Frunze believed that if the rebels captured Luhansk, then their movements were likely to be aimed at Tsaritsyn, as Rokossovsky said. On the contrary, if they do not hit Luhansk, then it is quite possible that they will take Kharkov directly, and then the camera will go north.

So is this judgment correct? It should be said that it makes sense, but it is not entirely true. Frunze's idea was a bit too subjective, and if the rebels were really twisted into a rope, then nine times out of ten, his judgment was correct.

The problem is that the armies involved in the rebellion, whether they are the Czech legions or the white bandits who are not willing to accept defeat, are not exactly one and the same. The composition of the rebels was too complex, and the forces and factions were even more complex than those of the Bolsheviks.

There was the power of the old Russian army representing the old officers, the Mensheviks and the Socialist-Revolutionaries representing the petty bourgeoisie and kulaks, the Cadet Party representing the big bourgeoisie and the old aristocracy, and the Czech Legion representing the foreign forces.

The goals of these forces are not completely identical, and they are themselves full of contradictions, and naturally, the officers under their leadership are naturally independent of each other, and no one is subordinate to anyone. Obviously, it is difficult for such a rabble to agree on key issues.

For example, whether to go directly north, attack Kharkov, and then fight all the way to Moscow, or to the east, echoing the Entente's military operations in the Russian Far East. How to choose these two paths, they quarreled internally.

Some of the forces were inclined to a quick victory and strongly recommended going north, while others were more worried about moving eastward to gain the support of the Entente bloc. Anyway, they can't come up with a unified opinion at all. Opinions are not unanimous. Naturally, they will go their own way. So some began to develop towards Kharkov. Others drove to Luhansk.

In other words, even if Luhansk is attacked, it does not mean that the rebels are preparing to advance eastward. Therefore, if Frunze uses this as a reference, I am afraid that there will be problems in the deployment of troops.

"Mikhail. Comrade Vasilyevich sent a telegram to the Central Committee saying that in his personal judgment, the fundamental purpose of the rebels in capturing Luhansk was to directly target Tsaritsyn and seize the key point of communication. The enemy can advance or retreat, and will gain the strategic initiative......" Lenin presented Frunze's judgment at a meeting of the Politburo.

He said slowly: "I personally think there is some truth to this judgment. There is no way out for the rebels to stay in the south of Ukraine, they will inevitably carry out operations, then most likely to develop to the east. According to foreign intelligence, Britain, the United States and Japan are likely to carry out military operations in the Far East of our country...... If the Far East and Siberia fell, then the Ukrainian rebels would communicate with the Entente via the railway line...... At that time, the abundant supply of materials will greatly increase their strength, which will threaten to stifle our revolution! ”

Lenin raised his voice abruptly and said with great seriousness: "Therefore, we must prevent this terrible situation. It is of great significance to hold Tsaritsyn! I suggest that the focus of the next phase of military deployment should revolve around Tsaritsyn! ”

Lenin's speech caused a stir in the room, and neither the Politburo nor the members of the Military Committee present at the meeting could have imagined that the Mentor would suddenly make such a point. It is important to know that the results of the previous discussions and studies of the military committee are completely different.

The military council believed that the rebels were more likely to move north to attack Kharkov and then take Moscow directly, because this was the simplest and most effective strategy. If the rebels can retake Moscow, it will be politically, militarily, economically extraordinary. To put it mildly, if Moscow had lost, the Bolsheviks had lost half the battle.

It should be said that such a view was more marketable within the Bolsheviks, because when the Bolsheviks launched the October Revolution, it revolved around Petrograd and Moscow, a tale of two cities. Now to guard against the core city, and to pay attention to a small Tsaritsyn, isn't this a sacrifice to the end?

Trotsky did not agree with this opinion anyway, saying: "Moscow is the great centre of the revolution, and its economic, military and political significance is not comparable to that of a small Tsaritsyn." It is only after the capture of Moscow that they will be able to restore, and it is difficult for me to imagine that our enemies would make such a low-level mistake and leave Moscow alone, but pay attention to a small Tsaritsyn, are they stupid? ”

Trotsky also raised his tone as suddenly as Lenin: "I think that the enemy can only achieve their insidious aims by marching on Moscow, and only by taking Kharkov can they achieve their insidious aims." The wrong focus on Tsaritsyn is inappropriate, this is a big mistake! ”

Trotsky's statement was tantamount to a direct provocation to Lenin, and the differences between the two mentors on this question were almost impossible to bridge. Of course, this was not an accident, and Trotsky, who was in a passive position, had to act aggressively to recover his decline. And now, he feels that Lenin made a clear mistake, and the focus of the strategy, of course, can only be Moscow, not paying attention to Moscow, not defending Moscow, isn't this brain-dead?

However, Lenin insisted on his opinion, and there was a reason for that, and he somewhat agreed with Rokossovsky's opinion that the Kharkov-Moscow direction was originally heavily fortified (in preparation for the German February offensive), and it was very difficult to carve a bloody way on this line with the strength of the rebels at that time.

