At 7 p.m. on August 2, the Saudi Embassy in China, located at No. 1 North Street in Sanlitun, was crowded and lively.

Ten minutes ago, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to China, Yahya bin Abdul Kerim al-Zaid, on behalf of the Saudi King, conferred the "King Abdulaziz Medal" on the charter in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Saudi Arabia-China, Saudi Arabia-Hong Kong relations and the development of Saudi science.

In order to show the importance that the Saudi government attaches to the award ceremony, Mr. Ambassador sent invitations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the envoys of the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Russia, Kuwait, Jordan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and other countries in China three days ago.

Although China and Saudi Arabia have established diplomatic relations for two years, China-Saudi Arabia relations have been very cold. The Saudi embassy, which rarely holds events, awarded the charter at this time, and it is clear that the drunkard does not mean to drink.

The central authorities attached great importance to it, and not only gladly accepted the invitation, but also sent Assistant Foreign Minister Sun Huaqin, who had just been ordered to summon US Ambassador to China Rui Xiaojian to lodge a strong protest against the US side's groundless accusations against China.

As early as yesterday morning, Prince Metbu learned that the ceremony was made by the White House in order to resolve the "Milky Way incident" as soon as possible. In addition to the Saudi ambassador Yahya, the host, the Kuwaiti ambassador to China, who also has a good relationship with NB Electric, was specially invited to be a lobbyist.

As soon as the dinner began, and before it was time to talk about business, after politely accepting the congratulations of more than 20 envoys to China, the charter began to talk with Kuwaiti Ambassador Faisal Rashid Jassim Qaith, who had been separated for two years.

“…… The reconstruction is progressing very well. The Commission also undertook a re-planning of infrastructure such as transport, electricity, communications and water supply. And all this is thanks to the fact that the oilfield fires were able to be extinguished in such a short time. Mr. Zhang. Your Excellency the Emir and the Prime Minister have more than once praised you, your company and your laboratory, both publicly and privately. Your Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister has also entrusted me with a sincere invitation to attend the completion ceremony of the Liberation Pagoda next year. ”

During the period of power repair and oil field fire extinguishing in Kuwait City, he had dealt with Faisal more than once, but he did not expect to be sent to China as ambassador.

There were not many people he admired, and the sincere Arab in front of him was one of them. Not because of his position, nor because of his diplomatic skills, but because of his talent and perseverance in learning languages.

As a diplomat, it's normal to be proficient in a foreign language or two.

However. Ambassador Faisal is fluent in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Persian, as well as Italian and Chinese. In various propaganda and reports, there are not a few legendary figures who know the eight Chinese languages, but he is the only one who has really met and dealt with the charter.

The charter put down the plate, clasped his hand and said, "Mr. Ambassador, it is my pleasure. Please tell Your Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister that I will definitely attend the completion ceremony. ”

"Thank you, thank you very much."

Faisal glanced back at Jack, president of NB Electric (China) Company, who was chatting and laughing with the American ambassador, and whispered in his ear: "Mr. Zhang, before you come, Your Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister specially entrusted me to convey it to you. The Government of Kuwait is ready to provide all assistance to NB Electric in resolving the Galaxy incident. ”

It turns out that due to preconceived relationships. This has led to a serious under-assessment of the situation in the United States.

After the events of later generations, anti-China public opinion in the United States was one-sided, and all kinds of strange news flew all over the sky. It is clear that the "Yinhe" is carrying chemical raw materials that can be used to make chemical weapons, but those who do not know it simply guess that there are nuclear weapons on board, some say that there are missiles, and some tabloids claim to contain chemical weapons.

In the United States, which did not have its own media, and perhaps did not think of clarifying through the American media, the Chinese government was at a loss to distinguish between the two sides and could only allow the situation to deteriorate further.

After NB Electric took over Guangdu Ocean Shipping Company, it was not only able to clarify it through BNB News Network for the first time, but also to guide the mainstream of the United States in its favor through NB Medical's "oolong incident" and a series of coincidences surrounding the Olympics.

In addition, through several major international shipping organizations, a political incident against China has been transformed into an international legal incident involving public international law, and even relevant United Nations organizations have maintained a high degree of attention to it.

