Kornilov made the mistake of having lasted longer if he had focused on the battle in Petrograd instead of dividing his forces to trouble the Kronstadt fortress. But the mistake had already happened, and no amount of remedy could be made, not to mention the fact that the self-proclaimed genius Supreme Commander was completely unaware of the mistake.

"Kornilov is preparing to attack Kronstadt?" Lenin was unusually surprised by the news.

Yes, although the Mentor is not particularly good at military affairs, he does understand that military affairs serve politics, and from a political point of view, it is completely unnecessary to attack the Kronstadt fortress. If he were Kornilov, he would definitely choose Tavrichher Palace as a key target, and if he could destroy the nest of the Soviets and the Kerensky cabinet, maybe there would be a chance to turn the tables.

"Are you sure this news is true?" Lenin asked incredulously.

Li Xiaofeng replied with great certainty: "It's true, Denikin is already gathering troops and preparing to march towards the Kronstadt fortress!" ”

Lenin immediately realized that this was a good opportunity, and in the past two days, although Kornilov's rebellion had been initially contained, it had not been able to completely eliminate it, and on the whole the two sides were still at a standoff in the city of Petrograd.

There was disagreement within the party about the counteroffensive envisaged by the Mentor, and this time it was not Kamenev and Zinoviev who were causing trouble, since the establishment of a line of struggle against both Kornilov and the Provisional Government, the two men disappeared because they were angry or deliberately provocative.

Now it was Stalin who was skeptical about the counteroffensive, and the later generalissimo of the Soviet Union said with a pipe in his mouth: "I think the time is not yet ripe for a counteroffensive, because the troops in Petrograd did not fully respond to our call because of the non-cooperation of Kerensky and the Soviets." A significant part of the army is still waiting. It is the Workers' Red Guards that our Party can control and play a major role in the fighting...... With the existing strength of the Workers' Red Guards. Not enough to launch a reaction. We are short of weapons, we are short of artillery, we are short of ammunition...... Blindly launching a counteroffensive will only consume our precious vitality......"

In fact, Stalin still has the subtext unspoken, and the reason why he is worried about the consumption of vitality is mainly because he is worried that Kerensky and the Soviets will play tricks, because of the warning of the mentor, the party from top to bottom is highly vigilant against their every move, and they are very strong. Five points were in the fight against Kornilov, and another five were in surveillance of the Provisional Government and the Soviets.

It is precisely because of this concern that a considerable number of comrades in the party behaved relatively conservatively in the battle, and were unwilling to devote themselves to the future and backwards, which indirectly slowed down the pace of counterinsurgency. Sverdlov was a staunch opponent of such sentiments.

"I think any negative conservative attitude. None are advisable in this battle! It is precisely because we look ahead and look backwards, and it is precisely because we do not actively invest all our enthusiasm that the situation in front of us has reached a stalemate! ”

Sverdlov waved his arms and said very forcefully: "Why did the hundreds of thousands of troops in Petrograd not fully respond to our call, why did they refuse to devote themselves to the revolutionary cause...... I think it's not just the Soviets and Kerensky who are playing tricks, their intrigues are secondary reasons. The main reason is that our procrastination affects the mentality of those who are airsoft minor...... I think take the initiative to fight back. Let the whole of Petrograd see our will. Seeing our powerful means is what can boost morale. Bring more people and troops to join us...... Counterattacking will not only not consume our strength, but will greatly increase our strength. The counterattack is necessary, and it must start immediately, right away, now! ”

Sverdlov's sonorous speech was like a typhoon sweeping through the entire Military Committee, and there were those who applauded his proposal, and those who were skeptical about it, and there were naturally many people who opposed it.

Stalin seemed to perceive something from Sverdlov's speech, and he could feel that Sverdlov had been targeting him consciously or unconsciously for some time, and that what he agreed with, Sverdlov would oppose, and what he supported, Sverdlov would try his best to criticize.

For a moment, Stalin couldn't help but begin to wonder, could it be that the small tricks he played a few days ago were seen through by the other party? However, this suspicion was quickly dispelled, and he believed that he was doing something very stealthy and would never be noticed. So why did Sverdlov target him?

Stalin did not understand this question for a while, and had no more time to think about it, he thought that this was an opportunity to show his ability, and if he could persuade Lenin to approve his proposal, then not only would it be a blow to Sverdlov's momentum, but he would also improve his status in the eyes of his mentor.

