Struggle in Soviet Russia

On the Main Street of the Moscow Film Studio, the Volga that Viktor was riding turned a corner, drove forward for a while, and finally stopped under the office building of Comrade Malenkov.

Victor got out of the car, looked up at the gloomy sky that still had snowflakes, handed the saber to Varenka, and then walked quickly towards the entrance of the building.

Walking up the stairs to the second floor, the door of Comrade Malenkov's office is open as always. , was leaning on the desk and writing, and from where Victor was standing, he could actually see the fat double chin that he squeezed out.

Going straight to the door, Viktor raised his hand and knocked on the door symbolically, then walked in without waiting for Comrade Malenkov to speak.

Hearing the knock on the door, Comrade Malenkov raised his head and saw Victor walking in. He was stunned for a moment, then put down the pen in his hand, beckoned to Victor, and said, "You came just in time, here is a copy The coordination letter from the Propaganda and Agitation Department contains work related to your work and needs your cooperation. Well, this is also one of the recent key tasks of the Central Secretariat."

"So serious?" Victor said with a smile, and when he walked to the desk, he reached out and took the document from Comrade Malenkov's hand.

The so-called coordination letter is something like a letter of introduction or a letter of proof. It was issued in the name of the Propaganda and Agitation Department and signed by Comrade Zhdanov. Comrade Derek Urmler is currently directing a film with important propaganda significance. The content of the film mainly reflects a series of decision-making processes at the top of the Union during the Battle of Stalingrad, as well as the great victory of the entire battle. Wait.

The first page of the coordination letter briefly introduced the plot of the movie, and after turning the first page, a lot of names were listed on the second page. Victor looked for it and found that there really was his own name in it.

"Comrade Stalin personally paid attention to this film," said Comrade Malenkov, standing up from behind the desk, walking around Viktor, who was blocking the table, and walking toward the wine cabinet, "It is said that when the filming is finished, After that, Comrade Stalin had to personally participate in the editing and finishing of the later period. Therefore, everyone involved must be interviewed by Frederick Urmler, um, mainly to reflect the truth during the Battle of Stalingrad. reality."

Victor shrugged, threw the coordination letter back on the table, and said, "The problem is, I'm leaving Moscow in the last two days and returning to Petrozavodsk."

Comrade Malenkov was making coffee by the wine cabinet, and said without looking back, "Didn't you say that you will not be allowed to leave for the time being?"

After saying this, he seemed to have thought of something, turned his head to look at Victor, and said with a smile, "Didn't Andreyev want to introduce you to a girlfriend to help you solve your personal problems?"

Victor smiled bitterly, took out the envelope full of photos from his pocket, shook it in his hand, and said, "I was about to ask you, what is going on with Comrade Andreyev? Suddenly I remembered my personal problem, could it be that someone sued me?"

"Why do you say that?" Comrade Malenkov asked in surprise.

"Isn't it?" Viktor asked rhetorically, "I really can't think of any other reason than this possibility, after all...you know, Comrade Andreyev and I are not counted. How familiar."

"Don't think about it so much," Comrade Malenkov turned around and continued his work, smiling at the same time, "I know the story behind it."

"Oh?" Victor touched his pocket, took out a pack of cigarettes, and said casually, "And a story? Then I'd be more interested in learning about it."

Comrade Malenkov did not directly tell his story, but first made a cup of coffee and put it in Viktor's hands before saying, "You know about Mikhail Ivanovich, right?"

"What's the matter, is this matter still related to Comrade Mikhail Ivanovich?" Victor was even more curious, and he asked almost subconsciously. ,

Comrade Mikhail Ivanovich, of course, means Kalinin. Victor knew that this old comrade who was over seventy years old was really dying. He was seriously ill again two weeks ago and was admitted to the hospital. After some rescue, he was rescued again, but he could no longer get on the sickbed. At present, he has even lost the function of eating and drinking, and only relies on infusion to maintain his life.

