The October Coup (4)
The KGB Director didn't die. After all, what Bill had fired wasn't a real pistol, but a tranquilizer gun. Because of that, the Director, who knew everything about the incident, was treated to the full-course service of CIA agents. The CIA's uncanny ability to make people spill everything they knew—and even imagine things they didn't—meant the Director's testimony was subjected to cross-verification through additional investigations. As a result, the conspirators within the Politburo were exposed, and those involved in the military were brought to light.
It wasn't particularly difficult to cross-verify, as even a cursory investigation of the corpses strewn about the Politburo building revealed their affiliations. It just came as a shock to the ordinary members of the Politburo, including Gorbachev.
"Comrades, I am truly sorry. Because it was impossible to know who in the Politburo was involved, I had no choice but to use such methods."
Gorbachev bowed his head toward the Politburo members gathered in a small meeting room, a stark contrast to their usual conference hall. However, no one blamed him. After all, there had been traitors within the Politburo itself. If no one from the Politburo had been involved, Gorbachev would have faced severe backlash.
In fact, Gorbachev had been criticized by the Politburo members in the early stages of suppressing the coup because, until that point, no one knew who was involved. But when several people suddenly vanished and were captured by the CIA, and physical evidence of their participation in the coup emerged, the Politburo members could no longer condemn him.
"In the end, it was the right course of action. If the General Secretary had told all of us about the coup, we would have ended up dead."
At the words of Yuri, a Politburo member, the others sighed and nodded. It certainly wasn't a pleasant situation. Receiving help from the American CIA was, in many ways, a bitter pill to swallow.
"The fortunate thing is that the American side says they have no intention of making this incident public to the world," Gorbachev said, and the faces of the Politburo members brightened.
"Instead, they want me to say that President Reagan of the United States influenced the capitalization of the Soviet Union."
Anxiety clouded the faces of the Politburo members, though it was clearly fainter than before.
"Do you intend to do that?" at Yuri's question, Gorbachev nodded.
"It seems like the right thing to do. In exchange, I intend to demand that they ease the pressure on our agricultural and livestock exports, as well as our natural resource exports. We have already chosen practical gains, so this would be better."
"Is that possible?"
"It is a matter that Chairman Choi of YK has promised to work on."
"Hmm..."
It wasn't easy, but Gorbachev managed to secure the Politburo's permission.
At YK's Chernobyl factory, three men, including Putin, appeared.
"We have come to see Chairman Choi."
Unexpectedly, the meeting took place quickly, as if it had been pre-arranged. Of course, they had to undergo a high-intensity body search, but they accepted it readily, and before long, they were able to meet Yoon-gi.
"I knew you would come."
It was a line that sounded like a final boss in a video game, but Yoon-gi was more than qualified to say it.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, the Director's coup failed."
"A coup that fails to gain the support of the people is hard to succeed, and even if it does succeed, it rarely lasts long."
In fact, JD's 12.12 military insurrection had succeeded initially. However, because it lacked the support of the people, it came to an end after seven years. The Director's coup was no different. Even if the coup had succeeded, Yoon-gi would have pulled his feet out of the Soviet Union the moment it did, and as a result, the Director would have faced countless hurdles, including disaster recovery. And before long, he would have lost his life to a new coup.
"I suppose that is why politics must be conducted with a broad perspective."
On his way to Chernobyl, Putin had heard the news about the coup on the radio. And there was a catchphrase currently circulating in the Soviet Union: "Politics must be conducted with a broad perspective." Putin used those words to Yoon-gi, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Indeed. A politician who only thinks of personal gain cannot last long. Even if they are safe during their own lifetime, they will be judged accordingly after they die. Well, if one is the type of person who thinks only their own life matters, it might not be a significant issue."
In reality, the dictators proven by history all wished not to be used as idols. They only hoped for their corpses to be buried quietly in some corner. However, every dictatorial state in this world inevitably turns its former dictator into an idol. They embalm the body with formalin and various chemicals, and even display it to the public. Even if they leave a will asking not to be idolized, the successor uses dictatorial power to force it, so there is no way to avoid it.
"The Director tried to return the Soviet Union to complete communism for his own benefit. But I could not watch that happen. The Soviet Union, where I felt such profound helplessness, must disappear."
"That dream has come true. Congratulations."
At Yoon-gi's gesture of offering a handshake with a smile, Putin stepped forward and took his hand. How would Putin react if he saw Choi Deok-bae chiming in from the side? Still, Deok-bae's banter made Yoon-gi feel pleasant, so the office atmosphere was quite warm.
"Are the two behind you your collaborators?"
