Main text Chapter 6 The bloody 18th of August

On a calm night on August 18th, Yeltsin, who had just returned from abroad, was enjoying a moment of peace after dark on the sofa in his villa. At the age of just over sixty, he was undoubtedly second only to Gorbachev. The most promising reformer, everyone, whether in the West or at home, took a fancy to his work. Even Yeltsin himself admitted that from the leader of the people to the president of Russia, he was destroying step by step the red empire that the Slavic people had spent sixty-nine years building.

Just as the detailed terms of the new alliance treaty published in Izvestia on August 15 were completely within his expectations, so far the dilapidated building of the Soviet Communist Party is falling apart step by step according to his plan. Thinking that this evil empire would end in his own hands or in the hands of Gorbachev, a winner's smile appeared on Yeltsin's lips.

"Beasts of the evil empire, thank me, Yeltsin, for bringing you the hope of democracy and freedom." Yeltsin raised his glass proudly and said to himself. A little bored, he stood up and was about to turn on the TV to watch the news that night. The urgent ringing of the phone at the table interrupted him from pressing the button on the remote control.

At first Yeltsin didn't want to answer the phone, but the phone kept ringing like an emergency alarm, and Yeltsin felt uneasy in his heart. He had to put down the remote control, put on his slippers and walked to the table. He picked up the phone angrily and said hello in a rough voice.

On the other end of the phone was General Lebed, the commander of the paratroopers, a fish that slipped through Yanayev's political purge. At the same time, he was also a loyal follower of Yeltsin. At this time, General Lebed anxiously informed Yeltsin, "President Yeltsin, I'm sorry to call you so late, but there is one thing I must report to you."

"Is there anything you can't report tomorrow? It's already eleven o'clock." Yeltsin's voice clearly revealed his impatience.

"No, this matter is really important." The other end of the phone held the phone tightly and said in the most serious tone, "According to reliable intelligence, a group of senior officials led by Yanayev are preparing to carry out a rebellion. Please ask President Yeltsin Get to the White House as soon as possible and I'll do my best to hold them back."

"You are kidding, General Lebed. To carry out a rebellion, the first thing they have to do is to restrict Gorbachev's movements and then declare martial law, instead of coming to deal with me." Yeltsin's words to Lebed I don't think so. The current situation in the country is very good for Yeltsin, and a coup is completely contrary to his behavior.

"Today during the day, a special plane went to Foros Villa on the Crimean Peninsula. Then I received news of the coup two hours ago. Now Defense Minister Yazov is actively mobilizing all armed forces of the Moscow Guards Division, including The Tamman Division is preparing to enter Moscow to maintain stability. Your Excellency, President Yeltsin, you can try to call General Secretary Gorbachev at Foros Villa now. If you can’t get through, then my guess is nine times out of ten correct.”

Now that General Lebed's words didn't sound so fantastical, Yeltsin quickly grabbed another phone and tried to call the president's Black Sea vacation villa. However, no matter how many times he dialed, all he heard was a busy signal. So he called his colleagues in the Politburo, and the reply he got was that General Secretary Yeltsin's phone has been unreachable since noon today. When they questioned Plekhanov, the director of the KGB's ninth bureau responsible for protecting the president, they received ambiguous answers.

Now Yeltsin began to panic. Only then did he remember that the most critical Taman Motorcycle Infantry Division was not completely in his hands. The only people willing to be loyal to him were the paratroopers led by Lebed. . At this time, a layer of cold sweat broke out on Yeltsin's palms. He grabbed the phone that had not been put down and said to Lebed, "Can you mobilize the paratroopers in your hands now?"

"Okay." Lebed's answer was brief and forceful. His tone had calmed down, and he was quietly waiting for Yeltsin's next instructions.

Hearing this assurance, Yeltsin's heart calmed down a little. He issued the next order, "Transfer all the paratroopers you can mobilize to the White House to take charge of defense. I am now going to the White House to call on the people of Moscow to stand up against Soviet tyranny." , defend Moscow, defend Russia! I can’t believe these high-level officials dare to target the people!”

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements right away. President Yeltsin, take care." Lebed said goodbye to Yeltsin in a solemn voice.

"You too, General Lebed. It's an honor for the Russian people to have you here." Yeltsin smiled happily, and the stone hanging in his heart finally fell. "You go ahead and do your work. I'm going to rush to the White House now. See you then.”

"Goodbye...President Yeltsin."

General Lebed on the other end of the phone put down the receiver. He raised his head and looked at Yanayev standing in front of him and the heavily armed GRU soldiers surrounding him. He said in a trembling voice, "I have followed the instructions. You did what you said, can you let my wife and son go now?"

"Of course, I am very grateful to General Lebed for his cooperation." Yanayev bowed slightly to Lebed and replied in a neither humble nor condescending tone, "Oh, by the way, you know why your leader, Lieutenant General Grachev, was dismissed. , and you kept it?"

"No, I don't want to know." Lebed shook his head in panic. The less he knew at this time, the better for him. People who know too many secrets never live long.

However, Yanayev obviously would not give him this opportunity, "Actually, I have been waiting for this day. Now, as a chess piece, your mission is completed."

"Thank God." General Lebed held his chest and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to stand up, Yanayev nodded towards the soldiers beside him. The soldier wearing a black mask raised his silencer-loaded pistol and aimed a bullet at Lebed's broad forehead. There was no fire, and the bullet fired from the gun penetrated Lebed's head at an extremely low decibel.

The paratrooper brigadier general fell silently on the wooden board of his home. The blood seeping from the bullet holes turned the yellow wooden board into an ugly dark red. Yanayev knelt down and closed Lebed's eyelids, and said slowly, "Your mission is completed, and the use value will naturally be gone, so you should tell him personally about thanking God."

Yanayev ordered his men to turn on all the gas stoves in Lebed's house, and after closing the doors and windows, everyone quickly exited the house. When the gas concentration in the house reaches a certain level, an explosion reaction will occur quickly when exposed to the lights in the house.

There was only a loud noise. Yanayev, who had just walked outside the house, turned around and saw a huge orange fireball slowly rising into the sky. The flames sprayed out of the window slowly burned the wooden building to ashes.

"Let's go, there is nothing to miss. Many people will be reincarnated as victims of politics in the future." Yanayev lit a cigarette and said to the GRU soldiers beside him. These people are now supporters of Yanayev's coup. It can be said that as long as Yanayev succeeds, their originally bleak future will immediately become immeasurable.

Everyone got into the jeep parked on the side of the road, and Yanayev ordered the driver to drive to the highway on the outskirts of Moscow, where he carefully prepared a fireworks feast for Yeltsin.