Now in 2000, the United States is still at the peak of its post-Cold War super-level, and the national life is also very good. Therefore, when the general election results came out, although all kinds of noise and controversy were inevitable, the society as a whole quickly accepted it, and there was no sign of martial law and riots that would happen more than ten or twenty years later.
It is probably difficult for Americans at this time to imagine that such a thing will happen to their powerful and great country one day in the future.
People are always accustomed to treating the short-term present as eternity.
The Westeros system.
Simon took a brief break as a spectator on Tuesday before returning to work the next day.
It's just about the general election, there are still too many follow-up matters to deal with.
At the same time, after the North American stock market rebounded sharply on the day of the election, it was generally upward for three consecutive trading days. The Nasdaq index once again returned to a high of over 8,000 points on Thursday, November 9. Ingredients also Become a giant with a market value of trillions again.
The situation is looking up.
Simon did not relax because he knew that after such a sudden reversal at the end of the election, Gore lost the election, and it was impossible for the Democratic Party to be emotionless. The reason why it did not happen like in 1994 is because of the North American stock market.
Now the Nasdaq is like a 'porcelain doll' that no one dares to touch. If it breaks, no one can afford it.
Simon's side has happened to prove that the Westeros system has the ability to overturn the table at any time, so he cannot deal with it too fiercely.
However, it is impossible not to respond.
Simon received news that in Washington, on the day after the election, some congressmen were quietly discussing secretly, planning to further strengthen the supervision of election laws.
Although, Simon didn't think it would work.
After all, between the two major parties, if you don’t want money, the other party may take it, and the result will only be a trade-off. Therefore, the most sane but fundamentally the way to quench thirst is to accept others as you accept them, and to relax them as you relax them. As for the future, you can’t care so much about the future.
Just like the 2016 election, anyone with a discerning eye could see that social networks had seriously contributed to it. There was a commotion afterwards, and there were even unreliable rumors that FB would be punished with a US$4 trillion penalty. In the end, it was still Lift it high and put it down gently.
Capital is still capital.
The social networks that control public opinion are still those social networks.
However, there is a certain trend that must be guarded against.
Simon's approach is to cover up the situation when it comes, and on the other hand, continue to prepare for a rainy day.
Double protection.
Manhattan, in the super mansion on the top floor of Westeros Towers.
The time is November 10th.
Friday.
Simon made an appointment to have dinner with his personal military affairs assistant, Celia Miller, at his home here at noon, mainly for reasons of confidentiality.
Today’s topic is part of preparing for a rainy day.
Discussing the continued infiltration of the federal military, there is only one target related to the topic, the National Guard.
The National Guard, which has the same legal status as the U.S. regular army, is simply a military force targeting the United States. For example, during the Los Angeles riots in 1992, the National Guard was the first to suppress them.
In addition, Simon is also interested in the fact that the command authority of the National Guard lies at the state government level, which means that under certain circumstances, it is more difficult for the Westeros system to mobilize the National Guard indirectly than it is to go through Regular troops in the Washington channel are much lower.
As for the Westeros system, which has cultivated tens of thousands of private armies around the world, why does it still need to infiltrate the US military
The reason is simple, for a 'justifiable name'.
Also, this makes it easier for Simon to stand behind the scenes and maintain his black-hand status.
This is actually like the 'unofficial organization' that the Federation is best at using to do things outside. If it is successful, it has nothing to do with me, but the benefits are real. If it is screwed up, it has nothing to do with me, but I will lose some money. Just consumables.
In the same way, if something goes wrong, if the Westeros system immediately activates private soldiers, it may produce a stronger feedback. But if the National Guard or the US military are included, no matter whether it is internal or external, even if everyone thinks I know full well that you are causing trouble, but on the surface there is nothing you can do about it.
Because the official troops have legal legitimacy.
For example, to suppress chaos like the 1992 Los Angeles riots, it was natural for the National Guard to enter the scene. If the Weijia private army enters the scene, the result is more likely to trigger an even stronger popular uprising.
On the other hand, the method of infiltration is not difficult. Funding, training, climbing up step by step, and finally gaining considerable command power.
Simon didn't mind spending money, but the key to this was time.
Spending a large sum of money in a short period of time will not have much effect, and may also arouse official alert. Therefore, it can only be done through a long operation of ten or twenty years, not only the cultivation of loyalty, but also the deep bundling of interests. Only in this way can Simon be able to act like an arm and a finger when he needs it.
Speaking of which, 20 years from now is exactly a node.
The lunch lasted for nearly two hours, and towards the end, Celia Miller promised to push forward Simon's request as soon as possible, while she couldn't help but said: "Boss, you helped George W. Bush get the presidency. I thought you would be very happy recently. , I didn’t expect... I mean, I think you are even more insecure?"
Simon ate a plate of fruit salad with a fork and said after hearing this: "Maybe I have read too much history. History has proven countless times that people in my position are too easy to be used as targets, or scapegoats, because Few people are willing to admit that they have made mistakes, and most people prefer to blame others for their mistakes. Therefore, as a conspicuous guy as me, I am inherently wrong."
Celia gave a comforting smile: "Boss, you should have more confidence in the federal system."
