Although Stalin had thought that his mentor was not easy to fool, before that, he had tried his best to create public opinion for Voroshilov and Zhdanov, and even talked to Trotsky in a roundabout way, hoping that he would raise his noble hand, for which he was ready to pay a certain political price.

But when the results came out, Stalin could not help but be disappointed, although Voroshilov and Zhdanov's political lives were saved, but they were undoubtedly disgusted with the mentor. And if the Master doesn't like a person, then no matter how high the level and ability of that person is, I'm afraid the future will be very limited.

At this time, Stalin couldn't help but wonder, is this time the response plan really right? Maybe let those two guys eat a meal at the head of the line, and with the temper of the mentor, it will be good after this while. And now it seems to be safe to go ashore, but the consequences are endless!

But even if Stalin regretted it, it would be too late, who let some people be clever and have not heard a word? Suffering a loss is taking advantage.

Not to mention the tangled Stalin, let's go back to the lower reaches of the Don, where the fighting continues, and even though the central government is mentally prepared for a bad dish, the situation is deteriorating faster than they thought!

The battle on the west bank of the White Kalitva was soon over, and Titerikhs's army had been pushed flat all the way to the banks of the Don River with a fierce descending force, and if it had not been for the heavy artillery fire of Eberhardt's fleet to push them back, the Czech bandits who were bent on flight would have swam across the Don River.

The staff officers constantly complained to Frunze: "We have too few troops, there are loopholes everywhere, there are no reserves at all!" ”

Frunze was unmoved. Because he knows it well. The reason why the staff officers are constantly complaining. The root cause is in that ambiguous telegram from the central government. It is not difficult to see from the telegram that the Central Committee's determination to fight has been shaken, because of the relationship between Voroshilov, a fool, the Central Committee does not have much confidence in whether it can block the advance of Krasnov and the Czech Corps, and is inclined to start anew, ready to consider encircling and annihilating the White Army in the Tsaritsyn direction.

Frunze did not like the new ideas of the Central Committee at all, because his main forces had already moved south and were making a rapid march south along the Voronezh-Rostov railway. To abandon the current plan and move to the Tsaritsyn direction to annihilate the White Army, it would be necessary to redeploy and turn the troops to the Tambov-Tsaritsyn railway line. This is no joke, it means that many troops will have to turn around again, and if you don't get the railway line right, it will become a mess!

To make matters worse, once White Kalitva was abandoned, the White Army would have fled almost half the distance of the Red Army's detour, and it was difficult to say whether they would be able to catch up with the enemy. It is more likely that the enemy will take Tsaritsyn smoothly. Then happily patted his ass and continued to flee eastward. Don't think about fighting a war of annihilation then!

Even if there was only one concern, Frunze would resolutely oppose the central government's adjustment of the battle plan. What's more, Frunze's concerns don't stop there. The morale of marching and fighting is the most important, and there is a way to fight with one drum and then decline and then exhaust it. After the propaganda and agitation from the front, the fighters made great efforts to annihilate the White Army in the Don Valley. It's good now, halfway through the fight and saying that if you don't fight, you won't fight, what will the fighters think? Do you feel like you're doing useless work? Do you think it's pouring cold water on them?

How can you chill the warriors who are gearing up to avenge their comrades? At least Frunze can't, and as the first campaign launched by the Red Army since its establishment, it ended in a tiger's tail, which is really unreasonable!

Frunze was by no means a person who was willing to compromise and bow to difficulties, even if it seemed to others that the central government had prepared steps for him to go down, and he should push the boat with the water. But he doesn't see it that way, and if he lets go of the Czech Legion and Krasnov, he will have endless troubles, and he must grit his teeth and fight a war of annihilation in the lower reaches of the Don River, even if he can't annihilate them all, he must annihilate most of them, so that they can no longer form a climate!

However, at this time, Frunze was lonely, and almost no one agreed with him to continue fighting, and even his senior staff members had the intention of stopping, which made him very distressed.

