Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 329 Is being a Jew really that appealing?
Lin Ran was shocked. "I am a 100% pure Chinese, how come you call me Jewish?"

Because the biological father might have some issues, but the biological mother is 100% certain that there are no problems.

There are three ways to become Jewish.

First, one must be born into a Jewish family, regardless of whether they adhere to Judaism; second, one must have Jewish ancestry, primarily referring to maternal lineage; and third, even without Jewish ancestry, one can become a Jew by formally converting to Judaism.

"Neither one nor three is possible," Lin Ran thought, "unless my mother is Jewish, or I have Jewish ancestry on my maternal side."

Are you Jewish people some kind of time police who can travel to 2020 to investigate my mother's lineage?
As mentioned earlier, Goldberg was America's ambassador to the United Nations. Lin Ran had worked with Goldberg when he made a speech at the United Nations accusing nuclear-powered satellites.

In the original timeline, after stepping down, Goldberg would become the chairman of the American Jewish Committee, a powerful figure within the American Jewish community.

“Professor, according to Jewish studies, your mother is Jewish and your father is Chinese,” Goldberg continued.

“Professor, thank you for taking the time to see me. I know it’s incredible for you.” Goldberg took a thick document out of his briefcase, the cover of which read “Jewish Property Claims Conference.”

"I am not speaking to you as an ambassador, but as a Jew, as someone who cares about historical justice."

This document is the result of our committee's investigation over several years.

It concerns your family, your roots.

Lin Ran's mind was filled with only one thought: "Huh? Am I really that person?"

Goldberg adjusted his glasses and turned to the first page of the document.

"Professor, according to our archives and postwar German records, your father was of Chinese descent and was an engineer."

But your mother, Emma von Klein, was Jewish.

She was born in the Jewish community in Poland. In her youth, to escape the anti-Semitic movement, she changed her surname and married your father, which is why you are so different and look completely different from traditional Chinese people.

They tried to hide their identities in Nazi, Germany, but ultimately perished in Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942.

The committee confirmed this through survivor testimonies, household records, and property inventories.

Your mother is Jewish, which means that, according to Jewish law, you are also of Jewish descent.

Lin Ran exclaimed in shock, "Huh?"

Damn, you guys are really good at making things up. You even managed to make this up for me, complete with names and surnames.

Goldberger leaned forward. “Professor, I understand your shock.”

I have also faced moments like this, when I traced my family history and discovered that my ancestors lost everything in the Holocaust.

That is not a disgrace, but a legacy, a responsibility that we must inherit.

The committee is not for harm, but for justice.

We search for the descendants of the missing in Germany to help them claim their property and rebuild their lives.

Your case is special: your parents left behind an estate—shares in a German publicly traded company, a deposit in a Swiss bank, and a property in Berlin—which can now be recovered through the commission. But more importantly, your bloodline contains Jewish wisdom, resilience, and strength.

Think of those who held fast to their faith in concentration camps; their sacrifice was not meant to make us deny it, but to make us acknowledge it.

Lin Ran thought to himself, "Damn, it's still a sugar-coated bullet."

Goldberg grasped Lin Ran's hand: "It's normal to be afraid, Professor."

But think of Martin Luther King Jr., who just passed away, and we are all fighting for civil rights.

Jews know what it's like to be marginalized, and we find strength in our communities.

Acknowledging your identity is not about changing your achievements, but about enriching them.

By joining an organization like the Jewish Property Claims Conference, you can help others find the truth.

Converting to Judaism is not a formality, but a return to one's soul.

We have rabbis who can guide you, and the community will welcome you home.

Your mother would be proud of this. She hid her identity to ensure your survival, and now you can prove her innocence.

The document he mentioned was issued by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which was founded in 1951, headquartered in New York, and has an office in Germany.

In the 60s, it was responsible for negotiating with West Germany and allocating reparations funds, including finding heirs to Holocaust victims, handling claims for Jewish property without heirs, and paying compensation to survivors and heirs.