"I have always believed that the fundamental reason why the Federation has been able to reach this point is that we are on a separate continent far away from disputes. This is luck, not a system."
Her boss had told her a similar argument. Celia couldn't fully agree, but she couldn't refute it. After thinking about it, she couldn't help but ask: "Boss, I'm a little curious, what if... I mean what if, one day in the future , what will you do if the worst situation you predicted happens?"
"Escape," Simon said, "However, before I leave, I will destroy everything I can destroy. What should be mine, if someone comes to rob it, they will only get a ruin."
Celia couldn't help but fantasize about how the Westeros building where she was at this time was reduced to ruins, and she was a little silent for a moment.
Simon put down the silver fork in his hand, and when the woman opposite him didn't speak, he smiled and asked, "Are you scared?"
Celia nodded slightly.
I remembered an incident that seemed to have happened a long time ago. My boss was still a poor boy at that time and was attacked by a group of unscrupulous Hollywood youths. Then, according to the details later discovered by the media, the man opposite had obviously suffered a lot. Although they were seriously injured, they still dragged those guys to the alley one by one, and all of them had one leg broken.
That scene is a bit scary when I think about it.
It seems that a similar plot was filmed in a movie a few years ago, and that low-budget B-level movie made a lot of money because of this gimmick.
Simon took out a napkin on one side to wipe his hands, and continued: "I have never felt that I am not a good person, because the fundamental rules of this world determine that a truly good person cannot climb to the top of the pyramid unless he is already on top. However, I really hope that the world can become a better place, because it is good for all of us. I have also been trying to use practical actions to promote this matter. On the other hand, the problem is that I am also a very serious person. A pessimist. I believe that if you pay, you will be rewarded, and if you pay, you will be rewarded. But I never believe that if a person pays, there will be a reward. Therefore, I am not sure whether I can finally change this. world, make it a better place.”
Celia looked up.
Simon quickly continued: "My expectations are actually very low. If I give and the world gives me a disappointing result, it doesn't matter. But if the world hurts me in turn, and my Family, then I will definitely fight back and fight back at all costs, even if it destroys the world."
Two o'clock in the afternoon.
Celia said goodbye and left, but Simon remained in Westeros Towers and soon welcomed the next visitor.
Chen Qing was led by the housekeeper to the open hall on the lower floor of the mansion. She saw her boss sitting next to a piano near the glass curtain wall. She walked over quickly and wanted to throw herself into her arms, but was glanced at. , I can only sit on the bench obediently side by side with my boss, listening to the occasional ding ding dong dong.
Simon spoke first and said in Chinese: "How are you doing lately?"
Chen Qing immediately showed a flattered expression, leaned over and said, "That's great. The boss asked about it right away. I'm so touched."
For some reason, this girl can always make herself relax quickly. Simon smiled: "I thought you would accompany Jenny and the others in Asia, my host."
"There are neighbors in Southeast Asia. I will go back tomorrow. I will accompany my wife on a tour of China next Monday," Chen Qing explained, and added: "The North American stock market these days, anyway, Xiangshan Network is frightened. The people above I also asked about this specifically, and I was worried that it would be like CNOOC’s first IPO, so I had no choice but to come over and have a look in person.”
Simon recalled the IPO of Xiangshan Network and said: "As long as your rhythm remains unchanged and the listing is completed in early December, there will be no problem."
Chen Qing stretched out her beautiful fingers and pressed the keys together with her boss, ding Dongdong, while looking over with bright eyes: "Boss, why are you so sure?"
Simon shook his head: "I won't tell you."
"Uh-huh..." Chen Qing said aggrievedly, and then said to please: "I also brought a gift to the boss this time."
Of course Simon knew what the gift from Nizi beside him was, but he was not very interested at this time: "I don't know how many 'gifts' you have saved for me. It costs me a lot to keep them."
"Not many. Here in North America, every time I bring them, well, the boss has not seen them, there are only more than a hundred." Chen Qing shook her green-white finger: "There are a lot more over in Asia. The boss wants There are as many as there are.”
Simon knocked out a rising syllable at random and said: "Take some time to let some go wild, we can't afford to raise them."
"Boss, a canary that is used to the exquisite life in a cage will die if it is left in the wild."
"It's not a canary."
Chen Qing tilted her head and suddenly showed a bad smile: "Boss, do you want to see, um, suddenly return to Cinderella status from Her Royal Highness? Tsk, there is such a gap. It's quite interesting to think about it. How about I have been there recently? Just release a few?"
"If you can do bad things, do more, and follow me to hell from now on."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm with the boss..." Chen Qing nodded her head with a smile, stretched out her hand to touch the keys one by one: "... Jing, flag, ten, ten thousand, chop, Yan, Luo."
Simon didn't answer, and some feelings surfaced, and his fingertips flicked.
Chinese tunes.
While playing, he hummed softly: "... When I was seven years old, I caught that cicada, thinking I could catch summer. When I was seventeen years old, I kissed her face, and I thought I would be with her forever... "
Chen Qing immediately calmed down and listened carefully.
Simon hummed something, paused, and after a while found some lyrics and some tunes.
*…
*Is there such a thing as never, ever changing.
*The beauty that has been embraced will never be broken again.
*Let the harsh years not show up on your face, let life and death be far away
*Can anyone hear me
*…