Chapter 211 Stay put: Turmoil in Moscow
Even after they got into the high-end bulletproof car, Ivanov kept staring at Wang Xiao's face.
He neither said Wang Xiao was right nor refuted her wrong; he simply said thoughtfully, "So, China should thank those who worship gods and Buddhas?"
He remembered that Wang had said before that the Chinese people demanded that the gods perform their duties, and if they didn't do a good job, such as not letting it rain, they would have to beat the Dragon King.
They do not accept either/or, therefore they do not recognize the logic of Western civilization.
Wang Xiao touched his face: "There's another saying in China, I don't remember exactly who said it, it's called 'A gentleman judges by his actions, not his intentions.' Good people can do bad things, and bad people can do good things."
She comforted Ivanov, saying, "Alright, don't think about it anymore. I was just saying."
Ivanov sighed again: "So they didn't actually take money from the Americans. They genuinely believed what they were saying was right and deeply agreed with that theory."
That's the scariest part.
Wang Xiao paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, that's exactly it."
Before she time-traveled, there were claims online about "walking 500,000" (a slang term for someone who is over 500,000 yuan). But in reality, the various elites didn't necessarily receive any material benefits.
On the contrary, some of them even paid out of their own pockets to do this.
Asking questions is the power of faith.
You might think their beliefs are outrageous, but they firmly believe that what they believe in is the truth.
Ivanov sighed again: "I envy you guys, you don't have these kinds of troubles."
"No!" Wang Xiao refused the compliment. "Double standards are everywhere. In the eyes of the powerful and wealthy, those without power and influence are not even worthy of being called human beings. Therefore, the powerful and wealthy believe that they are entitled to occupy all the resources and that it is only natural for them to oppress the common people. No matter when, they can justifiably make the common people suffer even more."
"In the eyes of the privileged, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats' sons know how to dig holes. Therefore, it is only natural for them to inherit their fathers' positions and social status. The children of commoners are not qualified to sit at the table. It is right for them to leech off the common people, and it is normal for them to despise the common people, because those people are not even human anymore."
Why are Xu Moumou, who single-handedly turned Suzhou into Xuzhou, and a certain catfish in Shenzhen, so brazenly spending the wealth created by the Chinese people while insulting them? Because they believe they are born superior and that the lowly should kneel and lick their boots.
Ivanov fell silent again. The problems Wang mentioned existed in the Soviet Union as well, which is why the Soviet Union died from both internal and external troubles.
He muttered to himself, "We should really kill all the corrupt officials, then we won't have to apply double standards anymore."
He was just saying that casually.
Without the favors of corrupt officials, under Russia's current bizarre laws, he wouldn't be able to make any money; he'd just be losing money day after day.
Even if he was just talking, Wang Xiao had to shatter his illusions: "They won't disappear. By then, the smart ones will think I should eliminate the idiots, so that only smart people will remain in the world. The beautiful ones will think I should eliminate the ugly ones, so that only beautiful people will remain in the world."
Ivanov looked at her in horror: "Your Majesty, you don't want to destroy me, do you?"
Wang Xiao didn't know whether she was amused or annoyed by his words; in any case, she was both laughing and crying: "What are you thinking?"
"I'm neither smart nor good-looking, so you don't like me."
Wang Xiao looked at his pitiful eyes and wanted to roll her eyes. Here we go again.
"No, I like you." She sighed and said earnestly, "You are very important to me."
She's career-oriented and values her partners far more than anything else.
Who was Ivanov? He immediately seized the opportunity and said, "So that means I'm both smart and good-looking?"
Wang Xiao was speechless once again; this was a complete misunderstanding.
"I'm saying that this logic is wrong. What is intelligence, and what is beauty? There is no absolute standard. Even if there were an absolute standard, so what? There will always be someone smarter and more beautiful. As the old saying goes, every inch has its advantages and every foot has its disadvantages. Besides, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang."
Ivanov felt a little better.
Because his troubles are common all over the world.
