Soviet Union 1991

Third update

"And this is a live-fire exercise, General Secretary Yanayev." General Zhang said the craziest words in the calmest manner. Using an East China Sea fleet composed of decommissioned Soviet aircraft carriers and light frigates to challenge the most powerful Nimitz aircraft carrier battle group in the United States is like a mantis trying to use its arms as a chariot, oh no, it is a feat of hitting a stone with an egg.

Yanayev couldn't believe that a certain insect group actually had the courage to think of conducting a live-fire exercise in the waters near the US aircraft carrier fleet. What did this mean? The slightest mistake during the exercise could lead to a misfire, and a naval battle between China, the Soviet Union, and the United States in the Pacific might actually break out. The Soviet Union could not afford such a risk, so Defense Minister Yazov was the first to stand up and say be opposed to. He did not want the Soviet Union to be involved in this endless conflict.

Azov stood up, put his hands on the table, and said angrily, "We agree to joint operations, but we do not agree to joint military exercises! Is this playing with fire, or is it just a pretense that you actually want to pass Joint military exercises to achieve the goal of regaining Taiwan? "

Yanayev was not as excited as Yazov, but he thought about this matter very seriously. What is the purpose of China holding such a highly risky operation? It must not be as simple as a face-off. Yanayev even thinks that the joint military exercise is just a cover. There are other ulterior motives hidden in it.

"For China to take such a rash action, it must have already thought of its way out, right? I never believe that you did not think carefully when you made this move. This situation is just like what we did in 1962, a dangerous situation." A Khrushchev-style decision." Yanayev's tone was still neither salty nor bland, as if every move he made was just a casual chat after dinner.

As an excellent politician, Yanayev can remain calm on his face even if his heart is turbulent. This is also a means of putting pressure on opponents.

"Or are you just taking advantage of this crisis and using us as a pawn to complete your unification?" At this point, Yanayev half-squinted his eyes. If the Chinese top brass really has the courage to break up with the United States, Then the Soviet Union wanted to add fuel to the fire and shift the attention of the United States from Europe to the Asia-Pacific, so that the Soviet Union would have the opportunity to attack Eastern Europe.

"Taiwan issue? Stop joking, Chairman Yanayev." General Zhang shook his head. "There is no possibility of solving the Taiwan issue except by force. As long as Masao Iwasato is not independent legally, then China will not Attack him. Force is just a helpless way to solve the problem. Now China is facing a critical period of political and economic reform. It is impossible for us to truly break up with the United States. Even if we regain Taiwan, there will still be a lot of mess. Waiting for us to clean it up.”

Yanayev understood that China really just wanted to force the United States to take a step back so that they could retreat from difficulties in domestic affairs. However, the price was originally much higher than Yanayev imagined.

"I understand. Next, the Soviet Union will cooperate with your actions in the East China Sea, but we also have requirements. That is, the Soviet Union will not dispatch the entire Ulyanovsk aircraft carrier battle group. We will dispatch part of the fleet. This It’s our request.”

Yanayev did not want to expose the true strength of the Pacific Fleet in advance. The Soviet army's reforms had already achieved initial results, so Yanayev wanted to show his hand in front of the US aircraft carrier battle group and surprise the US government.

After the meeting, Yanayev left the conference room in advance. Defense Minister Yazov immediately walked out and followed Yanayev. He didn't understand why Yanayev would agree to such a risky investment, let alone It may also be an investment with low or even no return.

Yazov said angrily, "We have already made a lot of money from arms sales, and there is no need to participate in such extremely high-risk political investments. We should let China and the Americans consume each other as much as possible, and then let the two fishermen compete with each other." Be it China or the United States, the ultimate winner is our Soviet Union.”

Yanayev's footsteps paused, he turned his head and said to Yazov, "If we do this, our arms sales will be reduced by half, Comrade Yazov."

"What do you mean?" Yazov was stunned for a moment, not understanding what Yanayev meant.

"The meaning is very simple. During this exercise, China will realize the gap between its East China Sea Fleet, our Pacific Fleet, and the U.S. Seventh Fleet. If there is a gap, they will naturally want to make up for it. When they cannot create What will they think when they realize that their fleet cannot even match Japan's?"

At this time, Japan's four 88th fleets have almost been completed, and the Kongo-class destroyers of the Aegis system are gradually entering service. Japan's 42 destroyers have been equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, and all destroyers are equipped with anti-submarine missiles. The worst is the Hatsuyuki-class destroyer. They are much more successful than China's closest modern Luhu-class destroyer. Japan's latest Harushio-class submarine is preparing for the final stage of testing. The conventional submarines in China's service are still R-class. The conventional submarines we designed in the 1950s are several levels behind in terms of advancement. Although China has Five nuclear submarines, but cannot launch anti-ship missiles underwater. Not to mention the Soviet Navy and the U.S. Navy, which were even more powerful than Japan.

The psychological gap caused by the difference in strength will make a country work hard, and Yanayev took advantage of this psychological gap to sell his destroyers and frigates to achieve the goal of selling all obsolete products.

"Through foreign trade?" Yazov understood what the general secretary meant and why he tried his best to encourage the Soviet Navy to participate in this joint military exercise.

"I understand, the profit brought by this bet is long-term. From China to Southeast Asian countries will become customers of Soviet warships, the Black Sea Shipyard and the North Sea Shipyard will usher in a new spring, and they will receive a large number of overseas orders at that time. With the inflow of funds, the service time of our latest 11356r cruiser is expected to be shortened, and it can also speed up the renewal of the Soviet Navy."

"Finally understand what I mean, Comrade Yazov." Yanayev breathed a sigh of relief. Since Yazov has understood what he means, there will be no great resistance next. Moreover, the Navy Commander-in-Chief Comrade Smyriev and the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Rear Admiral Sergei Avakyantz, had already made arrangements, so they knew what to do and what the Soviet General Secretary meant.

"Comrade Yazov, we should be on the same front with China now, and it is not the time to start an internal conflict. The only loser in this conflict is the United States, and the Soviet Union will not fall here." Yanaev patted Yazov on the shoulder and said earnestly. He turned his head and looked out the window. The sky over the Kremlin was overcast, and there was a tendency for rain, just like the gloom over the Pacific Ocean.

Yazov nodded, "I understand, General Secretary Yanaev. But it's still too dangerous, live-fire exercises. Such a danger is really... What if the situation gets out of control in the end?"

"I know." Yanaev didn't know how to answer him, so he could only ask, "But the Soviet Union has gambled on so many political crises, which one have we lost? When everyone thinks we will lose, there is always a turnaround in the end. Don't you believe that we will win in this crisis?"

"But..."

"How about Comrade Yazov, I make a bet with you? I bet that the United States will lose this war in the end, and they will choose to give in." Yanaev threw the Chinese information to Yazov, took a deep breath, and then walked away without looking back.

"Why?" The Minister of Defense shouted behind him.

"Because the United States has some concerns. How can a country that is unprepared and just wants to take advantage and leave win the war!"

Yanaev only left a mysterious back in the corridor of the Kremlin. (To be continued)