Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 486 The Center of World Gossip

"You wrote it."

Lin Ran's words contained no hesitation, no uncertainty, only certainty.

Jenny couldn't see Lin Ran's eyes through her sunglasses, but Lin Ran could see them, and his eyes clearly showed a hint of surprise.

“Professor, I am the editor-in-chief of The New York Times, and this is a report from The Washington Post,” Jenny argued.

"It doesn't matter. If you want to publish an article in the Washington Post, they won't refuse you."

The Washington Post would never criticize me at this time. The White House or Washington would be more than happy to do so, so why would they criticize me?

My actions certainly went beyond the bounds of diplomatic protocol and interfered with a royal marriage.

If it were any other diplomatic envoy, it would be seen as a diplomat using the power of their host country to interfere in the marriage of European royal families, and would raise suspicions about whether they received instructions from the White House and whether the White House wanted to interfere in the European royal family.

This will cause distrust between the two sides.

If someone else had done this, the president or other senior White House officials might have been furious and sent a telegram overnight telling him to keep his mouth shut.

"But it's obvious I'm different, Jenny. You're a veteran journalist too. Didn't you see the difference between what I did and what others did?" Lin Ran said.

Jenny said in a complaining tone, "Professor, you're too narcissistic!"

She understood Lin Ran's meaning: "You mean to say that the outside world believes you broke up Princess Sofia and Prince Juan's marriage because of your personal charm, rather than the endorsement of the White House."

Lin Ran said matter-of-factly, "This is not narcissism, it's the truth."

The fact is that all European newspapers, without exception, focused on the emotional aspect. Even the Soviet newspaper Pravda did not focus on the White House's interference in the royal marriage.

The reactions of officials and members of the public I encountered in Berlin were also that this was an anecdote about emotions, a story between a professor and a princess, rather than an expansion of White House power in the context of the Cold War.

So Jenny, the White House was overjoyed that this matter was categorized in this way. I helped them shift the focus, diverting attention and preventing the media from continuing to focus on the war and the economy.

How could they possibly write such an article to accuse me?

"You're the only one who would notice this angle. As for why it was published in the Washington Post, is publishing in the Washington Post difficult for you?"

Lin Ran shook his head helplessly; a crowd had already gathered around.

They were at Breitschfeldt, the square closest to Schöneberg City Hall. It was a bustling commercial center that, together with Kurfürstendamm and Taurnzig, formed the most vibrant commercial area in West Berlin.

The two people were chatting in English, surrounded by a group of security personnel. They were politely refused entry when they tried to walk in this direction.

Coupled with the news of Lin Ran's visit to Berlin, the West German public naturally guessed their identities, and crowds gathered there, soon exceeding the security personnel's threshold.

The officer in charge of personal security leaned close to Lin Ran's ear and said, "Professor, we have to go."

Lin Ran stood up and held out his hand to Jenny: "Jenny, nothing happened between me and Princess Sofia. I just gave her advice out of conscience."

Jenny placed her hand in Lin Ran's hand without hesitation. "Professor, I believe you, but this is still too reckless."

While, as you said, the outside world doesn't perceive this as an expansion of the White House's power, that doesn't define your actions.

They walked hand in hand toward the armored vehicle. Lin Ran said, "I know, of course I know the risks involved in my actions."

I hesitated, wondering whether to stick to polite diplomatic language or to express my true thoughts.

I was thinking that even if I told her my true thoughts, Princess Sofia probably wouldn't do it.

Therefore, I only offered my advice based on morality.

Who would have thought that after listening to my advice, the other party would be so decisive and make the decision to divorce on the third day.

I underestimated the news acumen of London; they're incredibly fast at producing news, and their ability to fabricate stories is truly remarkable.

A few seconds later, Lin Ran added in Chinese: "London reporters are indeed fast; there's a reason why a meme can spread so widely."

Jenny: "Huh?"

"It's nothing," Lin Ran explained. "I just said a Chinese slang term."