"I don't agree with this suggestion!" Stalin put down his pipe and stood up impatiently, "This is adventurism, to put it mildly, it is speculation!" Placing the hope of the success of the revolution on one or two gambling actions is extremely irresponsible to the Party and to the revolution. What we need now is not gambling, we must carry out the revolutionary struggle in a steady and steady manner, step by step, without haste or impatience! ”

After a pause, Stalin continued: "If our military adventure fails, what will it do? Comrade Yakov, do you want to think a little longer, don't risk the lives of your comrades and the future of the revolution! ”

To Stalin's statement, Sverdlov completely scoffed: "After having a complete insight into Kornilov's actions, I do not think that there is any risk. Our enemies have made a big mistake, and we must seize this opportunity...... To do nothing like a fool and to foolishly give up the opportunity is not to be responsible for the revolution, but to passive, compromise capitulationism! ”

Looking at Stalin and Sverdlov, who were constantly arguing, Lenin felt relaxed for a while when he didn't come. As long as the quarrel was kept within reasonable limits, it would be good for him and for the Bolshevik Party as a whole.

"Did Comrade Trotsky arrive in Pskov?" At the height of the quarrel, Lenin suddenly asked a question without a head.

As the situation in Pskov became more and more tense, the Military Committee sent reinforcements not only from the 1st Machine Gun Regiment, but later with Trotsky to oversee the battle.

"It's a tough road. There was chaos everywhere. A few hours earlier, Comrade Trotsky had telegraphed back that he should be able to arrive in Luga at noon. Lunacharsky replied.

"What about the 1st Machine Gun Regiment?" Lenin asked again.

This time it was Dzerzhinsky's turn to answer: "A rebel army stationed in Luga has just been cleared and is advancing towards Pskov, and if everything goes well, they will be able to reach Pskov in the evening." ”

"What about the battle in Pskov?" Lenin continued.

"It's not good, Comrade Frunze did his best, but the enemy is too strong. He wasn't sure how long he would last! ”

Lenin nodded silently, and then he fell into deep thought, seeming to forget about the quarrel between Stalin and Sverdlov. Of course, it was not only him who was lost in thought, Stalin was also trying to figure out what he was thinking.

There is no reason for the Mentor to mention Pskov for no reason, since the Mentor has done so. There's definitely a reason for that. Stalin speculated that the reason was that the tutor was worried about the situation in Pskov.

In fact, Stalin could understand this concern, Pskov had failed, and then Kornilov's reinforcements would arrive in Petrograd as quickly as possible, which would mean nothing for the current counterinsurgency effort.

So, in connection with the fact that Kornilov had withdrawn his troops as mentioned by his mentor at the beginning, Stalin thought that he had understood his mentor's intentions - since Kornilov had transferred troops. Then the situation in Petrograd will ease. At this time, Pskov could not afford to lose, and transferred part of his troops to Pskov. It seems very reasonable.

"I think a counteroffensive is extremely undesirable!" Stalin, who thought that he had seized the opportunity, hurriedly roared and spoke first, "Pskov has a bearing on the future of the revolution, and if we cannot block the enemy's reinforcements, then everything we do in Petrograd is meaningless...... Since Kornilov made the mistake of transferring troops, then we can take part of our troops to reinforce Pskov in distress, as long as we can block the enemy's reinforcements, then victory is just around the corner! ”

Stalin looked at his mentor with a blank eye, and he thought that he had finally seized the opportunity, and that his suggestion would definitely be approved by his mentor. The thought of finally winning Sverdlov once made him gasp for breath.

Lenin was noncommittal to Stalin's proposal, but turned to Sverdlov and asked: "Comrade Yakov, what do you think of Comrade Stalin's proposal?" ”

Stalin stared at Sverdlov deadly, he wanted to see the frustration and disappointment on the other party's face, but Sverdlov's face not only could not find this, but showed an inexplicable disdain, as if he felt that Stalin had made an extremely stupid suggestion.

"All I can say is that this suggestion is simply putting the cart before the horse, and it is extremely stupid!" Sverdlov made a very unceremonious evaluation, and at the end, he even added: "If we do this, I am afraid that we will regret it in the future!" ”

Stalin's face turned white, and if Lenin hadn't been watching from the sidelines, he would have wanted to rush up and spray Sverdlov's saliva, and he thought that Sverdlov said this entirely because of jealousy.

Is that so? At least Lenin thought not, and he asked calmly: "Tell me your reasons." ”

Sverdlov replied equally calmly: "The reason is simple. What is our goal? ”

It was an easy question to answer, and all those present could give the answer, for the aim of which the Bolsheviks were striving was in the long run the establishment of a proletarian regime never before seen in history, and that was to crush the Kornilov rebellion in the near term or for the time being.

Sverdlov's question was not brainless, but the people present were a group of smart people, and it immediately became clear what the reason for what he wanted to say. Since crushing Kornilov's rebellion is the core, then Petrograd, the foothold of this core, is the most important, although Pskov is very important, but even if he blocks Kornilov's reinforcements there, he will not be able to achieve a direct victory, after all, it is impossible to eliminate Kornilov there. In that case, why should it be better to use precious forces to reinforce Pskov and to strike directly at Kornilov?

