USSR 1991

"Shut up, what do you know, Varennikov. You are just a soldier, so you take it for granted, and the vocation of a soldier is to obey orders, not to participate in a coup d'état."

The citizens were surprised to see that the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, who never seemed to lose his temper, turned out to have a frantic expression at this time, showing Gorbachev's rude side to the Moscow citizens.Then the screen suddenly vibrated, and in full view of everyone, the segment of Gorbachev's assassination was played.

This is an excellent headline. If the State of Emergency Committee hadn't imposed a press ban and only allowed nine party newspapers to publish publications, those journalists who had no moral bottom line would have fabricated reports that distorted the facts in the first place.Although Gorbachev was not happy with the citizens who supported the reformists and the conservatives, he was still the first general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union after all. He was assassinated by the supreme general secretary of the Soviet Union in such an open manner, and the simple and kind Slavic people would not would agree.

Especially when they heard the last sentence, "Long live President Yeltsin", the people's fury was instantly ignited.KGB agents hiding among the citizens fanned the flames and shouted, "Yeltsin is hiding in the White House!" "Let's go and catch that executioner!" "Avenge President Gorbachev! Long live the protection of the Soviets!"

The bewitched crowd chanted slogans against Yeltsin and rushed to the White House.Those who originally supported Yeltsin's riots looked at each other in blank dismay. The plot did not follow their script at all, and they didn't know what to do for a while.

A large group of people filled with righteous indignation has gathered in front of the White House. It is ridiculous that the Taman division who originally arrested Yeltsin has now turned into a steel barrier to protect the White House in order to stop the emotional people.The ever-gathering Moscow citizens tried to storm the barricades and pour into the White House, but were stopped by soldiers.

Yanayev, who was sitting on the tank, saw this expected scene, patted his clothes and stood up, picked up the loudspeaker beside him, and prepared to turn the draft that he had been thinking about all night in his stomach into an exciting event. speech.

"Citizens of Moscow, please calm down. I am the Vice President of the Soviet Union, General Secretary Gennady Ivanovich Yanayev." Yanayev's voice was steady and powerful.Maybe someone else might not be able to deter these people, but the moment Yanayev revealed his identity, the bustling crowd slowly became quiet.This may be the unique appeal of politicians.

Yanayev ignored the angry eyes of the crowd, and continued on his own, "I regret that the government deceived everyone. Gorbachev was not unable to take up the post of general secretary because of health problems, but because of the shameless traitors. Assassination! As you can see, the despicable Yeltsin betrayed the people. He deceived everyone with the slogan of democracy and freedom. He is an out-and-out shady villain. Fortunately, those who fight for justice and truth will not be succumbed to his little tricks."

Yanayev's plausible speech shocked those who attempted to riot and those who fished in troubled waters.

"Great Russia has suffered a lot. It has experienced the barbaric iron hooves of the Tatars, the spears of the Napoleonic Empire, the sharp knives of the Poles and the bombardment of the Nazi bastards. However, these invaders were driven out by us without exception. Russia, without exception, was downcast. But this time, the motherland once again faced a dangerous test, not from a ferocious foreign enemy, but from a despicable and shameless betrayer. And countless foreign enemies are gleefully waiting for us to fall, so that I promise that Yeltsin, a shameless traitor, will be brought to justice for his despicable deeds. Not let him get away with it!"

"However, if someone tries to attack the White House, then I will regard him as an accomplice who wants to rescue Yeltsin out of the chaos, and a coward who betrayed the Russian people and the country." Speaking of this, Yanayev picked up the AKS74U at the feet said coldly, "We will send him to see God!"

Yanayev's speech drew thunderous applause from the crowd. He raised his hand to express his gratitude and gratitude to the crowd. Suddenly, he noticed a guy in the crowd with a peaked cap quickly passing through the crowd and walking towards him. .Yanayev instinctively sensed a hint of threat, and took a few steps back.He was about to speak to the soldier beside him, but the soldier had already walked only ten steps away from him, and then he pretended to raise his hands to applaud, when the small pistol hidden in his palm suddenly fired at him.

Because the flame arrester was installed, the weak gunshots were immediately drowned out by waves of applause. Yanayev fell down slowly in front of everyone. The palm of his hand was a shocking dark red.

