It's a good thing.

The Congressional Medal of Honor, officially known as the "Medal of Honor," was established in 1861, the year of the Civil War, to boost morale by the current President Lincoln. Because it is based on the Act of Congress, it is issued by the President himself in the name of Congress. It is also known as the "Congressional Medal of Honor".

From the day it was established to the day Kwan Zhuofan crossed over, the Congressional Medal of Honor has always been the highest honor and dream of American soldiers. Regardless of military rank, officers and soldiers have the qualifications to obtain, but it is extremely difficult to obtain, and only the most heroic soldiers, known as the "brave of the brave", can be touched.

MacArthur said, "I sold my heart and soul to a medal of honor." ”

Truman also said, "I'd rather have a Medal of Honor than be president." ”

The most interesting story takes place during the Civil War, when Custer, a legendary federal cavalry general nicknamed "Son of the Morning Star", travels all the way north and south to finally become an honorary major general. He had a very good younger brother, Thomas, who was not as good as his elder brother, but earned a Congressional Medal of Honor. And Custer, as a substitute two-star general, thought about it day and night, and never even touched the edge of the medal, so it was inevitable that he would be jealous. Once the brothers attended a social event, Thomas wore a medal to show off everywhere, George endured and finally couldn't bear it anymore, and the two brothers Zuihou fought fiercely, which was rumored to be a joke for a while.

Guan Zhuofan sighed in his heart - if in later life, he would write such a thing as "having won the Congressional Medal of Honor personally awarded by the President of the United States" into his job resume, what a powerful sentence would it be? Head of HR at major companies. You have to be scared to pee.

That's true. I should be sitting behind a desk in the back of a certain executive desk. Leisurely drinking coffee, how can you sell that cabinet of cheap souvenirs at the Baliqiao Museum?

If you don't go to the museum, how can you daydream and touch that damn knife?

If you don't touch that damn knife, how can you be struck by lightning and travel to this era?

If you don't travel to this era, how can you bring 27,000 people? Rushing to the United States to train his new army?

If he didn't bring troops to the United States, how could Lin Dabeard be willing to award him this medal?

Not......

He looked at the bronze medal again, and said that the Americans had prepared really well in order to make themselves work hard.

From the perspective of diplomatic etiquette, there is no reason to refuse, and even if you accept this thing, it can't be said that you have received a reward from the United States, right?

In this case, the deep friendship of the American people will be received first!

"Mr. President. Thank you very much," Guan Hou Ye said solemnly. "I'm very emotional."

Lincoln hung up the ribbon for him, tidied it up, took a half step back, and smiled with satisfaction: "Marquis Guan, let's go to dinner." ”

The table is placed in the "Family Banquet Hall" located in the northwest corner of the same floor.

The name "Family Banquet Hall" is not a place where the first family usually eats, and the "State Banquet Hall" in the southwest corner of the next floor is a place to entertain important guests, but it is slightly smaller than the "State Banquet Hall" and is used to hold banquets with a small number of people.

Kwan Zhuofan did not expect to be invited to dinner with Lincoln.

In the middle of the nineteenth century, the White House was far less complicated than later generations. Before the outbreak of the Civil War, citizens were free to enter and leave the White House, and it was not too difficult for ordinary people to meet the president. But having dinner with the president is still a rare honor.

When the civil war began, the White House was shut down and people were no longer allowed to enter and leave freely. By the third year, the battle was raging, the North and the South were already fighting to the death, and the surrounding area of the White House was even more full of soldiers; And the president is industrious and sleeps at night, so there are fewer opportunities to entertain VIPs in a good time.

Of course, Guan Zhuofan's official status is that of the Qing Dynasty, and the President of the United States hosted a banquet, which is an honor, but it is not too much. Although nominally, the minister's job was to "inspect ordnance", and he did not have a clear diplomatic mission.

It's just that the military situation is as urgent as a spark, and it is a day to rush to Tennessee a day earlier. Guan Zhuofan had planned to meet Lincoln and return to New York overnight, but the US side also knew about this arrangement. Now that the dinner program has been added, could it be that Americans have something more important to discuss?

Lincoln, Guan Zhuofan, Cameron, the host and guest sat down, and then the food was served.

Guan Zhuofan said in his heart that this feast had been prepared a long time ago, and it was not added on an impromptu basis.

The main ingredient of the salad is a pear with goat cheese, fennel and black walnuts.

"Marquis Guan, this kind of pear is usually not eaten." Lincoln smiled and said, "This is a Belgian variety, it was only introduced to the United States ten years ago, and it tastes great, but the yield is very low, very rare, you can taste it." ”

Fortunately, Guan Zhuofan is used to eating dishes in Shanghai, so it is effortless to deal with such a Western-style meal.

The first entrée is a ribeye steak with crispy onions, stuffed potatoes and creamy spinach, accompanied by French Bordeaux red wine.

