Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 422 The Beginning of Bloodshed

Nixon sat at his desk, his hands clenched into fists.

His gaze was blankly fixed ahead, as if he could see the surging, angry crowd outside the window.

When Lin Ran entered the room, Nixon had already regained his composure.

"Professor, it's good that you haven't gone back to Huntsville yet. I think you already know what happened, right?"

How could you not know?

Newspapers, television stations, and radio stations are all talking about it.

Now, the calls for a ceasefire have vanished. The hawks have chosen to criticize those on campus who yearn for a ceasefire, accusing them of being Soviet citizens and pro-Government.

The sounds of battle had the upper hand.

Almost overnight, the winds of change swept across the country.

Even members of Congress in Washington found the Soviet Union's behavior even more intolerable.

Even someone as powerful and influential as Hoover could be shot dead by the Soviet Union like a chicken. What about them?
Is there any king law?Are there any laws?
A company in Washington, D.C., has launched a security service specifically targeting these political animals, called "Doomsday Fortress." The basic idea is to find a mountain around Washington, D.C., dig a cave for you, you live in the cave, and we'll guard the door for you from the outside.

Chinese people might find this a bit familiar—isn't this a cave dwelling? How come it's been renamed Doomsday Fortress in Washington? Well, the name is quite unique, I must say.

In short, Washington lawmakers, whether they were doves or hawks before, now all have only one voice.

That means we can no longer appease them; we must teach the Soviets a lesson.

“What should we do, Professor?” Nixon’s voice was low and weary. “Now, how are we supposed to explain this to the people of America?”

You'd be exhausted too if you were in that situation.

One moment they were about to sign a peace agreement without paying any price, achieving what Johnson had tried everything to do but failed, and gaining a huge political achievement. The next moment, the peace agreement became a death knell, a symbol of weakness, and was labeled as appeasement.

One moment peace was the prevailing theme, and a ceasefire was the greatest common denominator; the next, a counterattack, a willingness to teach the Soviet Union a lesson at all costs, and the voice of war became the absolute mainstream.

This 180-degree turn had Nixon in a state of utter chaos.

Lin Ran didn't answer immediately. He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured two glasses of whiskey, and acted as if he were at home in the Oval Office of the White House.

Three presidents have come and gone, and Lin Ran is still drinking whiskey here.

He handed one glass to Nixon and kept the other for himself.

“Mr. President, the conditions for peace no longer exist.” Lin Ran’s voice carried a cold, emotionless analysis: “This is not a simple murder case, but an open provocation, a massacre with the flavor of a trial.”

It happened at the worst possible time, in the most cruel way, and was carried out by the person who should never have been there.

He paused for a moment and took a sip of his drink.

"Domestic politics has pushed us to the brink of disaster."

Protesters will link Hoover's death to the stalemate in the Vietnam War.

They would say that we are weak in our external forces, which is why our enemies dare to assassinate our heroes in the heart of our country.

If you choose to continue negotiating, you will be labeled as appeased, just like President Johnson.

This is not only a political failure, but also a moral catastrophe.

The example of Prime Minister Chamberlain is not far off; they'll give you the nickname "Cold War Chamberlain."

We can make mistakes, but we cannot do things that offend our voters.

Similarly, here's another piece of advice for you, Mr. President: a politician can be disliked by voters, but he should never become a laughing stock.

This is a burden that politicians cannot bear.

I desire peace, but if we choose peace now, we will not achieve peace, nor will we gain respect.

Nixon was also a veteran politician who experienced ups and downs in Washington, from vice president under Eisenhower, to a period of decline and setback under Kennedy, and now to entering the White House. He was definitely a political animal through and through.

He immediately understood Lin Ran's subtext.

In the political arena, a politician can bear the historical responsibility for making wrong decisions, but he absolutely cannot bear the consequences of losing his political foundation by offending public opinion.

After all, the former may just be a stain on history, while the latter means the end of a political life.

Being disliked by voters is unavoidable in political struggles, as it involves being disliked by a segment of the population.

Nixon was a controversial figure, and he knew he couldn't please everyone.

This aversion is usually based on political stance, policy differences, or personal behavior.

This is normal.

But once it becomes a joke, it's a more devastating state than "disgust".

From the moment T.R. announced his candidacy, the Donald Party has been trying to make him a laughing stock, but they haven't succeeded.

When a politician becomes a laughingstock, it means he has lost public respect, and his authority, seriousness, and credibility vanish. He is no longer seen as a powerful leader, but merely an object of ridicule and satire.

