Tukhachevsky has been forced into a corner, as the chief of the General Staff, if he cannot show a little authority in the "Leningrad case", if he can't do anything while the case is overturned, then who will dare to mess with him in the future?

Tukhachevsky could not even keep the middle and junior officers he admired, who dared to believe that Tukhachevsky could make a difference in the upper echelons of the Red Army?

Do not think that there are no mountains and no interest groups in the army, and the competition for interests in the army is not at all worse than that in the localities, or even more intense. If Tukhachevsky is unable to express his ability to defend the interests of the group, then no one will be mixed with him.

And now, Tukhachevsky's prestige has reached the point of collapse, and if he can't get back a game quickly, if he can't give his supporters a shot in the arm, then his clique will disintegrate itself.

"I strongly protest against the approach of the Military Commission, why the dismissal of Comrade Gamalnik from his post without my consent, and the reversal of the correct conclusions reached by the previous task force. This is someone playing tricks, it is Chi Guoguo's conspiracy against the General Staff! ”

Tukhachevsky had no choice but to give it a go. Immediately after returning to Moscow for secret talks with Trotsky, he drafted a strongly worded report and handed it to the Military Commission and the Politburo, strongly accusing the Military Commission of the conspiracy against the General Staff.

The momentum is huge, and judging by Tukhachevsky's attitude, this is a preparation to go out, this is going to be desperate.

It stands to reason that if Tukhachevsky made a move, then Stalin and Li Xiaofeng would have to take it. It's a little bit incredible, though. The two men looked very calm. What to do. It seems that Tukhachevsky's desperate cries were not heard at all.

Not only did Stalin and Li Xiaofeng not move, but the four general departments all seemed very calm, and there were few responders except for the hardcore Khalepsky, Yakir and Belov of the General Staff who helped wave the flag and shout.

Why are so few people responding? On the one hand, Tukhachevsky does not have too many hardcore allies in the army, and although he is very influential in the theory of large-depth combat in mechanization, it must be noted that he is not alone. Also engaged in the study of mechanization and large-depth warfare are Yegorov, Ubolevich, and Triandafilov, and the latter two are not inferior to Tukhachevsky in their research results and popularity in this field.

This was determined by the emerging new tactical doctrine of the Red Army. Not everyone followed Tukhachevsky. To put it mildly, Tukhachevsky was more of a drummer before, and he was not an indispensable character.

Let's put it this way, the losses without Tukhachevsky were not particularly large, and it was not possible to do it without his mechanization and new combat theory. In this way, in the eyes of the emerging military forces of the Red Army, there is no need to accompany Tukhachevsky on adventures, anyway, there are still Ubolevich and Triandafilov? Didn't these two theorists follow Tukhachevsky? So what are we going to do? Look for trouble?

It has to be said that Tukhachevsky is a bit tragic, within the army, he faced more enemies than expected, in addition to fighting against the cavalry forces led by Voroshilov and Budyonny. On the side of supporting mechanization, he did not dominate the country, and his power was actually very scattered.

Because of this. When the wind is usually calm, he seems to be responsive, but once it comes to the critical juncture of the struggle, there are too few friends who dare to go with him bare-chested.

There are even some people who not only do not go with him, but also criticize him very implicitly, and this important figure is Yegorov, as deputy chief of the General Staff, his influence is quite large. If Tukhachevsky can't even get his own second-in-command, who will dare to go with him?

Yegorov criticized Tukhachevsky very vaguely at that time: "Comrade Mikhail made too much of a fuss, and it was a trivial matter of a few young people who drank too much and got into a fight, but he made it what it is now...... This greatly damaged the prestige and internal unity of the Red Army! ”

When Tukhachevsky heard Yegorov's evaluation of him, his nose was crooked, but he knew that Yegorov had always been close to Stalin and Li Xiaofeng, and it was normal to help those two people talk at critical moments. In fact, from the beginning he didn't think about enlisting Yegorov's support, his focus was still on Triandafilov and Ubolevich, he felt that he had a good relationship with those two, and everyone supported mechanization and large-depth warfare, we are the hardcore of our own people, you don't say help me deal with the enemy, help me say two good words, right?

It can only be said that Tukhachevsky is too naïve, and he doesn't look at the relationship between those two and Li Xiaofeng. People have a better relationship, why should they help you speak? What's more, in the eyes of Uborevich and Triandafilov, in the final analysis, this matter is still your Tukhachevsky's fault, just like Yegorov said, you yourself have made him bigger with a trivial matter like chicken feathers and green beans, and to put it mildly, you are the first to have bad intentions.

What's more, the conclusion reached by the second task force is very objective, and it can be said that it is handled fairly and impartially. It's all so fair and just, what are you not satisfied with? And what did you say before? Who persecuted you, the Chief of the General Staff? Who is targeting your General Staff again? Nonsense!

