Trotsky sighed inwardly, if he could, he would have held all of the South-Western Front and the Belorussian Front in his hands. However, it was clear that Lenin would not give him this opportunity, and if he refused to allow Stalin to take command of the South-Western Front, Lenin would inevitably obstruct the question of the selection of troops for the Belarusian Front.

After thinking about it for a while, Trotsky had to accept Lenin's conditions, the meaning of the Belarusian Front was undoubtedly more important than that of the South-Western Front, and between sesame seeds and watermelons, Trotsky did not hesitate to choose watermelons.

As a result, the Trotskyists and Leninists remained on a par in military forces, with the Eastern Front and the Belarusian Front belonging to the Trotskyists, and the Southwestern Front and the Ukrainian Front belonging to the Leninists. The next step is to see who can make a difference in Central and Eastern Europe.

Anyway, according to the current situation, both Trotsky and Lenin have a chance, and the next thing is to see who plays better.

"The main task of the Belarusian Front is to destroy the entrenched White Army in Belarus and help the Belarusian comrades to fight for victory." Trotsky decided to help Tukhachevsky get on his horse and pull it again, and he quickly circled the main tasks of the Belorussian Front.

"That's not right, is it?" Sverdlov immediately spoke out against it, "What about the revolution in the three Baltic states?" ”

It has to be said that Trotsky's slippery head is slippery here, and the situation in Belarus is similar to the situation in Ukraine, but it is not without differences. To put it simply, the shape of Ukraine is much more complex and more damaged, and the class contradictions and intra-national contradictions there are completely an order of magnitude greater than those in Belarus.

If the main task of the Belarusian Front is simply the creation of a Byelorussian Soviet Republic. Then the main forces of the Eastern Front. Basically, you can deal with the rebels there like the wind sweeping the leaves.

And Ukraine may not be so lucky. Previously, in order to support the operation of the lower Volga to annihilate the Denikin bandits, Frunze sent most of the main forces to the Southwestern Front, and he only relied on a small number of troops to deal with Petliura and Makhno. It can be said that he has always been a hard support.

Now that the shape has improved, and the strategic center of gravity has begun to shift westward, Frunze should be supported as a matter of course. The problem is that, with Trotsky's suggestion and Lenin's insistence, the reinforcements that Frunze wanted were probably not at all playful.

Other words. The Ukrainian Front, which was worse and had fewer troops, was going to gnaw hard bones, while the Belarusian Front, which was better and more powerful, did not even want to take care of the revolutionary problems of the three Baltic states. Of course, the Leninists have an opinion on such a method!

In Sverdlov's opinion, he had made serious concessions to Trotsky, and now this guy was too selfish to care only about his own petty calculations, and only to plan for himself. If Trotsky were to take over the Belorussian Front, he would have to solve the problems of the three Baltic states together!

But where in Trotsky's eyes can he see the three Baltic states the size of a projectile now. For him, only an early march in the direction of Poland, Germany, Austria, and Hungary could fully realize his vision of a world revolution. What is the significance of the three Baltic states? Leave them to death?

In his opinion, Sverdlov did not distinguish between the importance of the matter, and he said: "The key problem of the revolution now is the question of the world revolution, the only way to establish Soviet power in Belarus, in Ukraine, in Poland, in Germany, Austria and Hungary in one fell swoop." That's the most important thing. When the revolutions in Europe have triumphed, it will not be too late to solve the problems of the three Baltic states! ”

In a sense. There is no problem with Trotsky's statement, it is even quite correct. Compared with Central and Eastern Europe, the three Baltic states are really chicken-ribbed. However, Sverdlov thought that Trotsky was too ambitious, and it was difficult to say what the subsequent development of the revolution would be, and the most important thing at the moment was to go down step by step, and although the three Baltic states were small, their position was not completely meaningless.

"Comrade Trotsky, I must remind you that the three Baltic states, although small, are extremely important. If we cannot win the victory of the revolutions of these three countries, we will not be able to support East Prussia directly by land, and the survival of the East Prussian People's Republic is of crucial importance at the moment! ”

It is true that Belarus and East Prussia do not share a border, and even if Tukhachevsky gets Belarus, he will not be able to give direct support to East Prussia. The best way to do this, of course, is to deal with these three countries directly. At that time, Russian aid could be transported directly to Königsberg via Pskov-Riga-Siolier without a detour through Belarus.

Did Trotsky know this? Of course, Lao Tuo knew it, but he just didn't like this plan. In Trotsky's view, after taking out Belarus, direct intervention in Poland and the establishment of Soviet power in eastern Poland could also help East Prussia. In that case, why bother with the three Baltic states?