"Comrade Mikhail, Comrade Mikhail?!"

Frunze was awakened by a series of calls, and when he looked up, it was Blyukhel, a somewhat disabled commander who was staring at him with a fierce sparkle in his eyes!

"Vasily. Konstantinovich, why are you here? ”

Frunze was a little strange, at this time Blyuhel's troops were supposed to defend the city on the south bank, why did they leave the defense area and run to the headquarters, could it be that the south bank was also lost?

"No," said Blyukhel calmly, "my troops are firmly in control of the southern shore and swear to live and die with the southern city. I came to you because I heard a lot of rumors! ”

Frunze frowned and asked, "What rumors?" ”

Blyukhel looked into Frunze's eyes and said sternly: "I heard that the central government is ready to abandon White Kalitva and prepare to adjust its deployment and fight a war of annihilation in Tsaritsyn?" ”

"Tsk," the fire in Frunze's heart immediately ignited, the central telegram was top secret, except for his headquarters, which was not communicated to the outside world at all, and now, the news that should have been top secret was leaked. Needless to say, it's his headquarters that leaks secrets here!

Suddenly, Frunze slapped the table fiercely and roared angrily: "Who is chewing the tongue!" ”

Without waiting for the startled staff officers to react, Frunze roared again: "Thorough investigation!" You must find out this long-tongued woman for me, and military discipline is still needed! Inform the Department of Political Affairs ......"

Blyukhel hurriedly stopped him: "Comrade Mikhail, now is not the time to hold him accountable!" Now the most important thing is to set the record straight! The comrades at the grassroots level were all affected by this news, and everyone felt that it was no fun to continue fighting......"

Frunze was panting heavily, which showed how angry he was at this time, and at this moment, Eberhardt, who commanded the naval operation, also came, and just entered the door and asked, "Why did I hear rumors about retreating?" How can we retreat at this time, we must hold on to White Kalitva, otherwise the price we paid before will not be in vain! ”

The green tendons on Frunze's temples thumped, and his stomach was even more uncomfortable as turning over a river and a sea, and he endured the burning feeling. With all his might, he said: "Generate electricity to the center." I strongly oppose the abandonment of White Kalitva. Strongly opposed to revising the campaign resolve...... My troops will hold on to White Kalitva, and even if I am the only one left in the end, I will not be able to let the White Army go! ”

The faces of the staff officers are very ugly, Frunze is going to play with his life, they don't understand that there is a better choice, why choose a dead end?

The staff officer didn't understand, but Frunze understood that throughout the ages, on the battlefield, the brave won when they met on a narrow road. Whoever collapses first is the loser, and if he loses the first time, he loses the second and third times. Frunze doesn't want to lose, and he doesn't want to lose again and again!

"Slow down," Frunze called out to the staff officer who hurriedly conveyed the order, and said categorically in the other party's expectant gaze, "Prepare the broadcast for me, and I will personally announce this decision to the soldiers of the whole city!" From now on, you must only continue to fight, and you are not allowed to run away lightly. Sue sù political commissars at all levels. Enforce battlefield discipline from now on! ”

Frunze's persistence and decisiveness gave the theory of escape and retreat a blow to the head, under his personal supervision. None of the Red Army defending White Kalitva thought of retreating, let alone running away, and every Red Army soldier knew that there was no other way to go except to fight to the death!

"We really don't have enough troops!"

Morale and determination are one thing, but it is also necessary to face the problem squarely, and the defenders in the direction of White Kalitva are fully armed, plus the strength of Petropav's regiment, that is, two regiments. And in front of them there were almost 100,000 white troops, and the unprecedented disparity in strength was simply shocking!

Blyukhel asked: "How long will it be before our main forces reach the battlefield?" ”

Frunze smiled bitterly and said: "The most optimistic estimate will take 48 hours, or even longer!" ”

48 hours may be just two days for the average person, but for a battle, 48 hours is enough to make a decision.

