Chapter 404 Game of Thrones (Bug Fix): We Are All Victims
For the rest of the day, everyone in and around the Kremlin was spinning like a top.
Even the president himself is no exception.
He needs to persuade Soskowitz to admit his mistakes and step forward to resign.
This is a very difficult task, and no politician will easily admit to making a mistake.
Especially for old-fashioned Soviet cadres like Soskowets, his education and upbringing dictated that he believed cadres must maintain a perfect public image before falling from power.
But that's also what makes the president so remarkable; he always manages to get people to step forward, from Gaidar to Chubais to Soskowets.
The most amazing thing is that these people, after being pushed to the forefront, did not resent the president who had thrown them into the spotlight.
Doesn't this illustrate the president's character? Although he is viewed quite poorly by outsiders, those who have dealt with him for many years generally consider him a gentle and honest person.
It is probably this very quality that has sustained him in politics to this day.
Soskowitz was persuaded, and the president was to officially begin recording his address to the nation.
Chubais rushed over, holding the form to check the process.
While going over the process with him, Wang Xiao asked softly, "Sir, are you satisfied with my work?"
She said this just as Soskowitz apologized to the nation and announced her resignation from election preparations.
Therefore, the hidden meaning behind her words is already quite obvious.
As expected of someone who had served as Deputy Prime Minister and then been ousted from the White House, experiencing both highs and lows, Chubais gave a very smooth reply: "Miss Wang, you have always been a top-notch public relations professional."
God, he had to suppress his astonishment.
While he was still figuring out how to use fake votes to embarrass Soskowitz, she had already ousted Russia's current deputy prime minister from her campaign team.
So what if Soskowitz remains the deputy prime minister?
There's a saying that goes something like this: from Tsarist Russia to the Soviet Union and then to Russia, the essence of power operation has never changed; it has always been the Tsar.
Whoever can surround the master of the Kremlin and gain his support can wield great power in this country.
Otherwise, prepare to go to hell.
What he went through, his former colleagues will most likely have gone through as well.
Wang Xiao joked, "If you are satisfied with my work, sir, shouldn't you give me a bonus?"
Chubais gave her a meaningful look and said meaningfully, "Of course, it's my honor."
Khodulkovsky and the others thought she would have to swallow her pride and wash her underwear for the sake of wealth, but she simply fired the middleman and dealt directly with the president herself.
Even for this presidential speech, the Kremlin bypassed Berezovsky, the head of Channel One, and Gusinsky, the president of NTV, and had it recorded directly by a television station.
It's easy to imagine how furious these two media moguls would be when the program aired that evening, swallowing their anger and resentment.
But they dared not utter a word, because they were a typical example of someone who lacked a sense of the bigger picture, and were afraid of incurring the wrath of the Kremlin.
What else could Chubais say about the person who orchestrated all this, who dared to call himself his subordinate, except that he considered it his good fortune?
Could it be that he's not happy about the benefits of Soskowitz being kicked out? He's getting a good deal and then complaining.
If that's the case, he might be the one to benefit next time.
Chubais had already fallen once and had absolutely no interest in experiencing it a second time.
Wang Xiao smiled and said, "Then I'll just wait for the bonus."
The TV station staff finally got the equipment set up, and everyone immediately took their positions, holding their breath and waiting to film.
After reviewing the footage, Wang Xiao stepped forward and added a reflector, explaining to Ji Yachenko, "This will make him look more energetic."
Tyachenko reacted very quickly and even came up with a new idea: "What if we turn on another light?"
“No,” Wang Xiao shook her head. “That would make my face look too pale and puffy.”
For others, puffiness is at most a slight loss of appearance in the public eye, nothing serious.
But the president is different; health issues are his biggest problem.
Even though a lot of false information has been released, creating a sense of "crying wolf" fatigue among the public, there are still shrewd individuals who won't let go of the president's health issues. If they manage to find something to use against him, then everyone is doomed.