People can always find psychological comfort in comparison.
The situation in Moscow is getting worse than before.
On September 30, the day after Patriarch Alexei mediated, a demonstration took place in Pushkin Square, with parliamentary supporters hoping to break through the police siege of the White House.
Undoubtedly, they failed; the police arrested 161 people.
The Chinese exhibitors dared not speak loudly, but could only discuss it in private, feeling that it was like the May Fourth Movement.
However, Muscovites seemed to lack the passion of Beijing citizens back then; in any case, there were few people responding on the streets.
The Russians were more interested in picking up cheap Chinese goods at the trade fair than in discussing the future of their country.
Only the Soviet red flag and the Russian tricolor flag standing side by side atop the barricades near the White House, along with the haphazard roadblocks, serve as a reminder to the passing crowds that this country is experiencing a fierce struggle.
Exhibitors from China endured the entire trade fair amidst this inner turmoil and the eerie tranquility of a secluded corner of reality.
On October 3rd, a Sunday, which was also the last day of the exhibition, everyone clutched their chests, thanking God that it was finally coming to an end.
The situation in Russia seems to have stabilized somewhat. At least since yesterday, lighting has been restored in parts of the White House, hot water and heating have been provided, and reporters are able to go inside to conduct interviews.
Although more than 1,500 supporters of parliament clashed with police in Smolsosk Square, negotiations between the president and parliament continued.
Being able to talk means there is hope for a peaceful resolution.
Manager Hu sighed, "Don't fight anymore, it's so shameful, it's like our own people fighting each other. What I resent most in my life is that when I was young, I encountered armed conflict. So many good people died. Even now, when I go to Chongqing on a business trip and see that Red Guard cemetery, I still think it's absurd. What's the point? It's the most meaningless thing to fight among your own people."
Others comforted him, saying, "It's alright, things are peaceful in Russia now."
No sooner had he said that than the situation in Moscow deteriorated once again.
At 3 p.m. that day, tens of thousands of White House supporters held a rally at Plaza de October, their theme being opposition to the president. They then marched towards the White House. Taking advantage of their numbers, the supporters dispersed thousands of heavily armed police and military personnel and occupied the City Hall building next to the White House.
Even at this point, the Chinese businessmen who received the news didn't think it was a big deal.
Since they arrived in Moscow, these rallies and marches have never stopped.
These protesters were excited, but they didn't disturb others.
They were much calmer than the Red Guards of yesteryear; at least they wouldn't beat up others just because they weren't willing to join their revolution.
At 5 p.m., the trade fair ended, and everyone relaxed. While packing up their stalls, they joked, "Now it's all over. The White House belongs to Congress, and the Kremlin belongs to the President. Who's in charge now will be decided by who issues the order first."
Wang Xiao wasn't very confident about Moscow's security, so he said, "Let's not have a big celebration tonight. Let's have dinner at the Beijing Hotel and then go back."
One manufacturer sighed, "What's there to celebrate? We didn't even close a deal."
The highlight he brought was a rabbit fur coat, which was of really good quality.
As a result, the Russians thought the zipper on their clothes was facing the wrong way and refused to accept their rabbit fur coats.
"They've really become pampered," the manufacturer complained. "A couple of years ago, some middlemen asked us to get goods to sell in Moscow. The Russians would snatch up any kind of clothing we sold."
The others laughed and teased him, "Then you should keep finding that middleman to ship your goods."
"Oh, stop talking about it," the manufacturer said disdainfully. "That bastard has money to burn. He turned from a perfectly good person into a gambling addict, accumulating a mountain of debt. He still owes our factory almost 1 million yuan for goods."
Everyone gasped: "Then why aren't you going to chase it? Your factory is too extravagant! That's a million!"
"What's the point of chasing him? He's already been arrested and executed by the Russian police. Where are we supposed to go to chase him?"
The group of people were startled again: "The Russians are cracking down on gambling? Didn't they say that casinos are openly operating here?"
"They don't arrest people for gambling, but if you rob someone while in debt, they're bound to arrest you."