If the rebels are smart enough, then they should not hit the stone with an egg, and the persimmon should be picked and pinched softly. What the rebels need now is to build up their momentum through a series of victories, so that they can expand their strength. What's the point of hitting a head in Kharkov at the beginning and breaking the bloodstream?

On the contrary, developing to the east is a very good choice, the Don and Volga river basins are already soft underbelly, weak defenses, from here will not encounter much resistance, once successful not only can communicate the direction of the Far East, but also set off a chain reaction, is there anything wrong with such a choice?

In fact, the focus of this debate is probably the question of quick victory or protracted war. The reason why Trotsky advocated meeting the enemy in the Kharkov direction was because he judged that the enemy would be impatient for a quick victory and would march straight to Moscow. So. He believes in the concentration of superior forces. Collided head-on with the rebels in Kharkiv. Fight a war of annihilation and wipe out all the enemies in one fell swoop.

In this way, the victory or defeat of the First World War can be determined, there is no need for entanglement and no tug-of-war, the least damage to the country, and it is still the easiest to solve the problem.

Lenin's judgment was different, from the very beginning he did not think that the Russian civil war was solved by one or two battles, and where could the centuries-old feudal system and the old forces be won in one battle?

The idea of a quick victory is probably dangerous in itself. Don't overthink the enemy, and don't expect to defeat the enemy in one go, that's unrealistic. It is necessary to think of the enemy as a little more complicated, not to expect them to act according to our vision, but to be prepared for a protracted war.

And if there is to be a protracted war, then Tsaritsyn cannot be completely left alone, and cannot only stare at Kharkov and Moscow, otherwise, as soon as the enemy turns, it will be taken by surprise!

But about it. Trotsky still insisted on his opinion: "The present Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is very limited in strength. We can only focus on one focus - and that is Kharkov. If we are half-hearted and divide our forces, then we will only be weakened, and we may be broken by the enemy individually! So we can only focus on Kharkov and take a step back and say, even if the enemy does not hit Kharkov, our Red Army can completely develop from Kharkov to the depths, chase after the enemy's ass and recapture Tsaritsyn again! And if we are distracted in Tsaritsyn, as soon as the enemy really takes Kharkov and takes us by surprise, then Moscow will be in danger! ”

Li Xiaofeng listened quietly to the debate between Lenin and Trotsky, and he personally believed that what the two mentors said was reasonable, and that Kharkov and Tsaritsyn were both important, and neither could be missed. It's a pity that the Red Army has just been formed, and its strength is limited, so it is impossible to cover everything. But he always felt that he didn't need to be exhaustive, as if the two mentors had made a small mistake, but he couldn't say exactly what the mistake was.

Sitting in a wheelchair, the thing knocked on his brain, as if it could open his mind. I have to say that this product is very eye-catching (in a wheelchair for meetings), and then it is so maverick and independent, it is easy to attract attention!

At least Lenin noticed the different movement of this thing, and to be honest, Lenin didn't expect it to come to the meeting at first, and when someone entered the venue in a wheelchair, the tutor was momentarily distracted - he was surprised how this kid had come.

After a while, the mentor remembered that someone seemed to be a member of the Military Commission, and the identity of this member was personally nominated by him, and he didn't have to convene a meeting of the Military Commission!

Of course, when I saw someone in a wheelchair who was looking good and could wave to the other committee members in good spirits, the mentor was still very relieved - it seemed that someone was recovering well, and if nothing else, he would soon be able to return to the front line work.

And now, the situation is very anxious, Trotsky is unrelenting, and none of them can convince anyone. Why don't you say a few words about this kid? Lenin remembered someone who was the best at stirring up trouble.

Thinking of this, Lenin suddenly asked: "Comrade Andrei, what do you seem to think, do you have the audacity to say it!" ”

Li Xiaofeng was taken aback, he came to the meeting today, he originally only planned to come with his ears, but he has been in the limelight for a few days, predicting that the Czech Legion will inevitably rebel and become a ministerial-level cadre (the treatment has not been implemented), it is simply dazzling!

So much so that he, who has always liked to be in the limelight and is good at being in the limelight, couldn't help but feel a little worried, it seemed that he had to take it easy, and if he was in the limelight again, it would really be a thunderbolt. However, Lenin asked him to speak by name, which made someone a little embarrassed!

Fortunately, someone is simply stupid and bold, and this thing thought about it: "The master has let Lao Tzu say, why don't you speak!" ”

Suddenly, the creature cleared his throat and said in a similar manner: "Actually, I have been thinking just now, did we miss something? Kharkov and Tsaritsyn are indeed of considerable importance, but it is almost impossible for the rebels to take these two cities for a while. Isn't it better for us to think so far ahead and focus on the area around Donetsk first? ”

Both Lenin and Trotsky frowned, they somewhat did not understand what someone meant, and politicians liked to look at things in the long run. After the rebellion of the Czech Legion, they first analyzed the movements of the rebels from a long-term perspective, which led to the results that Kharkov and Tsaritsyn needed to pay attention to. And now, Li Xiaofeng told them. Kharkov and Tsaritsyn are too far away. What do you mean by that, kid?