"Are you kidding? Comrade Trotsky! Now Stalin also joined the war group, and he asked angrily: "Now that East Prussia will face the direct military intervention of the Entente and Germany, and urgently needs our assistance, when Tukhachevsky has calmed the judgment of Belarus, then East Prussia has been bulldozed by the powerful imperialist enemy!" ”

At the end, the steel also sarcastically said: "Even, before Tukhachevsky can solve the Belarusian bandits, the Allied forces have already leveled East Prussia and threatened Petrograd and Moscow directly in the direction of Belarus!" ”

Trotsky retorted: "This is unlikely! ”

Before he finished speaking, Sverdlov interjected again: "I think it is very likely, once East Prussia falls, the Entente bloc can completely advance directly in the direction of Petrograd along the three Baltic states." I am sure that the counter-revolutionary regimes of the three Baltic countries will be more than happy to give the green light to their new masters, and when the time comes, Petrograd, no! The revolution in our country will be in great danger! ”

Ruzutak also added: "Comrade Yakov's fears are quite justified, and the enemy can completely ignore the Belarusian Front." Directly along the passage opened by the three Baltic states, point to Petrograd and Moscow! I think. Judging from the current form shì. The operational focus of the Belarusian Front is not Belarus, but the early overthrow of the bourgeois reactionary regimes of the three Baltic states! ”

This construction was unacceptable to Trotsky in any case, for the simple reason that he wanted to build up the Belarusian Front? And why send Tukhachevsky, whom he trusts the most, to take office? It is nothing more than the use of the Belarusian Front to promote the world revolutionary movement.

Only by firmly grasping the breakthrough in Belarus will he be able to gain more say in the future world revolution. It is good that Petr, Stalin and Ruzutak are going to take the sword of his Belorussian Front directly in the direction of the Baltic, instead of Poland, which is crucial to the world revolution. Isn't this a deliberate attempt to let him go the wrong way?

Trotsky would not have agreed to this approach anyway, and in his opinion once the Belorussian Front turned to the three Baltic states. In the later World Revolutionary Movement, he could only sing a supporting role again!

Why did Trotsky think so? Judging from the map, if you get the three Baltic countries, you will directly link East Prussia, and then use the springboard of East Prussia to directly threaten the hinterland of Germany, which seems to be very good, at least not bad.

Hey, the problem is not that simple. It is indeed good to do the above method, but for Trotsky it is a marriage for others. East Prussia was not his territory. It was Jewish territory, and Mr. Li's influence there was significant. As a backbone member of the Leninists. How could someone allow the forces of the Trotskyists to use the springboard of East Prussia to turn directly at Germany?

Trotsky felt that when Tukhachevsky led the Belorussian Front to open up the lines of communication between the three Baltic states, he communicated East Prussia and Russia. A certain immortal directly led the East Prussian People's Liberation Army to Germany. Where will it be to care whether the Belarusian Front will be able to keep up.

It is even possible that, at that time, Lenin, relying on his superiority in the Politburo, would immediately assign another task to his Belorussian Front - the liberation of Belarus.

It was not impossible, and Trotsky felt that he had already been put on the table several times before. He didn't want to do this again. Since Belarus is going to be liberated anyway, then simply do it in the first place, at least it won't be a marriage for people, will it?

Trotsky was therefore resolutely opposed to the advance of the Belorussian Front into the three Baltic states, and he enumerated a number of reasons, ranging from international political influences to the lack of troops.

However, no matter how many reasons he had, they could not match Lenin's words: "Without East Prussia, the revolution would not have been what it is today." At a time when the East Prussian People's Republic is about to encounter the all-out intervention of the Entente imperialism and urgently needs our assistance, we are not doing our best, who will be our friends in the future? Who will trust us? ”

At the right time, Sverdlov also said: "And if the East Prussian People's Republic fails, the good situation in Poland will be reversed immediately, and this will set off a chain reaction." It will be more complicated to directly lead to the shape of Belarus and Ukraine! We can't take that risk! ”

Trotsky's teeth itched, and it was clear that the three Baltic states would definitely have to be solved by his Belorussian Front, and even with a certain priority. But he really didn't want to marry someone, and after thinking about it, he suddenly said: "In this case, I will integrate the East Prussian People's Liberation Army and the Belarusian Front Army and unify the command ......."

His words were immediately interrupted by Sverdlov: "How to unify the command?" By whom? ”

This is a crucial issue, and it is clear that Trotsky's unified command is absolutely Tukhachevsky's monopoly on the East Prussian People's Liberation Army under the command of the Belorussian Front.

"By Tukhachevsky commanding both the Belarusian Front and the People's Liberation Army of East Prussia?" Xiao Si was amused, did Trotsky think that he and Li Xiaofeng were so easy to bully, "Aren't you kidding?" Comrade Trotsky? ”

Trotsky replied solemnly: "I have good reason! At this point, Trotsky could not help admiring his haste for the great news that it would be great news if he could take the opportunity to take control of the East Prussian People's Liberation Army. This not only ensured that his revolutionary line would be thoroughly implemented. He can also dig into the corners of Lenin's wall fiercely. Fight a turnaround battle.

Therefore, he said with a lot of words: "Unification under the command of Comrade Tukhachevsky has a very obvious advantage, it can attack the three Baltic countries from the east and west, and it will certainly be able to eliminate the counter-revolutionary regime there more quickly, and the unified command will also avoid fighting for each other......"

