Chapter 69: Scars
In addition to the time it takes to mobilize troops from the east, Kolchak and the Czech army in the east are also a big problem to advance west during the Battle of Chalizin. Ufa is still in the hands of the White Army, and this place is too close to Kazan. If you accidentally counterattack by the White Army, Kazan is likely to be occupied by the White Army again. This strategic location that strangles the two lines in the southeast that concerns the survival of Moscow and even the Soviet Union, since it has been recaptured, it must not be lost again. But if you really have to worry about the east, the troops on Chalizin will be insufficient;
At the same time, the direction of the Chinese attack was not just Taritzin. In Orenburg and Uralsk to the west of Orenburg, two or three Chinese divisions were stationed in each of them and the weak White Army. The Chinese team had fierce firepower and tricky combat, and they also had planes and tanks. Judging from the tanks Stalin bought from the high price of the fire dealer in the middle, this weapon covered with steel armor was simply a nightmare for infantry. The guerrilla captain Voroshinov also claimed that he would give him ten thousand such chariots, and the 10th Army could fight to the Atlantic Ocean.
As the political commissar in the army promoted, when the great Soviet Red Army took advantage of the victory to pursue the Czech and Kolchak bandits on the Eastern Front, the traitors of the proletarian revolution, the imperialist robbers and lackeys, the Chinese team adopted extremely despicable behavior and sneaked into Astrakhan and Taritzin, which interrupted the Red Army's pursuit of the White Army in the east, and put the Soviet in the cross-strike of the enemy on the southeastern front, and the Soviets reached a critical moment of 100,000...
From a realistic perspective, peace talks with the Chinese are the best. The places they want, except for the Russian Far East, can be included in the category of nationality, which was recognized by the Soviets before; and the Russian Far East, not to mention that it is still far from the Red Army, it is said that there is no Slav in that place. It is all Chinese, Japanese and Korean peasants, and the worries of the bureaucrats during the imperial Russian era are correct. Once the Dongqing Railway is built, the tide of yellow-skinned monkeys will flood the Russian Far East. Such a piece of land that is thousands of miles away from Russia is difficult to get back in its current form.
After the peace talks, because the Chinese occupied the country soon, once they withdrew their troops, the Soviets and the North Caucasus would re-establish contacts, and the situation of attacks in the southeast could also be completely changed. They could also provide a large amount of food weapons and funds. According to Stalin, the Chinese people can give it to the Soviets at present.
But it was precisely because it was advocated by Stalin and his accomplices Voroshinov and others that Trotsky had to firmly oppose it. This is no longer a military issue, nor a diplomatic issue. This is a political struggle. For the Red Army generals who were sitting there, the commander-in-chief Joachimyomovichivattis, the Latvians, had close ties with Trotsky. The following year he was dismissed from the Eastern Front Commander Sergey Sergeyevichka on whether to pursue the Eastern Front on the issue of whether the Kolchak tribe was taking pursuant to the Eastern Front. He was later arrested by Cheka for suspected treason. After being acquitted, he was transferred to the dean of the Red Army Military Academy. However, in the Great Purge more than ten years later, he was still arrested and executed.
The commander of the Eastern Front, Sergeyevich, met Nev and succeeded Vatediz as commander-in-chief of the Red Army, but he was excluded in 1924. Finally, he was transferred to a military academies and shot and executed in the Great Purge;
The commander of the First Army, Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky, was one of the five major marshals of the Soviet Union before the Great Purge, but during the Great Purge, he was still sentenced to death for espionage and executed by shooting;
Commander of the Second Army, Vasily Ivanovic Shaolin, shot and shot;
The commander of the Third Army, Joseph Vicci, Rhinehold, Bellzin, was executed by firing;
Mikhail Vasilivich, commander of the Fourth Army, died magically on the operating table;
Ivanikidits Mirnov, commander of the Fifth Army, shot and executed;
During the Great Purge, all generals and cadres related to Trotsky were basically executed. However, now, on November 1, 1918, these commanders who will be executed in more than ten years have no idea of the cruelty of future struggles. When Stalin and his group criticized the old Russian military experts appointed by Trotsky to slacken in the counter-revolution, the generals' response was to criticize Voroshinov and others' guerrilla habits. At the same time, the post-investigation of the fall of Chalizin showed that although there were many objective reasons for Chalizin's loss, they were largely due to the guerrilla habits that Voroshinov and others stayed in the army.
