The Fourth Disaster Begins at the Dawn of the Millennium

The faint light of dawn had just begun to dispel the darkness of the night. Dewdrops hung on the grass leaves, sparkling with crystal light, and the air was filled with the smell of moist earth. A few bird calls came from afar, breaking the silence before dawn.

Inside the camp, Chechen soldiers were busy moving boxes of ammunition and supplies to several trucks parked nearby. Although the soldiers were still yawning, they worked quickly, knowing that these supplies were crucial to the battle on the front line. A man named Makarov blocked their progress, causing the 2500-man Chechen armed forces to lag far behind the progress of other teams.

At this time, the sun had not yet risen completely, and the sky was still shrouded in a light gray-blue color, like an unfinished oil painting. Suddenly, a low roar came from afar, breaking the tranquility of the early morning. The Chechen soldiers raised their heads and tried to identify the source of the sound. They saw several planes gradually appearing from the distant horizon and quickly approaching the sky above the camp. They reflected the silver light in the morning light, like several huge falcons.

The camp was in chaos. Soldiers ran around, trying to find cover or continue loading supplies onto trucks as quickly as possible. However, it was too late. Planes hovered over the camp and dropped deadly bombs. The explosions were deafening, and flames shot up into the sky. The entire camp was instantly engulfed in flames. Smoke billowed, and flames licked the ground, burning everything that could burn. Soldiers ran and shouted in the sea of ​​fire, trying to escape this hellish scene.

On the hill, Alexander and Artyom were lying on the ground, observing everything with binoculars. Their figures were hidden in the low bushes, and the surrounding trees provided them with natural cover.

"Hit the target! These airmen have been a great help. Artyom, you have made a great contribution! You really passed the coordinates to the rear! Well done! Alexander's words were full of satisfaction and praise. Artyom was the only radio operator in the Nightingale Squadron. The radio on him was the only channel for the Nightingale Squadron to get in touch with Makarov. Alexander not only praised Artyom for his contribution, but also praised the radio on Artyom, which could still clearly transmit the message to the rear even though it was so far away from the rear.

(Artyom: "It doesn't matter. Radio is just a formality. WeChat is the most reliable. Who would really count on using it to send messages? What if the enemy monitors it?")

The two continued to observe the camp and assess the damage. The flames were still burning, and the smoke was rising into the sky. There were almost no intact living people in the camp. Since the Russian Air Force bombed the ammunition storage point, the power of the explosion came not only from the bombs dropped by the Air Force, but also from the destructive power of the ammunition in the camp.

After observing for a while, the two put away their binoculars, quickly packed up their equipment, and prepared to evacuate the hill. Although the aftermath of the bombing had not yet completely dissipated, they knew that the pace of the battle did not allow them to stay for a moment.

The Chechen armed forces lost their ammunition supply, and their offensive rhythm was suddenly interrupted. The armored units and motorized infantry hired by Mr. Makarov also moved to designated positions. Before the counterattack of the Russian ground forces began, Mr. Makarov's counterattack was about to begin. If nothing unexpected happened, the Chechen militants would withdraw from the front line and return to Chechnya from the original route. This meant more tasks for the Nightingale Squad, which was stuck on the road that the Chechen militants had to take.

The morning sun finally completely shone over the mountains of Dagestan, illuminating the land. The scouts gradually moved away and disappeared into the depths of the woods, as if they had never appeared. Only the rising column of smoke still told the silent story of this battle to the sky.

In the wilderness, a weed-covered path winds forward and leads to the distance. The Chechen armed forces are slowly retreating along this path. Compared with the easy pace when they came, this time, their steps are unusually heavy, as if every step is fighting against gravity. Some people in the team look back from time to time, as if they are worried that there will be enemy pursuers behind them. But more people just walk mechanically, with dull eyes and listless looks. Even the fanatical extremists in the team have lost their former brilliance at this moment.

The tragic facts have forced the Chechen armed forces to lose morale:

First, the brutal urban street fighting caused heavy losses to the Chechen militants, which reminded them of Grozny. They did not expect that an unknown small town would cause them to suffer such heavy losses. That small town with a population of only tens of thousands of people became a symbol of blood and will in the new era under the exaggerated propaganda of many Russian media.

Second, today's bombing destroyed their logistical supplies, which made their next military operation bankrupt. If they don't retreat, even without the enemy attacking, hunger and fatigue will become two invisible hands to strangle every one of them.