Trotsky was talking happily, but he did not notice that Sverdlov looked at him with an idiotic look, and it was clear that Sverdlov knew what he was up to. And with full certainty, it was easy to dispel his thoughts.

Sure enough, when Trotsky had finally finished talking about the reasons he had come up with on the spur of the moment, Sverdlov smiled and asked: "Comrade Trotsky, I must remind you. The People's Liberation Army of East Prussia belongs to the East Prussian People's Republic, and this republic has established official diplomatic relations with us! ”

The implication of Sverdlov's words is obvious: "Big brother, you can figure it out, the East Prussian People's Liberation Army is not the Red Army, let alone a vassal of Russia, it is not something that you can command if you say unified command, do you understand the international influence?" ”

Of course Trotsky understood. Even what he was waiting for was Sverdlov's words, to put it bluntly. He still didn't want to care about the mess in the three Baltic countries, and he relaxed his shoulders and said, "In that case, I can't help it." Without unified command, the Belarusian Front will not be able to take into account the problems of the three Baltic states. ”

After Trotsky said this, he was still a little proud, and felt that Lenin had no choice this time, and if he wanted to give him the three Baltic states, he would inevitably attach East Prussia, otherwise, he would not talk about it. He believed that Lenin would never agree.

Lenin did not agree, and even followed Trotsky's words with great difficulty: "It is indeed a bit difficult for Comrade Tukhachevsky to make the Belarusian Front pay attention to the problems of both directions at the same time." In particular, when unified command cannot be achieved, it becomes more and more difficult. I understand Comrade Trotsky's apprehension very well, and this question really should be carefully considered! ”

Trotsky could sit still when he heard this, but then he couldn't, because Lenin suddenly changed his words and said: "I think so, the Belorussian Front will solve the Belarusian problem wholeheartedly, and the problems of the three Baltic countries will be solved by the other fraternal forces...... I established and established a Baltic Front, with Ubolevich as commander-in-chief and Comrade Andrei as general political commissar, transferred a part of the troops of the Eastern Front, and transferred all the troops of the former Petrograd Military District to this front, and they worked together with the East Prussian People's Liberation Army to solve the problems of the three Baltic countries! ”

For a moment Trotsky was dumbfounded, how could he not have imagined that Lenin would suddenly propose such a proposal and set up a new front? And this front is still controlled by some bastard?

Trotsky found it unbearable, for in the Polish direction, the strength of Lenin was one to one, and each side had a front, but now Lenin had one more front, and what was even more infuriating was that this front still had a considerable advantage, and had already made a considerable breakthrough in Poland, which was tantamount to a big lead over him!

"How do you solve the command problem?" Trotsky hastened to ask, it seems that he was preparing to attack the shield with his spear.

Who would have thought that Lenin would seriously ask rhetorically: "What is the problem of command?" ”

"The question of the command of the East Prussian People's Liberation Army?" Trotsky reminded with some annoyance.

"Who said they were going to command them?" Lenin asked more seriously than he did, "Will the Baltic Front fight with the East Prussian People's Liberation Army, and will not directly command them?" What are the command problems? ”

Trotsky was stunned, mainly angry, who did not know that the People's Liberation Army of East Prussia was now in someone's hands, and then someone took over the Baltic Army, and this was not the same as someone in unified command?

However, although Trotsky knew in his heart what was going on, he could not blame Lenin, because neither Li Xiaofeng nor Ubolevich were nominally advisers to the East Prussian People's Liberation Army, and nominally had no command power, so there was no problem. And Tukhachevsky is not an adviser to the East Prussian People's Liberation Army, if he wants to intervene, it is in international disputes.

Thinking of this, Trotsky regretted it very much, and if he had known that he should have installed a few henchmen to serve as advisers to the East Prussian People's Liberation Army, then he would not have been so passive now. However, this was also Trotsky's own wishful thinking, and he did not want to think about the relationship between Li Xiaofeng and Pavel, and a certain immortal could formulate a candidate for military adviser with a single sentence, and Trotsky could not intervene at all.

Of course, Trotsky would not let Lenin succeed in this way, and he immediately came up with another reason to refute it: "Comrade Ubolevich did not serve as commander-in-chief of the Front, so I think it would be better to choose another comrade who is old and respectful." ”

However, Lenin did not need to step in for this reason, and Stalin blocked Trotsky: "Comrade Tukhachevsky has no experience in commanding the front before he became commander-in-chief of the Southwestern Front!" ”

This sentence was enough, it was enough to plug Trotsky's mouth, but Xiao Si smiled and added another stab: "Comrade Trotsky, when you appointed Ubolevich as commander-in-chief of the Don-Volga Army Group against public opinion, you admired his ability, and Comrade Uborevich did a very good job in Poland in the previous paragraph!" (To be continued......)

PS: Bow and thank you for remembering Ga's halo, ds135, Wen Chuan and Comrade Juventus!