After Goldberg finished speaking, Lin Ran found it hilarious. "Your story is really interesting. You're no wonder you're Jewish."

"Alright, Arthur, you know who I am, and I know who you are too. We don't need to put on this show. This alone is not enough to convince me to become a Jew," Lin Ran said calmly.

Goldberg chuckled. "Haha, Professor, this is the backstory we made up for you. If you agree, we'll publicize it extensively through our media outlets in America."

Professor, if you agree to become Jewish, the conditions are naturally not the ones mentioned above; our condition is a crown.

You will become the king of Israel, the king in the truest sense.

Lin Ran was shocked. What kind of conditions were these?
“Once you agree, we will amend the law specifically for you, and you will gain the right to run for the highest position in Israel. Once you retire from America, you can return to Israel to run for office. I believe all Jews in Israel will welcome the professor as our new king.”

All Israel will support Moses of the 20th century and become the King of Israel.

These were the conditions offered by the Jews.

They knew that Lin Ran truly lacked nothing: women, power, fame, money—in the worldly sense, he had no shortage of resources.

There is one thing that Lin Ran can never obtain: the presidency, which represents supreme power and control over a country.

In the past, there might have been disagreements within Israel, within the Zionist community, about whether or not to ask for such a high price.

Even though Lin Ran's two mentors, Horkheimer and Siegel, were both German Jews, he was, in a sense, one of their own.

Previously, Lin Ran's identity was far more widely accepted among the Jewish community than among the Black community.

His popularity is second only to his recognition among the Chinese community.

But ever since the story of dodging bullets from ten meters away, Moses parting the sea, and the worship of Black people, there has been no further resistance within Israel regarding this proposal.

All Israeli interest groups do not object to Lin Ran becoming Jewish and their new king.

The American Jewish Association conducted a simultaneous poll in Israel and America, surveying Jews from different social classes and income levels in both countries. The poll showed that if Lin Ran were Jewish, he would have a support rate of over 8% for serving as the head of Israel.

That's the past.

Now, after Moses parted the sea, this proportion could only be higher.

Israel is a small country, but it has never been a weak country, and it is not now.

The Six-Day War had just ended last year, during which Israel waged war against all its neighboring states, resulting in Israel's territory tripling in size.

Not to mention, in the 2020 timeline, Israel was undoubtedly America's uncrowned queen. America controlled the world, and Israel controlled America.

Lin Ran's claim that he is America's uncrowned king is undeserved; he doesn't actually have that much power, and his authority remains limited to a certain extent.

If he were to truly acknowledge that he is Jewish and return to Israel to become its king, he would become America's true uncrowned king, possessing unprecedented power. It wouldn't be impossible for him to spend decades slowly eliminating all the families of America's founding fathers and becoming the sole ruler of his own family.

It must be said that, compared to other conditions, the conditions offered by Goldberg were indeed enough to entice Lin Ran.

These conditions are exceptionally good.

Lin Ran thought for a moment and said, "I need to think about it some more. I'm conflicted, but you can say that to the public. I won't deny it, nor will I admit it."

Anyway, I'm going to work in America for many more years. If you want me to go to Israel, you'll have to communicate with the White House first, which will definitely take time. It's too early to talk about these things now.

Lin Ran thought to himself that he needed to have a backup plan, and Israel could be that backup plan.

Goldberg smiled with satisfaction. As long as he didn't deny it, that was fine. He stood up and shook hands with Lin Ran. "Professor, I knew it. You're in cahoots with us!"

Professor Siegel and Professor Horkheimer are both Jewish elites. They nurtured you, and you also possess Jewish thinking. We are natural partners.

Professor, believe me, the laws of Israel will be adjusted soon, specifically for you, with legislation that will allow you to participate in elections in Israel.

As for the White House, we will work on it. You are still young. Even twenty years from now, you will still be under fifty. Returning to Israel is just right for you.

All of Israel's resources in America will be available to you; this is a prepayment we've made.

For the Jewish community, not denying it is enough.

