332 Negotiation (Medium)

Sverdlov's words were like a slap in the face, and he was speechless, he wanted to continue to wash the floor for the Provisional Government, but he really couldn't find an excuse, so he could only complain in his heart about the ineffective editor-in-chief of the "Exchange News", why do you write everything up, pay attention to the impact of a little good!

Seeing that the situation was not good, Plekhanov hurriedly ran out and diverted the topic, "Our first priority now is not to hold accountable, Yakov Mikhainovich, please don't go around these trivial issues, okay, our first priority now is to restore peace in Petrograd!" ”

Sverdlov glanced at the old man with contempt, and did not save him any face: "Georggivarentinovich, I solemnly remind you that it is your chairman Tseretiri who provoked this remark, even if you want to help him evade responsibility, please be clever next time!" We will not open any negotiations until the responsibility of the Provisional Government for the Garden Street tragedy is clear! ”

Plekhanov's old face couldn't hold back, he was really ready to rely on the old and sell the old to change the topic just now, but he didn't expect Sverdlov to not eat this set at all, and gave Tseretieri a mouthful without saying anything, and brought him with him, which was simply reprimanding him for tricks.

The old man was furious: "This is the attitude of your Bolsheviks? I don't see any sincerity in your peace talks. If you take such a position, then we don't need to waste time! ”

In Plekhanov's opinion, at least he exerted great pressure on the Bolsheviks, and it was very likely that he would soften them, but the object of his pressure was completely wrong, Sverdlov did not approve of peace talks from the beginning, and played prestige in front of him, can he bird you?

Nogan wanted to say a few words of harmony, but Sverdlov had already walked away without looking back, and that firmness was like a bucket of cold water, pouring Plekhanov with a cold heart.

"Comrade Yakov, our task is not yet complete!" Nogan was in a hurry.

Sverdlov glared at the object and said very politely: "The task given to us by Comrade Lenin is to communicate with the Soviets and give them a chance to play their part. Since they are unwilling to communicate, then we don't need to talk to them too much, after the capture of the Winter Palace, we may be able to communicate better! ”

Nogan was a little angry: "But the decision of the Central Committee ......"

Sverdlov said very politely: "The Central Committee did not reach any consensus on this, our task is only to come and communicate, and any ideas beyond the idea are out of place!" ”

"But ......"

Sverdlov was impatient: "There is nothing but that, please obey the decision of the Central Committee and do not make mistakes!" ”

In the face of Sverdlov's strength, Noggen could not resist at all, even if he wanted to reach a compromise with the Soviets, but he really could not represent the members of the Central Committee, let alone Lenin, and the only person who could speak on behalf of the above two was Sverdlov.

Nogan walked out after Sverdlov with his head down, and the frustration was evident even to Plekhanov. But the old man didn't care about Nogan at all, even if this was an old party member who had a friendship with the two sides in the days of the Social Democratic Labour Party, but it was clear that in today's Bolshevi Chris Verdlov is more important.

"Yakov Mikhainovich, I must warn you one more time!" On one occasion Plekhanov tried to put pressure on Sverdlov to give in, "Your actions are seriously illegal!" If you don't repent now, the consequences will be dire! ”

Sverdlov glanced back at the old man contemptuously, "Whether our actions are illegal or not is not up to you, let alone the reactionary government you support. All our actions are in line with the hopes of millions of people in Petrograd and Russia, and we only need to be responsible to the Russian people! ”

Speaking of this, Sverdlov said very solemnly and very seriously: "I am also here to warn you for the last time - Georggivarentinovich, don't make mistakes again and again, if you continue to go on the idea of confronting the people, you will fall into the abyss from which you will never recover, I advise you to respect yourself!" ”

Plekhanov was stunned, he really didn't expect Sverdlov to be so strong, and he dared to teach him an old-timer in person, he was stupid for a while, and he couldn't believe it was true.

In the end, it was Tseretiri who woke him up: "Georgivarenovich, they are gone, what should I do now?" ”

Plekhanov sighed, and from Sverdlov's strength, he could deduce a lot of useful information, that is, the Bolsheviks, although they encountered certain difficulties, were far from exhausted, and the hawks among them did not want peace talks at all, and had the intention of continuing the offensive until the government was completely overthrown.

"It's not good!" With a worried face, Plekhanov informed Tseletiri of his analysis, and although the latter did something about it, he still had an IQ, and immediately became anxious: "If your analysis is correct, then the situation is quite bad for the government, and if the Bolsheviks are allowed to continue their onslaught, I am afraid that the worst may occur, and we must do something......"

