Chapter 482 Dare to Bet? (Bug Fix): If you don't dare to sit at the table, you lose.
In the summer of 1998, the world was far from peaceful; it could even be said that half the population was living in dire straits.
This is not an exaggeration, but a literal description of dire straits.
First, China, the world's most populous country, is experiencing a once-in-a-century flood.
Even though Wang Xiao knew about the 1998 catastrophic flood before she time-traveled, when time returned to the summer of that year, knowing only the name of the 1998 flood, she still couldn't do anything.
She even had to watch the news again to learn that this year, due to the El Niño phenomenon, most parts of the country experienced significantly more rainfall than usual. Starting in June, some areas experienced continuous torrential rains, and the Yangtze River, Nenjiang River, Songhua River, and other river basins were all affected, with floods occurring in as many as 29 provinces and municipalities.
She also had to put her hand on her chest and feel fortunate that Anhui had once again stepped up and become a flood discharge area.
Otherwise, how would she guarantee the supply of goods in the International Trade City and supply channels in Liangjiang Province?
So apart from donating 1 billion yuan to Anhui to support its post-disaster reconstruction, there's really nothing else she can do.
The world's most populous country is experiencing deep waters, while India, the second most populous country, is experiencing intense heat.
In mid-May, India experienced its worst heatwave since 1956, with New Delhi and Allahabad reaching highs of 42°C and 46.1°C respectively. These are just official figures; actual temperatures were likely even higher.
Meanwhile, Russia is experiencing a severe drought. From Europe to Siberia and the Far East, rain seems to have forgotten that there is such a place on Earth that needs its rain, and it is stingy and refuses to show itself.
Excessive drought has even led to large-scale forest fires in the Khabarovsk Krai and Sakhalin Island.
Wang Xiao was so frustrated that he wished he could build an anti-aircraft gun and shoot all the clouds hovering over China north and south, so they could rain and cool down India, or bring rain and alleviate drought in Russia.
However, His Majesty the Weather does not obey anyone's commands.
It is a ruthless tyrant who completely disregards the lives of humans.
The same goes for the President of the United States.
Ivanov gasped as he looked at the latest breaking news.
This summer, due to the severe drought in Russia, he did not go on vacation to South Africa, but stayed in Moscow to allocate more resources, expedite the drilling of irrigation wells, and try to save as many crops as possible to prevent people from starving to death due to famine and unrest.
They are racking their brains to fight against natural disasters.
Yet some people don't cherish the good weather and insist on causing man-made disasters.
How many casualties would an airstrike on Iraq cause?
Yes, this trick is very effective.
When U.S. warplanes dropped bombs over Baghdad, all the world's news headlines had to take a backseat.
The United States is entering a period of "round the flag effect," where the public will temporarily unite behind the president, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Any attempt to impeach the president during wartime will be portrayed as treason and betrayal.
After exhaling a long breath, Ivanov finally uttered a sentence: "He really is the President of the United States!"
He redefined the nature of the struggle. By escalating a personal crisis into a national crisis, he successfully forced his adversaries to the same table.
Wang Xiao was also dumbfounded.
She wasn't surprised that the US invaded Iraq; wasn't that famous weapon of mass destruction created specifically for the Iraq War?
But that must have been after the turn of the millennium. The US president at that time was George W. Bush, not this one.
Besides, the 9/11 attacks happened then, and counterterrorism was a global consensus. It's only 1998 now, and the World Trade Center still stands tall.
In this situation, she could only sigh: Bill in Washington is really willing to go to any lengths to keep his presidency.
After winter set in in South Africa, she didn't stay in Cape Town for long. Her panda cubs in Moscow had given birth to twins, and she became a grandmother overnight without pain. She felt she absolutely had to come back and visit.
As a result, the little panda had just started drinking milk and could barely open its eyes when the war broke out.
“I can’t do it,” Ivanov muttered to himself. “Even if I were in his situation, I couldn’t bring myself to start a war just to keep my position. Unless—”
He thought for a moment and added, "Unless I step down, Russia will descend into turmoil, erupt into civil war, and cause even more deaths."
Otherwise, he would never risk other people's lives, as that would contradict his belief that everyone's life is only given to one person.