Li Xiaofeng was not worried at all. He has his own reasoning: "The rebels have just occupied Donetsk, whether they want to go north or east, in fact, there is a more direct choice!" ”

As soon as Li Xiaofeng's words fell, Lenin and Trotsky could not help but turn their eyes back to the map: since someone said that there was another choice, where was this choice? Soon, a place name entered the eyes of two mentors - Luhansk.

The city, right in the middle of Kharkov and Tsaritsyn, seized Luhansk. It can be to the east, west or north, and it can be said that as long as this place is captured, the rebels' options are suddenly enriched.

After the capture of Luhansk, if the rebels want to fight a decisive battle with the Bolsheviks, they can turn to Kharkov, if they want to get access to foreign relations, then go directly to Tsaritsyn, and even if they want to play a big game, they can go directly north to attack Moscow via Voronezh and Tula. Even they do nothing, and taking Luhansk is tantamount to strengthening the depth of Donetsk's defenses.

Look at it from this point of view. The meaning of Luhansk is completely different, who seized here. The initiative of the strategy was obtained. If the Red Army stationed troops in Luhansk, then it was equivalent to putting the sword directly on the neck of the rebels, and no matter where the rebels moved, the Red Army could react in time.

Trotsky and Lenin exchanged glances, and the two of them really looked too far ahead, and neither Kharkov nor Tsaritsyn was now as important as Luhansk. If Luhansk can be secured, then it is tantamount to wedge a nail into the side of the rebels.

Lenin began by saying: "This proposal is very good, if we can secure Luhansk, then it will be tantamount to cutting off the enemy's passage to the east, to Tsaritsyn, and to ensuring the security of the entire Don and Volga river basins." We don't need to divide our troops to protect Tsaritsyn, we can deal with the rebels in Ukraine wholeheartedly! ”

Trotsky thought for a moment and said: "This is indeed a good proposal. The capture of Luhansk is tantamount to closing the gates, and if a heavy army advances into Luhansk, then the pressure in the Kharkov direction will also be reduced...... We can quite well stay on the defensive in the Kharkov direction, and then fight a decisive battle in the Luhansk direction! ”

Speaking of this, both the Mentor and Trotsky were excited, because Luhansk, which Li Xiaofeng had proposed, had completely solved their problems, and didn't Trotsky want a decisive battle? Luhansk is a better place than Kharkiv, it is so close to Donetsk that Luhansk can react to any movement of the rebels.

And isn't the Mentor worried about the rebels' eastward advance? The capture of Luhansk almost closed half of Ukraine's door to Tsaritsyn, and with a heavy army guarding here, it was almost impossible for the rebels to escape from Ukraine.

First of all, the main force of the Red Army is still assembled in the direction of Moscow, which is hundreds of kilometers away from Luhansk, while Donetsk is close to Luhansk, and maybe Luhansk will be lost before the Red Army arrives.

And, let's not forget that the rebels are not only rebelling in Donetsk, but because of the presence of the Czech Legion, the momentum is greatest here. There are still remnants of Kornilov and Karekin operating in the Don Valley, and if the main forces of the Red Army are completely pressed to Luhansk, it is difficult to guarantee that these gangs will not stick a knife in the back.

In the unlikely event that Kornilov's bandits doped and seized Tsaritsyn, then the situation with the Red Army would be very bad, and at that time the enemy would be in a dilemma.

"We should send more troops to Luhansk as soon as possible," Lenin said resolutely, "and the defense of Luhansk is of extraordinary significance!" ”

Trotsky nodded: "Marching to Luhansk is the best choice we can make at this stage!" However, we must also keep an eye on the changes in the situation on the battlefield, and once the enemy has made a choice, we should also adjust the deployment in a timely manner! ”

With two mentors setting the tone, the goals and direction of the Red Army were quickly set. As the commander-in-chief of the counterinsurgency force, Frunze will not object to this result, because this is in line with his expectations, and he also attaches great importance to Luhansk, if he can ensure that Luhansk is controlled, he will be able to fight for the first strike!

But will the Red Army really be able to keep Luhansk as they wish? I'm afraid it's difficult, because the White Army is not stupid, although their internal opinions are very different, but the basic military qualities can still tell them that after launching a rebellion, it is not possible to stand still, and now whether it is to Kharkov or Tsaritsyn, there are great opinions. So making a plan with the mud, making a compromise, and choosing a city that can advance and retreat as the goal, it seems to be the most normal choice.

It is obvious that from the map, there is only one such city, and that is Luhansk. So, when the civil war just broke out, both the Red Army and the White Army's top decision-makers invariably set their eyes on Luhansk, and a fierce battle was about to break out in the city!

However, let's take our eyes off Luhansk for the time being, because this big battle will take a little more time, let's turn to the lower reaches of the Don, where Kornilov and Denikin also made an important decision at the same time...... (To be continued......)

PS: Bow and thank Comrade hzwangdd!