Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2896 Foundation Building Operation
The atmosphere in Washington, D.C. is completely different.

Senator McCarran's once bustling office is now deserted. The phone no longer rings with praise or requests for help, but with angry voters' accusations and sharp questions from the media.

Offline, protesters held up signs that read "Military-Industrial Puppet" and "Give Me Back My Job," taking turns guarding the area day and night, making it so that he needed tight security escorts even to come and go, like a trapped beast.

He tried to fight back. On a morning television news program, he looked haggard but spoke sharply:
"This is a coup meticulously planned by the Warriors Group! Ye Feng has hijacked the United States with economic terrorism! BNN is his mouthpiece, and Facebook is his megaphone! They are destroying the independence and security of this country!"

However, his accusations appeared weak in the face of a subsequent in-depth investigation broadcast by BNN.

The investigation meticulously revealed the political donations McCullen received from defense giants such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics over the past five years, down to the amount of money injected before each crucial vote.

Furthermore, a former campaign staff member anonymously revealed how McCarran drafted targeted provisions of the CASA bill based on a "suggestion list" from donors.

The footage interweaves images of empty assembly lines in a car factory, the bewildered faces of unemployed workers, and the plummeting stock charts on Wall Street. This stark contrast definitively cements McClane's reputation as someone who "harmed the nation for personal gain."

On social media, the hashtags #McCarlanMustResign and #MilitaryIndustrialComplexGetOutOfPolitics continue to dominate the trending topics.

His party allies have distanced themselves from him. Several heavyweight hawk senators who had previously strongly supported the CASA bill have either publicly stated that "the bill needs to be re-examined and a balance must be struck between security and the economy," or have simply remained silent, as if they had never been involved.

The Senate Majority Leader's office is under unprecedented pressure.

Pressure from auto-industry states, tech-industry states, financial sector representatives, and the White House converged into a powerful force. The initially formidable CASA bill was stripped bare.

The designation of "systemic threat" against the Warrior Group and Junken Electromechanical was removed, and the mandatory review and embargo clauses were replaced with the vague "enhanced supply chain risk assessment".

The core content of the bill has shifted from containing China's high technology to a lukewarm "Semiconductor Industry Promotion Act" draft aimed at increasing funding for domestic chip research and development (most of which will ultimately flow to US companies that have cooperative relationships with China).

It has been indefinitely shelved at the committee review stage and is essentially dead.

The White House's reassuring gestures became more concrete. The president, in informal settings, praised the auto giants for their "resilience during the crisis" and hinted at pushing forward "constructive policies" that would help stabilize the supply chain.

The level of meetings between the Treasury Secretary and Commerce Secretary and senior North American officials has been raised, with the focus shifting from "exploring a recovery" to "how to deepen cooperation to ensure supply chain resilience."

Under Ye Feng's precise control, the "flow cut-off" valve of the Warrior Group began to loosen little by little.

The list of suppliers to be restored prioritizes General Motors, Ford, and key component suppliers in Michigan and Ohio, states that the Progressive Party will focus on in the future.

Each announcement of a supply resumption is accompanied by “Celebrating the Return of Jobs” rallies held by future Progressive Party local candidates at local factories or community centers, and positive coverage from BNN.

The "savior" image of the Warriors Group and the "pragmatic and rational" label of the Future Progressive Party are cleverly linked and repeatedly reinforced.

Napa Valley remained tranquil at dusk, but a subtle tension seemed to have settled in the air.

Ye Yuze continued pruning his grapevines, his movements steady and meticulous.

Yang Geyong sat on the rattan chair next to him. The tablet in front of him was no longer playing news, but displaying an encrypted briefing.

"This kid Feng's 'Foundation Building'... is making quite a stir."

Yang Geyong took a sip of herbal tea, looking at the data on the briefing showing that the Future Progressive Party continued to lead in polls in more than a dozen key constituencies, as well as the registration information of the Warrior Group's secret purchase of a large area of ​​industrial land in the suburbs of Austin, Texas (under the names of several shell companies).

"Money is poured out like water, and the local bullies are probably both respectful and afraid of it."

Ye Yuze trimmed off an extra branch, his voice flat:
"Money is like fertilizer; once you've poured it in, you have to see if the roots can take hold and grow deep. Respect isn't enough; you have to make them inseparable from it."

He put down the pruning shears, walked over to Yang Geyong, and glanced at the briefing. "That piece of land in Dezhou... is it the backup plan among backup plans?"

