Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 436 When Compromise Is Unavoidable

As mentioned earlier, within the system led by America, Hong Kong was at best a periphery of the empire.

If it is not viewed within the context of the China-America system, it would never have had the chance to become the Pearl of the Orient if it did not serve as a bridge between East and West.

Status is determined by geography, economy, and politics.

The reason why Israel's existence is so important is to give people the feeling that it's not the dog wagging its tail, but the tail wagging the dog.

It's no longer Washington directing Tel Aviv; it's Tel Aviv now frequently remotely controlling Washington.

This is partly due to the decades-long influence of Jews in Washington, partly due to Jews' self-proclaimed role as the key to victory in the Cold War, and partly because the location is so important, related to oil and indirectly related to the dollar.

America cannot afford to lose her most important foothold in the Middle East.

Compared to the likes of Israel and Singapore, Hong Kong was far from being that important at this time.

Even though it benefited from the Vietnam War, its economy has developed rapidly in the past five years, with manufacturing, electronics, and textile industries all reaching a considerable scale.

It was merely a peripheral region of the empire, and its only notable figures were Bruce Lee and Chen Dehui.

Hong Kong films were not yet world-renowned, but Bruce Lee gained a certain degree of global recognition for his role in "The Truman Show" and subsequent kung fu films.

He is also the pride of Hong Kong.

Now, today, Hong Kong will have a new representative figure: Lin Ran.

This is a treatment that even Göttingen doesn't receive.

We are not yet in the era of mass-producing titles. When mathematical masters authorize universities to use their names, they usually only authorize one of their closest universities.

It's not like the Shaw Building, where you can see it everywhere you go.

After all, this symbolizes the close connection between the mathematician and the university.

Similar to the mathematics research institute at New York University named after Courant, the Poincaré Institute in Paris, France, and the Mittag-Löffler Institute in Sweden.

The fact that the Lin Ran Mathematics Center is located in Hong Kong, not in Göttingen or Columbia University, makes many Hong Kong people proud.

This is an absolute must-have for any brand.

In a few decades, when there are all sorts of rankings, Hong Kong University could move up ten places just by virtue of its reputation.

Therefore, when Xiangjiang University received the notification from the Rockefeller Foundation a month ago, it quickly took action to transform it into an international academic event.

Governor David Trench of Hong Kong, officials from the American Consulate, and representatives from the Rockefeller Foundation, along with Zhou Nan from the Baihua Society, and a group of mathematicians from Yenching University, were present at the event.

This is because it is a mathematician exchange activity between China and America.

The two countries' mathematicians' congresses have been held in the past.

It is not surprising that Yenching sent a team of mathematicians to attend.

It would be strange not to send someone.

ROC, not to be outdone, also sent business luminaries and mathematics professors, all wearing ROC badges.

Hong Kong's local social elites gathered, making the event exceptionally grand. A band played a Christmas overture that blended Chinese and Western styles, and the flashbulbs never stopped.

Media reporters crowded the back row, and newspapers of all sizes scrambled to take notes.

Culture has influence.

Lin Ran's direct impact on Hong Kong was that he remained a bystander, and this song really suited the tastes of Hong Kong people.

Wouldn't it be better for us to remain neutral and observe from the sidelines, given our current position and environment?
Why should we choose sides between the liberal camp and the socialist camp?
Economically, we need trade from the Freedom to ensure prosperity; we need water, electricity, and supplies from the interior to ensure survival; geographically, we have intricate connections with the interior; and politically, we truly still belong to England.

This identity and positioning, coupled with the prosperity brought about by the Vietnam War, have created an unprecedented resonance between Hong Kong and the Wall Street Observers.

At the same time, China's control over Hong Kong is also different from that in the original timeline.

Their control is no longer based solely on the grassroots level; now, in addition to ordinary people, they also include many entrepreneurs, not just small and medium-sized business owners, but also major entrepreneurs in the shipping industry.

Given this historical context, the Shatoujiao Incident of 67 did not occur.

Sixty-seven years ago, China had already sent a signal to the whole of Hong Kong with the blood of the Jardine Matheson taipan in Sha Tau Kok.

The subsequent struggle continued underwater, without surfacing.

Chen Jingrun had been waiting for a long time, and this great mathematician who came from Hong Kong personally came to the scene.

He is the pride of Hong Kong and is regarded as a mathematician nurtured in Hong Kong.

Although he was actually trained in mainland China.

But he has a perfect background, with a group of "teachers" and "classmates" from elementary school, middle school, and university giving interviews.

After receiving the Fields Medal, he talked extensively about interesting stories from his school days in local Hong Kong media.