As he spoke, Plekhanov looked at his panicked monkey appearance and said with dissatisfaction: "What are you panicking, what are you going to do?" ”

Tseretierere replied hurriedly, "They must be called back...... A little more time must be bought for the Government...... Otherwise, it's a big deal! ”

Plekhanov was angry at that time and angrily rebuked: "What's the use of you going? Wasn't that shameful enough just now? ”。

Tseretieri asked stupidly, "Then you go in person?" ”

Plekhanov replied angrily: "It doesn't work if I go!" With that, he commanded the secretary: "Go and call Martov, and say that I have something urgent to find him!" ”

Tseretiri snorted and said impatiently: "Let Martov go? You're not crazy, aren't you? Don't you know that Martov and the Bolsheviks almost wore the same trousers? ”

"Of course I know!" Plekhanov glared at him, "It is precisely because Martov is towards the Bolsheviks that it works for him to go!" ”

Tseretiri thought about it, and that's it, he and Plekhanov had already had a stalemate with Sverdlov just now, and it would be too embarrassing and embarrassing to go again, and it would be just a low-level begger. Martov would not have had such scruples when he went, and it was precisely because he had good relations with the Bolsheviks and Lenin that he could gain the trust of the Bolsheviks. In the current situation, it is only fitting that a man trusted by the Bolsheviks should do the mediation work.

Martov soon arrived, and Plekhanov explained to him "earnestly": "...... Your task is very important, and it can be said that the end of the present chaos lies entirely in your communication with the Bolsheviks...... I hope you do your best to bring peace to ......"

Martov had no objection to this task, and although he was a leftist in the Soviet Central Committee, he could be regarded as a centrist at best in the context of Russia's megapolitics. In essence, he did not approve of Lenin's approach, and he was even more bitter about the sudden outbreak of the armed conflict, and it was incumbent upon him to end the conflict and restore "peace".

Although Martov did not resist being a peace envoy, he still had some questions that must be resolved first: "Comrade Georggivarentinovich, I would like to know where the bottom line of the Daoist Soviets is, and whether a ceasefire between the two sides is unconditional or conditional?" ”

Plekhanov thought for a moment and said categorically: "It would be very good if an unconditional ceasefire could be reached, even if it was temporary." But the Bolsheviks will probably not be so easy to dismiss, and if necessary, you can promise them all reasonable terms, as long as you can cease fire! ”

Martov was stunned for a moment, but he knew how important Plekhanov's statement was, and he doubted that the old man would be able to fulfill these promises, "Georggivarentinovich, although it is very unreasonable, I must ask clearly. Would the Bolsheviks have been able to accede to the conditions they put forward if they were unreasonable or unfavorable to the government? ”。

Plekhanov knew very well that what Martov wanted to ask was not whether he could agree, but whether he could fulfill it, after all, he Plekhanov could not represent the government, and if he Plekhanov wrote all empty checks, when it was time to cash them, then there would be a good show.

Plekhanov was very eager to pat his chest and give Martov a guarantee, anyway, as long as Martov could succeed in his mediation, or buy a little time for the Provisional Government for the time being, everything would be fine. The old man had never thought of fulfilling his promise in full, he was purely a delaying tactic.

However, Plekhanov also knew that although Martov was a little naïve and naïve in politics, his IQ was not low, and if he really wrote blank checks casually, people would immediately see through his intentions, and what if he didn't go?

Plekhanov's mind was not usually quick, and he immediately flickered: "Of course this is not the case, you are only playing the role of an intermediary, and your task is to make the Bolsheviks understand our sincerity, and let them know that even if they have done such a great rebellion, we Soviets can understand their original intention - everything for the people." And we don't want to see innocent people shed blood and die anymore, so we mediate. You have to make them understand that we are not trying to cover up the government...... As for the conditions they proposed, they were counted only after the government had accepted them and the Central Committee of the Soviet Union had approved them. You don't have any worries about this! ”

It should be said that Plekhanov was very successful, and Martov left happily, and it seemed that the old horse was ready to make a big move.

"Will Martov be able to convince Lenin?". Ceretieri asked worriedly.

Plekhanov sighed: "I hope he can!" Speaking of this, he straightened his spirits and solemnly ordered: "We must not put all our hopes on him, we must also step up preparations and mobilize all our strength, whether it is to persuade the rebel army, or to do the work of guiding the people, or to directly mobilize a group of pro-us troops to support the government, we must act quickly!" ”

While Plekhanov was making preparations, Martov rushed to the Koshinskaya Palace, and the corpses on the streets and squares in front of him really surprised the old horse, and at a glance it was clear that there were one or two thousand casualties here, and judging by the clothes, most of the dead and wounded were government troops.

Martov secretly thought: when did the Bolsheviks have such great strength, no wonder they dared to force the palace soviets and attack the Winter Palace. It is no wonder that Plekhanov, the right person, would so solemnly let him do the mediation work, it seems that the situation is quite bad for the government.