Everyone felt the same way. Gambling and drugs are truly deadly things; whoever gets involved with them is doomed.
Wang Xiao glanced at his watch and said, "Hurry up, let's finish our meal and go back to rest early while it's still light. We'll be walking for so long tomorrow, it'll be tiring."
Without wasting any more time, everyone quickly and efficiently started packing up.
The bus was very fast, and it took everyone to the Beijing Hotel before 6 p.m.
However, everyone agreed that this meal was not as good as the canteen in the wholesale market or the Chinese restaurants they had eaten at before.
Oh dear, the taste is really just so-so, the ingredients are just average, and the price is quite expensive, much more expensive than Sichuan restaurants.
One exhibitor wondered, "Hey, that Sichuan restaurant is cheap and delicious, with a lot of unique flavor, why isn't it famous? I'm from the north, and I think it's delicious too."
"Oh dear." Someone who knew the ropes quickly waved their hand, "They wouldn't dare to be famous. It's the internal canteen of the Asia Hotel. Mr. Wang has connections, that's why he took us in to eat."
The puzzled exhibitors were even more puzzled: "Why doesn't they open their own store? I see their business is doing very well, they must be making money."
"Because if you operate independently, you have to pay protection money separately." Wang Xiao sighed. "The Moscow Mafia is really powerful. The protection money they collect is higher than the profits the restaurant makes if it operates independently. The restaurant can't afford it."
Everyone gasped, suspecting the Beijing Hotel was in the same boat. The money had all gone to the Mafia, hence the poor quality of the food. Even the much-anticipated song and dance performance was rather lackluster.
One of the women in the delegation expressed her regret: "I originally thought that since I came to Moscow, I would at least see ballet and the big circus, but I didn't get to see anything."
Others urged, "Then go and see! Look how carefree those Russians are. They can hold a parade or watch a play without bothering anyone."
Someone even tagged Wang Xiao, saying, "Hey, Mr. Wang, don't you think so?"
Wang Xiao waved his hand: "I have nothing to say. I don't recommend anyone acting alone. After dinner, the car will take you back to the hotel."
The person asking the question was dissatisfied: "So we came all the way to Moscow and didn't even have a moment to relax? It's like we're in jail."
Wang Xiao glanced at him: "The trade fair is only responsible for the activities on the agenda. We don't care about anything else, and we have no obligation to guarantee personal safety."
The others quickly advised, "Oh dear, don't you see what Moscow is like now? Don't cause trouble. It's best to go back peacefully after your trip."
He had a way out and stopped making a fuss.
After everyone quickly finished their meal, they boarded the bus again.
The first time, they saw armored vehicles on the street.
The streetlights at night are definitely not as effective as during the day, so at first glance, everyone mistook it for a large sedan. But as the bus drew closer, everyone gasped in surprise.
Goodness gracious, they're even using armored vehicles! Does that mean tanks have also entered Moscow?
Oh my, let's have another serious "819 incident"!
That time, the Soviet Union was brain dead.
Who will emerge victorious this time?
Could it be that the red flag is flying again at the Kremlin?
Someone muttered under their breath, "No way, if it really is the Soviet Union, our lives will definitely be difficult."
Someone nearby retorted, "The return of the elder brother strengthens the socialist camp; that's a good thing!"
"What a load of rubbish!" the speaker said irritably. "Young people don't know any better. The Russians were so domineering back then, they crushed our country like this. Everyone says their last president was a scoundrel, but if it weren't for him, we would still have a million troops stationed on our border right now."
"The Russians thought that president was too soft. If they came to the Soviet Union again, they would definitely choose a tougher president."
"Now the Russians are having a tough time again. In short, when domestic conflicts become irreconcilable, international conflicts are the only option. War means the biggest orders."
Those who disagreed with him retorted: "Let them fight then, are we afraid of the Russians?"