PS: Chen Dehui is an alias of Chen Jingrun.

However, after using this name for so many years, he has become more accustomed to Chen Dehui than Chen Jingrun.

On the contrary, Lin Ran felt strange every time he heard Chen Jingrun introduce himself in Mandarin, saying, "I am Chen Dehui".

Lin Ran was not as used to Chen Jingrun's new name as he was.

Chen Jingrun, as a special guest, slowly walked onto the stage.

After shaking hands with him, Kissinger said, "Professor Chen, welcome."

Chen Jingrun smiled and said, "The professor's business is my business. If the professor hadn't brought me to New York, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today in academia. It's kind of you to make this special trip."

Kissinger thought to himself, "I didn't want to either, but we had to talk to China. It's because of my presence that this mathematics center came into being. You've got the cause and effect backwards."

But it doesn't matter; these things are not worth telling outsiders.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

Today, amidst the festive atmosphere of Christmas, we gather at the University of Hong Kong to witness the establishment of the Lin Ran Mathematics Centre.

This is not just the unveiling of a building, but also the laying of the foundation for a bridge, a bridge connecting the wisdom of the East and the West.

"Professor, as a distinguished Chinese-American mathematician, his contributions have crossed the Pacific Ocean."

"As an advisor to President Nixon, I extend my sincerest best wishes to this center on behalf of the White House."

We believe that the sharing of knowledge is the cornerstone of peace.

This Christmas season, let us be guided by the wisdom of our professors, join hands to overcome differences, and build a better world.

thank you all. "

At the end of the speech, applause erupted, and the American official's talk about peace was rather darkly humorous.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Jingrun delivered a speech in Mandarin, which was simultaneously translated into English by the accompanying interpreters.

"It is hoped that Hong Kong University can develop it into a world-class mathematics center in the future, making it a banner and symbol of mathematics in the Chinese community."

The Rockefeller Foundation’s generous donations, along with support from various parties, demonstrate that knowledge knows no boundaries.

As we celebrate this Christmas, let us be guided by the professor's spirit and continue our journey: proving theorems, solving difficult problems, and contributing to the well-being of humanity.

Chen Jingrun's words were not problematic in themselves, but in reality, Lin Ran's invention caused even greater casualties and destruction in the Vietnam War, and could by no means be considered a matter of human well-being.

Isn't this a kind of dark humor?

Kissinger's handshake with Chen Jingrun became the focus of media attention that evening.

Kissinger's mind had already turned to his real purpose.

After the ceremony, champagne mingled in the banquet hall as celebrities exchanged pleasantries.

The Governor from London discussed the situation in Vietnam with Consul America.

This is related to how long Hong Kong can continue to enjoy the benefits of war.

War is a source of suffering for one group of people, but for another group, it brings only benefits and no suffering.

Kissinger took the opportunity to leave and was escorted to an inconspicuous Victorian building in Central.

A branch of Citibank, which is also one of America's contact points in Hong Kong.

He waited in a secret room on the second floor, where red wine, roast chicken, and Christmas pie were laid out on the table.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit walked in, followed by a translator. It wasn't Zhou Nan; Zhou Nan was still at the banquet, having a lively debate with the ROC representative.

As mentioned earlier, Hong Kong people are neutral observers. This neutrality is political, but culturally, they also agree with Lin Ran's concept of a culturally rich nation, and martial arts novels are very popular.

Therefore, both ROC and PRC are vying for the legitimacy of Chinese culture.

A significant part of the work of the Hundred Flowers Society in Hong Kong is to prove that we are the true inheritors of Chinese culture and to win the support of Chinese people worldwide.

The cultural war is even more intense than the economic one.

The two sides used Hong Kong newspapers as their battleground, engaging in a lively back-and-forth battle.

Because in this timeline, China's presence in Hong Kong is semi-public; everyone knows about it, but no one exposes it.

China even acquired a small bank in Hong Kong for import and export trade.

Therefore, China's cultural offensive has become more direct.

Returning to Kissinger's negotiations themselves, China certainly wanted to talk; they wanted to continue doing business.

By providing assistance to North Vietnam, China's air defense system shone brightly on the global stage, but they also paid a price.

The economic cost.

Orders from the entire Western bloc have been cut off to the bone, and foreign exchange has been stabbed away—these are all painful blows.

The aid given to North Vietnam was almost entirely free.

To put it bluntly, North Vietnam couldn't afford to pay it back either.

Therefore, China also hopes to sign a peace agreement.

China hopes to restore the pre-war situation.