The Chechen armed commander walking in the front of the team tried hard to hide his inner anxiety with a firm expression and enthusiastic words. He couldn't appear gloomy himself, otherwise the team would not be able to withdraw to Chechnya and would collapse on the road.

In the wilderness, the occasional crows broke the silence of the early morning. Some people in the team cursed in a low voice, but most people remained silent. They knew that complaining would not solve any problems, and only by moving forward could they find a glimmer of hope.

Not far away, a stream was gleaming in the sun. The commander decided to let the team rest here for a while. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop. The soldiers sat down on the ground with a sense of relief. Some of them lay directly by the stream, scooping up the cold stream water with their hands and drinking greedily. The water was icy cold, but it made them feel a little comforted. The commander also knelt by the stream, washed his face with water to dispel some fatigue, and he looked at his reflection. The figure in the water seemed blurry, and his thoughts were also confused. He said to himself:

"This is such a confusing battle. We didn't collect any useful information except that the enemy is called Makarov, his subordinates are probably a group of mercenaries, and they are tenacious in fighting. Makarov, a businessman, damn it, how could he be just a businessman..."

In this war of invasion of Dagestan, they suffered the most severe defeat. Other Chechen armed forces either "failed to complete the goal, but suffered little losses" or "suffered heavy losses, but completed the mission". However, the Chechen armed forces that fought against Makarov, in a situation of being outnumbered, not only failed to complete the mission but also suffered particularly huge losses.

At this moment, the commander of the Chechen armed forces noticed that the stream was rippling gently, and there were slight ripples on the surface of the water. He raised his head and looked around, feeling a little uneasy. Then, the ground began to shake slightly, as if some huge force was approaching. The Chechen armed forces also felt this strange movement, and they stopped what they were doing and looked around nervously.

A low roar of an engine was heard in the distance, and it became clearer and clearer as it approached. The commander immediately became alert and ordered his men to enter combat mode immediately, while he himself stared at the direction where the sound came from.

"Russian armored forces? This is impossible. How can they react so quickly?" Soon, a team of armored forces consisting of tanks and BMP infantry fighting vehicles appeared in sight, attacking them from the flank. In the sun, the steel behemoths moved slowly, and the tracks rolled over the ground, making a dull roar. The armored team gradually approached, and the engine noise of the tanks and infantry fighting vehicles was deafening, as if the whole earth was shaking.

The commander knew that he had to act quickly to kill those armored units with fast movement, protection and firepower, otherwise, they would have nowhere to escape in this wilderness. He signaled his anti-tank team to prepare for a counterattack, and ordered others to create opportunities for the anti-tank team.

When the Chechen militants, who were crawling or half-crouching on the ground, used their assault rifles to attack the armored units with a "throwing egg against a rock" and successfully attracted firepower, the anti-tank team members carefully leaned out from their hiding places and aimed at the weak points of the armored units. Just as the anti-tank fighter was about to pull the trigger of the rocket launcher, he suddenly fell heavily to the ground, and a hole appeared on his neck with blood gushing out. The Chechen soldiers around him screamed:

"Sniper!"

On the hill, Artyom, who was lying on the ground shooting, said calmly: "This is the first one today..."

Chapter 190 Checkmate!

On the distant horizon, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were advancing with unstoppable momentum, the roar echoed in the empty wilderness, and the sound of tracks rolling over the ground was like thunder, shaking everyone's heart. At the same time, the infantrymen who had been chasing all the way from the city also defeated the rear guard of the Chechen armed forces, and joined the armored units here. The Polaris Company that had received the flag was in the front. They climbed onto the tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, planted the flags on the vehicles, and had a look of victory on their faces.

On the other side of the wilderness, the Chechen armed forces were in a desperate situation. They looked lonely and helpless in the vast wilderness, as if they were orphans abandoned by fate. Everyone's face was full of fatigue and fear, and sweat and dust mixed together to form muddy traces. After a long period of running, their physical strength was close to the limit, and their legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

The Chechen commander Khattab ran at the front of the team, his breathing was rapid, his chest heaving violently. Sweat covered his forehead and flowed down his cheeks. He looked back from time to time, his eyes full of anxiety and uneasiness. When the few anti-tank teams were targeted, Khattab no longer had hope of stopping the enemy in the wilderness. Even if there were still anti-tank weapons in the team, they could not kill many vehicles in this terrain. If they could not cross the mountain pass in front as soon as possible, they would have no way to escape. The sound of gunfire was approaching from behind, as if the god of death was approaching step by step, making people feel desperate.