But is the United States now in danger of such turmoil?
No, absolutely not.
For any stable country, changing presidents is not a major, earth-shattering event.
It's not like the US has never had a president step down mid-term. Twenty years ago, there was Nixon, wasn't there? Did the US fall into chaos because of that? No, it didn't.
Now, President Bill has replaced Vice President Gore, both of whom are Democrats and their political views are unlikely to change significantly.
Strictly speaking, Ivan didn't think it was a contradiction at all. In his view, all contradictions in the country, except for class contradictions, weren't contradictions.
This is nothing more than a battle between personal desires and the public interest.
Ivanov shook his head with a wry smile and sighed, "Anatole is wrong, I am not suitable to be president."
It's not just a matter of not wanting to, but also of not being suitable.
Because he is inherently lacking in a strong desire for power and a ruthless, dark political instinct; which is crucial for politicians.
Wang Xiao touched his arm but didn't say anything.
She didn't know what to say; she needed time to process this earth-shattering news.
She still finds it unbelievable—in order to divert the pressure of his impeachment, he actually launched a war, forcibly shifting public attention from "the president's underwear" to "the country's flag."
Was he really forced into this situation?
If that's true, it's incredibly disappointing.
As the president of the United States, is this all he's capable of?
She casually touched Ivan's hand.
What else could she touch? Now that the pandas have become parents, they naturally have to revolve around their cubs, and she couldn't very well force them to go to work.
If the Iraq War had actually broken out five years earlier, then her economic strategy would have had to be adjusted.
The ringing of the telephone abruptly interrupted her thoughts. Her assistant came over with the phone, looking for Ivan—it was a call from the Kremlin.
The office director, Chubais, sounded relatively calm: "Hey! Ivan, you're in Moscow?"
That's complete nonsense!
The Deputy Prime Minister's every move must be reported. If he's not in Moscow, where else could he be?
Chubais's words were merely a casual greeting; his true purpose was to summon him to a meeting: "Come here, Ivan, to the Kremlin. Is the Queen here? If so, please bring her along; the President needs his image consultant's guidance."
Since he had spoken so directly, Ivanov couldn't refuse, so he could only bite the bullet and emphasize his position: "An image consultant can only be responsible for providing guidance and advice on the president's image, nothing else."
The president has two image advisors. One is his own daughter, whose opinions are irrelevant. The other is Wang, who is a foreigner, and whatever she says is easily subject to criticism.
Chubais didn't have time to argue about the details, and simply said vaguely, "Hurry up and come over. It will take you time to get here from the suburbs. Don't keep everyone waiting."
That's what they said, but when Wang Xiao and Ivanov arrived at the Kremlin's reception room, only Chubais and Chernomorno were there.
Because of the drought, the two of them did not go on vacation during the summer.
The fact that senior government officials remained at their posts and repeatedly went to the disaster area for relief efforts has significantly improved the public's goodwill towards this administration.
They nodded to Ivanov, and then the three of them gathered together to discuss the sudden US airstrikes on Iraq.
There's no doubt that the president has called everyone together today to discuss this important international matter. They need to reach a tacit understanding beforehand to avoid internal strife during the meeting.
Wang Xiao didn't join them. Instead, she deliberately avoided suspicion and went to the next room for afternoon tea. She stared at the scenery outside the window and continued to think about the future economic trends.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is likely to continue its upward trajectory, as war is always a positive factor for industrial production. Many companies are saved only by war.
What about the Nasdaq? Will the dot-com bubble burst prematurely?
No, she didn't want that to happen at all. The Nasdaq had to hold on until she made enough money to leave.
As Wang Xiao was intensely calculating in her mind, a shadow appeared beside her. She subconsciously took half a step to the side, feeling a sense of oppression that made her very uncomfortable.
At some point, Punonin, dressed in full uniform, entered the reception room and stood next to her.
His voice was low and ambiguous, his gaze fixed intently on Wang Xiao, carrying a hint of resentment he himself might not have realized: "Miss Wang, is this what you wanted to see?"
My God!
The previous shorting of US stocks was one thing, but at least she knew to inform him first. Besides, Russia's financial situation was indeed dire at the time, and a collapse could have happened at any moment. If she hadn't shorted US stocks and dragged the US down with her, and if OPEC increased oil production and oil prices plummeted at the meeting, Russia would have gone bankrupt.
