Suslov gritted his teeth and swore a poisonous oath there, as if he would never give up until he got to the bottom of the matter, but in fact he only had a little bit of a swagger.

With the capture of Khazarov and Kurkotkin, the pressure on him and Georgi is mounting. Even Dzerzhinsky called a telegram to inquire about what happened, and although the Man in the Iron Mask did not say anything more in the telegram, they could understand that Dzerzhinsky was probably under a lot of pressure.

"We have to hurry!" Georgi said worriedly.

He knew very well in his heart that if he could not find conclusive evidence in a short time, he would not be able to continue to detain Kirov, Mikoyan and others, and that the Central Executive Committee in Moscow had already complained to the Central Executive Committee of the All-Russian Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, saying that they had seriously interfered with the revolutionary work in Moscow, and demanded that they get to the bottom of the facts as soon as possible, and that if Kirov, Mikoyan, and Smirlov could not be proven guilty, then they should be released immediately.

To be honest, this is very annoying, because it is these people named by the Moscow Central Executive Committee who really interfere with the work of the revolution in Moscow, and letting them out will only bring greater interference to the revolution in Moscow.

"I can't let them go!" Suslov was anxious, "They are all seriously suspected, let them go, isn't it conniving at them to sabotage the revolution!" ”

Georgi smiled bitterly and said, "Of course I know that they are suspicious, and I don't want to let them go, but we must find another way when we can't open the situation for the time being!" ”

"How do you find a different way?" Suslov asked angrily.

Georgi thought for a moment and said, "Release Muralov!" ”

I have to say that Georgi's idea is very clever. Muralov is not all the way to Lomov and Smirlov. Even the two sides are on the same page. If Muralov is released, then he will inevitably find trouble with those two goods.

Judging from the current situation in Moscow, it is basically Lomov and Smirlov's henchmen who are constantly stirring up trouble and rain, and if Muralov is released, it will certainly be able to deal a blow to the rampant arrogance of these guys and reduce their pressure.

A day later, Georgi interrogated Muralov again, asking a few cookie-cutter questions. He suddenly said, "The last question...... Comrade Mulalov, do you dare to guarantee with party spirit that everything you say is true and reliable? ”

Muralov was very smart, he immediately understood what Georgi meant, which showed that the other party's interrogation of him had come to an end, and what party spirit guarantee showed that the other party was ready to release him.

"Of course, I can vouch for my personality and party spirit, and every word I say is true and reliable!" Muralov smiled and suddenly stood up, "It seems that Comrade Georgi is ready to tell me the good news?" ”

Looked at Mulalov's reaction. In his heart, Georgi once again affirmed that Muralov was an old fox. Let's be honest. If it weren't for the circumstances, he really didn't want to release Mulalov, even if he was the least suspected.

Because he vaguely felt that the most likely breakthrough was opened, and the key to figuring out the truth of the matter was in Muralov. But now he doesn't have the heart to think about it so much, all he has is a kind of involuntary emotion: If you want to maintain the party's discipline and do something, why is it so difficult!

"Good news, bad news, etc., I can't talk about it," Georgi also stood up and replied lightly, "Alright, pack up, you can go." ”

"Just let me go, isn't it? How much the organization has to give me an explanation! Muralov retorted in a low voice, looking angry but not very outspoken.

You're still doing it, if it weren't for the fact that the situation didn't allow you to continue to detain you, where would you have the right to complain? Georgi glanced at him and spoke quietly, "The investigation is not over yet, and there will be no conclusions for you for the time being." And if we find that your testimony does not match the facts, we will invite you here again! ”

In the last sentence, he revealed his true thoughts: Mulalov, you'd better not be complacent yet, don't think that this is the end of the matter, I will not give up your clue!

Fortunately, Muralov also knows that it is enough to stop, and casually complaining about it is human nature and a normal phenomenon, but if it is endless and does not know how to advance or retreat, it is stupid. After all, the in his pants hasn't been completely shaken off, so it's better to be a man with his tail between his legs.

So, when he left the Petrograd Hotel, he confessed to Puchkov, who had come out with him: "Joseph, you go and contact Comrade Andrei and tell him that I hope he will take the time to see me, and I will thank him in person for saving his life!" ”

Puchkov whispered: "Comrade Mulalov, before, Comrade Andrei specially explained to me, if you get out safely, don't rush to contact him......" Speaking of this, he looked left and right sneakily, and further lowered his voice: "Comrade Andrei said, at this sensitive moment, you better not rush to meet, those guys from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection are very difficult to entangle!" ”

Muralov nodded slowly, he had thought about this possibility, but he felt that it was easy to catch Sverdlov's line, and take this opportunity to quickly show loyalty and strengthen the bond, maybe he could turn a curse into a blessing. As for Georgi possibly sending someone to spy on him, he doesn't care too much, what about spying on me, I, Muralov, am also a member of the Central Committee and a member of the Moscow Revolutionary Military Commissar, so it's not okay to meet with Li Xiaofeng and talk about work?