When the murderer fled, he ignored the crowds around him and shouted loudly, "Long live Yeltsin, long live democracy."Realizing that something was wrong, the guard hurriedly chased after the assailant.

"This guy, it's really... a bit ruthless!" Yanayev looked at the figure that was gradually going away, his consciousness gradually blurred. When the guards around him rushed up, he only felt that the whole world was absorbed by a sponge It became quiet like a tone, and then closed its eyelids heavily.The busy guards around him didn't notice Yanayev's smile after his plot succeeded.

Chapter 10 The Great Cleanse

The assassination of Yanayev caused a lot of fluctuations in the Soviet political situation, which was already undercurrent. The Soviet authorities could not accept the bad news of losing two top leaders within two days.But fortunately, the bullet just flew past Yanayev's shoulder, so he only suffered some skin trauma.Even the bandaging doctor was amazed that this shot was a blessing in misfortune.

Of course, no one would know that the gunman who attacked was the best sniper of the GRU, and he had rehearsed a dozen times for this seemingly impromptu assassination.

The injury of the supreme leader of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union gave the soldiers under martial law a reason to expel the demonstrators in an open and aboveboard manner. When the shield policeman cleared the field, the birds and beasts immediately dispersed.After all the people dispersed at the gate of the White House, Yeltsin's body was carried out by the GRU assassins and secretly transported to the hospital morgue.

Then in the afternoon, the news that Russian President Yeltsin committed suicide in fear of guilt was broadcast on the TV screen repeatedly, and declared that the Soviets would not let Yeltsin and his party destroy the country.Some political allies who had secret deals with Yeltsin saw the news, took out their pistols in despair, and stuffed them into their mouths.

For them, suicide and being arrested by the KGB, they would rather choose the former.

However, many intellectuals who advocate Western-style democracy and freedom showed disdain for the news, which was hailed as the victory of the people, and said "bah" with disdain.It's just that these flies who are still dreaming of the spring and autumn dream of democracy and freedom don't know that winter is approaching.Only then will they realize that being locked up in the special mental hospital of the KGB Fifth Bureau is a kind of summer vacation enjoyment compared with the torture they suffered.

Yanayev sat on the hospital bed in a happy mood and watched the news on TV. The martial law has only gone through a short half a day, and the center of Moscow has basically settled down, except for small-scale conflicts in some places. Other than that, everything else has returned to its former orderly state.The scripts of major riots that were originally planned to happen have all become secrets that no one knows after Yeltsin's death.

KGB agents were stationed outside Yanayev's ward, and the attackers hadn't been caught this time, so they didn't dare to relax for a moment.If Yanayev is really going to have three good things and two bad things, the last leader who saved the Soviet leader has completely disappeared.

Prime Minister Pavlov came from the Kremlin to express condolences to the supreme leader of the Soviet Union. He was sitting next to Yanayev. focus on.When he walked into the ward and saw Yanayev's rosy face and greeted him friendly, the stone hanging in Pavlov's heart finally fell.

Yanayev raised the white gauze wrapped around his shoulders, and said with a smile, "I really don't know if that shooter's marksmanship is really that bad, or has he reached the point of perfection?"

Pavlov also smiled, but then he put on a serious face and said, "It's time for us to discuss the future of the Soviet, General Secretary Yanayev."

Pavlov has changed Yanayev's title from vice president to general secretary, and Yanayev cleverly captured his expression.

"Gorbachev's terrible reforms have brought the economy of the Soviet Union to the abyss. We will cancel all Gorbachev's political and economic reform programs and hammer out new programs to stop this. Of course, reform is not a one-shot feat It can be done overnight. I analyzed the case of Gorbachev’s failure.” Prime Minister Pavlov sounded like he wanted to teach Yanayev a good lesson, so Yanayev pretended to be all ears. look.

"Gorbachev's multi-party system and parliamentary politics are the underlying reasons for the decline of the Soviet socialist system. Because our socialist country is essentially a country under the dictatorship of the proletariat. What is the dictatorship of the proletariat? It is a transition from capitalist society, the last exploiting class society, to proletarian society, that is, communist society. Gorbachev even gave up the most basic and core principle of the socialist road. privatization. Still trying to privatize on the condition of begging for economic aid from capitalist countries headed by the United States, to fundamentally change the economic foundation of socialism. My God, this stupid approach simply shakes the foundation of our economy .”

