Rudnev was emboldened, believing that he could be the savior of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, which, since the outbreak of the revolution in Petrograd, had become widely believed that the Socialist-Revolutionaries were not enough to remain in control of Russia. The Social Revolutionaries will collapse like an avalanche, and no one will be able to reverse this decline.

On August 25 Kerensky was arrested, on August 26 the Winter Palace fell, and then Moscow also began to respond to the revolution in Petrograd, like dominoes that were pushed, and the Social Revolutionaries really seemed to be finished.

Rudnev believed that he had to be the Prime Prime to stop the dominoes from falling, and as long as he contained the momentum of the Bolsheviks in Moscow, then a big reversal would soon occur. As long as the Socialist-Revolutionaries were able to gain a foothold, and with the combined counter-offensive of all parties throughout the country, the defeat of the Bolsheviks was obvious.

And now, the recapture of the Kremlin is a good start, and with the armory he can arm an army that is truly at the behest of the Socialist-Revolutionaries. Instead of being like before, Kerensky was just an empty cabinet chancellor, and most of the troops didn't buy him, so that at the critical moment, not a single soldier stood up for him, so that he could only be arrested in disgrace.

With the army, Rudnev had the confidence, now he only had to force the Bolsheviks in Moscow to submit, and then the big picture was under control.

It has to be said that Rudnev rejoiced too early, not mentioning the real situation in the Kremlin, even the Mensheviks and the Cadets would not let his dream go true.

"Mayor Rudnev, what crazy are you talking about?"

When Rudnev made his bold statement, he was immediately hit by the deputies of the Cadets. The Cadets and the Social Revolutionaries were basically comrades-in-arms in the trenches. In the fight against the Bolshevik force. They can basically agree, but the two sides have been fighting over who will take control of Russia.

The Russian bureaucratic aristocratic bourgeoisie, represented by the Cadets, did not coincide with the interests of the middle class and petty bourgeoisie, represented by the Socialist-Revolutionaries. The supporters of the Cadets controlled the main economic lifeline of old Russia and occupied a monopoly position, which made it very difficult for the supporters of the Social Revolutionaries to persecute them.

The petty bourgeoisie has not been able to rise in Russia, not only economically, but also politically. Tsarist period. The Socialist-Revolutionaries were also much better off than the non-Bolsheviks, and suffered no less. However, when the revolutionary tide came, the Social Revolutionaries were able to gain more support than the Cadets, and as the Cadets continued to lose points, the Socialist-Revolutionaries did not fail to embarrass the Cadets during the period from July to October, which indirectly led to the collapse of the Levov cabinet.

The two sides have long since formed a relationship, and on the land issue, the differences and contradictions between the two parties are even more irreconcilable. How could the aristocratic landlords and bourgeoisie allow the Socialist-Revolutionaries to divide their land?

Of course, if the Social Revolutionaries had been able to hold power in a stable manner. The Cadets had nothing to do. The problem is that these months have risen with the Bolsheviks. The rule of the Social Revolutionaries was severely challenged. And the October Revolution gave the Cadets an opportunity!

If, in this crisis, we can behave better than the soft-eggs of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, then we will naturally have a reason to take power again. There is no reason for the future of Russia to be entrusted to a cowardly government that cannot control the situation!

That is why the Cadets have always advocated restraint in Moscow, and even agreed to use negotiations to buy time. In order to wait for their good friend General Karekin to enjoy the fruits of the victory of quelling the rebellion and recovering Moscow.

And now that Rudnev has said that he has taken control of the situation, he will single-handedly force the Bolsheviks to submit and rob them of the fruits that they have predetermined a long time ago, and this uncle can not bear it and aunt!

"We are categorically opposed to the use of negotiations to resolve the issue, and we can learn from the lessons of history that negotiating with the Bolsheviks has no benefit at all. In July we let the tiger go back to the mountains, so that the Bolshevik rebellion grew out of control. If we let them go, they won't give us a chance to negotiate next time! ”

The representative of the Cadet Party shouted with emotion: "Therefore, we can only continue to fight until the moment when all the chaotic parties are eliminated!" ”

Not only were the Cadets dissatisfied with this plan, but the Mensheviks were also dissatisfied with Rudnev's plan, and from the background of their supporters, the Menshevik supporters were very similar to those of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, and the petty bourgeoisie and some wealthy industrial workers were Menshevik supporters, and their interests should be relatively close and they should be able to come together.

But the reality is that the Mensheviks are very ambitious, and they are not satisfied with being the little brothers and good friends of Big Brother Socialist-Revolutionaries, they want to have a bigger and more voice, they want to have a higher status, and all this Big Brother does not fully satisfy them.

In the spirit of do-it-yourself food and clothing, the Mensheviks decided to prove their worth, and if they could play a bigger role in quelling this small rebellion, they could prove that they were not dispensable vassals.