“Yes,” Yang Geyong nodded, “Being close to the university town means there’s plenty of talent. The policies are relatively lenient. Old Mo’s factory is also expanding production. Feng is determined to put his eggs in multiple baskets.”

"North America, Mexico, and possibly Europe... plus their domestic base. It's going to be difficult for those in the military-industrial complex to strangle us by cutting off supplies again."

"A military-industrial complex..." Ye Yuze picked up the rough earthenware bowl, took a sip of tea, and his eyes were deep:
“A claw was broken, it hurts, but I haven’t given up. McCarran is useless, they’ll find a new knife.”

"Already looking for it."

Yang Geyong swiped the screen and pulled up another intelligence report: "Several traditional foundations and lobbying groups have been unusually active recently, with funds flowing to several previously inconspicuous 'middle-aged' hawkish lawmakers."

"The stated slogans are 'learning from the lessons' and 'safeguarding national security more intelligently.' The core demands remain unchanged; they are still aimed at technological containment of us (the Warrior Group) and the East, but they are packaged in a more 'professional' way, emphasizing 'alliance collaboration' and 'asymmetric advantages'."

"They even began to reach out to some traditional establishment moderates who were uneasy about the future rise of the Progressive Party, in an attempt to build an 'anti-Ye Feng alliance'."

Ye Yuze remained silent for a moment, gazing at the last rays of sunlight on the distant mountains:
“A new knife, once sharpened, will be used more carefully. Feng Xiaogang has gained the upper hand, but he has also become the target. In politics, the higher you are praised, the harder you fall. His ‘Future Progressive Party’ is moving fast, but its foundation is still weak. The public opinion that he has built up will turn against him just as quickly if his livelihood is in trouble again.”

"That's why Feng Xiaozi is desperately working on 'Foundation Building'."

Yang Geyong added, “He used money and media to build local power, bound interest groups with industrial chains, and then used the slogan of ‘rational prosperity’ to win over centrist voters. He wanted to turn the hype into real power.”

"Real power..."

Ye Yuze repeated it, his gaze shifting to the depths of the vineyard:
"To truly take root, you must also consider the soil. The soil in the United States is incredibly complex. The greed of Wall Street, the bloodthirstiness of the military-industrial complex, local power struggles, ethnic divisions... every inch of this soil harbors thorns." He paused. "Tell our people in Washington and those key states to keep their eyes peeled. Find out where the new knives are, who's sharpening them, and what stones they're using. Especially those 'moderates' who appear friendly on the surface but secretly pocket money from the military-industrial complex."

"rest assured."

A cold glint flashed in Yang Geyong's eyes. "'Roots' must be planted deep, and 'thorns' must be pulled out cleanly. With Feng Xiaozi charging ahead, we old guys have to help him clear away the stones under the road."

Time flew by amidst the intense campaign preparations and the undercurrents of political maneuvering. In the blink of an eye, only two months remained until the midterm elections.

With Sarah's meticulous management and the Warriors' group's almost unlimited financial and media resources, the Future Progressive Party is enjoying immense popularity.

The saturation bombardment by BNN and FacePage has never stopped. On the one hand, they continue to lash out at disgraced hawks like McCallum, and new "dirt" is constantly being "dug up".

On the other hand, the future Progressive Party candidate is being portrayed as a "savior in a crisis," a "rational and pragmatic choice," and "the hope for the future of the United States."

The "positive effect" of the Warriors Group's resumption of supply was amplified and cleverly linked to the campaign promises of future Progressive Party candidates.

Sarah's strategy has yielded remarkable results. In the Great Lakes industrial region, three future Progressive candidates, with their simple slogans of "bringing jobs back" and "opposing extreme policies that harm employment," have stirred up a "future green" wave in traditional blue-collar strongholds, in addition to the traditional blue (Democratic traditional color) and red (Republican traditional color), and have significantly led in the polls against incumbent hawkish lawmakers.

In a western tech state, a former tech executive, heavily backed by the Future Progressive Party and advocating "technological innovation and rational competition," successfully won over two moderate Republican state legislators dissatisfied with the party's extremism, directly altering the power balance in the state legislature and setting his sights on a crucial federal Senate seat.

The power of money was on full display in the ground battles. Future Progressive Party volunteers, dressed in matching green T-shirts, appeared at every community market, every ball game, and every breakfast shop.