The mountain pass was their only hope. By crossing the mountain pass, the team could retreat to the Chechen region they were more familiar with, and perhaps shake off the pursuers behind them and find a glimmer of hope. Along the way, Chechen armed forces kept falling down due to exhaustion, or simply being shot and fell in a pool of blood, but as long as they could move their bodies, they would grit their teeth, struggle to get up, and continue running forward.

Gradually, the mountain pass was getting closer and closer, as if within reach. Every Chechen who saw the mountain pass had a glimmer of hope in his heart. Khattab used all his strength to lead the team forward. However, at this moment, a huge explosion sounded in the team, deafening. The Chechen commander only felt the ground shaking violently, and his ears were filled with roars and screams. He instinctively fell to the ground and looked up. He saw a huge hole in the ground not far away. The figures of several Chechen militants rolled in the air and then fell heavily to the ground.

"Mine!"

The aftermath of the explosion had not yet dissipated when intensive gunfire suddenly came from the high ground on both sides of the mountain pass. All of this was the work of the Nightingale Squad.

When Alexander learned from Artyom that the Chechen armed forces had begun to withdraw and that Makarov would arrange for the armored forces to launch an attack, he boldly split the already small Nightingale Squad into two teams, one of which was led by Artyom and was responsible for providing sniper fire support at the commanding heights where a fight might break out. Alexander also determined that the Chechen armed forces would have to retreat through a mountain pass based on the armored forces' pursuit route and the surrounding terrain.

So Alexander led another part of the Nightingale Squad to ambush here. They looked down from a high position and poured bullets on the panicked Chechen armed forces. Bullets whizzed past, stirring up dust and sparks on the ground and rocks. The desperate Khattab was unwilling to give up, and led the team that still had the will to fight to launch a desperate charge on the hill. Then, he was hit in the waist by a machine gun bullet, and his body fell uncontrollably on the way to charge.

The body could no longer move, blood gushed out of the wound, staining the ground under his feet red. Khattab's vision began to blur, and the sound of gunfire in his ears gradually became distant, as if the whole world was slowly leaving him. At this moment, the Chechen commander's heart was filled with endless regrets and unwillingness, but he knew that he didn't have much time. At the last moment of his life, he cast his eyes to the sky, where there was still an endless sky, and the sun shone through the clouds, as if it was the light from another world. He prayed silently in his heart:

"Almighty God, please forgive my mistakes and sins. If this is my fate, I am willing to accept it. May my soul rest in your arms."

The sun shone through the gaps in the curtains and shone obliquely into the combat command room. Inside the room, the air was filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere. The map hanging on the wall was densely populated with small flags marking various strategic locations. Several officers and soldiers were busy shuttling back and forth in front of the map, whispering about the latest intelligence and instructions. Occasionally, a few rapid phone rings broke the silence in the room, followed by a short and decisive conversation.

But in the combat command room, there was something that was out of tune with the tense atmosphere. In a corner of the room, a small table was placed with a chessboard, with black and white chess pieces arranged in an orderly manner. Makarov was playing chess with Russian Major Ivanov. Makarov was concentrating on studying the breakthrough point in the chess game. Major Ivanov, on the other hand, frowned, his mind had already flown to the battlefield. Ivanov did not understand why Makarov was so "indifferent" to the war. Shouldn't he listen to the instructions and reports from the front line in a timely manner and then issue various combat orders to the front line in the office?

However, Makarov said: "What? Issue combat orders to the front line in the office? What orders can I give them? Let the machine gun move forward five meters? Move the mortar back ten meters? I have told my subordinates the combat plan and combat intentions completely and accurately, and I believe they understand my intentions. As for how to complete it, they have more say than me on the front line........."

Major Ivanov obviously could not understand this way of commanding troops. At least according to his habits in the Russian army, before taking any action, he had to report to all levels, and the basis of his actions also came entirely from the orders issued layer by layer.

The game continued, and Major Ivanov tried to focus on the chessboard again, but the uneasiness and doubt in his heart could not be shaken off. Makarov seemed unusually calm, his fingers wandering on the chessboard, as if weaving an invisible net. Every move was made calmly, as if everything was under control.

