At the same time that the 2nd Company had beaten their enemies to the brim, Frunze, who had retreated from Pskov, finally arrived in Luga, where he met Trotsky, who was nervously arranging his defenses.

"Comrade Trotsky, I heard that you are ready to abandon Luga directly?" Frunze asked straight to the point.

"That's right!" Trotsky replied in the affirmative, "With our present forces we cannot hold off the enemy in Luga......"

Voroshilov suddenly interjected: "Then you can't give up this important transportation hub to the enemy!" It's on the run! ”

Frunze glared at Voroshilov, and he was not very satisfied with the sudden interjection of this reckless subordinate, but Vroshilov did ask what was in his mind, so after giving the daredevils the necessary warning, he also asked the same question: "Comrade Trotsky, is it too hasty to abandon Luga like this, if we cannot stop the enemy here, then there will be a flat future...... We can't let the enemy pass like that! ”

"Of course I know that I can't let the enemy reach Petrograd, and that's what I'm here for!"

Trotsky was ready to patiently explain his plan, but the daredevil, Voroshilov, interjected again, sneered beside him, and sneered: "I doubt this! ”

Provoked by Voroshilov in succession, Trotsky naturally could not bear it anymore, and he lectured in an extremely tough tone: "Krement. Yevremovich, what do you mean by your yin and yang weird words? ”

Voroshilov was not afraid of Trotsky, and replied very arrogantly: "I just think that some military laymen not only do not understand anything, but are bent on escaping!" ”

It should be said that Voroshilov's attitude was very bad, and Frunze immediately wanted to stand up and teach this unruly subordinate a lesson, yes, although he did not like Trotsky very much, and felt that this man was mixed into the sand of the party, but since it was Comrade Lenin who sent Trotsky to supervise the war, he did not even like Trotsky. But the leadership of Comrade Lenin must also be respected.

But Trotsky was not a stubble. In his early years, he was able to wrestle with Lenin in the party, what scene did he not see? He had long known that there was a part of the Bolsheviks who did not welcome or even disliked him, and they were eager to stand up and provoke him and humiliate him, so as to gain more political capital for themselves. Such an unpopular means as Voroshilov is not worth mentioning at all.

"I don't understand military affairs!" Trotsky stared at Voroshilov and said, "But you Kremian . . . Yefremovich also does not necessarily understand military affairs, and if you really have a little military acumen, you should first listen to other people's opinions. And then give your opinion...... Frequently interrupting others will only show that you are neither educated nor have the calm qualities of a military commander. Now, before I finish my speech, please keep your tongue in check, or I will get you out of the house in the name of the Revolutionary Military Committee! ”

This slap was not light, and it was the reason why Voroshilov dared to challenge Trotsky's authority. In fact, relying on Stalin's power, since he heard that the elder brother had become a member of the Politburo, his mind became lively, and he thought that it was time to show his strength and do something about it.

So under Frunze, he was quite active, although his military quality was a mess, but it was undeniable that this product first of all looked good, tall and big like a real man. Secondly, this thing is still relatively brave in the war. Because of these two points. Frunze still likes him, which indirectly makes this product more and more fluttering. Naturally, there was no Trotsky in his eyes.

But who would have thought that Trotsky was not a good stubble at all, Voroshilov did not have him in his eyes, and he did not have a small person like Voroshilov in his eyes, to put it mildly, in today's party, Lenin is No. 1, he is No. 2, Stalin is not even No. 3, there are predators like Sverdlov in front of steel, and Dzerzhinsky, a powerful figure who controls the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Stalin is the squad leader and deputy squad leader who bullied and bullied the countdown, and he is not a fart.

It is conceivable that Trotsky was not even a bird of Stalin, but a dog under Stalin? If you fight, you will be beaten, not to mention that you are still a dog looking for abuse on the pole, ignoring the members of the Politburo, you are so daring!

Voroshilov's face turned red with anger, and he looked at Trotsky viciously, and then at Frunze, as if hoping that Frunze would speak for himself. How could Frunze speak for him, although they all have the surname "Fu", but the future "Hero of the Russian People" is not only a big cut above this "family" militarily, but even more so politically, he is mixed with his mentor, so naturally he has to respect the authority of his mentor, Stalin? Sorry, we don't buy it.

So for Voroshilov's request for help, he just didn't see it, who made your kid have no strength and blindly provoked, if I spoke for you, maybe I would offend Trotsky, although we are mixed with the mentor, we don't need to care too much about Trotsky, but there is no need to offend casually.

Frunze didn't speak, Voroshilov was immediately blinded, after all, his position in the party is like that, without Stalin, he is not a fart, and the two people present are not too scared of Stalin, so naturally it is impossible for him to blow up the thorns.

Voroshilov snorted and closed his mouth, although he is tall, but his spiritual world or his will is not as tall as his figure, in the final analysis, he is a pure mouth cannon, can only bully those whose background and foundation are not as deep as him, in the face of the real strong, he is a ridiculous dwarf.