"It's not impossible," Puchkov said with a bitter face, "but Comrade Andrei especially emphasized at that time that we should pay attention to the influence, saying that if you really have a heart, take good care of Lomov and Smirlov and Kirov's comrades, and don't let them be too arrogant!" ”

Muralov pouted, even if Li Xiaofeng didn't command, he would do it, but he really wanted to meet Li Xiaofeng openly, not only because he wanted to catch the line of Sverdlov, but also because he also wanted to take advantage of the situation.

What kind of momentum to borrow? Of course, it was by Li Xiaofeng's momentum, although he is now out of the wreck, but his butt has not been completely washed, which can be seen from Georgi's attitude just now. The other party did not completely give up on him. If you can get Li Xiaofeng's positive support. Then his safety is more assured. Even the great heroes who promoted the armed uprising in Moscow considered him innocent. So who would dare to "wrong" him?

Of course, this is one of them. Second, this incident is a big scandal in any case, which greatly affects his political image of Mulalov, and makes some henchmen who were originally close to him feel a little bit about him, otherwise, Kirov and Lomov and Smirlov's disciples and grandchildren would not have been so arrogant in the past two days.

So, Muralov must show his henchmen that he has not fallen. It shows that following him has a future. And the best way is to pull the tiger skin to make a banner, and Li Xiaofeng's tiger skin is very good.

However, what Muralov can think of, Li Xiaofeng will not be unexpected, he doesn't want to have a direct relationship with this thing for the time being, after all, Georgy is still in Moscow, hooking up with the suspect in front of him, it is easy to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. And now he has to use the signboard of the Man in the Iron Mask, so he has to take care of the other party's emotions.

Fortunately, Muralov finally listened to Li Xiaofeng's advice, temporarily restrained his careful thoughts, and followed the instructions of a certain immortal. Gather the trouble of the disciples and grandchildren to find Kirov's good henchmen.

It has to be said that after Muralov came out. The contrast between the forces of the enemy and the enemy immediately changed, and the originally one-sided Central Executive Committee of Moscow finally began to return to normal a little, although the bias was still obvious, but there was finally a force of checks and balances. Whether it was Georgie or Li Xiaofeng, he suddenly felt a lot more relaxed.

Li Xiaofeng and Georgy are relaxed, and naturally some people will be depressed - Ordzhonikidze, he is the hidden backhand of Mikoyan and Kirov, and it is the former Central Committee member who jumped up and down to organize a counterattack, which made the Moscow Central Executive Committee so arrogant.

When he heard that Muralov had been released, he was immediately annoyed: Kirov and Mikoyan, if you don't let Kirov and Mikoyan go, forget it, but let Muralov go. Georgi, you did it on purpose! You're just ready to play against us, right?

Therefore, Ordzhonikidze made up his mind to make a ruthless complaint to the Central Committee and let the comrades of the Central Committee see what tricks the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection are doing. What is the reason why the good comrades who promoted the development of the revolution are in prison, but the culprits who sabotage the progress of the revolution are in the world?

This matter must not end so simply, and the relevant responsible persons must be severely punished, otherwise there will be justice in this world!

Therefore, after sending an angry telegram of protest to the Central Committee, he quickly approached the Moscow Central Executive Committee and demanded that they immediately use coercive means to correct this serious mistake, and not just release Muralov.

If it had been before, the Moscow Central Executive Committee might have approved his request, but now, the situation is different, and Mulalov's henchmen are no longer the first to be scattered, and when they form a joint force, there is a lot of voice in the Central Executive Committee: "Regarding the investigation of the Lomov and Smirlov cases, we should respect the opinions of the comrades of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in handling the case. Since they released Comrade Muralov, it means that Comrade Muralov can stand the test, and he should be innocent! ”

Ordzhoniqi hung his nose and was so angry that he couldn't say that he scolded twice in his heart: You bastards, yesterday you were like turtle grandsons, and you didn't dare to put a fart, and now when you see Muralov coming out, you dare to shake with me?

However, the pro-Muralov group of Central Executive Committee members had a very resolute attitude, and they simply did not give an inch, and their hardline attitude also affected a group of neutral Central Executive Committee members, who came and went, and Ordzhonichi could not take advantage of it at all.

In desperation, he had no choice but to go out on his own, he personally found Georgi, who was handling the case, and was ready to teach this junior a lesson that did not know the height of the sky.

Where did Georgi know that Ordzhoniqi was holding back his anger, waiting to vent at him? Finally relieved a little of the pressure, he devoted himself to reconnaissance work, and spent the whole night in the interrogation room, who would have thought that as soon as he came out to breathe fresh air, he ran headlong into Ordzhonikidze, who was about to go crazy.

"Comrade Georgi, what the hell are you doing, for the detention of Kirov and Comrades Mikoyan?" This was Ordzhonikidze's opening remarks, and as he spoke, the temperature of the whole room seemed to drop by a few degrees," you know. It's a crime! ”

Suslov couldn't stand it. "Grigory. Comrade Konstantinovich ......"

