Chapter 26 Mr. Nikolic

There are two White Houses in the world. One is needless to say, but anyone who pays attention to world current affairs knows it well. It is the symbol of the government of a superpower. In contrast, the White House of the other superpower is not as eye-catching, but in fact it is also the location of an important parliament building and an important organ of power. As for Zhou Ming, he knows even better that the future change of dynasties in the world situation actually starts from here.

Unlike the three-story house in the United States, the Soviet White House was a magnificent high-rise building, which reminded Zhou Ming of the county government buildings that had sprung up in the future.

At this time, Zhou Ming and Kareina were going through military inspections. From Kareina's tightly pursed lips, Zhou Ming could tell that she was very nervous. After all, they were not exactly journalists. As long as the military investigated a little, they could easily expose them. At this tense moment, it was hard to say what the military would do.

'Relax, we'll be fine,'

Zhou Ming said to Katerina. Katerina turned around just in time to see Zhou Ming's confident smile, which made her feel at ease. What's more, Zhou Ming was speaking Chinese, and the Soviet soldiers nearby couldn't understand a word.

After the inspection, and with the testimony of Zhoraeva, they were quickly released.

After passing the army inspection, Zhuravleva led Zhou Ming and the others through the defensive wall of opposition civilians and finally entered the White House.

Walking towards the White House gate, Katerina said with emotion, 'My God, I never thought we would actually get in. Those soldiers outside really didn't verify our identities. This is unbelievable! Zhuravleva, how did you perform this magic trick?'

'This is not magic, but these days I have seen foreign journalists enter and leave like this without any problems, so I just let you try,' said Ruzayeva.

Kaleina then turned to Zhou Ming and said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, your luck is really too good. I never thought that these coup troops would help you so much. If I hadn't been following you all the time, I would have thought that those soldiers were all sent by you!'

'My luck is indeed very good,' Zhou Ming said, but what he meant was not this, but the fact that the army and the opposition had been at an impasse for so many days, and it was precisely because of their stalemate that he had been given the opportunity to set up and manoeuvre.

'But we can't just come in here. This White House is too big. We have to find a way to find Mr. Nikolic first,' Zhou Ming said.

Katerina nodded in understanding, and she relayed Zhou Ming's meaning to Zhoraeva. Zhoraeva thought for a moment and said, 'Normally, anyone who wants to see Mr. Nikolic needs to apply to the ministry first, but the situation is so bad right now. If you are journalists, I think it will be very easy to see Mr. Nikolic, because he has been giving interviews to journalists from various countries these past few days.'

'Really? Then we are so lucky, no wonder you want us to disguise ourselves as journalists,' Zhou Ming said, 'So where is Mr. Nikolic now? Can we go and see him?'

Zhoraeva shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, I'm just a small clerk in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, I don't know, but according to the usual practice these days, he should be in the conference room on the first floor giving interviews to reporters. We can try our luck there.'

Katerina translated Zhoraeva's answer for Zhou Ming, who nodded and said, "Then that's where we'll go.'

Zhou Ming and the others were then led by Zhurayeva to the conference room. The corridor leading to the conference room was bright and spacious. Zhurayeva said that this was where the parliamentarians of the Northern Russian Republic met and held press conferences, and she deliberately compared it to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

It was not hard to imagine what kind of place this was. Every parliamentarian who could enter here to hold a meeting was arrogant, and it was feared that even the civil servants working here should be very proud.

In addition, I'm afraid that when they walk here normally, someone will come up to them and ask who they are and what they are doing here. But that's all in the past. Although the corridor is still the same corridor and the people are still the same people, the situation is different now.

First of all, there are a lot of scattered paper documents everywhere, which look messy. It's obvious that no one has tidied them up for a while, and even everyone who walks by here just ignores them. It's as if this place is not the parliament building of any country, but just a slum with no rules.

Second, everyone walking past here is in a hurry, with anxious and frightened expressions on their faces, as if there is a grim reaper behind them urging them on. Some people even hurriedly came over and almost bumped into Zhou Ming, but he didn't react at all, just hurriedly walked on, as if he had lost his soul. No one really cared what identity Zhou Ming and the others had, or what they were doing here.

In response, Zhurayeva said, 'I'm sorry, the White House has been surrounded for four days. Everyone here is almost driven crazy by the pressure. From Mr. Nikolic to the Prime Minister to everyone in the White House, no one knows what the future will hold, so no one is in a good mood.'

Zhou Ming understood that Zhurayeva's tone was also full of frustration. After all, this was a genuine coup d'état, and the place was surrounded by heavily armed troops. The coup d'état was also led by the real power figures of the central party, government and military. Coups d'état that killed people on a large scale were not unheard of in this land, purges were common, but at least they were deeply etched in everyone's minds, and were in no way comparable to the scenes in third-rate film and television dramas.

