It's amazing. The Americans' reaction is even faster than we thought. What do you think about this, Surkov?" Yanayev threw aside the request submitted by Jack F. Matlock Jr., the US ambassador to the Soviet Union. He sat on the throne symbolizing the supreme power of the Soviet Union, staring at the paper with a few words on it, closing his eyes and thinking about countermeasures. The words on the paper were also very simple. Bush used the simplest words to implicitly express his anger.
"Dear Comrade Yanayev, we have an American citizen who has been illegally detained by the KGB in the Soviet Union. Please believe that he is just an ordinary person traveling to Moscow, not the criminal you want to arrest. If possible, please meet with our ambassador to the Soviet Union, Mr. Matlock, who will answer all your questions. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to your country."
This diplomatic statement is a typical example of a cover-up. How could an ordinary American citizen attract the attention of the president? Everyone knows that this guy is an American spy, but according to procedure, these lines that are probably disgusting to themselves must be repeated intact to the opponent they are dealing with.
"The Americans don't want to make a big deal. They hope to keep a low profile." Surkov, who personally tailored a tit-for-tat plan for Yanaev, made another move for the president. "As long as we hand over Vanta to the Americans, this matter will be over. But no one can guarantee that the United States will not continue to do such dirty things tomorrow. This time it's the ruble, next time it's financial fraud, they will always find a way to find a loophole in our fragile economy."
"If we don't hand over the people and make the news of the $1.4 billion deficit public, the result will be that the Soviet Union will not suffer any loss, but the United States will suffer a financial shock because of the loss of this $1.4 billion dollar black hole. This is what the Americans least want to see. At the same time, the angry Americans will also do everything they can to sanction us, such as shorting the London gold market and using the export gold we rely on as a heavy weight to crush their shoulders. The result is that the Soviet economy will be further damaged and the US economy will be seriously damaged. To be honest, if it were me, I would choose to compromise with the Americans. After all, the fragile economy of the Soviet Union can no longer withstand the turmoil. I wonder what you think, President?"
"Neither the first nor the second is the best option. We can have a third option, which is to let the Americans learn a lesson and think twice before resorting to financial warfare next time." Yanayev pondered for a while before saying to Surkov, "We can let the Americans pay a ransom and let them redeem Leo Vanta."
Hearing that the president of a country was actually asking for a ransom from another country like a kidnapper, Surkov looked a little embarrassed. He said tactfully, "President Yanaev, isn't this a bad idea? Because this puts us in an immoral kidnapping situation, and it may even give the other side a handle to fight back against us."
Yanayev, who was holding a cup of tea, put down the cup and said to Surkov disdainfully, "Handle? Go to hell. Anyway, we have no friends in Europe. In their eyes, we are naked bandits, crazy Ivan, terrible devils, and communist heretics. Since others already see us in this way, why should we try to please these people? Since they don't want to, then we don't need to try to please them with the idea that we can coexist peacefully with them. For the West, a collapsed Soviet Union is a good Soviet Union."
"The corrupt capitalist world deserves nothing more than to tremble in fear of communism. We have no need to pity them. These countries propose the so-called welfare society not because of the conscience of those capitalists, but because of our terrifying existence."
Yanayev never thought about greedily cutting off as much flesh from American financial institutions, but making President Bush angry again was the outcome he wanted. Yanayev wanted Bush to pay back the damage that American imperialism had caused to the Soviet Union over the years, with interest.
Yanaev stood in front of the window with his hands in his pockets, looking at the brightly lit scene outside. This land he loved, the Soviet motherland, was facing the most difficult situation due to internal and external troubles.
Yanayev turned around and whispered to Surkov, "We have already launched the 'red mercury scam'. I think the Americans have fallen into the trap by now. They will mistakenly think that we have red mercury nuclear weapons. Why do you think I dare to ask for a ransom from them openly? This is my bargaining chip. The Americans don't know the details, so they are more likely to compromise at the negotiation table."
"And is 100 million US dollars a lot? Not really. Those greedy financiers on Wall Street can make up the money by using their anonymous coffers. But 1.5 billion US dollars is an indispensable shot in the arm for us. With it, the Soviet Union can survive for a while longer. Surkov, the economic recovery atmosphere I asked you to create in the newspapers before was nothing but an illusion. In fact, up to now, the Soviet economy is still in a state of low growth. I am just using a series of so-called diplomatic victories to divert the attention of the people at home."
Yanaev looked at the pale Surkov and patted him on the shoulder. "This is the most difficult time for the Soviet Union. So whether it is oil or arms, I have to raise enough funds to survive the current Soviet Union's predicament until Ryzhkov's economic recovery plan is effective."
The realization of many things comes at the cost of other things. For example, the unfortunate American tourist Vanta was enduring inhuman treatment and torture in the secret base of the KGB. Plekhanov informed them in advance that they must use torture methods that would not allow people to discover the wounds, so waterboarding and intimidation were used to deal with Vanta.
After enduring several hours of water torture, Vanta remained silent. So the KGB agent threw a photo of his daughter in Pennsylvania to Vanta, and threatened him that KGB agents were already lurking in the United States, and let Vanta choose his daughter's life or death.
"Does it make any difference?" The tortured and dying Wan Ta said with a disdainful smile, "I have become a discarded pawn. If I tell the Americans, they will kill me and my daughter. If I don't, you will kill me and my daughter. I will die in this dirty prison, but at least I can get a state funeral."
Plekhanov was smoking beside him. When he heard Vanta's words, he dropped his cigarette butt, walked directly to him, grabbed his hair, looked at Vanta's eyes that were longing for relief, and asked, "You really can't see the situation clearly, Leo Vanta. Haven't you ever thought that when you tell these account passwords, you and your daughter will be bravely protected by the Soviet authorities for the rest of your life?"