Since the relocation of the Soviet political axe from Petrograd to Moscow in 1918, the Kremlin has been the official residence of the state, party, government and military leadership organs of the Soviet Union and the top leaders of the country, and is the "political heart" of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union has always attached great importance to the security of the Kremlin and its heads of state. The Kremlin security work is carried out by the Reading Special Service Group, which is subordinate to the Kremlin garrison of the 9th Bureau of the KGB.

At about 9 o'clock in the morning of February 19, KGB Chairman Sherepin came to the Kremlin Garrison Command in Tower No. 1, which was located on the right side of the Kremlin Borowitz Gate, and secretly summoned Major General Peridenovsky, commander of the Kremlin garrison, and Major Choi Olegalv, head of the Kremlin Garrison Special Service Regiment. The chairman of the KGB, Sherepin, said to his two subordinates with a gloomy face: "The Soviet Union is currently facing the most critical moment, and now the Central Committee has decided to arrest Molotov, Malinowsky and Voroshilov, a group of war criminals who are guilty of crimes against humanity. Hold these people accountable. The Central Committee has decided that this important task will be completed by you. You should think about the specific method and form to accomplish this glorious task, come out with an opinion, come to my office at 8 o'clock in the evening, and study it carefully. ”

Then Shelepin announced to them very seriously the discipline of this operation: "First, it is necessary to keep it absolutely confidential. Whoever dares to leak secrets will be punished with the most severe punishment of KGB discipline. Second, all personnel participating in this operation must resolutely obey orders and obey commands. As a last resort, we should try our best not to shoot to solve the problem. Third, clarify tasks and strictly observe discipline. From now on, the people participating in this operation should be organized by each action group, and the group leader should be responsible, and no one should act alone from the action group without authorization, and absolutely no one should be allowed to contact the outside world, including family members and relatives. Fourth, from now on be ready for battle at all times"

On 20 February, Malinowsky, commander-in-chief of the Soviet Army and first deputy minister of defense of the Soviet Union, received a telephone call from the secretary of Khrushchev's office, asking him to attend an emergency military meeting at 2 p.m. in the Vladimir Room of the Kremlin to study the next steps in the current form. In such a situation, it is no longer too common to arrange such meetings. No one doubts that there could be anything wrong.

When Marshal Malinowski, in his Jim bulletproof sedan and a guard car in front and rear, had just entered the Sbasky gate of the Kremlin, the front and rear guard cars with rapid-fire weapons such as AK47 assault rifles were left in the parking lot outside the Sbasky gate, as is customary, and the guards on board were invited into the tower of the Sbasky gate. Since the security of the Kremlin is the sole responsibility of the Kremlin garrison's Reading Force, there is no need for them to go in.

When Malinowski arrived at the door of the Kremlin's Vladimir Hall, his attaché was led to Lounge No. 4 on the right side of the Vladimir Hall, and only Malinowski walked into the splendid but empty Vladimir Hall. Just as he was about to step up the first step of the Y-shaped hall to the upper hall, two "staffers" standing on the left and right sides of the stairs immediately pounced, and Malinowski saw that the momentum was not good, and while desperately resisting, he shouted, "What are you going to do?" "Despite his big-shouldered waist, Malinowski is a 61-year-old man, and he is no match for these young and fierce Kremlin guards trained in professional martial arts. His arms were twisted and pressed down the steps firmly, and two KGB soldiers knelt on the back of his neck on one leg and the other on the back of his waist and handcuffed him. Then, without saying a word, he gagged him, pushed him out the back door, put him in an armored car, and sent him to an underground bomb shelter next to Lenin Mountain.

In the dim light of the underground bomb shelter, KGB Chairman Sherepin put on a dominant appearance, and declared to Malinowsky, who was pale and had blood stains on his nose and mouth: Malinowski, you have formed a party for personal gain, carried out illegal activities, instructed your own henchmen, used nuclear weapons without authorization, conspired to provoke World War III, triggered a global nuclear war, and committed unforgivable crimes against the Soviet Party and the Soviet people. The Central Committee of the CPSU has decided to dismiss you from all positions inside and outside the Party and to investigate your crimes against humanity. Hold you accountable for the war.

