Odessa in 1918 was a little deserted at night, and as an important base of the Black Sea Fleet, Odessa was very lively when a large number of warships were moored in the harbor in the past. The large number of sailors who left the ship to buy drunk greatly stimulated Odessa's evening economy, and the noise continued until late at night, and this craze would only subside when all the sailors were drunk.

From March 1917, however, the craze changed somewhat, culminating in one revolution after another. The lives of Odessa and the sailors have also changed dramatically. In short, it can be summed up in one sentence - people's hearts move.

It is difficult to say the tendencies of the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet, the Ukrainians prefer the Central Rada and the Hetmanskoropatsky and want to play for an independent Ukraine; And the soldiers of Russian nationality preferred the Bolsheviks; As for the officers, most of them were supporters of the White Army.

In Odessa, however, the situation was not so complicated, and with the onslaught of the Germans in February, the Fleet Council transferred all the main forces of the fleet to Sevastopol, and even after the Brest Treaty was signed, the Fleet Committee did not allow all the ships whose home port belonged to Odessa to be put into place.

Today, only four old destroyers remain in Odessa, as well as a protective cruiser Ascade, launched in 1900, and another cruiser, the Merdikh, which formerly belonged to the Turkish Navy. Truth be told, these warships are old-fashioned, especially the Turkish Navy's Mezhdikh, which was commissioned in 1874 and sank by mine in December 1914. In 1915, the Black Sea Fleet salvaged and repaired it and continued to use it, bearing the name of the previously mentioned heroic minelayer ship "Prut River".

In addition to this, all that remained in the harbor were a number of gunboats and torpedo boats. For example, the gunboat Salkir. For example, the minesweeper Dmitry-Groy. Anyway, there are very few ships in the harbor. Even if these warships swarm against the water, they will not be able to become any climate.

It can be seen from this that the fleet committee was actually prepared, and they detained the main forces of the fleet in Sevastopol, and used the artillery on the fortress of the port of Sevastopol to keep a firm watch over these warships whose movements were unknown, in order to prevent the worst situation.

And this is also an important reason why Nikolai has always emphasized the need to transfer Li Xiaofeng out of Sevastopol, there is a certain immortal in Sevastopol, and these conspirators have almost no room for trouble. And if nothing happens in Sevastopol. It's really not interesting. The few ships that stayed in Odessa, Nikolaev and Novorossiysk were too few and far too few to be a match for the fleet commission.

"It's already been decided!" In a basement in Odessa, a bearded man with a meaty face excitedly said to Konstantin, "Just tonight, we will carry out a coup d'état in Odessa, Nikolaev and Novorossiysk at the same time, eliminate the doglegs of the fleet committee and seize the ships!" ”

Konstantin was not as excited as the bearded man, and although he had had enough of the days spent in the basement, he was not stupid. Judging from the information we have received before, this mutiny operation is definitely not a smooth one. And there is Andrey. Petrovich is in. There are also a lot of variables and risks.

It's not good to say, it's a bit like an egg hitting a stone. Although Konstantin didn't like the Bolsheviks, it didn't mean that he was tired of being alive, knowing that he didn't have much chance of winning, he was still quite tough, no matter how you look at it, it looks like death!

"Are you sure?" He asked suspiciously, "Did you tell me yesterday that the wind in Odessa is tight and you must be careful?" Why did you suddenly start moving? ”

The bearded man's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly calmed down and explained, "Yesterday is yesterday, today is today, and every day is different. Yesterday wasn't good, but that doesn't mean it's going to be bad today. And after this period of high-intensity martial law, the nerves of the Bolsheviks also relaxed...... They would never have imagined that we would strike a fatal blow at this time...... It's bound to catch them off guard! ”

Konstantin still had concerns and asked, "Could it be too hasty?" ”

The bearded man hurriedly said: "Not in a hurry at all, Mr. Skoropatsky has already sent an army to assist us, and with his help, we will be like a tiger." ”

In all fairness, Konstantin didn't like Skoropatsky at all, because this guy was once a dogleg of the Germans, clamoring for Ukrainian independence, and as a Great Russoist, Konstantin hated this kind of Russian traitor, and if it was possible, he would like to have Skoropatsky publicly beheaded.

However, this Skoropatsky did not know how to get in touch with the upper echelons of the Social Revolutionaries and the Cadets, and the gang did not know what Lu Dao had discussed, and finally reached an agreement that Skoropatsky's army would fight with the White Army until the Bolsheviks were expelled from Ukraine.

After the expulsion of the Bolsheviks from Ukraine, what benefits the Provisional Government of Ufa needed to give Skoropatsky, Konstantin did not know. But he knows one thing, it will definitely be a hemorrhage, and it must be to pay a part of Ukraine's interests, otherwise Skoropatsky would not be so concerned.

Anyway, Konstantin is resolutely opposed to the act of giving benefits to the rebellious party, what is the difference between this approach and the Bolsheviks, it is not a betrayal of Russia's national interests! However, he was not the one in charge of the Provisional Government of Ufa and the White Army, and it was pointless for him to oppose it. And he had to pinch his nose and work with Skoropatsky!

