Chapter 207: Unknowingly Changing History

In that moment, Zhou Ming felt his breath nearly stop, and his heart was heavy. If his assumptions were correct, his gamble-like actions not only earned him high political scores but also influenced global events through domestic actions, advancing the showdown between East and West.

This thought frightened Zhou Ming. If his connections really did alter the historical trajectory, wouldn't his memories from his previous life become useless?

However, this thought was fleeting. Zhou Ming quickly dismissed it from his mind. History has its own enormous inertia; he could only slightly alter the course of some events. Completely changing history was nearly impossible. After all, despite his efforts to deviate from the original path, the events that were supposed to happen still occurred in a manner similar to his previous life—just earlier.

Moreover, even if history were fundamentally altered because of him, it didn't matter. He was no longer the person he was in his previous life but a great figure who truly changed history! No matter how history changed, he would find a way to handle it!

With this thought, Zhou Ming's confidence surged once more.

Yang Dingguo, observing Zhou Ming's changing expression, was somewhat surprised. Although Yang Dingguo didn't know Zhou Ming's thoughts, the look in his eyes and the confidence behind it reminded him of the great figure's gaze in a cave during a revolutionary base's defense against a reactionary attack long ago.

Yang Dingguo exhaled and asked Zhou Ming, "You seem surprised by this news?"

Zhou Ming nodded honestly, saying, "I'm very surprised. According to my predictions, this event shouldn't have happened so soon."

"Why?" Yang Dingguo asked curiously.

"The world is like a chess game. My encounter with that foreign girl at Yanjing University proved that the foreign hostile forces have not fully prepared their arrangement against our country. Since there was a mistake in the chess game, there's no reason for them to rush an all-out attack. After all, the Cold War has lasted for over half a century; one or two more years won't make a difference. The leaders of Western countries shouldn't be so impatient."

Zhou Ming continued, "Now, since they're acting so urgently, if I'm not mistaken, it must be because our anti-espionage actions have made Western countries aware of the danger. They fear that their years or even decades of preparation might be in vain, so they're acting hastily."

"Excellent judgment!" Yang Dingguo praised. "Comrade Zhou Ming, my thoughts align with yours. What do you think will happen next in Eastern Europe?"

Facing this question, Zhou Ming pondered for a moment and then shook his head. "It's hard to say. Since things have already changed, no one knows if Western countries will make any adjustments."

"It's alright. Such things are inherently unpredictable. Feel free to speak boldly. Even if you're wrong, it doesn't matter," Yang Dingguo encouraged Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming said, "Thank you, Elder Yang. My guess is that Hungary will experience a change of regime similar to Poland. The Berlin Wall will fall, East Germany will merge with West Germany, achieving German reunification. Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia will also erupt into revolutionary movements, either overthrowing their respective regimes or splitting. In any case, the entire Eastern Europe will undergo upheaval. The Soviet Union, although it still appears to be a superpower on the surface, will be fragmented internally. Eventually, it will disintegrate into independent states."

If Zhou Ming had made this statement in front of Yang Dingguo and Du Zhongyuan yesterday, they would have laughed at him as if he were talking nonsense. After all, for these elders who had lived through the revolutionary era, the impact of the Soviet Union on them was immense. In their minds, the Soviet Union was the big brother of the socialist camp and a major superpower contending with the entire West. How could it possibly disintegrate so easily?

However, now that Zhou Ming had accurately predicted the situation in Poland as if he had received precise intelligence in advance, his subsequent words had to be taken seriously.

Yang Dingguo lit another cigarette and asked, "How long do you estimate Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union can last through this upheaval?"

"Unless a remarkably politically talented genius emerges in the Soviet Union, it will disintegrate within two years, at most three," Zhou Ming thought for a moment and added, "Even if such a genius appears, the Soviet Union's economy has already been hollowed out, and the people's living conditions are extremely difficult. These are long-standing issues that no single person can resolve, so no one can save the Soviet Union from its fate."

Yang Dingguo took a deep drag from his cigarette. "Only two or three years?"

"Although it's just two or three years, I believe, Elder Yang, you need not worry about this. Western countries will not immediately turn their guns on us," Zhou Ming said.

This remark made Yang Dingguo raise his eyebrows, eyes sparkling with hope. "What do you mean by that?"