Jenny said, "Professor, your charm is hard for women to resist. We have attended many banquets hosted by European royal families, and almost all of them, whether married or unmarried, had a wild look in their eyes when they were alone with you, as if they wanted to devour you."

You just didn't realize it, especially in Paris, when those people were at their most blatant.

After all, the conservatism of the aristocracy would never be seen in Paris.

Sofia, who had experienced a change in her relationship, fell in love at first sight with Prince Juan and raised three children together for ten years. Juan was not yet king and was still under the shadow of General Franco, yet he was still capable of such a betrayal.

Sofia is prone to the idea that men are all untrustworthy. If men are untrustworthy, why not seek out attractive men for revenge and solace? For example, Professor, you would be the best choice.

On one hand, there's power, fame, wisdom, and status; more importantly, you and she are just passing through. You need to go back to America. This kind of extramarital affair is the least burdensome.

Perhaps at first she just wanted a carefree extramarital affair with you, and then continue living with Prince Juan. After all, not everyone has the courage to make a change.

The Greek royal family, for example, is quite conservative.

What she didn't expect was that you were actually a true gentleman, unmoved by her overtures and instead offering moral advice.

Her thoughts were immediately reversed. Originally, she just wanted to do the same thing to get revenge on the other party, but now she realized that there are still good men in this world, she just hasn't met them yet.

That's why she made her decision so quickly.

After Jenny finished her analysis, she sighed and said, "Professor, I truly believe that nothing happened between you and her."

If things had happened between you two, she wouldn't have decided to leave Prince Juan so quickly.

Furthermore, I need to remind you that you not only underestimated the London newspapers, but you also underestimated the rise of hippie culture and the awakening of female independence consciousness in this era.

The immense media tension between women's independent aspirations and the conservatism of the royal system.

Lin Ran and Jenny had already gotten into the back seat of the bulletproof car. The moment the door closed, they were shut out of the noise from the outside world.

"Now women all over the world regard Princess Sofia as a symbol of women's independence."

Despite having three children, a royal marriage, and Juan being the future king, she still chose to leave because of his infidelity.

Countless women facing similar situations were inspired; on television, numerous women spoke to the camera, saying they drew courage from Princess Sofia and chose to no longer tolerate her.

That's how trends of thought work; often, long-brewing trends of thought need a trigger point, a concrete symbol, to be ignited.

America's civil rights movement later developed into a movement that ignited women's consciousness of independence, and at this time women were already fighting for equality in the social and economic spheres.

The flame that Lin Ran ignited had nothing to do with politics, yet it was also closely related to politics.

"This is really..." Lin Ran didn't know what to say for a moment.

Jenny said quietly, "Professor, maybe if something had happened between you and her back then, the situation wouldn't be so passive now."

I'm sure Princess Sofia will admire you even more.

If something happens between you two, she'll still think of you as a man, just one with more fame, power, and charm.

But now, you are adorned with a sacred halo in her eyes.

She might even settle down in New York.

Jenny was extremely distressed because she had already foreseen that the professor would encounter such a situation every time he visited Europe, and she couldn't possibly follow him every time.

Lin Ran leaned back in the soft chair, his expression shifting from helplessness to contemplation, after all, he had zero skill points in this area.

When Lin Ran's car drove into the White House gates in Washington, D.C., he felt as if he hadn't been there in a long time, both strange and familiar.

It felt like returning home during a summer or winter break after being away from home for half a year to study. Even though the furnishings and layout of the house hadn't changed much from before, there was still a slight sense of unease.

Although it's only a little over a month in this time and space, it's intertwined with two years in the modern era.

As Lin Ran entered the West Wing of the White House, he immediately sensed an atmosphere different from the past, with a gossip-filled air.

From one end of the corridor to the other, everyone looked at him with a completely different gaze than before.

Those normally serious and rigid White House staff, whether they were administrative assistants in suits or department heads holding documents, all revealed an irrepressible curiosity.

They no longer focused solely on their official duties, but would steal quick glances at him, their eyes filled with a desire for confirmation.

