Red Moscow

Chapter 2493

Khrushchev was sitting on the couch playing chess with another man in casual clothes and a chest full of medals.

“Misha,” Khrushchev pointed at the man playing chess with him and asked with a smile, “Maybe you don’t know this person yet?”

If it were someone else, Sokov might not even know him, but this man with a chest full of medals was Brezhelev, who was nicknamed "Honor" in later generations. He obtained the rank of major general in 1944 and served as the director of the political department of the Fourth Ukrainian Front starting in April 1945. Next year, in 1946, he will be appointed First Secretary of the Zaporizhia Oblast Committee.

Since Brezhlev had a lower military rank than him at the moment and was not wearing a military uniform, Sokov did not salute him, but nodded to him and said with a smile: "Comrade Khrushchev, I once wrote in the newspaper I have seen his photo, he is Comrade Brezhlev, the director of the political department of the Fourth Ukrainian Front."

"Leonid!" Since Leonid's nickname was Lenin, Khrushchev only called Brezhlev by his first name instead of his nickname: "This is the Misha I often tell you. I tried to persuade him to come work for me, but he refused."

 “Hello, Misha!” Perhaps because of Khrushchev, Brezhlev also called Sokov by his nickname: “Nice to meet you!”

 “Me too, Comrade Brezhelev!”

"Misha, I'm very curious, why did you refuse Comrade Khrushchev's invitation?" Brezhlev asked with some curiosity when shaking hands with Sokov: "With your personal ability and your close relationship with Khrushchev, Comrade Xiaofu's friendship will definitely be put to good use after coming to Ukraine."

Before Sokov could figure out how to answer, Khrushchev said quietly: "I guess he accepted Marshal Zhukov's invitation and was going to work in Berlin."

"No, Comrade Khrushchev." Seeing that Khrushchev had misunderstood, Sokov quickly defended: "I also declined Marshal Zhukov's invitation. I originally planned to go to Siberia to manage a prisoner of war camp, but my superiors refused. They haven’t arranged a job for me for a long time, so I can be said to be idle at home now.”

Khrushchev and Brezhlev laughed after hearing this. They thought Sokov was joking with them.

"It's true, Comrade Khrushchev." Asiya had dealt with Khrushchev many times, so she didn't have so many scruples when speaking: "The superiors did not arrange specific work for Misha. He does it every day. Write a novel at home.”

"Oh, write a novel?" Khrushchev asked in surprise: "I wonder how many words I have written so far, and when will it be published?"

"The book is called "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" and has more than 200,000 words." Speaking of the novel, Sokov suddenly felt confident: "It has been published for about ten days."

"Oh, they have all been published." Khrushchev was very surprised after hearing this: "What is the name of the book? I will ask someone to buy a copy later."

Asiya quickly repeated the title of the book: "It's called "The Dawns Here Are Quiet"."

"Yes, I remember it." Khrushchev nodded and said, "After the military parade is over, I will ask someone to go to the bookstore to buy this book."

Brezhlev, who was next to him, saw Asiya standing with a big belly and seemed a little tired. He quickly stood up and offered his seat: "Comrade, you are inconvenient, please sit down quickly."

Although Asiya doesn’t know Brezhlev’s true identity, someone who can wear medals on his chest, participate in military parades, and play chess with Khrushchev is definitely not an ordinary person. He gave up his seat, maybe it was just a courtesy, how could he agree so easily. So she tactfully declined: "Thank you for your kindness. I'll be fine if I stand for a while. You'd better sit down."

“Asia, just sit down.” Khrushchev next to him said with a smile: “This sofa is so long, even if four people sit there, it won’t be too crowded.”

Hearing what Khrushchev said, Asia seemed a little hesitant and looked at Sokov, hoping that he would give her an idea.

"Since Comrade Khrushchev asked us to sit down, let's sit down." After seeing Khrushchev move to the other end of the sofa to make enough space, Sokov pulled Asiya Sit down.

 After all four people sat down, Khrushchev and Brezhlev resumed playing chess.