Kissinger spoke first, delivering his opening remarks in English, which the interpreter immediately switched to fluent Mandarin: "Sir, the comrades from Yenching have made a very wise choice to hold the meeting in Hong Kong."

This city is a bridge, and so should our dialogue.

President Nixon authorized me to come and discuss the subtle changes on the front lines of the Vietnam War.

We acknowledge that the intervention of our Chinese comrades has reshaped the balance of power on the front lines.

But this balance cannot be tilted indefinitely; otherwise, it will trigger an even bigger storm.

"Mr. Kissinger, Merry Christmas."

Yanjing appreciates your frankness.

In the latter half of 1969, the upgrade of electronic warfare in Ashau Valley proved that our technical assistance was not just empty talk.

Our technology comes from our local innovations.

Comrades in Hanoi reported that supply lines have been restored, your frontline advance has been frozen, and comrades in North Vietnam have gained a respite.

These are all facts.

Kissinger adjusted his glasses: "We don't deny these things, sir."

We have all the data you have.

But sir, China's actions are not aid; they are interference, blatant interference.

President Nixon's bottom line was: restrict your air defense system exports to North Vietnam, otherwise we will completely cut off China's trade with the liberal camp.

This will continue until the war ends, or even long after the war ends.

China creates trouble for us, and we will create trouble for China in return.

The middle-aged man felt a chill run down his spine.

Clearly, the other party's threats could cause them real harm.

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was deep in thought.

After a moment he replied, “Mr. Kissinger, we understand your bottom line.”

But China is not a weakling.

Our economy is based on self-reliance. Although we do export, it is limited. On the other hand, our exports have spread to brother countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Electronic products and textiles were sold to Southeast Asia and even the European market via Hong Kong.

These are the fruits of our labor, not gifts from you.

Your blockade has lasted for nineteen years, so long that we've long since gotten used to it.

But if you cut off trade routes to Hong Kong or pressure our European allies, our response will be reciprocal. We will increase our aid to North Vietnam and may even take direct action ourselves.

Mr. Kissinger, if America could get involved in North Vietnam herself, believe me, we can too.

We have now exercised maximum restraint in dealing with the situation in Vietnam.

"Without such restraint, the situation on the front lines would be very different now."

He paused, then said, "Export restrictions? We can talk about it, but this deal must be fair."

To put it bluntly, China could not abandon North Vietnam, nor could it allow Annam to become America's pawn.

This is determined by geopolitics.

The fall of Annam would have been a thousand times more painful for China than for Soviet Russia.

Therefore, the only thing China could accept was an unconditional ceasefire and the withdrawal of America's main force from North Vietnam.

Kissinger held up a Western-style knife, divided the Christmas pie into six pieces, and handed one of them to the other person: "Sir, we deeply admire the resilience of Yanjing and the wisdom of the Chinese people."

Our relationship can be improved, and it is improving; we can become friends.

In 1969, President Nixon had already begun to ease travel restrictions on China, a signal that couldn't be clearer.

From President Johnson allowing the two countries' mathematicians' conference to President Nixon lifting travel restrictions, we have consistently demonstrated America's goodwill.

We know that China's exports rely on transit through Hong Kong and Finland.

Last year, through Hong Kong local businessmen alone, you sold nearly $10 billion worth of goods to the liberal camp, and these goods indirectly entered our and our allies' markets.

If we pressure the governor or push for a stricter embargo through the United Nations, your emerging electronics industry will be unable to survive.

Our bottom line is to stop missile supplies and halt further deployment of jamming vehicles.

In exchange, we pledged to withdraw 50,000 troops in the first half of 1970 and to ease restrictions on non-strategic materials to China.

Allow increased agricultural exports to American allies via Hong Kong.

"They refuse to compromise, even if it costs them a billion dollars a year."

The poor brethren of the Soviet bloc couldn't even give them a hundred million dollars a year combined.

Lin Ran said expressionlessly, "Henry, you need to understand that security is a more important need than the economy."

An Annan who is remotely controlled by America is unacceptable to China.

China will never compromise on this point.

Kissinger nodded in understanding, then added, "But similarly, the president cannot accept defeat."

The stalemate at the front.

The war continues.

Fortunately, a turning point soon appeared, allowing both sides to quickly reach an agreement.

That was the cooperation between China and the Soviet Union in the aerospace field. After a series of rapid achievements, America quickly realized that relations between China and the Soviet Union had warmed up.

They cannot continue to provoke China.

We cannot push China further toward Soviet Russia.

For the White House, the Vietnam War had reached a point where compromise was unavoidable.

(End of this chapter)