Simon's private Boeing 767 landed at Pushkin International Airport on the northwest outskirts of Moscow around 10 a.m.
In addition to Celia Miller, who came here to arrange Simon's schedule in advance, there were also Yeltsin's second daughter Tatyana tiachenko and Valentin yumashev, director of the presidential office of the current Kremlin.
These are the details communicated by both parties in advance.
Simon came to Russia this time mainly to give an endorsement to help Russia get through the current economic difficulties. However, Simon does not intend to make a big fuss and will only publish some news with considerable restrictions.
On the contrary, Moscow certainly hopes that Simon's visit will be as big as possible. Celia, who came in advance, had to give a warning. If Russia advocates wantonly publicizing the news of Simon's visit, the Westeros system does not rule out the possibility of publicly announcing the cancellation of some cooperation between the two sides.
The final result is the current result.
The two people who came to pick up the plane were also definitely close friends of Yeltsin's close friends.
Yeltsin's second daughter needless to say, Valentin yumashev, the current director of the presidential office, in addition to his current official position, is also the author of Yeltsin's personal biography and a standard imperial pen.
Moreover, Simon also knew that yumashev later became Yeltsin's son-in-law and walked with Yeltsin's second daughter after his second marriage.
Simon stepped down the gangway on the airport runway, greeted Tatyana who had met before, and then listened to the other party's personal help to introduce yumashev. His tone was unknowingly close, and he probably understood that the current relationship between the two people was already unusual.
Of course, this has nothing to do with Simon.
Although he didn't intend to publicize it, after leaving the airport, Simon's team was escorted by police cars all the way to the west of Moscow, next to the silver pine forest park about 10 kilometers away from the city center.
This is an artificial island covering an area of about 400 hectares and surrounded by the Moscow river across Moscow. Simon set aside 50 hectares in the west of yinsonglin island a few years in advance to build his residence in Moscow like the castle Manor on the outskirts of St. Petersburg.
The motorcade passed through the manor corridor shaded by green trees and came to the main villa.
This is a three story zigzag blue roof and white wall building covering an area of 5000 square meters. It is said to be a villa, but it is far from the rural style with large roof in North America. It is more inclined to a French classical style castle.
Everyone gets off at the square in front of the main villa. Even Tatyana tyacenko can't help admiring the castle like mansion in front of her.
Although the Yeltsin family now live in the Kremlin, the Kremlin is not private. Once Yeltsin steps down, the family will have to move away.
Tadiyana's husband Alexei tyachenko has used Yeltsin's relationship to start an energy business in recent years, but tyachenko's talent in business can only be said to be mediocre. Over the years, the assets under the names of the husband and wife are less than $500 million.
Compared with ordinary people, such an asset can certainly be called a huge wealth.
However, people are always more angry than people.
Not to mention the tyachenko couple, even if the total assets of the Yeltsin family, both overt and private, are added up, there is nothing worth mentioning in front of Simon westero.
As for casually building all kinds of luxury manors in any corner of the world you like, it's even more impossible.
The gap is desperate.
At one moment, Tatyana could not help imagining that the world would be better if it could go back to the Czar era two hundred years ago. Her father was the czar of the Russian Empire and she was the second princess. The whole country belonged to the Yeltsin family.
Of course, I can only think about it.
Getting rid of these unrealistic ideas, she was surrounded to follow Simon westero into the villa. Tatyana sighed again that the young man around her, with his huge personal assets and the hidden power contained in this wealth in this era, is probably more prominent than any king in the era of kingship.
This is a capital society.
They went through the main villa hall and sat down in a meeting room next door. After the waitress brought coffee, they left. Only Simon, Celia, Tatyana and yumashev were left in the meeting room. Tatyana began to talk about business: "Simon, my father has prepared a lunchtime reception at the gram palace to welcome you. Ms. Miller told you what you mean. However, even if there are no reporters present during the reception, I wonder if we can hold a small press conference after the reception. Don't worry, there will be no questions. Just need my father to make a simple exchange speech with you?"
Simon leaned against the sofa with a cup of coffee and shook his head when he heard the speech: "Tanya, I think Celie has fully communicated with you. I'm not a person who likes to make changes temporarily."
Simon will only leave some photos and press releases strictly reviewed by the Weijia team after the lunch reception in the Ke palace. There will be no public information for others.
After all, we should have a little scruples about the attitude of the federal side.
Simon doesn't want to be labeled with a Simon westlotton one day.
Simon can come to Moscow in person. In addition to the established photos and manuscripts, he will also determine some cooperation projects that will also be made public, which has greatly saved the face of the Yeltsin authorities. Tatyana tried again. Simon didn't mean to let go, and he could only give up the idea of letting Simon speak more for Russia and leave first.
After seeing off Tatyana, Simon and Celia discussed the details of the cooperation project to be signed in the afternoon. They ate something and got up to change their clothes.
The noon reception at the Kirk palace starts at 12 o'clock sharp.
The manor on yinsonglin island is not far from the city center. Simon arrived on time. It has been very busy here.
Not only the giants from all walks of life in Russia, but also the U.S. ambassador to Russia and some U.S. business representatives from Russia spent more than 20 minutes just necessary greetings.
As expected, someone Simon has been quietly watching was present today.
According to the order of seniority, when it was their turn to greet Simon, the two sides simply shook hands and exchanged greetings. Probably because outsiders were nearby, the other party also took the initiative to introduce themselves. It seemed that there was no relationship in advance.
However, Simon, who is also keen to see people, felt obvious inquiry from each other's eyes at a certain moment.
