Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

The two leaders were stunned again: "That can't be, we're helping him, and we're on the same side..."

Zhang Dabiao shrugged: "The Russians are on our side, they're the big brother, so what?"

"Do you believe that after Big Beauty leaves, that ingrate from Annam will be the first to turn against us?"

"Since you two leaders both believe that I have a family tradition, then I won't hide it from you anymore. Let me tell you, that Annan, don't be fooled by his current closeness to us. After Ho Chi Minh passes away, it's hard to say who will come to power."

"I predicted that Annam would be unified by the mid-70s."

Believe it or not.

The two leaders were completely bewildered. Could you possibly predict when the leaders of two major powers would die, when the leader of the Soviet Union would step down, when the Soviet Union would disintegrate, where internal rebellions would break out, when India would launch a surprise attack, and when it would lose...?

How can we not believe such a trivial matter as when a country will be unified?

If you get even one of these, you're in deep trouble!

"And those Russians will eventually need to find a proxy in Southeast Asia. If Annam were to unify the country one day and think they're all that, they might turn their backs on us, and that would be a huge problem."

"They're just like the Indians; they all get arrogant and then provoke us. Even if they don't want to provoke Russia and the US, they'll be forced to. We're connected by the border; something's bound to happen sooner or later."

"But don't worry, with Annam's limited resources, if they really turn against us, we're no match for them. I'm not exaggerating—it would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. However, they'll be harder to defeat than India, and it will take longer, because of their geographical location and the issue of universal conscription."

"If you're not careful, you'll suffer a great loss."

"Defeating them is a must, that's a minor issue. The real problem is, what do we do after we're done? Think about it, even after we're done, they'll still be right next to us, and that'll create a grudge."

"So, either don't fight, or if you do fight, make sure it takes him ten years to recover—destroy his industry, bomb his roads, and drain his money so that he can't even afford to support his own army."

"As for the Russian bear, if they really side with Annan and stand against us, it'll be like two holes gushing money out of each other—one in Afghanistan, and another in Annan. Can the Russian bear's constitution withstand that kind of torment?"

"Therefore, the Russian bear is bound to be in chaos and inevitably disintegrate; the mess is just too big!!"

This brings us back to the issue of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, creating a direct logical loop.

Moreover, Zhang Dabiao was slurring his words; he'd had too much to drink. The problem now is, he dares to say what those two dare not listen to.

"Stop, stop, stop. Let's not talk about Annam or the Russian bear anymore."

The older leader asked, "Now that the US has a new president, Johnson, do you think there's any possibility of a future easing of tensions between the two countries? Why?"

Zhang Dabiao grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Jansen? He's a 'scapegoat'."

The recorder's pen stopped again.

"Think about it, Kennedy left behind a mess—Annan, Cuba, the civil rights movement—all of which fell on his head. Do he have the ability to clean it up? I doubt it. He might be good at domestic things, like the 'Great Society,' with tax cuts and poverty alleviation, but he's a complete novice when it comes to diplomacy."

"Then let me ask you, can relations between China and the US be eased?"

Zhang Dabiao thought for a moment, his expression unusually serious.

"Boss, let me tell you the truth—whether things ease or not doesn't depend on the great beauty, it depends on us."

He pointed to the portrait of the leader hanging on the wall: "What are our principles? 'Clean the house before inviting guests.' If the great American wants to enter our home, he has to do three things first: First, get out of Taiwan; second, recognize our position in the United Nations; and third, stop causing trouble in Annan. If these three things are not changed, it doesn't matter who is president."

He paused, then added, "However... I'm just guessing, but in another six or seven years, maybe things will really loosen up a bit. Why? Because the Soviet Union is getting stronger and stronger, and the Americans are afraid of us joining forces with them to take them down. By then, the idea of ​​'uniting with China against the Soviet Union' will have taken hold. But that's a matter for the future; for now—"

He shrugged and said, "No way."

The older leader's lips twitched slightly. It was unclear whether he wanted to snort or what, but he felt particularly like punching Zhang Dabiao in his current state.

Senior leader: "How do you interpret the phrase 'The East Wind prevails over the West Wind'? How do you foresee the global situation developing in the next few years?"

This was the most dangerous question. Zhang Dabiao dropped his joking demeanor and sat up straight.

"Boss, who said that? How could I, a mere student, dare to 'understand' it? I simply wholeheartedly support and will resolutely carry it out!"

The older leader waved his hand: "Alright, don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Tell me about your 'wild speculation'."

Zhang Dabiao finally breathed a sigh of relief and resumed his slick demeanor.

"The East Wind prevails over the West Wind, which, to put it bluntly, means socialism prevails over capitalism. The current situation is this: the East Wind is blowing fiercely, but the West Wind hasn't stopped either."

He counted on his fingers: "In Africa, the independence movement is raging, that's the wind blowing in from the east. In Latin America, Cuba set a precedent, that's also the wind blowing in from the east. But what about Europe? Those working-class brothers are living good lives, they won't fight you to the death. Not to mention America, every household has a TV and a car, who's going to go up the mountain to fight a guerrilla war?"

"So how do you think the global situation will develop?"

"I think," Zhang Dabiao squinted, "that in the next few years, the focus of the government will be on Asia, Africa, and Latin America, not Europe and America. Those poor places are so poor they can barely survive; as long as someone takes the lead, they can ignite. But to say the whole world is red is a long way off. Capitalism, though rotten, can prolong its life. You suppress it, and it can still bounce back a couple of times."

He lowered his voice, as if he were telling a huge secret:

"Let me be frank with you—this matter of the Emperor's appointment isn't something that can be resolved in a day or two, but rather over decades or even centuries. We need to be patient, like simmering Chinese medicine over a low flame. We can't rush it; rushing will only lead to trouble."

The older leader stared at him for a full five seconds.

Then he picked up the enamel mug and took a sip of the tea, which had gone cold.

"Xiao Zhang, your ability to 'think outside the box' is quite impressive."

Zhang Dabiao quickly stood up and waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, no, boss, please don't praise me. I'm just a blabbermouth, I'm not good enough for anything."

"If you spread these words, people will say I'm 'spreading rumors, creating panic, and undermining unity,' and I won't be able to live in the courtyard house anymore!"

The older leader didn't respond, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "These things, were they actually told to you by your father before?"

Zhang Dabiao immediately understood: pushing the blame onto Zhang Banxian was a way of protecting himself.

"Right, right, I forgot to mention, I was afraid you wouldn't believe me. Most of it was things my father had predicted before, plus he helped me summon my soul back, which revealed too many secrets of heaven—oops."

"So I don't know if what I'm saying is right or wrong, just consider it me talking nonsense when I'm drunk."

The older leader then asked, "So, what about the future of our country—?"

"Heavenly secrets must not be revealed!"