Kuibyshev was faced with a choice, even though he knew from the beginning that coming to the Southwestern Front would be a challenge, but he had no idea that the challenge would be so great. Although he had not been here for a long time, the contradictions and contradictions between the Leninists and the Trotskyists were already vividly placed in front of him.

The infighting between the two factions in Moscow and in the center also approved a glossy coat with a fig leaf. And in Tsaritsyn, the struggle here is completely red-fruited, and both sides do not hide their intentions and are ready to use every means to strike at the other.

Stalin will not mention it, although Comrade Iron likes to play the trick that silence is golden, but not speaking does not mean that the attack is not black, does not mean that the strength is not great. As for Tukhachevsky, Kuibyshev believes that although his level of political struggle is a little worse, his determination is not necessarily less than that of Comrade Steel.

It can be seen from the alcohol prohibition incident that this Comrade Tukhachevsky is not good at stubble, and he will make drastic efforts as soon as he comes up, no matter how you look at him, he is very strong!

Stalin was insidious, Tukhachevsky was strong, and Kuibyshev, who was sandwiched between them, was a little overwhelmed. Of course, the word sandwiched in the middle is a bit inappropriate, after all, Kuibyshev is also a hardcore Leninist, and he has to be oriented towards his own people.

It's a pity that it's not that simple, and Lenin wouldn't have sent him Kuibyshev if he just wanted to support Stalin. Lenin's intentions, as stated before, were to keep the situation under control, to keep the Southwestern Front under his control, and not to provoke a strong Trotskyist backlash.

This determines that Kuibyshev's work is quite difficult, so there is a sense of dilemma. What's more, Kuibyshev himself is also a rather politically ambitious person, and he definitely wants to make a difference. I want to make a difference. It is impossible to be an honest firefighter.

And it is because of this. Kuibyshev was particularly entangled, and it was clear that the Southwestern Front did have the soil to realize his personal ambitions, but how to operate it required special consideration from him. How to master the scale in personal ambition and the explanation of the mentor is quite a superb political art, and it is unceremoniously a dance on the tip of a knife.

Now, for example, in the next stage of military operations, Tukhachevsky and Stalin have almost irreconcilable contradictions, which requires Kuibyshev to give full play to his abilities.

"We can't afford to procrastinate any longer!" Tukhachevsky emphasized in a tone of excitement characteristic of young people. "Denikin must be exterminated, specifically under the city of Tsaritsyn! There are no conditions to talk about this, and it is also the most basic and urgent demand of the central authorities for us! ”

However, Tukhachevsky's agitation did not wake up the other "sleeping" senior leaders in the command, Stalin leaned back in his chair and silently buried his head in a cigarette, Budyonny played with his fingers, and the other army commanders were also like wooden men.

With such an expression in Kuibyshev's eyes, he couldn't help but be a little amused, Tukhachevsky did not tame these commanders at all, and the failure of the prohibition of alcohol made the authority of the commander-in-chief greatly challenged, did he still want to come a second time?

Tukhachevsky, of course, did not want to come a second time. But he can't help it, he doesn't wait for anyone! According to his original plan. It should have been until the little report to Trotsky had been approved, and Trotsky had come forward to clean up the damned drunkards, and then he would have to take over military power before he could accuse the Southwestern Front as he commanded.

Who would have thought that the situation would suddenly change, and the State Political Security Bureau suddenly told him that Denikin was preparing to flee south, so that he had to act in advance. Although the boss of the State Political Security Bureau was a Leninist, Tukhachevsky knew that this intelligence officer was too powerful, and all those who despised his intelligence suffered a big loss, the most typical example is Voroshilov.

And with Tukhachevsky's military intuition, he also thought that it was unlikely that Denikin would continue to stupidly go around Tsaritsyn, and that once the main forces of the Eastern Front moved south, he would be able to make dumplings in minutes. With Denikin's military level, if you can't see such an obvious danger, then just buy a piece of tofu and kill it.

Tukhachevsky was well aware of the task given to him by Trotsky, and did everything he could to eliminate Denikin and to make the Southwestern Front pull its foot out of the quagmire of the civil war, so as to cooperate with the Trotskyists in launching an all-out war against the world revolution.

To put it bluntly, it's just one word - quick!

But it's not easy to talk about it! Denikin's troops were half a pound and eight taels with the Southwestern Front, and although the Southwestern Front had consumed part of the White Army in the previous stage of the Tsaritsyn Defense, the shape of the battlefield had not completely improved, which meant that a full-scale counteroffensive was a bit impossible.

However, with the intelligence of the State Political Security Bureau, Tukhachevsky felt that he could be fast! In the past, it was a stalemate stage, and even the main attack of the White Army, and the Southwestern Front Army naturally could only see a move. And now that Denikin is ready to run away, wouldn't it be nice to catch up with him and give him a guy, or simply stick it firmly to Tsaritsyn and let it move, and wait for the Eastern Front to go south to fight a battle of encirclement and annihilation?

