Following Sir Hood's introduction, Alan realized that he had fallen into a misunderstanding. There is still some difference between Scouting and Boy Scouting.
Especially the Boy Scouts in Hong Kong. This thing has a history of several decades, nearly a hundred years, and it is not only for children, but also for people of all ages in the future.
The age range is from four or five years old to over twenties!
Looking at the slogan about the Boy Scouts in the distance, Alan didn't know much about such things. He didn't know much about them and would ask when he had the chance.
…
Sir Hodder had been observing Allen's expression. Seeing the confusion in his eyes, he smiled and took the initiative to introduce: "Sir... In our country, there are also Scout organizations. Children from ordinary families can better cultivate their morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, and labor by participating in Scout activities from an early age. Some of these activities can also cultivate other things, which is very beneficial to children. It's just... here."
Hodder pointed to the children who were doing activities over there, smiled and said meaningfully: "These people have been educated and cultivated by our ideas since they were young. When they grow up, some elites will grow up here and can be used by us."
“…”
Got it. Alan narrowed his eyes slightly. After Hood's explanation, it was even harder for him to comment on this thing. He could only say... now, before Daying left, this thing was indeed fine. After so many decades of training, when the little scouts grew up, or when the little scouts in front of him grew up, their future thoughts... it would be hard to say.
With this group of people, plus the mines laid by Chris Patten, haha... we really need a plan and the manpower.
…
Halfway up the valley, there is a small pavilion that has been cleared.
Alan sat at the table and chairs, holding a newspaper and chatting with Hood. After turning a page of the newspaper, a piece of news that caught his eye almost made Alan burst out laughing.
This report in the Guardian is very interesting.
It is said that some time ago, the British intelligence department sent people to the shipyard of their good brothers, good allies and good neighbors to steal technical information about the nuclear reactor on the new French aircraft carrier.
Then he said seriously that Britain wanted to steal French technology.
Anyway, these two brothers are both on the decline... Although they are allies, they still have to do these petty thefts in secret. The most important thing is that this matter has been reported. I wonder how some people will feel after seeing this newspaper?
This reminded Allen of the new aircraft carrier plan discussed in Congress some time ago. It seems...
Britain is really anxious. It doesn't even let France go and is interested in everything.
…
"Haha, sir, I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. There are so many children... It's inevitable that some time will be wasted."
Patten was still wearing a suit and had a small beer belly. He came to the pavilion and greeted Alan with a smile, and nodded to Sir Hood beside him. The two exchanged glances, and Sir Hood gave him a look that everything was under control. Patten then breathed a sigh of relief, put on a smile on his face again, and walked to sit down next to Alan.
There is no command relationship between the two, so... Allen cannot command Patten, and vice versa, Patten cannot command Allen.
…
But Allen was a special envoy sent by the country, and he was here to support him.
Regardless of whether there was anything to do or not, Alan was not in a hurry. Now that Patten had officially taken office, he became the one who was anxious.
Although the two of them had not been getting along particularly well these past few days, Patten attributed this to Allen being too arrogant and looking down on his status. Didn't he see that he didn't want to attend the banquet last night?
But no matter how disharmonious it is, we still have to do what needs to be done.
Today, the reason why Chris Patten chose this place for the meeting was because it was remote, had a good environment, and would not be disturbed by outsiders.
Secondly, it is safe here and easy to set up defenses. You can talk about private topics without worrying about any wiretapping.
There are children everywhere here, and any adult, except the staff here, will be exposed as soon as they appear.
Seeing that Alan just nodded slightly and didn't say much, Patten rubbed his legs, coughed dryly, and prepared to talk about business first. Given his relationship with Alan, there was no atmosphere for chatting about family matters between them. Even if he wanted to chat, Alan probably wouldn't talk to him.
…
"Your Excellency... I have now officially taken over the position. Next, I plan to launch new policies..."
Patten told Allen the general direction of his next move without reservation, regardless of whether he could understand it or not.
This kind of thing needs to be kept secret from outsiders, but for Allen, there is really no need to keep it secret.
Even though Allen seemed to have a good relationship with Wei Dewei, in Patten's opinion, the relationship between the two of them was more based on interests. As for personal relationship...
Haha, what kind of personal relationship could there be between him, an English nobleman living in Wales, and the other party, a Scotsman?
Is Allen even a moderate?
This is even more impossible. Have you ever seen any moderate who dares to block someone's door in London and stab someone to death?
If Allen's behavior is moderate... then there is no hardliner.
Patten now needs Allen to help him do things, that is, to support him, but there is a gap in status between the two, so... he has to explain his plans and intentions to Allen first. He can't just throw tantrums and ignore each other just because the relationship between the two is not good. That is a stupid behavior, and can he force Allen to do anything?
With this ability, why would he ask for support?
…
Listening to Patten's plan, Alan frowned slightly. He had always acted as if he didn't care about these things, so now Patten had to take the initiative to find him and explain them to him in person.
The general meaning is to forcibly introduce some new regulations and legislations, and forcibly interpret some things, which is the so-called laying of mines.
Then he exaggerated his people-friendly attributes to cover up his previous nature as a dirty politician.
Once the people have this impression of him being approachable, and in cooperation with Sir Hood, the two will vigorously promote a group of pro-British locals and push them to power in the last few years.
Whether these people can keep their jobs after returning to China is not a question for the time being. It all depends on their ability in their jobs over the past few years. Those who are capable...
No matter where they are placed, they can do well, while those who are incompetent will be almost useless after they lose their positions.
But this move seems like an overt conspiracy, and that’s where its viciousness lies.
Those who can catch the eyes of Chris Patten and Sir Hood are basically local elites. They have already been screened and their abilities are not bad. Now they are suddenly assigned positions, which is a favor of promotion.
