This important city that has served as the national capital from the time of the Grand Dukes of Moscow to Tsarist Russia, the Soviet Union, and later the Russian Federation may be destined to spend this long winter in an atmosphere of silence and hesitation.
According to the customs of the Russian Orthodox Church, although Christmas in the Soviet Union is two weeks later than in European and American countries, it stands to reason that the city has already begun to display the festive atmosphere at this time. As the two most important traditions in Russia
One of the festivals, which is quite rare these days.
There seemed to be an invisible layer of clouds hanging over the entire city, and there was an indescribable melancholy between everyone's brows. Newspapers, radio, television, bulletin boards... all the media through which people obtained information were temporarily silenced.
Except for the most basic and cold text messages, the Soviet Union seemed to have become quiet instantly after December.
Apart from the bright red sickle and hammer flag, there are almost no other colors in the gray concrete building complex.
Most people choose to go home after get off work, instead of gathering at the bar to have a few drinks and chat for a while as usual. In a kind of depression that is so heavy that people can't breathe, people Everyone has lost the mood to chat and discuss. Everyone knows that the choice to decide the future direction is no longer in their hands.
Since Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union and became an independent free country, things have gotten worse.
Bad news comes one after another from the Kremlin. Almost every few days there is news that a certain region has declared independence, or that a certain region has voted to secede from the Soviet Union. The huge red territory of the Soviet Union is rapidly shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Ordinary people do not understand many advanced political games, and most of them can only see the most superficial news.
Compared with the panic caused by witnessing the disintegration of a huge alliance, what occupies most people's hearts now is a kind of bewilderment and hesitation. The current situation in the past six months has changed so much that it is difficult to understand.
Obviously, a referendum was held at the end of March on whether to continue to maintain the Union. With a support rate of more than 70%, the Soviet people chose to continue to maintain the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
But less than half a year later, the whole situation suddenly took a turn for the worse.
One republic after another declares independence, and high-level political events in the country occur almost every month.
Not long ago, the leaders of the three founding republics, Russian President Yeltsin, Ukrainian President Kravchuk and Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus Shushkevich, held the "Agreement on the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States" in the Belovezh Forest.
" and other signing ceremonies for documents disbanding the Soviet Union, announcing the formation of the "Commonwealth of Independent States."
It pushed the depressing and stagnant atmosphere in the air to the extreme. Everyone understood that it was really only a matter of time before the once unbreakable alliance was completely shattered.
Everyone in Moscow is filled with anxiety, waiting for the news to come out of the Kremlin. No one knows whether they will wake up one day and find that the pillar that people once believed in and relied on will suddenly disappear.
In this winter without war, the entire Soviet Union seems to have returned to the time decades ago.
Underneath the panic, countless undercurrents quietly surged.
Late at night, in the presidential reception room of the newly established "Free Ukraine" government.
The guards, still wearing Soviet military uniforms, stood outside the door with blank expressions on their faces, dutifully guarding the parlor where a somewhat bizarre and comical business negotiation was taking place. On one side of the parlor was the newly-appointed Ukrainian President Krala.
Vchuk, while the other party is an unknown shipping company from Norway.
According to conventional circumstances, an ordinary company should not be qualified to negotiate directly with the leaders of a country, especially if it is a comprehensive power recognized as one of the top three in Europe today. However...
For Kravchuk, this was too tempting compared to the amount of the transaction.
As a country that had just declared independence from the Soviet Union, almost from the second day after Ukraine broke away from the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union instantly stopped all economic transportation to Ukraine. It provided huge military supplies, and in order to get closer to the national welfare of the beautiful capitalist world
, bringing Ukraine's treasury to the brink of collapse almost within a week.
Due to various reasons, the "Freedom Loan" promised by the Americans has not yet been received. In order to maintain the Ukrainian national economy on the edge of the cliff, Kravchuk, who has just taken office as the president of Ukraine, is so worried that his hair has fallen out these days.
We have learned a lot, but we are still not ready to announce disarmament and delay the payment of government salaries.