If Xu Aizhou, a Chinese businessman, understood the principle of giving before taking, then the Jewish businessmen, who are even more shrewd in business, understood this principle even better.

First, open up Israel's resources to Lin Ran, and you will gradually and naturally integrate into our system.

This is a blatant, top-tier, overt scheme.

I'm not afraid you won't do anything for me, I'm afraid you won't accept gifts. If you don't accept gifts, you'll never do anything for me. But if you do accept gifts, you'll do something for me sooner or later.

For some small things, you might feel bad if I don't help since I've received so much, and you might even offer to help with these things.

At first, the small favors are conveniences within the rules, but gradually you will ignore the rules and help with big things as well, until you become a close community of interests that cannot be broken up.

The Jewish community behind Goldberg had this in mind.

Soon, Lin Ran witnessed the power of Israel.

The American Jewish Association regularly sent him briefings and lists. The former contained important information, and even a single piece of information on it could make an ordinary person a fortune in the stock market.

The latter includes everything from houses and cars to luxury goods, Hollywood actors, and TV hosts. You simply tick the box for whatever you want, and they will deliver it to you.

People even include men and women, for fear that you have unique tastes, don't like women, and like men.

There was even an else field. Lin Ran knew at a glance that this couldn't be Lolita Island.

Then there's a special place where you can write down what you need their help with, and they'll help you complete it.

This is definitely the treatment Moses is getting, Lin Ran thought to himself.

In reality, this is essentially a "super rich system," where rewards are distributed without needing to complete any tasks, and women don't even need to be pursued by the user.

Lin Ran didn't even dare to bring the resource list back to Jenny's villa; he only dared to put it in his office drawer in the White House.

The briefing contained information of every detail, including information that the White House did not yet have, and they made all sorts of guesses about.

Because the security personnel involved in this assassination attempt had their faces destroyed by sulfuric acid, it was impossible to identify them.

However, Israel's briefing suggested that the other party was Petrov, the Russian translator for the United Nations.

Not only were there guesses, but the guesses were also quite close to the truth.

This made Lin Ran sigh. No wonder Israel was able to become America's most core partner from a small country, and was even regarded by simplified Chinese netizens as America's father.

This is something even the Daiying Empire couldn't do. Daiying is at most the biological father, but America has long since disowned her biological father.

Israel did a really damn good job.

On April 11, 1968, the second day of special programming, "The Death of King and the Assassination of Professor," premiered in a Washington studio.

The program lasted an hour and was set against the backdrop of the United States under the shadow of the Cold War. Black and white news clips scrolled across the screen: Jin's coffin, Lin Ran's evasive maneuvers, and footage of NASA's rocket launch.

The studio had been meticulously remodeled and designed to resemble the command center at Cape Calanavila, with star charts and globes projected on the walls and rocket models and newspaper clippings displayed on the tables.

The lighting was soft yet glaring, creating a serious analytical atmosphere.

Host Walter Cronkite reappeared, this time not as an emergency interruption, but for an in-depth feature report.

He reflected on the chaos of the previous night: the event was not just an assassination, but a symbol of a turning point in history: the intersection of civil rights, the space race, and the Cold War.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Yesterday, a shocking assassination attempt occurred at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

NASA Administrator Randolph Lin miraculously survived a three-shot attack.

Today, we are not just reviewing the facts, but analyzing its far-reaching impact from a more multi-dimensional perspective.

We will explore whether this was part of a Cold War conspiracy, the professor's speech at Andrews Air Force Base, and how NASA under the professor's leadership has altered the global balance of power. Cronkite's opening remarks were concise and clear. He paused, and the screen switched to slow motion of the assassination video: Lin Ran's turning and rolling movements were as precise as ballet, before he stood up, raised his fist, and shouted, as if Moses had parted the sea amidst a crowd.

The people of America held their breath in front of their black-and-white televisions at home.

“No matter how many times I see this scene, I can’t calm down. In this scene, everyone except the professor pales in comparison, even President Johnson,” Cronkite added.

