Chapter 1838 - 1838: 1838
"Ah this..." Liu Zhizhong paused for a moment, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the unexpected turn.
Ambassador Cao suddenly became excited, the feeling was indescribably delightful.
The embarrassment he had once suffered in front of Liu Zhizhong was instantly balanced out.
At the moment, Ambassador Cao said, "A Great Country has its own principles and style, I hope His Excellency the President can understand. I am merely an ambassador, not capable of influencing high-level decisions, am I? What's more, to understand true strategic intentions?"
Liu Zhizhong chuckled, nodded, and said, "That makes sense! However, for Eastern Pot to spend such a large price, such a grand gesture, to acquire Changnan State, this is a truly major strategy. It is an honor, isn't it, that the Wale Republic and such a Great Country like Eastern Pot now share borders? And the border might extend nearly three hundred kilometers, future defense expenditures will undoubtedly increase!"
"There's nothing I can do! If it's already a fact, the defense of both nations is very important. Although we advocate peace, not advocating military force and bloodshed, preventing its occurrence isn't impossible either."
"Yes, your country isn't an inherently aggressive nation, and historically has suffered from invasions repeatedly, I am well aware."
Ambassador Cao's face suddenly changed, looking a bit unpleasant.
It's a feeling akin to your home being told it's always bullied and you can't fight back, how do you feel inside?
Therefore, he could only resort to diplomatic language: "What the President mentioned is merely history. Nowadays, the great people of Eastern Pot have risen, standing proudly in the forest of global nations, no longer the previous era of being slaughtered at will. For instance, this time, the England you are going to visit was one of the invaders who humiliated us back then, correct? It's regrettable, isn't it, that Mr. President being a Huazhong, chose England for his first visit?"
Liu Zhizhong smiled softly and said, "Perhaps, the history we see is not the real history. Especially for a Great Country like Eastern Pot, it only lets others see the history it wishes them to see, including things like textbooks. This time, when I visit England, I will certainly go to their museums and archives, maybe there are a lot of truths still to be found, aren't there?"
Liu Zhizhong was quite certain at this time: what Eastern Pot has done with Changnan State must be because of my visit to England, which has angered them, right? Generosity? None, haha… Liu Zhizhong knew clearly.
Ambassador Cao said, "Maybe it's just a wishful thought by Mr. President. However, your decisive first visit to England can't be changed, and it's hard for us to comment. But since you plan to visit their museum, please take a closer look at the precious relics they plundered from us, they are evidence of blood and tears, ironclad proof of invasion! Our people so wish history wouldn't repeat itself, so wish those precious relics could return. They are treasures of our nation, property of our people, not the private stash of thieves!"
Liu Zhizhong nodded kindly and said, "Such statements from Ambassador Cao are your freedom. But from another perspective, had those relics not been transported to the West, many might not be preserved by now, right? Might have been destroyed in the course of history, right? Additionally, even if preserved later, hasn't the matter of one in the Palace and one in my home occurred? Calling it the nation's treasure is more like the product of royal exploitation, a testament of the people's tears and blood! Claiming it's the people's property, when people visit their own property and have to buy tickets, sometimes they might even see fakes, isn't that right?"
"You… uh…"
Liu Zhizhong's gentleness, however, hit every nail on the head, leaving Ambassador Cao speechless.
"Therefore, Mr. Cao, from another angle, we should thank these thieves for ensuring better preservation of the relics and showcasing them to the world's people. Isn't that so? I am honored to have the chance to visit their museum this time, to appreciate the charm of these relics. Meanwhile, I can also see the original texts of the historical treaties altered and revised in your history books. My English is very good, I believe I can understand the truth, understand history…"
"You… Mr. President, you really are… have a unique way of thinking, haha…"
Ambassador Cao was left with no choice but to play down the issue, saying something irrelevant.
When he left the temporary President's Mansion of the Wale Republic, no matter how he looked, he seemed somewhat crestfallen, cursing angrily in the special vehicle, with all kinds of nastiness.
Of course, the news the next day, whether from the Wale Republic or Eastern Pot's Pot Family media, reported that: President Mr. Chi Zhongshui of the Wale Republic met with the Eastern Pot's ambassador stationed in Wale, both parties shared in-depth and friendly exchanges on the economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries, laying a solid foundation for mutual visits of both countries' leaders, etc.
Therefore, the publicity was full of good words.
The hidden confrontations, only politicians would know!
In fact, when Liu Zhizhong met to say goodbye that day, he told Ambassador Cao: he would consider an Eastern tour after visiting all major cooperative countries worldwide first. This made Ambassador Cao so angry he could secretly bleed, not knowing how to report back to Eastern Pot.
This was obviously an insult to a Great Country, showing disregard for a Great Country!
However, as both are equivalent in national identity, what can Eastern Pot do to a young and arrogant president like Mr. Chi Zhongshui?
Yes, in their eyes, Mr. Chi Zhongshui is young and arrogant, ignorant! Clearly of Eastern Pot's descent, yet doing things against Eastern Pot's historical and cultural traditions, simply rebellious!
Thus, Eastern Pot was determined, to accelerate the matter of acquiring Changnan State, placing it on the strategic level.
Moreover, civilian self-media were instructed again, starting to set the tone, fabricate some scandals and misconduct about Mr. Chi Zhongshui, beginning to vilify him. In simple terms, they started cursing, haha… style as always! If you don't respect me, unlike the countries of the past, I'll disgrace you first!
Liu Zhizhong, along with the entire high-level staff of the Wale Republic, could sense that Eastern Pot's approach to Changnan State was definitive and carried a sense of personal retaliation, while also posing no small trouble for the Wale Republic.
Nonetheless, Liu Zhizhong and the government's top brass unanimously decided: to observe for a period, but indeed, the frontier defense construction in the Wabei District needs additional military investment, the people need security, it's absolutely necessary!
Just the day before Liu Zhizhong's visit, while handling documents at the temporary President's Mansion, the Minister of Environment Development of the Wale Republic personally came to report, with an interesting situation arising...