"I didn't ask you. It's none of your business," Ordzhonikidze immediately interrupted him, in his eyes Suslov was just a little kid, and such a hairy kid dared to intervene in front of him, lawless!

"Comrade Georgi, I must warn you severely," Ordzhonikidze simply pointed at Georgi's nose and scolded, "I wonder if you still have a little common sense. Is there a little conscience......

Speaking of this, his face began to become heavy, and he put on an unusually sad look, "Comrade Kirov and Comrade Mikoyan were arrested inexplicably!" Do you know that they were staunch Bolsheviks, good comrades in the party! ”

Ordzhonikidze said this, the anger in his heart seemed to be unable to be suppressed any longer, and he reached out and slapped the table heavily, "Do you know the way? If you do this, you will make your relatives hurt your enemies quickly! ”

Ordzhonikidze said, not forgetting to glance at Georgi defiantly. That's right, it's knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger. Lao Tzu just wants to train you, if you have the ability, you stand up and bite me.

"Who said that Kirov and Mikoyan are good comrades? Who came to this conclusion? Georgi was also on fire, he looked at Ordzhonikidze and snorted coldly in his nose, "Grigory. Comrade Konstantinovich, we will not arrest Mikoyan and Kirov without sufficient evidence! We believe that they have a great deal to do with the Lomov, Smirlov and Zinoviev clique! Please don't interfere with our normal work! ”

This cold snort made Ordzhonikidze so angry that he was about to go berserk, "What do you mean by that?" Isn't the work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Commission for Discipline Inspection allowed to be supervised by others? ”

He sneered, "I think you are even more arrogant and domineering than the Tsar's doglegs!" ”

"What a fool you are!" Suslov couldn't hold back, he glared at Ordzhonikidze, "We have direct witnesses and evidence to prove that yesterday morning, Kirov and Mikoyan had in-depth contact with Lomov and Smirlov, you should know what Lomov did!" If Comrades Kirov and Mikoyan were innocent, why did they suddenly go to meet these two traitors and talk with them for a long time before the emergency meeting of the Moscow Central Executive Committee! ”

Ordzhonikidze stayed there for a long time, silent. He really didn't know what the agreement was made between Mikoyan and Kirov and Lomov and Smirlov, and he didn't know what secret deals were involved.

He just instinctively chose to believe Mikoyan and Kirov, after all, these two people are his friends and comrades-in-arms, and the relationship between the two sides is not ordinary iron. Since these two iron brothers say that Muralov is guilty, then this thing must be guilty!

It can only be said that Ordzhonikidze was a bit naïve, blindly trusting his friends, completely ignorant of the fact that when the overall situation of the revolution changed, when the dawn of victory had already appeared, many people had undergone earth-shaking changes. And it is this overly direct character that dooms him to tragedy in the future.

"Really?" Ordzhonikidze sneered, he still chose to believe Mikoyan and Kirov, and sneered: "This is completely chasing after the wind, can't Comrade Mikoyan and Comrade Kirov discuss the issue of armed insurrection with the Revolutionary Military Commissar?" You are speculating so wildly, you are simply playing the piano! ”

Georgi, on the other hand, did not like it, so he immediately asked: "Well, since the talks between Mikoyan and Kirov and Lomov and Smirlov are above board, then why do we ask them for what meeting, they all deny it!" When we have presented the evidence and witnesses, why are they silent about it? Is this normal? ”

As soon as these words came out, Ordzhoniqize was silent for a long time, and this question, except for not knowing how to answer it, the rest was disdainful to answer.

After waiting for a long time, finding that Ordzhoniqi was silent, Suslov sarcastically replied to him, "Grigory. Comrade Konstantinovich, do you have any reasonable explanation for this? ”

Ordzhonikidze was so angry that he stubbornly said: "This still doesn't mean anything! But then he changed his mind and moved on to another issue: "Your biggest mistake was not the illegal detention of Comrade Mikoyan and Comrade Kirov, but the inexplicable release of Muralov, who was on serious suspicion. Why do you want to release this traitor? Can't you see his great suspicion, and don't you have water in your heads? ”

Before Georgi could answer, Suslov was completely outbursting, and at first he thought that Ordzhonikid was deliberately trying to find fault, and now he made it even clearer, "Grigory. Comrade Konstantinovich, it is you who really got into the water in your brain! Whether it was at the meeting of the Central Executive Committee in Moscow or the evidence that we learned after our investigation, Comrade Muralov's suspicion was the smallest, and we can even basically assert that Comrade Muralov is innocent. Why should we detain an innocent comrade? I'm afraid only people with water in their heads would do this! ”

As soon as Suslov opened his mouth, Georgy felt that it was not good, not because of those-for-tat ridicule, anyway, he had already offended Ordzhonikidze, and it didn't matter if he was sarcastic.

Suslov should not be sure of Mulalov's innocence, because Georgi is not sure that Mulalov is innocent, and even he is absolutely no less suspicious than Lomov. At the moment, Suslov let his words out of the air regardless of it, which is equivalent to confirming Mulalov's innocence, and the impact is too great! (To be continued......)