Not to mention the actions of the Poles, the merger of Ukraine and Romania disrupted the strategy of the southern front of Soviet Russia.

Inside Moscow's famous Kremlin, a meeting is taking place on the merger of Western Ukraine with Romania.

"Romania's illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine is a trampling on great socialism. We cannot sit idly by, or our cause will be seriously threatened. ”

"Comrades, think about it, just prop up a handful of traitors in our neighbors who are malicious to us, create an unknown and ridiculous state, and then declare a merger. And if we are indifferent, no matter how large the country is, it will not be able to withstand the division. Therefore, Romania, the new imperialists, must be immediately and forcefully counterattacked. Those who want them to know about us must not accept such blackmail. ”

In the conference hall, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Chicherin was impassionedly talking about the threat this incident posed to Soviet Russia.

Chicherin's words elicited a nod from the people's commissars present. After all, Ukraine is the territory of the former Tsarist Russia, and they cannot accept that one of the territories is occupied by their neighbors, and they regard themselves as the successors of Tsarist Russia. Moreover, if the neighboring countries did the same, it would jeopardize the foundations of Soviet power.

After Checherin finished speaking, Dzerzhinsky, who was the chairman of the All-Russian Anti-Counterterrorism Committee, expressed his opinion: "Comrade Chicherin is right, it is true that there can be no concession in the slightest on this matter. We must respond to the provocations of the neo-imperialists. ”

Dzerzhinsky first agreed with Chicherin's words, and then changed to say, "But we must distinguish priorities. At present, our chief enemy is the White Bandit Army of Kolchak, Denikin and others, who seriously threaten the security of the Soviet Government. If part of the forces were to be transferred to fight back against the Romanians, would this give the White Bandits a respite? After all, the people under the rule of the White Bandit Army are eagerly looking forward to our liberation. ”

Dzerzhinsky's words also caused concern among everyone, and he was right. If the forces are dispersed, will it give the White Bandit Army, the biggest threat at the moment, a respite, this is really a dilemma.

Seeing that Dzerzhinsky was opposed to his proposal, Chicherin opened his mouth and asked rhetorically: "Comrade Dzerzhinsky, can you guarantee that if we do not retaliate against Romania's actions, other neighboring countries will not take the opportunity to invade our territory as they do?" ”

In response to Chicherin's question, Dzerzhinsky answered truthfully: "Sorry, I can't guarantee that. ”

Dzerzhinsky's answer allowed Chicherin to find the gap. "Since there are no guarantees, then we must give Romania a taste of Soviet wrath."

"But after the troops are withdrawn, how can we ensure that we can not give the white bandit army a chance to breathe. Perhaps, Romania's move was precisely to attract our attention and allow us to divide our forces to intervene. ”

Faced with Dzerzhinsky's rhetorical question, Chicherin confidently replied, "This is easy to do, just like the siege of the Soviet government by Kolchak, Denikin, Yudenich and Mirel, calling on the people to join the army." As long as another 500,000 Soviet troops are called, we will not only be able to maintain a posture of pursuit against the White Bandits, but will also be able to teach a lesson to the new imperialists who dare to stretch out their hands. ”

Hearing what Chicherin said, Dzerzhinsky couldn't help but ask rhetorically: "But at present, we have already conscripted two million troops. If the conscription continues, how will the weapon supply be solved? ”

Chicherin replied confidently: "At present we occupy a vast area of Ufa, Kursk and Tsaritsyn, and are fully able to recruit soldiers and collect supplies from them. Moreover, weapons and ammunition can also be used by workers to work overtime to produce, and we have captured a lot of weapons, which can be equipped with the troops first. ”

Chicherin's approach immediately aroused the interest of the other people's commissars. Yes, at the moment the Soviet area has expanded, and it is entirely possible to recruit soldiers from it. And the weapon can also be captured first, although the caliber is different, the ammunition stored is small, and it cannot be produced, but it is enough to kill the enemy.

The dispute between the two men was the question of whether or not to regard foreign intervention forces as the main enemy of Soviet Russia. Because in the strategic policy formulated by Lenin, between the White Guards and the intervening armies, the White Guards should be annihilated first, and then the Entente should be defeated.

Gradually, the other People's Commissars began to lean towards Chicherin's proposals.

The dispute between the two men is on a superficial side, and now that the threat of the White Guards to the Soviets has become smaller (no longer a matter of life and death), does Soviet Russia need to start attacking the intervening forces? On a deeper level, Lenin's policy needs to be changed.

Faced with this matter, Lenin, who was presiding over the meeting at this time, did not intend to speak, but asked Trotsky, who was next to him, "What do you think of Comrade Chicherin's suggestion, Comrade Trotsky?" ”

As the founder of the Red Army (the main reason for the future purge), Trotsky, of course, had the most say on military issues. So when Lenin asked himself, after taking a sip of water, he said slowly, "Comrade Checherin's proposal is feasible." ”

Then he gave his reason: "At present, we have a population of nearly 80 million, and we occupy most of the arsenal. In terms of population, weapons and ammunition, the White Bandit Army was far inferior. At this time, it is also possible to appropriately show strength to the surrounding unfriendly countries. And we need to note that, unlike the intervention forces of Britain and France, Romania's practice of creating disputed areas is very threatening to us. After all, this is not the same as pure intervention, which will lead a part of the population in the country that does not know the truth to be hostile to the Soviets. This will also be an important problem for us to liberate the world in the future. ”

Seeing that Trotsky approved of Chicherin's proposal, Lenin did not object, and he now seemed like a man of no importance. Instead, he asked the other people's commissars, "Do you still have any different opinions?" ”

"Nope."

"Nope."

In the face of Lenin's inquiry, some intelligent people felt that there was something unusual in the atmosphere, and they did not want to be caught between the two. So it's basically a water shake of the head, indicating that there is no other opinion.

Lenin, seeing that there was no other opinion, continued: "Since there is no other opinion, let us vote by show of hands on whose opinion we adopt this time. ”

"Agree with Comrade Chicherin, please raise your hand."

Brush, brush, several hands raised.

Lenin took a cursory glance and found that in addition to Trotsky's men, there were two other members.

"6 votes."

He simply reported the figures, and then said, "If you agree with Comrade Dzerzhinsky's proposal, please raise your hand." ”

Brush, brush, brush, a few more hands raised.

Lenin saw that no one else raised his hand except his own.

"4 votes."

After a brief count, Lenin said to the clerk behind him: "Record, voted by the Central Committee, in favor of Comrade Chicherin's response to the Romanian provocation. ”

The clerk quickly writes down the results of today's vote in a notebook, which needs to be archived for later reference.

Then, a telegram from Moscow reached the commander of the Southern Front, Egorov, and the military commissar Stalin, and it was up to them to see how they dealt with the neo-imperialists in Romania.

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