Material Empire

From Beijing to Chita, Russia, the train takes two days and two nights. Scholars from Huaqing University and the Chemical Engineering Design Institute rarely have the opportunity to go abroad, and it is even rarer to go to the Soviet Union. Sitting on the train, they are all excited and nervous. Several old gentlemen who had stayed in the Soviet Union talked about their various experiences of studying in the Soviet Union in the sleeper car, and also talked about the grievances and grievances between China and the Soviet Union over the years. All those who have experienced or not experienced this history, I couldn't help but sigh after hearing it.

At the beginning, Liu Hang was a bit airy and unsmiling. According to Xiao Weihao's explanation, it was a habit developed by Liu Hang in the military industry research institute for a long time, and he was not willing to talk to strangers easily. However, as everyone talked about technology more and more closely, Liu Hang finally joined the conversation circle, because he found that even from these domestic scholars, he could get a lot of information, which is very important for the research work he is engaged in. is very valuable.

Among the group, only Qin Hai and Xiao Weihao were able to maintain a calm mood, or Heizi could also be included. Heizi didn't care what task he was going to perform, he only knew that he had to protect and take good care of Qin Hai, and other things had nothing to do with him. On the train, Qin Hai didn't need anyone to take care of him, so during these two days, Heizi was the one who slept most soundly.

Xiao Qin, have you ever been to the Soviet Union?

When the scholars were locked in the box to discuss technical issues, Xiao Weihao and Qin Hai sat on the stools in the corridor, chatting idlely while looking at the white field outside the window. After a few days of contact, Xiao Weihao found that he and Qin Hai had quite a common language, and the trip was smooth, so they often got together and chatted endlessly.

I've never been there before. Qin Hai said, he had visited Russia in his previous life, but this was his first time. He asked back, What about you, Old Xiao?

I've been there a few times. Xiao Weihao said without any concealment, but it's the first time I've been to the Far East. I used to go to big cities like Moscow and Kiev.

In your line of work, do you have to run around all day long? Qin Hai asked curiously. Xiao Weihao was the first security department official he met in this life. The security department has always given people a kind of The feeling of mystery.

Xiao Weihao said with a smile: What does it mean to work in our industry? Our industry also has different divisions of labor. Some people need to travel around, while others may stay in one place all their lives. It all depends on the needs of the job.

Qin Hai asked: Then you belong to the kind of people who run around?

Xiao Weihao said: That's right, I spent at least half a year abroad. No, I just came back from the Middle East, and I received a mission to go to the Soviet Union with you. I promised to take my daughter there. What about skiing?

Qin Hai said with a smile: If our business is done quickly, you will still have the opportunity to take your daughter to ski after you come back. If it is not possible, I will make arrangements to invite your whole family to go skiing in the Alps next year.

Hehe, okay, I will remember. Xiao Weihao was not at all hypocritical, and accepted Qin Hai's invitation cheerfully. In his opinion, Qin Hai's words might just be a polite remark, and he didn't take it seriously. Besides, even if Qin Hai took it seriously, he would have the courage to accept it. His profession is not limited to such small details.

By the way, Xiao Qin, I heard that it was you who proposed to recruit talents in the Soviet Union this time. How could you have such an idea? Xiao Weihao seemed to have opened another topic unintentionally.

However, Qin Hai knew that Xiao Weihao's question would never be asked casually. The current domestic situation in the Soviet Union is very complicated, and Sino-Soviet relations are also very sensitive. It is impossible for the security department not to pay attention to Qin Hai's motives for going to the Soviet Union to poach people. . Xiao Weihao's insinuations on him in this way obviously wanted to probe his roots.

The Soviet Union can't last long. Qin Hai opened his mouth, and directly hit Xiao Weihao with a thunderbolt. In Qin Hai's mind, since the other party wants to ask, he should give the other party a straightforward answer. Anyway, the security department can't find out his real details, so let Xiao Weihao think that he is a genius prophet or a great international political expert. up. According to his experience, when others feel that his level is unfathomable, they will give up interest in continuing to explore, because some things are no longer comprehensible to ordinary people.

What do you mean? Xiao Weihao asked.

Qin Haidao: The thing is very obvious. The hegemony between the United States and the Soviet Union has dragged down the Soviet Union's economy. After Gorbachev came to power, he implemented a series of wrong policies. In terms of economy, all kinds of blind reforms made the Soviet Union, which was already in depression. The economy was worse; in politics, Gorbachev's new thinking played a role in weakening the cohesion of the country and accelerating the disintegration of society.