And he is also a dwarf who is particularly good at holding grudges, he closed his mouth hatefully, remembered this hatred in his heart, and when the time is ripe, he will be eager to turn over the old accounts.

However, at this time, neither Frunze nor Trotsky realized the shame of this despicable villain, let alone that one day this goods would soar, and naturally even if they saw Voroshilov's resentful expression, they would not go to their hearts, where would the big man care what the little man thought.

Trotsky introduced Frunze in detail to his plan, and soon Frunze was impressed, he was not a rigid man, and the reason why he insisted on not giving up Luga just now was only because he had no better way, and now that there was a better way, he would naturally not insist on sticking to it anymore.

"This plan works!" Frunze was approving of Trotsky's plan, but he also offered his opinion: "But I suggest: first of all, pay attention to the town of Tolkovich upstream. There are also bridges there. In order to prevent the enemy from a detour attack, you should send a force to defend, and secondly, do not give up Luga immediately, at least not before the enemy arrives? ”

There was no opinion on sending troops to the town of Tolkovich, Trotsky. The town is located upstream of the railway bridge, about thirty kilometres from Luga, and there is a bridge for cars. It was necessary to hold there and prevent the enemy from flanking and flanking.

"Then let the 1st Machine Gun Regiment go!" Trotsky nodded in agreement, and then asked, "Why can't you give up Luga at once?" ”

"It is clear that if we abandon Luga on our own initiative before the enemy arrives and retreat to the north bank of the railway bridge to organize defenses, then the enemy may see through our plans."

Trotsky still said he did not understand. Frunze patiently explained: "The key to our plan is to hold off the enemy and drag them as far as possible near Luga, but if we retreat on our own initiative and do not blow up this vital bridge, what do you think the enemy will think?" ”

Trotsky finally understood that if they really wanted to rely resolutely on the banks of the river to resist the enemy's attack, then it was only reasonable that they should resolutely blow up the bridges. But now they retreated. Another bridge was left intact. Then a fool can see that there is a deception.

"You're right, I'm still taking it for granted!" Trotsky said from the bottom of his heart. "If we want to realize our plan, it is reasonable to retreat gradually and little by little."

"I'm against this plan!"

Unexpectedly, just when Trotsky and Frunze were in agreement, Voroshilov suddenly jumped out against it, "This plan is child's play, just take it for granted!" We are glorious Bolsheviks, and we have the ability and the ability to stop the enemy in Luga. There are no conditions for this. And now this plan is negative and conservative! As a true Bolshevik, we should stay in Luga and rely on the masses to fight the enemy to the death! I think that's the right thing to do! ”

This simple-minded idiot, Trotsky and Frunze made the same assessment of Voroshilov at the same time, if it weren't for the fact that they couldn't scold their mother in public, otherwise they would have squirted Voroshilov's face at the same time.

The problem is that some self-righteous fool has not yet realized his mistake, and Voroshilov is dancing and preaching his theory that he will never retreat in a fight to the death, emphasizing again and again that the honor and glory of the Bolsheviks cannot be blasphemed.

In the end, he succeeded in infuriating Trotsky, and the future founder of the Red Army called the guards with impatience on his face, pointed at Voroshilov's nose and gave the order: "Drag out this key person who is greedy for life and fear of death and throw away Pskov, and the vile bastard who has blasphemed the honor of the Bolsheviks, and shoot him on the spot!" ”

Voroshilov was amazed and shocked, and he howled hysterically: "This is slander, you can't shoot me!" ”

Trotsky didn't bother to look at him, and said contemptuously: "I am defending the honour of the Bolsheviks, and to retreat according to your theory is to surrender, to betray, to be a shameful act that must not be forgiven." So as the key person responsible for the loss of Pskov, what kind of shame do you have to steal your life? And what qualifications do you have to talk about any honor here...... If you are right, then we should shoot you right away in order to preserve the honor and discipline of the Bolsheviks, and if you are wrong, then the current battle plan is perfectly feasible! ”

Voroshilov was stunned, he did not expect Trotsky to come and attack the shield with his spear, completely blocking his way, if he really insisted on any honor and discipline, then he should be shot first, if he gave up this set of fallacies, then Trotsky's war plan should not be questioned.

For a moment, all eyes in the conference room were looking at Voroshilov, everyone wanted to see what choice this big man would make, and seriously, everyone hoped that he would stick to his own opinion and defy the law, who made everyone tired of this person's nonsense.

Voroshilov's face was red and blue, and he changed several times in succession, and finally he flicked his sleeves and turned around, and when he walked out of the conference room, there was a burst of laughter in the room, which showed how unpopular someone was.

Trotsky did not laugh either. He said lightly: "We can continue to discuss the battle plan......

For Trotsky's ease. Frunze was very impressed, in fact, just now Trotsky could have chosen another way to make Voroshilov submit, and it was a big deal to use the name of the Politburo and the Military Committee to force pressure, and Voroshilov still could not make a single wave. Trotsky, however, did not choose this most logical method, but chose an almost funny way to respond to Voroshilov's provocation.