Even Blyukhel, who advocated resolutely resisting the White Army, knew that it was unrealistic for them to stand up for 48 hours. He thought for a moment and asked, "Where is the Red Tenth Army now?" ”

Frunze was not happy when he heard this, and with a hint of disgust, he said: "Klimant called earlier to say that they are storming Luhansk...... Of course, it is difficult to say whether the so-called onslaught was discounted or not......"

Blyukhel and Eberhardt were silent for a while, and it was the Red Tenth Army, that is, Voroshilov, who made the whole battle bad, if this thing really carried out the order, it would definitely not be so passive at the moment!

But what's the use of talking about that now? The wood is already in the boat, and it is difficult to collect it!

Blyukhel suddenly said to Eberhardt: "Comrade Director, can your navy venture to Luhansk and find a way to bring a batch of reinforcements?" ”

Eberhardt smiled bitterly, he had thought about this method, in order to completely annihilate the White Army, he had already let it go, the problem was that the railway bridge in Kamensk was blown up before, and the broken bridge deck blocked the waterway, and there was no way to pass!

Blyukhel smiled bitterly, this really can't be blamed on Eberhardt, if you don't blow up the railway bridge and let the Czech Legion and Krasnov join forces, then the problem is even bigger, now there is still a Don River across the river, so that they can't form a joint force, how much pressure is still a little less.

"Comrade Mikhail, can you get the fraternal troops in the Tsaritsyn direction to think of a way to let them draw a little force to support us?"

"I've tried," said Frunze, clutching his stomach, "but Denikin is also making a lot of noise over there, and they have few troops to support us." ”

Blyukhel sighed, the current situation is to make up a dilapidated house that leaks everywhere, and originally wanted to demolish the east wall and make up the west wall, but when I really started it, I found that the wall that could be demolished had already been demolished, and the house would collapse if I demolished it again!

After a long silence, Eberhardt suddenly threw the cigarette butt to the ground, stepped on it twice, and said categorically: "I will immediately mobilize the Black Sea Fleet and strive to gather a little more troops......"

Both Frunze and Blyukhel knew that the Black Sea Fleet had been transferred countless times since the battle was fought, and with the old man's existing manpower allocation, except for the two dreadnoughts, the other capital ships had almost been withdrawn, and the Black Sea Fleet would really become an empty shelf.

To tell the truth, Frunze and Blyukhel were very moved, the battle between the branches of the military has always existed, and in the most critical and difficult moments, it was the brothers of the Red Navy who extended a helping hand. Without their selfless help. I simply couldn't hold out for that long.

If there is a silver lining. If you can draw a little troops from other directions. Neither Frunze nor Blyuhel were willing to accept Eberhardt's kindness, but now, there was really no way!

At this moment, Frunze was full of gratitude to Eberhardt, and he also felt that the old aristocracy and bourgeoisie could not be of the same mind as the proletariat, and he was quite complaining about the appointment of a senior officer with a big aristocratic background by the central government to manage the Black Sea Fleet. Just as Stalin and his ilk feared, Frunze doubted that the Red Army would ever be able to maintain its purity.

But after these days of understanding. and fighting side by side in adversity, Frunze changed his opinion, although he still did not like some of the old man's aristocratic habits, but he no longer doubted the old man's loyalty. Especially after the scene just now, even the most critical person can't say a bad word!

Compare and throw away! Look at that bastard Voroshilov, his composition and origin, okay? The old revolutionaries, the old party members, and the old subordinates dropped the chain and dragged their feet at the critical moment. And not ashamed, but proud...... The thought of what the goods had done made Frunze angry with his stomach.

Of course, Frunze was not the only one with a stomach ache, and Voroshilov, who was cursed by him, had more than a stomach ache. His liver hurts, his gall hurts, and his heart hurts even more!

The reason is simple, in Lugansk. He played hard! In fact, it was okay at the beginning, although Taterichs ran very actively, but he was not completely lacking in morality, and he still left a certain number of troops to defend Luhansk, after all, there are still troops in Donetsk that have not arrived, right?