Later, Molotov, Voroshilov and some others, one by one, were handcuffed and sent to this underground bomb shelter, and KGB Chairman Sherepin routinely announced to them the decision of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

On 22 February, no record was left of the specific proceedings of the presidium meeting. Later, according to the recollections of some of the participants in the meeting, the meeting was chaired by Khrushchev, who himself spoke first, asked to discuss the issue of the Sino-Soviet border, as well as the current situation and tasks, and exposed the problems of Molotov, Malinowsky, Voroshilov and others.

Then Zhukov, Bulganin, Suslov, Mikoyan and others spoke in support and exposed and criticized these people's anti-party crimes.

At this meeting of the Presidium of the Central Committee, Khrushchev explained why extraordinary measures were taken to arrest Molotov, Malinowsky, Voroshilov and others: "Why such a form? First, time does not allow us to talk about endless nonsense at this moment when the survival of the Soviet Union is at stake. The second is that this can only be done for these deceitful villains. If we had told them a little earlier that they were a gang of scoundrels, a gang of war maniacs, then they would have instigated their outlaws to get rid of us first. They would have done it entirely, they would have dared to use the atomic bomb without permission, what else could they not do? They are people who do not pay any attention to the discipline of the party and the laws of the country, and they can do all kinds of despicable and obscene things.

While discussing the current situation and tasks, Marshal Zhukov emphatically briefed the meeting of the Central Presidium on the current state of the Soviet troops, the entire battlefield situation of the Sino-Soviet war, and the military movements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

He said: The Chinese [***] squadron first launched an attack on the Soviet Union by means of a surprise attack, annihilated the front-line troops in the Far East, cut off the Trans-Siberian Railway in the area south of Lake Baikal, and caused the Soviet Union's Post-Baikal Military District, the Far Eastern Military District, and the Soviet interior to lose contact with each other, and could not be supplemented by the interior, causing confusion in the entire Far Eastern Army of our army. Then sabotage and surprise occupation of transport hubs and logistics support bases, airfields in the Far East of our country. After China issued its "Letter to the People of the World," China's Strategic Missile Forces have all been put on combat duty, and the Novosibirsk Military District, the Central Asian Military District, and the Turkestan Military District have all reported that Chinese bombers that look very much like China's Tu-16 medium jet bombers have been found in their air defense zones. These aircraft did not carry out regular bombing of the targets below, and were apparently carrying nuclear warheads on combat-ready patrol duty. ”

"There is no doubt about that." KGB chief Sherepin interjected: "Long Line 005 has also warned us that China's strategic nuclear missiles have been aimed at important nuclear bases and important military targets in the Eurasian junction of the Soviet army and parts of Europe." ”

"At the same time, the [***] team has also stepped up its attacks." Zhukov continued: "With tank armored assault groups and helicopter gunships as the lead, supplemented by medium- and long-range missile strikes and air force support, they have continuously advanced deep into the Soviet Far East, dividing, encircling, and sweeping our troops in the Far East. On the Eastern Front, the commander of the Red Banner Military District of the USSR Far East, General Hashlesov, the commander of the 9th Army of the USSR Air Force, Lieutenant General Dame Dagasky, and the commander of the Red Banner Amur District Flotilla, Rear Admiral Andnnikov. There is also Lieutenant General Kimitry, commander of the 35th Army of the Soviet Army, who was killed at home by the 'decapitation and heart-digging' tactics of the [***] team at the first moment of the war. Political Commissar Colonel-General Huapinovsky and Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Strelnikov, who formed the Provisional Command of the Soviet Far Eastern Military District, have already ordered the units of the Far Eastern Military District to surrender to the squadron. It is now estimated that the entire eastern part of the Far East will fall completely. ”

