Chapter 94

Corn? Shepilov's lips twitched. Khrushchev was still planning to plant corn in the Siberian cold zone, where the latitude was far too high. There were not many places in the Soviet Union where corn could grow, and now it seemed that Khrushchev was preparing to expand the corn-growing areas after returning. This would really be a matter of life and death!

Who would dare to advise Khrushchev? Even the members of the Central Presidium did not dare, and Shepilov naturally did not have the courage either. But could this problem be solved? Yes! When Shepilov was exporting revolution to Sudan, he joined with General Abdalla, the commander-in-chief of Sudan, to overthrow the pro-British Sudanese government. In exchange for supporting General Abdalla in suppressing the southern blacks, Soviet agricultural experts were sent to Sudan for investigation. Sudan's population was only ten million, with nearly four million blacks. However, its territory was the largest in Africa, with the White Nile and Blue Nile flowing through the capital, providing sufficient climate and sunlight.

If we do not consider the differences in population quality, Sudan's conditions far exceeded the current seemingly prosperous Egypt. The land was more than twice that of Egypt, and it was not lacking in forests, grasslands, and mineral resources! It naturally did not lack arable land.

Shepilov put on a look of heartfelt agreement and said, "Speaking of the promotion of corn, I remember the experts who went to Sudan to assist in agriculture said that Sudan's geographical conditions are excellent. Now, sending an agricultural aid team to Sudan to promote corn cultivation would very simply solve Sudan's agricultural problems, wouldn't it?"

"Right, Shepilov! You should pay more attention and there is still room for improvement! Promoting corn cultivation in Sudan will definitely easily solve Sudan's food problem. You can contact biologists to help the Sudanese government promote corn cultivation!" Khrushchev was very pleased, feeling that Comrade Shepilov's awareness was still quite high, knowing how to use high-yield crops like corn to solve food problems. "Some comrades in the country have many complaints about promoting corn cultivation. Their thinking is too conservative. As Communists, we must overcome difficulties, not be timid! Only by overcoming difficulties with willpower and firmly believing that no difficulties can defeat us..."

Willpower? This seems to be one of the charges that led to Khrushchev's downfall? So it seems that there were already opposing opinions in the Soviet Union, but they were suppressed by Khrushchev.

"The rubber issue is indeed a big problem. The largest rubber-producing area in the world is in Southeast Asia. We can maintain friendly relations with Indonesian President Sukarno, but this is very difficult, as the enemy is too powerful," Shepilov said, putting on a very difficult look.

"Yes, the British and American influence there is strong! But President Sukarno is not hostile to us!" Khrushchev nodded in agreement, "Actually, I communicated with Chinese comrades, and it would be easier to establish a rubber base on Hainan Island..."

"The output is too low, it won't solve many problems!" Shepilov said in an imperialist manner, "We should aim big. I will go back and communicate with General Sakhatovskiy, concentrating our efforts to strengthen the Asian part. There are so many countries in Southeast Asia; I don't believe that none of them have the soil for revolution. As long as one does, the Soviet Union's rubber problem can be solved..."

"Yuri, peaceful development is the mainstream! I'm not saying we shouldn't export revolution. For countries with mature conditions for self-revolution, I am very willing to see it!" Khrushchev felt that Shepilov's thoughts did not align with his current views, but he did not say anything. Since Shepilov was over thirty years younger, Khrushchev felt a bit embarrassed to use the humiliating methods of the Central Presidium to humiliate this young comrade who did not share his stance. If it were the members of the Central Presidium, they would have already been spitting in his face.

It was still early, and Khrushchev had no intention of resting. He casually asked Shepilov a question to test his ideology, "Yuri, why do you think we will win in the competition with capitalism?"

"Science is developing, and productivity will eventually reach the critical point for the development of socialism. It's just that the current technology is only beginning to show this trend, and this trend is not yet obvious! So Americans still think socialism is nothing to worry about. As long as humanity progresses, science will eventually replace most manual labor. So, as the First Secretary said, history is on the side of socialism. Whether Americans like it or not, whether it's a hundred years or a thousand years from now, it will eventually be our victory!" Shepilov expressed his understanding but did not mention the Soviet Union. After all, the Soviet Union had already disintegrated in the future, and the national task of burying the United States had been transferred to China.

"If we focus on a specific country, what do you think are the weaknesses of the United States?" Khrushchev nodded and asked a more specific question.

This question made Shepilov pause. It wasn't that he hoped the United States was invincible, but the weaknesses were too numerous and similar to those of the Soviet Union, making it hard to know where to start. Immigration issues, racial issues, and most importantly, educational issues.

Let's talk about education. Shepilov organized his thoughts and said, "First Secretary, the most popular professions among the American civilian class after graduating from school, and also the highest-paying professions, are doctors, teachers, and lawyers! These three professions correspond to the healthcare system, the education system, and the legal system! The fact that these three professions are among the highest-paying already indicates a significant problem with the American education system. Doctors profit from patients, teachers profit from students, and lawyers become millionaires by interpreting the law. This is enough to show the problem! Moreover, the quality of education in American public schools is far behind our state universities, and while private schools are of better quality, the tuition is too high for most families to afford! Public schools have no educational quality, and as long as the Soviet education system does not have problems, theoretically, we will produce more talent than the United States every year, so the ultimate victor will be us..."

But it doesn't matter, as the United States can attract talent from other countries through immigration policies, while the Soviet Union can only rely on its own talent. Shepilov could only speak about the advantages of the Soviet Union in front of Khrushchev. Although racial issues have always existed in the United States, the Soviet Union's ethnic minority issues are no less severe. Both countries have a pile of problems, and as the leaders of the two camps, they both look prosperous, but in reality, both have many issues.

Would a young bureau chief be able to outlast an old man? Shepilov did not outlast Khrushchev today. Khrushchev was particularly energetic and only reluctantly said, "The willpower of the young is still a bit lacking. I work fifteen hours a day, every year, and I never feel tired..."

"First Secretary, rest early!" Shepilov looked at his wrist as he left Khrushchev's room, "12:59..."

Stumbling back to his room, he fell onto the bed, thinking, "It's really hard for me, flattering for over five hours..."

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