"Go to hell, go ahead and fight if you want!" The man suddenly became agitated. "You son of a bitch, never been to a battlefield, think war is fun! People will die! People will die!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of loud crashing sounds came from ahead, like heavy trucks hitting a wall.
Before anyone could figure out what was going on, suddenly, a burst of gunfire erupted.
At this moment, the daylight in Moscow had faded, but the buildings in front were brightly lit, as bright as day.
In that light, everyone could see rows of dark gun barrels.
Without saying a word, the bus driver immediately turned around.
The people on the bus were in a panic, and voices kept shouting, "What's going on? What's going on?"
Wang Xiao had no idea what was going on. The place their car was approaching was the building of Russia's largest "Ostankino" television company. It was originally the Soviet Central Television and still broadcasts programs to the CIS countries and the Russian Federation. It was not a political venue.
While remaining on high alert to protect her boss's safety, Lyuba quickly explained, "It's possible that supporters of parliament wanted to appear on television to give a speech, and a conflict broke out between the two sides."
Television is an important mouthpiece for propaganda.
The Ostankino television building has its own security force, composed of police officers from the Ministry of the Interior.
She shouted to the people in the car, "Don't stick your head out!"
Wang Xiao then realized that there really were people who weren't afraid of getting hurt, and they had secretly opened the window and were looking outside.
Because it was already winter in Moscow in October, the car windows were covered in white fog, which affected visibility.
Damn it, she wants to slap this idiot to death right now!
Enraged, she yelled, "Stop the car! Throw him out! If you want to see something, go outside and take your time! Look all you want!"
The man who was being scolded chuckled awkwardly, muttering something under his breath. The person sitting behind him quickly rolled up the car window.
The bus driver, who couldn't understand Mandarin, still drove away from the TV station according to the established plan.
Once things had calmed down outside, Wang Xiao slumped into his seat, utterly exhausted, his eyes piercing like knives at the person who had just opened the car window.
Manager Hu was sitting relatively close to her, and upon seeing this, he quickly began to reprimand the man who looked to be around thirty years old: "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Bullets don't have eyes; if one flies in, it could kill someone!"
The man chuckled awkwardly, unable to save face, and instinctively tried to argue, "That glass can't stop bullets either, whether it opens or not is the same thing."
“Next time,” Wang Xiao said expressionlessly, “If there’s one more time, I’ll throw you down there. I mean it.”
This time, her voice wasn't loud; instead, it was rather low and deep. Her tone wasn't hurried; rather, it could be described as a slow and deliberate delivery.
However, many people in the carriage suddenly felt a chill run down their spines.
Because her intuition told her that she would really do what she said she would do.
Secretary Sun tried to smooth things over, saying, "That's right, if you don't throw him out, we'll all throw him out. He's asking for it, don't drag others down with him!"
The manufacturer who had previously accused the young people of wanting to start a war also sneered: "If you want to fight, if you want to test the strength of the Russians, get out of the car. Don't miss this opportunity for real combat."
Manager Hu had to step in and act as peacemaker again: "Alright, alright, the trade fair has finally come to a peaceful end. Don't cause trouble on the last day. Everyone, peace is a blessing."
The others chimed in, "Yes, yes, let's hurry back. Oh, take a shower and get a good night's sleep, we should go home tomorrow."
The atmosphere in the carriage finally eased.
However, many people were secretly observing Wang Xiao's expression while chatting and laughing.
The lights inside the carriage were dim, and the streetlights outside were also dim.
In the dim light, her face was half bright and half dark; yet her eyes were closed, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
Fortunately, the rest of the journey went smoothly; they didn't encounter any more gunfights and made it back to the hotel without incident.
When Wang Xiao returned to the commercial street, he learned what had happened that day.
In the afternoon, tens of thousands of congressional supporters stormed the White House police and military. They not only successfully lifted the Kremlin's 12-day siege of the White House, but they also managed to seize weapons from the police and military.
It was with these weapons that thousands of parliamentary supporters, under the command of retired General Makashov, were able to ram the doors of the television building with trucks.
Don't underestimate this achievement.