Nixon's breathing became rapid, and his fingers trembled.

He understood every word Lin Ran said.

It is precisely because we understand that we are afraid.

As a politician who rose to the center of the political stage step by step through Huntsville's Longzhong Plan, Nixon had absolute trust in Lin Ran's political judgment.

If it really comes to that, this president might as well not have been in office.

“No, absolutely not. I’ve only been president for less than a month. If I become a laughing stock like this, how am I supposed to govern for the remaining four years?” Nixon murmured.

He didn't mind exposing his vulnerable side in front of Lin Ran, after all, Lin Ran had seen him at his most pathetic in Huntsville.

“Professor, we must now abandon those secondary considerations of morality and history and focus on the most fundamental question of survival.” Nixon’s voice began to harden.

Lin Ran finished what he hadn't said: "That's right, Mr. President, how to maintain one's political authority and image."

In this once-in-a-century historical moment, remaining tough and resolute is the only way to avoid becoming a political joke and regain the trust of voters.

Mr. President, we now have no choice but to take a hard line.

We must suspend all peace negotiations. We must declare to the world that Hoover's death was a blood debt owed by Soviet Russia, and we will take all necessary actions to address it. We must make Soviet Russia understand that we desire peace, but we are absolutely not afraid of war.

Nixon looked at Lin Ran, this unconventional Washington politician known for his calm and peace-loving nature, whose eyes now gleamed with an unusual light.

Nixon knew that what the professor was talking about was not a choice, but a path that had to be chosen.

He has no choice.

"Peace only has value after victory," Lin Ran concluded, his voice filled with determination. "And now, we must first win this war!"

The East Room of the White House was once again packed with reporters, but this time, the atmosphere lacked the relief that followed the peaceful press conference; instead, it was filled with suffocating tension.

Nixon stepped onto the podium, his face solemn and his gaze resolute.

He skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"My fellow Americans, six months ago, we lost a great patriot, FBI Director Edgar Hoover." Nixon's voice was deep and powerful, each word striking like a hammer blow to everyone's heart. "At the time, the FBI investigation reached a shocking conclusion: Director Hoover and his eight bodyguards were killed in a premeditated operation using Soviet-made weapons."

At the scene, our experts collected bullet sample samples. Using state-of-the-art ballistics comparison technology, we confirmed that the murder weapon was a Makarov PM pistol, the standard-issue weapon of the Soviet Army and the KGB.

He paused, allowing the weight of the message to permeate every corner.

In 1969, bullet wound identification technology already existed and was widely used in forensic medicine and criminal investigation.

Although the technology at the time could not compare with modern DNA or complex digital analysis, the basic scientific principles and comparison methods were already very mature.

"However, due to a lack of direct evidence, we are unable to identify the perpetrator. For the past six months, we have exercised restraint and strived to seek a glimmer of peace." Nixon's gaze swept across the room, carrying an undeniable resolve.

If you're going to start a bloodbath, then you need to publicly admit your past mistakes.

To avoid becoming a laughingstock, Nixon made a choice from which there was no turning back.

“Today, I can announce to you that we have decisive evidence.” Nixon’s voice grew even colder: “A videotape clearly records the Soviet embassy’s vehicles and personnel appearing at Mr. Hoover’s villa on the night of the incident. We can clearly identify Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin through the footage.”

Nixon's words were like a bombshell, igniting a clamor throughout the room.

This news has been widely circulated in the past, but when it comes from the president, it carries a completely different weight.

Reporters bombarded the reporters with questions, and flashbulbs went off everywhere.

Nixon raised his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

"We will not yield to any threats, nor will we tolerate such blatant aggression."

Peace is our aspiration, but it is only meaningful when national security and dignity are guaranteed.

We have lodged our strongest protest with Moscow, demanding an immediate explanation for this matter.

His gaze swept across the entire room:

"Today, we are suspending all negotiations related to a peace agreement in Vietnam," Nixon announced, a decision that shocked everyone. "We will send more troops to Vietnam to ensure that our soldiers are fully protected until we receive a satisfactory response."

Nixon's words were forceful; he made no further mention of peace or hope.

His face now only displayed the coldness and authority befitting a commander-in-chief.

He concluded by saying, "A nation can tolerate mistakes, but it cannot tolerate insults. We desire peace, but we are never afraid of war."

After saying that, he left the podium without looking back, leaving behind a commotion and uproar.

The whole world understands that this glimmer of peace has been completely extinguished by Hoover's blood.

War is now unavoidable.

(End of this chapter)