The game was at a critical moment. Suddenly, the door of the command room was gently pushed open, and a radio operator walked in quickly. With an unconcealed excitement on his face, he held a telegram tightly in his hand and ran straight to Makarov. The operator stood beside Makarov, leaned over slightly, and handed the telegram to him. Makarov took the telegram and glanced at it casually, seemingly not surprised by the content. He put the telegram on the table and looked back at the chessboard, as if the episode just now was just a trivial matter (because Artyom had already said it in WeChat in advance, so Makarov already knew that the front line had won a victory, and the Chechen armed forces' way home was blocked, and they were all annihilated and captured).

Seeing this, Major Ivanov was very curious and couldn't help asking: "What did the telegram say?"

Makarov raised his head and replied calmly: "One of the enemy leaders, Khattab, was killed. The 2500-man Chechen armed force is finished..."

Major Ivanov was slightly stunned, shocked by the news. Khattab was dead? The culprit behind a series of mysterious terrorist attacks in Moscow, one of the two most famous bandit leaders on the Chechen battlefield, was dead?

The major hadn't recovered from the shock yet. Suddenly, Makarov's eyes became sharper. He reached out and moved a chess piece, then gently put it down. "Major, you've been checkmated. Game over!"

Chapter 191 Makarov meets Putin

The sky of Moscow is covered with a thick layer of lead-gray clouds. Pedestrians are hurrying on the streets, wrapping their coats tightly to resist the cold wind. The warm season has quietly left, and the cold season has quietly arrived. The whole city and the whole country are silent in the biting cold wind, brewing an invisible expectation.

In 1999, the heaviness of history hung over Russia like a winter cloud over Moscow. The shock of the Soviet Union’s collapse had not yet subsided, the pain of economic reform was still ongoing, and social rifts and unrest were spreading across the vast country. The former superpower was struggling to find a new identity and direction, and the shadow of the Chechen War exacerbated this unrest and turmoil.

In this era full of uncertainty, there is a strong desire in the hearts of Russians. They are looking forward to a leader who can lead the country out of difficulties, a hero who can restore Russia's former glory, a person who can revitalize the army, stabilize the economy, and regain respect and status on the international stage. He can be Peter I, Catherine, or Stalin...

In 1999, the Russians met two "young men", one of whom was Putin.

Russian state television broadcast Yeltsin's speech in full, in which he said:

"Now, I have decided to name the person who, in my opinion, can unite society with the broadest political forces and ensure the continuation of reforms in Russia. He can unite around him all those who are faced with the task of revitalizing the great Russia in the new 21st century. He is Vladimir Putin, Secretary of the Security Council and Director of the Federal Security Service. Today I have made the decision to dissolve the government of Sergei Vadimovich Stepashin. In accordance with the Constitution, I have asked the State Duma to approve Putin as Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation."

In this way, the Russians have a new government leader. Although Putin is already an important figure in Russian politics at this time, and many people have long predicted that he will become the "head" of the new government, his social reputation is not high.

After Yeltsin's speech was broadcast, when Russian journalists interviewed passers-by on the streets of Moscow and other cities about the dissolution of the Stepashin government and Putin's appointment as acting prime minister, many people responded:

"I don't know Putin. Why should we choose the person recommended by Yeltsin?" "I don't care who Yeltsin calls his successor now. I don't know who Putin is. I don't know anything about our country. Calling this person the successor today and that person the successor tomorrow. There is no difference for me, and my salary will not increase because of it."

"Whoever Putin is, he will be removed from office in two months, just like Stepashin."

"I don't see any difference between Putin and Stepashin. I think prices will go up in Moscow and the dollar will appreciate."

Russians are used to Yeltsin's revolving door of government and prime ministers, and many do not believe Putin is any different from his predecessor, especially since he was recommended by Yeltsin. Judging from the public reaction, Yeltsin's recommendation did not bring much help to Putin, after all, Yeltsin himself won the last presidential election by a narrow margin.

If the oligarchs had not united to spend a huge amount of money on Yeltsin's campaign and carnival, and even gave Yeltsin hundreds of millions of dollars to make up for some of his overdue pensions to gain favor; if the media had not collectively banned and smeared Zyuganov; if Bered, the third most popular person, had not been bought off at the last minute to make him support Yeltsin...