In just two years, from a former KGB who almost lost his job to become a taxi driver, well, this is an exaggeration. To be exact, it is the former deputy mayor of St. Petersburg. He has risen all the way to the position of director of the current Russian Federal Security Agency. The real power is in his hands, but someone often thinks of the accidental encounter in St. Petersburg two years ago.
A fairly brief communication.
Simon westero invited him to work for himself and then asked him to come to Moscow.
Then, all the way.
If we think about Yeltsin's attitude when he contacted the president many times, it is obviously impossible to be accidental.
The most important thing is that in this position, one step forward, to be exact, two steps, we will reach the highest throne in this country.
Someone thinks it's more and more likely.
But then?
More importantly, he didn't know what Simon westero wanted from all this? Can you afford it then?
Simon can probably guess someone's state of mind, but he can't communicate with each other in the case of a group of people around him.
The party lasted two hours.
Towards the end, the photographer arranged in advance appeared and took some photos of Simon and Yeltsin talking happily against the background of the reception. Then the reception was over.
Hundreds of guests dispersed. Simon did not leave and came to an office in the Kremlin with Yeltsin.
The two sides sat opposite each other on the sofa in the reception area. After Yeltsin's second daughter personally brought a pot of coffee, Yeltsin, who leaned on the sofa, had completely disappeared. Before that, the red light at the reception was full of energy and looked quite tired and even weak.
Simon certainly knew that Yeltsin had not fully recovered after heart surgery two years ago.
Both sides didn't speak for a moment. Simon sipped a cup of coffee. After a while, Yeltsin's voice finally sounded across the street: "Simon, I must go the way you gave me now, right?"
Simon did not expect that Yeltsin, who has always been a strong character, would suddenly say these words, hold the coffee cup in his hand, lean against the sofa and say, "how to choose, the initiative is still in your hand."
Speaking of it, the two sides have met for the first time until today. However, because they have been friends for a long time, they are quite familiar after just a cocktail party.
Of course, fundamentally, this familiarity still starts from strength.
If Simon is just an ordinary businessman, even those oligarchs who can call the wind and rain in Russia will certainly not see Yeltsin's weak side at this time, let alone the current atmosphere of close confidence.
When Yeltsin heard Simon's answer, he still shook his head and said, "I don't have much initiative, Simon. Frankly, I just hope to keep my family from being liquidated in two years."
"It's not difficult," Simon said. "Then, you and your family can go to Britain, or Australia is also a good choice. That's my territory."
Yeltsin shook his head again: "Tanya, they can leave, I can't."
Simon paused and understood.
In short, two words, face.
It is undeniable that Yeltsin has a strong desire for power and has no lack of selfishness for his family. However, he is still a more dignified person and understands that if he escapes, not only himself, but the whole country will be disgraced.
Simon could not comment.
Most of the time, people are contradictory.
Perhaps Yeltsin made Simon feel confused in promoting the disintegration of the Soviet Union and even Russia's reform in recent years. Many measures can only be described as stupid. However, it is not true that Yeltsin is not a patriot, does not want his country to be strong and deliberately messes up his country.
Unfortunately, too often, the gap between ability and ambition is always large.
It can only be said that Yeltsin is a top politician, but it is limited to this.
After a moment of silence, Yeltsin finally spoke again: "Simon, do you think Vladimir is really competent?"
"It's been two years. I believe you know it better than me."
"No, Simon, I'm not sure about Kiriyenko now. You should know that Kiriyenko is also a very excellent young man."
"I can only say that you used the wrong person at the wrong time and in the wrong direction," Simon said "Kiriyenko's ability is really good. The problem is that you pushed him up. In addition to your support, he has no other foundation, and even aroused the collective opposition of the Russian parliament, which is doomed to fail to do anything, not to mention the big problem of the national economic crisis."
Yeltsin pondered for a moment and said, "I understand what you mean, Simon. I will win the support of those people at that time. However, I can't guarantee that they will agree. Maybe you will need to intervene at that time."
Neither of them pointed out, but both knew it.
The "people" in Yeltsin's words refer to the oligarchs who basically monopolize Russia's domestic economy. These people not only control Russia's media, but also have a strong influence in the Russian parliament.
Yeltsin's strong push for Kiriyenko at the beginning of the year was strongly resisted by the State Duma. The key reason was that he did not communicate well with the oligarchs in advance.
The reason why Chernomyrdin failed to reset recently is similar.
Once in history, the key to someone's success is to get the permission of the oligarchs, and then provide all-round support in politics, economy, military and public opinion.
Simon nodded in agreement with Yeltsin's request.
According to the business layout of Westeros system in Russia in recent years, in addition to the legitimate Mikhail Friedman, there are also various cooperation with some other oligarchs, coupled with the endorsement demand of the current Russian overall economic environment for Westeros system, Simon will give face when he speaks.
When Yeltsin saw Simon nodding and agreeing, he was relieved, and then said, "the last question, Simon, and then? I mean, after Vladimir became prime minister, I remember you said that it would take him a year to accumulate prestige. However, if we continue to use the means of the general election in 1996, I think it is likely to fail?"
"It's very simple," Simon said without hiding this time. "The best way to transfer contradictions is war. Similarly, the best way for a person to accumulate prestige is war and win a war."
Hearing this answer, Yeltsin immediately responded: "Chechnya?"
"Chechnya!"
Yeltsin immediately hesitated: "Simon, it's not easy."
Yeltsin obviously did not forget Russia's disastrous defeat in Chechnya a few years ago, and even had to sign an armistice agreement that almost acquiesced to Chechnya's independence.
Simon said: "first of all, it's not easy to fight this war, because this is the only way for Russia to gather people's hearts as quickly as possible in the current situation. Secondly, this time, I can help you solve some external obstacles, and there will be no interference at that time. The rest needs to be solved by yourself. If you can't win, it's your own problem."