After all, no matter how terrified the public is of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, they wouldn't be so delusional as to elect a corpse to the throne.
With the lighting issue resolved, the president began reading the public relations statement, which had been revised five times by seven people, verbatim.
First, he acknowledged the existence of the problem. The president admitted to television viewers that he had seen the newspapers the night before and had also spoken with relevant personnel to understand the situation, and found that there were indeed problems with the primaries.
Puno quietly stood next to Wang Xiao and sighed softly, "This is probably the first time a Russian head of state has apologized to the public."
During the long Soviet era, government remedial actions were permissible, but apologies were absolutely forbidden.
It's easy to imagine how shocked Russian television viewers must have been to witness this.
This matter alone will likely be discussed for a long time.
Wang Xiao smiled and replied softly, "This is just the beginning."
That's exactly the kind of stunning effect we're looking for.
Tap water is always the most powerful. And the more it's discussed, the more likely it is to be chosen. People always choose what they are familiar with.
The president took a sip of water, giving the imagined audience time to react and to build up his emotions before moving on to the next segment—analysis.
"I couldn't sleep at all last night. I kept thinking about why this terrible situation happened."
"Fake votes, fake votes where no one benefits. So what if all one million ballots have my name on them? They're not real ballots; they're just there to familiarize the staff with the election process."
"Some say that doing this will mislead the public into thinking that I am everyone's supporter, thus creating a psychological suggestion for voters to vote for me. See, everyone voted for me. What a cunning tyrant!"
"But if that's the case, why are there still opinion poll rankings in newspapers, on TV, and on the radio? Unfortunately, although my approval rating is rising, now at 15%, it's never been number one. Look..."
He gave the familiar wry smile, saying, "The Soviet secretaries always had 100% approval ratings."
The script prompted him to pause at this point, as the writers predicted that the audience would chuckle knowingly.
“I spoke with them all, the people involved in this work, and they told me, Boris, really, the people who did this had no malicious intent and weren’t deliberately causing trouble.”
"Yes, although the result was terrible, I have to believe that it was a group of good people who did nothing wrong who messed it all up. They had never experienced a real election, they didn't know what to do, and could only rely on their familiar Soviet working methods to get the job done."
"Yes, I brought up the Soviet Union again. For a long time now, many well-meaning people have reminded me, Boris, not to talk about the Soviet Union anymore; that's a long time ago. But while we destroyed the Soviet state apparatus, we failed to completely eradicate its lingering working methods and toxic mindset!"
"We thought that by overthrowing the Soviets, we had overthrown everything. But the facts prove that the ghost of the old system still lingers in many corners, imprisoning the minds of some officials and workers. That 'Soviet work model' of formalism, perfunctory work, fear of taking responsibility, and ultimately dealing with things superficially was fully exposed in this incident!"
"It has distorted our values and corrupted the meaning of work. It has turned Russian workers, once known for their diligence, perseverance, honesty, and creativity, into people bound by bureaucratic procedures, accustomed to merely going through the motions, and even lost their way. It has made some forget their responsibilities and honors, and forget the reverence they should have for the people and for the truth!"
"We are all victims of this lingering poison! It damages the credibility of governments, undermines people's confidence in reform, and makes the international community question our path. It consumes the precious energy that we should be using to build a new life. It makes us stumble again on the road to freedom and prosperity due to the shadows of the past."
“I have no intention of blaming anyone, because this is the result of my reforms not being thorough enough and failing to eradicate these lingering effects. I failed to give the new system enough vitality to completely replace the inertia of the old model. I am to blame for this.”
Punoning listened from the side, pursing his lips, unsure how to evaluate Wang Xiao's public relations strategy.
According to the information he had received, he originally thought that Soskowitz would be the one to step forward and take the blame, and the latter's serious expression confirmed this.
But he didn't expect that there are no criminals, only the system; everyone under the system is a victim.
She turned a despicable cheating scandal into an opportunity to denounce the Soviet system!