In short, Yeltsin's effect did not win Putin any public support. In order to smoothly inherit Yeltsin's "political legacy", Putin began his operation:

The first step is to meet with Sergey Shoigu.

As early as 1990, Sergei Shoigu led a rescue force affiliated with the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation. He made great contributions to protecting Yeltsin during the August 8 Incident. Later, the Ministry of Emergency Situations was established based on this force. During the attack on the Supreme Soviet in the fall of 19, Shoigu remained a loyal supporter of Yeltsin. The armored vehicles of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were the first to arrive at the White House. He stood firmly on the side of the Kremlin and supported the "shelling of the White House."

What Putin wanted to discuss with Shoigu was that Shoigu should come forward and integrate a pro-Kremlin "regime party" to realize the Kremlin's political intentions (because Yeltsin had arranged for Shoigu to do a lot of preliminary work). In their view, it would be best to merge the three parties of "Unity", "Fatherland" and "All Russia" to form a new party - the "United Russia" party, to fight against the Communist Party of Russia.

The second step was to fly to the Chechen-Dagestan front. Putin knew that the key to whether he could gain a lot of public support in a short period of time was here. There was Makarov, the second person the Russian people got to know this year. Although Putin had ordered air strikes against Chechen armed forces, the ground troops had not yet been dispatched. Moscow had no final consensus on whether to invade Chechnya. Simply ordering air strikes could not show the public his tough, "strong man" side.

But Makarov has demonstrated and made a big splash, which is exactly what Putin needs, both for votes and for the next military action against Chechnya. However, when Putin was about to take off, he suddenly learned from his contact at the front, Major Ivanov, that the restless Makarov led his team to attack another group of Chechen armed forces, and this time it was not just his own team and local militia...

The sun had not yet risen completely, and the sky was slightly pale. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were parked quietly in the wilderness, like sleeping steel beasts. A burly man stood on the top of the leading tank. The glimmer of morning light outlined Makarov's resolute face, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle. At this moment, he looked down at the officers surrounding the tank.

The officers showed a trace of anxiety and uneasiness in their expressions. They talked in low voices and occasionally looked at Makarov with expectant eyes. Although they were dressed in neat uniforms and wore badges of honor on their shoulders, at this moment, they were more like a group of lost people, waiting for Makarov, the guide, to speak.

A strong wind blew by, bringing up small gravel on the ground, which hit the tank's armor with a slight sound. The dissatisfaction and anger in the hearts of these officers were like a storm in the wilderness, which could erupt at any time.

"Russia is humiliated and begging, and all Russians are fed up with it all," said an officer.

Another officer said: "If Moscow asks us to take the troops back, I will resign immediately. I don't want to serve in such an army anymore. I will tear off my military rank and join your team."

"Join our team? What do you want to do?" "To fight Chechen terrorists!"

Makarov's story in Dagestan is too legendary. Even though he was as unknown as the ordinary small town at the beginning, he was the first to stand up and call for resistance against the Chechen armed forces, the first to "spend all his wealth" to fight the Chechen armed forces, and won the first major victory over the Chechen armed forces in Dagestan. His name and story spread more and more widely (mainly because the city's radio communications were not cut off, allowing Makarov to continue to promote himself), first reported by local media in Dagestan, then by Russia, and some Western media.

After Makarov achieved the feat of annihilating 2500 Chechen armed forces and killing one of the bandit leaders, Khattab, some Russian federal troops in Dagestan could not sit still. So, when Makarov was leading his team to raid another Chechen armed force in Dagestan, he encountered a group of Russian troops who "left the team" and "did not want wages" (but still wanted meals), hoping to join Makarov's team to fight together.

"Hey, this is strange. I always have to pay to recruit people when I fight... This is the first time I see people willing to come without being paid..." Makarov muttered to himself. Then, he jumped off the tank, shook hands with the officers who led the "elopement", and said: "Very good, welcome to join!"

Chapter 192: A romantic temperament

After a fierce battle from early morning to dusk, this mixed team of mercenaries, militia and the Russian Federal Army defeated another Chechen armed force like a whirlwind. They couldn't believe that the team that defeated Khattab (because Makarov came too quickly, they didn't deserve Khattab's death, they only knew that Khattab was forced to retreat by Makarov) didn't rest or fight steadily, but rushed over directly, catching the Chechen armed forces off guard. The battle was over before the sun went down.