Pavlov basically summed up the problems that emerged from Gorbachev's reforms. Since the Soviet Union's problems came from the economy, Yanayev didn't mind repeating what he had learned in textbooks.

"Since the economy is mentioned, I would like to say a little more." Yanayev organized his language and said slowly, "Since 1900, the Soviet Union has experienced serious difficulties in the economic field. This economic crisis can be said to be in the midst of a war. After the most difficult period. The economic growth rate has dropped sharply. Compared with the same period before, the growth rate of national income and industrial output value has dropped by almost half, such as national income dropped from 4.7% to 2.4%. Since the beginning of this year, our The economic situation in China is even worse, the total social output value fell by [-]%, national income fell by [-]%, and labor productivity fell by [-]%. Although we are all aware of the serious consequences of institutional rigidity, Khrushchev , Brezhnev and Gorbachev were just trying to tinker without getting to the root of the economic problem.”

"So?" Pavlov's eyes lit up, and it seemed that Yanayev had already planned a reform strategy in his mind.

Yanayev waved his hand, indicating that Pavlov wanted to hear himself finish, "There is a serious shortage of consumer goods, and the market supply is extremely tight. Some reports indicate that only 5% of the product supply is sufficient, and the remaining 95% of the product is actually It is in a state of shortage. The supply of food closely related to the lives of residents is even tighter. Among the 211 kinds of food, 188 kinds of food have a ticket supply system. Isn’t this the fault of our country’s leaders? Of course, in terms of economy, I am not particularly I’m good at it, so I can only point out some problems, and the specific methods have to be handed over to those professional economic personnel.”

"However, since last year, we have implemented a series of economic adjustment policy measures. For example, the growth rate of industrial products urgently needed by the people is 12.4 times higher than that of heavy industrial products required by the country, and the investment in material production is reduced by 1989 billion compared with 120. Rubles, but will increase investment in agricultural-industrial complexes, light industry, and daily life services. Investment in agricultural-industrial complexes alone will increase by 80 billion rubles. Strengthen agricultural construction. Structural adjustments, focusing on increasing the modernization of agricultural product processing departments and storage equipment." Pavlov said the government's document measures verbatim.

"However, many of these reform measures are extraordinary emergency measures. The economic situation in the Soviet Union is unlikely to undergo major changes. The adjustment and austerity policies generally will not produce obvious effects until 1995. Because many adjustment measures are difficult to be effective in the short term, such as There is a process to adjust the economic structure. Moreover, the government has to reduce expenditures and reduce the proportion of military expenditures in total expenditures.” Yanayev scratched his head here, and Gorbachev gave himself a riddle The army has already complained about Gorbachev's reduction of military expenditures. If he continues, he really can't guarantee that someone will follow the example of the coup.But if the military expenditure is not reduced, it is also a headache to continue to pay a huge maintenance fee for the Soviet steel torrent.

"You mean we need to continue disarmament if possible?" Pavlov frowned. "Now the Soviet Union is full of instability, and we need an army to maintain stability."

When Pavlov said this, Yanayev suddenly realized that what Gorbachev left for himself was not only a mess, but a colorful poisonous snake would emerge from the dense cavity from time to time and stick out its scarlet tongue at him. .Everything is urgent now, and I can't wait, but the only thing I can do is to take it slowly.

Yanayev suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and thought of a way to quench thirst by drinking poison that was not a good idea, but could temporarily solve the army's military expenditure problem.

"Perhaps, we can learn from the neighboring countries and let the military raise part of their military expenses by themselves?" Yanayev said thoughtfully, holding his chin.According to the national conditions, the military business of the Soviet Union can only exist in the form of foreign trade, and the shady gray income involved in it is another thorny problem to be solved.

"Military business?" With a surprised expression, Pavlov couldn't understand what Yanayev was thinking. "Is this trying to make our country's violent machine look like Western capitalism?"

"No, business in the military is a very complicated matter. There is no rush for this matter. We have to discuss it with the Minister of Defense Yazov and General Varennikov of the Army Department, but now I think of someone who can preside over the matter. The best candidate for economic reform," Yanayev said.

