Chapter 393
In the past two years, the Kuntsevo Villa has undergone a large-scale reconstruction. Today, this villa that Comrade Stalin loved the most is completely different from when Yuri first came. Its security is so strong and strict that in Yuri's memory, it seems that only Hitler's Wolf's Lair can be compared to it.
Nowadays, the only passage leading to the villa has been handed over to a special police duty team for guarding. The team has about 200 people, each of whom is an experienced soldier, basically holding the rank of captain to major, although the rank they wear is warrant officer.
In the dense jungle surrounding the villa, several layers of blockades made of barbed wire have been installed. These blockades are like whirlpools with patrolling guards in the whirlpools, and assisted by ferocious wolfhounds. Anyone who breaks into these blockades will be ruthlessly shot.
At the innermost layer of these "whirlpools" are two five-meter-high walls made of wooden boards. There is a lookout hole on the wall at regular intervals. Electronic monitors and video cameras are installed near the lookout holes. Even if a rabbit breaks into the outer wall, the people in the guard room will receive the alarm in the first time and determine the location of the intruder.
Between the two board walls, a high-power searchlight specially used for naval navigation was installed.
Such tight defense is enough to ensure that Comrade Stalin will not be threatened by intruders when he stays in the Kuntsevo Villa.
But, as the saying goes, a fortress is always easiest to breach from the inside, so such defense force is useless against those who can truly threaten the life and safety of Comrade Stalin.
This was not the first time Yuri had come to the Kuntsevo Villa. As of today, he did not even know how many times he had come. From this perspective, he was indeed one of the most trusted senior Soviet officials in Comrade Stalin's later years. If Comrade Stalin was not too old and his health was getting worse, coupled with his suspicious personality and his plan to expand the size of the Presidium, thus touching the interests of too many people, Yuri would really like to wait until he died. Maybe by that time, he, the youngest person in the core of power, would usher in a new era.
But this world is so realistic. It does not accept any ifs and is not willing to give anyone a perfect choice.
After the meeting in the Kremlin, when Yuri drove to the Kuntsevo Villa, it was almost eight o'clock in the evening. The whole villa area was brightly lit. In the villa courtyard shaded by jungle, a bonfire had been lit, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of barbecue.
Yuri got out of the car and walked along the lush grass towards the place where the bonfire was lit. There, five or six figures gathered together. Because of the light, Yuri could only see the two people facing him, Malenkov and Khrushchev.
Khrushchev? Yes, it was him. Against the backdrop of the bonfire, his big, shiny face was very recognizable. But when did this guy return to Moscow? Yuri hadn't heard of it before.
"Ha, it's our young comrade marshal." When he was still a dozen steps away from the bonfire, someone in the crowd saw him and a voice rang out, "Come quickly, Yuri, you are the only one missing."
This was Beria's voice, gentle yet with a hint of ill will, so it always sounded sarcastic, as recognizable as Khrushchev's greasy, fat face.
Yuri took off his baseball cap, held it in his hand, waved it in the direction of the crowd, and then quickened his pace. He had already seen where Comrade Stalin was.
There were only six people gathered around the campfire, Comrade Stalin, Beria, Malenkov, Khrushchev, Bulganin and Andreyev. Yuri, who came closer, could recognize each of them with just a glance.
"Is the meeting over?" Comrade Stalin was sitting on a large chair, smoking a pipe and drinking vodka. He had a blanket over his legs and a beige windbreaker over his shoulders, looking like a patient in poor health.
"It's over," Yuri nodded and replied, "Based on the list of cadres you proposed, after discussion and screening, we have determined the final 27 cadres. The final list has been handed over to Comrade Boskrebeshe. I believe you will be able to see it later."
Comrade Stalin nodded with satisfaction, then pointed to a chair next to him and said, "Come and sit down."
After saying this, he suddenly said angrily: "Those guys in the meteorological department should be taken out and shot. The weather forecast they gave is not accurate at all. The temperature tonight is not as warm as they said. I already feel cold."
