Ch. 39: Defining a Cause
2:14 PM, February 5th, 1920, Yaroslavsky Station, Moscow, Russia
As light, white snow fell from the sky, the train carrying the Black Army and the Provisional Government officials finally arrived in Moscow after picking them up at Irkutsk. Zero and the other passengers, who were wearing heavy coats, gloves, and ushankas, stepped out onto the station platform, which was covered in a mixture of snow and water.
"Man it's so cold." said Roh as he rubbed his arms in order to get warmer.
"C'mon, this is nothing compared to that battle we had in the mountains. At least there's not frigid winds battering our faces." Seo replied.
"Don't worry, we'll be somewhere warm soon. I just to need to find our escort." said Zero as a train whistle could be heard in the distance.
"Mr. Zero!" yelled a voice in the distance. Zero suddenly saw a middle-aged man with a mustache wearing a grayish-brown, trench coat and an ushanka walk up to him.
"Are you Mr. Zero?" asked the man once more.
"Yes. Are you here to escort me and my associates?" Zero replied.
"That is correct. My men outside the station will drive you to the Kremlin Senate when you are ready." replied the man.
"Me and my associates thank you very much for the assistance." said Zero. Both he and the man nodded to one another before exiting the station. Zero then told the Black Army and Provisional Government members to follow him outside the station. Outside of the Russian Revival-styled train station, a line of cars were along with their drivers were waiting.
In pairs, everyone entered and sat in the backseat of each car. Once everyone was seated, the drivers of each car closed the passenger door before proceeding to sit in the driver's seat and starting the car. The first car in the line started to drive down one of the various snow-covered roads while the other cars behind it proceeded to follow it.
Zero and Kae, who were sitting next to one another in the first car, looked out the window and observed the city pass by them.
"Never thought in my life I would set foot in Moscow." said Kae as she glanced at the various multi-storied buildings and civilians.
"Well, it's a good thing I asked you come with me." replied Zero as continued staring out the window. Outside, Zero could see several horses-drawn wagons carrying goods down the street along with some workers shoveling small amounts of powdered snow. He could see a trolley carrying numerous people pass by the car and turn down an adjacent street.
One thing that really caught Zero's attention was an armored car parked along the side of the road. Nearby several crowds of people carrying red banners saying things such as "Long Live the International!", "Defend the Workers, Destroy the Capitalists!", and "Bread for the Proletariat!" cheered in front of several Red Army soldiers armed with rifles marching down the street. Behind the soldiers was a marching band playing the song "The Internationale".
"This is a city burning with the passion of revolution and determination. My only question is will this burning passion spread like a wildfire, or be easily snuffed out like a candle flame." thought Zero as he passed by the military parade.
Further down the long street, Zero could see part of a large red bricked wall and tower. Zero immediately recognized these structures as being part of the Moscow Kremlin. As the cars approached the Kremlin Wall, they turned down a long road that led to the entrance of the Kremlin's inner grounds. The cars then stopped in front of the Kremlin Senate, a triangular, Neoclassical domed building.
The driver of the car got out and opened the passenger door to let Zero and Kae out. As Zero got out and followed his driver to the Kremlin Senate's doors, he could see several Orthodox Churches adorned with golden and blue onion-shaped domes down the road.
Once Zero, Kae, and the others entered the building, they were instantly amazed by the Kremlin Senate's ornate interior. A young Russian official wearing a suit walked up to Zero and immediately started to shake his hand.
"Welcome Mr. Zero to our city. My name is Dmitri Tretyakov and it is an honor to shake your hand." said the young man. "If you don't mind, I will assist you and your other associates in finding their rooms. I will also provide you with the daily itinerary and..."
"Thank you for being considerate Mr. Tretyakov, but I request that I meet Mr. Lenin this instance. It is very urgent and we can't afford to loose any amount of time." said Zero.
"I'm sorry, but as Head Coordinator of Inter-dialogue I insist you follow the itinerary." replied Tretyakov.
"Let me make this extra clear." said Zero as he removed his left contact lens in a blink of an eye. "You will bring me to Mr. Lenin this instant."
Tretyakov immediately saw a glowing, bird-shaped sigil come towards him while Zero quickly put on the contact lens as quickly as he took his off.
"Very well. Follow me to the third floor." responded Tretyakov as he proceeded to walk towards the stairs nearby. Zero then proceeded to follow him.
"Zero where are you going? Don't you want to know where your room is?" asked Seo.
"Don't worry. I'll meet up with you guys soon. You just make yourself at home right now." responded Zero.
While the others followed their escorts to their rooms, Zero continued following Tretyakov up the flight of stairs. Once they reached the third floor, Tretyakov continued to walk down a long, well-decorated hallway. As he walked down the hallway, Zero looked out of one of the hallway's windows. In the distance he could see part of Red Square along with St. Basil's Cathedral and it's many recognizable onion-shaped domes. He could also see it was still lightly snowing since Red Square was mostly covered in a thin layer of white snow.
Down the hall, Zero heard Tretyakov knock on a door several times. He then opened the door and slid into the room before closing the door behind him. Zero walked down the hall and approached the door. It then slightly opened on its own and Tretyakov slid out of the room.
"Mr. Zero. Though Mr. Lenin is confused and surprised by this sudden request of yours despite the itinerary I had set up for him, he has agreed to the changes." explained Tretyakov before he continued walking down the hall.
Zero then slowly opened the door and entered the room, which consisted of a couch, desk, bookshelf, lamps, and a table. Sitting at the desk was Vladimir Lenin, a balding, Van Dyke-bearded man wearing a three piece suit who had dark brown hair with tiny blond streaks. Placed on his desk were papers, pens, books, an inkwell, and a telephone. Zero could see Lenin was currently having a conversation on the phone.