After figuring this out, all the problems were solved, and Stalin did make the mistake of putting the cart before the horse, and it was clear that the problem could have been solved more directly and simply. But he just had to go around in circles. Isn't that stupid?

Stalin's face turned pale, and he also knew that he had made a big mistake, a mistake of principle, which would probably make him lose a lot of points from his mentor. In fact, with Stalin's IQ, he should not have made such a low-level mistake. But he was so anxious to express himself that without careful thought, he was self-righteous and pandered to his mentor. As a result, it fell behind.

Stalin was a man of considerable ability, but because of his humble background and lack of higher education, he developed a natural inferiority complex, but at the same time he was ambitious. He always wants to prove his ability, so he can't wait to succeed. I want to make a career.

In order to achieve this goal, he can be said to have done whatever it takes, such as trying to cater to Lenin and take a shortcut to the south. It was precisely because he wanted to cater to Lenin, and he was always trying to figure out the thoughts of his mentor, that he gradually lost his assertiveness, went against his will, and pandered for the sake of pandering.

And Sverdlov is different. Although he also relied on the promotion of his mentor to emerge. But he has a different position for himself. Although he will also cater to the Guru when necessary, he will also give up some of his opinions. But at critical moments, when the mentor might make mistakes, he insisted on his opinion, and this was what made him different from Stalin. It was also doomed that he could be Lenin's right-hand man, but Stalin was not.

"Comrade Yakov said it very well!" Lenin sighed, "We must always keep in mind our goal, our aim is to crush Kornilov's rebellion and win the broadest possible support...... In the past two days, many comrades have been timid in carrying out their work, and they have suffered from gains and losses. That's right, we have to be wary of Kerensky and the Soviets, rightly, but there are also preconditions, first of all, firstly, we must eliminate Kornilov, who is more dangerous than Kerensky and the reactionaries in the Soviets, the worst enemy of the revolution! We must destroy him first! ”

Lenin's speech set the final tone, that is, to seize the opportunity to eliminate Kornilov, and then deal with the Provisional Government, and must not wait and see!

In the afternoon of the same day, under Lenin's instructions, the Bolsheviks were finally launched in full force, and a huge counter-offensive took Kornilov and Kerensky by surprise.

Why would Kerensky be caught off guard? Because the events of these two days were quite gratifying for him - Kornilov's mutiny was contained, and the Bolsheviks did not blindly grow bigger, the situation in Petrograd fell into a delicate balance. As the weakest of the three parties, this balance is in his favor.

The incompetent prime minister, who at first panicked and thought that the catastrophe had befallen him, began to have a sweet dream that the situation would drag on like this, and that Kornilov and the Bolsheviks would consume each other and contain each other, and that he could do much in it.

In the past two days, he actively launched a series of political propaganda, on the one hand, to win over the indecisive wall-riding faction in the middle, and on the other hand, to actively contact Britain and France to carry out diplomatic offensives. He tried to show both Britain and France that Kornilov could not control Russia, let alone defeat my Kerensky.

In this time of crisis, it was I, Kerensky, who ran up and down, to stabilize the situation. So, I, Kerensky, am the future of Russia, and as long as you give up supporting Kornilov and support me instead, then soon I will be able to tame the violent polar bears and get everything back on track.

It should be said that Kerensky's petty actions achieved certain results, especially when the Soviets were very supportive of him, confusing a part of the people who did not know the truth. But with Lenin's sudden exertion of force, this delicate balance collapsed in an instant.

Militarily, because of Kornilov's mistakes, the situation in the entire Petrograd took a sharp turn for the worse, and he, who originally had a certain advantage, lost the initiative in an instant, and although his troops did not collapse at the first time, with the defeat after defeat, the morale really fell sharply.

Politically, as Kornilov's situation became worse and worse, the troops in Petrograd who watched from the wall became more and more apparent, and although they did not immediately throw themselves into the arms of the Bolsheviks, they joined the ranks of counterinsurgency in words and deeds, which turned Kornilov into a rat that everyone shouted at.

But the rat, who had fallen into a state of madness, would not admit defeat easily, and although the situation was getting worse and worse for him, he was still struggling to support it, and the belief that he continued to resist was the news from Pskov that after a day and a night of fierce fighting, Lieutenant General Gramovich's troops had finally routed Frunze's troops, and his army was advancing rapidly along the railway line.

"Tell our soldiers!"

Kornilov glanced at Rabbit Island across the Hermitage Square, ten minutes before the gates of the Peter and Paul Fortress had finally fallen, and a fierce battle had ensued on the island, and if this point had been lost, his troops would have been completely surrounded near the Hermitage Square.

"It must be persevered, Lieutenant General Gramovich's reinforcements are already on the way, tomorrow morning, no! They will arrive in Petrograd late this evening, when the miracle of July will repeat itself...... Fight to the end, we will definitely be able to achieve the most victorious victory! (To be continued.) )