Bloody Heart

The reform policy was originally intended as a means to ensure the rapid development of the country and democratize social life, but it has come to a dead end due to various reasons.Unbelief, apathy, and despair replaced the original enthusiasm and hope. ——"Letter to the People of the Soviet Union/United Nations"

■

When Mikhail was implementing reforms in Moscow/S/Ko, Ivan did not know what kind of conflict broke out between him and Paul, but he determined that this time the situation would not Where to go.Not long after the "freedom of speech" was introduced, Ivan planned to return to Moscow immediately, but he found that he could not buy any train or plane tickets with his own certificate.When he asked why, all the conductors gave him vague answers, "I can't buy you the ticket."

Realizing that someone might have manipulated it through an executive order, he called Mo/S/Ko to confirm.Paul answered his phone and told him he didn't know about it. "It may be an order from the superior," he said, "However, I also hope you don't come." He sneered, "It's rare for me to agree with him so much."

Ivan frowned. He rarely heard Paul speak in such a boring tone, so he was even more sure that something very bad had happened. "What's wrong with you? Have a disagreement with your boss? This makes me feel even more that I should go back, and please..."

"Don't come back!" Paul interrupted him roughly, "The last thing I want to see now is you, please stay in Le/Ning/G/Le peacefully!"

Before Ivan answered the call, the phone was hung up with a snap.Ivan put the phone back silently, and the worries and doubts in his heart began to gather like thick clouds before the rain.

The restrictions on him were not lifted until 1/9/9/0. At that time, the reform was still in the process of implementation and entered the most critical stage of political reform.Ivan is well aware of the fatal damage to the country's ideals, and he can't wait to return to Moscow. Even if he can't help, it's better to keep the Soviet within his control.However, he has nowhere to go. Train tickets and air tickets are immune to his documents. Even if he wants to take a car to a neighboring city and buy a ticket, he can't do it.It is even more impossible to forge documents. People in the whole country know him, unless he is disguised and changed - of course it is even more impossible.So he can only be trapped in the Len/Ning/Ge/Le he is most familiar with, guessing and waiting every day, and enduring suffering every day.

Early on 1/9/9/0, the home had an unexpected visitor.

If Torres Rolinatis had a bad relationship with the Soviet, it would be more appropriate to say that he had a bad relationship with Ivan.This mutual dislike has a long history and is so deeply ingrained that no matter what the two parties do, it cannot be erased.So he would come to visit, something Ivan never thought of.

After opening the door, Ivan stood by the door, as if he didn't intend to let him in, and the voice of the question was also extremely cold: "Do you have something urgent to visit me, Torres?"

Torres, to his surprise, neither flinched - as he usually did with Ivan - nor expressed displeasure.He smiled gently and politely: "I don't have what you call 'important matters', but I just feel that I should come to inform you before major events happen."

Ivan watched him for a long time, but didn't see any clues from that smiling face.He could only snort coldly, and said sarcastically: "It seems that you have been bullied by me in the past, Comrade Torres."

Torres shrugged indifferently, as if shaking off a layer of dust.At this moment, no matter what harsh words Ivan said, it would not be a blow to him.

Finally Ivan had to let him in, and as soon as the door closed, Ivan asked impatiently, "What are you doing here?"

Torres said softly, "I'm leaving the Soviet."

As soon as the voice fell, the whole space became quiet.His words were understated, yet powerful.

"Say it again?" Ivan looked at him coldly.

He repeated it, and before he finished speaking, a slap on the left cheek almost slapped him in the head.In order to maintain his balance, he had to take a few steps back, hit the table and grinned in pain.Before he could remember, Ivan's reprimand hit his head and face: "Who gave you the courage? The alliance gave you everything you have now, and you dare to turn around and say you want to leave him? You Is there such a thing as shame in my heart!"

Torris raised his face and looked at Ivan, his expression was still distorted because of the pain. "It's as if I posted it myself at the beginning!" This mild-tempered person rarely raised his voice, with an angry look in his eyes, "Isn't it the alliance that your two brothers forcibly merged us into? Since we merged into It’s right for him to do construction for us, but we don’t have the idea of ​​repaying his kindness. Since the day I joined, I’ve been thinking about when and how to leave!”

Ivan's haughty eyes, once as indifferent as the ice-covered sea, were now full of anger and disbelief.Torris was surprised to find that he didn't feel afraid of such Ivan at all. It seemed that he hadn't felt afraid since seeing Ivan today.He was afraid of Ivan's cruelty, but he was not afraid of his anger.He once heard Felix say that when a person is angry, it means that he has nothing to say.