Now the biggest headache is not NB Electric, nor the Chinese government, but the United States, which is shooting itself in the foot, and the charter smiled and said meaningfully: "Mr. Ambassador, although it is not me who needs help urgently, I still want to express my heartfelt thanks to His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister." ”

Ambassador Faisal couldn't help but laugh: "They obviously need to review their foreign policy. ”

"I believe that Mr. President should have made the right decision, or there would not have been today's dinner."

"You know everything?"

"That's obvious."

"Mr. Zhang, it's a pity that you don't want to be a diplomat," Faisal picked up the juice and greeted the American ambassador who was going here, then turned around and said quietly: "Politics is the art of compromise, Mr. Zhang, whether it is for the company you found, for your laboratory, or for BJ's Olympic bid, I think you should make some compromises, such as sitting down and seeking a decent solution together." ”

It wouldn't be good for anyone to make any more trouble, and of course the charter wanted it to end as soon as possible, and after thinking about it, he whispered: "Mr. Ambassador, as you know, the company's attitude has always been positive. Especially when it comes to journalism, BNB News has been so restrained that I can't think of any compromises to make. ”

Seeing the Saudi ambassador Yahya standing by the side door nodded slightly, Faisal put down the juice and said, "That's why we need to sit down and discuss together, and now is an opportunity." ”

The charter asked in a low voice: "Three, or four?" ”

"The Quadrilateral talks should be better, after all, China is also involved."

In the tripartite talks between China, the United States and NB Electric, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the elders of the peace and belong to a single party. On the surface, it seems unfair to the Chinese side and NB Electric. After all, the incident was provoked by the US side first. But people have hard fists and strong strength. It is already very rare to be able to take the initiative to put down your body and seek reconciliation.

The charter didn't want to dream a lot at night, so he agreed: "No problem." ”

The conference room of the embassy is on the second floor, and the security is extremely tight, in addition to the U.S. Ambassador to China Rui Xiaojian, the U.S. Embassy Counselor Isaiah Bowman, the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Sun Huaqin, and the two ambassadors of the Arab countries, the two vice presidents of NB Electric (China) Company.

The initiator of the talks, Saudi Ambassador Yahaiwen, broke the deadlock first and said in fluent English: "Gentlemen, everything that has happened around the NB shipping freighter 'Galaxy'. It has seriously affected the diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and the economic development of countries and regions, including the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Hong Kong. ”

Sun Huaqin looked at Rui Xiaojian on the other side, and said expressionlessly: "Mr. Ambassador, this is also the usual position of our Chinese side. ”

U.S. Ambassador Rui Xiaojian flipped through the record book, looked up at the two Arab ambassadors, and then looked sideways at the charter, Jack, and Arsena Wenger before he said with a serious face: "Gentlemen, before the official begins. I would like to confirm once again whether there are any thiodiethylene glycol and thionyl chloride that can be used as raw materials for chemical weapons on board the Milky Way. ”

Jack came in a hurry from Hujiang in the morning. He took out a stack of bills from his briefcase and pushed them in front of him, "This issue has been emphasized countless times by Mr. Wu Jinhua, President of our company, and Mr. Henry Pierce, President of Americas, and promised to accept a joint investigation by the International Shipping Organization, the federal government, the Third International government, and the news media, on the premise of reaching an agreement on who should bear the economic losses.

Also, as a U.S. citizen, I'm ashamed of what happened around the Galaxy. Mr. Ambassador, Mr. Bowman, with all due respect, this time you have done another stupid thing. If the federal government does not retract the previous charges and publicly apologize to our company for the incident, we do not mind going through judicial channels to protect our reputation! ”

Before Mr. Gu personally went to the Clear Water Bay Peninsula to invite himself out of the mountain, no one thought that he would clearly support BJ's bid for the Olympic Games, let alone the "Yinhe Incident". Jack was transferred to Hujiang to serve as the president of the Chinese company, originally because he wanted to let him, a "foreign adult", deal with those Chinese bureaucrats with ill intentions.

Unexpectedly, if he deliberately planted flowers and flowers and planted willows in the shade, and threw a few chips away, China's affairs would be solved, and there was no need for him to argue with reason, but let him, an American, deal with the US government.

Looking at the charter with the juice in his hand, Rui Xiaojian said coldly: "Mr. President, the problem is that we have conclusive information. ”

After the incident, the stock prices of NB Electrician, NB Electrical, and NB Aviation skyrocketed, and Jack's personal assets also rose, so to speak, all of this was due to the US government, and Jack really wanted to kiss him.