So how can everyone not worry? How can they not worry about those soldiers outside who may storm in at any time, or execute them on the spot, or herd them like animals to a prison to await execution?

These thoughts weigh like boulders on their chests, making it hard for them to breathe. It is precisely for this reason that the atmosphere in the White House has become increasingly oppressive, and everyone is on the verge of despair.

But there was still one question. Karolina asked, 'But the outside isn't completely sealed off, isn't there a way for you to get out, Zhoraeva? Why doesn't everyone run?'

Zhoraeva gave a wry smile and replied, 'How come no one's running? It's just that the army outside isn't letting everyone go, and even if they do let one or two people go, they won't let more. If anyone had the ability to run away in the past few days, they would have already done so. The rest of us either don't want to lose our jobs or are no longer able to run away.'

After hearing Kareina's translation, Zhou Ming suddenly asked her, 'What about you? You also have the ability to run away, so why are you still here and why did you bring us in?'

This time, Kareina did not translate, but instead directly said to Zhou Ming, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, there are always people who will fight to the end for some beliefs, even though Zhoraeva is just a woman.'

Kareina's tone was full of determination, which made Zhou Ming a little surprised. It seemed that there must be some story behind her.

Of course, Zhou Ming was only surprised for a moment. He shrugged his shoulders unnecessarily and quickly stopped the topic, without being nosy and continuing to ask her what her beliefs were. In fact, Zhou Ming simply did not have the time to pursue this, because at this time a group of people came over from afar.

'This Emergency Committee is illegal, it has not been authorised by the President at all. From beginning to end, it is a complete conspiracy, a coup planned by a group of conspirators. They intend to undermine the unity and stability of the country. They only want to ensure their own interests. They only want to ride on top of the people and be the masters, ensuring their privileges. This is a crime against all the people and the entire country!'

'Everyone came in through the front door, and I believe everyone has a clear view of the situation outside. The black muzzles of the tanks and the weapons in the hands of the soldiers should be on the battlefield protecting the country and the people, but now, because of the machinations of some conspirators, they have turned their guns on their own people and the parliament building. What a tragedy.'

'Here, I would like to call on all countries in the world to intervene in this coup. Because I and my people are friendly, but those coup plotters want to establish a military dictatorship. They control the central government, the army, and our president. Their goal is to drag the world into the abyss of terror. I believe this is definitely not what anyone wants to see...'

Someone was giving an impassioned speech over there. It was a tall North Russian man with a receding hairline and white hair, and brown eyes like an Asian.

His face is one that no one from this era would recognise, because he changed the world's landscape.

Within the Soviet Union, he also performed many miracles. He was the youngest secretary of a municipal party committee, the youngest secretary of a provincial party committee, and even the youngest general secretary of the North Russian Communist Party and the youngest president. It can be imagined how difficult it was for him to accomplish these things in the extremely rigid Soviet Union.

However, if he did not have the ability, he would not have become the key figure who ended the bipolar confrontation in the world.

This person is so famous that Zhou Ming, who has lived two lives, can recognise him without Zhuravleva's introduction. He is the current President of the Republic of Northern Russia, Mr Nikolayevich.

Over there, Nikolayevich is surrounded by his secretary and reporters as he walks towards Zhou Ming and the others. Zhuravleva goes up to explain the situation, but a middle-aged man strides over and rebukes Zhuravleva sternly: 'What are you doing here? Who are these people? Get out of the way, don't block the road here, Mr Nikolic is going past!'

'Mr Minister, these are journalists from China, they also want to interview Mr Nikolic...'

Rulayeva hurriedly introduced the identity of Zhou Ming and the others, but the man didn't want to listen at all, and interrupted her directly with a wave of his hand, saying, 'What journalists from China, I've never heard of it. Now Mr Nikolic is going to the basement to work, so you hurry up and get out of the way!'

The man then called someone over to block Zhou Ming and the others to one side, and then saw Nikolajevich walk over, surrounded by a group of people, passing in front of Zhou Ming and the others. No one even looked at them directly. In response, Zhurayeva apologetically said to Zhou Ming, 'It seems that it's really unfortunate. What news did Mr. Nikolajevich get that he had to go underground to work and take refuge?'

Zhou Ming, however, said without caring, 'He is going to go underground to take refuge, but it doesn't mean that I won't have the opportunity to talk and drink with him.'

This remark left both Katerina and Zhoraeva stunned. They couldn't understand where Zhou Ming got his confidence from, until Zhou Ming said the next thing...

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