A Scale Claw

"The focus of the Soviet Union's work will shift from the class struggle for the liberation of the world to economic construction, and establish an economic system with public ownership as the main body and multiple ownership economies developing together? Comrade Yanaev, what are you thinking about? Revisionism? This is a betrayal of the line of the communist cause." After listening to Yanaev's work plan, Pavlov was no less surprised than when he decided on the August 19 coup. He could accept economic transformation and tolerate the existence of a market economy. But he could not accept the line of class struggle being completely transformed into economic development. This was a blasphemy against Marxism-Leninism.

"Do you have a better idea, Comrade Pavlov?" Yanayev, who rarely smoked, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took out a cigarette and lit it. "In fact, you can see that Yeltsin's full market economy itself is a stupid and wrong choice, and the danger of collapse brought about by the rigid Stalin model is obvious to all. Only by adhering to public ownership as the main body and the common development of various economies can the Soviet Union escape the fate of being eliminated by the world. In other words, in the eyes of Comrade Pavlov, class struggle is more important than the development of the Soviet Union?"

Pavlov was speechless for a moment. He wanted to speak up to refute, but Yanayev did not give him the chance and continued to explain, "Moreover, economic construction is not something that can be done behind closed doors. If we only develop ourselves behind closed doors, we will eventually be abandoned by the world. Therefore, 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 industry. Of course, the lifeline of the national economy, such as heavy industry, will never be controlled by Western capitalists."

If Yanayev's previous words had surprised Pavlov, then what he said about introducing foreign investment was a subversive shock. What did this mean? The decades-long ideological confrontation between the communist camp and the Western free world was gradually collapsing.

"No matter how cautious the Western governments are, how could the capitalists who only care about interests and ignore nationality let go of such a big piece of fat as the Soviet Union. The continuous influx of capital into the Soviet Union has driven the sustained development of the economy. Only in this way can we get out of the deadlock of the Stalin model. This is my economic plan. Are there any problems?" Yanaev asked. He has seen many dirty things in which Western governments said no with their mouths but cooperated with their bodies honestly.

"There is a question: in the end, will we have communism or capitalism? Or both?" Pavlov does not have the same view as other leaders of other countries that economic construction should go straight forward. What he is most concerned about is the reaction of the Western world. If they cannot be accommodated, where should he go?

Yanaev had thought about this before. If that time came, they would just have to go their separate ways. As long as the Soviet Union had a chance to catch its breath, it would not stop infiltrating and attacking the West. Yanaev's policy was to attack and divide Western Europe. Since the economic rise could not match that of other countries, Yanaev would weaken the political power of Western European countries by changing the structure of the Third World. At this moment, he thought of those religious fanatics who would become the nightmare of the whole world in the future.

"Our southern neighbors have a famous saying: It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it can catch mice, it is a good cat. Similarly, whether it is communism or capitalism, pragmatism is what can contribute to our great ideal. Comrade Pavlov, poverty is not communism. What we need to do is to achieve common prosperity for all. Establish a communist system with Soviet characteristics."

"Also, for future development, the Soviet Union needs an ally, a strong, reliable ally that can deal with the United States. We can't rely on those fence-sitters in Europe, and we are already unable to maintain the bipolar hegemony. Now we need to win over one more country, form a three-legged situation, and completely change the world pattern." Yanaev's words foreshadowed that the Soviet Union's foreign policy would change completely in the future, and the hints reflected in his words also foreshadowed that Yanaev had a bigger plan in mind.

"Comrade Yanaev, I can agree with your approach, but have you ever thought about the risks such a change will bring?" Pavlov asked.

The biggest risk is that the relaxation of policies during economic reform will give rise to a group of corrupt parasites, and these people are the targets of Yanaev's vigorous crackdown.

"Of course I understand that in fact the economic reform plan also has a series of supporting measures to serve as a dam against this tsunami-like impact." Yanaev has already thought of a countermeasure.

After persuading Pavlov, Yanaev went to see the Minister of Internal Affairs Pugo and the Chairman of the KGB Kryuchkov. As the two departments responsible for supervising dissidents within the party and maintaining social stability, Yanaev needed them to implement the Great Purge plan for him.

"Establish a disciplinary inspection committee to supervise the life style of officials?" Pugo and Kryuchkov were not too surprised. After the new leader takes office, there will be a political purge. As two people who stand on the right side, they will of course become Yanayev's butcher knife at this time and carry out some actions to stabilize the political situation. To put it bluntly, it is to eliminate the politicians who stand on the side of Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Every time the political situation is turbulent, these poor unlucky people will become victims of the struggle.

However, Yanaev'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 should focus on. No matter which faction they belong to, if you find that they have a history of corruption, please go to the KGB headquarters for tea. I believe that a lot of stolen money can be plundered from these people to fill the treasury. Do you understand what I mean?"

Yanaev handed them two copies of the list, which included the top and bottom leaders of the political departments of major cities. Yanaev's top-down political purge would overturn the personnel structure of the Soviet Union's middle and high levels.

This was a mission that always offended people. Yanayev, who held the military power, could ignore it, but Pugo and Kryuchkov, who needed to take care of their colleagues' feelings, would become the target of public criticism. For a moment, neither of them dared to agree to Yanayev's words.

Yanaev's face darkened instantly, and he said in an unhappy tone, "Comrade Pugo, Comrade Kryuchkov, you who want to maintain stability must understand one thing, that is, where the crown of power in your hands comes from. I can crown you kings, but I can also make you useless. Do you care about your colleagues? As long as I am the general secretary, I am the only one who can take action against you."

Yanaev's words were very clear. Since you are unwilling to carry out the task of the Great Purge, then don't blame me for replacing someone else to implement the iron-blooded policy. It is hard to say whether you will be liquidated at that time.

There was no room for bargaining, so Pugo had to bite the bullet and accept the offer. He wiped the 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 must be replaced." Compared to Stalin's achievements of nearly annihilating all the people, Yanayev chose to handle it with caution. "And according to the sentencing standards, the more corrupt officials who are shot, the better. Oh, especially those officials who yearn for Western freedom. They are the focus of attention. And we need the people to see the determination to rectify the corrupt bureaucracy so that they can regain their confidence in the Soviet Union."

What Yanayev hated most were those traitors who shouted for freedom and criticized the system, while preparing to launder the black money they had embezzled into legal sources of income after the country fell. He wanted to take out all the money these people had swallowed and then shoot them.

"What should we do with the positions vacated by the executed officials?" Kryuchkov asked. Compared with the execution of officials, the huge empire losing so many gears in an instant would inevitably affect the operation of the state machinery.

Yanayev had anticipated this. He pointed to the thick personnel files on the table and said with a smile, "Do you think I haven't decided on the candidates yet? No one on the list given to you can be left out. We need conclusive evidence to make them confess their crimes and feel the punishment of communism."

Pugo and Kryuchkov looked at each other silently, with the same thought in their minds. It seemed that President Yanayev was really ready to take action against the entrenched bureaucracy. Could he make everyone bow down to him just by relying on his tough measures?