Therefore, regaining Tarizin not through peace talks but through battle will be the best proof of the Revolutionary Military Commission's accusation of the guerrilla habits of the 10th Army; at the same time, regaining Tarizin by force also saved Trotsky's face in the Central Executive Committee, but he firmly disagreed with negotiating peace talks with the Chinese.
The counter-revolutionary spy who was executed by comrades in the carriage more than ten years later heard the gunshots of the fleeing officer of the 10th Army who fled in the attack of the Central Team and the political commissar were executed outside the armored train.
Through the iron slab of the carriage, the gunshots and shouts like fried beans outside were stopped for a while. Then, Trotsky looked at the people sitting and said, "I remember that the soldiers of the Red Army were not cowards, not those who harmed others and benefited themselves. They were to fight for the liberation of the working class. If they retreated or failed to fight effectively, the blame was on the commander and the political commissar. I warned in advance: any unit retreated without authorization, first of all, the political commissar of the army, followed by the commander of the army... All cowards who harmed others and traitors were executed. I will personally supervise the implementation of this order to declare the entire army."
The former commander of the 10th Army, Voroshinov, went to Moscow to file a complaint because he was dissatisfied with the transfer of the Revolutionary Military Commission. He left, but the political commissar of the 10th Army, Chief of Staff Mazilevsky's army, and others were still there. After interrogation, these people gave Trotsky a target to attack Stalin and others, that is, the so-called craze merchant was actually a spy. Because he spyed on the information of the Red Army, Chalizin lost so quickly.
The lawsuit with Stalin was negotiated with Comrade Lenin of Moscow. What we really need to do now is to take back Taritzin and completely block the mouths of Stalin and his gang. After reiterating his principle of shooting, Trotsky looked at Commander-in-Chief Vates. Today, the colonel commander of the old Russian army was presided over the military meeting.
"From the current situation, we can assemble five armies within half a month, namely the first, second, fourth, fifth and tenth armies, plus the Red Guards drawn from other places, with a total force of more than 80,000." When Vates said of the 10th Army, he glanced at Okulov, the new commander of the 10th Army. Although the 10th Army was gathered, the morale of the army was still extremely disintegrating.
"The enemy troops in Chalizin now have about 30,000 people, but at the speed of their transport, if we cannot cut off the railway, they will have about 80,000 or more in half a month. I have inspected the front line positions, and although there is no flaw around Chalizin, the 400-kilometer railway from Chalizin to Astrakhan is their weakness that they cannot defend. When the Volga River freezes in December, the river transportation will be cut off..."
From Vates' point of view, it is best not to fight the enemy on the opposite side early, but wait until the Volga River is completely destroyed in winter and the Red Army will attack again. However, whether it is Trotsky or the current strategic situation, the Red Army has to fight quickly. For quick battles, the defensive firepower of the Chinese team is not only not at a disadvantage, but also at an advantage. This makes the Colonel very scratched his head, so his speech always feels like sleepwalking is irrelevant.
Ahem....At Trotsky's reminder next to him, Vatedius finally came to his senses and said, "But we cannot wait until December, and we don't even wait for a day. The White Army, the imperialist counter-revolutionaries, will take advantage of the decisive battle between us and the Chinese team. Therefore, the army of various groups should discard all supplies except weapons and ammunition and arrive at Dubovka as fast as possible. Once our troops are better than the enemy, we will launch a fierce and decisive attack.
Before this, Xia Boyang's unit of the 25th Division of the Fourth Army will bypass Chalijin and go to the rear of the enemy to destroy the railway; the Volga region fleet should actively explore the minefield gap on the Volga River and strive to open a path to prepare for landing on the enemy's flank during war to cause internal chaos; armored cars, armored combat vehicles and armored trains should pay attention to maintenance and play a bayonet assault during wartime to open the gap in the enemy's defense line. The remaining units actively dig trenches according to the previously designated defense lines to prevent the Chinese from raiding..."
Vates spoke all the preparations to be done and the things to be paid attention to. Just as he looked at Trotsky and signaled that he had finished speaking, the guards suddenly heard from outside: "Air attack is hidden...", and then there was a sound of shooting.
There is no need to worry about Chinese planes in the armored train, but soldiers who are not on the armored train can only hide everywhere. The chaotic shooting sounds hit the eardrums of the people sitting on the seats. The rapid sound of the motor of the plane and the sound of machine gun shooting mixed into a fine and clanging sound net, which spilled from the sky above the head, covering the entire train firmly.
