Chapter 9: The October Revolution - Forward to Dawn!
The fateful day of October 25th, 1917, dawned.
Having spent the night wide awake at the Smolny Institute, I was jolted awake by the distant crack of gunfire.
"Are you awake?"
I turned to find the source of the voice, meeting a face that still felt unfamiliar no matter how many times I saw it. Recognizing the man, I grumbled in exasperation:
"...Comrade Lenin. Can't you at least take off that disguise while you're at Smolny?"
"No, not yet. We can't relax until the Revolution is completely victorious. I might take it off later if I have to make a speech."
Do as you please, I muttered, checking my watch.
It was already past noon. How much have I slept? I thought to myself that I hadn't been able to sleep properly lately.
Last night was eventful. The Revolutionary Army had risen and seized control of many facilities in Petrograd, including the electrical and telegraph systems, as well as Nikolayev Station, where I had arrived by train for the first time.
Thinking back, I had first arrived here on September 23rd. Today was October 25th, so only about a month had passed. I felt overwhelmed with emotion.
A month ago, when I first arrived here, I was nothing more than a naive college student armed with knowledge of the future.
But now I was a key figure at the heart of the October Revolution, on equal footing with Lenin and Trotsky.
"Comrade Siyeong, are you awake? You were sleeping so soundly, it was a struggle to wake you up."
Trotsky entered the room and playfully scolded me for oversleeping. Despite being twelve years my senior, he seemed to have gone to bed around the same time last night, yet he was already bustling about outside this morning. Is that man made of steel?
"Is there any news? When can I leave?"
"The siege of the Mariinsky Palace and the Winter Palace has begun. However, the situation isn't looking good. While resistance at the Mariinsky Palace is minimal, the Winter Palace, where Kerensky himself is reportedly holed up, seems to be receiving reinforcements. We'll need some time before you can go out."
"What's the Baltic Fleet's status?"
Trotsky answered with a smile. "The recruitment effort was successfully completed. In fact, Comrade Sverdlov reported that the fleet took the initiative themselves. Of course, the actual shelling of the Winter Palace will only happen as a last resort. We'd prefer to end it with just intimidation fire."
"If Kerensky continues to delay surrender..."
"...then we'll have to bombard the Winter Palace. It's unfortunate that a Russian cultural heritage site will be destroyed, but we should welcome the destruction of the Tsarist regime's legacy!"
That's a frightening thing to say. Are you suggesting that destroying the Winter Palace would be a sacrifice worth making if the Revolution succeeds? I tilted my head in thought.
"Then, for now, should I just wait here?"
"For now, yes. I have to attend an emergency Soviet meeting soon. If anything happens, I'll contact you immediately. Until then, you can rest."
Trotsky spoke as he turned to leave.
"Comrade Siyoung, your role is essential to the success of the Revolution. Don't hesitate—stock up on rest and energy. The people of Petrograd—no, all of Russia—are pinning their hopes on you alone."
Comrade Trotsky, isn't that putting even more pressure on me?
To all the workers of Petrograd!
Comrades, the Revolution has triumphed. No, the Revolution has triumphed. The Soviet has seized all power.
The first week ahead will be the most difficult. We must crush the scattered reactionary forces to the very end. We must strive to defend our complete victory.
The working class must demonstrate the greatest resolve and patience during this critical period, as our new Soviet government strives to achieve all its goals.
Over the next few days, we will issue decrees related to labor issues, including one of the first decrees to be published, which will establish worker control over industrial production and regulations.
At this critical juncture, strikes and agitation by the Petrograd working class will only be detrimental.
Immediately cease all economic and political strikes and return to your workplaces. Please follow orders perfectly. It is crucial for the new Soviet government that labor continues in all factories and industries.
A work stoppage will only exacerbate our difficulties. The situation is already sufficiently challenging. Return to your posts.
The best way you can assist the new Soviet government at this moment is by faithfully performing your duties.
Petrograd Workers' and Soldiers' Soviet
Petrograd Trade Union Conference
Petrograd Factory Committee Conference
The situation at the Winter Palace was growing increasingly intense.
Kerensky was making a desperate last stand, mobilizing even the military academy and women's units.
However, the Bolsheviks were sending reinforcements, and the Baltic Fleet had surrounded the Winter Palace on the Neva River.
At 7:30 PM, news reached Smolny that the Bolsheviks' final ultimatum to the Winter Palace had been rejected. Trotsky, twirling his mustache, remarked:
"They've chosen destruction. I'd like to bombard the Winter Palace right now, but..."
He glanced at me before continuing:
"We still have our trump card. We mustn't act rashly."
Now he was looking straight at me.
"Comrade Siyeong."
"Yes, Comrade Trotsky. Give the order."
"As Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet and Acting Chairman of the Military Revolutionary Committee, I order you to immediately proceed to the Winter Palace as Head of the Military Revolutionary Center. Execute military surveillance and safeguard the revolution. Time is of the essence!"
I exhaled deeply. It was time for me to act.
When I was first assigned to the Winter Palace, I had cursed under my breath. But now, I realized there was no one else who could take on this task if I didn't.
Have I already been brainwashed by Trotsky? I smiled bitterly.
It was October by the Old Style calendar, but November by the New Style. November in Petrograd was bitterly cold, with the river wind biting through the air. Yet, I felt a strange warmth spreading through me.
Red banners fluttered along the streets, and in the distance, the symphony of screams and gunfire filled the air.
As I rode to the Winter Palace in a truck provided by the Military Revolutionary Committee, the sound of gunfire grew louder with each passing moment, signaling that the battle had already begun. The question was whether it was a full-scale assault or scattered skirmishes.
"I'm from the Military Revolutionary Committee! Where is the commanding officer?"