So, Rudnev was ready to force the Bolsheviks to submit by high-pressure means at the negotiating table, well, it seems good. But the problem is that it has nothing to do with us Mensheviks, all the credit is monopolized by your Socialist-Revolutionaries, and we can't even mix up a supporting role, we can only play a trick without lines. In that case, why should we cooperate with you?

The Menshevik representative said in a calm, almost contemptuous tone: "We also think that waiting for reinforcements to arrive is a safe choice, even if the Kremlin is recovered, it will be only a small victory, after all, it was Colonel Ryobozev's troops who carelessly lost there at the beginning, and he only recaptured the positions that belonged to us, which is not to be surprised or praised." ”

Speaking of this, he paused slightly, and continued to sarcastically: "Compared with this small victory, Moscow still has a lot of lost territory that we need to regain. This alone shouts what victory, what everything is under control! This is quite arrogant. It's also quite forgetful! ”

Compared to the direct saying no of the representatives of the Cadet Party. The words of the Menshevik deputies are even more disgusting. He lightly denied the importance of recovering the Kremlin, and mercilessly ridiculed Rudnev and the Social Revolutionaries to hold them accountable for the current situation.

The implication is that even if the rebellion is put down and the whole of Moscow is restored, that is what you, the Rudnev and the Socialist-Revolutionaries, should do. Whoever made it impossible for you to control the situation and let the Bolsheviks rebel, you must be held accountable for this!

According to this statement. Rudnev is tragic, because their Socialist-Revolutionaries have the original sin - it is their duty and duty to put down the rebellion, and if they can't put down the rebellion, they are incompetent. There is only no merit, and it can even be said that whether you do it or not, it is wrong. What else does this mean?

Anyway, it is impossible for Rudnev to accept such an insult, especially when the Kremlin has been "recovered" and he already has the confidence, he will definitely not let the Mensheviks slap him in the face. He thinks that since you are all here to find fault and to dismantle the stage, then you are all the same. Even, it might be better without you guys.

So he decided to abandon the Mensheviks and the Cadets and go it alone: "Since. Gentlemen, if you have this attitude, then we have nothing to talk about! As the mayor of Moscow, I don't welcome those who like to engage in intrigue and trickery and tricks behind their backs to stay here and get in the way of putting down the rebellion. If you don't change your mind, then all I can say is please leave now! ”

The representatives of the Cadets and Mensheviks did not expect Rudnev to dismantle the power directly, and he meant that he was not ready to continue cooperating. In all fairness, that's not what they want, and now it's only harmful.

The Menshevik representative immediately asked: "Is this your personal meaning, or the meaning of the Socialist-Revolutionaries!" ”

"This is what a million citizens of Moscow mean! As the mayor of Moscow, I speak only for their will! ”

Of course, Rudnev would not be stupid enough to fight against thunder on his own, let alone speak on behalf of the Socialist-Revolutionary, after all, many people in the party still tend to be united, and the only thing he can use as a shield is this mayoral title.

The representatives of the Mensheviks and the Cadets saw that Rudnev was not fooled and did not bother to talk nonsense, and now it is clear that Rudnev is not going to enter the oil and salt, and there is no point in continuing to quarrel with him. Instead of wasting time on him, it would be better to go to the work of other representatives of the Socialist-Revolutionaries and put pressure on this bastard from within to force him to submit.

"A bunch of idiots!"

Rudnev scolded contemptuously at the backs of the Mensheviks and the representatives of the Cadets, he was not at all worried about these guys getting into trouble, as long as the Kremlin was in hand, those guys in the party could not do anything with him. What's more, what he is going to do next is not harmful to the party, and that group of fools should know what choice to make.

"Contact Zinoviev and give him a harshly worded ultimatum that will definitely scare him!"

You may wonder why, when Rudnev considered himself a partial military victory, did he not continue to intensify his military offensive, but instead tried to scare the Bolsheviks into submission by means of intimidation?

The reason is very simple, first of all, he knows that he does not have many troops at hand, even if he recaptures the Kremlin and obtains enough arms, he will not be able to arm a huge army in a short time, especially now that he has left the Mensheviks and the Cadets alone, and the troops and manpower will be even more stretched. In this case, he did not have the determination to destroy the Bolsheviks;

Secondly, Karekin's troops were stuck in the throat, and soon he would arrive in Moscow, at which point the Cadets would have a hard back and would take away most of the credit. So he had to get the Bolsheviks before Karekin's troops arrived.

In the absence of absolute superiority in strength and the time was short, the Bolsheviks were brought to their knees. The only way Rudnev can think of is to beat and scare, as long as the Bolsheviks give up the uprising and hand over their weapons, then even if it is done, as for the responsibility of liquidating the Bolshevik rebellion and eliminating their heads, then we can talk about it later, anyway, a toothless tiger can't eat people, right!

Zinoviev was on a roller coaster for a few hours, starting with his journey all the way up, but when he reached the highest peak. Suddenly it fell. His heart just couldn't stand the stimulation. I almost stopped jumping.