Yes, Ivan had nothing to say, because what he said was the truth.Torres shook his head, with a sad expression on his face: "Both of you brothers are like this, you have always been like this. You think that everyone in the world should dance as you wish, and everyone in the world should sacrifice for your benefit .But has anyone ever told you? We are a country! We have our own people, history, culture and beliefs, why should we be under your account and follow your orders for no reason? Since the day we started doing this , it should be expected that there will be a situation like today.”

After a while, Ivan's voice sounded again, like frost: "I don't allow you to leave him. Now Mo/S/Ko is carrying out reforms, and no one can leave him at this critical time!"

Torres shrugged. "Reforms are useless, the accumulated evils are too deep. In fact, shouldn't you know better than me? You have already lost. Socialism is no match for the power of capital, and common prosperity is no match for freedom, equality, and fraternity— —that's the mainstream of the times. So I'm leaving, Monsieur Ivan, and that naive Soviet. I'm leaving."

Ivan's breath suddenly approached, and Torris felt absurdly colder around him.He was a little shorter than Ivan, and at such a close distance, he had to look up to see the other's eyes.In those eyes, he suddenly felt that time had flown back, and Ivan the Empire stood in front of him, with the coldness of swords and swords in his eyes.

"I said, don't leave, leaving him is a betrayal of me." He said.

Hearing this sentence, although Torres felt the fear from the heart, he showed a happy smile.

"Betrayal? Mr. Ivan, when did someone really agree with you?"

Ivan couldn't sleep all night that night.A sentence from Torres hovered in his mind like a ghost. He said, "socialism is no match for the power of capital, and common prosperity is no match for freedom, equality, and fraternity—that is the mainstream of the times." Already lost.Although Ivan wanted himself not to take his words seriously as before, but this time he couldn't do it anyway, because Torris' words unfortunately hit the deepest and most realistic fear in his heart.

——He was more and more worried that Paul would lose this war without gunpowder.And the result of losing, he understands, is death.

On March 1, 9/9/0/3, Lithuania's Torres-Rolinatis announced its independence from the Union, and declared in a high-profile manner that this was "the first death knell for the Soviet Union."The West welcomed him with flowers and applause, praising his courage to get rid of totalitarian rule.And Ivan was still firmly confined to Len/Ning/G/Le and could not leave, and Paul did not give him any contact.

■

It was not until four months later that Ivan ushered in a turning point.At the 28th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, a big man named Boris Ye/Liqin criticized the current Mikhail reform for being too laggy, and put forward a series of his own proposals, but they were not accepted by the congress.So he resolutely announced his withdrawal from the CPSU at the end of the meeting on July 7, and he arrived at Ivan's home in Lenin/Ge/Le three days after announcing his withdrawal.

He brought Ivan the news that Paul was in Moscow/S/Ke. "The general/secretary/secretary punished him and expelled him from the party. It's ironic and ridiculous!" he said.

Ivan collected himself and asked him, "Is he in good health?"

Boris rubbed his chin and thought for a while, then admitted: "I'm not very clear, after all, I don't have any relationship with him. But anyone with a discerning eye can guess, it must not be too good. You should have felt it before, right? On 1/9/1/9—" Ivan glanced at him, he didn't go any further, but his expression was full of cunning hints.

"...I want to go back to Mo/S/Ke." Ivan pursed his lips and said.

"I can help you," said Boris, "but I need your help too. I was thinking," he lowered his voice unconsciously, "perhaps Mr. Rolinatis is right. The Union has It won't last long, Mikhail Sergeyevich is at the end of his life," his words gradually took on a sense of witchcraft-like bewitchment, "Mr. Russia, you are my motherland, I don't want to see you sinking with them. Therefore...it's better for you..."

Ivan stared at the ground without answering immediately.Torris’ words lingered again——

"You have already lost!"

"That's the mainstream of the times!"

"Don't you—shouldn't you know better than I do?"

Boris' gaze was firmly fixed on his face, and Ivan actually felt a little shaken under the gaze of that gaze.When he realized his wavering, he immediately strangled it by the throat without hesitation and pressed it back to the deepest part of his heart.

——I can't betray him, I can't even waver in the slightest.Because once I leave him, he must die.

However, he said to Boris beside him: "You first find a way to help me return to Mo/S/Ko. After I go back, I will decide how to cooperate with you."

And so things were settled.Satisfied, Boris returned to Mo/S/Ko and began preparations to regain power.

On June 1/9/9/1, Boris Ye/Li/Chin was elected the first president of Russia/Russia.After he mastered the actual administration/power, the first thing he did was to arrange a special plane to bring Ivan back.On the day the plane arrived in Moscow, Ivan looked at the runway outside the porthole, thinking that the last time he came back was before Leonid left office, and it had been a full 6 years; in his eyes, it was just a blink of an eye, Mo/s/co is still the same mo/s/co.His life is eternal, which makes him feel that time does not have that much power.

However, when he saw Su Wei who came to pick him up at the airport, he no longer thought so.