It should be said that this way is quite a slap in the face. Quite relieving, but also quite unkind. But Trotsky chose this method, not only because he had confidence, but also because Frunze saw the flaws in Trotsky's character:

First of all, he was quite proud, otherwise he would not have teased Voroshilov so much. This fully shows that he doesn't care about the other party at all and completely despises the other party;

secondly, he is somewhat childish, treating political struggle as a game, daring to play and humiliate his opponents with impunity;

In the end, he didn't know how to use the power he held to fight political opponents.

These three flaws are intertwined, and it is precisely because of Trotsky's superior ability that he is proud of himself. to despise all opponents. It is precisely because of this that he feels that he should not use the power he has. It is also possible to solve opponents.

It should be said that this is quite dangerous, and you may be able to play with many people by the applause, but you are not the only clever person in the world, and while you play and play with your opponent, you may also play with you. It is more likely that when you try to play tricks on your opponent, the opponent will directly use the power in your hand to catch you off guard, and then it will be too late to think of using the power in your hand to fight back.

Frunze's assessment of Trotsky is quite pertinent, he is indeed a genius, and his political wisdom is also superb, but he is not the only political genius of his time, Lenin is the same genius as him, and he has no advantage in playing with small means. Moreover, the Mentor never spared his hands in dealing with the enemy, and if he did not make a move, he would attack in a volley of mountains and seas, and a character like Trotsky's could only be exploded.

History also proves this, Lenin ate to death when he was alive, always pressed him to the second position, even if Lenin was seriously wounded in the assassination, even if he Trotsky became the founder and commander-in-chief of the Red Army, he could not challenge Lenin's authority.

Under Lenin's deliberate arrangement and skillful operation, Trotsky was always a loner in the Politburo, although his opponents, such as Stalin, Kamenev, and Zinoviev, were all inferior to his genius, but three stinkers topped one Zhuge Liang, and no matter how talented he was, he was invincible with two fists and four hands.

Of course, these are all later words, at this time the unity of the party is still greater than the struggle, and Frunze only thinks that Trotsky is a genius, but he is too out-of-the-box, far less stable than his mentor, and he will pay more attention to this person in the future, lest he be taken into the ditch if he is not careful.

Without Voroshilov's hindrance, Trotsky's operational plan was quickly implemented, and one and a half battalions of the 1st Machine Gun Regiment were left for the town of Tolkovich, while the main forces hurried to build fortifications near the railway bridge. The troops remaining in Luga seized the time to rest and try to meet the rolling enemy in full spirit.

At the same time, after a short but fierce exchange of fire, the 2nd Company, which had just won a great victory, killed a total of 322 enemies, seriously wounded 78 others, and captured more than 300 rifles, not counting ammunition.

However, the second company commander was not much interested in these trivial things, he was more concerned about where the enemy came from and what his purpose was. While cleaning up the battlefield, he began to urgently interrogate the prisoners. The poor captives were probably frightened by the resolute style of the second company, and before they could be sentenced, they rushed to confess one by one.

"It's not good!" The commander of the second company said worriedly, "The enemy has suffered a setback in Veliky Novgorod and is trying to divert Luga to the north, and we must immediately inform the higher leadership of this important information!" ”

Yes, after they knew that this battalion in front of them was nothing more than the vanguard, and after at least one division of the enemy behind them, no one would be stupid enough to move on. They can destroy a battalion of the enemy, but they will definitely not be able to destroy a division, and to continue to advance is tantamount to self-destruction.

"And what about these prisoners and wounded soldiers?" "Obviously, we can't take them on our way!" ”

"Tsk!" The company commander looked at the wounded soldiers and prisoners who were silent, and shook his head, he couldn't ruthlessly order these poor worms to be executed, and of course he wouldn't be stupid enough to take them on the road, "Leave them alone, the enemy will help us take care of them!" ”

Leaving behind the prisoners and wounded, the 2nd Company retreated as fast as they had come, and when they hurried back to Luga, the city of Luga was like a pot of boiling water, and every building and street was engaged in repeated and fierce battles.

Puffs of smoke continued to rise over the city, and the fierce screams of shells rubbing against the air could be heard at every turn, and the gunfire did not stop for a moment. The whole city of Luga is like a bloody meat grinder, constantly grinding life into powder, leaving only pools of blood and all kinds of horrific broken limbs.

In the front-line command post, the ringing of the telephone was non-stop, and the irritable Voroshilov kept answering one phone call after another, giving orders to fight to the end.

"Kliment. Comrade Yefremovich, Comrade Frunze called again, he said that you have successfully completed the task, and he ordered you to start retreating immediately......"

Voroshilov tore off the buttons of his shirt and shouted: "Who said that you are going to retreat!" Fight to the end and never take a step back! I just want them to see how a real Bolshevik fights! (To be continued.) )