Chapter 294
Chapter 294
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: January Coup (2)
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Shelepin's mobilization of the military signified that the political coup had escalated into a full-blown military coup.
Shelepin himself understood the implications perfectly.
Hadn't he spent the last few years failing to make headway on military spending cuts precisely because he'd resorted to this "military coup" option?
This time, too, he'd have to pay a heavy price for borrowing the army's power.
*We'll waste another few years spinning our wheels on military expenditure issues.*
But Shelepin had no choice.
If he didn't use military force to drown out the Brezhnev faction's voice, he wouldn't just fail to resolve the crisis—he could end up on the losing end himself.
At Shelepin's command, Soviet troops deployed to major cities across the regions, seizing control of broadcast stations and other key facilities.
"From this moment, a state of emergency is in effect."
The people didn't sit idly by in the face of the Soviet army's show of force.
"We want to hear from Secretary Brezhnev!"
Chanting Brezhnev's name, the crowds blocked the path of Soviet tanks.
This reaction might seem surprising, but considering the changes in the Soviet Union, it wasn't all that strange.
During Brezhnev's tenure, people's quality of life had steadily improved despite the massive military spending.
The populace had felt these "improvements" in their daily lives, so they viewed Brezhnev as a decent leader.
To Shelepin, who had struggled to cut military spending, it was an absurd judgment, but that's how the world worked.
The ones doing the work and the ones receiving the praise were rarely the same.
"Deputy Premier Comrade, the situation isn't calming down."
"The crowds keep growing?"
"That's how things are unfolding."
Shelepin lit a cigarette.
While he smoked, the Politburo members remained silent.
Shelepin slowly scanned the room before flicking ash from his cigarette.
"In the past, Comrade Stalin judged what was necessary for the state and pushed forward boldly, no matter the sacrifices. And he proved it by saving the motherland in the Great Patriotic War."
"This time is no different. If we leave the nation in the hands of those conservative holdouts who only know how to maintain the status quo, the end result will be ruin. The people will all end up living in flames."
Shelepin's voice had taken on a cold, ruthless edge.
"How can we stand by knowing that outcome? To avert the inevitable catastrophe, we must steel ourselves for bloodshed."
What Shelepin meant was simple.
Begin bloody suppression of the protesters.
The Politburo members nodded in agreement.
That same afternoon, terrifying orders went out to Soviet units that had entered major cities.
"Is this really the Party's directive?"
"At least it doesn't order live ammunition."
Before resorting to bloodshed, the Soviet army issued one final warning broadcast.
The protesters didn't back down.
"Pointing guns at the people? What makes you any different from the Tsar's dogs?"
"If you're the people's army, lower your weapons and get out of our city right now."
The warnings fell on deaf ears.
"Commence suppression."
The Soviet troops unleashed tear gas on the crowds first.
Thousands of protesters coughed violently amid the thick clouds of gas.
*Cough, cough.*
While the demonstrators were disoriented, soldiers in gas masks closed in, mercilessly clubbing participants with rifle butts.
Teeth and blood splattered across the streets.
On the first day of suppression, casualties across the Soviet Union totaled 1,250.
Three people died.
"That's a cheap price to pay."
As the Soviet army's ruthless crackdown continued, things grew complicated on the Korean side as well.
"Here's the signals intelligence. Moscow looks like it's planning to ramp up troop deployments."
"That bastard Shelepin's ruthless."
Even if it meant taking the heat, he'd use military force to crush the loudspeakers and protesters once and for all.
Moscow was operating on the mindset that clearing out the noise meant victory.
*And it's a strategy with real odds of success.*
In the original history, China had crushed the Tiananmen protests the same way, thwarting a challenge to the regime.
*If we'd stirred up the Soviet people with the speakers for a few more days, we might've had a shot.*
Korea's cards were running out, while Shelepin still had plenty left to play.
"What's the mood in the Brezhnev camp?"
"Some of his close aides are pushing for troop mobilization against Shelepin."
"Troop mobilization? You don't mean the Warsaw Pact forces, do you?"
"Yes, it seems they're considering that option."
If they actually thought about deploying Warsaw Pact Soviet troops, they were done for.
Even pulling in Soviet forces stationed in Eastern Europe would amount to abandoning control over the Second World.
What would that be if not handing the Soviet Union its own collapse?
