Chapter 82

The lunch took place in the woods. A long table was laden with a variety of Russian delicacies and soft and hard drinks. Perhaps because a long meeting was to follow the meal, the alcohol-loving Khrushchev only took a couple of sips of the fragrant vodka and wine. This alone made Nixon realize that Khrushchev's temper was under his control and not the other way around, and that his drinking was a cover, not letting it interfere with serious matters. The conversation during lunch was pleasant and relaxed, and Khrushchev displayed his sense of humor.

Sherov, playing the role of a court painter, kept his eyes half-closed, sending Isayevna back to the headquarters to handle documents and asking for leave from today's music and art teachers. If Kuznetsov and Medvedev came over as guests, he asked her to entertain them. He and Lukani watched the false friendly atmosphere created by Khrushchev and Nixon.

It must be said that the feeling of standing while others sit is not pleasant, fortunately, it didn't come to the point where he had to watch them eat!

"General Sherov, why are you so formal? You can sit down and have lunch with us!" Nixon had not forgotten about Sherov, who was flying a kite on the periphery. Nixon was more adaptable in such a relaxed setting than anyone else.

"Mr. Vice President, this is my job! I must be serious at work and cannot afford any mistakes!" Sherov refused Nixon's offer and pushed Lukani forward, saying, "But my assistant is a bit hungry. The young girl should take a break! Young girls should be taken care of at work..."

He then pushed the somewhat nervous Lukani over and continued to fly his kite ten meters away from the meal. "Yuri is a famous good husband in Moscow, with a model couple banner from the city government at home!" Mikoyan skillfully defused the atmosphere, carefully regulating the mood of the meal.

"But I see this young man you all look up to, operating like a machine. Does he really enjoy such a life?" Nixon found Sherov more rigid than any Soviet he had ever met, giving him a sense of facing a machine.

"Ha ha, our capitalist friend thinks the youngest Soviet major general has no freedom. Let's let Yuri speak for himself!" Khrushchev, as if he had thought of something very funny, called Sherov over to speak for himself.

"Everyone has different interests. For me, maintaining national security and providing a stable and law-based environment for the people is the most suitable work. So far, I have never lost interest in the KGB's work. As a law enforcement agency, we must provide fairness to the people, that's it!" Sherov saluted and said slowly, "A stable social environment will calm the people, and with such an environment, the people will create value. Every department is a part of the state machine, and as long as we function well, the Soviet people have no reason not to benefit..."

Sherov spoke naturally, without any pretense! After all, he was once a successor to communism. As long as he repeated the spirit he had in elementary school, no one could say he was lying, especially since he wasn't lying.

Sherov's words were highly recognized by everyone, and Suslov nodded frequently, deeply approving of Sherov's thoughts.

Khrushchev's personality was very unpredictable. Although not necessarily malicious, his mercurial nature was indeed hard to adapt to. He brought up the topic of Soviet missiles, and even Mikoyan's efforts to mediate were in vain. He and Nixon began arguing about missiles and strategic bombers. After Nixon asked about the fuel for Soviet missiles, Sherov had to gently remind him, "Mr. Vice President, such questions are better left to the CIA agents. As long as they don't die at my hands, they will eventually figure it out, though I think the latter is almost impossible..."

"Soviet leaders always make bellicose statements, and I didn't expect the young generation to think the same!" Nixon shook his head and said, "I hope you don't think that the 51st Congress of the Communist Party in Moscow, where you discussed things we don't know, and Mr. Khrushchev openly supports world communist revolution? Your KGB agents are active in Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, I'm sure this young general knows something about it..."

Sherov knew more than just a little. The KGB institutions in these places were all established by him. Khrushchev, who knew this best, interjected, "Revolutions in those places show that the world is not equal! This is a very normal thing..."

Sherov spread out his drawing board and spent ten minutes sketching a pencil drawing. After finishing, he walked over to Nixon and said, "Mr. Nixon, this is a gift for you before you return to America!" On the white paper was a strategic bomber in flight, the B-52, known as the Stratofortress. The bomb bay was open, and bombs were continuously dropping. Next to it was Sherov's note: "If you don't embrace freedom, freedom will come roaring in..."

"Before criticizing the Soviet Union, it would be better to withdraw your advisory teams from foreign countries. Your military bases are far more numerous than ours. Double standards are too obvious!" After saying this, Sherov returned to flying his kite outside, moving further away so he couldn't hear the arguments of the big shots.

Khrushchev also saw Sherov's sketch and immediately whispered to the surrounding Soviet officials, making Nixon, who held the sketch, quite embarrassed. The more the Soviet officials saw the stubborn anti-Soviet sentiment on Nixon's face, the more animated their conversation became.

Three days later, in the KGB Chairman's office at 11 Lubyanka Square, Sherov lay on the sofa facing KGB Chairman Serov, looking tired and asked, "Old Secretary, I just completed my mission and finished reviewing reports today. I only completed my courses an hour ago! With 200,000 agency personnel, shouldn't you consider using someone else? I may be young, but I don't want to age prematurely!"

"That's true, it is a bit early! How about I suggest to the General Secretary that someone else take over as KGB Deputy Chairman?" Serov seemed to be seriously considering Sherov's suggestion. As soon as he finished speaking, Sherov suddenly jumped up from the sofa, stood at attention, and saluted, displaying the vigorous spirit of a KGB officer.

With a look of disdain, Serov laughed and scolded, "You can only overcome your laziness at times like this. Model couple in Moscow? Isn't that just being afraid of your wife? Now that Varya is in Kiev, you don't have to hide on the balcony to smoke! The KGB's best work reputation over the past ten years, that's because people outside don't know how lazy you are..."

After a routine round of pressure, Serov announced with a clear and refreshed voice, "Yuri Yefimovich Sherov, upon the proposal of the Central Presidium and the approval of the KGB Presidium, is appointed as Deputy Chairman of the KGB! Member of the KGB Presidium, ranked ninth, with the rank of Major General! Specific responsibilities include the Military Administration, Technical Administration, and Surveillance and Investigation Administration."

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