Admiral Kolchak arrived at the front lines in late September. The temperature in the Far East was higher than in Moscow, and the temperature in Northeast China was slightly higher still.

In Siberia, the first snows had already begun to fall. Admiral Kolchak dismounted and walked through the trenches of the White Guard positions. Upon seeing the Admiral, many White Guards immediately saluted, while others sat leaning against the cold trench walls, looking dejected.

To those soldiers who stood and saluted, the Admiral returned the salute. As for those numb and stupefied by the torment of war, Admiral Kolchak did not disturb them, simply passing by their side.

Walking through trench after trench, the Admiral’s chiseled face showed no change in expression. By evening, Admiral Kolchak returned to the frontline headquarters. Before he even entered, he could hear the argument inside.

"Vladimir, what gives you the right to make my division hold for two more days! Where are your troops!"

Admiral Kolchak quickened his pace. As he entered the door, he heard the accused Division Commander Vladimir shout back angrily, "My troops are preparing the defense line, it's impossible for them to come up immediately!"

A group of White Guard generals were watching the two men at the center of the conflict. Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open with force, some turned their heads. Seeing Admiral Kolchak walk in carrying a gust of cold air, they hurriedly saluted.

Admiral Kolchak ignored the salutes and walked straight to the center of the room. A map was spread out on the table here. Kolchak pointed to a defense line on the map and said, "Once the river freezes, the Red Bandits are likely to launch a full-scale offensive. At that time, we will withdraw to the next line of defense."

These words shocked the White Guard officers. The weather was getting colder and colder, which was very unfavorable for the Red Army attacking across the river. Once they fell into the water, even Russians could not withstand the bone-chilling current. Although the ice surface allowed infantry to pass, it was not solid and was very slippery. Attacking soldiers who fell into ice holes would surely die.

From any angle, defending along the river was extremely advantageous. Was it really appropriate for Kolchak to abandon the river defense positions?

Kolchak had already made his decision. "It is best for our frontline strength to maintain only five divisions so that we can have sufficient rotation for rest and reorganization. This war must persist until next summer before it is possible to receive support from Britain and France. Although this line along the river looks advantageous, it has exhausted our troops. How long has it been since the units have been able to rest?"

Once this was said, the two White Guard generals who had been arguing fiercely lost their previous intensity. Kolchak had spoken to the heart of the problem. The troops were spread out along the front, and although they had withstood the Red Army's attacks, they truly could not hold on under the immense pressure.

In the freezing trenches, too many soldiers were falling ill. A war with no visible chance of victory was further eroding the soldiers' fighting will. Many soldiers had already said things like, 'Even if I die, I want to die in a bed in Vladivostok.'

Kolchak did not give these men a chance to object. He continued, "I want to lead everyone to victory, not lead everyone to their deaths. Since we have survived the long expedition, we must continue to live!"

These officers had all participated in the thousands of kilometers of retreating from Siberia to Lake Baikal, and then from Lake Baikal to Vladivostok. It was exactly Admiral Kolchak who had led them through this almost certain-death expedition. Hearing the Admiral's encouragement now, the officers saluted one after another.

Major General Vladimir, the division commander, said loudly, "Please rest assured, Admiral, we will certainly obey orders."

As soon as his voice fell, the whistling sound of shells tearing through the air suddenly rang out outside. A moment later, explosions sounded. It was the movement of the Red Army shelling the White Army.

The White Army officers were already accustomed to this and continued to discuss the defense arrangements. However, the sound of shelling continued uninterrupted and became increasingly violent. Looks of astonishment spread among the White Army officers.

Admiral Kolchak walked out of the command post and saw the red glow of exploding shells flashing on the Russian positions. He could even vaguely see soil and some unidentifiable objects being blown into the air by the shells. He began to calculate in his heart.

At this moment, the Red Army artillerymen felt somewhat surprised by the newly arrived shells. The fact that there were relatively sufficient shells at the front was strange enough in itself, and the shells had no markings. They could only act according to the artillerymen's sense for the caliber of these brand-new shells and the orders conveyed by the commissars.

The commissars soon discovered the problem and got some paint to write the caliber and applicable artillery on the shells.