If Tukhachevsky hadn't shouted those words, Ubolevich and Triandafilov might have helped to make peace and help resolve the dispute with good words. However, Tukhachevsky's behavior was as if he had been persecuted by the government, which made Ubolevich and Triandafilov unbearable.

The two of them felt that Tukhachevsky had gone too far, and that this was already a suspicion of retaliation, so they were naturally even more reluctant to get involved in this. Not only did they not participate in the cooperation, but they also demanded that their own departments not participate.

It has to be said that Tukhachevsky was miserably killed by Trotsky this time, and Trotsky gave him a bad idea, telling him: "Mikhail, you now have only one way to turn defeat into victory." That's escalating things. Rise to the height of the political zhì. accuse them of persecuting you. In this way, the Politburo can intervene, and I can help you! ”

Is this a bad idea? Trotsky was no ordinary bad guy, and Trotsky always played bad chess at critical moments, and this time was no exception. This time, without mentioning any conspiracy and persecution, Tukhachevsky could still hold his nose and continue to be the chief of the General Staff, but once it rises to the height of political persecution, the Politburo can indeed intervene, but that also means that the result is either you die or I die.

After all, it's a risky move! It's a dying throe! Because in the Politburo Trotsky did not have the upper hand!

In the Politburo, Stalin and Sverdlov had two votes. The two men have already advanced and retreated together, which means that Trotsky needs at least two more votes to turn the tables around. The question is whether Lenin and Dzerzhinsky will support him?

Not to mention Lenin's attitude, and even according to Trotsky's most optimistic intentions, Lenin supported him, which was only two to two. And what about Dzerzhinsky's side? Will the Man in the Iron Mask support him?

Let's put it this way, if Tukhachevsky had indeed been treated unfairly, and if there had been a bias in the previous case, Dzerzhinsky would have done justice for Tukhachevsky, which is the nature of the Man in the Iron Mask, and it is the only meaning of his proud stay in the Politburo.

But. If everything Tukhachevsky says is false, not only is the so-called persecution false. Even the conclusion of the Gamarnik task force is indeed very problematic, and it is he who is really pulling the strings. At that time, don't expect Dzerzhinsky to support him, and even Dzerzhinsky's neutrality is a matter of green smoke from the ancestral grave.

Trotsky knew very well that the key to whether or not he could turn the tables this time lay with Dzerzhinsky, so he gave Tukhachevsky a guarantee at that time: "Comrade Lenin and Comrade Felix I will do my work!" ”

Trotsky did what he said he would, and the next morning he personally went to Dzerzhinsky's office.

"Comrade Felix, I have a few opinions on the persecution of Tukhachevsky and the truth about the Leningrad case, why did the Military Commissar rashly overturn the opinion of the Gamalnik task force? This is very unusual, it is difficult to say that there is no cat in it, and it is normal to casually arrest Comrade Gamalnik? ”

"In particular, you must note that this qiē was done privately behind his back by the CMC on the sudden order of Comrade Tukhachevsky to inspect the Far East. If it is really so above board, why transfer Comrade Tukhachevsky? ”

Dzerzhinsky still does not see any expression on his face, and even compared to 1917, the Iron Mask Man is even more iron-faced, as if he has eliminated the function of the facial nerves. And not only was he expressionless, but he didn't mean anything to speak, he just sat and listened to Trotsky.

After talking for nearly ten minutes, Trotsky felt that he was in a very good state today, and that he was reasonable, not to mention the three points, but the reason was still very thorough. However, Dzerzhinsky's refusal to say anything still made him very depressed, and finally he became a little anxious, and he said directly: "I think Comrade Felix you have to do something about it!" ”

Dzerzhinsky finally reacted to this sentence, but the reaction was unexpected by Trotsky: "I don't understand what you're talking about? Comrade Trotsky, why should I do something about this? ”

Without waiting for Trotsky to answer this question, Dzerzhinsky asked aggressively: "And I would like to ask, what do you think I should do?!" ”

Trotsky was a little stunned, because he could not answer these two questions, why not? The reason is simple, because he began to realize that Dzerzhinsky did not welcome him!

It is true that Dzerzhinsky did not welcome Trotsky, of course, only that Trotsky was not welcome to come to him for this matter, and if it was to discuss normal work problems, he would still be willing to receive Trotsky.

But it was on this question that Trotsky was about to talk about, and this really annoyed Dzerzhinsky. Don't be a fool of the Man in the Iron Mask, the merits of events can be seen by anyone with a brain. In Dzerzhinsky's opinion, the truth is probably closer to the conclusions reached by the second task force, and Tukhachevsky is unreasonable!

Combined with the sensational accusations that Tukhachevsky had suddenly made, the purpose of Trotsky's visit to him was clear. Trotsky was ready to do his job in private, to get him on his side when the Politburo discussed the issue.

