and talk with your designers to see if we can develop more advanced weapons for our army."

"Great, this is really great." Seeing that Sokov agreed to his proposal, Yakov couldn't help but be overjoyed: "With your strong support, I will be able to establish myself in the General Ordnance Department in a short time. Heel will also be of great help to my future work.”

Seeing that Yakov pinned his hopes on himself, Sokov said with some embarrassment: "Yasha, I just went to chat with your designers and looked for design ideas. As for whether they can develop more advanced The weapons have nothing to do with me."

"I know, I know. As long as you are willing to come forward, I will handle the rest." Yakov put a hand on Sokov's shoulder and asked with concern: "Misha, you How do you plan to get home?"

“Can you help me find a car?” Sokov said awkwardly, “This place is not close to my home.”

“Don’t worry, Misha, I will take care of the car’s problems.” After Yakov finished speaking, he removed his hand from Sokov’s shoulder and walked quickly towards the nearby duty room.

A few minutes later, Yakov returned to Sokov and said confidently: "Misha, I have called a friend of mine and he will drive to pick us up soon. We just need to Just wait for him for five minutes.”

Hearing Yakov's words of waiting for five minutes, Sokov couldn't help laughing. The Russians' saying "wait for five minutes" is just a metaphor. It does not mean that you are actually asked to wait for five minutes. It may take half an hour or more. long time.

While the two were waiting, a black car drove over and stopped beside them. The rear window rolled down, revealing Bezikov's familiar face: "Two comrades, generals, where are you going? I'll give you a ride!"

Sokov turned to look at Yakov and asked: "Is Major Bezikov the friend you mentioned?"

Unexpectedly, Yakov shook his head after hearing this and said: "No, if it was a major, I would definitely tell you directly. But it's another friend."

“Comrade Commander,” Bezikov opened the car door and got out of the car, and said to Sokov enthusiastically: “I think you must be anxious to go home to see your wife. How about I take you back?”

Facing such an enthusiastic Bezikov, Sokov was a little embarrassed. After all, he had agreed to Yakov and take his friend's car back. Wouldn't it be a bit unreasonable to leave Yakov behind and take the car back at this moment? Yakov saw Sokov's dilemma and said quickly: "Misha, I know you are anxious to go back to see Asya, so just take Major Bezikov's car back first. Don't worry about me, my friend. The car will arrive soon.”

Since Yakov had said this, Sokov stopped being pretentious. After saying hello to him, he got into Bezikov's car.

Bezikov did not continue to sit in the back seat, but walked around from the front of the car to the passenger seat. He closed the door and told the driver the location of Sokov's house, and then the vehicle started.

“Comrade Commander,” Bezikov half-turned around and asked curiously, “I wonder what kind of work your superiors have assigned you?”

"My superiors are going to let me go to Siberia to manage prisoners of war." Sokov did not tell Bezikov. His superiors gave him three options, and he chose the last one. He just said briefly: "Maybe rest in Moscow for a while. , will head to Siberia."

“Comrade Commander, if you need manpower, just tell me and I will be more than happy to go to the Far East with you again.”

Hearing what Bezikov said, Sokov was quite moved. He nodded and said, "If my superiors ask me to select people, I will definitely contact you."

 The car arrived at the gate of the compound where Sokov lived. The sentry on duty stopped the car and wanted to check the documents.

Bezikov, who was sitting in the passenger seat, took out his special pass and handed it to the other party. The sentry was startled when he saw that it was actually a pass for entering and leaving the Kremlin. He hurriedly handed the document back to Bezikov, then stepped back, straightened his body and saluted the car.

As the car drove downstairs, Bezikov turned around and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I won't accompany you up when you get there."

Considering that Bezikov specially sent him back, Sokov politely said: "Comrade Major, go up and have a cup of coffee before leaving."

“Thank you for your kindness, Comrade Commander.” Bezikov said: “I have other things to do, and it won’t be too late to drink your coffee another day.”

Seeing that Bezikov was unwilling to go up, Sokov did not force himself. After getting off the car, he waved goodbye to the other party, then opened the closed iron door and walked into the building.

As soon as he entered the hall on the ground floor, a fat old lady sitting in the duty room stopped Sokov: "Comrade commander, who are you looking for?"

Sokov stopped, bent down and tilted his head to look into the duty room, and found that the duty officer sitting inside was a strange old lady, so he said politely: "Hello, I am a resident here, I want to go home."

“You said you are a resident here, why have I never seen you?”

"Are you new here?" Sokov asked politely, "I don't think I've ever seen you before."

"Yes, I was just transferred last month." The old lady said confidently: "But I know all the residents in the building, but I have never met you."

"I just came back from the front line today," Sokov explained with a smile: "I have been on the front line during this period, so it is understandable that you have not seen me."

Sokov thought that after he said this, the old lady would take the initiative to let him in. But soon, he found that he was thinking too much. The old lady actually came out of the duty room, spread her arms and blocked Sokov's path: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander. If you can't prove that you are a resident here, I will I have no right to let you in."

Just when the two sides were arguing, Sokov suddenly heard a surprised voice: "Misha, is it you?"

Sokov turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound, and saw Asiya with a turban on her head and a cloth bag in her hand, standing at the door, looking at him in shock.

Seeing Asiya's appearance, Sokov was overjoyed. He spread his arms and stepped forward to give Asiya a hug: "Asiya, I'm back!"

"Misha, why did you come back at this time?" Asiya hugged Sokov tightly and said emotionally: "I thought I had to wait until the child was born before I could see you by my side again. .”

While the two were telling each other their parting feelings, the old lady asked inappropriately from the side: "Asiya, do you know this comrade commander?"

"Yes, Damanna." Asiya nodded vigorously and said with a trembling voice: "He is my husband Misha. He led the troops to fight in the Far East some time ago. I thought I would have to wait until the child was born. He will come back only when the time comes, but I didn’t expect he would come back now.”

After figuring out Sokov's identity, the old lady named Damana said apologetically: "Comrade Commander, I'm so sorry. I thought you were just making excuses, so I stopped you. I hope you don't mind. .”

"It's okay, Damana." Now that the other party has taken the initiative to apologize to him, Sokov said generously: "You are also performing your duties and you have done nothing wrong at all."

“Misha, let’s go home.” Asiya let go of Sokov, took half a step back, and said, “I think you must be hungry, I’ll cook for you.”

"If you don't tell me, I still don't think so. When you say that, I seem to be a little hungry." Sokov took the cloth bag from Asiya's hand, helped her to the stairs, and said: "We'll go home and cook now."

The two returned home. As soon as they closed the door, Asiya asked nervously: "Misha, did you make any mistake?"

 “Made a mistake?!” Sokov shook his head and asked in confusion: “Asia, who told you that I made a mistake?”

"Since you didn't make a mistake, why did you come back so early?" Asiya looked at Sokov and asked: "The commanders of other troops are still in the Far East, why did you come back? Isn't it because you made some mistakes? , and was kicked back early?"

 (End of this chapter)