At this time, the Norwegian financier father suddenly appeared in the Ukrainian government's sight. He was simply the cutest friend in the world. Faced with such a friend who helped him in times of need, Kravchuk naturally wanted to facilitate this big business as soon as possible.
"... We have learned about your company's order. There is no doubt that choosing the Black Sea Shipyard is a very wise choice. There is no other shipyard in Europe that can be better than ours. The Soviet Union has a
A batch of powerful navies that can compete with the Americans, and the backbone of this batch of ships all come from the Black Sea!"
"...The whole world knows the advanced shipbuilding technology possessed by Ukraine. Mr. President, there is no need to continue to emphasize this point. Since we are willing to pay such a high cost, we naturally have great trust in the capabilities of the Black Sea Shipyard. It's just that
...Mr. Kravchuk, the shopping mall is like a battlefield, and time is an extremely important indicator. If Ukraine is delayed in completing the delivery of the ship, then this order will be of little significance..."
"...Mr. Lackey, don't worry. The Ukrainian government attaches great importance to the construction order of six large ships proposed by your company. This is an export trade that we are bound to win. However, Slip No. 0 is currently in the
It is occupied, and there is currently a military ship parked inside that was built with the help of Ukraine during the Soviet Union. In this regard, we still need to wait for the response from Russia before we can give an accurate answer."
"Soviet Union? Mr. Kravchuk, you are joking. The whole world knows what is going on in the Soviet Union now. I don't think Moscow will care about the grand naval plan in the Black Sea shipyard. As far as I know, the 0 you are talking about
The slipway has been suspended for almost half a month, right? Perhaps Ukraine needs to get rid of the shadow of the past and embark on its own path again."
"Ukraine has long since gotten rid of the shadow of the Soviet Union. There is no doubt about it! However, this matter still needs to be discussed with Moscow. Please understand and wait a little longer... After all, about half of the buildings will be built in vain.
The Ulyanovsk was broken down into scrap steel, which is also a very unacceptable loss for the Ukrainian government."
"Well, then we will wait a little longer. I hope to get a definite answer by January next year at the latest. You must also understand that we cannot wait forever... Although there is only one Black Sea shipyard, if it is really
No, a slightly inferior shipyard is not impossible..."
"...Don't worry, Mr. Lackey, there will be results soon! And I guarantee that as long as this order is signed, your company will always be the most loyal and friendly friend of the Ukrainian people!"
With the ticking of the clock, the negotiations in the conference room gradually came to an end.
Kravchuk stood up, shook the right hand of the Norwegian company representative with both hands, and said firmly.
If he remembered correctly, earlier this morning, the head of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Commerce briefly mentioned that a steel company from the United States wanted to purchase steel for aircraft carrier construction at a high price.
As long as he negotiates with the American steel company tomorrow and resolves the opinions and disputes from Russia, through these two large foreign exchange transactions, the newly born free Ukraine will soon reap a double share of joy.
Time to turn the empty treasury from deficit to surplus.
“That’s the beauty of global capitalization… Praise for the free economy! Ukraine has been rich ever since!”
Kravchuk stood in the living room, looked at the economic advisers around him, and said with emotion.
And at the same time...
Similar scenes also appeared in other corners of the Soviet Union. Facing the furry bear that was determined to be in its final moments, the capitalist's fangs, already hungry and thirsty, finally couldn't help but thrust forward fiercely.
The feast has quietly begun.
It's just that...this time, there was an extra guest at the banquet who didn't have an invitation.
Hogwarts.
Located on the top floor of the castle tower, on the rooftop outside the school owl shed.
Elena stretched out her hand and took a piece of snowflake falling from the sky. She quietly watched the snowflake melt in the palm of her hand, recalling the tidbit about the Black Sea Shipyard that she had just learned from the saint's grandfather's letter.
The girl raised the corners of her mouth slightly, and clenched her palms with her backhand, as if she had already grasped the giant steel ship in the distant dock.
It's almost time, and it's time for Hogwarts to start showing its fangs.
Otherwise...you won't be able to eat anything!
"Store food, fly, and let the will of destiny soar over Ukraine!"