Precise database marketing delivers customized campaign messages (about jobs, healthcare, education, and community safety) to every target voter via email, text message, and social media ads.

Negative information about competitors (whether real or "deeply mined" by BNN) is spread at a faster speed and with a louder volume.

However, just as Ye Yuze had predicted, the forces of resistance were also gathering.

A conference room in an unassuming think tank building in Washington, D.C. The curtains were drawn, and the atmosphere was heavy. Several high-ranking figures representing the core interests of the military-industrial complex were gathered here.

The core staff of several "middle-aged" hawkish lawmakers, as well as several traditional financial backers (from the fossil fuel and some financial sectors) who are deeply concerned about the future rise of the Progressive Party.

"Gentlemen, the situation is very serious." A lobbying veteran with gray hair and sharp eyes spoke up. He was one of the "invisible forces" behind the defense industry giants on Capitol Hill.

"Ye Feng's Future Progressive Party, with the help of the Warriors Group's money and media, is eroding our traditional territory at an alarming rate."

"They use jobs to hold blue-collar workers hostage in the Rust Belt states, and industry to hold elites hostage in the tech states. The failure of the CASA bill is not the end, but the beginning of their full-scale power grab!"

"McCarlan is an idiot. He ruined himself and dragged us down with him!"

An oil tycoon from Texas said angrily, "But Ye Feng is even more dangerous! He uses economic weapons to carry out political subversion! His 'Future Progressive Party' slogans are beautiful, with all the talk of 'rationality' and 'pragmatism,' but at its core, it wants to dismantle our defense industry base and compromise with the East!"

Complaining is useless.

A more composed, middle-generation hawkish advisor spoke, Richard, a strategist behind a new generation of tough but more strategic figures like Senator Ted Cruz.

"Ye Feng's weaknesses are also obvious. First, his foundation was built with money, and he lacks a strong ideological cohesion."

"Secondly, he is deeply bound to the warrior group, which is his source of power, but also his greatest Achilles' heel."

"Third, he rose to power too quickly and made too many enemies. There are many people in the traditional two parties' establishment who are both wary and dissatisfied with him."

Richard pulled up an analysis report: "Our counterattack strategy: First, tear off his 'rational' facade. Focus on attacking the intricate connections between the warrior group and the East."

"The 'cut-off' operation itself is a form of economic coercion, proving that the fighter group and the forces behind it have the capability and willingness to achieve political goals by harming U.S. interests!"

"The core of the Progressive Party's future policy is to compromise with this force! We must redefine Ye Feng and his party as a 'hidden threat to the US economy and national security,' a 'Trojan horse' that is more dangerous than an open enemy!"

“Second,” he continued, “divide and conquer. Rust Belt workers want jobs? No problem! We can promise a larger-scale domestic manufacturing reshoring program (driven by military and infrastructure investment), and criticize Ye Feng’s restoration of supply as a temporary favor, arguing that the Progressive Party’s future policy of embracing globalization (actually referring to reliance on the Chinese supply chain) will eventually take away their jobs again!”

"Technological elites want to develop? We can exaggerate the 'threat' from the East (China) in fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, emphasizing that only a hard decoupling and technological blockade can preserve the United States' leading position, and accuse Ye Feng's 'cooperation' rhetoric of self-destruction!"

"Third, seek allies. Extend olive branches to the traditional Democratic moderates and Republican establishment who are worried about Ye Feng's growing power."

"It is emphasized that the Progressive Party is a 'disruptor' of the two-party political system, and Ye Feng's ambition is to establish a 'fourth empire' that is not subject to the constraints of the two parties. A common enemy can temporarily bridge the differences."

“Fourth,” a sharp glint flashed in Richard’s eyes:
"Dig deep into Ye Feng and his core team, as well as the future main candidates of the Progressive Party. This includes business, financial, and personal information..."

“BNN was able to poach McCarran, and we can do the same to them. Funding and channels are not a problem.”

A murmur of approval rippled through the meeting room. The nascent alliance to retaliate against Ye Feng and his future Progressive Party in a "smarter" and "more lethal" manner was quietly taking shape in the shadows.

They no longer shout the slogan of "China threat," but instead carefully package it as "economic security threat theory," "technological sovereignty defense theory," and "political ecology destruction theory."

The target is directly aimed at the core of the Ye Feng model: the economic influence of the warrior group and the political legitimacy of the future Progressive Party.

It's almost the end of the month, everyone please give me some votes, otherwise it would be a waste.