Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 638: The weight to maintain balance

In the Cypress Palace, the political center of the United States, the lights were bright, like a shining star, illuminating this solemn building. On the wall, the huge national emblem reflected the resolute faces of every congressman and the president present, and at this moment, these faces all carried an unprecedented heaviness.

In the huge conference room, the originally white carpet looked a little messy under the footsteps of the dignitaries. The raindrops outside the window silently hit the window frame, as if telling some unknown secret. The room was filled with smoke, with occasional whispers, but mostly with silence, waiting for the discussion to begin.

President Coster sat at the head of the conference table, his brows knitted, his eyes as sharp as a torch, as if he could see through all illusions. He spoke slowly, his voice low and powerful: "Johnson, this man should have played an important role in our plan, but he was tricked by the Bird Empire. I personally selected him as the ambassador to China because of his wit and steadiness. Now it seems that this was a very serious wrong decision."

As soon as the president finished speaking, the atmosphere in the conference room became more solemn. The congressmen whispered to each other, but no one dared to loudly refute the president's decision.

"In the order we conveyed to him before, we repeatedly emphasized that he must control his temper and maintain a friendly attitude towards China." The president continued, his voice full of disappointment and anger. "We even reminded him to pay attention to the movements of the Bird Empire so that he could change his position at any time. But what did he do? He failed our expectations and failed the trust this country placed in him."

At this point, the president stood up suddenly, his hands on the table, his eyes as sharp as a hawk: "Now, the Bird Empire and China have reached a friendly agreement to return the concession, which is a huge blow to us. However, because of Johnson's stupid behavior, the relationship between us, the anti-aggression allies, and China has become tense."

James Adams, the chief congressman, stood up, looked directly at the president, and said in a strong voice: "Mr. President, I respect your point of view, but I do not completely agree with it. As the world's largest economy and military power, our influence in the United States is far beyond the reach of other countries. Except for the Byrd Empire, no other country, including China, should be the focus of our foreign policy."

He paused and continued, "I think Ambassador Johnson's approach is reasonable. Although China has developed rapidly in recent years, historically, they have always been a country that tends to compromise. As long as we, the United States, show enough toughness, they will eventually succumb to our pressure. We must not forget that the history of the past century has proved that China usually chooses to make concessions when facing a powerful country."

James Adams reiterated his point: "Mr. President, I think we must continue to put pressure on China. Only by showing our tough attitude can we make China realize their weakness. The threat of war is a necessary means. Only in this way will China make concessions under pressure."

As soon as he finished speaking, Congresswoman Emily Miller stood up, her eyes full of doubts and concerns about Adams. She retorted: "Mr. Adams, I think your point of view is too simplistic. The current president of China, Su Zhengyang, is an extremely tough person. His style of doing things is similar to that of Hidler, the head of the Bird Empire. From Su Zhengyang's past actions, it can be seen that he has a firm determination to recover the concessions and solve the historical problems. If we continue to put pressure on China, it is likely to backfire and increase tensions between the two sides."

Emily's words immediately caused an uproar in the conference room.

Adams glanced at her coldly, with a mocking smile on his face. "Ms. Miller, your worries are too groundless. China is just a developing country, and their military strength is simply not comparable to that of the United States. War? That's just a fantasy of theirs. If a war really breaks out, I believe our army can easily defeat them."

Emily was angered by Adams' words. Her eyes widened and her tone became more excited: "Mr. Adams! How can you make such a statement? War is not a joke. Today's China has long gotten rid of its past weakness and backwardness. They have proved this in their struggle with Fuso. They have their own dignity and pride. If we really embark on the path of war, then we will lose more."

The quarrel between the two became louder and louder, attracting the attention of other congressmen. Some congressmen began to support Emily's point of view, believing that the problem should be solved through diplomatic means; while others stood on Adams' side, believing that only a tough attitude could maintain the dignity of the United States.

The president watched the two people arguing fiercely, his brows furrowed. He knew that the issue had reached the point where it had to be resolved. He stood up and patted the table, signaling the two to stop arguing.

President Scott looked at Adams and Emily who were arguing with red faces. He stood up and spoke in a steady and powerful voice, breaking the noise in the conference room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Kashiwa Palace, not a flea market. We are all people of status and position, and we should not have quarrels here over disagreements." The president's words were like a heavy hammer, instantly restoring the atmosphere in the conference room to calm.

He looked around with a deep gaze: "I understand everyone's position and concerns, but I think we need to look at this issue more comprehensively. Mr. Adams, although your views are firm, have you considered the deeper factors? The reason why the Bird Empire is playing us is to see the relationship between the Anti-Aggression Alliance and China deteriorate."

Adams was stunned by the president's words. He opened his mouth and wanted to refute, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

President Scott continued, "China today is no longer the country that was bullied in the past. They have risen and become an important factor that can change the balance of this world war. Once we make our position clear and stand on the side of the invading allies, the balance of victory will tilt towards the Bird Empire and other invading allies. This is a consequence we cannot afford."

His words were full of concern and determination, making every member present feel the urgency of the situation.

"So, how should we deal with this situation?" Emily took the opportunity to ask her question.

President Scott smiled slightly. He looked at Emily with a hint of appreciation in his eyes. "Ms. Miller, you raised a very good question. I think we can follow the example of the Byrd Empire and return the concessions free of charge to repair our relationship with China."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a discussion in the meeting room. Some members agreed that this was a wise decision, while some members expressed reservations, worrying that doing so would harm the interests of the United States.

But President Scott was determined. He reiterated: "We must recognize the situation and make the right decision. Although returning the concessions free of charge will cause us to lose some interests, in the long run, it will help us establish a more stable relationship with China and win more support and allies for us on the international stage."

President Scott's words made all the controversy disappear. Congressmen expressed their support for the president's decision and were ready to implement this policy. Although Adams was still dissatisfied, he had no choice but to compromise in the face of the overall situation.