Red Moscow.

Chapter 2730 Honors and Promotions

When leading Pokryshkin into the garrison headquarters compound, Sokov glanced at the medals on the opponent's chest. There was only a Red Banner Medal, indicating that he had not yet received the Gold Star Medal or the honor of "Hero of the Soviet Union". title.

Before the two of them entered the building, the captain hurried out, held Pokryshkin's hand, and said with some excitement: "You are Captain Pokryshkin, I am the garrison commander." Captain Edip from the Ministry. I just saw your car arriving at the door upstairs and came down to pick you up.”

"Hello, Captain Edip." Pokryshkin shook hands with the other party and said with a smile: "You are so polite. Didn't you already send Comrade Sokov to pick me up at the door? Where can I go? You need to go there in person.”

"Oh oh oh, yes, yes." Edip quickly agreed: "This time you come to the garrison headquarters, he will lead people to protect your safety. However, I am not at ease in my heart, so I still have to come and explain in person. A few words.”

While talking and laughing, Captain Edip took Pokryshkin and Sokov into the building and came to the room arranged for each other.

"Captain Pokryshkin," Edip said: "You came to Moscow this time and arranged for you to live in the garrison headquarters for the sake of your safety. Comrade Sokov," he turned to Sokov again. Kove said, "You arrange for two soldiers to guard Captain Pokryshkin's door to ensure his safety."

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements right now." Sokov nodded, turned around and walked out of the room, going back to arrange the manpower to protect Pokryshkin. After all, the opponent was one of the best pilots in the Soviet army, but he must not do it on his own. If anything goes wrong in the area you are responsible for, otherwise you will be left with nothing to eat.

When he came to the yard, he happened to see Andre coming back with the patrol. Sokov went up to him and asked, "Is Andre's patrol going well?"

"Well, it went well."

"I have an important task for you." Sokov said, "Find two trustworthy soldiers and come with me."

Andrei quickly called two soldiers and followed Sokov toward the building. At the same time, he was still asking: "Sokov, what is the mission?"

"A very good pilot came today and will stay at the garrison headquarters for a few days." Sokov said to Andrei: "Your task is to ensure his safety."

"Sokov, who is the pilot you are talking about?" Andrei asked curiously: "Do I know him?"

"Captain Pokryshkin, have you heard of it?"

Sokov thought that many people must know about a famous pilot like Pokryshkin in later generations, but who knew that after saying his name, Andrei shook his head and asked with a confused look: "He is a subordinate Which front army, why have I never heard of his name?"

Listening to Andrei's words, Sokov realized that he had taken it for granted. Victoria knew Pokryshkin because she came from a later generation, and it was not surprising to know the future Air Marshal. Andre is just a low-level soldier. It would be great if he could recognize everyone in the regiment, let alone people from different arms.

Several people came to Pokryshkin's room. At this moment, Captain Edip had left. Sokov introduced to the other party: "Comrade Captain, this is Andrei. During the time you lived in the garrison headquarters, by Andre and his two soldiers are responsible for your safety."

"Comrade Sokov, thank you very much."

"You're welcome, this is my duty."

The few chatted for a while, and Sokov was about to go out to see if Dennis and the others had come back. Pokryshkin obviously didn't want to stay in the room. He wanted to get some air outside, so he followed Sokov out.

When everyone came to the yard, they happened to catch up with Dennis leading the team back.

"Comrade Company Commander," Dennis raised his hand to salute Sokov and reported: "We have successfully completed the patrol mission without anything happening on the way."

"Well," Sokov nodded slightly, and then said to Dennis: "You guys go to rest first."

Pokryshkin, who was standing not far away, couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise when he saw Dennis saluting Sokov. When Dennis led the team away, he turned and asked Andre beside him: "Andre, I read that right, a second lieutenant actually saluted an ordinary soldier, and just like a subordinate reporting work to his superior, he saluted Sokov Comrade reporting on work?”

"Comrade Captain," Andrei replied with a smile: "Although Sokov does not have a military rank, he has already become our company commander due to his outstanding performance in recent battles."

"Why doesn't he have a military rank yet?" Pokryshkin asked in confusion.

