A special plane from Moscow to the Crimea Peninsula arrived six hours earlier than the scheduled time in history. The delegation on this special plane included almost all the high-ranking officials of the Soviet Party, government and military, including Oleg Simonovich Shenin, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, General Valennikov, Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Bolkin, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Assistant to the President, and Yuri Sergeyevich Plekhanov, Director of the Ninth Bureau of the KGB. The reason for these high-ranking officials to gather together was Gorbachev's damned "New Union Treaty".
No one on the plane was in the mood to talk to each other. Some closed their eyes to rest, or crossed their hands to pray, because they knew that what they were about to do would likely change the history of the Soviet Union. Whether they would become the creators of history or be nailed to the pillar of shame, everything was still to be determined. However, everyone had the same obsession at this time, that is, not to let the Soviet Union fall apart.
And they have only one destination, which is the presidential resort, Foros Villa, at the southernmost tip of the Crimean Peninsula.
Shenin held the order for the implementation of the state of emergency in his hand, and his heart was extremely complicated. On the one hand, Gorbachev bypassed the Politburo Committee when signing the new union treaty, which was an act that violated the constitution. Otherwise, Gorbachev would not have lived in seclusion in this villa for more than ten days to avoid the Politburo members. So at this moment, would it be useful for them to beg Gorbachev? Shenin had a big question mark in his heart that always interfered with his thinking.
Second, Shenin vaguely sensed that someone in the Emergency Committee seemed to have thought more deeply than they did. In just two days, the Emergency Committee, which was hastily formed, had a firm and consistent goal, rather than being a loose group waiting to be defeated by the enemy. It seemed that behind every order issued by the Emergency Committee was the shadow of Yanayev.
The Red Empire is like an old ship loaded with dangerous weapons, drifting aimlessly in the vast ocean. The captain at the helm has lost his way, but the anxious crew is eager to take over the captain's position and lead the empire out of the predicament.
As if he had noticed Shenin's uneasiness, Valennikov patted him on the shoulder and said comfortingly, "It's okay, everything will be fine as long as we meet with President Gorbachev."
"I hope so." Shenin forced a smile. To be honest, he no longer had much hope for Gorbachev.
The plane flew over green mountains and vast plains, and finally arrived above a red villa. Through the glass windows, one could see elite soldiers surrounding the Foros villa. Plekhanov, who was in charge of Gorbachev's security, knew that these were only part of the guards. There were also many snipers hiding at the commanding heights of the nearby mountains. Within five nautical miles, there were dozens of special patrol boats patrolling the sea day and night, and fifty kilometers away was the Black Sea Fleet, one of the four major fleets of the Soviet Union. The defense here could be said to be watertight.
Now no one was in the mood to appreciate the beautiful scenery near the villa. They were anxiously waiting for the plane to land.
Finally, the plane stopped at the end of the private runway of the Foros Villa. After getting off the plane, the group walked towards the presidential villa in unison without any delay.
Although there were heavily guarded guards, the delegation was able to march straight in. Because the KGB's Ninth Bureau, led by Plekhanov, was the Soviet Communist Party's top leader security bureau. He arranged all the leaders' guards. Just when the guards at the last checkpoint were about to stop the delegation, Plekhanov took the initiative.
"Get out of the way! These members of the highest delegation have urgent matters to report to Secretary Gorbachev. If you delay the opportunity, you will be held accountable first." Plekhanov's majesty instantly overwhelmed the guards at the door. At the moment they hesitated, the delegation forced its way past the guards and broke into the living room of the presidential villa.
Gorbachev was preparing to take a nap in his bedroom when he heard the sudden noise outside. He put on his clothes and went out to find out what was going on. As soon as he walked to the door of the living room, he was stunned by the lineup in front of him. The top leaders of the Soviet party, government and military were all gathered in his living room. Gorbachev said to the delegation angrily, "Who let you in without my permission? Get out."
"It was my order, President Gorbachev. I let the delegation in. Please forgive me." Plekhanov stepped forward and spoke in a dignified tone. Gorbachev was so angry that he almost raised his hand to slap him. At the same time, Gorbachev realized that the thing he tried so hard to avoid had happened. He just didn't expect that this group of people would take the extreme form of forcing the emperor to abdicate in order to oppose the treaty.
Soviet Communist Party Central Committee Secretary Shenin took out the signed order of the State of Emergency Committee from his pocket and placed it in front of Gorbachev, saying in a deep voice, "President Gorbachev, we must not let the New Union Treaty destroy the foundation that the Soviet Union has built over the past decade. I hope that the country will enter a state of emergency from this moment until the Soviet Union restores order."
Gorbachev sneered, threw the order handed to him aside, and said, "Signed order? State Emergency Committee? Who gave you the power, Comrade Shenin? Without my approval, the State Emergency Committee is illegal. You are committing a coup! You are treasonous to the party! You are betraying the highest instructions!"
Shenin's tone was almost emotionless. He said word by word, "This is the power granted to me by the State Emergency Committee composed of Soviet Vice President Yanayev, Prime Minister Pavlov, Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee Baklanov, Defense Minister Yazov, Interior Minister Pugo, KGB Chairman Kryuchkov, Peasant Union Chairman Starodubtsev, and State Enterprise Industry Union Chairman Tiziakov. And President Gorbachev, have you forgotten that the State Emergency Committee was an organization you set up to deal with the war? How can you say it is illegal?"
"You..." Gorbachev was so angry at Shenin's rebuttal that he couldn't speak. He pointed his finger at Shenin's nose and finally said fiercely, "Damn it, I will never sign this document anyway, you can find whoever you want. I will not issue an order to declare martial law, and I want to make a phone call, you traitors."
Deputy Defense Minister General Valennikov also advised, "Your Excellency the President, the signing of the New Union Treaty is fatal to the Soviet Union. The country that our fathers built with countless blood cannot fall apart like this. Your Excellency the President, please reconsider." Valennikov's tone was almost pleading, but this only added fuel to the fire for the furious Gorbachev.
"Shut up, what do you know, Varennikov? You are just a soldier, that's why you take it for granted. Besides, a soldier's duty is to obey orders, not to participate in a coup." Gorbachev yelled at him rudely.
"It's okay, Comrade Gorbachev. We'll sign it for you." The director of the Ninth Bureau suddenly stood up and added, "Oh, it seems Comrade Gorbachev forgot one thing. We cut off all the telephone lines in the villa before coming here, so... you can't do anything."
Gorbachev had a sense of uneasiness in his heart. He was about to take two steps back when a guard who was responsible for protecting Gorbachev suddenly rushed up and grabbed Gorbachev's neck with both hands before anyone could react. The attacker seemed to be trying to use all his strength to kill Gorbachev on the spot.
"Be careful." exclaimed Bolkin, the presidential assistant on the side.
The sudden change threw the whole living room into chaos.