The closed armored train could withstand the attack of large-caliber guns, but the people in the car could not know the situation outside. However, after walking to Trotsky on the other side of the car, opening a narrow window, the two saw the scene outside: in the vast blue sky in early winter, more than a dozen Chinese planes were diving towards the chaotic soldiers outside the train, and some kind of smooth metal on the wings shone under the sunlight. The trajectory of their rifles and machine guns could not be seen. Instead, the red marks of the plane shot out with red light hit the snow covered with soldiers like whips. The flying human bodies and the splashed ice and snow formed an extremely scattered and bloody picture. The whip of the Vulcan was about to die at one touch.
When the two of them were watching the breathing stagnated, the plane passing by the crowd took off again, then aimed at a target, and began to dive from the air like falling. As the plane dived, the sun suddenly turned into a demon realm. A soul-stirring scream from the devil sounded. After the plane threw out a small black dot, it was thrillingly pulled up at a place only ten meters above the ground. With the engine's roar, the plane miraculously leveled and flew away. The small black dot it threw down accurately hit a pile of ammunition. In an extremely violent explosion, everything nearby turned into pieces of powder.
This is the attack of the fourth dive bomber of the Ghost. Although the bomb is still only a few dozen kilograms, its killing is extremely fatal. Trotsky does not know about aircraft, and although Commander-in-Chief Vates has fought with the German army, the Germans did not have such aircraft at all in the not-so-efficient Eastern Front battlefield. Witnessing these aircraft continuously dives and bomb their own ammunition, cannons and supplies, the two of them suddenly felt a chill in their hearts. Dubovka is just a small town, and the grasslands in winter have no cover. If the air defense problem cannot be solved, no matter how many troops come up, they will only die.
"What should we do?" Trotsky asked unconsciously. Although he was genius-like, he was more inclined to seek help from others rather than thinking by himself when facing things he could do.
"We need to strengthen air defense." Vacedis actually has no good idea. His plane is the kind that will be shot down by Chinese planes as soon as he goes to the sky. "And, our attack can only be put until night in the future. This way we can avoid enemy planes."
"Yeah." Trotsky focused his attention. He believed that night attacks were a good way. In the dark night, not only could he avoid air strikes, but he could also avoid enemies and us. After a large number of people rushed into Chalijin, there was a difficult street battle. At this time, it was all about hand-to-hand combat for soldiers, and planes and tanks could not play much role.
"Comrade Chairman, I think if time allows, I suggest..." While there was no one, Vatestis wanted to persuade Trotsky to slow down his attack on Taritzin, and it would be best if he could launch an attack after Christmas.
"The Central Executive Committee only gave us this month, not even this month, and we can only reach the 20th of this month." As comrades-in-arms and comrades, and as like-minded friends, Trotsky did not accuse Vatedith of surrenderism. In military and even political terms, the two were almost one.
"If the Tharizin is not taken down on the 20th, then the Executive Committee will sign a contract with the Chinese?" Vates asked, incredible at all. "We can't do it at all," he said in a low and firm manner. "The Chinese are not the White Army, they are as difficult as the Germans. Twenty days are not enough."
"Our position is that we cannot sign a contract with the Chinese, and after the 15th, the Germans will ask us to deliver food and fur. There is only so much time." Trotsky punched the iron plate. He lacked understanding of China and was blinded by Kazan's victory. Finally, he was stimulated by Stalin. Otherwise, how could he oppose signing a contract with the Chinese?
"Dear Lev, I know your difficulties, but you must understand that if the entire Eastern Front had completely destroyed it but did not take down Taritzin, the men like Nastalin and Voroshilov would have made other excuses to arrest all of us, and then another Stalin barge."
Although Vates is in this position, although it is an opportunity, there are always outstanding things. He sees all the internal struggles of the Bolsheviks. The most important thing now is that the Eastern Front cannot fail. Especially if it cannot be defeated, the ending of them is that the old Russian officers and bourgeois elements who were shot were no different. Every time I think of this, Vates feels incredible fate: a colonel leader actually became the commander-in-chief of the Red Army; and a revolutionary who is more revolutionary than all revolutionaries had just joined the party yesterday.
Of course, Trotsky couldn't understand the sigh of the commander-in-chief of the Red Army. He said with some distress: "But we can't just admit defeat."
"But we have already lost. If we really want to destroy all these four armies, not only us, but even the Soviets will be in absolute danger. At that time, if the Chinese thought we could not resist the attack of the White Army, would sign the contract be another matter? Can we defend Kazan after failure? For them, they are signing contracts anyway, why not sign with the White Army?"