As a result, the two main Chechen armed forces that entered Dagestan were finished. Those scattered Chechen armed forces would not gain any benefits if they continued to stay in Dagestan. Apart from carrying out terrorist attacks, they could not bring any changes to the overall situation.

The mountains in the distance looked particularly desolate in the moonlight. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder left over from the battle. Occasionally, a breeze blew by, gently blowing up the remaining dust on the ground. The surrounding wilderness looked particularly quiet in the night.

The bonfire danced in the night, and the light of the flames illuminated the faces of the soldiers sitting around it.

No matter how high their morale was before the departure, after a day of fierce fighting, their physical strength and energy were mostly exhausted, and the effect of the surging adrenaline gradually faded. At this moment, their expressions seemed tired and numb, and their eyes revealed an indescribable heaviness. Everyone's face was covered with dust and sweat, mixed with blood. The wounded soldiers were supported by healthy comrades, some leaning on their companions' shoulders, and some half lying on the ground, trying to relax for a moment.

Although the enemy was defeated in today's battle, the "rabble" under Makarov suffered heavy losses. Except for the group of men that Makarov himself had carefully trained, the combat effectiveness and performance of the rest of the troops were uneven, with great upper and lower limits. The militia's level was limited, and their morale was fluctuating when they went out to fight. Makarov often had to come in person to stabilize the army. As for the Russian army, due to Russia's poor economic situation, a bunch of malnourished soldiers entered the army. Makarov estimated that a forced march would be enough to collapse these malnourished Russian troops.

If we hadn't won today, this team, which was brought together by Makarov's spending and super high popularity, would have probably disbanded today.

After nightfall, the soldiers had more time to think. They thought about their comrades in body bags. Will those comrades who died receive pensions? After all, they did not die in combat missions. They left the team without permission to fight the Chechen armed forces. If there is no pension, how will the families of those comrades who died live? They also thought about themselves. Even if they did not consider the economic gains and losses, they fought the Chechen armed forces out of indignation. But if I die, can I get the honor I deserve? In other words, in what name are we fighting here now?

The soldiers turned their attention to Makarov, who was the "talker" here...

The bonfire crackled, and sparks danced in the air like a group of jumping elves. Makarov sat by the bonfire, holding a balalaika in his hand. He gently plucked the strings of the balalaika, which made a clear and melodious sound. The melody of "The Peddler" floated in the night sky, and the melody seemed to have the fields, rivers and forever warm home of his hometown.

Makarov promised everyone that he would talk to the government and ask them to give everyone the honor and welfare treatment they deserve, and the subsidies and pensions they deserve. If the government cannot give it, then please give Makarov some time. Makarov will write IOUs to everyone, and then work hard to make money to make up for everyone.

"After all, you responded to my call to fight, and I was the one who gave you the order to risk your life!"

The expeditionary team has returned victoriously. When they returned to the border town where they started, they found that there were great changes here. First of all, there were many more Russian troops. For these Russian ground troops hiding in the rear, the triumphant team had a clear psychological advantage, as if the tattered uniforms they wore were the most straight military dress, and the bullet holes on the uniforms were the most dazzling medals.

Makarov is no different from any infantryman sitting on a tank, wearing a mix of camouflage uniforms and bulletproof vests, and wearing a helmet. No one would continue to wear Adidas suits on the battlefield unless you want to tell the Chechen sniper "I am a special person, shoot me!"

However, what Makarov didn't know was that when the armored team drove to the square in the center of the city, a big shot was already waiting for him in the square.

"What kind of person is Makarov?"

Most Russians want to know about Makarov through the media, and the media, based on their own digging and guesswork, roughly outlined a character background of "a man who was determined to join the army to serve the country, but because of poverty or disillusionment, he had to take off his military uniform and go outside the army to make money." Some media said that Makarov might be a special forces instructor sent by the former Soviet Union to the Warsaw Pact countries, which probably explains why the Russian army said that they could not find any information about Makarov, and that Makarov had excellent troop organization and management capabilities, and he must have a certain military background.

At the same time, as Makarov's fame grew, in order to gain attention, some media reported more imaginary content and less real evidence. Some portrayed Makarov as an omnipotent legendary figure. There were rumors that he was connected to a secret organization that was unwilling to see the Soviet Union disintegrate. There were rumors that Makarov had many business friends overseas, and that Makarov sent veterans and equipment to those people, who used these to subvert the regimes of small third world countries.