At 4 PM this afternoon, more than 100 members of the "Warriors" special forces had already gone to reinforce the television station's security in armored vehicles. Around 6 PM, while Wang Xiao and his group were having lunch, another group of heavily armed Moscow OMOH and NKVD troops arrived to reinforce the television station.
When Wang Xiao went upstairs to inquire about Ivanov, the first and second floors of the television station had already been occupied by parliamentary supporters.
Just as Lyuba had guessed, their purpose in doing this was to broadcast the event live to all Russians.
Wang Xiao raised his eyebrows: "The parliament has lost the support of the army?"
Although, from a historical perspective, the defeat of Parliament was inevitable.
However, when the president began taking action against Congress on September 21, both sides still had supporters in the military and the Ministry of the Interior.
Ivanov removed his hand from his eyes and looked intently at his friend: "Wang, I think perhaps he is the one who is suitable to be president. See how perceptive you are? How exactly did you figure out that parliament has already lost?"
"Anyone can see that, okay!" Wang Xiao said, bewildered. "Both sides are already in this state, and everyone knows that the support of the military is crucial. If they hadn't lost the support of the military, why would they suddenly want to win over the support of the people at this time?"
Yes, yes, from a theoretical point of view, he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.
But that's a long-term battle.
In the short term, political power always comes from the barrel of a gun.
Wang Xiao sighed, "I have truly witnessed what it means for every cell in my body to radiate such universal confidence."
"Who gave them the courage to believe they had the support of the people?"
"Yes, Parliament has been attacking the government's economic policies, but everyone knows they're useless. You need to come up with economic policies that can win the people's trust!"
"They've really been spoiled rotten. The Speaker and the Vice President are both blinded by the benefits of the August 19th Movement. Back then, they were on the same side as the President, and none of them put forward any effective economic policies."
"But the common people back then didn't know what capitalism was. They thought it was a panacea, and they were willing to take any offer, no matter what.
"But the people are not idiots. Once they've been fooled, they're unlikely to be fooled a second time."
"If Parliament can't even offer a more appealing promise, how can it possibly gain their support?"
Ivanov suddenly sighed: "They might as well just shout the slogan, 'Restore the Soviet Union!'"
Wang Xiao shook his head: "Restoring the Soviet system is not welcomed by anyone now. The Soviet Union has been dissolved for less than two years, and people always remember painful things more vividly. So now everyone is emphasizing the pain of the late Soviet period, rather than the glory of the Soviet Union at its peak."
Ivanov groaned again: "Your Majesty, why don't you run for the election?"
"Go away, what nonsense are you spouting?" Wang Xiao said disdainfully. "Doing such immoral work will shorten my lifespan."
Ivanov laughed out loud, then sighed again, "How pathetic, they actually have to steal weapons from the military and police in order to seize the TV station."
Wang Xiao suddenly blurted out, "Actually, this also reflects the fact that the newspapers and television say your Speaker is the head of the Moscow Mafia, which is a complete lie. If he really controlled the Mafia, would he be in such a passive position? After all, your country's Mafia is incredibly powerful. I don't know if they can beat the regular army, but dealing with the police should be a piece of cake."
Ivanov's eyes widened, then his mouth gaped open, his expression a mix of laughter and tears: "Wang, you're right. Referendums aren't really suitable for Russia. Most people have absolutely no political sense. They just parrot what others say without considering whether there are logical flaws. I'm sure they'll continue to accuse him of being a mafia boss and then be overjoyed when he's taken down."
Although he also dislikes the current speaker.
Well, he doesn't think much of any of the politicians in Moscow.
But one thing at a time.
"Alright." Wang Xiao patted his hand. "Don't be sad. Maybe when you wake up tomorrow morning, it will all be over."
Ivanov received a massage.
Don't ask where he found a professional masseur on such a chaotic night.
This is not a problem at all for a true billionaire.
They have private doctors and a professional massage team.
So even Ivanov himself thought his insomnia was very dramatic.