It was as if they were trying to find clues in his tie or suit that could confirm "the story the professor and the princess had to tell".

The Secret Service agents responsible for White House security, who are usually well-trained and have a cool demeanor, seemed somewhat unprofessional at this moment.

When Lin Ran walked by, their salute was always a beat late. Then, while whispering into their walkie-talkies, they would look at him with a subtle gaze that was both admiring and curious.

Their eyes seemed to say, "Professor, you are our idol." But in their hearts, they were thinking of having a good drink with their colleagues in charge of Lin Ran's security in Europe, and getting intelligence from the front lines. Their focus was no longer solely on Lin Ran's safety, but also on the hidden details of his European trip.

Even the White House cleaners who work quietly in the corners of the corridors, the most inconspicuous people who should be the least involved, would look at him with curious eyes.

They may be the least educated group in the White House, but they are the group that best reflects public sentiment.

Their great interest in the professor was as if they were expecting him to tell a European romance more exciting than a soap opera.

Lin Ran felt as if every inch of carpet he walked on was a giant microphone, amplifying all his actions and rumors.

What does it mean to be a walking hot topic?

Lin Ran rubbed his temples helplessly, thinking to himself that what everyone loves most is gossip. You know, even after the moon landing, he had never enjoyed such treatment in the White House.

Lin Ran walked into the conference room, coughed lightly, and placed the document in his hand on the small table. It was printed with the logo of the Nice Mathematicians' Congress.

“Professor, welcome back,” Nixon said first.

Clearly, Lin Ran's return meant relief from pressure, a turning point, and the chance to hear the latest gossip.

“Professor, should I arrange a new residence for you in Washington? If so, I can have the security department take care of it right away,” Nixon said. “Although the Spanish royal family doesn’t have much influence in Washington, I’m worried they might do something rash. We can’t let a repeat of the Hoover incident happen!”

Nixon's subtext was whether he needed to help Princess Sofia prepare a residence.

That's pretty gossipy.

Lin Ran was quite helpless and rebuked, "Mr. President, shouldn't you have avoided provoking the European royal families? Why did you come up with such an idea? This will only make the outside world think that we did interfere in the royal marriage. In fact, I only gave her a suggestion, nothing more."

It's both a rebuke and a reminder that you are the president.

Nixon said righteously, "Professor, I am expressing my concern for a woman. Besides, I need to ensure that my most important staff member is in a good mood to work, which is much more important than any European royal family."

Seeing that the meeting was about to go off-topic, Kissinger quickly corrected him, "Professor, we were just talking about your trip to Europe."

We get a certain feeling from the newspapers, but our interactions with European politicians in real life are a different experience altogether.

We believe your trip to Europe should provide us with some firsthand emotional analysis.

JHJ, Jews help Jews.

Lin Ran was just looking for a topic to change the subject: "Of course, I can clearly feel that from the Élysée Palace to iconic figures in opposition like de Gaulle, there is a general weariness towards our ongoing war."

They generally do not want war, nor do they want to see us continue to borrow and undermine the credibility of the dollar.

From my communication with France, I could clearly sense that they would likely continue to exchange dollars for gold and then ship it back to their home country.

This is true in France, and it is true in other European countries as well.

Clearly, Lin Ran's strategy was very effective.

When the topic of war fatigue came up, Nixon and Kissinger didn't seem to care.

When the topic of exchanging dollars for gold came up, their expressions immediately turned serious, and the curiosity on Nixon's face vanished.

Nixon gestured with his chin, indicating for Lin Ran to continue.

"This weariness manifested among the European public as a moral alienation from America."

From the perspective of information warfare, we lost badly in the Vietnam War in terms of the moral high ground.

North Vietnam portrayed us as an arrogant, uncompromising warmonger, and I became a deceitful figure in their propaganda machine.

The core demands of European allies, whether for a stable dollar or security guarantees, are all based on one premise: America must be a capable, credible, and focused global leader.

But the Vietnam War has become a huge black hole for attention and a drain on credibility.

