Chapter 722: Breakthrough (21st Update)

At the headquarters of the Southern Front of the Ural Front of the Russian Red Army, Commander Voroshilov is reading a report counting how many people have surrendered to the Chinese army after the Russian Red Army has been surrounded these days. As a result, Voroshilov was shocked.

After the remnants of the 7th Army of the Russian Red Army surrendered to the Chinese * army, it immediately affected the entire Southern Front of the Ural Front of the Russian Red Army like a whirlwind. Originally, they were defeated by the Chinese* army in the battle, and they were encircled, which already made them very depressed and desperate. Now, with the 7th Army as an example, it suddenly shakes the hearts of those who are not firm in their will. Faith in Bolshevism collapsed even more because of this. This inevitably led to the emergence of a large number of Soviet and Russian Red Army defections to the Chinese army, or even to the formation of the army.

According to preliminary estimates, the number of Soviet and Russian Red Army defectors in the past few days has reached 50,000. This caused panic within the troops of the southern front of the entire Ural Front. Voroshilov even worries that when he wakes up, all the Russian Red Army will surrender, and he is already in a prisoner of war camp of the Chinese* army.

"Comrade Commander, we can't go on like this. Drastic measures must be taken to apprehend those who have not been resolute in their will to surrender throughout the army. Only by executing them can we stabilize the morale of the army and we can continue to fight! Yakov, the political commissar of the 6th Army, chattered in Voroshilov's ear.

"Comrade Yakov, I already know your proposal, let me think about it again." Voroshilov said with some tiredness.

The commander of the 7th Army, Kasnov, was a good friend of Voroshilov, but he did not expect that Kasnov would be the first to surrender to the Chinese * army, which gave Voroshilov a great blow. Albeit. He had a lot of complaints about the Russian government and about the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party. However, he never thought of betraying the Russian government and the Bolsheviks. However, he can also understand Kasnoff's choice. After all. The current situation is already very unfavorable for the Soviet Russian Red Army. If they continue to persevere, the final result is likely to be that they will all be wiped out. It seems understandable that Kasnov made such a choice for the sake of his own life and the lives of his subordinates.

"Comrade Commander, we cannot afford to hesitate any longer. If you hesitate any longer, it will only fuel the arrogance of those guys. Yakov seemed a little dissatisfied with Voroshilov's answer.

"Comrade Yakov, please think about it. If at this juncture, we take a high-pressure approach. This will inevitably provoke the soldiers to revolt. In the event of a mutiny, the consequences would be even more severe. Voroshilov said.

Yakov opened his mouth to say something more, but, in the end, he was unable to say anything. He knew that it would be difficult to convince Voroshilov. Voroshilov had a lot of influence in the army, and even if he was the political commissar of the army group, he could not shake Voroshilov.

"Okay. Comrade commander, think again. After Yakov finished speaking. Straight away.

Voroshilov couldn't help but sigh, the number of troops he now has at his disposal is dwindling. Especially those other armies that are surrounded by Chinese* troops, the influence he can exert is very limited. If those armies were determined to betray Soviet Russia, then there was nothing he could do.

As a last resort. Voroshilov was only able to send another telegram to Frunze, asking for his instructions. Frunze had no choice but to report it to Trotsky. In Frunze's view, the reason why the Ural Front became what it is today is inseparable from the indiscriminate command of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party. Therefore. He could only kick the ball at the feet of the Party Central Committee and let them figure out a way.

Having received Frunze's telegram, Trotsky hurried to the Kremlin to report to Ulyanov.

"Comrade Chairman, now the situation in the Ural Front is very critical. After the troops on the southern front were divided and surrounded by the Chinese * army, the morale of the army was unstable. Many people who are not determined have surrendered to the Chinese. Now, more than 10,000 people surrender to the Chinese every day. Front-line commanders have fewer and fewer armies in their hands. If you don't think about it, the Ural Front will be in danger. Trotsky said.

Ulyanov's face was very ugly, and after the Ural Front was divided and surrounded by the Chinese * army, his face never looked good. At first, it was he who refused to retreat from the Ural Front. Now that the war has been fought like this, he is undoubtedly responsible. If it weren't for his prestige, maybe someone would have talked about it.