Thinking of this, Martov quickened his pace and approached the Khszynskaya Palace, he did not go directly to Lenin, but first found Nogan, just now Plekhanov specially explained to him, Nogan's desire for "peace" is very strong, so he can make this person match.

"Comrade Martov, why are you here?" Nogan's tone was filled with joy.

Martov directly expressed his intentions: "I am doing mediation work on behalf of the Soviets, Comrade Nogen, I need your support in this critical moment!" ”

Nogen smiled bitterly, spread his hands and said: "Comrade Lenin's attitude is very resolute, I am soft-spoken, I am afraid that I have more than enough heart but not enough strength!" ”

Martov eagerly asked: "Then what does Comrade Lenin really mean?" ”

Nogan thought about it, and seemed a little hesitant, isn't it inappropriate to tell this kind of secret to someone outside the party, and in a sense someone who is still an enemy?

"Don't hesitate any longer!" Martov urged again, "I'm here for peace!" Not here to speak for the government! ”

After a moment of struggle, Nogan said hesitantly: "Comrade Lenin does not mean to stop the war, but now it is difficult to ride a tiger, and if the legitimate rights and interests of the Bolsheviks and the people can be guaranteed, he may give in......"

Lenin's remarks were too important for Martov, and knowing where Lenin's bottom line was, he could lobby in a targeted manner. He shook Nogan's hand heavily and said gratefully: "Thank you so much, Comrade Nogan, the people will not forget your contribution to peace!" ”

Nogan was not as happy as Martov, and he cautiously admonished: "Don't say I told you......"

Martov is very disdainful of Nogan's petty family, you have said everything, what are you pretending, as long as Lenin pays a little attention, he will know that I have looked for you first. What else are you playing here, there are no three hundred taels of silver here, no wonder the more you mix in the Bolsheviks over the years, the level is too low!

Bidding farewell to the kind-hearted Nogan, Martov finally had a certain confidence, and he immediately found Lenin: "Comrade Vladimir Ilyich, I was ordered by the Soviets to mediate the conflict between you and the government. ”

Lenin glanced at Martov thoughtfully, Sverdlov had already reported to him the attitude of Plekhanov and Tsereteri, Lenin was mentally prepared for the firm right-leaning position of those two people, and he did not expect that he had just thrown an olive branch, and those two hardcore rightists would happily accept it.

Lenin's idea was to fight and talk, to put pressure on the Soviets and the government through fighting, to force them to accept his demands. After Sverdlov went to communicate unsuccessfully, he immediately ordered the front line to intensify the offensive, and it was best to break through the enemy's defenses, and if not to put more pressure on the enemy. And the sudden arrival of Martov, which surprised Lenin, seemed to have exerted too much pressure?

"What? The reactionary government finally can't hold on and is ready to beg for mercy? Lenin asked jokingly.

Does this smell seem a little wrong? Martov felt that Lenin seemed to be much more resolute than Nogen said, could there be something wrong?

Without thinking about it, he asked directly: "I don't understand what you mean, no one is ready to beg for mercy or surrender, and I, as the special envoy of the Soviets, represent the broadest desire of the Soviets - we just don't want to see the people bleed anymore!" ”

Lenin sneered and pointed out very politely: "Then you should act at the moment of the afternoon tragedy, and you should put an end to the massacre of the people by the reactionary government at the first opportunity...... By the way, I forgot, you gave them that right. May I think so, you Soviets are fake cats crying rats? ”

Martov's face was very unpleasant, and in the morning, when the people surrounded the Tavrichher Palace and demanded that the Soviets seize power, he agreed to grant the government the power to quell the "rebellion". But when the news of the tragedy on Garden Street came in the afternoon, he regretted it very much, and now Lenin had turned over the old accounts, which made him a little unable to get off the stage.

"I don't want to dwell on things that are already in the past!" Martov stubbornly said, "Our responsibility now is to stop the bloodshed and sacrifice from happening, and as for the previous responsibility, we will be held accountable when the time is right!" ”

Lenin snorted contemptuously, "If you want to stop the bloodshed and sacrifice, it is very simple, you just need to get the reactionary government to surrender, it is not complicated at all, and it is not difficult at all!" ”

"Please don't mess around, Vladimir Ilyich!" Martov felt more and more uncomfortable, "You are the one who provoked the incident, and the reason is why you laid down your arms in the first place!" ”

Lenin looked at Martov coldly and said unquestioningly: "You are still sheltering the reactionary government that brewed the bloodshed, and you are even reversing right and wrong. If you have this attitude, then there is nothing to talk about between us. Please leave my office immediately! ”

How could Martov go, he took two steps forward, looked Lenin in the eyes, and pleaded: "Vladimir Ilyich, please don't be so stubborn." Let's not talk about the responsibility first, let's restore peace first...... You can't think about the innocent people on the streets, please have pity on them! ”

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