"When will Skoropatsky's men arrive?"

After hearing the news, although Konstantin was annoyed, his heart was somewhat calm, and if there was Skoropatsky's army, it would not be so abrupt to rush into trouble.

The bearded man smiled and said, "It's already here!" ”

"Oh?" Konstantin was surprised and asked again: "How many people came?" ”

The bearded man said again: "No less than 10,000 people!" ”

"Shhh

Konstantin took a breath, if Skoropatsky really sent an army of more than 10,000 people to help, it must be said that this is really a big deal. As far as he knew. There were only 10,000 or 20,000 people under that merchant. Is this to get rid of the old roots?

Thinking of this, Konstantin was even more relaxed, with Skoropatsky's 10,000 people, he was eighty or ninety percent sure of a surprise attack to take Odessa, indeed, this was a good opportunity. But after a brief moment of joy, Konstantin began to struggle again, and they contacted many people in Odessa. At the very least, there were only a thousand people willing to fight with them, which was nothing compared to Skoropatsky's army.

Konstantin was worried that Skoropatsky would take most of the loot after the fact, and in that case, he would be embarrassed...... He had to think of a way sooner, he secretly made up his mind in his heart that he had to keep the lion's share of the credit and loot to himself!

Just as Konstantin was using his brains to make a small calculation, he did not notice the contemptuous look of the bearded man beside him, which looked like a dead fool. In his eyes, Konstantin seemed to be a dead man.

The night was deep. On the trestle in the port of Odessa, Red Army sailor Valentin and his friends were standing guard and patrolling. It was not a good errand to speak from the heart, the military port at night was quiet, and nothing could be seen or heard except for the sound of the waves brought by the damp sea breeze.

In April, although it was already spring, but the sea breeze was still so cold and biting, Valentin sighed in his hand, stomped his feet fiercely, and looked at the old Prut River, this old ship that has been nearly half a century old is like a coffin floating on the sea, lifeless.

Valentin shook his head, driving away the bad thoughts in his mind, he was depressed, every sailor was willing to serve on a new warship, not on an old warship, compared to the old Prut River, the Askede next to it was much more vibrant, at least he didn't have to worry about sinking if he went to sea.

After thinking for a while, Valentin tightened his collar and craned his neck towards the other end of the trestle, where there was a makeshift sentry box that could shelter him from the wind.

The sound of leather boots kicking on the steel trestle made a crisp sound, in this silent night, this simple monotonous sound was particularly harsh, and Valentin, who was slowly walking forward with his head shrunk, quickly attracted attention, although the thin mist made him unable to see who was walking on the other side of the trestle, but he knew very well that it was not a little friend in the sentry box - the footsteps were too noisy, and he was not alone at all!

Valentin immediately raised his vigilance, picked up the Mosinagan behind him, squinted his eyes, vigilantly paid attention to the direction of the footsteps, and shouted: "Who, password!" ”

When he said this, Valentin was already lying on the ground, his index finger was already on the trigger, and he would shoot without hesitation if the person on the other side made any abnormal movement, or could not answer the command!

Make a big fuss? Not at all, as a Russian sailor who supported the Fleet Committee and the Bolsheviks, before taking up his post, the political commissar of Valentin made a special explanation: "Comrade Valentin, you must be vigilant at night, according to the information obtained by the Cheka, there is a group of counter-revolutionaries operating rampantly within our fleet...... They are trying to seize warships and subvert the people's power, and in order to crush their plots, you must always be vigilant! ”

Valentin listened to the admonitions of the commissar, and was extremely careful every time he worked at night, and although he never found any trace of the activities of the counter-revolutionaries, he was proud to guard the people's fleet.

"The Great Workers' and Peasants' Red Army!"

After hearing this reply, Valentin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the password was correct, and the problem was not too big, but Valentin did not rush to put away his weapon, but asked again: "Who are you?" ”

The footsteps on the opposite side sounded again, and the visitor replied as he walked: "We are Cheka people, come to arrest the counter-revolutionaries!" ”

Valentin frowned unconsciously, in the middle of the night, the Cheka also ran out to catch people? Too dedicated, right?

Without waiting for Valentin to figure out this problem, a few people came over from behind the mist, although the black light was blind, but Valentin instinctively felt that something was wrong, and he had a feeling that there seemed to be something wrong with these people!

"Stop!" Valentin gave the order categorically, and pointed his gun at the man in charge.

"Little comrade, don't get me wrong!" The man hurriedly raised his hands, as if to say that there was no malicious intent, "We are All-Russian Chekas, and we are here to arrest the counter-revolutionaries!" ”

Valentin frowned and asked rhetorically, "Arrest the counter-revolutionaries?" Where are the counter-revolutionaries? ”

The man in the lead smiled and said, "It's hiding on the Ascade." At this time, I am afraid that he is operating in secret. In order to crush his plot. We had to go out overnight! ”

Valentin looked at the group of people again, although there seemed to be no problem, but he always felt that something was wrong, and he was thinking about whether to shout and let his friends come over to carefully check this group of people, when suddenly his eyes lit up.