Therefore, Tukhachevsky felt that it was now possible to move and should take the initiative. But did Stalin agree with this view?

Stalin did not agree at all, having spent several months in the Southwestern Front, he knew too well the situation here, the Red Army was not as invincible as the propaganda suggested, and there was no situation in which the Red Army was swept away by one as ten.

On the contrary, the hastily formed Red Army had very limited combat effectiveness. Most of the soldiers were active workers and turned peasants, lacked military training, and were poorly weaponized, especially qualified officers. And Denikin's troops, although they also have a large number of recruits, the old Russian officers still identify with him more and are willing to defect to him.

Objectively speaking, the level of competence of these old officers was much stronger than that of those officers who had been trained in the Red Army's rapid training course. At least they have sufficient combat experience and have a professional suzhì, which can greatly improve the overall suzhì of the white army.

When he first arrived in Tsaritsyn, Stalin was also anxious and desperately asked Yegorov to take the initiative. It's going to take on Denikin. But Yegorov always refused. At the time, he was still a little annoyed. It was not until a certain time that the obedient "stupid big" Voroshilov carried out an active offensive on his orders, after which Stalin also recognized the gap between the Red Army and the White Army.

That's right, Voroshilov's initiative was so badly damaged that a cavalry regiment was almost encircled, and if it had not been for Yegorov's early gathering of a powerful army to come to the rescue, Stalin's face would have been lost.

Since then, Stalin's rash thinking has been curbed a lot, and he has also deeply realized that Yegorov still has two brushes. At that time, he humbly accepted Yegorov's proposal. Circling around the city around Tsaritsyn, consuming the vigor of the White Army, and then counterattacking after fully honing the recruits.

It should be said that Yegorov's strategy is still very correct and has achieved quite good results, but this method is indeed a little slower. At least Trotsky felt that he was too slow, and that he was full of anticipation of the world revolution, and that he wanted to become fat at home in one go, and then go abroad to "lose weight".

Naturally, it was impossible for Tukhachevsky to continue with Yegorov's operational strategy. He had to be fast and meet Lao To's need for speed with super efficiency. Even if the Southwestern Front is a little reluctant, he must carry it out!

It is precisely because of Tukhachevsky's eagerness that he inevitably contradicts the original officer class of the Southwestern Front, and the officers of the Southwestern Front feel that it is clear that we are fighting well here, and although the progress cannot be said to be particularly large, the situation is getting better day by day, and if we continue step by step, we will inevitably be able to eliminate Denikin in July, and what is wrong with steadily taking the victory into our arms?

And you Tukhachevsky is good, as soon as you come, you will toss around blindly, engage in nonsense like a-stirring stick, like to be reckless, and be in the limelight. What kind of offense is risky, and you take a big step forward, and you're not afraid to pull the egg?

For Stalin and Budyonny, Tukhachevsky's behavior may have another meaning. You kid completely repudiated the battle plan that we had agreed with and actively implemented, and couldn't wait to throw out your plan. Aren't you just preparing to slap us in the face and completely erase our previous achievements, you just have bad intentions!

It can be said that Tukhachevsky's eagerness once again offended the upper and lower ranks of the Front, and deepened the opinions and prejudices of the officers of the Southwestern Front against him. Based on this, they have come together to give the commander-in-chief a little color.

"I don't think it's appropriate!" Budyonny was the first to object, "The original battle plan was executed well, how can it be changed halfway?" In case something goes wrong, who is responsible? ”

The commanders immediately echoed the voice, one by one like chickens pecking rice. But Tukhachevsky was not angry, let alone agitated. When he was about to change the battle plan, he thought about the possible backlash of these grandsons, and he was mentally prepared to persevere to the end.

"I'm the commander-in-chief, and I'm responsible for all the problems!" Tukhachevsky replied categorically.

This sentence made Budyonny stammer, probably because this guy originally thought that he could bluff Tukhachevsky and directly scare this kid back. Who would have thought that Tukhachevsky was young but not timid, and this resounding words made Budyonny have nothing to say.

Tukhachevsky glanced at Budyonny lightly, and took a slight breath, looking so breezy and calm. However, his heart was not as calm as he appeared to be, because just now he was indeed a little entangled as Budyonny had said, but at the moment of hesitation, he suddenly remembered Trotsky's earnest statement before leaving Moscow:

"Mikhail, I know that this task is very difficult and difficult to complete, and I know that the pressure on your shoulders is quite high, but I want to tell you a little, I will always support you silently behind your back! At this time of parting, the only thing I can give you is one word - be strong! You have to be very strong, and if you make up your mind, you have to do it with the determination to do it...... I believe in you, you can do it! ”

Trotsky's words gave Tukhachevsky the strength to strengthen his conviction at the most critical moment, not to be swayed by Budyonny, but to the collapse of the other side. This sense of accomplishment gave Tukhachevsky more confidence, and he began to feel that as long as he persevered enough, he would be able to succeed!