But now it is a serious negotiation to protect the company's interests, and as the president of the Chinese company with full authority to handle the matter, he does not want to disappoint the articles of association and the company's board of directors, so he can't help but snort coldly and sneer: "Mr. Ambassador, I have reason to think that your so-called intelligence is likely to be bought by the United States." If it weren't for the good relationship between the company and Mr. President, I would really like to suggest that Mr. Chang set aside a portion of the 'NB Science and Education Fund' to set up an 'NB Intelligence Fund' to provide financial support to the federal intelligence services. ”

The Quadrilateral negotiations have become an internal affair of the United States, and Assistant Foreign Minister Sun Huaqin has been ridiculed.

Rui Xiaojian also realized that this could not go on, and glanced at the newly appointed embassy counselor and de facto special representative of the president, Isaiah Bowman, and proposed with embarrassment: "Before the formal consultation, I would like to discuss a few issues separately with Mr. Zhang and the two presidents of NB Electric. ”

Sun Hua Qin was happy, closed the minutes of the meeting that had not recorded a word, got up and said, "I can avoid it." ”

Saudi Ambassador Yahaiwen wasted no time in suggesting: "Mr. Sun, Mr. Ambassador, I just collected a few Chinese handicrafts, and it's next door. ”

"Crafts, then I must go and see them."

As soon as the Chinese diplomat and the two Arab ambassadors walked out of the conference room, Rui Xiaojian said with a sincere face: "Mr. Zhang, Mr. President has entrusted me to greet you and express my regret for what has happened around the 'Galaxy'. ”

The charter nodded noncommittally, sat up straight and said, "Mr. Ambassador, Mr. Bowman." Although I have been busy assisting BJ in his Olympic bid. But it's not ignorant of the ins and outs of the matter. I was told by several consultants at NB Electric Americas. Mr. President was indeed unaware of the incident, and the reason for such an embarrassing situation was entirely the work of the Non-Proliferation Center. ”

After the end of the Cold War, the U.S. government, which had been tense for decades, suddenly lost its opponents.

As a result, a joint meeting of various departments, chaired by Assistant Secretary of State Lord Lord, was set up to deal with China's human relations and trade issues. In addition, a nonproliferation center headed by Gordon Kohler, whose members include personnel from the CIA, the military, and the State Department, has been set up to deal with China's foreign weapons proliferation.

The CIA got the information. The Non-Proliferation Center, which was originally a department dedicated to dealing with China, has been a treasure. Secretary of State Christopher and National Security Advisor Lake Lake, who have always been very tough on China, have the authority to make decisions without going through the president.

After all, in their opinion, the intelligence is so "conclusive" that as long as it warns it, the Chinese government, which is "a thief with a weak heart," will try every means to get the "Yinhe" to return to its home, and no one has ever thought about the authenticity of the information, and no one has expected that domestic public opinion will develop in the opposite direction.

There are now two factions within the U.S. government: the chief of staff, the secretary of defense, the president's legal adviser, and the scientific adviser believe that there is a big problem with intelligence and that it cannot be wrong; A group of "hawks" led by the secretary of state and the assistant for national security affairs believe that even the bill number is clear. There is no doubt about the authenticity, and there is no room to retreat.

Congress is also divided into two factions. However, the majority of people believe that the information is wrong, and from the incident to the present, the committee has held hearings on the "Galaxy incident" every day, which has made the director of the CIA anxious.

In addition, the White House is again facing opposition from the business community on the issue of linking people to trade, and it can be said that President Clinton's series of domestic and foreign policies since taking office are "unpopular."

Rui Xiaojian knew in his heart that the CIA's intelligence must be wrong, and the development of events would most likely end in embarrassment for the United States. On more than one occasion, he has stated to Washington that there will be no chemical weapons material on board and that it is better to keep a low profile. Clinton, who also felt that he was not right, did not want to lose the public's trust, which is why today's talks took place.

"Mr. Zhang, you are very well informed, as you said, if there are indeed no banned chemicals on board the Galaxy, then the non-proliferation center and intelligence agencies will be held responsible."

Rui Xiaojian paused and said frankly: "I don't think you and your company want the situation to deteriorate further, and it can be said that how to properly solve this problem is the immediate priority." ”

"There's no doubt about it."