Because he saw that Paul's figure had obviously become thinner, and his face was as pale as plaster against the background of the black coat and red scarf. In the past, it was just that the brightly colored eyes were not as bright as before.Ivan walked down the gangway, and Paul walked up to him when there were still three or four steps left as in the past, and he naturally extended his hand to him, showing a gentle and delicate smile.It's just that his smile looks tired and his hands are cold.He didn't say "Long time no see, Lucia" this time.

When they got to the car and closed the glass between them and the driver, Paul said flatly: "Ge/Ru/Gi/Ya is now independent."

Ivan can only show that he already knows with an unconstructive response.Paul glanced at him, and whispered in a sneering tone: "After all, it is Joseph's hometown, and the second one left me..." He suddenly changed the subject and changed to a serious tone. , "Lucia, you absolutely cannot do such a thing."

"I won't," Ivan said, "or I won't be back."

There was a hint of doubt in Paul's expression, but he didn't pursue further, and the silence in the carriage continued.

■

At the beginning of August, Boris came to Ivan's residence again. At this time, he had transformed into the president of Russia/Russia/S/Federation/Federation, which was completely different from a year ago.However, his attitude towards Ivan remained unchanged, not even what he said.

This time Ivan explicitly rejected him.Boris was a little angry: "You promised before."

Ivan leaned back in his chair and looked at him indifferently: "You can take it as my repentance, if you want."

"...Russia/Russia has achieved independence in fact, and the "Declaration of Sovereignty" has been passed," Boris pointed to himself, "I am the President of Russia/Russia/Federation/Federation."

Ivan smiled disapprovingly: "The "Declaration of Sovereignty" was passed because Mikhail decided to decentralize power. Even if it becomes a confederation, the alliance still exists."

The amethyst-like pupils reflected Boris' angry face emotionlessly: "Mr. President, I have to remind you that if there is no my signature on the independence document, it will be invalid."

Boris had to leave angrily.But as soon as he left, Ivan's air of taking the initiative in his own hands disappeared.He realized the seriousness of the current situation.

After Paul learned of their conversation, he sneered in response: "It seems that the 'freedom' and 'democracy' that Comrade Mikhail gave to the republics must be taken away."

One day more than half a month later, before dawn in Ming/S/K, Natalia was woken up from her sleep by a phone call.In a daze, she didn't quite figure out where the call came from. She just heard a rigid voice from the opposite side ask her: "Excuse me, are you Comrade Natalia Arlovskaya?"

This serious tone made her sober. "I am."

"Okay. Here is an important notice for you: Due to physical reasons, Mr. President is temporarily unable to perform his duties. According to Article 127 of the Constitution, the Vice President will perform his duties. Mo/S/Ko has now established an emergency committee, the committee announced The whole country has entered a state of emergency and temporarily withdraws the power of all national will to sign documents. It's over. Do you understand?"

Natalia froze.The news that was too vague and lacked cause and effect made her unable to see the truth from it, and she was full of hesitation about this order.When she was silent, the other party stepped up/pressed: "Comrade Natalia, if you refuse to accept the order, Moscow will regard the Republic of Belarus/Russia as a violation of the Union's legal system."

Such a request left her no time to think about anything, and no room for questioning.She knows well what happens to republics that "break the laws of the Union."So she chose to obey only when she was at a loss.

Natalia is not alone. At the same time, the other 11 union republics are also facing the same situation as her.They didn't know until the truth came out that this was a warning issued by the mastermind behind the scenes in order to keep the republics / to maintain neutrality, and it did achieve its purpose to a certain extent-in the whole incident, except for Russia / Except for Ross/Russia, no republic has deviated from neutrality.

Except for Russia/Russia/Sri.

It was already morning in Mo/S/Ko.The vice president's statement has been issued, and the public has shown considerable astonishment at the news that "the president has suddenly contracted a serious illness", but after the astonishment, there is no enthusiasm.People's lives continue as usual and have not been affected by the "state of emergency". It seems that the situation that the Vice President wanted has been achieved.

However, this is only a superficial phenomenon, and it is short-lived.

Boris was very angry, and he showed his anger without concealing it. He dialed the phone loudly, wishing that his anger would reach the other party's ears through the ringing of the phone.As soon as the call was connected, he opened his mouth and asked: "What do you mean? I know this is your support. Do you want to overthrow/overthrow Mikhail Sergeyevich? Or overthrow/overthrow me—— Just because I want you to be independent from the alliance? This alliance is no longer sustainable, we must get out as soon as possible in exchange for a little choice for our own future, can't you see that?"

After speaking, he held up the phone and waited for the other party to refute, but the voice from the receiver made him feel like he had been hit hard on the head.The other party's voice was not harsh, on the contrary it was very gentle, even with a hint of a smile.But he said: "Thank you very much for clarifying your position, Comrade Boris Nikolaevich. This is Paul Braginsky." Then the phone hung up with a snap.