Ulyanov also did not expect that the situation of the war would evolve like this. Originally, he thought that the Ural Front was not much of the Chinese * army. But hundreds of thousands of troops, it is always no problem to support for a while. It's a big deal, it's good to find an excuse to withdraw when the time comes. But how did you know that the situation would deteriorate so quickly? Before he could react, the situation became like this.

"Comrade Trotsky, after the encirclement of the Ural Front, did not you know about the breakthrough?" Stalin asked.

"Comrade Stalin, the officers and men of the Red Army at the front have organized many breakouts. However, the Chinese were too well defended. During the day, it will also suffer from bombing and air raids by the Chinese Air Force, and if you want to break through, how easy is it to talk about it? In order to break through the encirclement, the Red Army suffered a very large number of casualties. Trotsky said with some anger. He could not accept Stalin's accusations against the Russian Red Army.

"Well, why don't they break through now? Is it because they want to surrender to the Chinese like the traitor Kasnov? Stalin sneered. The commander of a group army in the Soviet Russian Red Army actually led the army to surrender to the Chinese, which was undoubtedly a great blow to the Red Army. For Trotsky, too, it will be greatly affected.

"What is the difference between breaking through now and looking for death? The troops lack supplies, lack weapons and ammunition, and even food is not enough, how can they break through? Besides, how can it be so easy to face layers of interception by the Chinese? Trotsky retorted.

Ulyanov rubbed his somewhat aching forehead, and then said: "Comrade Trotsky, then, in your opinion, what should we do?" ”

Trotsky hesitated, then said: "Immediately organize troops to reinforce the Ural Front and rescue the besieged army." ”

"No, absolutely not. The Ural Front had already sunk itself in, causing a great loss of strength to the Russian Red Army. If we had caused more troops to fall into Western Siberia, wouldn't we have suffered even more losses? In that case, it would undoubtedly endanger the security of the entire Soviet Russia. Stalin categorically refused.

"Could it be that the hundreds of thousands of troops of the Ural Front just abandoned them?" Trotsky glared angrily at Stalin.

"Of course not. We can order the Ural Front to break through, and if they can break out of the encirclement and return to the west of the Ural Mountains, then they will naturally be heroes of Soviet Russia. Stalin said with a blank face.

"Let them break through on their own, doesn't that send them to death?" Trotsky was furious. I don't agree with Stalin's statement.

"They were all Red Army soldiers, and it was only right that they should pay for their own lives for the sake of the Soviet revolution." Stalin did not seem to feel Trotsky's wrath.

Such attitudes and views made Trotsky even more angry.

"Alright. Now we are empty of troops, and if we send troops to reinforce the Ural Front, it will make the defense of the country even more empty. Both the intervention armies of the Western powers and the White Army are likely to make a comeback. So, let the Ural Front break through on its own. The Ural Front is now albeit suffering heavy losses. However, the main force is still there. If they are bent on breaking through, the Chinese will have no way to take them. Ulyanov finally clapped his head.

"Yes, Comrade Chairman." Although Trotsky was unwilling, he had no choice but to send a telegram to the front in accordance with this order.

"Comrade President, I'm afraid we have to get ready. In the event that the Ural Front is wiped out by the Chinese, we must end the war as soon as possible, otherwise the security of Soviet Russia will be fundamentally affected. After Trotsky's departure, Stalin said worriedly.

Ulyanov nodded: "It seems that it is indeed not the time to start a war with the Chinese, I am too reckless!" Let Comrade Yue Fei prepare to make contact with the Chinese and end the war. ”

"Comrade President, it's not your fault, it's that the Chinese are too cunning. They obviously have such a powerful combat power, but they have been hiding, and they have clearly dug a pit for us to jump into. Stalin said.

Hearing Stalin say this, Ulyanov's heart couldn't help but feel much better.

The order to break out of the encirclement was sent from the Russian Military Council to the Ural Front Command in Ufa, and from the Ural Front to the front.

After receiving such an order, Voroshilov's face couldn't help but become very ugly. However, he had no choice but to order a breakthrough to the west and north. In order to be able to enter the Ural Mountains after breaking through the encirclement of the Chinese* army, and cross the Ural Mountains into the Eastern European Plain, thus escaping the pursuit of the Chinese* army. (To be continued.) )

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