In addition, there are also negative rumors about Makarov, such as using inhumane means against Chechen armed forces during the war (such as building enemy corpses into bunkers), or using extremely cruel means to interrogate Chechen prisoners to obtain intelligence.

But Putin is not an ordinary Russian, he is a spy chief himself, and he has special channels. Makarov's past made him very curious, and he conducted a secret investigation of Makarov's past long before coming here, but the results showed that it was not until 1997 that Makarov had a relatively complete, continuous and clear trace in Russia.

Well, Makarov does have overseas business friends. As long as the authorities want to investigate the business he does, it is not impossible to find out. Arms trading, introducing veterans to work overseas, people walking in the gray area, but this is not a particularly big deal in Russia...

As for the information before 1997, most of them are just fragments and unconvincing materials, but there are still many clues pointing out that Makarov may have been a citizen of a CIS country before the collapse of the Soviet Union and joined the Soviet army on the eve of the collapse. But with the collapse, the information that can truly prove Makarov's identity can no longer be found in detail on the Russian side.

After all, how old was Makarov before the collapse of the Soviet Union? It was impossible for the authorities to archive the files of this insignificant young man in multiple places.

Putin asked Ivanov the same question: "What kind of person is Makarov?"

In the absence of detailed archives, direct contact is a good way to understand a person. Major Ivanov thought for a moment and replied to Putin:

"If you meet Makarov for the first time, you will first think that he is an artist, not a businessman or a soldier. Since I came here, I have talked with him most about art rather than military affairs. He likes to leave the battle deployment to his subordinates, unless he is needed to be a commando captain at some point. When he is not involved in military affairs, he will walk on the street or go to the temporary school in the air-raid shelter to be a music teacher and teach the children to sing...Oh, he can also draw, play chess, and like the operas of the German romantic composer Wagner. When he sets out from here to fight, he carries a balalaika in addition to an assault rifle."

Chapter 193: Winning without Fighting

At this time, the central square of the city was crowded with people. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stood on a makeshift podium surrounded by a group of media reporters. His eyes occasionally swept towards the city entrance, revealing a hint of anticipation.

Putin urgently needs an opportunity to improve public support, and Makarov, who defeated the Chechen militants and brought a great victory, undoubtedly provides Putin with an excellent opportunity, of course, the premise is that it is handled properly. Putin carefully arranged this meeting in order to use the halo of this combat hero to highlight his image as a strong man.

So, how can Putin make Makarov gain popularity for him in front of the media? In fact, there are many ways.

First, Putin can praise Makarov's heroic deeds in public and emphasize his contribution to the defense of national security and territorial integrity. Putin can even award Makarov medals and other awards in recognition of his outstanding performance in combat. Such public support will not only enhance Makarov's reputation, but also allow the public to see Putin as a leader who recognizes talent and supports heroes.

Secondly, arrange for Putin and Makarov to attend a joint press conference to show the cooperative relationship between the two. This can send a message to the public that Putin is working closely with the heroes on the front line and is committed to the security and stability of the country. Use national media to report Makarov's deeds and link them to Putin's leadership. Through carefully planned reports, shape Putin's image as a hero who supports and promotes the country, and enhance the public's trust in his leadership.

In summary, the media can hype up Makarov’s story, but not just Makarov’s story, but by telling Makarov’s story, emphasize Putin’s connection with the combat hero + patriot, show Putin’s emphasis on patriots and his commitment to national security. This narrative helps shape Putin’s image as a leader who stands with the people.

A rumbling sound came from afar, and a mixed team of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles slowly drove into the city. Putin straightened his back, and a glimmer of excitement flashed in his eyes. He knew that Makarov, who was cooperating with him in the performance, was among them. When the tank team finally stopped at the edge of the square, Putin took a deep breath and suppressed his excitement. He had to remain calm and dignified, and show the aura of a strong leader.

A tall figure jumped down from the leading tank. Putin got the photo from Ivanov and knew that this person was Makarov. He was wearing a dusty Goka and his face was blackened by the flames, but this did not reduce Makarov's heroism. Of course, Putin would not wait for Makarov to come in front of the camera, but strode down the podium and walked towards Makarov. The media reporters followed closely behind, and the camera was aimed at the two people who were about to meet.

"Welcome back, hero of Russia!" Putin stepped forward and shook Makarov's hand tightly.