Empire of Shadows

#686 - The general trend 66621

The events in Goldport City have already alarmed Congress. This kind of conflict between two groups, involving diplomacy, will definitely not be handled simply.

Mayor Williams' stance is very tough. The Slade ambassador contacted the Secretary of State early on, arguing that some issues should not be handled so crudely.

The friendly relationship between the Federation and Slade should not be broken by some public sentiment, but these events do indeed affect the relations between the two countries, at this important juncture—

When the Federation is ready to deploy troops, once conflicts arise between the two countries, it is very likely to trigger a series of unpredictable disasters.

What if a soldier's family member makes the news in the Federation, and he gets angry and sells intelligence to the enemy?

The Slade ambassador said a lot of things, which cannot be said to be useless, but they are somewhat useful.

Because of the Federation's special system, the regions are highly autonomous. Therefore, even the Secretary of State and the President, if they want to interfere in "state internal affairs," they have to find people and connections.

Sometimes, even if the President and the local rulers have disagreements, the governor can completely defy the federal government's decisions and do what he wants. This is also the reason why a few states controlled by political families can be so... independent.

As long as their internal finances are healthy and can be sustained, and the federal finances cannot strangle them, then if the President wants to solve this trouble, he can only resolve it by holding hearings with the governor in Congress or suing in the Supreme Court.

Clearly the "supreme ruler" in every sense, but in reality, being the President is also very difficult.

If the President's job is not easy, how can the Secretary of State possibly ask the State of Licar to cooperate with his work, or directly ask Mayor Williams to cooperate with his work?

If he directly called and handled this matter properly, no one would think he was glorious.

What's there to brag about for a politician ranked high in the federal government to take down a mayor?

But what if Mayor Williams ignores his request?

Then the face he loses would be more than just a little.

So, after inquiring for a while, the Secretary of State asked Congress to find a way to deal with it. Indeed, Congress has a corresponding committee that can intervene in this matter.

When things reach Congress, it's like an issue entering a "sorting machine." In the process of its continuous rolling and falling, it eventually arrives at the most suitable place for it—in the hands of Senator Cleveland.

So, there was this phone call.

Lance rubbed his forehead, "You should call Mayor Williams, he's the mayor, not me."

"Come on!"

"Lance, don't play tricks with me!"

"Williams respects your opinion on many things!"

His words made Lance couldn't help but chuckle softly. It seemed that he was complaining, even exposing Lance's "lie," but wasn't this a more advanced form of "flattery?"

"Not me, the senator," Tom's tone also became serious.

"Although I don't want to admit it, I must admit that these refugees are difficult to deal with."

"Many cities have strong opinions about them, but for reasons you know, diplomatic and international strategic reasons, we cannot afford to upset them too much for now, so Congress has been suppressing various localities to handle it with a cold approach."

"If Williams takes the lead in expelling these refugees, it is likely to cause a domino effect, and other cities will follow suit."

"It may even trigger a nationwide confrontation, and may even affect key strategic plans."

If the whole country opposes refugees entering their cities and engages in fierce confrontations and conflicts with refugee groups.

Then this sentiment will also spread to the military.

Soldiers may complain about this in letters from home, and they will become unwilling to participate in the war.

And if most people in the Federation oppose this "war of justice," under the interference and incitement of external forces, it may really be possible to press the stop button for this war.

Congress has to consider a lot of things. In the face of the big picture, everyone must give way.

The will of the state is sometimes not necessarily the will of the people, but the will of those who can represent the people, the rulers.

Tom made it so clear, also hoping that Lance would not make a wrong judgment on this matter.

Lance scratched his head, "Actually, the creators of this conflict are those capitalists in the Bay Area. We ourselves do not have any discrimination against refugees. You can investigate, I have been constantly helping refugees in the past two years."

"I have also donated a lot of money."

During the war preheating activities, the federal government also held small donation activities, a social one, calling on everyone to oppose the aggressors and help the invaded.

This is not an important political activity, but more like a disguised social propaganda, to let people know how brutal the Dentra Republic's army is and how much the Slades need help.

Tom was a little curious, "How much did you donate, by the way?"

"Ten bucks."

"Sh*t!"

"Don't tell me this kind of thing alone next time, I thought you donated tens of thousands!"

Lance's laughter let him know that he had been tricked, but behind this harmless little joke, it also showed Lance's attitude and position.

After the two laughed for a while, Tom continued, "I will report the specific situation to the senator, but I am very curious, why can't you handle those rich people?"

"Is there any special reason?"

This is an opportunity!

Lance keenly seized this point!

"They are very rich, I don't need to say more about this."

"Secondly, you know, rich people have a wide range of social connections, and they have close relationships with some people in the state government."

"Behind this conflict, there are also people from the State Socialist Party Committee supporting them."

Hearing this, Tom roughly understood that because of some irresistible forces, if Mayor Williams did nothing, then he could only resign.

Otherwise, the Licar State Socialist Party could convene a temporary congress and, together with the state government and the legislature, directly impeach him.

He has now created such a big commotion, announcing his intention to expel the refugees, to gain a shield for himself.

This is all political wisdom, seeking survival in death.

After sighing, Tom couldn't help but ask, "Is his popularity so bad?"

"Is there no one in the state government and the state committee willing to help him?"

This was also just a digression, and Lance explained, "He regards Goldport City as his home."

Okay, completely understood!

No one likes others to interfere in their family affairs, let alone intervene, which destined the political ecology of Goldport City to be separated from the political ecology of the higher-level state.

Even if they don't unanimously deal with Williams, they can also watch from the sidelines and choose to remain silent, then those who hate him will dominate the entire direction.

"I will tell the senator, you also talk to Williams, what we need now is stability, he can't set a bad precedent."

"If he can be persuaded, we will try to mediate."

He didn't promise that he could definitely handle it, after all, Senator Cleveland couldn't directly ask those people what to do, he could at most communicate within the Socialist Party to intervene.

But each state's party committee is also relatively independent, and this internal communication may not be effective.

This time Lance refused, "I will tell him."

Then the two hung up the phone.

Tom sorted out what Lance said in his mind, and then quickly went to see Senator Cleveland.

Approaching the war, he had more documents to deal with, and he asked without looking up, "How was the communication?"

"The matter is like this..." Tom began to repeat what Lance said, and then added his own judgment.

When Senator Cleveland heard the second half, he put down the pen in his hand and looked up at Tom, as focused as if he were listening to a wonderful opera.

After Tom finished speaking, he said with a smile that was not a smile, "This is why Congress is determined to eliminate all mountain stronghold mentalities, they regard the land and people of the federal government as their own!"

He slightly increased his tone, they are doing it, part of this war is also being launched for this matter.

But now he, Congress, the country, all need a stable social base, and this is just Goldport City, he has not yet taken it to heart.

What Congress is really afraid of and wants to solve are the local emperors of those few states.

"Arrange for someone to mediate," he gave the same solution suggestion as Tom.

Tom did not immediately agree and leave, but raised another possibility, "What if the mediation fails?"

"Lance started his career too short, he doesn't have much influence in the state government."

"The Williams family has always been a prominent family in the Goldport City area, although there are people in the state government, they are not key."

"Williams is easy to talk to, Lance has already agreed, which shows that he can make Mayor Williams change his mind."

"But if the Bay Area continues to force him, he can only grit his teeth and persevere in order to protect himself."

Senator Cleveland frowned, "What do you want to say?"

Tom pursed his lips, for the sake of friendship, he has done his best!

"We need to make an emergency plan for a result that cannot be achieved as expected."