"Firstly, the Soviet Union has been a superpower dominating the world for over half a century. As they say, 'a thousand-legged insect is not dead.' Even if the Soviet Union disintegrates, it still possesses many advanced weapons and nuclear warheads. These cannot but make Western countries wary. Besides, the wealth accumulated by the Soviet Union over more than half a century will also make Western countries envious. In short, whether out of fear or greed, Western countries will definitely focus on this superpower's corpse in the coming years, leaving little attention for anything else."

"Secondly," Zhou Ming continued, "Americans are genuine capitalists. They only act based on interests. They won't engage in actions that don't benefit them."

"Our country is at least a nuclear power. Americans and Western countries will never risk a war with us. They will only engage in covert operations, just like they did in Eastern Europe. As long as we guard against this, they will have no way to deal with us."

As soon as Zhou Ming finished speaking, Du Zhongyuan happily said, "Well said!"

Compared to Du Zhongyuan's excitement, although Yang Dingguo didn't express it so overtly, he extinguished the cigarette he had just lit and then relit another one. This small action indicated that Yang Dingguo's inner calm was far from tranquil.

"Comrade Zhou Ming, what do you think we should do?" Yang Dingguo asked.

Du Zhongyuan glanced at Yang Dingguo, noticing that Yang Dingguo was now addressing Zhou Ming as 'comrade' rather than 'little comrade.' This slight difference in address carried significant meaning.

Elder Yang would never make such a mistake. His use of 'comrade' indicated his recognition of Zhou Ming's capabilities.

Zhou Ming also noticed this distinction but didn't mind. He replied to Yang Dingguo, "Elder Yang, I think what we need to do is very simple: integrate into the world."

"Integrate into the world?" Yang Dingguo and Du Zhongyuan asked in unison.

Zhou Ming nodded. "Yes, just like in business, the best way to neutralize a competitor is to integrate with them. When you're in me and I'm in you, there's no competition anymore."

"The reason Western countries dare to recklessly disrupt Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union is that the entire Warsaw Pact is completely cut off from the world. No matter how they disrupt things, it won't negatively affect Western countries or the world. On the contrary, resolving a competitor is highly beneficial for their development, so they can act boldly," Zhou Ming said.

"For us, fortunately, the central government has implemented reform and opening up. This is our opportunity to integrate into the world."

Zhou Ming gave Yang Dingguo a bit of flattery and continued, "As long as we continue deepening reform and opening up, actively opening our country's doors, reforming our economic system, and integrating our economy with the global economy, if our country encounters chaos, Western countries and the entire world will face misfortune as well. Only then will we be truly safe."

Du Zhongyuan thought for a moment and said, "I agree with Comrade Zhou Ming's view. But what if Western countries, despite the risk of harming themselves, try to disrupt us?"

"If it were a feudal or militaristic dictatorship, perhaps they would do that. But Western countries would never do such a thing," Zhou Ming said decisively. "Elder Yang, Chairman Du, I've said before that Americans are genuine capitalists. They only fight for interests. They won't engage in battles without benefits. Their political system determines their way of thinking. Maybe one leader might lose their mind, but a group of people would never do such a thing. Even if someone wanted to, others would surely pull them back."

Hearing Zhou Ming's explanation, Yang Dingguo and Du Zhongyuan finally relaxed. Yang Dingguo smiled and said, "It seems that our decision to implement reform and opening up has inadvertently saved us."

Zhou Ming shook his head. "I don't think it's like that. I only know that Elder Yang and the central government's intention to reform and open up was to improve the people's livelihoods."

Yang Dingguo nodded. "Yes! Poverty is not socialism, and wealth is not capitalism. Regardless of the system, the ultimate goal is to ensure the people's well-being."

"Regardless of whether the cat is black or white, a good cat is one that catches mice," Zhou Ming added, quoting Elder Yang's famous saying.

Yang Dingguo laughed heartily. "Exactly!"

After discussing the most important matters, Yang Dingguo took a couple more puffs of his cigarette

 and then revealed something to Zhou Ming. "Comrade Zhou Ming, I think there's something you should know. At the recent Second Plenary Session, Comrade Dong Zhen has been removed from all positions within and outside the Party."

The news made Zhou Ming's mind explode: "What the heck? Have I unknowingly changed history again?"