During the period of martial law, a curfew was imposed in Moscow, and after 7 p.m. the bustling streets fell silent, and soldiers armed with Kalashnikov rifles could occasionally be seen patrolling the streets to prevent some insurgents from taking advantage of the cover of night to carry out sabotage activities. Buildings in Moscow have already been attacked by unknown people, who have even burned vehicles. At the same time, KGB agents, known as the sword and shield of the Soviets, the secret police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, were conducting a nationwide search for Yeltsin's supporters, and the assassination of the top Soviet leader gave them a reason to arrest them openly. Trying to provoke riots and push these people completely against the people.

The heavy curtains of a certain house had been moved a little, and the bright light inside the house illuminated the dim street through the only remaining gaps, and a pair of small frightened eyes were watching the dark world outside through the cracks in the curtains, watching the future of the country with a worried gaze.

Bright pillars of light dispelled the dark atmosphere, and a car drove past those eyes, heading deeper into the darkness, like a giant ship that had deviated from its course in the fog, its faint lights shining on the dark and dangerous waters ahead, guiding the Soviets in the direction of their progress.

Nikolai Ivanovich Ryzhkov, who was sitting in the car at this time, had never been in such a complicated mood as he was today, from the news that Gorbachev could not be appointed general secretary of the CPSU on television this morning, to the news that President Yeltsin committed suicide in the afternoon, to the assassination of the new general secretary of the CPSU Yanayev by Yeltsin's supporters in the evening, the mood of the Soviet people in a day was like a roller coaster, and the little heart could not bear it at all.

However, Ryzhkov was still very happy to hear that Yeltsin was dead, and he was run by the Russian president more than once in private to evaluate Yeltsin as the mourner of the Soviets. And called him "a despicable villain who destroyed the empire with his own hands."

And Ryzhkov, before he was ready to wash up and go to bed, unexpectedly received an invitation from General Secretary Yanayev to go to the Moscow hospital. Only a silent driver was sent to pick up Ryzhkov. So Ryzhkov is now full of questions, guessing what Yanayev wants to do.

Recall that his political career, which ended just half a year ago, did not gain anything except offending Gorbachev and Yeltsin. That is why he resigned from the post of chairman of the Council of Ministers in anger after Gorbachev abandoned his "Government Program".

So after the fall of Gorbachev and Yeltsin, did his opportunity come back? Ryzhkov speculated in his mind about the possibility of Yanayev summoning him, and the possibility of reappointing him as Minister of Economy was the greatest.

The driver turned his head and said to Ryzhkov, who was lost in thought, "Comrade Ryzhkov, we are at the hospital. ”

"Oh, good." Lyzhkov looked up and saw that the courtyard was full of KGB agents, and the eyes that looked at him were staring at Ryzhkov as if they were looking at the suspect. The security level of the general secretary has reached the highest level, and anyone in their eyes is a suspicious person.

After getting out of the car, Plekhanov, the head of the Ninth Bureau of the KGB, who was in charge of the protection of the supreme leader, greeted him, he shook Ryzhkov's hand and greeted, "Long time no see, Comrade Ryzhkov." I haven't seen you since you resigned as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, how have you been doing lately? ”

"It's not good, my health is as bad as the current situation in this country." Ryzhkov was not very familiar with Plekhanov, so he had to say perfunctorily, "I am going to see General Secretary Yanayev and ask Comrade Plekhanov to lead the way." ”

"Of course, this way." Plekhanov made a gesture of please.

After a short greeting, Ryzhkov followed Plekhanov to the more heavily guarded second floor, and the moment he pushed the door in, the scene inside made Ryzhkov a little stunned, not only Yanayev, but even Pavlov.

"Here you are, Comrade Ryzhkov, come and sit down first." Yanayev greeted Ryzhkov warmly. Ryzhkov, who was full of doubts, sat next to Yanayev and asked about his injuries with concern. Yanayev smiled and said he was fine, and looked at the last savior of the Soviet economy. Had it not been for Gorbachev's 500-day plan, and according to Ryzhkov's Program of Government, the Soviet Union's economic foundations would not have decayed in an unsightly manner. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ryzhkov has not been very good, and can only write memoirs about the collapse of the Soviet Union to remember the glorious years and a red empire that has passed.

"Is there anything important that the General Secretary and the Prime Minister summoned me?" Ryzhkov asked cautiously.

"Of course." Yanayev said straight to the point, "Our Politburo is ready to abolish the so-called 500-day plan of Gorbachev and Yeltsin and reuse your "Government Program". ”

Prior to this, Gorbachev and Yeltsin reached an agreement to set up an expert group headed by Academician Shatarin, a member of the President's Advisory Council, to draw up a 500-day plan for the transition to a market economy in the Soviet Union on the basis of Russia's 500-day plan, that is, the "Transition to the Market - Concept and Program." In early September 1990, the group submitted a plan that stipulated that the Soviet Union would "carry out drastic reforms" in 17 months, along the lines of privatization and market-oriented reforms, with at least 70 per cent of industrial enterprises privatized and transformed into joint-stock companies, while encouraging large-scale foreign investment and establishing a new financial system on the basis of private commercial banks and so-called "market guarantees". Its full name is the Shatarin-Yavlinsky 500-Day Plan.

While all the fools who preach private ownership were cheering for this plan, only Ryzhkov was soberly aware of what terrible catastrophe was about to happen, but he was powerless to stop it, because public opinion and the government were all on Yeltsin's side, and no one wanted to speak for him. So Ryzhkov could only choose to resign in silent protest.

Pavlov took Yanayev's words and said to Ryzhkov, "So you will take the post of Minister of Economy of the USSR to carry out your plan of careful change, do you have any opinion on this?" ”

"You'd better be smart." Hearing what the prime minister said, Ryzhkov decided to retreat and strive for more initiative, "Reform is an extremely risky approach, and many measures will bring unpredictable consequences, so what I need is absolute guarantee, to ensure that any measures I take will not be influenced by the top or others." And the most important point, how can I, a person with no power or position, go to the Central Committee to serve as Minister of Economic Affairs? ”

Yanayev and Pavlov looked at each other and smiled at each other, and said in unison, "This is the unanimous decision of the members of the Politburo, and you will be the head of the economic department." ”

"When you say that, does it give people a sense of admiration?" Ryzhkov muttered quietly.

Seeing that he was still not at ease, Yanayev could only guarantee with a wry smile, "The position of Minister of Economy is only temporary, and we will transfer you to your position later." Today, I just want to tell you the news, and the discussion of the specific situation will be arranged separately for another day. And I guarantee that your reform measures will be put in place, now is not the time for Gorbachev to speak, in September 1990, you watched the motherland fall into the abyss because of a bunch of fools and people with ulterior motives and could not do anything, but now that you are given another chance, will you choose to save her without hesitation? ”

"Of course I will."

Hearing Yanayev's words, Ryzhkov looked up at him, his eyes brighter and more determined than at the desperate meeting in September 1990.

(Anyway, do you have any suggestions for the dilemma of the three Baltic countries?) Political means other than military action. )