Then on the second main course, Guan Zhuofan's eyes lit up: What a big lobster! The owner said that this shrimp is produced in Maine, the northernmost state of the United States, and the meat is delicate, so you must try it. The side dish black horn mushroom is delicious, and the citrus juice hanging carrot has a unique flavor, so please please.

The table wine was replaced by a white wine from Canada.

Guan Zhuofan thought to himself, since the crossing, the palace marquis Zhong Ming Ding food, the governor of the Yamen beautiful chef's private delicacies, but he has never used such a big lobster, it seems that this trip is still worth it.

Zuihou's dessert, applesauce walnut pie, is also delicious. Guan Zhuofan said in his heart, these dishes are also at the absolute level of state banquets in the 21st century. Lincoln was not a lavish man, and there was no need for this kind of meal to support the scene, it could only be said that the host was showing respect for the guests.

During the banquet, the host first toasted the young emperor and the young empress dowager of China, thousands of miles away, and Guan Zhuofan got up to thank him. The master also praised Yixuan You are young, you have established a special honor, assisted the monarch and the prime minister, it is really the light of China, Guan Zhuofan expressed his panic again and again.

Of course, the civil war that the United States is fighting in full swing is also one of the topics, but I don't know if it is out of politeness or for some other reason, the host and guest are talking more about China. Lincoln and Cameron were particularly interested in the "reform and opening up" implemented by Guan Zhuofan under his rule, and the host praised Marquis Guan for his courage in following the trend of history and daring to be the first in the world, while Marquis Guan said that the United States was an example for me to follow, and both sides believed that there was great promise for future cooperation between China and the United States.

Guan Zhuofan also extended an invitation to Cameron on the spot, hoping that after the war, Mr. Minister could use his influence to help develop China's railway industry, which the Cameron family was the king of the railroad in Pennsylvania. Minister Ka smiled and agreed.

He also talked about the rebellion that China had just largely put down. They all felt that this rebellion started in the South, and it was also a situation of North-South confrontation, which was quite similar to the civil war in the United States.

Let's talk about it, and this meal is very enjoyable.

It was already the beginning of the day, Cameron said goodbye first, and the president obviously had no intention of sending off Guan Zhuofan.

Lincoln said, "Yixuan, I invite you to sit in my study, there is something I want you to see." ”

Guan Zhuofan's curiosity was aroused.

Lincoln paused for a moment, and then said, "I'll ask you to stay at the president's mansion tonight, and then go back to New York early tomorrow morning." ”

Kwan Cheuk-fan's accident was even worse than being awarded the Medal of Honour.

Spending the night at the White House -- an honor that surpasses dinner with the president. Kwan was under the impression that only really important foreign guests, and from the countries closest to their allies, could receive such treatment. There is also a case where a large amount of election funds is contributed - this is called short-handedness, which is of a different nature.

Lincoln smiled: "Don't worry, it won't delay your military affairs." ”

The president himself led the way, followed by an old servant, all the way to the third floor of the White House, the "second floor" in English, the so-called "family floor," where the president's office and the first family lived and lived.

Exit the stairwell, turn left, and stop at the door of the second room on the right.

Guan Zhuofan quickly searched his memory bank in his mind to compare it with the reality in front of him.

It should be the famous "Lincoln Bedroom", which has been repeatedly rumored to be "haunted" in later generations, with golden tones and luxurious appearance.

What can I see when I come to the bedroom? Guan Zhuofan muttered in his heart.

Could it be to see the sister-in-law of the Lin family?

I haven't built an inch yet, and the beard is too polite......

Lincoln pushed open the door, signaled to Guan Zhuofan, and then walked in first.

The wallpaper and carpet of the house in front of me were dark green, and on the wall to the left of the entrance door hung a huge military map, and in the center of the room was an equally large table with newspapers and a large amount of mail piled on top of it. Kwan also noticed that there were two wicker wastepaper baskets in the corner, which were filled with scraps of paper.

It's not luxurious, and it's not like a study, it's like a ...... The meeting room is an office at most.

It's certainly not a bedroom anyway, because ...... There are no beds.

Did you remember it wrong?

Soon Guan Zhuofan reacted: The so-called "Lincoln Bedroom" is a name for Later An, and Lincoln himself has only "used" it, but has not "lived" it. Moreover, more than 100 years later, when George W. Bush entered the White House, his wife, Laura, renovated the house. Guan Zhuofan's impression of Jin Huanghuang about this house should be the handwriting of the first lady.

The waiter came in and brought tea and withdrew.

Lincoln invited Guan Zhuofan to sit down, then picked up a large paper bag on the table, took out a piece of paper with a strong ink smell, and handed it to him: "Yixuan, please take a look." ”

Guan Zhuofan took the paper and recognized it as a sample of a newspaper. The masthead is "New York Tribune", front page.

Looking down, the entire page is basically an article, sprinkled with thousands of words. And then—

Large-print title: Interview with Marquis Guan Yixuan. Reporter: Harles? Gliley.

Marquis Guan, wearing a top hat, smiles brightly on the large photo.

Guan Zhuofan was stunned.

Hell yes.

*(To be continued......)