"Because, because his time in the army was too short." Andre replied with some embarrassment: "To be precise, he has only been in the army for a few days, and his superiors have not had time to award him the title."

"Oh, that's it." After Pokryshkin figured out what was going on, although he was surprised, he felt it was normal. Since the outbreak of the war, it has been occasionally heard that an ordinary soldier has changed from a squad leader to a platoon leader, then to a company commander, or even to a battalion commander due to the constant sacrifices of superior commanders in battle. The Sokov in front of him now should be such a person.

"Comrade Captain," Andrei looked at Sokov's leaving figure and said to Pokryshkin: "Sokov does not have a military rank, it is only temporary. I believe it won't be long before the superiors can grant him the title he deserves. Military rank."

At noon, Edip came to Sokov personally: "Comrade Sokov, I have just been notified that you will go to the meeting with Captain Pokryshkin in the afternoon."

"What meeting?"

"I don't know, it wasn't mentioned above." Edip shook his head and said, "But there is a car coming to pick you up." He raised his hand to look at the time and continued: "The meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m., you are at 2:00 p.m. Go to the yard to board the car."

Sokov followed Edip's instructions and was waiting in the courtyard before two o'clock. Unexpectedly, not long after he stood in the courtyard, he saw Pokryshkin leading Andrei and others out of the building, and went over to greet them: "Comrade Captain, where are you planning to go? "

"It's Comrade Sokov." Seeing that the person greeting him was Sokov, Pokryshkin also behaved very politely: "Captain Edip just informed me that my superiors wanted me to attend a meeting. , let me board the car here. Why didn't you rest in the house? "

"Coincidentally, Captain Edip also informed me that he wanted me to attend a meeting and asked me to board the car in the yard."

"That's such a coincidence. It seems we are going to a meeting together."

The car is here. The first to drive into the yard were two tricycles, followed by a military bus, followed by a police car.

After the vehicles stopped, a lieutenant from the Ministry of Internal Affairs got out of the bus and asked loudly: "Who are Captain Pokryshkin and Sokov?"

"We are!" Pokryshkin and Sokov quickly stepped forward and announced their names to each other: "I am Captain Pokryshkin (Sokov)."

The lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs stared at the two people for a while, then shook his head and said: "Get in the car." Since the windows were all closed, Sokov could not see clearly what was going on in the car. After he got on the car, he saw clearly that there were more than a dozen people sitting inside. Although he couldn't see the military ranks on their collar badges for the time being, Sokov also understood that these people must be officers.

Seeing Sokov and Pokryshkin getting into the car, Andrei also wanted to lead others to follow the car, but was stopped by the lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: "What are you doing?"

"Comrade Lieutenant," Andrei said to the Lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: "We are ordered to protect Captain Pokryshkin's safety."

"Don't worry, we are responsible for their safety, so you don't have to worry about it."

After the lieutenant got back into the car, the driver closed the door of the bus, turned around and drove out of the yard.

"Comrade Second Lieutenant," after the car started, Pokryshkin saw clearly that there was a Second Lieutenant sitting next to him, and asked curiously: "Do you know where we are going?"

The second lieutenant smiled bitterly, shook his head, and replied, "I don't know either."

The lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs sitting in the front row heard the conversation between the second lieutenant and Pokryshkin, turned his head and said in a stern tone: "Don't talk."

When the bus fell silent again, Sokov felt uneasy. The tone of the Lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' words gave him the illusion that he was sitting in a prison car and was being sent to an execution ground in the suburbs.

Ten minutes later, the bus stopped, and the lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs asked everyone to get off.

After Sokov got out of the car and took a clear look at the surrounding environment, a smile appeared on his face. He found that the car was parked next to the racecourse, which meant that the people in the car were here for a meeting.

After the lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs asked everyone to line up next to the car, he called everyone's names one by one according to the list, and then led everyone into the racecourse.

When entering, the guard at the door took the order from the lieutenant and called the names one by one to ensure that the names of the people present exactly matched those on the list before letting everyone enter the racecourse.