Viewers at home then realized that the president was also on screen.

The program featured three guests: John Harris, a burly 50-year-old former federal agent with scars from World War II on his face; Professor Alan Brinkman, a historian; and Mary O'Connor, a NASA space program consultant, a woman in her forties who previously worked at NASA and is now an analyst.

Harris spoke first, a sense of vigilance arising from his profession: the gunman's disfigurement was handled too professionally.

"Walter, let's analyze the event itself."

The gunman fired three shots, each from a different angle, but the professor simultaneously turned, fell, and rolled to dodge all the bullets.

This is extremely difficult to achieve in physics. Handgun bullets travel at speeds exceeding 300 meters per second, and the human body has only 0.2 seconds to react, usually resulting in a fatal first shot.

The gunman turned around, giving the professor at most 0.5 seconds to react. The professor's movements showed his anticipation; he followed the gunman's turn, which required an extremely high level of spatial awareness and instinct.

According to training data from the Federal Guard, the survival rate for close-range shootings is less than 5%, let alone evading all three shots.

The whole thing could have been a pre-arranged performance between the professor and the gunman, but that's impossible; the professor had no motive to arrange such a performance.

Therefore, I tend to believe what the professor said: that he received some kind of divine revelation, that he was also going to be shot.

The gunman's face was disfigured by sulfuric acid, and his identity was kept perfectly hidden. I strongly suspect this was a professional intelligence operation; it was definitely not a simple lone wolf act.

As Harris spoke, he gestured the trajectory of the bullet with his fingers, and an animated simulation appeared on the television screen: the bullet's path and the professor's dodge route.

Professor Brinkman nodded in agreement, a historical analogy flashing through his mind: this was like a sequel to the Kennedy assassination, but ending in a miracle.

"From a historical perspective, this event has special significance when placed within the grand narrative of the Cold War."

This year is a turning point: the Vietnam War was deadlocked, and after the spring counter-offensive, both sides reached a ceasefire agreement; the civil rights movement reached its peak with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.; and in the space race, America gained an unprecedented advantage with reusable rockets.

Ladies and gentlemen, have you noticed that the professor played an indispensable role in all the major events here?

Although the professor was not a commander during the Vietnam War, he played an unprecedented role. As an ambassador, he negotiated with Kosygin and played a key role in facilitating the peace talks and the eventual ceasefire agreement.

During the civil rights movement, he provided theoretical support to social activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. Ultimately, the fact that he had the professor deliver the closing remarks at King's funeral after his assassination underscores his importance within the movement.

And in the space race, it goes without saying that, according to the latest poll data from The New York Times, more than 8% of Americans believe that without Professor [name omitted], we would still be lagging behind in the space race.

Meanwhile, the New York Times interviewed people with a college degree or above, and the percentage increased from 80% to over 95%, almost reaching 100%.

The professor is involved in all major events.

Even in this year's presidential election, both the Democratic and Republican candidates have close ties to the professor. If such a figure were to die at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral, it would be a historic moment.

The professor was no ordinary official; he was America's best advocate.

Assassinating him was not just about disrupting America's unity.

According to a reporter's account at the scene, as the professor walked through the crowd of Black people, they spontaneously parted and raised their hands to see him off, just as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and into Canaan.

The professor is leading America on a journey into space, and his survival is an inspiration to the people, like a miracle.

This scene is no longer just a historical event, but has been elevated to the level of a miracle.

If the Göttingen miracle belonged to the mathematics community, then this time it belongs to all Americans.

Mary O'Connor leaned forward, recalling what she knew: the Soviet Union's fear of America's space superiority was real.

"The key lies in the professor's achievements."

In the early 1960s, after taking office, the professor promoted NASA to complete the Apollo program. In recent years, under the professor's leadership, NASA has been carrying out more strategic innovations.

Under his leadership, NASA developed reusable rockets, a revolutionary technology that allows satellites or crew capsules to be launched and then returned to Earth for recycling.

