Soviet Union 1991

Makarov stood there in a daze, confused by the General Secretary's words. ?

Should we move the shipyard or choose a new location to build a heavy industrial base?

Ukraine is the lifeblood of the Soviet Union. This city is full of reinforced concrete and huge smokestacks, densely covered with factory buildings, and the rough-structured mechanical industrial facilities reveal a strong atmosphere of the industrial age. Even in the 1990s when the third industry was popular, Ukraine's industrial center provided the Soviet Union with a steady supply of heavy facilities from beginning to end.

Aircraft carriers are just a microcosm of the development over the past sixty years.

Makarov put his hands in his work clothes pockets, his eyes flickered. He hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "So, what exactly is the general secretary's plan for Ukraine? If the shipyard is relocated, a supporting industrial system has been formed here. A rash move is not to transfer, but to destroy. For example, the dock needs to be close to areas with dense steel industrial facilities. I am not saying that Komsomolsk-on-Amur Shipyard is responsible for submarine manufacturing, after all, and it is incompatible with the supporting facilities of the Nikolayev Shipyard that builds aircraft carriers."

"You also know that the Nikolayev Shipyard is not just a shipyard, but also represents The Military Industrial Commission and nine defense industry ministries, 600 related majors, and 8,000 supporting manufacturers. The huge lineup behind this is the key. The relocation of the shipyard will affect the changes of workers in the factory, as well as the progress of shipbuilding on the assembly line. They have been operating here for three or four generations, and it is not something that can be properly solved by just relocation. This has already involved many issues such as industrial industry and labor. Any mistake in any link will cause very serious problems. "

"Has the General Secretary seriously considered these issues?"

The sea breeze blew on the gray head of Director Makarov, and he looked at the other party with a firm gaze.

He had been holding back at the meeting held in Tiziakov because he wanted to know Moscow's plan. When the other party told him that General Secretary Yanayev would personally visit the Nikolayev Shipyard, he took decisive action.

He wanted the General Secretary to realize one thing. Unauthorized relocation is equivalent to moving the whole body. It is best to think clearly and come up with a specific and feasible plan before discussing this matter.

He dared not say that Yanayev was on guard against Ukraine, but the actions of the Far East had to make him suspicious. Yes, in recent years Moscow has been focusing on the distant eastern ports. It seems that it wants to build a new industrial center there.

"Do you want to smoke?"

Yanayev took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Makarov. Even if he was the general secretary, he was reluctant to smoke these special cigarettes, which were often prepared for entertaining guests.

The factory director shook his head and waved his hand to refuse, "Thank you, I don't smoke."

"What about drinking?"

"It's still working time now, so it's not suitable to drink."

Although he said so, Makarov's swallowing action was seen by the observant general secretary.

Then he rarely saw Yanayev showing a cunning smile ready to do something bad. He took out a small stainless steel wine bottle from his arms, unscrewed the lid and handed it to the other party, and said with a sly smile, "Try it? The vodka brought from the Kremlin tastes very pure."

This action seemed very humane.

Makarov, who couldn't resist the temptation, took the bottle from the General Secretary, raised his head and took a few sips. Then he sighed comfortably.

"Uh..."

Seeing Makarov's satisfied expression, the General Secretary smiled and said, "That's right, a Slav who doesn't drink vodka is not a good Slav."

Seeing that Makarov's mood had eased, Yanayev slowly explained the whole story.

"When I say relocation, I don't mean moving the entire shipyard out. The new industrial center will form supporting industries. The State Planning Commission has given me a feasible report on these issues. By then, all industrial facilities will be built in Vostochny, but there is an important resource that we cannot have at the same time."

"Workers."

Yanayev cast his eyes on the busy workers not far away, then turned to Director Makarov and said, "They are the soul and core of this shipyard. Without these elements, the shipyards in the Far East are just shells without souls."

At this time, he has restored the serious demeanor of a national leader, as if he was just standing in front of him as an old friend after taking out the bottle of wine.

"The new shipyard needs skilled workers as masters to lead the apprentices. We will relocate the Antonov and Kharkov design bureaus to the Far East and then convert them into pure manufacturing plants. We will also split the skilled shipbuilders in Nikolayev into several groups and arrange them in the desired industrial areas for training. Of course, we also consider that many workers are locals in Ukraine and are unwilling to leave here. So when we relocate, we will try to choose Russians and increase their wages and benefits. Moreover, they will only be there for about 5 years. If they want to move back, we will have no objection."

Then Yanayev kept silent about the transfer of a small part of Ukraine's important corporate facilities and information. This was not a secret that Director Makarov should know.

By the way, new factories with equipment will be added in Russia. These plans are all forced measures. If the Soviet Union declines rapidly in the hands of Comrade Vladimir and eventually leads to the division of the autonomous region, then the preserved spark can at least give Russia a chance to rise again.

Kravchuk was ordered to retire in 1995. The first secretary who succeeded him, Shecherbitsky, was supported by the conservatives and posed no threat to Yanaev for the time being.

But it is only temporary.

The struggle between the institutional reformers and conservatives may become increasingly fierce in the future. Yanaev must control the situation well. He does not want to be the starting point of the country's division.

Without Ukraine, there would be no Soviet Union. The importance of this land is self-evident. If this country wants to be strong, it must play the advantages of Ukraine. If it were not for the Chernobyl incident, his control over Ukraine should be more stable.

Director Makarov breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the hard work of several generations was not wasted, he could still accept the allocation of industrial facilities and the transfer of workers.

"Ukraine is an unattainable region for the Soviet Union. We will not give up this autonomous region, just as we lost Stalingrad in the Great Patriotic War. As an important industrial city of the country, Ukraine must not be lost."

Yanayev clenched his fists, his eyes became deep and steady. The longer he sat in the position of general secretary, the more he felt the importance of this place. He really couldn't imagine where Russia's future would go if he lost this heavy industrial area. He was the only person on this timeline who had witnessed the tragedy of the disintegration of Russia, so no matter what, he had to consider how bad the country would be in the future in a few years.

"As long as the general secretary does not give up Ukraine, it can provide the most basic guarantee for the rise of the Soviet Union. The real industry is the future of this country."

Hearing Makarov's words, Yanaev stopped. He smiled and didn't say much.

Just said goodbye to him and told Makarov to take good care of himself.

Maybe there will be no chance to see each other again in the future.

On the way back, he was accompanied by Shecherbitsky, the first secretary of Ukraine. When he visited the Nikolayev Shipyard, it was the only time he did not accompany the general secretary. Because the other party refused to be accompanied by anyone, he wanted to talk to Director Makarov in private about something.

Yanayev, who had a serious face, showed unexpected kindness at this time. Shecherbitsky asked in a low voice, "General Secretary Yanayev...what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

He waved his hand and looked back at the middle-aged man with a surprised expression. Shecherbitsky is a typical Mediterranean type, with some signs of middle-aged fortune. He is wearing a gray suit, which fits the image of Soviet bureaucrats.

"I just suddenly remembered something the director said and found it interesting."

Yanayev's eyes looked through the car window at the end of the street in front of him, and he said to himself.

"The Soviet Union never needs to rise."

"He just returned from the empire."8