"Mr. Zhang, do you think there is any possibility for the Galaxy to return?"

This shows that the US side has felt weak-hearted, and at first it proposed to inspect the cargo, but now it wants the "Yinhe" to return to sea, in an attempt to avoid public inspection, and even if the Chinese side and NB Electric announce that the ship is not loaded with the chemicals alleged by the US side, they can continue to spread rumors and make the Chinese government bear the blame.

As for NB Electric, some compensation may be given, such as opening a small crack in the door for NB Electric on the issue of the Iraq embargo. After all, there are more companies suspected of sales and transportation, Toshiba has been investigated so many times, and even the American Echo Star Communications Company has a history in this regard, and NB Shipping is only a carrier, which can be completely pushed away, and it will not affect the reputation of NB Electric.

How could the articles of association not know what wishful thinking he was making, and categorically refused: "Mr. Ambassador, Mr. Wu Jinhua has said more than once that NB Electric is a responsible company, which is not only responsible to the relevant national governments, shareholders and the public, but also to customers. It is the responsibility and obligation of NB Electric to deliver the customer's container to the specified place within the specified time. If there is no minimum spirit of contract, how will NB Electric conduct business on a global scale in the future? ”

The initiative was in the hands of others, and Rui Xiaojian had to ask in a low voice: "Then how do you think it is more appropriate to deal with it?" ”

After pondering for a moment, the charter proposed: "I don't think the federal government can afford to make mistakes again and again, let alone pin its hopes on leaky intelligence, and take a cold look at the incident and withdraw the warship that tracked and monitored the 'Galaxy'." NB Electric invites representatives of international shipping organizations, third countries, and professional research institutions, including NB Laboratories and Stanford University, to conduct public inspections at the time of unloading to prove their innocence. ”

The U.S. government spoke, and NB Electric's honest self-inspection gave enough face and did not damage the authority of the U.S. government. And they made it very clear that they would not invite the news media to participate in order to minimize the negative impact as much as possible.

Isaiah Bowman blurted out, "The Navy can be withdrawn, but our men need to board the ship." ”

"Yes, but the costs incurred in the unpacking inspection must be determined by the federal government, otherwise President Wu Jinhua will not be able to account for it to shareholders."

Ambassador Rui Xiaojian did not think that the constitution would make such a big compromise easily, and could not help asking: "Mr. Zhang, what else do you want the federal government to do besides the expenses incurred by the inspection?" ”

To his surprise, the charter did not require the president to put pressure on Congress to pass a bill to boycott BJ's bid for the Olympics, nor did it put forward a demand for benefits similar to the handling of the NB medical oolong incident, but said with a smile: "This afternoon, ABC Financial Channel made an estimate of the market value of NB Electric, and senior Wall Street analysts invited by ABC believe that before the incident, if NB Electric is listed as a whole, the market value may be between $6.5 billion and $7 billion." And if it is listed now, the market value is likely to exceed 10 billion. The non-proliferation center has done everything for NB Electric, and I don't think Mr. Wu Jinhua will make any other requests. ”

The United States did not win, and China did not win, but NB Electric became the only big winner.

The two sides reached a consensus and once again invited Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Sun Huaqin and two Arab ambassadors back to the conference room, and after nearly two hours of bargaining, they finally decided on a solution to the incident and a propaganda caliber.

On the way back to the International Conference Center, Jack finally couldn't help but ask: "Zhang, we can do better and ask for more, why did you just let them go?" ”

He pressed down the car window, looked at a row of old buildings on the side of the road and said with a smile: "If you are willing to give up, you will have to give up." If it continues, it will inevitably affect BJ's bid for the Olympics, and if BJ loses to competing cities such as Sydney or Berlin, everything we are doing now will be useless. ”

How much electrical equipment is needed for the infrastructure construction of a city?

Even foreign media predict that once BJ wins the right to host the Olympic Games, NB Electric will become the largest partner of the BJ Olympic Organizing Committee without spending a penny.

Jack was stunned for a moment, then reacted, and couldn't help laughing: "Well, the Green Olympics and the Science and Technology Olympics, how can they not have our participation?" Zhang, I strongly recommend that you stay in BJ after winning the right to host the event, join the Olympic Organizing Committee, and take all the business down! (To be continued......)