Sokov, who was sitting behind Brezhlev, looked over and saw that they were evenly matched on the chessboard, so he casually asked: "Who has the advantage in this game?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Khrushchev chuckled: "Before you came, we had already played two games, winning one and losing one. But I think I have a high chance of winning in this game."

"That's not certain." But Brezhlev retorted: "Until we get to the last step, we can't tell who will win and who will lose."

Sokov watched for a while and felt that this was quite awkward, so he stood up and knelt down between the two of them, continuing to watch them play chess.

"Misha." At this time, Khrushchev picked up a chess piece, looked at Sokov and asked: "Tell me, where should my chess piece be placed?"

Sokov clearly saw that Khrushchev had a "bishop" in his hand, which could take two steps. One step was to capture the opponent's "rook" and then be eaten by the opponent's "horse"; the other step was just to capture it. One of the opponent's "soldiers" may seem of little use, but with a few more steps, the opponent's army can be defeated.

He weighed it in his mind for a moment, and then said to Khrushchev: "I think it may be more appropriate to accept the 'soldier'."

"Yes, yes, that's what I thought about it." Khrushchev said, and followed Sokov's instructions to eat the opponent's "pawn" with the "bishop" in his hand.

 After taking away the opponent's "soldiers", the situation became more favorable to Khrushchev. Both sides took another seven or eight steps, and Khrushchev won the game.

"Leonid," Khrushchev, who had just won a game, said proudly when the two of them rearranged the chess board, "I just said you are a bad chess player, but you still don't believe it. If you win two out of three games, I Already won.”

"The game just now doesn't count." Brezhlev glanced at Sokov with a dissatisfied look, and said dissatisfied: "If Misha hadn't helped you, there's no telling who would lose and who would win." Helu Xiaofu glanced at Sokov and said with a smile: "If you are not convinced, ask Misha to help you later."

When Sokov heard what the two said, he couldn't help but feel a little in his heart. He thought to himself that he had just given Khrushchev a move, would he have offended Brezhlev? If this is the case, when he gets to a higher position in the future, he might be able to put on small shoes for himself. The best way is to give him pointers when he plays chess later to make up for his mistakes.

In this round, the two men were fighting inextricably, and it was hard to say who would win the final victory. It happened that at this time, Sokov saw a clever move by Brezhlev. If he made this move, he could win the game.

Seeing Brezhlev frowning and thinking, Sokov quickly pointed to the chessboard and said: "With this move, you can change the situation on the chessboard to your advantage. If you are lucky, you can win within ten moves." Can win.”

 In fact, Brezhlev also saw the move Sokov mentioned. When he was about to make the move, Sokov pointed it out first. As a result, he was thinking, if I really make this move, even if I win the game, I am afraid Khrushchev will be unconvinced and say that he won under Sokov's guidance. Out of such considerations, he ignored Sokov's reminder, but picked up another chess piece and took a random step.

The two sides were originally evenly matched. If Brezhlev had followed Sokov's instructions, it would indeed be possible to win within ten steps. But just because of his angry move, the situation on the chessboard changed, allowing Khrushchev to seize the opportunity and easily win again.

After playing the game, Khrushchev raised his hand and looked at the time. He felt that it was almost time to enter, so he called the staff to clean up the chess board, and then said to Brezhlev: "Leonid, I don't want to play chess." Understand, the move Misha pointed out to you is very subtle. If you really make it, then the final winner of this game will definitely be you. Why don't you follow the path he said, but you made a wrong move? Woolen cloth?"

Although Brezhlev regretted in his heart that he did not take the right step because of his anger, when Khrushchev asked this question, he still replied stiffly: "I think the step he pointed out was not good for you. It doesn’t pose much of a threat, so I’ll stick to my original idea.”

“It turns out that if you play chess according to your original idea, you will only lose to me.” Khrushchev laughed twice, and then called to Sokov and the other two: “It’s almost time, let’s go to the viewing platform.”

