"Leader, we can find a way to resume negotiations with the Germans. If the German army truly crosses the border and launches an attack against us, I will support your decision," Trotsky remarked after a long deliberation.
As one of the leaders of the Bolshevik Party, he was unwilling to witness the ultimate failure of their revolution, for such an outcome would yield him no benefit. Thus, he was reluctant to let matters reach that critical juncture.
Ulyanov nodded, a sigh of relief escaping him. It was no small feat to persuade Trotsky to change his stance, and thankfully, Trotsky had indeed altered his position.
"Very well, Comrade Trotsky. You must understand that everything we do is for our party and for our revolution. Only through the success of our revolution will the struggles of our comrades hold value!" Ulyanov proclaimed.
"Yes, Leader!" Trotsky nodded in agreement.
The following day, the Bolshevik Party proactively extended goodwill towards the Germans, proposing a resumption of negotiations. They expressed their willingness to agree to most of the terms proposed by the Germans in principle, although some specific stipulations would require further discussion.
The Germans, eager to avoid a breakdown in talks, welcomed this development.
"Your Highness, it appears the Russians have truly been intimidated. This time, we can easily secure the benefits we desire," von Kidren-Washte beamed, his earlier concerns evaporating. He had never anticipated that the Russians would acquiesce to such stringent conditions.
"Minister, the success of our mission now rests upon your shoulders. Whether we can secure the maximum benefit hinges on your negotiations with the Russians," Qin Tian replied with a smile, relieved that the Russians had finally shown signs of submission. He had been worried about how to salvage his position should the Russians refuse to comply; such a failure would surely tarnish his standing as the heir apparent.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. I will fulfill my mission," von Kidren-Washte assured him, patting his chest confidently.
On January 8, 1915, representatives from Germany and the Bolshevik Party reconvened in Brest for negotiations. In a gesture of goodwill, the Russians agreed to relinquish their claim to the Baltic States, as previously demanded by Germany. However, they remained firm on other terms.
"Excellency, to express our sincerity, we are willing to forfeit half of Belarus. The territories east of the Berezina and Dnieper rivers can continue under your control. Furthermore, the war reparations will be limited to 10 billion marks. This is our final offer. If your party cannot accept this, I will have no recourse," von Kidren-Washte stated, emboldened by his firm grasp of the situation.
"Minister, your demands remain excessively harsh," Trotsky retorted, still hoping for more lenient conditions, but von Kidren-Washte was steadfast, unwilling to yield further.
The stark disparity in their demands led the negotiations to an inevitable impasse. Upon learning of the deadlock, Qin Tian ordered the 8th and 9th Corps to cross the established control line and penetrate deeper into Russian territory, authorized to retaliate if faced with resistance.
The orders were promptly executed, and over 300,000 troops from both corps advanced into Russian territory. While their incursion was limited, it sent a clear and unmistakable signal to the Bolshevik Party: if negotiations continued to stall, a military offensive would indeed be forthcoming.
In light of this development, Ulyanov convened an urgent meeting.
"Comrades, the German forces have crossed the control line and are advancing into our heartland. If we do not act to stop them, they may very well push on to St. Petersburg!" Ulyanov declared, his face flushed with anger.
"Leader, the German conditions are excessively stringent. Are we truly to concede?" Gaminyov questioned, visibly frustrated.
"Temporarily ceding some territory to Germany is far preferable to our complete annihilation! Once we regain our strength, we can always reclaim what was lost," Joseph interjected.
"Indeed! The Germans are formidable; for now, we have no choice but to compromise," other members chimed in, all shaken by the advancing German army.
Ulyanov then initiated another round of voting. Out of the thirteen members, eight cast their votes in favor of the proposed terms, including Trotsky, who was unable to return from Brest and had his vote cast by a proxy.
"Excellent, comrades. I am delighted by our consensus. Although we face immense challenges ahead, I firmly believe we can overcome them and ultimately achieve victory!" Ulyanov exclaimed with a beaming smile, though the five opposing votes weighed heavily on his mind; now was not the time to address those concerns.
The next day, January 18, 1915, Trotsky signed the Treaty of Brest on behalf of the Bolshevik Party, effectively accepting Germany's conditions in their entirety.
Germany effortlessly acquired the Baltic States, Poland, and half of Belarus. Ukraine and Finland would gain independence with Germany's support, though the specifics of their governance required careful consideration. Regardless, Russia had irrevocably lost these territories. Regarding war reparations, the Bolshevik Party would pay Germany 10 billion marks worth of gold or jewels within the next six months. This wealth had originally belonged to the Tsar, and much of it had been seized by the Bolsheviks; now, a portion would be surrendered to Germany. The Bolshevik Party found this deeply disheartening, yet they had no alternative.