Compared to such a tragic outcome, the bankruptcy and suicides of a few Wall Street businessmen seem insignificant.
But this time the situation was completely different. Her target was no longer the businessmen on Wall Street, but the White House in Washington, the president of Washington, the US government!
She stirs up trouble and throws the United States into chaos. What is she after? Is it all to prove her power, to prove that if she wants, even the president of a major country can be manipulated by her?
Ivan said that the First Lady of the United States is a victim of the arrogance of the elite class.
So what is Wang? He's just a smart person with an arrogant and self-righteous attitude!
God! This war should never have started.
Although since 1997, Iraq has had ongoing friction with UN weapons inspectors, refusing them access to certain locations and failing to provide relevant information, and has been heavily criticized by the international community for this.
However, the situation is far from warranting war, and the problem can be resolved entirely through diplomatic means.
If President Washington hadn't been driven to the brink, he bet this war would never have broken out.
Wang Xiao has never been good at self-reflection, especially when she is busy thinking about problems. Any negative information from the outside world will instantly trigger her to enter a fighting state.
She raised her eyebrows, making no attempt to hide her mocking smile: "Oh, Major General, what's going on now? Is the situation bad? Is something wrong with Russia?"
After she finished speaking, she shook her head first, "I'm so sorry, I really didn't see it at all."
"All I see is rising oil prices. America is truly America; even a fart from the US president can shake the earth."
She sneered, "But this is a good thing! Rising oil prices mean we can earn more foreign exchange by exporting oil. This year's drought is already so severe that even if it rains now, it won't be enough time to replant enough grain. Reduced grain production this year is inevitable. Without enough foreign exchange, how can we import grain? What, do you only think it's a good thing when everyone starves to death?"
Punoning was speechless, only able to subconsciously emphasize: "That's war! Miss Wang, you are a knowledgeable person, you should know how serious the consequences of war are, how many people will suffer, and how it will affect the entire world order."
"So what? Did I start the war?" Wang Xiao retorted bluntly. "Sir, have you mistaken me for someone else?"
Punonin frowned: "You could have not..."
He was suggesting that the White House in Washington wouldn't have reacted so strongly if it hadn't been for that kind of pressure.
Wang Xiao didn't give him a chance to finish speaking, abruptly interrupting him: "No, it could have been."
"On October 2, 1993, when the U.S. military deployed elite forces to Mogadishu to arrest warlord Aidid, who threatened the White House in Washington?"
"When the United States assembled a 15,000-strong multinational force to invade Haiti between June and July 1994, who held a gun to his head?"
"Who placed the bomb under his seat when NATO, led by the United States, bombed Bosnian Serb military targets and civilian facilities in August and September of the same year?"
"Less than a year later, on August 30, 1995, he led NATO in launching nearly 400 warplanes to strike the Serb army, which lasted for 21 days. It seems that no one threatened his political future or his life, right?"
Wang Xiao sized up Punoning, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "What, my Major General? It's only been less than three years, and you've already started to see me as a peace dove? You're even trying to pin this on me!"
Punonin was so speechless that his eyes almost rolled upwards. He tried to explain, "But those were things he did during his first term. He needed to establish his authority. But now it's his second term, and his original goal was peaceful development, not to demonstrate military power globally."
Wang Xiao retorted directly, "My God, sir, are you a mind reader? How do you know what he's planning to do?"
She clapped her hands, quite seriously, "Wow, that's amazing, Major General, you could go set up a fortune-telling stall."
Punonin spread his hands, making a gesture resembling surrender: "Alright, Miss Wang, I really don't want to argue with you. I just want to tell you that the situation is critical. What you mentioned before was small-scale and cannot be called a war at all; at most, it can only be considered a military operation. But the political storm he is facing now is far too severe."
“A brief punitive airstrike, generating headlines for three to five days, cannot stop the Jones trial and impeachment process. American public opinion will quickly return to his scandal. He will backfire and become an even bigger laughing stock.”