Yuri smiled in agreement, walked over and sat down on the chair. Almost at the same time his butt landed on the chair, he naturally reached out and pulled the blanket on Comrade Stalin's legs upwards. Then, he took the empty glass in Comrade Stalin's hand and poured him half a glass of vodka.
After doing all this, he did not forget to lean over, take two new pieces of firewood from the pile of firewood, and put them in the campfire not far away to make the fire burn more vigorously.
After doing all this, Yuri sat back in his chair. He lowered his eyelids, trying not to look at the people opposite him. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and said, "Haha, looking at the wind tonight, tomorrow's weather should be good. At least the meteorological department's forecast in this regard should still be accurate. Perhaps the decision to shoot them can be put on hold for the time being."
"Hmm," Comrade Stalin snorted without commenting, then laughed and looked at Bulganin opposite him and said, "Where were we talking about just now?"
Bulganin took over the topic and began to tell a not-so-clever joke - Yuri vaguely remembered that he seemed to have heard Comrade Bulganin tell this joke, and it was also in the Kuntsevo villa in front of him.
Feeling the atmosphere become more lively, Yuri raised his eyelids and looked at the people in front of him. Against the backdrop of the bonfire, the expressions on everyone's faces seemed to become more lively. However, when they laughed, perhaps because of the light and shadow, everyone's smile looked a little hideous.
Comrade Stalin just said that people in the meteorological department should be shot. Yuri was not sure what he meant. Considering the context, he was more willing to believe that he said this to several people present.
Comrade Stalin said he felt cold, and what Yuri saw was that the blanket covering his legs was almost falling to the ground, and the campfire closer to him was obviously much weaker.
What is certain is that such a thing would never have happened at previous dinners at the Kuntsevo Villa. Everyone present would focus solely on Comrade Stalin. No matter if his pipe was out or his glass was empty, someone would rush over to help immediately without anyone having to remind them.
And tonight... Yuri really wanted to ask the guys present, are they all going to participate in the action that Molotov hinted at? Well, even if they are all going to participate, is there no need to show it so obviously?
However, feeling the gradually heated atmosphere around the campfire, Yuri felt that he might be overthinking.
There is a saying that goes: When you stare into the abyss, the abyss also stares into you? If it were Yuri, he would prefer to change this sentence to: When you stare into the abyss for a long time, you will also become a part of the abyss. Now, Yuri feels as if he is about to become a part of the abyss.
"How is Ukraine doing this year?" After hearing Bulganin's not-so-funny joke, Comrade Stalin took a sip of vodka and turned the topic to Khrushchev. He raised his hand holding the glass , and his index finger seemed to extend from the glass, pointing at Khrushchev, and asked, "Can the task of unified purchase be completed on time and in full?"
"It should be no problem," Khrushchev quickly put down the barbecue skewer in his hand and replied, "Comrade Alexi Iorionovich is conducting a second round of inspections in Western Ukraine. According to his report, Western Ukraine should have a very good harvest this year."
Alexei Iorionovich refers to Kirichenko, who now serves as the second secretary of the Central Committee of Ukraine. He is Khrushchev's assistant and, of course, one of his confidants.
" Alexei Iorionovich?" Comrade Stalin seemed not to have a deep impression of Kirichenko. He thought about it and finally remembered this person. "Oh, I dare not trust such a guy. He has no experience in handling practical work."
Yuri was stunned by these words. As far as he knew, Kirichenko was not a person without practical work experience. On the contrary, before the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, he had done grassroots work for many years. To put it bluntly, he started as a technician on a grassroots farm and climbed up step by step.
Unable to help but turn his head to look at Comrade Stalin beside him, Yuri was surprised to find that the leader was in very bad condition. His eyelids were swollen, his facial muscles were loose, and the flesh on his cheeks was sagging, forming two deep grooves similar to nasolabial folds at the corners of his lips.
What's worse, although his facial muscles were relaxed, his cheeks had an unhealthy flush.
Yuri wondered in his heart, did Comrade Stalin simply not remember who Kirichenko was? Or was he so confused that he mistook the person?