He was starting to understand her public relations logic: there is no crisis, all crises are opportunities, opportunities to showcase oneself.
Just like the president now appealing to the camera—
"When faced with a mistake, acknowledge it, analyze it, and then we must bravely overcome it!"
Cancel the election? No! That would be surrendering to error, surrendering to the ghosts of the old era! Postpone the election? Absolutely not! That would only fester the wounds and make trust even more fragile.
The only way out is to let the real sunlight in! That is—to hold a completely transparent, fair, and free presidential election!
Therefore, I earnestly request—no, I appeal to—all the Russian people:
Please bravely go to the polling station!
Please cast your sacred vote without fear!
Regardless of whether you ultimately choose me or not—
As long as you make your choice based on your true will.
As long as your vote has not been tampered with or manipulated.
As long as the election results truly reflect the will of the people,
So this is a victory for our shared ideals! A victory for free choice! A landmark step for Russia to finally bury the remnants of the Soviet Union and move towards a true new life!
I hereby solemnly swear: I will, with all the power of the President, defend to the death the right of every Russian citizen to choose freely! I will ensure the fairness of this election and accept the people's judgment. Because your will, not any false figures or forms, is the sole foundation of Russia's future!
Fellow countrymen, our mistakes have served as a wake-up call, but they must not stop us from moving forward. Let us use our honest votes to prove to the world that the Russian people have the courage to face the past and the wisdom to create the future!
Freedom belongs to Russia! The future belongs to you!
As the president finished speaking, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Many people who were originally seated stood up and applauded enthusiastically.
These loyal supporters of the president felt that the president they knew had finally returned—the one who would stand atop a tank, facing a barrage of gunfire and artillery, and still bravely wield a megaphone, traversing the streets of Moscow to call on all Russians to stand up and defend Russia.
He convinced them that they were right to persist and that they would win.
Tyachenko rushed forward and embraced his father with tears in his eyes: "Dad, you are a hero!"
Wang Xiao didn't try to push her way forward to make her presence known. Those working behind the scenes should act like that; let's leave this heartwarming moment for the president and his daughter.
Seeing that the film crew seemed about to stop, she immediately told them, "Keep filming."
During the Soviet era, the head of state's life and work were completely separate. The government did not disclose the head of state's family life to the public.
Firstly, there is no need for it. The congress system dictates that those who have votes should base their votes on the candidate's work performance, not their personal image.
Secondly, this is also to prevent the growth of privileges and reduce the opportunities for the head of state's family to use their status to enjoy privileges everywhere.
But times have changed. From the Soviet Union to the Russian era, the head of state's votes come directly from the public. He must establish a connection with the public so that they can project their emotions onto him and thus be more inclined to vote for him (her).
After all, ordinary people simply cannot understand their own country and its people. If they can't even come into contact with them, how can they possibly learn about them?
Newspapers, television, and radio broadcast it every day, but it doesn't exist there; it remains another world, a lofty phantom.
It won't work unless it's a phantom falling from a great height to the ground, making voters think, "Oh, so he (or she) is like that too."
And the best place to put this practically is the family.
Because everyone's job is different, it is difficult for people in different jobs to empathize with each other.
But most people have their own families, or generally yearn for the warmth of family.
A president with a tough stance and full of fighting spirit, and at the same time a somewhat clumsy but loving father to his daughter, this dual identity is quite touching to the public.
The Russian people, in particular, are said to have a Slavic girl within them. Furthermore, Russia has a larger female population than male population, and women have the power to vote.
A leader should embody this image of a tough guy with a fierce heart and a tender heart.
The president and his daughter continued embracing, and the applause around them never stopped.
When Wang Xiao was assigning tasks, the applause never stopped. Now that he had finished giving instructions, he turned back and continued to clap his hands with an excited expression, while gently reminding Punoning, "Please remember to provide us with security. I've been caught in the crossfire, and I don't want to become the 'face in the snow'."
The so-called "face in the snow" was a horrific incident fabricated by Korzhakov two winters ago.