Sokov and Pokryshkin were both sitting in the eighth row. Since they were sitting next to each other, they couldn't help but whisper to each other: "Comrade Sokov, what kind of meeting do you think we are here to hold?"

Sokov knew very well that the people who came here for the meeting were basically grass-roots officers from different fronts. The content of the meeting would definitely not be about discussing the next stage of combat deployment, but about those who had made meritorious deeds on the battlefield. personnel, commendations and awards.

He smiled and said to Pokryshkin: "Comrade Captain, I think the superior sent someone to bring us here for the purpose of conferring honors."

"Awarded?" Hearing what Sokov said, Pokryshkin had an unexpected expression on his face: "Really?"

"Of course." Sokov nodded and said: "Comrade Captain, I think your recent combat mission must be very tense. At this time, I call you back to Moscow from the front line and ask us to come to the racecourse for a meeting. I think I really can’t think of any other reason other than the award.”

After everyone has arrived, the meeting officially begins.

Sokov originally thought that the person in charge of the ceremony, even if it was not a marshal, should be a general. Even after the person in charge came out, Sokov was surprised to find that it was Kalinin. .

After Kalinin, who had a goatee and a goatee, made a simple opening statement, the investiture ceremony began.

The first person to receive the medal was Pokryshkin next to Sokov.

"For his bravery and heroism in the struggle against the German occupying forces, the Supreme Command decided to award Air Force Captain Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin the Gold Star Medal, as well as the honorary title of 'Hero of the Soviet Union'. "

When Pokryshkin heard Sokov said that today was a medal ceremony, he already guessed that he would definitely receive a medal, but he did not expect that what he would receive was the Gold Star Medal and the honorary title of "Hero of the Soviet Union". For a moment, everyone was stunned.

"Comrade Captain," Sokov saw Pokryshkin sitting in a daze and quickly pushed him: "Don't be stunned, hurry up and get on stage to receive the award."

Pokryshkin came to his senses, stood up hurriedly, pulled the hem of his military uniform, and then walked towards the stage with firm steps.

After Kalinin personally pinned the Gold Star Medal on Pokryshkin, he took out a certificate of honor and handed it to him. He smiled and said: "Comrade Captain, I congratulate you on winning the military award." The highest level medal in the world, I hope you can achieve more meritorious deeds in the following battles.”

After thanking Kalinin, Pokryshkin walked off the stage.

As he took his seat, Sokov extended his hand to him, smiled and said: "Comrade Captain, I congratulate you."

When Pokryshkin shook hands with Sokov, he glanced quickly toward the stage, and then asked: "Comrade Sokov, I wonder what level of medal you can get today?"

"I don't know." Sokov shook his head and said, "But I think if you are lucky, you should be able to get a Order of the Red Banner."

After Kalinin awarded several more officers, he directly read out Sokov's name: "Mikhail Mikhailovich Sokov, received the Order of Lenin."

When he first heard his name, Sokov was a little indifferent. The last time he traveled through time, he had received several Red Banner Medals. But when Kalinin announced that he had received the Order of Lenin, everyone was stunned. You know, this kind of medal is the highest level, second only to the Gold Star Medal. When the war broke out, Rokossovsky had four medals on his chest, three of which were the Order of the Red Banner, and the remaining one. The Order of Lenin, this shows how difficult it is to obtain this kind of medal.

Seeing that Sokov was just like him, Pokryshkin quickly pushed his shoulder and reminded him: "Comrade Sokov, don't be stunned. Come on stage quickly. Comrade Kalinin is still waiting for you." , don’t let him wait too long.”

When Sokov appeared on the stage, the officers participating in the meeting began to whisper, because the person who received the Order of Lenin was actually just an ordinary soldier, which made them puzzled.

After Kalinin awarded Sokov the medal, a general walked up next to him, holding a set of military uniforms on a tray, and said: "Comrade Sokov, in view of your outstanding performance on the battlefield, after the approval of the Supreme Commander, The ministry has decided to promote you to the rank of captain as an exception."

After expressing his gratitude to the other party, Sokov left the stage holding the new military uniform. He didn't expect that he would be promoted to military rank under such circumstances, and he felt like he was in a dream.

(End of chapter)