"So in order to turn the tide, he might very well turn it into a real war, a long and protracted one. He would act as a liberator and a great leader, declaring: to overthrow a tyrant and bring democracy to the Middle East. God, do you know what a catastrophe that would be?"
Wang Xiao's main principle is to absolutely avoid internal strife.
She retorted confidently, "Why should I know this? Whoever started the war and caused the disaster should know. Besides, what is poison to one is honey to another. Is this really a bad thing for Russia?"
"Without a doubt, the US military action was not authorized by the United Nations. It bypassed the UN to take action against Iraq, which gave Russia an excellent moral foothold. Russia stood up to uphold the UN Charter and oppose US hegemony."
"Because the United States' target is not just Iraq; it wants to overthrow all regimes that do not obey Washington, including Russia and other independent and sovereign countries."
"This is a good opportunity for Russia to step forward and rapidly enhance its international influence, showing the world that the United States is the aggressor and Russia is the defender of the international order."
Wang Xiao shook his head as he spoke, "I really don't understand why you're so agitated, Major General. This is an opportunity for Russia. The GKO incident has hurt Russian nationalist sentiment, and the people need a morale boost. Including you, sir—"
She pointed at Punoning and lowered her voice, "Isn't it a good thing that America is too busy to attend to other matters? Your European plans must have been progressing smoothly these past few months."
She raised her eyes, stared at the slightly stunned Punoning, and said with a forced smile, "Major General, you seem to often forget to say thank you to me."
Punonin subconsciously pursed his lips, and just as he was about to speak, the door suddenly opened, and Diachenko's face appeared in the doorway: "Your Majesty, so you're here. It's time for the meeting."
Wang Xiao nodded and politely said to Punoning, "Major General, please go ahead with your work."
Punonin straightened his face, annoyed that he had been too emotional and hadn't even noticed when Dyachenko had arrived or how long he had been listening.
He forced a smile and nodded at Wang Xiao: "Hey! Wang, you know, that's not what I meant. I just wanted to hear more of your insights."
Shit!
This is a classic case of forcibly labeling someone, making you feel like a sinner, and then trying every means to atone for your sins by rushing to help.
If you don't fall for their tricks and fight back, they'll start playing innocent again.
It's like trying to plaster mud on a wall!
She thought that by bringing him into the game and letting him experience shorting US stocks firsthand, she could use this opportunity to dispel his mystique of America.
Unfortunately, the United States remains the unattainable ideal for political elites in many countries around the world. Their love runs deep, and no one can stop them.
It doesn't matter if you scheme against a few businessmen; in the eyes of political elites, businessmen are simply not respectable figures.
But when it comes to the US government and high-ranking officials, they react as if they've been stepped on.
Wang Xiao smiled broadly: "Of course, Vlamikil, I haven't even criticized you because we've been old friends for many years."
Tyachenko quickly composed himself, forcibly suppressing his laughter, and reached out to pull Wang Xiao's arm: "Wang, let's go to the conference room together."
Wang Xiao shook his head: "No, I need to think about this alone here. What should the President wear the next time he appears in public?"
Dyachenko did not force the issue.
This is a silent understanding.
She knew perfectly well that Wang Xiao wouldn't attend the meeting, but she was determined to take the initiative to invite him.
She nodded to Wang Xiao: "Then I'll trouble you."
Wang Xiao really took this to heart.
When the meeting ended and a group of people came out of the conference room, the president asked her, "My image consultant, what would be the most appropriate thing for me to wear?"
Wang Xiao looked at him seriously: "You are a warrior who resists tyranny, so you should look like a warrior."
The large-statured president smiled: "You always manage to offer the most appropriate advice."
As Ivanov descended the long steps of the Kremlin and got into the car, he was still expressing his feelings: "He really went all out; he's playing with the fate of the United States."
Not wanting to be humiliated to death in a Washington courtroom, he decided to fight his way out amidst the gunfire of the Persian Gulf.
Anyway, he wasn't the one going to the battlefield. If he failed, he would be gambling with the fate of the United States and his personal political life.
He won't lose his life; he's just dragged someone down with him.
Seeing that Wang Xiao remained silent, he raised his arm and brought it to her lips: "Go ahead and bite, don't eat spicy food, it's too dry in Moscow."