This is not science fiction: In a recent test, the rocket successfully launched and recovered, reducing costs by 90% and allowing us to deploy more resources in space.

Combined with President Johnson's Star Wars program, this posed a deadly threat to the Soviet Union, whose rockets were also advanced but non-recoverable, putting immense economic pressure on them.

According to my sources, an internal Kremlin assessment concluded that this technology would absolutely disrupt the balance of space, leading to America's dominance in space.

The assassination of the professor was likely an operation directly directed by Moscow, aimed at slowing down the process.

Imagine if the professor were to collapse; all plans would be delayed, and the Soviet Union would have a chance to overtake Russia in the space race.

Cronkite tapped the table, guiding the guests to delve deeper into the discussion:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the professor mentioned in his statement at Andrews Air Force Base that a clear voice guided him. Was it the will of God or the spirit of Dr. King?"

I think this is not just a personal miracle, but part of a national narrative; God is blessing the professor, and God is also blessing America.

Harris added, "As I mentioned earlier, I tend to think there is indeed a voice."

But from a professional perspective, it's more like intuition.

Professor Brinkman said, "It could also be an intuition. The professor resonated with the consciousness of the earth. As a Moses-like leader, the professor will lead us from poverty, discrimination, and war on earth to a new beginning in the universe."

The Earth doesn't want to see such a great figure fall like this.

Cronkite pressed further: "Professor Brinkman, are you implying that you are greater than President Kennedy or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

Brinkman stated matter-of-factly, "From the perspective of all humanity, what President Kennedy or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. could do, anyone else could have done, and might not have done any worse."

But professors are different; if someone else were in charge, the situation might be completely different.

The professor might be able to lead us to the moon this century, while someone else might not be able to do it even in a hundred years.

People in this era, no matter how wild their imaginations, could never have imagined that if it were someone else, let alone immigrating to the moon, NASA would have been unable to land on the moon for almost half a century, and would have been able to pull off the feat of keeping astronauts on the space station for a whole year.

At the end of the program, Cronkite concluded: "Thank you to our guests. Today's events are not isolated, but a mirror of our times."

The professor's miracle has ignited hope. Goodnight, America.

As the screen faded out, accompanied by footage of a NASA rocket launch, the audience fell into deep thought.

In this turbulent year of 1968, miracles and science went hand in hand.

What's worse, however, is that the assassinations never ended; they continued indefinitely.

Two months later, late on June 5, the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California, was enveloped in celebratory festivities.

Located at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, the hotel is situated in a historic building renowned for its opulent ballrooms and intricate interior passageways.

That evening, the hotel's banquet hall was packed with Donald Party supporters, journalists, and politicians.

Robert Kennedy was only 42 years old when he took over the mantle of his brother, President Kennedy, and ran for president in the Democratic Party.

He was tall and slender, with slightly disheveled hair, wearing a dark suit and tie. As a presidential candidate, he had just won the California primary.

(Robert Kennedy preparing for his speech)
This victory made him stand out within the party, with only weeks remaining until the Democratic National Convention.

His speech took place on the stage in the banquet hall, under the glaring lights, his voice echoing through the microphone: "Now, we must move forward!"

After the speech, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause, and Kennedy waved in response.

His wife, Ethel Kennedy, and his aides surrounded him as he prepared to leave.

To avoid the crowds and media in the hotel lobby, Kennedy's team opted for a shortcut: through the hotel's kitchen passageway.

(Robert Kennedy and his team members talking in a narrow passageway)

The narrow, dark passageway, about 40 feet long, had light-colored tiled walls and non-slip rubber mats on the floor. The air was filled with the smells of cooking oil, detergent, and leftover food.

Stainless steel food carts, trays, and dishwashers were piled up on both sides of the aisle.
The light came from overhead fluorescent lights, casting long shadows.

At 12:15 a.m., Kennedy was in front, followed by his bodyguard William Barry, Olympic champion Rafer Johnson, former football player Roosevelt Greer, and other aides such as Paul Schrader and Ira Goldstein.