I can only say to Tukhachevsky, you kid is too naïve, and only those who persist in this world can succeed. But in many cases, persistence is not enough! Far from enough!

"Are you fully responsible?" Stalin, who had never spoken, finally spoke. And as soon as he opened his mouth, he suppressed Tukhachevsky's momentum. Stalin, who was not very tall, glared at Tukhachevsky very oppressively, and said sternly and calmly: "This battle is related to the victory of the domestic revolution and the direction of the world revolution. ”

Saying that, Stalin slammed the table with his pipe-holding hand and said sharply: "In such a matter of right and wrong, the will of the individual must be subordinated to the will of the collective, and you are responsible?" This is a hero, that is, he does not take the future of the revolution to heart! I have to criticize you. Comrade Mikhail, if you continue to be so naïve, you will inevitably make the revolution pay a heavy price! I can't just watch you become a revolutionary sinner, let alone let you bury the current good situation! ”

This time it was Tukhachevsky who was stunned, and Stalin's words were like a hammer, knocking him with gold stars in his eyes and his chest even more blocked.

Did Stalin have a point? Let's put it this way, it's all an empty truth, and the truth is a false truth. The problem is that this kind of fake big empty still works. Tukhachevsky was stunned and could not refute it.

After a moment's pause, Tukhachevsky came to his senses. He sorted out his thoughts and accumulated a little courage (it is really not good to fight against the Politburo members without courage!). He replied calmly: "It is precisely for the early victory of the domestic revolution that I have drawn up a new battle plan for the sake of cooperating with the world revolution, and if we can eliminate Denikin earlier, if we can wipe out the remnants of the domestic bandits earlier, we will definitely be able to ......."

"Nothing is inevitable!" Stalin interrupted him as soon as he stretched out his hand, and pointed with his pipe: "All I hear is if, and this kind of if is the most unreliable and the most meaningless, I can say something like that." If we fail because of your presumptuous, if we suffer a heavy blow from the enemy, it will be a different result! ”

When Stalin sat down, Tukhachevsky clearly saw disdain in the other man's face, which made his anger rise sharply. He felt belittled and insulted, and as a former nobleman, a military man, Tukhachevsky had his own pride, and he exploded.

I saw him slap the table heavily, and said angrily: "As the commander of the Southwestern Front, can't I command my troops?" He didn't even have the power to draw up and revise battle plans? It's a joke, and since you think it's good to be in that state, you should keep it that way! ”

Saying that, Tukhachevsky shook his hand and was ready to flash, depending on what he meant, he was ready to pick a pick!

This scene stunned everyone in the headquarters, even Kuibyshev, who was at ease with the old god before, was a little stunned - which one is this Nima? If you don't do it, you won't do it, do you think this is a child's house?

To be honest, many people, including Kuibyshev, wanted to vomit blood at that time, but after vomiting blood, they had to admit that Tukhachevsky's trick really made them have no choice. If he is left alone and let him return to Moscow in a bad mood, then the fun will be great, even Lenin will not tolerate their disregard for the authority of the Central Committee in this way, and then Stalin will be criticized again, and Tukhachevsky's ideas will be forcibly implemented by the Central Committee, and then the face of the Southwestern Front will be really lost!

Kuibyshev naturally can't let this kind of egg-hurting thing happen, and as an "outsider", he is now the only one who is suitable for playing in the round.

Kuibyshev hurriedly stopped Tukhachevsky, the genius marshal was indeed angry, and it was not like he was pretending to retreat as an advance, because Kuibyshev almost failed to hold him.

"Comrade Mikhail, you have to be calm!" Kuibyshev shouted angrily and grabbed Tukhachevsky fiercely, "There is no one here who does not respect your opinion, and there is no one who does not let you exercise your power. However, you must know that the Southwestern Front is a whole, not your word, so you don't need to listen to the opinions of other comrades, and you don't need to respect the ideas of other comrades? We are discussing now, we can talk about any opinions, we can say them, we can't say that we disagree with your plan, that is, we are against you, we are not respecting you! ”

When Kuibyshev said this, Stalin, who was a little stupid with a pipe in his mouth just now, instantly lit up, and I have to say that Kuibyshev's words were very beautiful and pertinent, if Tukhachevsky still left in his own way, then most of the responsibility was on him, and it had nothing to do with the Southwestern Front!

At that moment, Stalin probably sighed in his heart: "Talent! ”

Indeed, compared to the coarse cloth of the old Joonny, Kuibyshev was as delicate as satin. How nice it would be if such a person could be used by me Stalin!

Ignoring this little bit of Stalin's heart, Tukhachevsky was entangled, he felt that Kuibyshev was a little reasonable, but he also felt that the other party's words did not seem to be entirely good for him, should he leave or stay?

Tukhachevsky's entanglement was all in Kuibyshev's eyes, and the thought in his heart at this time was: "Do you still want to go?" Hehe, that's really sorry for you! (To be continued......)

PS: Bow and thank you to Comrade hzwangdd and Comrade Juventus!