Aside from these doubts, there were no problems with the shells themselves. They exploded when they hit the White Army positions across the river. Those flames were the proof. With such ample ammunition, the Red Army artillerymen swept away their previous depression and began to fire fiercely, venting all the anger accumulated from unfavorable battles into their shooting.

The shelling continued sporadically throughout the night. The purpose was not simply bombardment or venting anger, but to keep the White Army awake all night and force them to move troops into the shelled areas.

Before dawn the next day, the shelling ended. Three hours later, in the direction of the Red Army's determined crossing point, massed artillery began a violent bombardment. The White Guard positions were immediately plunged into earth-shattering firepower strikes. The prepared river-crossing fleet surged toward the opposite bank under the cover of artillery and local fire.

When the boats crossed the river surface and established a beachhead, earth-shaking shouts of 'Ura' immediately rang out from the Red Army positions. Although the White Guards also launched a counterattack under artillery bombardment, the shells caused heavy losses to the counterattacking White Guards, making the return fire very weak.

Red Army soldiers began to cross the river in boats. Having stopped in front of the White Russian defense line for so long, the Red Army had prepared many river-crossing tools. Large and small boats carried a large number of Red Army soldiers across the river. Red Army soldiers constantly fell into the water, and blood began to dye the river surface red. But nothing could stop the Red Army from forcing their way across the freezing river.

More and more Red Army soldiers landed on the opposite bank with rifles and began to launch attacks into the distance. At this time, the Red Army's shelling finally weakened. If such dense firepower continued, it would accidentally injure the landing Red Army troops.

Even if they didn't care about such losses, the Red Army's shells were not enough to maintain such dense firepower.

Soon, news of victory was transmitted to Moscow. Having been blocked at the White Guard's Songhua River defense line for too long, the Red Army commanders responsible for the offensive could finally hold their heads high.

Comrade Lenin did not make any statement regarding this. He Rui's construction achievements in the Northeast left this wise and resolute revolutionary leader unsure of how to judge. The weakness of the Qing Dynasty was a reality. When Comrade Joffe sent back news that He Rui was willing to help the Red Army, the Bolshevik Central Committee basically ridiculed it. In the end, it was Trotsky who proposed letting the Northeast Government provide a batch of shells.

Then things proceeded as such. The Northeast Government directly sent a batch of shells. The price was fair, and payment could be made later. Thus, the Red Army, lacking shells, relied on this batch of ammunition to smash through the White Guard's defense line.

If one ignored the fact that the Northeast Government was a local government in China, Comrade Lenin would have to treat the Northeast Government as an industrial region, just like the Czech region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

At this moment, the Bolshevik Central Committee members felt surprised by such an event, but Comrade Lenin had already begun to adjust his mindset. Soviet Russia's socialist revolution had succeeded only a few years ago, even shorter than the time He Rui had occupied the Northeast. Yet, after several years of construction, He Rui had already enabled the Northeast local government to possess its own industry. It was easy to verbally criticize He Rui as a bourgeois reformist, but the progress in Northeast China could not be ignored. That is to say, the positive significance of socialist revolution was being demonstrated in Northeast China.

This was a very valuable change. In a sense, it even increased Comrade Lenin's confidence in the socialist revolution.

In the following days, Comrade Lenin did not mention this matter again. Because battle reports came one after another, news of the White Guards' collapse came constantly. The White Guards who abandoned the riverbank defense line retreated south all the way, just as they had constantly retreated in Siberia.

Many Bolshevik members, including Commissar Trotsky, were looking forward to the news of the Red Army capturing Vladivostok.

However, at this time, Comrade Lenin received a telegram from Commissar Joffe. Looking at the content of the telegram, Comrade Lenin could not help but frown. After thinking for a while, Comrade Lenin convened a meeting of key comrades. In the current Bolshevik Central Committee, Commissar Trotsky had many supporters, but Commissar Stalin, who had lost a battle, also had his own firm supporters.

Regarding the current war situation, Commissar Trotsky was like a lion that had already won victory, until Commissar Stalin raised a question, "How many prisoners were captured? Is there accurate information?"