"So the shipment of grain from Smolensk and Orel will be delivered to our forces in Belorussia tomorrow? And the status of our forces? Ok. Sounds good. I thank you very much Leon." said Lenin before he hung up the phone.
"Excuse me, but am I interrupting something important?" asked Zero.
"Oh, I am so sorry. Just dealing with some border skirmishes with the Poles." Lenin said as he got up from his seat and approached Zero. "It's such an honor to meet you in person Zero."
"I can say the same about you Mr. Lenin." Zero replied as he and Lenin shook hands. Both men then sat across from one another at the table. "Once again, I'm sorry to mess up the itinerary you had set up."
"Don't apologize. Tretyakov is just very strict when it comes to organizing these kind of meetings. In fact, I'm glad we're able to have this discussion now rather than later." Lenin replied.
"Thank you. Anyway, you know I am here to talk about the remnants of the Czechoslovak Legions." said Zero. "The Black Army and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea are interested in establishing contact with them. I am also aware that these remnants are currently within he borders of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic."
"I see. And what exactly do you want from them?" Lenin asked.
"The Black Army's interest in them is that we could use more manpower to alleviate our low number of soldiers. Since we cannot contact them directly due to the Japanese, your government was in the best position to relay our communications." answered Zero.
"Sounds reasonable. However, if you are here in the name of the Black Army's interests, then why bring the Provisional Government officials?" asked Lenin.
"My decision to bring them with me was a way of me demonstrating the Black Army's cooperation with the Provisional Government. You see, as we speak, the head officials of the Provisional Government are discussing whether or not to approve an agreement that would redefine the relationship between the Black Army and the Provisional Government. I want to make sure my actions are in accordance with the interests of the people." explained Zero.
"Interesting. You are quite the observer when it comes to making decisions Zero." said Lenin. "I will tell you that I can relay a communique to the remaining Czechoslovak Legions, but I must know something before I agree to do so."
"And that would be...?" asked Zero.
"What exactly do you think of my cause?" Lenin asked. Zero then silently thought to himself for a few seconds before he came up with an answer.
"I respect the integrity and energy you are putting in fighting against those who use their power to subjugate those below them. That is why the Black Army and the Provisional Government are fighting against Japan, a nation that currently thrives off such a concept. However, I am still not clear on how you plan to achieve victory against the unjust." answered Zero.
"To understand on how I am to achieve victory, you must understand my cause." Lenin replied. "You see, the unjust is the system that calls itself capitalism. Me and my fellow comrades fight against capitalists, aristocrats, and the bourgeoisie in order to achieve independence of the proletariat. I believe that the only way the proletariat may be protected from economic exploitation is through the formation of a vanguard party to lead the working class into overthrowing capitalism."
"But what do you plan after you achieve all that. With capitalism overthrown, what will the people struggle over instead?" asked Zero.
"There will be no struggle for the proletariat will be the ones who control the government through a proletarian dictatorship, a government that represents the working class while excluding wealthy exploiters. In the end, this will lead to a stateless, cooperative society where people don't compete against or struggle with one another." answered Lenin.
"But doesn't that seem too idealistic? Humanity throughout history has shown to be competing with one another over resources, land, and power. It is because of this struggle that humanity strives to improve and move forward. To eliminate such competition would seemingly result in a world that is stagnant and stuck in the present. As someone who strives for the future and a better tomorrow for others, I cannot fully agree with a world that has no progression." answered Zero.
"But the world I envision will not be devoid of progress. We will use modernization, knowledge, and progress to distance ourselves from the bourgeoisie-controlled past and to help people rid themselves of the natural impulses to help them understand collectivism." Lenin replied.
"I understand. Though I agree with you that people who exploit those who are weaker than them in order to empower themselves are unjust, I still cannot comprehend your vision for I am committed to fight for a better tomorrow." Zero replied.
"Zero, though we may disagree on many things and fight for different reasons, you have just shown me that you are deeply committed to your principles. I respect that greatly for it shows me your commitment to leadership and determination. That is why I will relay your communique to the remaining commanders of the Czechoslovak Legions." said Lenin.
"I thank you very much for understanding the situation me and my associates are in." said Zero as he shook Lenin's hand from across the table. "Along with your past aide in the form of intelligence, communications, soldiers, and money, I am fully in your debt."
"Actually I feel like I'm in your debt." replied Lenin. "You have provided the Red Army with munitions and resources allowed them to continue fighting. I heard about that skirmish you had with the White Army and the Japanese when you were transporting that train full of food to Chita. Now that you are here in front of me, I would like to personally thank you for the sacrifices you have made for my cause."
"All I really want to see is this relationship to remain healthy and intact." Zero replied.
"Agreed." replied Lenin.
Zero out of the corner of his eye noticed a chess set already set up on another table in the room.
"You like to play chess?" asked Zero.
"I do. Are you interested in a little game? We do have some time before the official state dinner starts." said Lenin.
"I would be honored to play you." replied Zero. He and Lenin then sat at the table the chess set was sitting on, placed the pieces on the board, and began playing.
Author's Note: Despite being a short chapter, I mainly wanted used it to depict the differences and similarities between Zero and Lenin who are both revolutionary leaders, albeit with different motives and views of the future. I also wanted to define Zero's core principles, which is to fight against the unjust (those who take pleasure from ruling over people who are weaker) and to defend the progression of mankind, that forms the backbone of the Black Army.
For the next chapter, we will see a few divisions of Czech and Slovak troops join the Black Army while Japan increases its efforts in combatting the Korean resistance, especially the ones based in Manchuria near the border. This eventually causes things to heat up once more, resulting in both sides to mobilize more forces for battle.