From raising the gun, aiming to firing, it only took Valentin a second, before the group could react. He opened fire flatly.

Syllable!

The crisp sound of gunfire was particularly loud in this night, and almost at the same time as the gunshots rang out, the sentries on the docks and on the warships "woke up".

"Where to shoot!"

"What's wrong!"

Compared with other positions where the truth is unknown, Valentin is exceptionally sober, and just now, through the moonlight that drilled out the dark clouds, he found a familiar face in the suspicious crowd. He had seen this face countless times, and he remembered that the political commissar had specially explained: "Comrades, you must remember this face deeply, he is a counter-revolutionary posing as a Cheka, an enemy of the people. If you find his traces, you must report to your superiors as soon as possible. If necessary, you can just shoot him! ”

That's right, it was just that momentary opportunity, Valentin recognized Konstantin, although he also thought about reacting to his superiors, but seeing that this group of people came late at night, and it was a bit menacing. Alert, he immediately made a decision, no matter what these people wanted to do, they would definitely not do good deeds, and it was too late to report to Lu's superiors, so shoot first.

At the same time as the gunshot rang out, Valentin jumped off the trestle with a gruntle, and the cold and biting water made his only bit of sleepiness disappear, and he swam more than ten meters with a fierce man, poked his head out and shouted in the direction of the Prut: "Comrades, the counter-revolutionary Konstantin is on the trestle, ready to fight!" ”

At this point, there was an immediate reaction on the Prut, and the searchlights were immediately turned on on the bow sentry, and the dazzling spotlight firmly locked on Konstantin and his party, and after a brief panic, they quickened their pace and ran towards the Askede.

"Stand still, or you'll shoot!"

The sentry on the Prut River shouted at the galloping crowd. However, he did not receive any response, the crowd was still running wildly, and after a moment of hesitation, he shouted again: "Last warning, stop immediately, or I'm going to shoot!" ”

Valentin in the icy sea is very dissatisfied with the response of his little friend, isn't this a delay! If it were him, he would shoot first without saying a word, and kill these bastards!

As if in response to Valentin's thoughts, without waiting for the warning of the bow sentry, the silence was broken by a few gunshots, followed by the thunderous roar of the political commissar: "Shoot, kill this group of counter-revolutionaries!" ”

In a second, a series of gunshots rang out, and the bullets collided and refracted on the hull and steel trestle, and a few stray bullets almost hit Valentin in the water. Unfortunately, it was too late, and although several counter-revolutionaries were killed, the vast majority of the group escaped to the Ascade.

"Send a signal to the Asked, tell them to hand over the counter-revolutionaries immediately, and inform the Odessa fleet commissioners so that the comrades are organized and ready for battle!" The commissar of the Prut River issued a series of orders in an instant.

However, the changes on the Ascade were even faster than his reaction, and before he could organize his forces to rush to the Ascade, the cruiser took the lead, and while lifting anchor, it quickly turned its guns and began to shoot at the Prut River!

At close range, the shells entered the Prut River's hull at a straight angle, and after a series of violent explosions, puffs of smoke rose from the Prut River's hull.

"Inform the Fleet Council that the Ascade has defected...... Organize the artillery comrades, immediately return fire, and you can't let them run! ”

As the Prut River began to return fire, an astonishing scene could be seen in the port of Odessa, where two warships rained bullets on each other at close range, and the flames and smoke of the explosion almost obscured half of the sky. And, soon, four destroyers, as well as old gunboats and torpedo boats, joined the shelling......

"What? Mutiny among the sailors of Odessa? At four o'clock in the morning, Li Xiaofeng was woken up, and the herald brought him extremely bad news.

Li Xiaofeng couldn't care about being sleepy-eyed, and rushed to the location of the fleet committee after getting dressed haphazardly, "What kind of force caused the mutiny?" White Army or Central Rada? ”

"It is not clear now, and the local fleet committee does not know exactly what happened, except that from three o'clock in the morning, the Aske and the Prut suddenly shelled each other, and then they accused each other of launching a counter-revolutionary mutiny......

Li Xiaofeng frowned and asked, "What does the local Cheka say?" ”

"Odessa Cheka doesn't know what's going on in the road, the situation is chaotic! The only thing we know is that the mutiny has swept the whole city of Odessa into it, and there is chaos inside and outside the city to the port, with fighting and gunfights everywhere! We are still waiting for further news......"

Li Xiaofeng glanced at several responsible persons of the fleet committee with dissatisfaction, the big taboo in this situation is to wait, waiting will only delay time, and the most correct way is to take the initiative to find out what happened.

He categorically ordered: "Please prepare my ships at once, and I will rush to Odessa at once to quell this rebellion!" (To be continued......)

PS: Special thanks to the glorious comrades of Sukhoi who have been enthusiastic about providing information on the Navy, hard work!