Relieved that no major battle had yet erupted, I approached, wearing a red armband emblazoned with "VRK."
A man who appeared to be the commander approached me. His expression visibly eased upon seeing my armband.
"I am Mikhail Svetchnikov, commander of the 106th Infantry Division. And you are..."
"I am Lee Si-young, Head of the Military Revolutionary Center. I have been ordered by the Petrograd Soviet and the Military Revolutionary Committee to oversee the assault on the Winter Palace as a Political Officer."
"A Mongolian? I never expected the Petrograd Soviet to send someone like you."
"Are you questioning my authority simply because my skin is yellow?"
During my month in Petrograd, I realized that if anyone ever pointed out my skin color, I could either call them a racist or assert my authority to silence them. It was an effective strategy, judging by how Svetchnikov immediately backed down.
"Ah, no, I just... meant it's just how it is. Anyway, welcome to the Winter Palace. We've been here less than a day ourselves. But in any case, welcome."
I first surveyed the surroundings. Judging by their appearance, they even had armored cars.
But we outnumbered them. Weapons were steadily arriving, especially ammunition and artillery, which we were short on.
"Then, Director Lee, what should we do?"
I smiled. They were already surrounded. Attacking a surrounded enemy would be foolish. And our strength was growing stronger with each passing moment.
"Let's rest for a while. The soldiers must be tired."
"W-What?"
"Of course, we'll cut off all supply routes to the Winter Palace and thoroughly monitor it to prevent anyone from escaping. We'll wait for them to start the fight first. And we'll set up reliable sentry posts."
The 22nd Stratagem: Shut the Door to Catch the Thief. We'll surround the weak enemy and annihilate them. I never imagined that The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which I read years ago while job hunting, would prove useful in a situation like this.
"The enemy will collapse from within. When that moment comes, the Baltic Fleet will begin their bombardment, and we'll launch our assault. Mentally exhausted, they'll surrender easily, and we can seize the Winter Palace with minimal losses."
Svetchnikov seemed to agree. I sent someone to Smolny to convey my plan and propose a coordinated attack on the Winter Palace with the Baltic Fleet.
The reply arrived swiftly: the Baltic Fleet would commence their bombardment at 23:00.
The climax of the grand symphony that was the October Revolution was approaching.
A deafening explosion shook the heavens and earth, jolting Petrograd awake in the dead of night.
The windows of the Winter Palace trembled, and the soldiers of the 106th Infantry Division, who had been resting briefly, snapped to combat readiness. I quickly checked the time.
11 PM sharp. By now, the Provisional Government had likely lost most of its will to fight. I met Svechkov's gaze and nodded.
The additional artillery and ammunition brought from Kronstadt and the Peter and Paul Fortress had been fully deployed.
There was no longer any reason to delay the assault.
The offensive began with the shrill blast of a whistle.
"Charge! The target is the Winter Palace! March on the heart of Kerensky's regime!"
Svechkov barked the order, his voice raw and hoarse. The moment he spoke, thousands of soldiers surged forward in unison, their charge synchronized with the thunder of artillery fire.
The field guns spat fire, and the cruiser's guns roared their metallic fury at the Winter Palace.
It was a magnificent spectacle.
"We surrender! We surrender! Please spare our lives!"
"Hold! Who are you?!"
"We are the 1st Petrograd Women's Battalion! Kerensky forcibly deployed us to the Winter Palace! We surrender, so please spare our lives!"
"Disarm! We'll decide your fate later!"
The assault on the Winter Palace was progressing far too easily.
*Could it be that my strategy is actually working?*
The combined fire of the cruiser's guns, the field guns, and the timely infantry assault left the White Army soldiers at the Winter Palace utterly demoralized.
If we could just capture Kerensky now, it would be a perfect finishing touch.
"The main gate has been breached! We're advancing!"
"Charge! Cut off their retreat! Don't let a single enemy escape!"
The Revolutionary Army boldly entered the Winter Palace, but the interior was pitch dark, with visibility limited to a few feet. The only sources of light were the torches carried by a few soldiers.
As the soldiers began to murmur uneasily, I knew I had to act. Snatching a torch from a soldier, I stepped forward and shouted:
"Comrades! What are you hesitating for? We've already stormed the heart of Kerensky and the Provisional Government—the Winter Palace! Will we turn back now, afraid of the dark? Just one step forward, and dawn will break! Victory will be ours!"
As I spoke, my heart was pounding wildly.
In truth, I was more afraid than anyone here. I was unarmed and standing at the front of the crowd, so if anyone had decided to act against me, I would have been killed instantly.
But—perhaps due to sheer luck—the high-ranking officials and nobles hiding within the building didn't send a single representative forward. Emboldened, I continued shouting:
"Therefore, comrades, let us advance! Let us march forward with our torches! We have nothing to lose but our chains, and a world to gain..."
"Workers of the world, unite!"
At that moment, all the soldiers inside the Winter Palace shouted in unison.
My heart was still racing, and my torch-carrying hand trembled violently, slick with sweat. Yet, a sense of relief lingered in my heart.
I was the one who had always stood by Trotsky's side, trembling as I delivered speeches supporting him, spouting empty words that never came true. But now, now...
I was marching proudly as one of the revolution's key figures.
"Forward! Forward! To the heart of the Junkers! To the lair of the reactionaries!"
"Soviet Ura! Defeat is unknown to the Red Guard!"
With this thunderous roar, the Winter Palace began to fall into the hands of the Red Guard.
***
October 26th, 1917, 2:10 AM. The Winter Palace was officially captured by the Revolutionary Army. The Junkers and high-ranking officials of the Provisional Government were arrested and sent to prison.
But the October Revolution had only just begun.