He was worried that since it was never raining, she would get a stomachache and fever from eating spicy food, and then she would suffer terribly.
Wang Xiao laughed, then suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and bit him lightly, without any force.
Ivanov laughed and said, "If I put in a little effort, everyone will just envy me for having such a hot lover."
The next second, Wang Xiao bit his arm hard, making him howl in pain.
When Wang Xiao released his mouth, Xiao Gao secretly glanced at him and, good heavens, there was a deep ring of teeth marks, almost drawing blood.
Ivanov looked aggrieved and held his arm out in front of her: "Blow on it."
Wang Xiao smiled and blew on it twice before he was satisfied.
As the car was about to leave the city, Ivan suddenly spoke up: "The president will be heading to the United Nations soon."
This is the core content of today's meeting.
Wang Xiao nodded, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying, "As the leader, you definitely need to have a positive attitude."
Washington’s sudden move presented Moscow with a golden opportunity.
The President of the Kremlin can bolster domestic public opinion and enhance international influence by playing the role of an "anti-hegemony leader," adding a significant chapter to his otherwise lackluster political career.
He will inevitably take an unprecedentedly tough stance against the United States.
Because international politics is always a matter of ebb and flow, America's disaster is Russia's geostrategic opportunity.
Having missed this opportunity, the Kremlin president, who is unlikely to be re-elected, will probably never have another chance to demonstrate his leadership as a major power.
Ivanov hesitated slightly: "To be honest, I still doubt whether the US president will actually escalate the conflict?"
It was unnecessary; he always believed it was unnecessary. War should not be fought so lightly.
Perhaps the United States could quickly destroy Saddam's army; the Gulf War of 1990 has already proven the combat effectiveness of the US military.
At the time, the United States was unable to find a stable alternative in Iraq immediately, so Saddam Hussein remained the leader of Iraq.
The situation is the same now. There is no one who can replace him, so eliminating Saddam means that Iraq will fall into a power vacuum and instability.
Is this really in America's interest?
In the end, Bill, who went from a scandal-ridden president to a war president, may still not be able to completely escape the fate of impeachment or the disgrace of his political reputation.
Wouldn't that mean you've been busy for a long time, only to end up losing more than you gain?
Unless he extends the campaign until early 2001, when his second term ends.
Good heavens! It's only July 1998, which means this war will last for two and a half years.
Americans mired in war will be angry, they will protest, they will march. At that point, he will most likely be abandoned by his supporters, and even the Democratic Party behind him will completely abandon him.
Is it worth it?
Like a gambler who is desperate and has already lost everything, but is unwilling to leave the game with dignity, and insists on betting everything he has.
But now, Ivanov doesn't know how a beast driven to the brink can save itself except by dragging everyone down with it.
It's not like the US president would pay a hefty sum to hire Wang Xiao as his public relations consultant to solve the problem.
If that were the case, Wang would probably refuse. She's never been to America and doesn't understand American thinking.
Wang Xiao suddenly laughed, as if talking to himself: "He has already won."
Ivanov was stunned: "What? You won?"
Okay, so what would have been the outcome of the US attacking Iraq? You can guess without even watching.
We already fought one in 1990, isn't the answer already there?
Eight years have passed, and the United States has flourished. It might be even easier to defeat them now.
Look at how fast, accurate, ruthless, and steady he was, right after he just finished the airstrike on Baghdad.
Wang Xiao shook his head with a smile, filled with emotion: "No, no, no, what I mean is, when everyone believes in Bill's determination to keep his presidency, and that he will not hesitate to press the war button for it, he has already won."
She sighed, resting her head on Ivan's shoulder, lazily playing with his hand. "You, and Vladimir, both believe he will wage a full-scale war. Because he's betting his entire political life, he has to force his opponents to bet what they dare not bet."
She stacked his fingers one by one, then shook them up and down, finding it quite amusing.
Ivanov was used to being manipulated like a toy by her, and simply listened quietly as she continued.
"If the war escalates further, threatening global oil supplies and even risking direct confrontation with Russia and other countries, his political opponents at home will face a fatal question: Is it worth plunging the country into a world war and economic crisis just to get rid of him? Most rational politicians would choose to back down. They just want the president out of office, not to trigger an economic recession and a potential proxy war now, and certainly not to burn away the aura of global leadership that the United States has gained since the Cold War?"
