Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

"Jordan hopes that the Middle East Command will establish an air defense base in Amman."

A series of news reports began to trigger a chain reaction of collapse. Turkish cities along the Aegean coast, which already disliked the Turkish government's policies, such as Izmir and Antakya, all announced their break away from the control of the Ottoman Turkish government and surrendered to the Middle East Command.

The situation was like a landslide; although there were still hundreds of thousands of rebel soldiers and refugees in Tıkırda and Qorlu, they had no will to resist. Although the Turkish capital Ankara had not yet collapsed, everyone knew that the war was over.

It was amidst this collapse that Li Xinghe, having just signed numerous financial cooperation agreements with the United Nations Asia and Pacific Headquarters in Lanfang Republic, flew across the vast Asian continent to the ancient city that straddles Europe and Asia.

Istanbul, a mega-city in Europe with a population of over 20 million, has been ravaged by war and is now almost completely destroyed. Its once bustling tourist streets are now gone.

As a city of cats, the number of cats that have starved to death or been killed on the roadside is so high that they are everywhere, and it is unknown whether they were eaten by starving people.

"Welcome, Commander!"

At the airport gate, guards saluted as the Red Army and the Allied forces welcomed the financial magnate and leader.

Li Xinghe and Duchess Olympia walked hand in hand, calmly disembarking from the plane and waving:

"Thank you all for your hard work."

The decisive victory in this war determined Li Xinghe's power and status in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, so Li Xinghe generously gave everyone a bonus worth half a year's salary.

When the news spread, everyone cheered.

It has to be the boss who's generous; he always gives a lot of money.

Meanwhile, Hu Zhantian and He Yang took Li Xinghe on a tour of the classic old city of Constantinople.

"This is the Blue-Domed Grand Mosque."

"Look, this is the Hagia Sophia."

"After passing the Holy Cathedral, the Ottoman Topkapi Palace is just ahead."

Walking on the deserted streets, it felt as if we had arrived in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

What do you think?

Li Xinghe turned to Olympia and asked her. He had brought her along because she was Baroness Churchill of Great Britain, a position of great political significance.

Duchess Olympia didn't look at the scenery; she looked at the people.

She said with great emotion:

"The status of powerful figures determines the direction of the world, and the aesthetics of those in power determine the aesthetics of the world. Actually, if you look closely, the attire of the men and women who came to participate in the Istanbul Liberation Ceremony today is quite interesting."

Today, those participating in the liberation activities include not only Greeks, Bulgarians, Romanians, and Serbs, but also Albanians, Hungarians, and people from various Middle Eastern countries. There are not only the Archbishop of Athens and the Patriarch of Constantinople, but also many Imams from the Middle East.

Besides these, there are political figures, journalists, and social celebrities from various countries. Observing the appearances of these people, one can sense the ever-changing tides of global political power.

"Hello..."

Li Xinghe's gaze swept over them, and many men and women bowed their heads in greeting. He also quickly noticed the changes in their makeup.

It's quite simple. These white Europeans quickly found Asian makeup artists and stylists around them and prepared refreshing looks for them that would appeal to Li Xinghe's aesthetic.

Many women who originally looked very European suddenly stopped emphasizing their noses, opting for smoky eye makeup, and even starting to lean towards Korean or Japanese makeup styles. Some women are indeed very skilled at makeup, almost transforming themselves into mixed-race Asians.

Thick foundation, smoky eyes, high cheekbones, arched eyebrows, and long eyelashes—the kind of heavy makeup that required a whole process of Botox, silicone fillers, laser thread lifting, and spa treatments—suddenly went out of fashion. Because Li Xinghe didn't like it. They urgently began a cosmetic overhaul: silicone cheekbones had to be eliminated, heavy makeup was no longer acceptable compared to a fresh, natural look, long eyelashes and tattooed eyebrows were no longer as good as a natural, dewy makeup look, and pouty lips were absolutely forbidden; women who had undergone filler surgery hurriedly ordered their plastic surgeons to correct them. Smoky eyes were absolutely out of the question; the thick smoky eyeliner around the women's eyes vanished instantly.

The tanned skin on both men and women vanished instantly, because Li Xinghe preferred a more beautiful, fair complexion. (You're not free, are you...?)

Many netizens often comment that European women who frequent East Asian communities have "become more beautiful" and "look Chinese now." But for Li Xinghe, all of this was a change that happened overnight.

Suddenly, people seemed to normalize, appearing beautiful in Asian eyes and conforming to their aesthetic standards. The reason, clearly, wasn't because their aesthetic sense had changed, but because those in power had changed.

How big can the differences between people really be?

It's nothing more than adjusting one's appearance with technology and ruthless skills to conform to the aesthetics of those in power, catering to those in power.

The saying goes, "King Chu loved slender waists, so many palace women starved to death."

"I hope that people won't call this kind of makeup 'Li-style makeup' in the future."

Li Xinghe smiled silently, neither sad nor happy about it.

As the group approached the ancient Hagia Sophia, Li Xinghe raised his hand to stop. Admiring the ancient and beautiful architecture within the narrow confines of Constantinople, he exclaimed in admiration:

"What a magnificent cathedral! Spread the word: the Hagia Sophia should be converted back into a museum."

Amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd, Li Xinghe calmly walked in front of the Hagia Sophia, turning back to look towards distant Europe.

To his left was Hu Zhantian, a man from Changde, Hunan, dressed in a Red Army uniform covered in badges, his attire leaning towards a European flair. To his right was He Yang, a man from Chengdu, Sichuan, wearing a different Allied Army uniform, beaming with smiles, openly displaying all his People's Liberation Army medals.

This scene was photographed frantically by reporters from major newspapers, who saw it as a symbol of historic political change. The forces from Asia brought a terrifying political storm, like a chilling wind blowing from Siberia, casting a pall of gloom over Europe.

Of course, to ordinary Europeans, this photo conveyed a terrifying implication, like 'Hitler with Blake and Speer standing in front of the Eiffel Tower'.

These journalists seem to be sending a silent warning to Europeans through this photograph: 'He came, he saw, he conquered.'

This photo was thus named:

Li Xinghe at the St. Sophia Cathedral.

Of course, once the photos returned to East Asia, no one thought there was anything evil about them. It was just visiting a tourist attraction. It's just that Old Li cleared out the original inhabitants and was walking around the streets looking at things.

One busybody commented, "The person standing below the frame of the photo is Secretary Gao" (Note: This account has been deleted and the person is in custody, please do not mention it).

Chapter 143 The Treaty of Constantinople: Rome, the European Union, and the Fall of the Blue Flag (4100 words)

2033 seems to be an unsettling year.

The global situation is like a broken porcelain bowl, with cracks gradually widening until it suddenly splits in two at some point.

Europeans were frantic, like ants on a hot plate, emitting sharp cries and frantic roars, but they couldn't get any support from regional alliances like the African Union and the Arab League.

On the contrary, people began to fly to Lanfang more frequently, establishing good relations with various Eastern countries in advance.

Istanbul's streets were filled with Red Army and Allied Army flags. Red Army men and women, marching south from the north, were taking selfies with their phones in a very flamboyant manner, juxtaposing their retro outfits with modern tanks and robots, creating a magical sense of disarray.

Regarding the soldiers' revelry, Hu Zhantian instructed his staff:

"Showing off is human nature. Let them have their fun, but only for these two days."

Actually, you can't play for very long because there aren't many people in the city, and you still have to do asset liquidation, so you don't have much free time.

He Yang asked:

"Should we still fight Türkiye?"

"Of course we'll fight. But what happens next is up to us."

To put it in the style of a North Korean interview, regarding a country like Turkey, it's like saying, "Such a mad dog must be completely crushed."

As the Red Army and Allied forces continued their advance toward Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Li Xinghe and two commanders stopped in Istanbul to discuss the future of the land.

Where is the Balkans headed?

"What will become of Istanbul?"

Under orders that were more of a command than a call to action, several neighboring countries were asked to sit down and discuss practical issues.

Li Xinghe sat with Duchess Olympia, casually playing the mobile game Candy Crush. "Are you free, Yong? Are you busy, Lin?"

The first thing we'll talk about is territory.

He wasn't really concerned about the territorial divisions and spheres of influence at that time. Although the modern international community, with the rise of the right wing, had begun to focus on the resurgence of territorial conflicts and population fragmentation, it was still much more lenient than it had been 80 years ago. Even if they were to take a big knife at Turkey, it would only result in a minor setback. What truly mattered was economic policy.

However, for Europeans who are extremely sensitive to the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, seeing Li Xinghe sitting at the head of the table with a cold expression, they began to spread intelligence and rumors that Li Xinghe was dissatisfied with the current territorial handover negotiations.

The rumor, whose origin is unknown, has even made several participating countries uneasy.

Bulgaria didn't care anyway; in reality, Bulgaria was practically a non-existent country. Most of its young population was in Europe, and the elderly, women, and children were waiting for someone to take care of them in their old age. According to a private agreement, Bulgaria was preparing to join the Soviet Union as a constituent republic, just like in 1950.

Romania is quite uneasy. The current Romanian government is based in Cluj-Napoca, and its territory is fragmented. Moldavian territory is similar to the Moldova Soviet Socialist Republic, Wallachia is part of the Danube agricultural zone, and the coastal areas were originally slated to be ceded to the new Soviet Union. Can they still negotiate territorial deals with the new Soviet Union? Or should they consider becoming a Soviet republic?

Greece has similar concerns. They have many islands, such as Rhodes, that are still in the hands of the coalition forces, as well as Cyprus, which has been destroyed by Turkey and is also in the hands of the coalition forces.

The concerns spread so widely that even the negotiating representatives learned of them.

They went to report to Li Xinghe, who frowned:

"Who the hell spread those rumors?"

Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Everyone offered their own explanations for Li Xinghe's angry glare:

"AFP is very anxious right now. The French and Polish armies are fighting fiercely in Germany, and they desperately need an ally. Even if the new Soviet Union only ends the war temporarily and returns to the Ukrainian-Polish border, the pressure on France will be greatly reduced."

"They have the same problem as the British: they like to make things up."