He knew perfectly well that if the Soviet Communist Party really defeated the president, everything he owned would be confiscated.
Just like the Red Army did back then.
What grounds did he have to be saddened by the replacement of the Red Flag?
Wang Xiao couldn't sleep well either; she kept feeling like she could hear gunshots.
That night, many people in Moscow, or perhaps all over the world, were unable to sleep.
If you truly understand just how powerful the Soviet Union was, you won't be surprised that even almost two years after its demise, so many people still can't overcome their deep-seated fear of it.
In fact, on October 3, 1993, or perhaps more precisely, in the early morning of October 4, Moscow was indeed in a state of true war.
From the evening of October 3rd to the early morning of October 4th, 1,500 soldiers entered Moscow. At 4:00 AM, two more airborne divisions arrived in Moscow.
Meanwhile, government troops, supported by 10 tanks, drove parliamentary supporters out of the television station.
Just how chaotic was this process?
It is said that an unidentified armored vehicle first fired at the TV station building, and then when the parliamentarians thought it was one of their own and jumped out of their bunkers, the armored vehicle suddenly fired at the parliamentarians.
By sunrise, the battle at the television station had come to an end.
But the struggle between Congress and the president is far from over.
On the morning of October 4, government forces launched a formal attack on the White House.
As Wang Xiao and his group drove past the White House, they saw a scene of artillery fire. Looking through binoculars at the White House building, they saw armored vehicles and tanks completely surrounding the building.
The roadblocks that were originally set up around the White House, made of trucks, buses, scrap steel pipes, and iron bars, have disappeared at some point.
Even the congressional supporters who had been waiting outside the White House were nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Gao couldn't help but shudder: "My God, were they arrested or killed?"
Lyuba muttered in dissatisfaction, "Hey! What do you take us for? A serial killer?"
Xiao Zhao replied seriously, "To be honest, during your Great Purge, you were no different from murderous maniacs."
Lyuba retorted, "And you? It's as if you haven't washed yourselves."
"Alright," Wang Xiao had to intervene, "Hurry up, let's get them out of here."
International flights are limited, and Manager Hu and his team all had a flight at 8:45 PM. But Wang Xiao said he would take them to the airport right away, and no one who was flying objected.
Especially when the bus passed in front of the White House again, and everyone saw the government army tanks and armored vehicles lined up along the Moscow River, bombarding the White House with heavy machine guns and cannons, they wished they could sprout wings and fly away.
Oh, flying won't help, because government helicopters are also circling near the White House.
The building was hit by a bullet and caught fire instantly, billowing thick smoke and flames shooting out of the windows. With the help of binoculars, the bullet holes on the White House walls could even be seen.
But this time, no one dared to open the window and look out.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Hey, what are they doing?"
Wang Xiao looked up and saw that tens of thousands of citizens had gathered on the highway bridges, streets, and rooftops near the White House.
Through the binoculars, some of their faces showed sadness, some indifference, and some were waving their arms excitedly.
Manager Hu cursed, "Those Russians are really fearless; they still have the mind to watch the show at a time like this."
The crowd occasionally stirred, and some onlookers and reporters were hit by stray bullets.
The cries for help, the sirens of ambulances, and the running sounds of paramedics blended together, as if striking someone's soul.
Wang Xiao suddenly thought of an old Soviet film called "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears." She didn't actually know what the film was about, but that phrase just came to mind.
So she sighed and said, "When you get to the airport, don't rush around. Just grab a quick lunch and dinner, get on the plane early, and go home safely."
As a result, those who took the plane back home that night boarded safely, but the manufacturers who stayed in Moscow to do direct sales business encountered some trouble.
When Wang Xiao received the call, he could hardly believe his ears: "What the hell did I say? I told you all to stay in the hotel tonight, who told you to go to nightclubs and cause trouble?"
The person on the other end of the phone was on the verge of tears: "We...we just came to take care of some business."
Who knew he'd get arrested by the Russian police?
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The background mentioned in the article refers to the bombardment of the White House.
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