This time Victor came back from Karelia and heard accurate news that Comrade Kalinin had once again asked for his resignation, but unlike before, this time his request for resignation was accepted, Comrade Stalin did not bother others, he himself He took over the post of Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union.

Two years ago, in a report submitted to Comrade Stalin, Victor mentioned a series of suggestions made by state leaders on the concurrent post. , and should also hold several important positions, such as the Supreme Commander of the Soviet Red Army and the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union.

Previously, Comrade Stalin accepted the award of the "Grand Marshal of the Soviet Union", which is equivalent to having the status of the Supreme Commander of the Soviet Red Army at the rank level, and this time he also served as the chairman of the Supreme Soviet Presidium. The three powers were combined into one and became the nominal and actual supreme leader of the alliance. Of course, this also means that Victor's suggestion was still accepted by Comrade Stalin.

"Last week, on behalf of the Central Committee, Comrade Stalin visited Comrade Mikhail Ivanovich at the Kremlin Hospital," Comrade Malenkov said. "At that time, several comrades from the Politburo were present. Comrade Stalin When talking about the replacement of old and new cadres, Kuznetsov and Woznetssensky were mentioned, and of course, you were also mentioned."

Victor pursed his lips, somewhat happy.

You must know that in the current leadership of the CPSU Central Committee, Kuznetsov and Woznetssensky are definitely the core figures in the second echelon. To a certain extent, their distance from the first echelon is also very close. This can be seen from the fact that Comrade Stalin first mentioned the two of them when he talked about the replacement of old and new cadres. And according to Comrade Mamarinkov, Comrade Stalin also mentioned him when he mentioned Kuznetsov and Woznesensky. So, what does this mean? Undoubtedly, this means that, at least in the minds of Comrade Stalin, his Victor's status is not far from Kuznetsov and Woznesensky. In other words, he is also a member of the second echelon of cadres in the Central Committee of the CPSU, and he is also a member of the core.

But to be honest, Viktor knew exactly what was going on with him.

In Comrade Stalin's mind, he may be a core member of the second echelon of cadres, but in his actual position, he can only be regarded as a middle and peripheral figure in the second echelon. It will take a long time for him to enter the Politburo. There is still a long way to go. According to Victor's own plan, if he can complete this road within ten years, it will be very fast. Just imagine, a forty-year-old Politburo member, isn't he still young?

Therefore, Victor is very satisfied with the stage he is in now.

"At that time, it was Comrade Mikhail Ivanovich who thought you should solve your personal problems, and he also brought up this topic." Comrade Malenkov didn't know what was going on in Viktor's mind. He circled back behind the desk, sat back in the chair, and said, "Andreyev just took the opportunity to take over the job."

Victor nodded, and only then did he realize that Comrade Malenkov always addressed Comrade Andreyev by his surname, without the suffix "Comrade". In terms of age and seniority, Comrade Malenkov is obviously inferior to Comrade Andreyev, so it is very impolite to address him by his surname.

However, Viktor also knows why. After all, Comrade Andreyev almost didn't give Malenkov a pit. Although the latter did not make any countermeasures, this does not mean that this matter is over. , it is foreseeable that as long as Comrade Malenkov finds an opportunity, he will definitely go back without hesitation.

"Tell me, what do you think about this issue yourself?" Leaning back on the back of the chair, Comrade Malenkov raised his hands and tucked his hair back, asking.

Victor shrugged, threw the envelope full of photos in his hand onto the table, first took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, lit it, took a deep breath, and said, "I haven't had time to think about it, um, if you think about me Personal opinion, then I'll put it off for a while, maybe when I'm back in Moscow next time, I'll think about it again."

"Andreyev is very cunning," said Comrade Malenkov, nodding his head. "Although he didn't bring it up in the first place, since he has taken the matter over, you have to be careful whether he will Mischief."

Victor smiled indifferently, without an interface. He knew that because of the inextricable contradiction with Comrade Andreyev, Comrade Malenkov was now full of malice towards the old man. No matter what, he would probably judge him from the most malicious angle. , therefore, his statement will inevitably be biased.