(Today's three watches, the first shift)

"Will the focus of the work of the Soviet Union be on the shift from the class struggle to the liberation of the whole world to economic construction, and the establishment of an economic system with public ownership as the mainstay and the common development of economies under various forms of ownership? Comrade Yanayev, what are you thinking about this? Revisionism? This is a betrayal of the communist line. After listening to Yanayev's work plan, Pavlov was no less surprised than when the August 19 coup was decided. He can accept economic transformation and tolerate the existence of a market economy. But he could not accept the radical transformation of the line of the class struggle into economic development. This is blasphemy against Marxism-Leninism.

"Do you have a better way? Comrade Pavlov. Yanayev, who rarely smoked, took out a pack of cigarettes from his bosom and lit one, "In fact, you can also see that Yeltsin's total market economy itself was a stupid and wrong choice, and the danger of collapse brought about by the rigidity of the Stalin model is obvious to all." Only by adhering to public ownership as the mainstay can the common development of all kinds of economies get rid of the fate of the Soviets being eliminated from the world, or in the eyes of Comrade Pavlov, the class struggle is more important than the development of the Soviet Union? ”

Pavlov was speechless for a while, and he wanted to speak to refute it, but Yanayev didn't give him this opportunity, and still explained endlessly, "And economic construction is not done behind closed doors, and self-development behind closed doors will eventually be abandoned by the world." 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 industrial sector. Of course, it is absolutely impossible for the lifeblood of the national economy, such as heavy industry, to be fingered by Western capitalists. ”

If Yanayev's previous words brought Pavlov an unexpected surprise, then the introduction of foreign capital that he spoke of was a subversive shock. What does this mean? The decades-old ideological confrontation between the communist camp and the Western free world is gradually falling apart.

"No matter how scruples the Western governments are, how can the capitalists, who only have interests in their eyes and ignore nationality, let go of such a big piece of fat as the Soviet Union. And the continuous influx of capital into the Soviet Union has led to the continuous development of the economy, so that we can get out of the dead end of the Stalin model, this is my economic plan, is there any problem? Yanayev asked, and he could see much more of the filthy things that the Western government said they didn't want, but their bodies were very honest and cooperative.

"There is a question, in the end are we communist or capitalist? Or is it both? Pavlov doesn't have the straightforward views of other countries' leaders on economic development, and he is most concerned about the reaction of the Western world.

At this point, Yanayev also thought that if it was really a big deal at that time, it would be a big deal to play their own economic development circles. As long as the Soviet Union has a chance to breathe, he will not stop infiltrating and attacking the West, Yanayev's policy is to crack down on the division of Western Europe, since the economic rise is not comparable to other countries, then Yanayev will weaken the political power of Western European countries through changes in the pattern of the Third World. And in this moment, he thought of the religious fanatics who would become a nightmare for the whole world in the future.

"Our neighbors in the south have a well-known saying that no matter whether it is a black cat or a white cat, the one that can catch a mouse is a good cat. In the same way, whether communist or capitalist, what can contribute to our great ideals is pragmatism. Comrade Pavlov, poverty is not communism, what we want to do is to achieve common prosperity for all. Establish a communist system with Soviet characteristics. ”

"And for the sake of the future, the Soviets needed allies, strong, reliable allies who could deal with the United States. The grass on the wall in Europe cannot be counted on, and we have no spare strength to maintain bipolar hegemony, and now we need to win over one more country to form a three-legged situation and completely change the world pattern. Yanayev's words heralded a radical change in the Soviet Union's foreign policy in the future, and the half-claws embodied in his words also indicated that there was a larger plan in Yanayev's mind.

"Comrade Yanayev, I can agree with your approach, but have you ever thought about what kind of risks such a change entails?" Pavlov asked.

The biggest risk is that the relaxation of policies in the economic reform will give birth to a group of corrupt moths, and these people are the target of Yanayev's vigorous crackdown.

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

After convincing Pavlov, Yanayev went to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Pugo, and the head of the KGB, Kryuchkov, as the two departments responsible for monitoring dissidents in the party and maintaining social stability, which Yanayev needed to carry out the purge for himself.

"Establish a disciplinary inspection committee group to supervise the life style of officials?" Pugo and Kryuchkov are not too surprised, the new leader will carry out a political purge after taking office, as two people on the right side, at this time of course to become Yanayev's butcher's knife and carry out some actions to stabilize the political situation. To put it bluntly, it is to eradicate the politicians who are on the side of Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Every political upheaval has these poor unlucky people as victims of the struggle.

However, Yanayev's next words 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 pay attention to, and if you find out that they have a history of corruption, you should go to the KGB headquarters for tea." Presumably, a lot of stolen money can be scavenged from these people to fill the treasury. Do you understand what I mean? ”

Yanayev handed them a list in duplicate, and almost all of the people on the list were the first and second leaders of the political departments of the major cities. Yanayev's top-down political purge will upend the personnel structure of the Soviet Union's middle and upper echelons.

This is a task that has always offended people, and Yanayev can not care about the high 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 became gloomy, and he said in a displeased 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. I can crown you king, and I can make you worthless. Do you have any concerns about your colleagues, as long as I am still in the position of general secretary for a day, I am the only one who can attack you. ”

Yanayev's words are very clear, since you are not willing to carry out the task of the Great Purge, then don't blame me for changing someone else to carry out the iron-blooded policy, and it is difficult to say whether you will be liquidated at that time.

There was no room for bargaining, so Pugo had no choice but to take it, he wiped the fine beads of sweat from 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." Yanayev chose to be cautious about Stalin's near-annihilation, "and according to the standards of sentencing, the more corrupt people are shot, the better, especially those officials who yearn for Western freedom, which is the focus of attention." And we need the determination of the people to rectify the corrupt bureaucracy in order to regain confidence in the Soviets. ”

What Yanayev hates most is those guys who eat inside and out, shouting freedom and criticizing the system, while preparing to launder the black gold in his pocket into a legitimate source of income after the collapse of the country. He was eager to pull out the money that these people had swallowed into their pockets, and then reward them with a bullet.

"What about the vacated positions of the officials who were shot?" Kryuchkov asked, compared to the execution of officials, the huge empire lost so many gears in an instant, which would inevitably affect the functioning of the state apparatus.

Yanayev had already anticipated this, he pointed to the thick file of people on the table, and said with a smile, "Do you think that I haven't decided on a good candidate yet?" None of the people on the list given to you are missing, and they need conclusive evidence to make them confess their guilt and feel the punishment of communism. ”

Pugo and Kryuchkov looked at each other silently, thinking the same thing, it seemed that President Yanayev was really ready to attack the entrenched bureaucracy. Is it just that with his strong methods, can he make everyone bow down?