Text Chapter 30: One Scale Claw

(Three updates today, the first one)

"The focus of the Soviet Union's work will be to shift from liberating the world's class struggle to economic construction, and establish an economic system with public ownership as the main body and the common development of multiple ownership economies? Comrade Yanayev, what are you thinking? "Revisionism? This is a betrayal of the communist cause." After hearing Yanayev's work plan, Pavlov was no less surprised than when he decided on the August 19th coup. He can accept economic transformation and tolerate the existence of a market economy. But he could not accept the transformation of the line of class struggle into economic development. This is a blasphemy against Marxism-Leninism.

"Do you have a better idea? Comrade Pavlov." Yanayev, who seldom smoked, took out a pack of cigarettes from his arms, took out one and lit it, "In fact, you have also seen that Yeltsin's overall market Economization itself is a stupid and wrong choice, and the danger of collapse caused by the rigidity of Stalin's model is obvious to all. Only by adhering to public ownership as the mainstay and the common development of various economies can we escape the fate of the Soviet Union being eliminated by the world, or in Pavlov's case. In the eyes of comrades, class struggle is more important than the development of the Soviet Union?”

Pavlov was speechless for a moment. He wanted to speak to refute, but Yanayev did not give him this opportunity. He continued to explain, "And economic construction is not done behind closed doors. Self-development behind closed doors will eventually be destroyed by the world." Abandon it. So in addition to developing other economic systems, we are also preparing to slowly open up the market and allow foreign capital to integrate into our light industry. Of course, the lifeblood of the national economy such as heavy industry will never be influenced by Western capitalists."

If Yanayev’s previous words brought Pavlov unexpected surprise, then what he said about introducing foreign investment was a subversive shock. what does that mean? The decades-old ideological confrontation between the communist camp and the Western liberal world is gradually falling apart.

"No matter how scrupulous the Western governments are, how could the capitalists, who only have interests in mind and ignore nationality, let go of such a big piece of meat like the Soviet Union. And the continuous influx of capital into the Soviet Union has driven the sustainable development of the economy. Only in this way can we get out of the The end of the Stalinist model, this is my economic plan, are there any problems?" Yanayev asked, seeing the dirty things of Western governments saying they don't want it, but actually cooperating with it.

"There is a question, will we be communist or capitalist in the end? Or will we be both?" Pavlov does not have the views of leaders of other countries on economic construction, and what he is most worried about is the reaction of the Western world. Once If we cannot accommodate them, what should we do?

Yanayev has also thought about this. If that happens, everyone will play in their own economic development circles. As long as the Soviet Union has a chance to breathe, it will not stop infiltrating and attacking the West. Yanayev's policy is to fight against and divide Western Europe. Since the economic rise cannot match that of other countries, Yanayev will use it to attack the Third World. The changes in the pattern have weakened the political power of Western European countries. At this moment, he thought of those religious fanatics who would become a nightmare for the whole world in the future.

"Our neighbors in the south have a famous saying, it doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it can catch mice, it is a good cat. Similarly, regardless of communism or capitalism, the thing that can contribute to our great ideals is pragmatism. Pav Comrade Love, poverty is not communism. What we want to do is to achieve common prosperity for all people.”

"And for future development, the Soviet Union needs an ally, a strong, reliable ally that can deal with the United States. We can't count on the helpless Europeans, and we are already exhausted from maintaining bipolar hegemony. Now we need to win over more A country forms a three-legged situation and completely changes the world structure." Yanayev's words indicate that the Soviet foreign policy will be completely changed in the future, and the details reflected in his words also indicate that there is a bigger one in Yanayev's heart. plan.

"Comrade Yanayev, I can agree with your approach, but have you ever thought about the risks such a change will bring?" Pavlov asked.

The biggest risk is that the relaxation of policies during economic reforms will give birth to a group of corrupt cannibals, and these people are the targets of Yanayev's vigorous attack.

"Of course I understand. In fact, the economic reform plan also has a series of supporting measures to serve as the dam for this tsunami-like impact." Yanayev has already thought of countermeasures.

After convincing Pavlov, Yanayev went to find Interior Minister Pugo and KGB Chairman Kryuchkov. As the two departments responsible for supervising dissident elements in the party and maintaining social stability, Yanayev Yev needs them to carry out his purge plan.

"Establish a Disciplinary Inspection Committee group to oversee the life style of officials?" Pugo and Kryuchkov were not too surprised. After the new leader takes office, he will carry out a political purge. As two people who are on the right team, , at this time, of course, he must become Yanayev's butcher's knife and carry out some actions to stabilize the political situation. To put it bluntly, it means eradicating the politicians who sided with Gorbachev and Yeltsin. In every political turmoil, these poor unfortunates will be the victims of the struggle.

But what Yanayev said next made Pugo and Kryuchkov notice that it was not just a political purge, "Well, by the way, the people on this list are the ones you focus on. They No matter which faction they belong to, once they find out that they have a history of corruption, they will be invited to have tea at the KGB headquarters. I believe that a lot of stolen money can be collected from these people to fill the national treasury. Do you understand what I am saying? ?”

Yanayev handed them two copies of the list. Almost all the people on the list were the first and second leaders of the political departments of major cities. Yanayev's top-down political purge will subvert the Soviet Union's middle- and high-level personnel structure.

This is a task that has always offended people. Yanayev can be indifferent to his superior military power, but Pugo and Kryuchkov, who need to take care of the emotions of their colleagues, will become the target of public criticism. For a moment, neither of them dared to agree to Yanayev's words.

Yanayev's face instantly darkened, and he said in an unhappy tone, "Comrade Pugo, Comrade Kryuchkov, you must understand one thing to maintain stability, and that is where the crown of power in your hands comes from. "

Yanayev's words are very clear. Since you are unwilling to carry out the task of the great purge, then don't blame me for replacing someone else to implement the iron-blood policy. And it is hard to say whether you will be liquidated by then.

There was no room for bargaining, so Pugo had no choice but to accept it. He wiped the fine beads of sweat on his forehead and asked, "I wonder how many people will be arrested in this purge?"

"One-third, at least one-third of the total number of government officials must be replaced." Compared with Stalin's nearly annihilated achievements, Yanayev chose to handle it cautiously, "And according to the sentencing standards, the corrupt officials who were shot The more elements, the better, especially those officials who yearn for Western freedom. This is the key target. We also need the people to see the determination to rectify the corrupt bureaucracy in order to regain confidence in the Soviets."

What Yanayev hates the most is those guys who cheat and rip things off. While shouting for freedom and criticizing the system, he is preparing to launder the black gold in his pocket into a legal source of income after the country falls. He wished he could pull out a lot of the money these people had put into their pockets, and then reward them with a bullet.

"What to do with the positions vacated by the officials who were shot?" Kryuchkov asked. Compared with executing officials, the huge empire lost so many gears in an instant, which would inevitably affect the operation of the state machinery.

Yanayev had already anticipated this. He pointed at the thick personnel files on the table and said with a smile, "Do you think I haven't decided on the candidate yet? The names on the list I gave you No one should be left behind, we need conclusive evidence to make them confess their crimes and feel the punishment of communism.”

Pugo and Kryuchkov looked at each other silently, with the same idea in mind. It seemed that President Yanayev was really ready to attack the entrenched bureaucracy. Can he make everyone surrender just by relying on his tough tactics?