When they lose their positions or are demoted in the future, will they feel resentful towards that side?
In this way, these people become pawns in the dark, and they can be used to cause trouble remotely at any time.
…
One is in the open and the other is in the dark. As long as many local people are promoted in the past few years, those who are doing well will naturally be close to them because they have received favors from the two of them. For these capable people, even after returning, it will not be a problem for them to keep their jobs for the sake of stability.
Those who cannot keep their positions can also be used as hidden agents...
A two-pronged strategy... and there is no solution.
So, after hearing their plan, Alan's face twitched. This thing...what should he do?
If you want to make trouble, you have to have a place to make trouble, right?
Now according to their plan, Alan can't kill all the people they promoted one by one, right?
He is not that brave to do it.
There are so many people involved!
But never mind. If he lets them do this, Alan will feel uncomfortable.
Now... there are two paths left for him. One is to follow the established plan and continue to instigate Wei Dewei to cause trouble and create chaos for them. The second... is to do it himself.
…
After closing his eyes and pretending to think for a long time, Alan opened his eyes and glanced at the newspaper placed next to him, especially the news article about stealing technical information that he had just read, which gave Alan some inspiration.
Looking at Patten who looked sincere, Allen suddenly changed the subject and asked a question that made Patten a little confused.
"When you read this news in the newspaper, it reminded me of the discussion in the House of Lords last year about the feasibility of building a new aircraft carrier. You said... since France is our ally, why should we build aircraft carriers when they build aircraft carriers, just to defend against them? What kind of alliance is this? What's the purpose of doing this?"
"Uh... Your Excellency, they have it. We must take corresponding measures. Even if we are allies, it is only verbal. Many things..."
Patten hesitated for a long time and gave a not very clear explanation.
…
"Wait...you said verbally? If that's the case, why do we need to build an undersea tunnel connecting us to France? Why do we need to join the European Union?"
"this……"
Alan didn't quite understand this mentality of being on guard yet wanting to get along.
Since we are on guard, then let's not play. Since the general trend now is to play together, why do we have to be so cautious?
Is this different from the thinking of the Australian people in the future?
Persecution delusion.
It’s not that Alan is naive, but he really can’t understand the way these people act in one way and another behind the scenes. It’s too insincere.
"Your Excellency... this... this..."
This time, Patten hesitated for a long time and could not give Allen a definite explanation.
Things in the world are not that simple. If others have this kind of power but you don’t, you will always feel uncertain. Since you know that others have this kind of power, you are afraid that others will use this power to attack you, so... you will often think of this power in the worst direction, and then make up for it yourself, and then strengthen your own power. You also have to do some petty tricks to understand the true power of others. In the long run...
Contradictions are inevitable.
…
"I just thought about your plans. I won't comment on whether they are right or wrong, but... the contract was negotiated by both parties a few years ago. You are now openly violating it and doing these little tricks. You asked me to help you, what should I do? Let me ask you, what does honesty in chivalry mean? Do you know?"
“…”
When Alan talked about this, Patten felt annoyed...
He had thought of all the possibilities, but he had never thought that Alan would ask this. Although talking about chivalry now seemed a little childish, the man in front of him, no matter the background of his family or the position he held now, was a thorough knight!
If he really brought up the spirit of chivalry to question, even if Patten had a thick skin, he would not dare to make any nonsense explanations.
If you joke about this, others might just do it for fun, but the person in front of me won’t!
Just because Andrew in London insulted his honor with a few words, he stabbed the other person to death in the name of a duel. Now he used the same trick again, and Patten was in trouble instantly.
Asking a knight to be dishonest is almost like insulting his honor, almost like being challenged to a duel, almost like being stabbed to death by the opponent.
Now that he is not in his homeland, but in Hong Kong, Patten does not want to die in such a small valley on the second day after taking office. That would be too tragic!
…
"Sir, I...I have never questioned your noble character, this."
Patten scratched his head anxiously. He once again felt how difficult Alan was to get along with. He couldn't stand this kind of person who always made a big deal out of things.
But now, after he proposed these regulations and encountered opposition, he needed to use Allen's identity to suppress those who jumped out to oppose.
However, Allen's words made Patten unsure. He didn't want to be dishonest, so he neither opposed his plan nor stood up for his plan. What should he do?
Should he fly all the way here, just to play in Hong Kong for a few days and then go back?
When he thought of this, Patten's head hurt even more. Alan now gave him the feeling that he could neither command him nor was he a bit of a hindrance. Fuck!
…
Seeing that the conversation was becoming a little awkward, Sir Hood, who had been watching the show, took out a document and handed it to Alan, then gave Patten a look that indicated that everything was under control.
Seeing the look in Hood's eyes, Patten looked at the document again, and a small hope rose in his heart.
Since the negotiations fail, it means that the benefits are not enough. Start their plan B and give them benefits!
If you want to command a rather rough-tempered earl to do something, you have to give him some benefits, right?
He just didn't believe that Allen was not tempted by this plan.
…
Looking at the document handed over, Alan raised his eyebrows and asked curiously, "What is this?"
"Haha... This is the construction plan for the new airport that the Governor is going to use. You may remember that the earliest plan was drawn up by Sir Wei Dewei. Take a look..."
Sir Hood played the role of peacemaker. He did not mention the conversation between Alan and Patten just now, but only mentioned the plan at hand.
…
Opening the file, there was a plan inside. Alan flipped through it casually and was stunned by the estimated total cost - 20 billion US dollars!
Holy shit...what kind of airport is this? It’s so expensive?
Sir Hood's voice came faintly from the side.
"Sir... For this project, we can take at least half of the 20 billion budget. If you are in charge, the Governor is willing to give you 10% of the total revenue!"
…