To be honest, Dzerzhinsky was disgusted with this kind of private teaching, and in his opinion work is work. They can all be openly and honestly taken out, openly said, and openly discussed. Those who like to engage in tandem in private have ulterior motives. It should be resolutely resisted.

So Dzerzhinsky was first of all dissatisfied with Trotsky's approach. It seemed to him that Trotsky was pulling him to play tricks, which was difficult for the Man in the Iron Mask to accept. Secondly, not to mention that the Man in the Iron Mask felt that Tukhachevsky was not reasonable at all, and it was pure alarmism and nonsense, and it was really worse than killing Dzerzhinsky to let him, an upright person, support such a guy who was full of lies!

"I don't think that Comrade Mikhail has been persecuted in any way, and I basically agree with the conclusions reached by the second task force, and the situation is already very clear. There is no need for this incident to be on the line, let alone any conspiracy and persecution! ”

Dzerzhinsky made his attitude clear in one breath, which made Trotsky half cold, but he could not give up, if the Man in the Iron Mask sided with the enemy, this time it was really doomed.

He said in an almost pleading tone: "Comrade Felix, I ask you to be more cautious, this is about the future, not a trivial matter!" ”

Dzerzhinsky, however, said: "This is really not a trivial matter, alarmist nonsense. Corrupting the reputation of the party and his comrades, such a person can be said to be a villain. In 1918 this was Yan zhòng's counter-revolutionary act. For the sake of Comrade Mikhail's past exploits, I opened up and did not directly refute his nonsense...... Comrade Trotsky, as an old comrade, as the core of leadership in the party, you should stick to your principles and not act with him, and your behavior has disappointed me considerably, and I don't even bother to be with you! ”

Now Trotsky was really anxious, how could he ask for the opposite effect, he pleaded bitterly: "Comrade Felix, this incident is definitely not so simple, you should proceed from the long-term and the overall situation, and choose a more appropriate position instead of ......"

Now Dzerzhinsky was really furious: "And not what? And not to tell the truth? Comrade Trotsky, I would like to remind you one last time, that your present thinking is dangerous, that you are infinitely close to counter-revolution. It is never you alone or a certain person who determines the direction of the overall situation, only the organization determines the future, and only the collective leadership of the organization has the future. I ask you to keep this in mind and never put yourself above the organization! This event organization will come to the right conclusion, and this correct conclusion is something that you can't change no matter how you connect and how you do it, at least you will never be able to change my mind! I don't have anything more to talk to you about, so please get out! ”

When he walked out of Dzerzhinsky's office, Trotsky was a little disillusioned, he had always thought that Dzerzhinsky would be on his side in the long term at the critical moment, and it was clear that he was wrong, quite wrong. Dzerzhinsky is still the stinking and hard-masked man in the iron mask, and always will be.

The situation was quite unfavorable for Trotsky, it can be said that he was already on the edge of the precipice, and if he did not hurry up and do something, he would have lost when the Politburo formally discussed the issue. Sitting in the back seat of the car, Trotsky patted himself on the cheek and told him that he had to be calm, that he could not just sit still.

"Go to Comrade Lenin, quick, go to Comrade Lenin!"

After a short period of reflection, Trotsky decided that he had found the only way to save the day, and that was to go to Lenin, let Lenin do the work of Stalin and Sverdlov, and let Lenin let him go.

Of course, Trotsky did not know that Lenin was helping him at this time. When Tukhachevsky complained to the Military Commission and the Politburo, Lenin immediately realized that the big thing was not good, that the development of things had gradually escaped control, and that if he continued to let it go, the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, Lenin's choice was different from that of Trotsky, he did not go to Dzerzhinsky, because he knew that it would be useless to find it, and if Dzerzhinsky was no longer iron-faced, neutral and impartial, then he would not be suitable to remain in the Politburo.

Lenin realized from the outset that the only solution to the problem was Stalin and Sverdlov, and that if they did not let go, Trotsky would be defeated.

Lenin was ready to do the work of Stalin and Sverdlov and let them let Tukhachevsky go, but what he did not expect was that Stalin and Sverdoff flatly refused, and the reasons for refusal were quite solid.

"From the very beginning, it was Mikhail who was the one who made things out of control. We have been patient and have handled the case fairly...... But what did Mikhail do, talking nonsense, what did he want to do? This is the drunkard's meaning, not in the wine. How can a person of this character be suitable to stay in the Military Commission, and how can he be suitable to be the chief of the General Staff? ”

Lenin was speechless in the face of his right-hand man's rhetorical question, and could only say that Tukhachevsky was really a bit stupid, that he should have behaved with his tail between his legs, and that he should have waited patiently for Trotsky to come to power before making trouble, and that he could not bear it even for the past few months, and that he really did not have a bit of political mind and political foresight. Utter fool!

Even Lenin thought Trotsky was inexplicable, and in this case you should hold on to your little brother and not die indiscriminately. It's good, I don't think the world is messing up and making things so big, and there is no way to end it! (To be continued......)