Because NTV's Gusinsky was persistent in reporting the horrors of the Chechen war, he angered the Kremlin. As a result, Korzhakov sent people to intimidate Gusinsky, and the two sides exchanged fire, causing a major incident.
Later, Gusinsky was so frightened that he fled the country and stayed in Britain for a long time until the situation on the Chechen battlefield eased before he dared to return to Russia.
So now, whenever Wang Xiao mentions "the face in the snow," Punonin feels a mix of emotions. In Russia, there are very few people who dare to stand up to Korzhakov.
He exclaimed, "You're really brave!"
Wang Xiao didn't care: "He already dislikes you, so I'm just an innocent bystander. Even if I try to please him, he won't give me a kind look."
Punoning gave her a deep look and thought to himself: You're quite good at offending people yourself.
But he readily agreed, saying, "No problem, I'll send people to protect you."
If Wang and Ivan can get into trouble right under his nose, then who will dare to trust his abilities in the future?
As the applause subsided, the president went back to rest, and Tyachenko quickly followed.
It's estimated that there will be an even more private and intimate conversation between the father and daughter.
If the president wants to groom his daughter as his successor, everything that has happened today serves as a good example.
It's a pity! This president's economic reforms never seemed to succeed, and then he encountered a severe financial crisis, which meant he was destined not to leave a substantial political legacy for his daughter.
Otherwise, Russia might have produced another Catherine the Great.
Wang Xiao looked away and continued working.
Yes, the president's filming is complete, but there's a second segment. The camera crew is now focused on another person—Deputy Prime Minister Soskowets.
Punonin was slightly surprised: "Is it not over yet?"
The president didn't mention Soskowitz's name at all during his speech, and the tax police major general assumed that the deputy prime minister had already been safely apprehended.
Wang Xiao was observing Soskowitz's condition to ensure that the image he presented to the public on camera was sincere.
"No, Soskowets is indispensable. He represents reflection, the reflection of an old man deeply influenced by the Soviet model."
Wang Xiao quickly explained and then had her assistant take away the reflector.
Soskowitz has no health problems; he made a mistake, and from a public sentiment perspective, he deserves to suffer for it, so he should look haggard and exhausted.
This way, even if he doesn't show any expression on his face, the audience won't think he's throwing a tantrum.
It was only then that Punonin realized: "You still want to take advantage of the Communist Party's voter base?"
As is well known, Zyuganov's most loyal supporters are the elderly who miss the Soviet Union.
The Kremlin had already given up on these people during the previous election campaign, but now she wants to get even this portion of the votes?
He was glad that he hadn't assumed the main event was over and left after the president's departure.
His purpose in staying was to take the opportunity to learn more so that he could mentally rehearse how he should perform in the next presidential election.
As it turned out, staying meant learning more crucial skills.
"Why not give it a try if you have the chance? How will you know if you'll succeed if you don't try?" Wang Xiao didn't mind explaining things to him in detail.
This is the next client she has chosen.
When Party A understands its own position and knows what it should do, Party B's services can play their greatest role and greatly reduce Party B's pressure.
She laughed and said, "Just do it. Always feel worthy. Tell yourself that you can get everything you want, you deserve it!"
As she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on Soskowitz, who was offering his public apology and reflection, to prevent him from saying anything incorrect and having to re-record.
Today, the deputy prime minister's task is to take responsibility for the problems that occurred in the primary election, resign from all work related to the election preparation, and reflect on himself. Taking himself as an example, he must discard the negative influence of his many years of Soviet life in order to embrace a modern way of life and work.
He announced that in the coming period, he would lead the government's work reforms, build a service-oriented government, and start with himself to change the mindset and work patterns of government employees.
Ivanov sighed softly beside him, "If things can really improve, that would be a good thing."
But they all knew perfectly well that this was a very difficult thing.
At least Wang Xiao didn't have any expectations.
Before her time travel, Russian government officials were still widely criticized for their inefficiency and poor service.