Putin nodded. "Nikolai and Ivan. If it weren't for these two, I would have died as well. I was assigned to the 3rd Division, too."
"Hello, I am Nikolai."
"I am Ivan."
Nikolai, who looked like he had shaved his head on purpose, and Ivan, with his brown bob cut. Yoon-gi reached out and shook hands with both of them in turn.
"You've worked hard. You are the heroes who saved the Soviet Union."
At Yoon-gi's praise, Nikolai and Ivan could not hide their smiles. They hadn't expected anyone to acknowledge them, but Yoon-gi, who held immense influence in the current Soviet Union, acknowledged them as if it were a matter of course.
"To be honest, the greatest credit goes to Chairman Choi. To have noticed my Morse code... it was worth the gamble."
"It is more impressive that you thought to use Morse code with your blinking. Honestly, if it weren't for the help of my bodyguard, I would have just been left wondering what it was and failed."
"You have surrounded yourself with good talent."
"I have a great appetite for talent."
While he was at it, Yoon-gi spoke to Putin. "Come to think of it, you didn't come here just for a social call. Your goal is to be guaranteed safety, isn't it?"
Putin nodded. "That is correct. Nikolai, Ivan, and I had no choice but to work under the Director, but it was not work we wanted to do."
Nikolai and Ivan also looked at Yoon-gi with desperate eyes.
"Do not worry. I have already conveyed the message to General Secretary Gorbachev. However, as I only just learned about Nikolai and Ivan, I will contact the General Secretary as soon as this conversation ends."
Expressions of relief appeared on the faces of the three, and Yoon-gi spoke to them again.
"What do you intend to do now? If you wish, YK has the intention to hire you. If you want to defect to the CIA, I can help with that, too. Although, the General Secretary might not like it."
At Yoon-gi's words, Putin shook his head. "Thank you for thinking of us. But, may I ask for something else?"
"Please, speak freely. Thanks to you, I didn't lose the money I invested in the Soviet Union."
As Yoon-gi grinned, Putin carefully opened his mouth.
"Could you arrange a meeting for us with General Secretary Gorbachev?"
The moment he heard Putin's words, Yoon-gi was reminded once again of the main current of history. 'So, Putin will become the head of Russia after all.' In original history, Putin became the head of Russia with the support of Boris Yeltsin. However, looking at the way things were turning, it seemed he would receive the direct support of Gorbachev, not Yeltsin, this time.
"Of course."
It was the main current of history that would flow regardless. Yoon-gi nodded decisively, and Putin began his journey as the head of Russia. Though, of course, it would be a slightly different path than in original history.
Gorbachev boldly disclosed information about the October coup to the people. Gorbachev had already been an advocate for information transparency, so this disclosure was nothing to be ashamed of, and as a result, he succeeded in raising his approval rating.
In fact, in original history, Gorbachev's politics did not end very successfully. This was because of the capitalization of the capital class that inevitably follows capitalism. As soon as Gorbachev allowed the operation of private companies in the Soviet Union, a new class of chaebols emerged. However, in this world, Yoon-gi was going to block the birth of Soviet chaebols by any means necessary. Even if private companies could be registered starting January 1st of next year, it was clear that no chaebols on the scale of original history would ever be born. Instead, Soviet people would be able to live a better life than in original history, as the wealth that would have been monopolized by chaebols would be spread evenly among the citizens.
"That man named Putin is quite a talent. It makes me think I should have him join the Politburo when he gets a little older."
At Gorbachev's words, Yoon-gi smiled and nodded. "He certainly is a capable person. Not just anyone would think to convey Morse code through blinking."
In fact, as Yoon-gi had vaguely remembered earlier, this tactic had been used before. In 1966, US Air Force pilot Jeremiah Denton, who was being tortured after being captured in North Vietnam, blinked the word 'TORTURE' in Morse code during a North Vietnamese broadcast, exposing the torture of prisoners. However, even if someone had used it before, Putin's ingenuity did not lose its luster. And so, the conversation blossomed with stories about Putin for a while.
"General Secretary, may I ask one favor?"
"Ah, are you talking about the summit with President Reagan?"
But Yoon-gi shook his head. "No, it's something else."
"What is it?"
Yoon-gi was a boy who was always interesting to talk to, so Gorbachev waited for his words with curiosity.
"If the Soviet Union walks the path of capitalism, many people will inevitably lose their jobs in sectors including national defense."
"Hmm... that is certainly true."
Changing a system means that some places will benefit while others will suffer. Gorbachev did not deny it and nodded.
"That is why I am asking: may I suggest a way to utilize them?"