According to what I have learned, the life of the Soviet people is very embarrassing, and people complain a lot. Including the army, it can be said that people have changed their minds. At this time, as long as anyone puts forward some radical slogans, the political situation of the Soviet Union will definitely undergo serious changes, and the final result will be the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and the republics will break away from the Soviet Union and become independent. If nothing else, I think this process may only take a year.

Who did you listen to for your opinion? Xiao Weihao asked in surprise, he really didn't expect Qin Hai to say such a shocking opinion.

Regarding the possible changes in the Soviet Union, the security department did not fail to study and judge, and some of them, like Qin Hai, predicted that the Soviet Union might disintegrate. However, the more mainstream view still believes that the Soviet Union can continue to exist. After all, this is also a 70-year-old alliance. How could it fall apart overnight?

Xiao Weihao, as a security official who has been engaged in international struggles for many years, is somewhat inclined to the view that the Soviet Union will eventually disintegrate. However, he is not so pessimistic that he thinks that the Soviet Union will face disintegration within a year. Xiao Weihao couldn't understand Qin Hai's ability to make such a judgment and describe the time so unbelievably.

Qin Hai smiled slightly, he would not tell Xiao Weihao how he came to this judgment. Before the incident happened, few people could have predicted that the Soviet Union would disintegrate so quickly. Everyone thought that at worst, this behemoth could last for more than ten years. Who knew that it would not be able to support it for even a year from now. . However, Qin Hai, who came from later generations, knows this. Practice has shown that things in reality are sometimes more bizarre than any boldest prophecy.

I'm just a family's opinion. Whether it's right or not, please let Xiao Chu advise. Qin Hai said.

Xiao Weihao was silent for a while, and said, If... I mean, if everything is really as you predicted, what do you think we should do?

Maximize our benefits. Qin Hai said bluntly.

Specifically? Xiao Weihao asked.

Digging for talent, technology, equipment, resources, and everything that is useful, we have to get it, Qin Hai said.

Is this why you are eager to lead the team to the Soviet Union? Xiao Weihao asked.

Qin Hai nodded: That's right. We are not the only ones who see the Soviet Union in chaos. Western powers are also watching. If we don't act first, these things may fall into the hands of others.

My idea is this, we go to Chita first, use Chita as an entry point, and then continue to infiltrate into other states and republics. In the past 70 years, the Soviet Union has accumulated a large amount of wealth, and we should try our best to take this wealth into our own hands.

Xiao Weihao said: Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to do this? Isn't this a robbery?

Qin Hai smiled and said: You said a wrong word. We are not robbing, we are just saving. I dare say that once the Soviet Union disintegrates, all these wealth will evaporate. They will either be abandoned for nothing, or fall into bureaucratic consortiums or foreign forces. hands. This wealth is created by the people, why not let us save it instead of these bastards taking it away?

Rescue? Interesting. Xiao Weihao thought about Qin Hai's words, and then asked with a smile: Xiao Qin, do you know why I admire you so much?

Xiao Chu, when did you say you appreciate me? Qin Hai also asked with a smile.

Well, I didn't say it in the past, didn't I say it now? Xiao Weihao said.

Well, let me think about it... Qin Hai pretended to think for a while, and then said: The reason why you admire me is because my shameless face has the charm of your youth?

Hahahaha! Xiao Weihao laughed loudly, laughing so much that the scholars who were discussing enthusiastically in the box all poked their heads out one after another, wanting to know what interesting things these two people saw outside. Xiao Weihao signaled to everyone that there was nothing unusual, and said to Qin Hai with a smile: You summed it up too accurately. Xiao Qin, Xiao Qin, it is really a great loss for the country that you don't come to work in our system.

So, does Xiao Chu agree with my way of doing Faro? Qin Hai asked.

Xiao Weihao nodded emphatically: I agree. The wealth created by the Soviet people cannot fall into the hands of the bourgeoisie. We have an obligation to help them save it.

This kind of conversation is destined to only be carried out between Qin Hai and Xiao Weihao, and no one else in the team is as thick and dark as the two of them. In fact, Qin Hai doesn't need these people to be dark-hearted, he just needs them to appraise the value of talents and technology. As for how to bring these talents and technologies back to China, that's what he has to do. Now with Xiao Weihao's help, his chances of winning are even greater.

On the morning of the third day after departing from the capital, the train slowly entered Chita Station. Through the car window, Qin Hai could see all kinds of tall and thick buildings outside, which seemed to show the glory of an old empire in the past.