The purpose of raising this point now is simply to demonstrate the government's attitude to the public—look! We've identified the problem, and we actively want to change it.
As for when it will be fixed, that's another question.
Although Soskowitz's voice was dry and his face was stiff, he still managed to complete the recording work well from beginning to end.
He had his own work to do and didn't stay any longer.
Before leaving, he gave Wang Xiao a deep look, his expression complex, but he said nothing.
Wang Xiao stepped forward and hugged him, her tone incredibly sincere: "Thank you, sir. It was your selfless sacrifice that saved us all. We are all grateful to you."
Her eyes welled up with tears as she spoke.
Punoning was amazed by what he saw.
As Soskowitz hurriedly nodded and left, the tax police major general stepped forward and said to Wang Xiao with a meaningful sigh, "I now realize that you are a businessman."
Even in his distant student days, textbooks had taught him that capitalists would try every means to extract every last drop of surplus value from workers.
Although he has now abandoned communism, he must admit that Marxist economics still has some correct views.
However, Marx's words were still too mild. In fact, capitalists exploit far more than just workers; they make the most of every single person.
Just like the king standing in front of him, kicking Soskowitz out of the game, so as to concentrate power while also making sure that his exit would fetch the best price.
Wang Xiao smiled and said softly, "Isn't it the same for generals? No general would let his soldiers make meaningless sacrifices. A clear-headed general will always make the sacrifice as effective as possible."
From this perspective, isn't the general even more cruel? He or she uses living human lives as bargaining chips.
Punoning paused for a moment, but Wang Xiao had already started working again.
Yes, yes, yes, those who are insatiable will never be destined for a life of leisure and happiness.
After waiting patiently for the two government officials to finish recording their speeches to the people of the whole country and leave, Wang Xiao couldn't rest for even a minute.
The film crew was still packing up their equipment when her assistant managed to slip the press release into her hands for review.
Punoning peeked inside and exclaimed in surprise, "What is this?"
The words on the manuscript left him speechless.
Actually, the article didn't say anything particularly special; it just talked about the economic and social development of various countries after the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe fell from the sky.
Among the best performing teams are Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
The situation is dire. Russia and Ukraine, whose economies have yet to recover, are the worst examples, along with other Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, which also see no hope of economic recovery.
But Yugoslavia was in an even worse situation; its former socialist glory had been shattered.
If, up to this point, the article, though humorous in style, has offered little in the way of anything new, then the author takes a sudden turn and arrives at a conclusion that is quite astonishing.
The article states that the economic development of various countries after the change of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe proved one thing—that the deeper the influence of the Soviet Union, the worse the situation.
Hungary was notoriously anti-Soviet at the time, and Poland harbored deep resentment towards the Soviet Union. Romania, despite being deeply harmed by Kublai Khan, insisted on severing ties with the Soviet Union in the 1980s, refusing to bear the deep imprint of Soviet influence on its nation.
Then, once the Soviet threat disappeared, these countries were freed from constraints and quickly found their own path, developing vigorously.
Even China, which still adheres to the socialist system to this day, has always pursued a path of independent development because it broke with the Soviet Union in the early 1960s.
Therefore, as soon as China implemented reform and opening up, its economy developed rapidly, and people's lives improved day by day.
Conversely, countries like Russia, Ukraine, and the five Central Asian republics, having been most deeply poisoned by the Soviet Union, are still in a painful state of withdrawal from addiction.
Yes, this is precisely the metaphor used in this article to describe its "shocking and outrageous" style.
It likened the Soviet Union to a hallucinogen, in which people, addicted to it, mistakenly believed they were living in paradise.
Once you regain your senses, you'll find your situation incredibly dire. But when you start to quit, the intense withdrawal symptoms will cause you unbearable suffering.
Anyone with a clear head understands that in this situation, one must grit their teeth and endure it, forcing themselves until they completely quit.
Only those with weak wills would want to return to the illusory world of hallucinogens because they cannot bear the pain.
