My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 245 Changes in the World
The gunfire continued intermittently for nearly forty-eight hours.

These two short days felt like an eternity of suffering for the vast Soviet Union.

When Gorbachev reappeared on television, despite his efforts to explain that he was under "house arrest" in Crimea and to condemn the illegal actions of the "Committee on the State of Emergency," his image as someone who was "out of contact" and "powerless" at the country's most critical moment had already taken root in people's minds.

In the eyes of the public and many elites, he had become an indecisive and incompetent person who could not control the situation.

His political life had effectively come to an end in this failed coup attempt.

Instead, Ye's personal prestige expanded to an unprecedented level.

The scene of him standing on a tank in front of the White House and delivering a speech of resistance was broadcast around the world on television and etched into the hearts of every Soviet citizen.

At that moment, he was portrayed as a hero who defended democracy and resisted tyranny, and his prestige reached its zenith.

Qin Yuan was naturally well aware of this "historical event" that has been repeatedly analyzed by later generations.

Because later documentaries and various self-media exposés have repeatedly studied this "world change".

Why is it called a global transformation?

Because it was this coup that changed the timeline of the entire world.

The whole world is baffled as to how a seemingly certain victory was turned around.

Initially, when the emergency committee announced its control of state power, it received a large number of supporters.

Look at its participants: Deputy Leader Yanayev, Economic Director Pavlov, Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee Baklanov, Minister of Defense Yazov, Minister of Internal Affairs Pugo, Chairman of the Security Committee Kryuchkov, and the heads of the Agriculture, Industry, and Administration Offices.
These people controlled almost all of the Soviet Union's security apparatus.

On the very first day they announced their takeover of the Soviet Union, they received recognition and support from more than a dozen Soviet military districts and more than a dozen republics.

The Soviet people, perhaps because both King Sujong and King Hondron came to power through coups, were not concerned about the turmoil in the country.

Western media also predict that this coup is very likely to succeed.

But this smooth sailing only lasted for one day.

After Ye appeared in Red Square and delivered that speech.

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

The statements made by the two key figures, the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and the subsequent choice of many politicians to side with Yeltsin.

The military districts and member states that had originally supported the emergency committee all switched sides.

And those troops that marched into Moscow also turned their guns around.

It's incredible.

The strangeness and reversal in this matter are full of mysteries to later generations.

It is precisely because of this "strangeness".

Throughout the chaos, Qin Yuan issued the strictest orders to the Far East Group: all personnel must remain in hiding and are strictly prohibited from engaging in any political activities.

One wrong move and you're shattered to pieces.

Binzi, Pan Shiyi, Chen Jianhua, and others were also well aware of the stakes involved in such internal turmoil within a super-large country.

Therefore, they are all restraining their subordinates and observing the situation.

Forty-eight hours later, when the situation began to become clearer, everyone met at the Far East Group building, far from the center of Moscow.

Even when they met, everyone was still deeply moved.

The situation reversed so quickly that it surprised everyone.

This change also destined to have a profound impact on the future of the Soviet Union.

"President Qin, when I arrived, I saw that most of the tanks and troops on the streets had been withdrawn, and martial law had been lifted. Moscow... can it return to peace?" Pan Shiyi couldn't help but ask, his tone tinged with anticipation.

Qin Yuan slowly shook his head: "Now is the time for the transfer of power. There may be no open power struggles, but the undercurrents will definitely not stop."

"But none of this concerns us."

"Shi Yi, you need to do something right now: issue a public announcement that Far Eastern International Bank will fully open up ruble-to-dollar exchange services immediately, without any time restrictions!" Pan Shi Yi was shocked: "President Qin, the ruble-to-dollar exchange rate has already halved in the international currency market in the past two days. Now other banks, including Western banks and Soviet state-owned banks, are strictly restricting or even suspending ruble-to-dollar exchanges."

"If we fully open up at this time, there are huge risks involved!"

Not only Pan Shiyi, but everyone present was shocked.

With the ruble's exchange rate steadily declining, it could very well fall further if political turmoil were to occur in the Soviet Union.

In this situation, if the ruble is still allowed to be exchanged for the dollar, won't the rubles that are collected be depreciating every day?

But how could they have imagined that the current depreciation of the ruble is just the appetizer?

The real precipitous drop will not occur until the end of the year, and only after Yeh takes office and implements shock therapy.

At that time, the ruble will become worthless.

Now, however, is the last chance to absorb rubles on a large scale.

Because the Soviet leadership is currently vying for power and profit, this has given Qin Yuan, as well as various regions and factories in the Soviet Union, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enrich themselves at the expense of the public.

As for the dollar reserves, Qin Yuan was certainly not speaking without reason.

The so-called "full liberalization" will have many thresholds and restrictions in terms of operational details, such as the limit on a single exchange and the screening of target customers.

It's enough to sustain us until the final upheaval at the end of the year.

However, Qin Yuan certainly couldn't explain all of this to them.

However, everyone felt relieved after hearing that Qin Yuan was going to absorb capital and acquire related factories.

At least the rubles weren't left in hand to depreciate; instead, they were exchanged for a series of fixed assets.

Qin Yuan then looked at Binzi and gave another key instruction: "Binzi, you will temporarily hand over the daily management of the 'Ant' market to Gangzi."

"Take the earliest flight back to China tomorrow, find Feng Lun and Uncle Zhang, and use all available connections and channels to collect as many light industrial products, food, and daily necessities as possible, and send them to Moscow by rail as quickly as possible!"

Qin Yuan was well aware that the power vacuum and social panic brought about by the coup would inevitably lead to shortages of supplies and soaring prices.

Whoever controls the resources will have a huge advantage and profit margin in the ensuing chaos.

Binzi always supported Qin Yuan's decisions and naturally never questioned them.

Gangzi did want to return to China with them, but the "One Ant" market is now on track and booming, and it can't do without people.

Under Qin Yuan's command, all parties obeyed their orders and set off to prepare for the even greater storm to come.

He himself picked up today's newspapers and started reading them one by one.

Previously, he only learned about this history through various historical materials and later research.

But now, as someone who experienced it firsthand.

He has gained a deeper understanding of the current coup.

Is Ye really that charismatic, able to turn everyone against him with just one speech?

Could the condemnations from Western countries really influence the Soviet military's decision?

Or are some people really so afraid of bloodshed that they hesitate at crucial moments?
It should be noted that in the past seventy years, the Soviet Union had seen a change of regime at each of its many changes.

They all went through cleansing and bloodshed.

But why is this situation happening now?

Qin Yuan sensed an invisible hand orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.

The interplay, compromises, and even betrayals among various forces are far more complex and dark than the simplified narratives in later textbooks.

Just as he was lost in thought, his office phone suddenly rang.

(besides)
(End of this chapter)