As long as we remain pinned to the map of Annam, our allies will forever worry about the health of the dollar and whether we have the capacity to deal with the Soviet threat in Europe.

This is an unsustainable balance.

We must break this deadlock.

Conventional military escalation or simple negotiations have lost public support and the trust of allies.

What we need is an external variable that will fundamentally alter the global power structure.

Nixon and Kissinger exchanged a glance, both seeing a tacit understanding and expectation in each other's eyes.

They already knew the content of Lin Ran's conversation with the Chinese representative.

During the negotiations in Nice, Lin Ran wrote reports every day and then sent them back to Washington by telegram.

They were certainly aware of Lin Ran's vision for Southeast Asian economic integration.

Moreover, Nixon and Kissinger discussed this idea countless times.

Kissinger even took the opportunity to visit Hong Kong several times for research.

Kissinger's long-held vision was to reconcile with China, or at least to have China remain neutral.

In the original timeline, it was also the two of them who orchestrated the peace talks with Yanjing.

Now, the whole thing has taken on a completely new meaning.

It is not only a geopolitical restructuring and a strategic rebalancing, but also brings substantial economic benefits, revitalizing the economy of the entire Southeast Asia.

This is extremely attractive to the White House, which is facing financial difficulties.

Kissinger pushed up his glasses, his expression shifting from serious to excited.

He picked up where Lin Ran left off, Kissinger's speech carrying a slight German accent:
"The professor's analysis is accurate."

When we talk about economic integration, we're not just talking about theoretical potential; we're talking about successful models that have been proven in practice.

Kissinger paused, his gaze piercing through the walls of the conference room, as if returning to Hong Kong, which he had secretly visited several times: "I have made several unofficial trips to Hong Kong in the past."

Every time I go to Asia, I have to transit through Hong Kong, and I always need to do some sightseeing there.

That city is a micro-model of future integration potential.

He emphasized his words and began to describe the phenomena he had observed in Hong Kong:
"Hong Kong itself is just a small place with no resources and no hinterland."

However, thanks to its flexible trade policies, efficient capital flows, and geographical advantage connecting East and West, it has become an economic miracle.

What I see is astonishing capital efficiency.

Funds from the West and East Asia flowed into neighboring Southeast Asian countries through Hong Kong, a free port, while some hidden capital also flowed into the mainland.

This speed of flow and conversion rate far exceeds what we can achieve through official aid systems.

In addition, it also includes the power of Chinese business networks.

Hong Kong is not only a financial center, but also the nerve center of the Southeast Asian and even global Chinese business community.

This network, in a non-governmental and highly efficient manner, accomplished the allocation of resources, market access, and technology introduction.

They disregard ideological barriers and are driven solely by profit.

Now imagine if this Hong Kong model could receive support from the vast hinterland of mainland China, and if that huge market could be utilized to absorb capital, technology and trade from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, then the economic vitality of the entire region would grow exponentially.

For us, facing financial difficulties, this means a huge market that can be ignited with just a small investment.

The professor's strategic vision grasped the essence of the problem.

The restructuring of geopolitics and the revitalization of the Southeast Asian economy are mutually reinforcing.

Geopolitical checks and balances are a strategy; economic integration in Southeast Asia is a tangible benefit.

This could not only attract allies, but also provide a way to alleviate or even reverse our financial predicament.

Nixon listened intently, his excitement completely replacing his initial gossip. Lin Ran's idea provided him with a perfect historical legacy.

It allows for a dignified exit from the Vietnam War, a reshaping of the global power structure, and the resolution of domestic fiscal pressures through economic prosperity.

Looking at Nixon's expression, Lin Ran thought that the other party would definitely not refuse. Just as he had predicted, persuading Washington would be much easier.

This is a strategic plan that has been in the works for several years, a strategic concept proposed by top strategists who have taken advantage of the situation. Unless the White House can fully understand China's potential, they have no reason to refuse it.

Lin Ran reminded him, "No, no, no, you've forgotten an even bigger benefit."

(End of this chapter)