On the other end of the phone line, Paul put down the phone, turned to Ivan with a smile and said: "Your Mr. President is really a 'patriot', because he is so considerate of you, I will consider using painless Shoot him to finish him off."

Ivan didn't want to discuss such a topic with him in this state at all, so he said: "The army is coming to the city, and I gave them an order to block / lock the parliament building. Boris' phone number is It's from the Houses of Parliament."

"Yes," Paul nodded, with cruel and violent killing intent erupting in his eyes, "Let's attack the parliament building directly. I don't care if you blow it up or just bury them together."

Ivan had to hold down his shoulders, as if he would jump if he didn't. "Calm down, Soviet," he shook his head, "no one can give such an order. Those people in the committee are implementing the predetermined plan, and so far the situation is still under strict control. There is no need to act on the spur of the moment Ruined the whole world."

Paul still gave him face, he didn't say that kind of irresponsible words again, and he didn't slap his hand away to refuse to buy it.He stared blankly at the air in front of him, then raised his eyes suddenly, and fixed his eyes firmly on Ivan's face.He reiterated firmly: "You must never leave me." He grabbed Ivan's arm tightly, "Absolutely, absolutely not. Do you understand?"

His hand grabbed Ivan's arm, pinching it like a pair of pliers.Ivan's hand hurt, and his heart felt like a knife was being stabbed.

——When did that powerful, beautiful Soviet, which seemed to be able to stand forever, be reduced to this point?

Tanks surrounded the parliament building as planned, but Boris showed amazing courage and courage, and actually jumped on the tanks to give a speech to the people.He said:

"The 'Emergency Committee' is illegal. Comrade G/R/B/Joe/V's reform is an attempt to make society oriented towards democratization and liberalization, and this is a right-wing anti-constitutional anti-movement /Change. What they advocate is the centralized /authority, high pressure and closedness that should be abandoned in the past.

"Look around - newspapers banned, tanks on / streets, head of state missing - does it remind you of what happened to some of our immediate neighbors? This abuse of liberty and human rights , It is still happening in our country, it is enough to make people feel sad, and it is enough to fully express the stubbornness of some reactionaries/reactionaries. It is precisely because of their existence that our socialist road will be distorted and social changes will occur. It will be delayed, and people's lives will become more and more difficult..."

"He did it on purpose," Ivan said with a very bad expression, "he jumped onto the tank on purpose and told me this."

"What about you? What do you think of what he said?"

"..." Ivan felt a little embarrassed, he really didn't know what to say, so as to avoid the taboo of the Soviet who was covered in thorns all over his body.

Paul didn't ask for an answer either. He stared out of the window for a while, then turned and left dully.Boris could not be seen from his window, only the deserted Red Square and the tanks on the street.

"Let someone from the National Security Council go straight to the Houses of Parliament and arrest him," he said.

Ivan pursed his lips and dialed the phone.

"...So, citizens of Russia, resist with endless strikes! Soldiers, do not obey the orders of the committee! Let us give it the most ruthless counterattack with the most determined will, in order to Come to defend democracy, freedom and dignity, and defend our own motherland! [1]” Boris’s speech was not long, because he did not dare to stay outside for too long.But his goal has been achieved. His brave attitude on the tank and the red, white and blue tricolor flag behind him have been deeply imprinted in people's minds.

In the evening of the same day, the news was sent back to Ke/Li/M/Lin/Gong.

The order "arrest Boris" was refused.

From then on the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

The next day, Boris began to take over the armed forces in Russia/Russia. He ordered all the troops deployed in the territory to stand by, and the troops that had left their original stations returned immediately.His orders were carried out, and he himself was embraced by many military districts.Moreover, at this time, the disadvantages of failing to capture the parliament building began to be revealed. Boris was able to use the international phone inside to get in touch with Western politicians and gained extensive support from external public opinion.

On the third day, the army began to withdraw from Mo/S/Ko, and Boris' ultimatum was handed to Paul by the emergency committee in the evening.

At 9 o'clock in the evening of the same day, Mikhail's statement to the whole country came from gram/ri/m/ya:

I am in good health, the situation is under control and I will be able to return to my duties in a few days.Mi-she-go/er/ba/jo/ff.

When Paul read the telegram from his boss, he leaned against the wall as if he lost his strength, and the hand holding the telegram hung down lifelessly.

"Lucia, I'm going to die." He stared at the ceiling and said in a flat tone.

The author has something to say:

[1] This speech by Ye/Lee/Chin was made up by me, but both the tank jump and the call for a permanent strike are real.To this I just want to say, worthy of the fighting nation, OTZ

There will be a final chapter next week, and then there will be a side story, and maybe a weird classical Chinese essay w