*The moment they say that out loud, the military will withdraw support from Brezhnev.*
Yi Seong-jun sensed the Brezhnev camp darkening with defeat from talk of Warsaw Pact mobilization.
In this situation, what was Korea's best move?
It was obvious.
Cut losses and pull out.
*We haven't gotten too deeply involved, so bowing out now won't piss off Shelepin too much.*
Yi Seong-jun coldly calculated the board.
But backing off like this meant accepting too big a loss.
If Shelepin successfully seized power, US-Soviet reconciliation could accelerate beyond expectations.
If they were going down, they needed to scatter ashes first.
*Even if the US and Shelepin want reconciliation, gift them a current that makes it impossible.*
There was a way.
The Eastern European democratic revolutions.
*It doesn't even have to actually happen. Just the possibility is enough.*
While Moscow was in chaos, the West was trying to play with fire in the Soviet backyard.
Plant that impression, and Shelepin wouldn't readily step toward reconciliation with the US.
Regardless of his personal will, the national mindset itself would turn hostile to it.
Yi Seong-jun assigned a new task to the Agency for National Security Planning.
Soon after, a strange rumor spread through Eastern Europe.
The source was TV broadcasts emanating from West Berlin.
The West German news aired an unbelievable rumor.
"Secretary Brezhnev plans to pull all Soviet troops from the Warsaw Pact back into the Soviet Union to suppress the coup."
East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia erupted in chaos over the broadcast.
"Those damn Soviets are pulling out?"
"Does that mean we're free soon?"
Brezhnev's side dismissed the baseless rumor.
Even Shelepin, who should have used the news to attack Brezhnev, claimed the West German broadcast was lying.
"What? Us lying? Look at the Soviet troop withdrawal schedule we've obtained."
The West German station publicly released documents.
The materials detailed Soviet troop structures and deployments pilfered by Korea through signals intelligence and spy ops, lending them credibility.
"No, the troop data is accurate, but there's no withdrawal!"
Once the Soviets vaguely acknowledged the documents' authenticity, people believed a real pullout was underway.
"Liberation from Moscow at last."
Anti-Soviet, anti-communist movements began rearing their heads again across Eastern Europe.
Moscow realized it was in a terribly awkward spot.
What kind of stares would the West give if they crushed these spreading democratization wildfires?
*Crushing anti-Soviet movements in Eastern Europe makes it hard to build an atmosphere for US reconciliation. What a headache.*
Shelepin suspected Korea might be behind this picture.
Wasn't it?
Korea was the only one who benefited from the leak.
*No, that's not right.*
Brezhnev benefited too.
"Negotiate, or Eastern Europe flies away?"
Whether Brezhnev intended it or not, the frame had shifted that way.
Shelepin put more weight on the latter.
Between Korea and Brezhnev, the desperate one was the latter.
"Deputy Premier Comrade, how should we resolve this situation?"
Dragging it out further made no sense.
Like it or not, it was time to throw out a compromise.
"Convey to Brezhnev and his aides assurances of personal safety, generous pensions, and suitable positions."
It wasn't ideal, but the world didn't bend to one's will.
After backchannel negotiations, the two sides reached this compromise:
First, guarantee Brezhnev and his aides' safety and provide generous pensions.
Second, limit purges of the Brezhnev faction to the Politburo and military.
Once the deal was struck, Brezhnev flew back to Moscow.
There, the two embraced with smiles, staging a reconciliation.
"There were serious conflicts between us once, but that's all cleared up now. For politicians, the interests of the Soviet state and people come first, don't they?"
Of course, no one believed it.
"But at least it ends on a good note."
As a result of this noisy coup, the Soviet Union shifted from collective leadership back to a state ruled by one absolute leader.
Foreign policy and massive fiscal expenditures remained largely unchanged.
Regardless of Shelepin's inclinations, it was due to the groundwork Yi Seong-jun had laid.
Thanks to the ashes Yi scattered, the US vs. Korea-Soviet confrontation held firm and unshakable.
In this lineup, America couldn't gain the upper hand.
Washington knew that much.
"But this alignment won't last forever."
Washington was convinced that the Soviet Union's new strongman, Shelepin, would eventually reach out to them.
That day—
The day of US-Soviet reconciliation—they'd switch from defense to offense.
The White House decided to endure Korea's challenges until the tide turned.