Chapter 11 Ryzhkov

During the period of martial law, Moscow City imposed a curfew. After [-] o'clock in the evening, the bustling streets quieted down. Occasionally, soldiers with Kalashnikov rifles could be seen patrolling the streets to prevent some rioters from taking advantage of the darkness of the night. cover for sabotage.Some buildings in Moscow have been attacked by unknown persons before, and they even burned vehicles.At the same time, the KGB agents known as the sword and shield of the Soviet Union and the secret police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are hunting down Yeltsin's supporters throughout the city.In an attempt to cause riots, these people will be completely pushed to the opposite side of the people.

The heavy curtains in a certain house have been slightly removed, and the bright lights in the house illuminate the dim street through the remaining gap, and a pair of small eyes with frightened expressions are looking at the dark world outside through the gap in the curtain Every move in the past, watching the future of this country with anxious eyes.

The bright beams of light dispelled the dark atmosphere, and a car passed in front of those eyes, heading for a deeper darkness, like a giant ship that deviated from its course in the mist, and the faint lights illuminated the dark and dangerous waters ahead, guiding The way forward for the Soviets.

Nikolai Ivanovich Ryzhkov, who was sitting in the car at this time, had never been in such a complicated mood as today. He heard from the TV this morning that Gorbachev could not be the general secretary of the CPSU. News, from the news that President Yeltsin committed suicide in fear of guilt in the afternoon, to the assassination of Yanayev, the new General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, by Yeltsin supporters in the evening, the mood of the Soviet people is like a roller coaster, and the little heart can't bear it.

However, Ryzhkov was still very happy to hear that Yeltsin was dead. Having been run over by the Russian president, he commented more than once in private that Yeltsin was a Soviet mourner.And called him "the despicable villain who destroyed the empire with his own hands."

However, Ryzhkov accidentally received an invitation from General Secretary Yanayev before he was about to wash up and go to the Moscow Hospital.Only one silent driver was sent to pick Ryzhkov up.So Ryzhkov is also full of doubts now, guessing what Yanayev wants to do.

Thinking back to my political career that just ended half a year ago, apart from offending Gorbachev and Yeltsin, I had nothing to gain.That's why he resigned as chairman of the Council of Ministers aggrievedly after Gorbachev gave up his "Government Program".

So after the fall of Gorbachev and Yeltsin, did his chances come back again?Ryzhkov speculated in his mind about the possibility of Yanayev summoning him, and the possibility of reappointing him as Minister of Economy was the greatest.

The driver turned his head and said to the thoughtful Ryzhkov, "Comrade Ryzhkov, we are at the hospital."

"Oh, good." Ryzhkov, who came back to his senses, raised his head and saw that the courtyard was full of KGB agents. Those eyes that looked at him were staring at him like a suspect, making Ryzhkov feel uncomfortable.The general secretary's security level has reached the highest level, and anyone is suspicious in their eyes.

After getting out of the car, Plekhanov, the director of the Ninth Bureau of the KGB, who was in charge of protecting the supreme leader, greeted him. He shook Ryzhkov's hand and greeted him, "Long time no see, Comrade Ryzhkov. Since you resigned I haven't seen you since the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers, how have you been?"

"It's not very good. My health is as bad as the current state of this country." Ryzhkov was not familiar with Plekhanov, so he had to say perfunctorily, "I'm going to see General Secretary Yanayev. Let Comrade Plekhanov lead the way."

"Of course, this way." Plekhanov made a gesture of invitation.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ryzhkov followed Plekhanov to the second floor, which was more heavily guarded. The scene inside made Ryzhkov a little dazed when he pushed the door open, not only Yanayev , even Pavlov was there.

"You are here, Comrade Ryzhkov, come and sit first." Yanayev greeted Ryzhkov enthusiastically.Ryzhkov, who was full of doubts, sat beside Yanayev and asked about his injury with concern.Yanayev smiled and said that he was fine, while looking at the appearance of the last savior of the Soviet economy.If it weren't for the 500-day plan that Gorbachev came up with, according to Ryzhkov's "Government Program", the economic foundation of the Soviet Union would not have decayed quickly in an ugly way.After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ryzhkov has been doing poorly. He can only rely on writing memoirs of the disintegration of the Soviet Union to remember the glorious years and a lost red empire.

"Did the general secretary and the prime minister summon me for something important?" Ryzhkov asked cautiously.