But after he came to his senses. Especially after learning how Smirlov and Molov swept him away, all he was left with was endless humiliation and monstrous anger. As a prominent senior boss in the party, he was thrown out of the party committee like a dead dog, and as long as he thought of it, he almost breathed fire in his throat.

"You wait for me, Smirlov, Molov, there will be a day when I will settle accounts with you!"

Pity. Zinoviev could only swing his fist into the air, and his rhetoric of vowing revenge looked more like a joke.

That's right, it's a bad joke that isn't funny. In the past, he was Lenin's confidant and a member of the Central Committee, so people naturally regarded him as a figure. But now, he was nothing but a wretched creature who had offended Lenin and was mercilessly beaten and abandoned by his mentor.

Now, not only others are not optimistic about his future, but even he himself is full of worries about his future. The breakdown of the negotiations meant that his line had suffered a total defeat and that he would never be able to turn it back. In this case. How is it possible to turn the tables?

Avenge? Do you draw circles to curse Smirlov and Molov?

For a moment, Zinoviev seemed to be twenty years older. There was not a trace of vitality in him, like a lifeless corpse.

"Comrade Gregory, you have to cheer up! If you throw in the towel now, there's really no hope! Usievich bitterly persuaded.

Do not think that this is Usievich's righteousness, but that his fate is not much better than that of Zinoviev. The only difference is that the pie face is finished, while he is driving at high speed on the road of no return.

As a die-hard who supports negotiations with the enemy and the preservation of Zinoviev's line, the great responsibility for delaying the Moscow uprising must be on his head, and Smirlov and Molov will definitely put all the on his head anyway. In the end, if the uprising succeeded, the Mentor might not touch Zinoviev, but he would definitely kill him as an example.

So, in a sense, Usievich's fate will be even more tragic than Zinoviev's. In this case, the only thing Usievich could count on was a miracle, and only then would Zinoviev have the possibility of turning the book around.

Judging by the current situation, an armed uprising is possible whether it is a victory or a defeat. That's why Usievich will not leave Zinoviev's side, and the only hope he can bet on is this.

Zinoviev was not impressed by Usievich, because he was not optimistic about this gamble at all, because even if the uprising failed, he would not necessarily have the possibility of turning it over. If the uprising had lost, the Bolsheviks would have lost, and the Bolsheviks would have been thrown into prison by the Provisional Government or would have to go into exile again. Either way, it doesn't end well. This is not something he has worked hard for more than ten years and struggled to achieve.

The atmosphere was very depressing, and even Usievich stopped speaking after the worst, and the two of them sat stupidly in the small room of the hotel, silently looking at the floor, waiting for the final verdict.

"Comrade Gregory! Are you in there? ”

When the atmosphere in the room was almost suffocating, Zinoviev and Usievich were awakened by a violent knock on the door, and the two men looked at each other, neither of them spoke, and neither of them wanted to get up and open the door.

"Comrade Gregory, please open the door, there is good news!"

Good news?

Zinoviev didn't know what kind of news was good news at this time, so he weakly commanded: "Go open the door, Comrade Usievich, and see what kind of good news it is!" ”

When he said the words good news, Zinoviev was full of self-deprecation and self-sarcasm, and you can imagine how depressed he was at this time.

Usievich did not speak, silently opened the door, and in an instant the one who pounded on the door rushed in.

"Comrade Grigory, Mayor Rudnev has sent someone to contact you!!"

Zinoviev glanced at his secretary, and some did not understand what good news this was, Rudnev sent someone to him, there were no more than two possibilities, either the war situation was not in his favor, and this guy was ready to sue for peace; Either the war situation is favorable to him, and someone is sent to show off his might. Either way, it's not good news.

"What does he want to say?" Zinoviev asked weakly.

"He sent a sternly worded ultimatum urging the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies and the Revolutionary Military Council to surrender at once!"

Zinoviev raised his head, sighed, and asked: "So the war situation is in his favor?" ”

"It is said that he has recaptured the Kremlin!" The secretary said happily.

That's good news. Zinoviev smiled bitterly, at least he knew that his rival Li Xiaofeng was unlucky, and it was not bad to hear the news before he was about to finish.

"Why do you want to give Comrade Gregory an ultimatum?" Usievich suddenly asked, "Don't you know that Ludnev is now in charge of the Revolutionary Military Council?" What is the point of giving Comrade Grigory the most obligatory ultimatum? ”

As soon as Usievich said this, Zinoviev also reacted, as if Rudnev's action had other meanings. It's as if I'm deliberately looking for an excuse to talk to him. Otherwise, there is no reason to give him an ultimatum to the person who stands aside.

Don't? Rudnev intends to negotiate?

Thinking of that possibility, Zinoviev couldn't help but get excited, if his guess was not wrong, if he could return to the negotiating table, then he could come back to life! (To be continued......)