Chapter 12 Approval of External Financing
Seryosha and Yeltsin secretly reached a consensus on the matter of financing, because the stakes were high, and because of Ligachev's resolute refusal, Seryosha and Yeltsin decided to go to Gorbachev to discuss the matter of financing overseas. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info
Since this matter was raised by Yeltsin on his own initiative, the matter of discussing with Gorbachev naturally fell on Yeltsin, and Seryosha only assisted from the side, and did not intend to be the first bird. Yeltsin took the initiative to contact the staff of Gorbachev's office, and after agreeing on the time, he and Seryosha prepared a lot of materials to prove how layman Ligachev was, and how reasonable he and Seryosha were.
Most of the report that Seryosha and Yeltsin instigated was personally written by Gaidar, chief economist of the Foreign Trade Bank of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. It was Seryosha's decision to let Gaidar do this, because Seryosha knew that Gorbachev was a follower of Milton Friedman, the master of Chicago economics. Asking Gaidar, who also had a lot of experience in the study of the economic views of the Chicago School, to write a report was simply a matter of choice.
Gaidar is a well-known man who was able to join the expert group of the National Economic Reform Commission at the age of 29, and he reads this report to make people feel recognized. The economic proposition of the Chicago School lies in the advocacy of a free market economy, and if it is related to the current environment of the Soviet Union, Seryosha and Yeltsin's proposal to introduce foreign capital to participate in the construction of workers' new cities is naturally a reform behavior that meets the requirements of a free market economy.
Yeltsin and Seryosha were picked up by a special car sent by the Kremlin on the scheduled day and arrived at Gorbachev's new office on time. The view from the window here is the beautiful Moskva River and the spectacular view of the workers' new city in the distance. When Gorbachev saw the two, he was as easy-going as ever, pulling Seryosha and Gorbachev to tell him an interesting story about his inspection in Ukraine, and then slowly cut to the point. ”
"General Secretary, let Seryosha tell you these things in person!" Yeltsin already knew one thing from Gorbachev's mouth, that is, he did not know who took the initiative between Gorbachev and Ligachev, and they had already discussed Yeltsin's problems here. Yeltsin had a lot of dissatisfaction with Ligachev in his heart at this moment, and this matter was originally a new problem that objectively existed, but Ligachev told Gorbachev behind his back that whether he was intentional or unintentional, Gorbachev would definitely have certain doubts about his ability. After all, Yeltsin is a newcomer, and he is not as good at Gorbachev as Seryosha in speaking, so it is better to let Seryosha give Gorbachev a good explanation.
"General Secretary, because the current situation is a little different from what we were facing! However, in the final analysis, it is because there is a problem with our market supply, although the common people have money in hand, they cannot buy suitable goods in the state-run stores, large items such as cars need to be supplied by indicators, and houses are not allowed to be bought and sold. Therefore, the people's enthusiasm for money is not high, they want to exchange money for items that can be used, and the interest on bonds is naturally not eye-catching! Seryosha did not turn the conversation to the question of smuggling or the black market, even though this was already a place where ordinary people in the Soviet Union could not live without it. However, the rampant black market shows that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation has not cracked down on smuggling enough, because Seryosha's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation is in charge of customs and anti-smuggling forces. Seryosha did not want his department to be criticized and blamed by the general secretary.
"It seems that it is still the problem caused by our economic system! The country has really reached the point where it has to be reformed! Gorbachev sighed.
"General Secretary, it is precisely because the objective situation has changed that we want to solve our problems through other channels! Seryosha told me that he could borrow money from foreign financial institutions, but I just didn't know what the central government thought about it. Yeltsin handed the report to Gorbachev with both hands, and then watched nervously as Gorbachev reacted.
Gorbachev motioned for Seryosha and Yeltsin to rest on the couch for a while, and then he flipped through the report handed by Yeltsin and slowly flipped it over. As the minutes ticked by, Seryosha and Yeltsin did not say a word, one leaned back on the sofa, the other leaned forward, quietly waiting for Gorbachev's instructions.
"First of all, I would like to say that your idea is very bold and imaginative, and it is indeed a good move to bring in foreign funds to support the construction of the new city for workers. But there is no precedent for this in our country! I am afraid that there will be widespread opposition among the comrades! Gorbachev said helplessly.
"General Secretary, during the Lenin period, Comrade Hammer set up a pencil factory in our country, during the Stalin period, the Ford Company helped build our Gorky Automobile Factory, and during the Khrushchev period, Fiat helped build the AvtoVA Automobile Factory. These are all similar to our current plans for the new Workers' Town! There is no reason for things that have made sense in the past, but when we vigorously advocate Gai, they will be criticized and controversial! Seryosha retorted unconvinced.
"Look, I have nothing to say about what you say! Forget it, let's make an exception for you. I approve your plan to introduce foreign funds in the new city of workers, which can be used as a pilot project for our economic reform! Gorbachev said in a mocking tone, in fact, he did not shoot the opposition of some comrades in the party at all, because now that power is in his hands, many things that were difficult to do in the past are now just a matter of one sentence.
"But your report is good! The description of domestic economic problems is in line with the actual situation, and the points put forward are very instructive. Seryosha, this report is from your handiwork! I think we can change it and send it to the news newspaper so that more comrades can take a look! Gorbachev suggested.
"General Secretary, I didn't write this article! It is the handiwork of one of our new comrades from the VTB - Yegor Gaidar! Seryosha explained to the general secretary.
"Oh! I didn't expect that? Your Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation is really full of talents! This Gaidar is indeed a talent, so be it! Go back and ask this Comrade Gaidar to sort out the part of the report that analyzes and summarizes the domestic economic situation, together with some of the contents that follow, and hand it over to the comrades of Izvestia! I want all the comrades in the party to read it! Gorbachev instructed.