The group returned to Peter's office, and Sokov discovered that there were several phones on the desk, including a red high-frequency phone. Peter walked to the table, picked up the red phone, dialed a number, and said to the microphone: "I am the factory director Peter, immediately answered me the front command and found military commissioner Comrade Khrushchev."
A few minutes later, a voice came from the receiver, and Peter quickly replied respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Khrushchev, I am Peter. Major Yakov from the Weapons and Equipment Department, I want to talk to you."
Khrushchev was also surprised to learn that the person who was looking for him was Yakov. In order to figure out what was going on, he directly ordered Peter: "Comrade Director, give the phone to Major Yakov."
"Hello, comrade Military Commissioner." Yakov took the phone from Peter and said to Khrushchev apologetically: "I'm sorry, I'll wake you up so late."
"Yakov, I think you wouldn't have called me on the initiative if there was nothing important." Khrushchev said rationally: "Tell me, what can I do to serve you?"
"That's right, comrade of the military committee." Yakov quickly replied: "We found a very special piece of technical equipment in the secret warehouse of the Red October Tractor Factory..."
"Very special technical equipment?" Khrushchev couldn't help but frown slightly when he heard Yakov say this: "Yakov, can you tell me what special technical equipment is?"
"How to say, this very special technical equipment is actually a new type of tank." Yakov organized a word in his mind, and then explained to Khrushchev: "The prototype car here in the Red October Tractor Factory has not been tested and is still in the confidentiality stage..."
"Yakov, I understand what you mean." Khrushchev's mind was very useful. Hearing Yakov's chatter and explained the tank prototype to himself, he guessed that the other party must have hit a nail in Peter's place, and asked with a smile: "Is there anything I can serve you?"
Yakov looked at Peter with his eyes and said awkwardly: "Military Commissioner, we want to get this tank from Director Peter, but he refused."
"As far as I know, Director Peter is a very principled comrade." Seeing that his guess was confirmed, Khrushchev said jokingly: "Since you have already hit a nail, will Director Peter change his mind if you ask me to come forward?"
Khrushchev's answer was beyond Yakov's surprise. For a moment, he didn't know how to answer. Fortunately, Khrushchev did not continue to tease him, but asked formally: "Yakov, what should I do to help you get this tank prototype?"
Yakov, who was already desperate, suddenly felt hope in his heart when he heard Khrushchev say this. He quickly said: "According to Director Peter, if you want to get this prototype, you must be authorized by the National Defense Commission. You also know that it is too late now and I have no right to disturb Comrade Ustinov's rest. If you contact me tomorrow, you will have to wait until dark before you can get the authorization. In this way, we will not be able to use this tank in tomorrow's battle."
"Then what can I do for you?" Khrushchev asked briefly again.
Sokov, who was standing aside, heard such a long-winded conversation between Yakov and Khrushchev, couldn't help but feel anxious. He quickly snatched the microphone from Yakov's hand and put it in his ear and said, "Hello, comrade Military Commissioner, I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"Oh, it turns out that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is here too." Khrushchev thought that only Yakov was in Peter's office, so he said a few more words. At this moment, he noticed Sokov's existence and decided to say a long story short: "Tell me, how should I help you?"
"It's very simple," Sokov said briefly: "We want to ask you to come forward and borrow this tank from Director Peter and hand it over to us for use. Until tomorrow, Major Yakov will apply for authorization to the Defense Commission through formal channels to make this tank officially owned by us."
"Comrade Sokov, why do you make the problem so complicated? I can make the decision on this matter. Why do you need to ask the National Defense Commission for authorization? It's like playing the piano randomly." Khrushchev said in an unquestionable tone after Sokov finished speaking: "You handed the microphone to Peter, and I'll tell him personally."
Sokov couldn't help but feel secretly happy when he heard Khrushchev say this. Since Khrushchev has already made his statement, he can take the tank back by the way when he goes back later to let the tank soldiers familiarize themselves with the operation. He handed the microphone in his hand to Peter and said with a smile: "Comrade Director, the Military Commissioner, please answer the phone."
I don’t know what Khrushchev said to Peter on the phone, Peter kept nodding, and finally said, “I understand, comrade of the military committee, I will hand over the tank to them immediately.”
Peter ended the call with Khrushchev, but did not put down the microphone. Instead, he called Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the military committee member has a few words to remind you!"
Knowing that the ball tank could be handed over to his troops, Sokov couldn't help but feel happy. When he heard Khrushchev wanted to say a few words to him, he quickly reached out to take the microphone and put it in his ear and said, "It's me, the military committee member."
Khrushchev's voice came from the earpiece: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I just discovered something. You are no longer the commander of the infantry brigade."
He was not the commander of the infantry brigade?! When Sokov heard this, his heart beat faster. He thought to himself: He seemed to have not made any mistakes recently. Why did Khrushchev say that he was not the commander of the infantry brigade now? When did his position be removed?
Sokov was silent for a moment and asked in a difficult tone: "Comrade Military Commissioner, don't know when I was dismissed?"
"Removal?" Khrushchev's puzzled voice came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, who has removed your post?"
"Didn't you just said it yourself?" Sokov replied carefully: "You said I am no longer the commander of the Infantry Brigade."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you misunderstood." After Khrushchev understood the reason, he laughed and said with a laugh: "As far as I know, you now have not only an infantry brigade, but also command a fighter regiment, a tank battalion with more than 40 tanks. Even the group artillery deployed on the east coast will provide artillery support for you Mamayev. I think you are almost catching up with the commander of the combined army of all the troops."
Hearing Khrushchev said this, a strange thought suddenly popped up in Sokov's mind: Why did the military committee member say this? Could it be that his superiors intend to appoint me as the commander? However, the establishment of the infantry army was abolished in September 1941, and would it be restored again?
Sokov, who was thinking too much, thought so much that he didn't hear anything Khrushchev said later. It was not until Khrushchev found that there was no sound on the microphone here and deliberately raised his voice that he woke up from his meditation. He quickly replied: "Comrade Military Commissioner, do you have anything else? If not, I want to go back to the assembly workshop."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the purpose of my words to you is to tell you." Khrushchev said sternly on the phone: "We have given you great support. If we still cannot defend the factory, then the only thing waiting for you is the military court. Do you understand?"
Chapter completed!