"What is even more worrying is that after China issued a "Letter to the People of the World", the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which had declared their neutrality in the Sino-Soviet war, also entered a state of fighting. Strategic bombers of the United States and NATO have also entered 24-hour combat readiness duty. The ground forces have also entered a state of full combat readiness. Zhukov looked at everyone's sad faces, and he continued: "I said last year that in the event of a war between China and the Soviet Union, the United States and NATO may not take action. This is determined by the imperialist surname. But this kind of two-sided battle in the east and west is something that the Soviet army cannot afford at the moment in any case. ”

"It's really bad now!" Foreign Trade Minister Mikoyan continued: "Yesterday the UN General Assembly adopted the proposal of Great Britain, France, Ben and other countries on the imposition of comprehensive sanctions against the Soviet Union, and it was unanimously adopted. In this way, some of the industrial raw materials and grain that our country urgently needs will not be able to enter. ”

"Can you transfer some from other socialist countries to solve the urgent need?" Bulganin, chairman of the National Economic Commission, asked with a frown.

Andropov, head of the CPSU International Liaison Department, shook his head and said: "The fraternal countries of the entire socialist camp have also protested against our use of nuclear weapons against fraternal socialist China, and besides, they are all members of the United Nations and must abide by the resolutions of the United Nations."

"Hey, that's really troublesome!" Bulganin said with a worried expression on his face: "At present, our country's grain reserves are very small, and the supply of the Soviet army is only barely maintained by the most basic food, and millions of ordinary people live a half-starved life with only a little bit of rations. Isn't that adding insult to injury? ”

Khrushchev looked at the sky and sighed, pretending to be worried about the country and the people, and said: "I can understand everyone's feelings of worrying about the world first. The current situation is such a critical situation. Let's discuss how to solve these problems. Let's defuse the current crisis in the Soviet Union caused by Molotov, Malinowski, Voroshilov and other left-leaning opportunists. ”

Bulganin was the first to state: "I think this crisis is caused by the border war between China and the Soviet Union, and this is a war that must not be fought again, so it must be stopped." Contacts with the Chinese side to achieve a ceasefire first, and then negotiations on the basis of the principles of the two Galakhan Declarations on China, which Comrade Lenin had proclaimed. ”

"The question now is whether the Chinese can come back to the negotiating table and talk to us. The Chinese now have a moral advantage, and they occupy far more territory than they lost under the Treaties of Aihun and Yanjing. Suslov predicted with foresight: "I'm afraid they won't mention Lenin's two Galahan Declarations on China again." ”

"Well, maybe there is such a possibility" said Andropov, "but according to the Romanian Comrade Ceausescu and me, when he went to China, Comrade MZD's attitude was still good. He asked Comrade Ceausescu to convey to us not to engage in nuclear blackmail against them. This is not conducive to solving the problem. The Sino-Soviet border issue is an issue left over from history, and they have always advocated that it should be resolved through comradely friendly consultations and handled in accordance with the principles of the two "Galakhan Declarations on China" proclaimed by Comrade Lenin. He also said that the fundamental interests of the people in the entire socialist camp are the same, and he also said a poem to the effect that we should always open our eyes and look at everything in the world with a broad mind. The two great powers, China and the Soviet Union, always have to unite. Some disunity is only a temporary phenomenon, and even if this little unpleasantness is happening between us now, and we have shot each other a few times for those few acres of land, it is also temporary and partial. Problems always have to be solved. The comprehensive development of friendly relations between the Chinese and Soviet peoples is still the mainstream and the overall situation. ”

Suslov thought to himself, you, how can Andropov take it out of context, why don't you say those words in front of Mao. The meaning of Mao's general remarks is that I am not afraid of the military and the military, and I will take back what the Soviet Union occupied before, and the two "Galahan Declarations on China" that Lenin said in the past are the bottom line for them to recover the territory they lost before. He hit and pulled, both hands hard. Politicians are politicians. The words spoken can always advance and retreat, advance and retreat freely. Hey, these politicians in the Soviet Union are really no match for Comrade Mao in China. This time, if you don't eat and drink at the toast, you'll lose a lot. How good it would have been if it had been done as I had said. Maybe it's not too late to do what I say.

(To be continued)