Li Xinghe tapped his fingers and closed his eyes in thought.

Shortly afterward, intelligence reports came in stating:

"A localized coup has occurred in Romania. Opponents are attempting to stage an uprising in Brasov to seize power. They've read French reports and believe Romania is on the verge of collapse. Should we suppress it?"

"Let them make a fuss. It's not like anyone wants to interfere with them."

The Romanians did not want their country to be destroyed, so they took the initiative to suppress the unrest. Then they unexpectedly discovered that the unrest was caused by the Romanians from various European countries who had come to support them. So the Romanian army angrily threw them off the mountain and smashed them into pieces of flesh.

Territorial negotiations are indeed a very frustrating process.

Only two people reached a consensus the fastest.

The first step is to cut off the chicken's head, which means completely cutting off the European part of Türkiye.

Hu Zhantian hereby announces:

"Istanbul Province, the European part of Turkey, and the entire Bosphorus Strait will be transformed into an internationally managed zone. Similar to the idea of ​​making Constantinople the capital of the League of Nations after World War I, we hope that Istanbul, or what some people prefer as 'Constantinople,' can become the international political and economic center of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Near East. Its political status will be similar to that of a free zone."

On the surface, neither the Allied forces nor the new Soviet Union legally ceded this area. However, the right to station troops there was indispensable. Therefore, it was traditionally regarded as a shared territory, but in reality, it was a private reserve.

Although it was called an international open zone, the management was in the hands of the new Soviet Union and the Allied forces. Sending immigrants into this ruin that once housed 2500 million people was actually a very technical matter. In this regard, they could simply hire population management consultants from Singapore. They would very cleverly control the number of the main, reliable ethnic group to 70%, while compressing other social groups to 30%, ensuring a stable system of checks and balances between the former and the latter.

The second issue is the constituent republics of Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian representatives unanimously agreed to hasten their merger with the new Soviet Union, as they were left with only a large number of elderly, infirm, and disabled people, with a population of just over 200 million, most of whom had fled to the European part of the country. At this time, even traditional agriculture and white goods industries such as refrigerators were struggling to maintain operating rates, and 40% of the land had been abandoned.

Bulgaria's white goods industry, as well as some electronics, is doing well, at least in Europe. So the coalition forces quickly decided to transfer Bulgaria's agricultural zones to the Ministry of Agriculture for vertical management, while other home appliances were directly packaged and transferred to domestic home appliance companies.

Of course, both of these policy shifts require the country to provide at least 800 million able-bodied men to revitalize the local economies. Whether it's collective farms, the Danube agricultural region, or Istanbul's international trade and commerce districts, these areas all need a large population to restart.

To gather such a large population and prevent further regional political instability, population policy became the most frequent requirement Li Xinghe sent back to China. From impoverished counties across Chinese provinces to poverty databases in North Korea, South Korea, and Japan, and even overseas Chinese communities in Myanmar and Thailand in Southeast Asia, many ethnic groups overseas began receiving population mobilization orders. Li Xinghe also recruited many people from the Uyghur region of Xinjiang, intending to overthrow the Tiangang regime and bring them to Turkey, hoping to use their language and political advantages to assimilate the Turks.

What Turks? Sorry, none of them.

In any case, even more people are needed now. Even the Japanese collective farm companies have seen many people come and go, running off to the new Soviet-controlled areas.

Olympia teased Li Xinghe:

"This is going to be interesting. The population supply is really going to fall short of demand."

Who would have thought that East Asia, with its abundant population resources, would experience a shortage of people?

Li Xinghe shrugged:

"That's great, at least it can stimulate childbirth."

There are opportunities only when there are jobs, and opportunities are naturally plentiful in life.

"There's another place, the United States."

There's still a lot of untapped population potential in the US. For example, New York, which Li Xinghe definitely can't utilize, has a significant Asian population.

Li Xinghe's actions of mobilizing people from all directions, especially transporting Uyghurs by the boatload to Istanbul, were not concealed, yet no one questioned them. The victors of world hegemony possess such privileges, much like the United States has several large bases in Germany, crammed with Americans.

The second round of territorial and economic negotiations has begun again.

Hu Zhantian made the following public announcement first:

"We reached a consensus with Greece to change the sovereignty of Cyprus. Given that less than one-tenth of the island's population remains, and most have scattered, the State of Cyprus will be abolished and transformed into Cyprus under the Middle East Command, consisting of two parts: Cyprus and the new Soviet sovereign base area. One of the ports in the sovereign area will be given to Greece."

All other island territories were returned to Greece. Greece opened its own border waterways and the Chania naval base on Crete.

Secondly, Romania.

"We have reached a consensus on cooperation with Romania. The Moldavia Soviet Socialist Republic will cooperate with the Moldova Region of Romania, and the Valladía Border Region will cooperate with the Danube Estuary Region of our country. We will ensure the sovereignty, integrity and unity of the Romanian state."

The implication was that sovereignty would remain unchanged, but governance would be altered, preserving Romania's dignity. Devastated, Romania quickly accepted the cooperation.

"We announce cooperation with Serbia..."

"We announce our partnership with Hungary..."