Commissar Trotsky paused for a moment; this was a question he hadn't considered. Moreover, the front line was pursuing; how could there be time to compile statistics?

Seeing that Commissar Trotsky couldn't answer, Comrade Stalin's slightly bloodless cheeks still showed a resolute expression. "Kolchak's subordinates are the most determined counter-revolutionaries; they will never give up opposing the revolution. Only by thoroughly exterminating them can the problem be solved. It is a very dangerous signal that the frontline troops have not yet been able to determine how many prisoners have been captured."

Commissar Trotsky did not answer, but looking at his expression, Comrade Lenin suspected that Commissar Trotsky would say, "Is this your experience from the Polish campaign?"

As a result, just as he thought this, Commissar Trotsky asked this question. However, there was no mockery in Commissar Trotsky's tone, which was truly rare. Only then did Comrade Lenin determine that Commissar Trotsky attached extreme importance to victory, an importance that surpassed everything else.

Commissar Stalin might have been somewhat surprised, but it couldn't be seen from his expression. Facing Commissar Trotsky's sincere request for instruction, Commissar Stalin replied, "Only by thoroughly exterminating Poland's reactionary soldiers and literati can the Polish problem be solved. Those who support the Polish reactionary regime are this group of people, not the Polish masses."

As if to echo Comrade Stalin's answer, another battle report was delivered. From the text, it could be seen that the Red Army commander and commissar attacking Kolchak were very delighted. After several days of pursuit, the Red Army once again encountered the White Army's death throes. The desperate White Guards formed a defense line again and began to resist the Red Army's attack. The Red Army was confident of thoroughly defeating the White Guards and liberating Vladivostok. To thoroughly annihilate Kolchak in 1920.

Looking at this news, a trace of mockery couldn't help but appear at the corner of Commissar Stalin's mouth. Comrade Lenin did not like Commissar Stalin's reaction; it was a mixture of a simple and crude style of acting and arrogance. But Comrade Lenin could not ignore Commissar Stalin's reaction. Unlike Commissar Trotsky, Commissar Stalin's style of action was simpler and more practical; he would not rest until he achieved his goal. Therefore, all of Comrade Stalin's successes and failures would become nutrition for his growth. In comparison, Commissar Trotsky was more like a person above the clouds.

"Comrade Trotsky, do you think the expectations in this report are credible?" Comrade Lenin asked.

Determination flashed across Commissar Trotsky's face, but he hesitated for a moment. This hesitation disappointed Comrade Lenin somewhat. Although being simple and crude was Comrade Stalin's shortcoming, compared with other committee members, this shortcoming was a huge advantage. Making a decision at a critical moment is a challenge that a national leader must face. Even if the decision is wrong, a decision must be made.

Moreover, from the perspective of dialectics, there are never completely wrong decisions in the world. There are only decisions that can be executed and decisions that cannot be executed.

At this time, Commissar Trotsky replied, "Comrade Lenin, I think the credibility of the expectations in the frontline report is very high."

Hearing Comrade Trotsky's reaction, Comrade Lenin had already made a decision. "Then let the troops resolve Kolchak as soon as possible."

When the meeting ended, Comrade Lenin called Commissar Stalin to his office. "Comrade Stalin, I want to buy a batch of shells from He Rui to supply the Red Army front lines."

Some doubts appeared in Commissar Stalin's eyes, but he answered decisively, "Will He Rui sell?"

Comrade Lenin laughed, "If he refuses to sell, we can ask for his reasons."

Commissar Stalin asked, "Comrade Lenin, do you think He Rui needs the Soviet's goodwill?"

"Yes. In the process of unifying China, He Rui needs to mobilize millions of troops. He does not have much strength left to guard the Manchuria and Mongolia regions."

"Then what kind of goodwill can He Rui provide?" Commissar Stalin asked with a resolute expression.

Comrade Lenin smiled and asked, "Comrade Stalin, do you wish to see a divided China?"

Comrade Stalin hesitated for a moment, then nodded decisively.

Comrade Lenin was not surprised. From the perspective of ensuring a security zone, a divided China was very advantageous for Russia. Especially at present, when China's most powerful warlord, He Rui, shared a long border with Soviet Russia.