When Sokov helped Asiya out, Khrushchev suddenly said to him: "Misha, please think about my proposal carefully. I may have to stay in Moscow for two to three days. , if you change your mind, remember to contact me."

Facing the olive branch extended by Khrushchev to him, Sokov could not refuse it directly. He could only reply euphemistically: "Okay, Comrade Khrushchev, I will consider your suggestion carefully."

“Then I’ll wait for your news.” After saying that, Khrushchev led Brezhlev towards the viewing platform on the right side of Lenin’s Mausoleum.

“Misha,” Asia asked Sokov nervously, looking at the departing figures of Khrushchev and Brezhlev, “Are you really planning to go to Ukraine?”

"No," Sokov raised his hand and patted Asya's hand holding his arm, and said softly: "I will never leave Moscow before our child is born. Also, I once promised you that I would go to Sochi for vacation next summer. If I go to Ukraine, I may not be able to fulfill my promise."

 Hearing what Sokov said, Asiya had a smile on her face.

Since the grand Victory Day military parade was held on June 24, this year’s October Festival military parade seemed a bit ordinary. The participating troops were all from the Moscow Military District and garrison troops. Sokov even saw Lieutenant Colonel Kulak in the visiting troops. He and another lieutenant colonel led an infantry squadron and walked past Lenin's tomb.

"Misha, look quickly!" Asia also saw Kulak in front of the queue, quickly pointed in that direction, and excitedly said to Sokov: "That's not the one we met in Vladimir. Lieutenant Colonel Kulak?”

“That’s right, it’s Kurak.” Sokov nodded and said, “He was originally from the Moscow Garrison Command, so it’s normal for him to participate in the holiday parade.”

 The military parade ended at eleven o'clock.

As Stalin and other leaders who stood on Lenin’s tomb left, the guests watching the ceremony on the auditorium also left one after another.

Although the military parade celebrations have ended, the martial law around the Red Square has still not been lifted. The entire Red Square can only be entered but not entered. This situation will continue until after 5 p.m.

“Misha.” Asya asked Sokov: “Where should we go next?”

 Where to go next, this makes Sokov feel very embarrassed.

 In later generations, he saw many military parades on TV. After each military parade broadcast, he would call his friends to Victory Square. Buy a few bouquets of flowers and give them to the elderly with medals on them, or place them in front of various monuments.

But today, the famous Victory Square in later generations is still an uninhabited forest, so naturally there can be no celebrations. The famous underground mall under Maneš Square next to the Red Square has not yet been included in the construction plan, and it is impossible to go there.

Just when Sokov was in trouble, Asiya asked him: "Misha, how about we go to Weedenham Park? In the past, there would be celebrations held every holiday."

When Sokov heard this, his eyes suddenly brightened. Yes, when future generations encounter big festivals, in addition to grand celebrations held in Red Square and Victory Square. There are also celebrations at Weedenham Park and the TV Tower. Now that there is no Victory Square, going to Weedenham Park is also a good choice.

The full name of Weedenham Park is "All-Russian Exhibition Center". It is a park integrating entertainment, exhibitions, shopping and art. The All-Russian Exhibition Center was officially opened in 1939. It is the largest exhibition center in the world and one of the favorite public places of Russians. Before the beginning of the Patriotic War, this was the All-Soviet Agricultural Exhibition Hall.

　　When Sokov and Asiya took the subway to Weedenham Park, because it was still early, there were not too many tourists, and there was basically no queue at the security checkpoint at the door.

When the two arrived at the security entrance, a police lieutenant came over and saluted Sokov: "Hello, Comrade General, what can I do for you?"

Sokov raised his hand in return and said with a smile: "My wife and I want to go to Weedenham Park for a stroll. Will there be a celebration here today?"

"Yes, Comrade General." The police lieutenant replied politely: "There will be fireworks here tonight to celebrate the first October Festival after the end of the war. In addition, a stage is being set up in the open space behind the Lenin Exhibition Hall. Comrades from the Alexandrov Red Flag Song and Dance Ensemble will perform."

 (End of this chapter)