My own war game

Chapter 157 The Lost Ace

Moscow, Kremlin, a meeting is coming to an end.

"Comrade Stalin, based on the lessons learned in Kiev, our old tactical concepts need to be improved. When defending positions against mechanized troops, we should..."

"Okay, okay, my dear Comrade Kirponos, let's stop here today. We still have an awarding ceremony to attend, and other matters can be discussed after dinner." Stalin hurriedly interrupted Kirponos's passionate speech.

As the real number one figure in the entire Soviet Union, if Stalin did not think he owed Kirponos something, he would not have listened to him disobeying him for so long.

But even so, Stalin's patience had basically reached its limit.

Listen to what he said, one lesson after another, another improvement on old tactics.

Is he talking about the Soviet Army?
No! Kirponos was actually talking about himself.

It's him, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin!

This is absolutely not allowed!
"Well, okay, I'll report to you later." Kirponos said this in a very unromantic way.

But Stalin would not give Kirponos the opportunity to cause trouble for him again. He shook his hand and said

"Dawali, compared to reporting the situation, I have a more important task for you!"

"Yes! I'm ready!" Kirponos stood at attention, thinking that the other party would let him take command of the army again.

"Come, Comrade Kirponos, look here." Stalin came to a huge map of Moscow's defenses.

“现在莫斯科的形式是这样的，西线有19、20、30、31和43军，市区防守是1、5、16和49军，你的老伙计朱可夫负责整体指挥，但是现在还有大概5万人缺少统一的指挥员，我认为你是最佳人选。”

"Excuse me, which troops are they from?" Kirponos did not feel that 5 people were too few. For him, the most important thing was to return to the battlefield.

"The Moscow Steelworkers' Division, the Women's Anti-Aircraft Team, the Transport Team, and the cadets from the Frunze and Podolsk Military Academies form a temporary force with a total number of about 5 people. They are lacking a commander with rich experience." Stalin's expression remained unchanged.

Kirponos remained silent. No matter how honest he was, he knew that he had been left out by Stalin.

After a few minutes, Kirponos stood at attention again and saluted. "I will follow your orders, Comrade Stalin. I will start the work as soon as possible. Time is tight, so I will not attend the awarding ceremony."

"Go, you are my most trusted comrade." Stalin waved the pipe in his hand with satisfaction.

After Kirponos left, Stalin called a staff officer and said, "Go find Comrade Beria. I have something to discuss with him."

"This..." The staff officer hesitated to speak.

"What's wrong?" Stalin turned around and asked.

"Minister Beria may be in some trouble."
-
At the Ministry of Internal Affairs, under the office building, the previous crowd had been dispersed, and all personnel were informed step by step that dangerous elements had infiltrated to cause sabotage, and that none of the words in the broadcast were allowed to be spread.

"Minister, this is the last one. All places have been turned over and detected with professional equipment, but nothing has been found." The subordinate reported in a low voice.

Beria stepped on a fallen brick, then kicked it away with a gloomy face.

He and his guards searched all the cement downstairs, but found no traces of secret passages or mechanisms.

There was no escape route, and the guy really disappeared, as if he had melted into thin air. Just one person, who held him hostage in front of everyone at the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters, turned the world upside down, and then disappeared.

It was like a loud slap in his face.

Before, when he heard the story of 007, he always had a joking attitude, thinking that the British created a super agent through propaganda in order to boost morale.

Unlike ordinary people, he is an intelligence warfare expert and knows that the so-called ace agents are not as magical as the legends say. Many of those miraculous achievements were accomplished in a specific environment with the cooperation of professional teams.

But what happened today was beyond his understanding, and he totally didn't understand how the British ace did it.

What’s even more terrifying is that since there’s no way to figure out how the other party did it, it means that if the other party wants, he can do it again at any time!
Thinking about what the man said, Belia thought for a moment and asked his subordinates beside him, "Where are the two women with him?"

"According to your order, we are now in the military camp." The subordinate replied nervously.

"Move them to another place immediately and arrange accommodation according to the standards for officers. If they have any needs, try to meet them as much as possible." Beria said gritting his teeth.

Siberian hunters all know that if you are not sure you can kill the mother wolf, it is best not to touch her cubs.
-
In the preparation room of the Kremlin, Beklev was still fiddling with his beard in front of the mirror. He and Yulia were about to meet Comrade Stalin, an honor that many people would never get in their lifetime.

Even the calm agent next to Guderian could not hide his nervousness.

On the contrary, Yulia seemed a little uneasy, and looked thoughtful from time to time.

Ding ding ding! There was a knock on the door.

Someone came in, and Beklev and Yulia stood at attention.

The person who came was Beria.

"Sit down, sit down. You two are comrades who have made great contributions. You can be more casual. You are qualified to sit here and talk." Beria said in a completely different tone from that in the morning.

The two glanced at each other, and neither moved.

Beria looked at the two men and then smiled. "Then I won't force you. Speaking of Beklev, I remember you were sent to Germany in 1937, right?"

"Yes, Comrade Minister, Comrade Abakumov gave me specific orders to lie in wait at that time." Bekelev answered with his head down.

"Time flies. Five years have passed in a flash. You haven't worn a military uniform for a long time, right?" Beria said as he paced.

"Yes, Comrade Minister!"

"I have asked someone to prepare two new uniforms. You can try them on." After saying this, Beria waved his hand, and someone brought in two of the latest uniforms for senior officers on a tray.

"Mr. Minister, this is..." Beklev was obviously surprised, because he was given a colonel's collar uniform, which was equivalent to a promotion of two levels, while Yulia directly got the uniform of a major from the rank of warrant officer.

This promotion was a bit too fast, which surprised Beklev.

"This is what you deserve, put it on." Belia patted the two men on the shoulders, and then seemed to suddenly remember something.

"By the way, can you tell me about that Oriental man? The more details the better!"

(End of this chapter)