lcionline Chapter 648 Tea Party Heavyweights
Chapter 648 Tea Party Heavyweights
As the dinner progressed, time seemed to speed up, and two hours passed quietly. The atmosphere of the entire dinner was as relaxed and happy as that created by Prince Windsor, as if it was really an ordinary gathering among good friends. The guests were immersed in the temptation of food and wine, and from time to time someone was spinning and dancing gracefully on the dance floor. The topics of conversation were mostly focused on food and relaxing daily trivia, deliberately avoiding the sensitive area of politics.
However, Su Zhengyang remained alert and observant. He knew that Prince Windsor, as a high-ranking English royal aristocrat, had not invited him just for this superficial gathering.
His eyes moved around the banquet hall, capturing every detail that might reveal information.
When the dinner finally came to an end, the guests began to leave one after another, and Su Zhengyang was also preparing to leave. At this moment, Prince Windsor walked up to him with a meaningful smile on his face.
"Oh, my friend," Prince Windsor said in a deep and magnetic voice, "How about we find a place to drink tea and chat together? Although I am English, I have always been very interested in your Chinese tea culture."
Su Zhengyang's heart moved, he knew that this moment was the real beginning of the topic.
He smiled and responded, "Of course, Prince Windsor. I would be happy to discuss the secrets of the tea ceremony with you."
The two people's eyes met in the empty banquet hall, as if they were having a conversation without gunpowder. They knew that what was about to take place would be an important conversation concerning the relationship between the two countries. So, they walked out of the banquet hall side by side and headed towards the tea room.
When Su Zhengyang, Fang Dihu and the personal guards followed Prince Windsor to open the door of the tea room near the banquet hall, a faint scent of tea and low voices of conversation came towards them. In the tea room, several exquisite tea sets were neatly placed, and the soft light reflected several quiet faces.
Su Zhengyang's eyes swept through the tea room and he was slightly startled. He saw Vladimir Dvorak, the prince of the Polish Empire, Ekaterina Ivanovna, the noblewoman of the Russian Empire, Eric van der Velden, the merchant magnate of the Dutch Empire, François Dubois, the ambassador of the French Empire, and Jose Antonio Lopez, the Minister of Defense of the Spanish Empire, sitting around the tea table, their faces filled with eager and expectant expressions.
Françoise Dubois was an old acquaintance of Su Zhengyang. She was wearing an elegant evening gown, and her every move revealed a kind of romance and nobility that was unique to French women. When she saw Su Zhengyang, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She immediately stood up and extended her hand elegantly: "President Su, it's great to see you here."
Prince Windsor smiled and introduced the distinguished guests to Su Zhengyang one by one: "President Su, please allow me to introduce you. This is Prince Vladimir Dvorak, the pride of the Polish royal family. Their family has left a strong mark in European history. This is Ms. Ekaterina Ivanovna, the treasure of the Russian Empire. Her family has a pivotal position in Russian society. And Mr. Eric van der Velden, a business tycoon of the Dutch Empire, his business is spread all over the world. And Minister José Antonio Lopez is the backbone of the Spanish Empire's defense and has made great contributions to the country's security and stability."
Under the introduction of Prince Windsor, Su Zhengyang shook hands with the distinguished guests one by one, with a warm smile on his face, showing the demeanor of a leader of a great country. The atmosphere in the tea room became more heated with the arrival of Su Zhengyang, and an important meeting concerning relations between countries was about to begin.
"President Su, I believe you have already made some guesses and preparations about the purpose of my special invitation to you to the dinner today." Prince Windsor skillfully manipulated the tea set and brewed the best fragrant tea for the guests. He looked deeply at Su Zhengyang and said slowly, "Indeed, the deeper intention of all of us gathering here is to establish closer diplomatic relations with China."
He paused, his eyes becoming more determined. "Specifically, we hope that China can become a member of our anti-aggression alliance and jointly resist those forces that intend to undermine international peace and stability."
While they were talking, the door was suddenly pushed open, breaking the brief silence. A tall, slightly fat middle-aged white man walked in with an apologetic smile on his face, "I'm sorry, Prince Windsor, I'm late. You know, the distance from the United States to China is really too long."
Prince Windsor immediately stood up and shook hands with the newly arrived guest. "Mr. Greens, it's great that you are here. Please allow me to introduce you to President Su Zhengyang of our country."
Mr. Greens immediately turned to Su Zhengyang, smiled and extended his hand, "Hello, President Su! There is an old Chinese saying, 'It is better to meet in person than to hear about it.' Your reputation has long been known throughout the world. It is a great honor to meet you today."
Su Zhengyang also stood up and shook hands with Mr. Greens. "Hello, Mr. Greens! Your arrival makes tonight's party even more perfect. Our country has always adhered to the diplomatic principles of peace and friendship, and is open to any cooperation that is conducive to international peace and development."
Su Zhengyang's eyes fell on Greens in front of him, and his eyes revealed deep thought. The people gathered in this teahouse were all heavyweights in the anti-aggression alliance, and they each represented the interests and positions of their own countries. And Greens, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, was an existence that could not be ignored in this alliance.
The Federal Reserve, as the monetary institution of the United States, controls the economic lifeline of this country and even the entire capitalist world. In this world where money is the main driving force, whoever controls the money bag controls the world to a large extent. As the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Greens' every decision and every action touches the hearts of countless people, not only affecting the economic trend of the United States, but also having a profound impact on the development direction of the world economy.
This identity gives him power beyond that of an ordinary person. In the U.S. political system, the Fed Chairman is a relatively independent role. He is not directly controlled by the president and does not need the president's approval to make important decisions. This high degree of independence enables him to make choices that are in line with his own judgment at critical moments without having to consider the influence of political factors too much.
Although the chairman of the Federal Reserve has enormous power, they are not completely unconstrained. In theory, the only one who can impose certain constraints on them is the U.S. Congress. However, in practice, Congress often maintains a tacit attitude towards the Federal Reserve. Because the Federal Reserve is equivalent to the God of Wealth of Congress, providing them with a continuous source of funds. In this context, who would be willing to easily offend this God of Wealth?
In the past 25 years, the US has changed four presidents, but Greens has remained firmly in the position of chairman of the US Federal Reserve. This is not only because of his outstanding professional ability and profound political wisdom, but also because of the powerful interests and forces behind him. His status and influence have long surpassed that of an ordinary official and have become a symbol of an era.