However, the morale of the troops defending Luhansk was not high, and seeing that the main forces were upside down, the soldiers were demoralized, and they all wanted to run away quickly. So Voroshilov's cavalry used only one charge to completely collapse the defenders, and then fled.

Seeing that the recapture of Luhansk was in sight, Voroshilov was very proud, and with a swaggering mood, he sent telegrams to the Central Committee and Frunze respectively, and said unashamedly: "Our Red Tenth Army is about to regain Luhansk, and then it will heroically pursue and sweep eastward in accordance with the instructions of the Central Committee...... Our army is confident that it will defeat the Czech rebels! ”

Yes, this insignificant victory made Voroshilov swell in an instant, and he felt that the Czech Legion was nothing more than that, and the last time they lost to them, I am afraid it was more of a carelessness. Even this product is going to make a comeback!

However, Voroshilov's confidence came and went quickly, and he was like beating the water dogs when he fought against the royal forces of Titerikhs, and when he met the White army fleeing north from Donetsk, his role was immediately reversed, and it was his turn to be beaten by the water dogs.

It is not an exaggeration at all, when the red-eyed white army attacked him frantically in waves, he had no way at all, only to constantly throw the cavalry out of his hand to recoil, hard top, and the special environment of the city greatly limited the impact of the cavalry, the narrow streets made the horses unable to spread their legs, and the buildings allowed the infantry to obtain a natural shelter.

Voroshilov's cavalry was like stuck in a quagmire, and no matter how much they struggled, there was no point. Less than two hours after he recaptured Lugansk, he once again lost the city.

"Attack! Attack now! Voroshilov yelled in his field headquarters, dissatisfied with the cavalry's performance today, "Shoot the military commanders and commissars who led the retreating troops!" The Red Tenth Army doesn't need cowards! ”

A few tragic wretches became the target of Voroshilov's anger, and to tell the truth, it was not that the cavalry units were not brave enough, but that there was a problem with the command of this stupid big man. At first, the aim was to rush to Luhansk as soon as possible, to retake the city as soon as possible, and to catch up with the fleeing Czech corps. Voroshilov rushed over with the most mobile cavalry, and after arriving in Luhansk, because the enemy had no intention of fighting, he gave him the wrong signal, and the fool forgot that the cavalry was not suitable for defense, so he was beaten to a falling point.

If Voroshilov was not so impatient, less aggressive, and did not let the cavalry fight street battles on horseback. Waiting for the follow-up infantry to catch up, Luhansk will not be lost at all. But people like him never reflect, and as long as something happens, he is more accustomed to holding others accountable. Truth be told, people like him are more like bureaucrats than real military men.

Voroshilov knew that he had to take Luhansk, and he had already stabbed the big basket before, so that the superiors would have a stomach opinion on him, and if he couldn't quickly wear the guilt and make meritorious service, I was afraid that the official hat would not be guaranteed. Anyway, Stalin had already warned him sternly, if he didn't want to be promoted and surrendered, he had to hurry up to save himself, and he had to win the battle immediately!

As a result, Luhansk turned into a red cloth on the side that teased the bull, and Voroshilov, who turned into an angry bull, rushed in regardless of it, and around the city, the White Army and the Red Tenth Army launched a fierce battle, and for a time the blood flowed like a river!

"I don't want to listen to any casualty reports!" Voroshilov roared into the earpiece: "The train station must be taken at twelve o'clock at noon today, even if it is a second late, I will shoot you...... Do you understand, shoot you! ”

As soon as he hung up the phone, the bell rang again, and Voroshilov grabbed the receiver and roared again: "No cannons, no!" Reinforced concrete fortifications? I don't care, you have to take it down for me even if you use your teeth to bite and use your hand planing...... Dynamite? Nor did it! You've got an hour left, right! It's an hour, and an hour later I have to see the red flag on the dome of the town hall! Otherwise you won't have to see me! (To be continued......)

PS: Strongly thank you to Sweet Potato and Juventus, thank you for your continued support!