Comrade Lenin was well-versed in international politics and knew the ways of imperialism incomparably well. Because of this, after profound reflection, Comrade Lenin believed that dealing with He Rui in such a way would only trigger hostility.

The current He Rui still looked very weak, but He Rui was not soft. Most importantly, He Rui was a modern politician, not like other political forces within China that were still dominated by very backward political concepts.

Up to now, He Rui simply refused to sell out China's interests. If Soviet Russia pushed He Rui too hard, He Rui might make huge concessions to imperialism in order to unify China. More extremely, if He Rui were controlled by nationalism and turned into a thug for imperialism to go to war with Soviet Russia, the threat would definitely not be smaller than the current Poland.

The Poland before them was already troublesome enough.

Thinking of this, Comrade Lenin asked, "Comrade Stalin, how are the negotiations with Poland going?"

If it were Commissar Trotsky bearing the responsibility of defeat, facing this question, he would definitely be sitting on pins and needles. He might even fly into a rage. But Comrade Lenin saw that only a pained expression crossed Commissar Stalin's face; the immense pain only affected Comrade Stalin to this extent.

True to his name, Commissar Stalin was simply a revolutionary made of steel and iron.

Commissar Stalin, who had sorted out his mood in a very short time, replied, "Reporting to Comrade Lenin, I do not agree with Comrade Tukhachevsky's accusations against the army. This was by no means a simple military failure..."

The failure of the war between Soviet Russia and Poland caused a great shock among the Soviet Russian leaders. From September 22-25, 1920, at the 9th Conference of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), the reasons for the war's failure and the prospects for world proletarian revolution were discussed intensely.

Tukhachevsky criticized the performance of the Southwestern Front in the war, and the Front's Commissar Stalin made a special statement on September 23, 1920, expounding his views on the failure of the war and explaining his responsibility.

Comrade Lenin was indeed somewhat in a dilemma. Facing the fact of defeat, Comrade Lenin had to admit that the failure of the war might have been a strategic error, but on the other hand, he believed that the failure was mainly due to subjective reasons.

Most of the participants, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Dzerzhinsky, Bukharin, Kamenev, Stalin, etc., held the above views.

Even after the meeting ended, Comrade Lenin was still somewhat unsatisfied. This kind of mud-slinging explanation did not touch the essence of the matter.

If looked at purely from a military perspective, He Rui's 'Three Must Wins, Three Must Loses' regarding the Russo-Polish War had already explained the course of the war militarily.

Up to now, only Comrade Stalin's comment at the meeting just now about 'only by thoroughly taking out Poland's old society elites can Poland be truly transformed' made Comrade Lenin feel a certain degree of hitting the nail on the head.

And Comrade Stalin was currently combining the two. He believed that if, after the rapid victory in the early stages of the war, the Red Army had stabilized the logistics line, thoroughly physically eliminated the Polish old elite elements in the occupied areas, and quickly established a new Polish local people's government, the failure of the war could have been avoided.

It was precisely because they focused on military victory that the Soviet Red Army suffered a complete defeat. Although the Polish people in the areas liberated by the Red Army did not openly resist the Red Army, they were still greatly influenced by the local Polish old elites. This led to the situation where the Red Army was immediately surrounded by enemies on all sides after the failure, and finally completely defeated.

The failure to fully combine political means with military means, and pinning political victory on the spontaneous support of the Polish people and the deterrence of military victory, was the real reason for the defeat.

Comrade Stalin finished speaking, and Comrade Lenin was organizing his thoughts. Before Comrade Lenin could speak, Comrade Stalin spoke again, which made Comrade Lenin decide to continue listening.

Commissar Stalin's voice was steady, "Comrade Lenin, I somewhat understand your attitude towards He Rui."

Comrade Lenin was very satisfied. Neither military means nor political means could solve He Rui; this was a practical problem. Since this was the case, Soviet Russia had no reason to adopt a stance of opposition against He Rui.

To a certain extent, it was even necessary to cooperate with He Rui. At least in the contact between Commissar Joffe and He Rui, it could be determined that He Rui was very clear that one of the main enemies of China's liberation was Britain and France.