World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"That's realism," Chen Feng corrected. "Mr. President, I'm not suggesting that Mary Kay completely stand idly by. Continuing to provide loans to Britain and sell supplies is fine. It's in the commercial interest and can also have an impact on the war. But to get involved personally? To send troops? That's a completely different matter."

He leaned forward to deliver his final statement.

"Let me speak from Lanfang's perspective. Why did Lanfang hope the war would continue but not escalate? Because we needed time. We needed time to complete our industrial transformation, time to train more engineers and skilled workers, and time to build a reputation for our products in the international market. A war that ends abruptly would be an economic disaster for us."

"And what about Merica? Merica needs time for New York to completely replace London, time for the dollar to become the world currency, and time for Merica's companies to dominate global markets. A war that ends abruptly—whether it's a German victory or an Allied victory—would disrupt this process."

"So our interests align on this point," Chen Feng concluded. "Let the Europeans continue fighting, until they are exhausted, until they have no choice but to sit down and negotiate. Then, Merica and Lanfang, as the two most powerful industrial nations in the world, can jointly lead the reconstruction of the postwar order. We can formulate new trade rules, a new financial system, and new international organizations—a new world defined by us."

Vision. He presented a grand vision.

Wilson took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He put his glasses back on and looked at Chen Feng through the lenses, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Mr. Chen, you have painted a very attractive picture. Merika wins world leadership without bloodshed, Lanfang gains time and space to develop, and Europe rebuilds after its depletion. In theory, this is the best outcome for everyone."

"Theoretically?" Wang Wenwu asked.

"But reality is always more complicated." Wilson stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to the room. "Britain won't stand idly by. They'll use every means to drag Monica into the war. France is already on the verge of collapse, and without Monica's direct intervention, they might not survive until next spring. Russia... God knows what will happen to Russia. If Germany really occupies Paris, it will be a disaster for civilization."

"Paris will not be occupied." Chen Feng also stood up, walked to Wilson's side, and looked out the window with him. "The Germans have also reached their limit. Their resources are almost exhausted, the people are starving, and the army is exhausted. This war has reached a stalemate, and neither side can completely conquer the other."

Are you sure?

"I'm certain," Chen Feng said with absolute certainty. "Mr. President, my people have been in contact with both sides in Europe. I know the assessments within the German General Staff, and I also know the true situation within the French military. This war will last at most another year, after which both sides will be forced to negotiate. The only question is the terms of the negotiations."

He turned to Wilson: "And the terms of peace talks can be influenced by countries not on the battlefield. If Meilika and Lanfang speak out together and propose a reasonable framework for peace, a solution that allows both sides to retain their dignity and is acceptable to both, then the war may end in negotiations rather than in the complete collapse of one side."

Wilson turned and looked Chen Feng straight in the eye: "Do you really believe this is possible?"

"I believe that the power of self-interest is greater than the power of hatred," Chen Feng replied. "When the cost of continuing the war outweighs any possible gains, reason will return. And what we need to do is bring that moment to come sooner—through diplomacy, through economic pressure, and through all non-military means."

The two stood by the window, sunlight streaming in from outside, casting long shadows on the floor.

Lansing and Wang Wenwu sat at the table, not interrupting the conversation.

After a long pause, Wilson nodded slightly: "I need time to think, Mr. Chen. Many of the points you made... I hadn't considered before, or rather, I wasn't willing to consider. But as a scholar, I must admit that your logic is rigorous."

"Thinking is wise," Chen Feng smiled. "But time waits for no one. Britain is intensifying its lobbying efforts, Germany's submarine warfare may escalate, and the situation in France is deteriorating every day. Every day of delay reduces the possibility of peace."

"I understand." Wilson walked back to the table, glanced at his pocket watch, and said, "Today's meeting went overtime. But I think it was worthwhile."

He extended his hand: "Mr. Chen, thank you for your frankness. I will seriously consider everything you have said. We can continue our discussion tomorrow, perhaps on a smaller scale."

They shook hands. This time, Wilson's grip was a bit stronger than before.

"I look forward to the exchange tomorrow," Chen Feng said.

As Chen Feng left the conference room, Lieutenant General Rodman was waiting outside. Seeing Wilson's expression, he didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded to Chen Feng and said, "The car is ready."

On the way back to the villa, Wang Wenwu finally relaxed and let out a long sigh of relief.

"How is it?" Chen Feng asked.

"It went more smoothly than expected." Wang Wenwu carefully chose his words. "Wilson wavered, I could sense it. But he still had many concerns."

"That's normal. He carries the expectations of a nation and can't easily change his stance. But the seed has already been planted." Chen Feng looked at the scenery flashing past the window. "The key is what happens next. If Britain doesn't make any underhanded moves, and if the Germans don't act foolishly, perhaps we really do have hope."

How likely do you think it is?

"Thirty percent," Chen Feng said frankly. "In international politics, thirty percent is already a very high probability."

The car drove into the villa area. As Chen Feng got out, he noticed several plainclothes agents around him—the American security had been strengthened.

Upon entering the room, Wang Wenwu immediately began organizing the day's conversation notes. Chen Feng, on the other hand, walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside.

His thoughts drifted far away.

In today's conversation, he didn't reveal the whole truth. For example, he knew the course of history—without intervention, the United States would have entered the war in a few months, the war would have lasted another year and a half, and then ended with the collapse of Germany. Then came the unjust Treaty of Versailles, then a twenty-year truce, and then the even more devastating Second World War.

He tried to change all of this. Not to save Germany, nor to help Britain, but for a simpler goal: to buy Lanfang time to develop and prevent the world from being dragged into a deeper abyss.

But history has its inertia. Those groups that profited immensely from the war—arms dealers, bankers, colonial officials—would fight tooth and nail to keep the war going. The masses, swayed by propaganda, are difficult to persuade with reason. Those who lost loved ones on the battlefield find it hard to forgive the enemy.