Wang Xiao laughed as he spoke, “It’s all about playing mind games, seeing who can outmaneuver whom. And the international community will cooperate with him. Russia needs this opportunity to regain the international influence it lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and France will also be hesitant to use force without thorough diplomatic efforts, which is its consistent stance. Iraq will be terrified and will be treated with the highest level of alert. The fear of war can be amplified by just one Iraq.”
"It will be like the first domino to fall, triggering a series of far-reaching and complex chain reactions, accelerating the arrival of a more multipolar and uncertain world."
"Under such pressure of being on the verge of becoming an enemy of the whole world, the Republican Party will most likely choose to negotiate with him through a middleman, so that both sides can take a step back and maintain dignity."
"As long as he remains in the presidency and is not impeached, he will still have a chance to make a comeback."
Ivanov sighed, "This is truly the president of a great power!"
He's the kind of person who dares to gamble, the kind who's willing to go all in. He's willing to go all in, and you guys aren't, so he wins.
Moreover, after he won, his opponents all admired him because he was a truly ruthless person.
Wang Xiao laughed as he spoke: "And even if someone realizes that this is all an act, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if the grand military operation's prelude is abruptly cut short halfway through. Because everyone can take advantage of the situation to become a winner."
"Whether it's Russia, China, or France, they can all take the outcome as the result of their own efforts in mediation. This proves that the United States has to give everyone face, or take this opportunity to flex its muscles and demonstrate its military deterrent power."
"Iraq was only given a lesson, and at least it wasn't wiped out, which is a victory in itself. They can proclaim this to their own country and even the Middle East that the United States doesn't dare to really destroy them."
"The United States itself can take this opportunity to turn it into a large-scale military equipment exhibition, showcasing its military strength to the world, and then sell a wave of arms to boost the development of the military industry."
Wang Xiao spread his hands, a half-smile on his face, "There are no losers, only winners."
This is the confidence of a great power.
With the slightest flick of its finger, it can make the whole world revolve around it.
Bill Washington doesn't need to actually overthrow Saddam; he only needs to fill national television screens for several days with images of fleets gathering and warplanes taking off to change the political landscape.
Ivanov touched his nose and chuckled, "That's true. You really can't underestimate the US president and his think tank. He's engaging in war blackmail."
He wouldn't naively believe that a war could save him, but he would ruthlessly use war as the greatest tool of intimidation to secure a relatively decent outcome for himself.
This is the true mindset of a top political player in dire straits: when a game within the rules cannot be won, he does not hesitate to threaten to overturn the entire table, forcing everyone to agree to a re-deal.
So, is this a bad thing? Is it a bad thing that the whole world is playing along with his act?
Not necessarily.
Looking out the car window at the lush, vibrant summer of Moscow, Wang Xiao saw that even the drought hadn't caused the plants to wither.
The United States, by prematurely revealing its fangs, will end the ambiguous roles of China and Russia in international affairs since the end of the Cold War, and re-establish its international image by adopting an anti-hegemonic stance.
A new multipolar world may arrive sooner than expected.
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Note: It is generally believed that President Yevgeny Ibrahim of Russia in the 1990s had a relatively weak attitude towards the West and the United States, but he also had moments of assertiveness. For example, before the outbreak of the Kosovo War, Ibrahim issued a strong warning to NATO that if NATO dared to bypass the United Nations and launch a military strike against Yugoslavia without authorization, Russia would respond with nuclear weapons. He also ordered Russia's aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and missile forces to be on combat readiness to respond to the deteriorating situation in Kosovo. However, later, due to economic pressure (in reality, Russia defaulted on its national debt and effectively went bankrupt in August 1998) and military pressure from the West, Ibrahim's attitude underwent a significant change after emergency consultations between the Russian Foreign Minister and the United States. He no longer insisted on a hardline stance, only emphasizing that Russia would send three ships to monitor the situation, and that these three ships were not carrying any weapons. Subsequently, Ibrahim also reiterated to US President John Baptiste that Russia had no intention of military intervention in the Kosovo conflict and had no plans to send more warships to the Balkans.
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