The article passionately calls on everyone to resist the temptation of hallucinogens, stand honestly in the sunlight, and work and live well through their own efforts.
You cannot enjoy wealth if you do not create it.
After watching it from beginning to end, Punonin's only thought was: "Oh God!"
He felt that the article made a lot of sense, but something felt off.
But he didn't care whether the article was right or wrong; he only cared: "What is this for?"
“A tool for adding more weight.” Wang Xiao changed a word, then signed his name at the end of the article to indicate that he had reviewed it. He instructed his assistant, “Take this to Mr. Chubais. Once he has signed it, print another copy and send it to the newspaper. Remember, start proofreading and typesetting immediately. Print it tonight, and it must be on everyone’s dinner table first thing tomorrow morning.”
The assistant hurriedly ran off to get to work.
Punoning was astonished: "You really are something! Television publicity isn't enough, you have to be in the newspaper too."
Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow: "This is nothing. Vladimir, you need to update your thinking. The media is no longer just a tool for transmitting information. It can reshape the soul of a country, and its influence is everywhere."
This report is just the beginning.
Starting tomorrow, newspapers and magazines of all sizes will begin publishing articles reflecting on this issue.
What are we reflecting on? Have you read any articles by public intellectuals? They're the kind that reflect on their own country and nation, and the more they reflect, the more they feel they deserve what they've been through, that everything they've experienced is justified by their own perceptions, and that they must undergo a complete overhaul and start all over again.
Why didn't you bring these articles to her for her to review?
Because they weren't written by their team, but rather by Russian scholars and journalists on their own initiative.
Indeed, this is true in every country; those who are most likely to reflect are always highly educated scholars.
There's no need to bribe them to do these things; it's unnecessary. That's just how they think. They spontaneously and willingly throw themselves into the movement to "awaken the nation."
Punonin exclaimed, "You've really got double insurance!"
No wonder she dared to say "all in," because she was meticulous and gave it her all.
Wang Xiao smiled and shook his head again: "No, sir, it's not enough. It's almost April, and the election is just around the corner. We can't give our opponents any more chances to fight back."
Therefore, her combination punches have a third move.
Wang Xiao reached out and put her arm around Ivanov's neck, making him lower his head, and smiled sweetly: "Darling, it's your turn."
See? See? Beauty is always meant to be exploited.
Ivanov lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead, saying tenderly, "It is my honor."
Wang Xiao's face flushed red, and she instantly transformed into a shy young girl, even punching Ivanov in the chest with her fist; the latter let out a triumphant laugh.
The staff members passing by them all exchanged knowing, teasing smiles.
See, that's just how young people are.
One second he was a leader who was strategizing and commanding, with eyes as sharp as a cheetah and an aura stronger than a lion.
The next second she became a girl in love, with only her lover in her eyes.
That powerful sense of intimidation that made one's hair stand on end vanished in her shy smile.
She made everyone feel more approachable.
Punoning simply couldn't stand the cloying behavior of young people.
They're always showing off their love, no matter how small, and they can't see anyone else. Why can't they just get married properly?
He glared at Ivanov fiercely; if this were his son, he would have broken his legs long ago!
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[Eating popcorn] Good morning! Have a great weekend! Haha, the outline of the president's speech is as follows: 1. He acknowledges the error of the primary election vote-rigging incident. 2. He clarifies that he did not instigate the rigging because it is meaningless; if he really wanted to deceive himself, why would the newspapers keep publishing the true opinion poll results? 3. He takes responsibility for this because his reforms were incomplete, and the Soviet system still restricts the working patterns of Russian workers. 4. Everyone is a victim in this incident; it fully demonstrates the horror of the Soviet legacy, turning Russians, who were originally known for their diligence and hard work, into people who don't know how to work. 5. He calls on all Russians to bravely cast their votes, even if the final result is not his, as long as everyone truly reflects their will, it is a victory for his political ideals, and he vows to defend the people's right to choose freely.
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