Vates asked back and said, "Either we can defeat the Chinese without time limits. Of course, this will take a great risk. If the White Army takes the opportunity to attack, or the German army attacks because they cannot obtain materials, the proletarian revolution will fail; or we find an excuse to directly admit that we cannot occupy Charizin within the prescribed time, so that we can still retain the troops to deal with the White Army. Perhaps we will be criticized by Comrade Ilyich, but at least we do not suppress our limited power on a bet that is likely to lose. Because once we lose, the entire revolution will also fail."
In terms of positions, Trotsky should be in the leadership position, and Vates was in the leadership, but in fact, when weighing the pros and cons, Vates was often in the leadership position. He had a clever way to change Trotsky's decision-making through indirect attacks. Now, taking advantage of Trotsky's concerns about Chinese air strikes, he was using this method to change his decision.
"Exception? What excuses are you looking for?" Trotsky asked silently. At this time, he also felt that it was unwise to fight the Chinese to death. The best way to get back to Chalizin is to sign a contract.
"Let the 10th Army attack" Vasedis' pupils shrink and said calmly: "If their attack fails, then we report to Moscow, admit that our judgment on the combat effectiveness of the Chinese team was wrong, and believed that there is no possibility of regaining Taritzin with the current military strength and time limit. For the future of the revolution, the survival of the Soviets, and..." Speaking of this, Vasedis glanced at Trotsky and said nothing else. He continued: "We should stop the war with the Chinese and concentrate our forces against the growing Kolchakbek army. That is our most deadly threat."
Stalin wanted to see jokes from people like him and hoped to weaken and eliminate the Eastern Front through the Chinese. It would be better to destroy all the 10th Army formed by Stalin first, and then take this opportunity to think that it would be useless to fight again to agree to the peace talks. This is Vatediz's idea. I have to say that this is the best strategy without harming one's own interests.
"Voloshinov will go crazy." Trotsky looked at the commander-in-chief of the Red Army, with deep worries in his eyes.
"But you have shot his political commissar and his subordinates and his confidants, and he is crazy." Vates fiercely reminded Trotsky, who was not good at political struggles. "As long as the war continues, as you said, as long as we continue to revolution, the Soviets will need us officers instead of shooting us, and we don't have to worry about Voroshinov and Stalin."
As a district party faction, a new party member who joined the party yesterday, Trotsky and the old Russian officers within the Red Army recruited and appointed by him, if they want to not lose their power and not be dragged out and shot like a Chika dog, the only way is to keep the Soviets in war forever and continue to revolution, and when the revolution ends, their value will be completed on the day.
"Let me think about it." Trotsky was a little confused at this time. After he finished speaking, he returned to the carriage where the meeting was held and announced the end of the meeting. The orders announced by Vates were not cancelled, and they would continue to be carried out.
Like a full meal of vulture, the two air force dive bombers that had just bombed the Red Army headquarters returned to the battalion with satisfaction. Although bombing was the main task, the situation of the enemy would be reported to the combat staff who specialize in collecting intelligence immediately after landing. The news would soon reach the front command headquarters.
There, in addition to Major General Wen Yongyu, Chief of Staff of the Cavalry Army, Lieutenant General Peng Qingpeng, Commander of the Central Asian Army, and Lieutenant General Xu Jingxi, also moved the tent as far as possible to command the next day after taking over Chalijin. It is a tradition of senior commanders of the Fuxing Army.
In a combat room built with steel components, the reduced Chalijin city is displayed vividly and neatly on the sand table. This narrow city built along the Volga River is like a huge and ugly scar bulging between the grassland and the Volga River. The tall Orthodox church in the Russian city, as usual, located on the center of the city, is like a nail that makes a wound, implying that the scar has not yet healed and the scar will become bigger and bigger as human greed.
Around this unhealed scar, the trenches and barbed wires in various parts of the Fuxing Army were like sterile hyphae used by doctors in suture surgery, firmly tied the narrow scar layer by layer. This was the case on the outside. Although there was no wire inside the scar, the illegal buildings that were hindered before were flattened by bulldozers, and the grid was neatly divided into various functional areas.
When the Revival Army occupied Charizin, the large city with a population of 150,000 was 110. Although it had suffered disasters after the revolution, there were still nearly 100,000 people in the city. In order to prevent Russian riots, the troops specially divided the areas to avoid contact between the army and citizens as much as possible. At the same time, a railway colonial police from Japan was temporarily recruited by the headquarters. They went ashore in Astrakhan with the first fleet, and then rushed to the newly occupied city to maintain order. I don’t know if it was because of the sufficient food supply or the Japanese police had good management, but there was no riot or harassment in Charizin, which really puzzled the General Staff. To be continued.
Chapter completed!