Shamilov was originally a small-time gangster in the Soviet city of Blagoveshchensk. He knew nothing about politics, but after two years of contact with Wan Feng, he became more and more concerned about politics, so he would also ask some political questions.
"Wan, our Soviet Union was once a vast empire. If it sneezed, all of Western Europe would tremble. If it really split and disintegrated as you said, what would be the reason?"
"What's the reason? It's a long story, like freezing to death in June. There are many reasons, including hegemonic expansion, ethnic conflicts, and policy errors, but the main reason is the sheer size of your Soviet military-industrial complex. Simply put, the Soviet Union was a nation held hostage by the military-industrial complex. Almost every policy was influenced by it and always benefited it. Compared to it, other interests seem insignificant. You probably don't quite understand, so I'll use an aspect of your life as an example to illustrate the dominance of the military-industrial complex."
Wan Feng paused and continued, "You, the Soviet Union, have a vast and comprehensive industrial system, and some of the world's most advanced technology, but you can't even produce products that are so closely related to people's lives. Don't you think this is unusual?"
Shamilov scratched his head. "It seems very abnormal. Why does this phenomenon occur?"
"Which would you say has a bigger impact, making needles and thread or making airplanes and cannons?"
"Of course, it's to build airplanes and cannons."
"That's it. The military-industrial complexes are starving for money when it comes to making everyday items for the people, so they can only make airplanes and cannons. But airplanes and cannons are just scrap metal if they're not used. These things have to be put to use. So how do you think airplanes and cannons can be put to use?"
Shamilov answered mechanically: "Export or war."
"Correct. This is one of the reasons why the Soviet Union has been constantly expanding over the years, and also one of the reasons why you launched the Afghan War. At its peak, your country's military spending accounted for 40% of its GDP. This means that nearly half of the value created by the Soviet Union each year was taken away by the military-industrial complex. They used this money to build airplanes and artillery, expand their hegemony, invade Afghanistan, and support puppet forces. As a result, your domestic economy is unbalanced and full of contradictions. Isn't it normal for it to disintegrate or even split?"
A country's normal military expenditure usually accounts for between 2% and 4% of its national income. Exceeding 5% will cause a country's finances to be unbalanced.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union's military expenditure was usually between 20 and 40 percent. How could such a country not have ethnic conflicts and social unrest?
Most soldiers are hawkish people. Once they get excited about many things, their most direct reaction is to fight against the opposition.
A country cannot be without such people. Without passionate soldiers, the country will be weak.
However, if a country is controlled by the military or is held hostage by military-industrial interest groups, then this country will become a very stupid country.
If this country adopts a policy of taking whatever action it wants, it would be strange if there were no problems.
Moreover, military personnel are usually not very good at economics, so few of the countries in the third world that often come to power through coups have good economies.
Not only the third world countries, but also a number of Latin American countries that were once developed countries in the 1960s and 1970s eventually became third world countries under the leadership of military governments.
"According to you, our Soviet Union is destined to split and disintegrate?" Shamilov asked with some reluctance.
"The probability is over 90%. You'd better prepare to become a Russian screwman. Maybe in a few years, there will be a country like the Soviet Union again in the world. When we meet again, you may be a citizen of the Russian screw country."
Shamilov shook his head bitterly.
He always had a little doubt in his mind that the huge Soviet empire would disappear from the world.
In fact, according to Wan Feng's explanation, there is no need to worry or feel sad. For ordinary people like them, it doesn't matter who comes to power. The sun will rise as usual no matter who comes to power. They still have to make a living. Instead of worrying about things that have little to do with themselves, it is better to be down-to-earth and do something mysterious.
Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye it was December.
By December 5th, Wanfeng had completed the transaction of all the goods in the base warehouse and announced the closure of its business.
After the business was closed, the base staff were laid off.
On the second day after the closure, Wan Feng invited all the employees of the base to a meal at a riverside restaurant, then paid them all their wages and gave each of them a bonus of 10,000 yuan.
These people are all locals, and many of them have been providing basic services at the base since the beginning. There are about thirty of them, including the five people with fire attributes.
After spending more than two years together, both sides are reluctant to part.
Wan Feng liked the loyalty of these people. In the past two years, there has never been any theft or embezzlement at the base, and everything is in perfect order.
These employees like Wan Feng because he is an easy-going boss. If he has time in the base, he can chat with anyone for a long time.
Another thing is that they are generous. Their salary levels are always the highest in Heihe, and their year-end bonuses are very generous.
"Boss! Will you come again in the future?"
"I will come, but I will just come as a tourist to see everyone, not necessarily to do business."
Wan Feng would definitely come, but he would not do any business. Although domestic steel was still in short supply at that time, he was not planning to do it anymore.
Because when the port reopens, transactions will not be as disorderly as they are now, and the Swiss franc will be used as a currency anchor to measure prices.
In other words, it would no longer happen that he could exchange one or two boxes of wine for a ton of steel.
The transactions between the two parties have become rational, so the profit margin will be greatly reduced, and he will no longer be able to earn hundreds of millions of profits in a month.
If he earns one or two million a month, why would he come here?
He now has tens of billions of original funds, which is enough for him to do many things he wants to do.
Wan Feng shook hands with everyone who left here and said goodbye.
After seeing these people off, Wan Feng prepared another banquet, this time to entertain some of his local connections in Heihe.
People in the Heihe government who have connections with Quyang, people in the public security system and the tax system, as well as local people who have a good relationship with Wan Feng.
Wan Feng booked the entire second floor of the riverside hotel, and there were more than a dozen banquet tables.
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