Kennedy shook hands with kitchen staff as he walked, including a 17-year-old Mexican-American waiter named Juan Romero.

In an interview, Juan Romero recalled, "He looked so tired, yet he was still smiling."

The corridor echoed with low voices of conversation and the lingering cheers from the banquet hall in the distance.

Suddenly, from one side of the passage, a short, dark-skinned 24-year-old Palestinian man named Silhan Silhan rushed out.

He was wearing a light blue denim jacket and trousers, and holding a .22 caliber Iver Johnson Cadet revolver with eight bullets in his hand.

With a fanatical glint in his eyes, Silver shouted, "Kennedy, you son of a bitch!"

Then he fired from about 3 feet away from Kennedy.

Robert Kennedy's first reaction was to imitate Lin Ran and fall to the ground on his side.

The first shot hit Kennedy behind his right ear; the bullet struck the side of his skull, but unlike in the original timeline, it did not penetrate the brain and did not cause a fatal injury.

But because of his turn, the second shot missed his right armpit and hit his chest instead, and the third shot missed as well.

Gunshots rang out one after another like firecrackers, and the passage was instantly filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and screams.

Kennedy leaned forward, his eyes wide with shock, and muttered, "What's going on?"

Then he collapsed in a pool of blood. Blood gushed from his head wound, and the blood from his chest flowed even faster, quickly soaking the rubber mat on the ground.

Chaos erupted instantly.

Sylhan continued firing, releasing a total of eight bullets, some of which struck bystanders: Paul Schrader and Ira Goldstein were hit, and three others sustained minor injuries.

Roosevelt Greer and Laffer Johnson quickly pounced on Sylhan, pinned him to the ground, and took his pistol.

Greer shouted, "Grab him! Don't let him get away!"

Sirhan struggled and murmured, "I did it, I fought for the Arabs."

The passageway was packed with panicked people, some screaming "Oh my God, no!", others trying to help.

Juan Romero knelt beside Kennedy, pressed a handkerchief against his head wound, and placed a string of prayer beads into Kennedy's hand.

Kennedy asked weakly, "Is everyone alright?"

His eyes were half-open, his breathing was rapid, and his face was as pale as paper.

Ethel Kennedy arrived quickly, knelt down, stroked her husband's face, and whispered, "Bobby, hang in there."

Photographer Bill Eprich captured the scene: Kennedy lay on the ground, his head resting on Romero's lap, his expression stiff, surrounded by chaotic shadows and bloodstains.

(Robert Kennedy lying in a pool of blood)
Paramedics arrived quickly, put Kennedy on a stretcher, and took him to the nearby Central Reception Hospital, just a few minutes' drive from the hotel.

During the journey, his pulse was weak, and doctors performed CPR and administered oxygen. At the central receiving hospital, doctors found his injuries to be serious: the bullet to the head had not caused brain damage, but the wound in his chest had caused internal bleeding.

He was quickly transferred to the Good Samaritan Hospital, which has better neurosurgical facilities.

The surgery began at 3:12 a.m. and lasted about 3 hours and 45 minutes. Surgeons such as Thomas Noguchi removed bullet fragments and controlled the bleeding. The only good news was that no brain damage occurred.

Kennedy's family, including his brother Edward Kennedy and wife Ethel, stayed outside the hospital room.

Inside the ward, the hum of machines mingled with the whispers of nurses.

Kennedy was in a coma, his breathing was dependent on a ventilator, and his blood pressure was unstable.

Robert Kennedy's condition stabilized in the early hours of June 6, approximately 23 hours and 45 minutes after the assassination.

The hospital's press conference room was packed with reporters. The attending physician announced, "Mr. Kennedy's roll saved him from a fatal shot. Thanks to the fact that the head wound did not damage his brain tissue, Senator Kennedy's condition has stabilized. He will still need to be observed and will require a long period of bed rest."

Lin Ran's assassination changed Robert Kennedy's fate.

(End of this chapter)