Chapter 1336: We don’t like countries sitting on the fence
When Jiang Chen returned to the hotel, it was already ten o’clock in the evening.
To his surprise, Miss Kwai decided to leave. Only Qian Xia dressed as a maid was in the room.
“Where is our policewoman?” Jiang Chen asked casually as he opened his arms.
“Ms. Kwai said that if you need anything, please call her. She won’t stay here tonight,” Qian Xia replied with her beautiful voice as she took Jiang Chen’s coat and hung it onto the hanger.
She left?
Jiang Chen lowered his open arms and he grinned.
He remembered telling her before he left to stay tonight.
“Why didn’t you keep her?” With a smirk, Jiang Chen rubbed Qian Xia’s chin with his finger.
“I didn’t know master wanted her to stay. Master, if you need, I’ll call Ms. Kwai…” Qian Xia said with panic in her voice.
“This is your negligence as a maid for not knowing your master’s thoughts,” Jiang Chen’s finger slid down her chin as he smiled evilly, “Forget it, anyway, it’s all the same. Originally, I planned to punish her tonight, but you’ll have to take the punishment instead.”
Qian Xia’s cheeks turned red.
Under normal circumstances, Jiang Chen called her by the name Qian Xia. If he called her by the identity of a maid, then most likely he was thinking of naughty things.
Qian Xia closed her fine eyelashes, lowered her head, and whispered in her gentle voice.
“Master, please punish me…”
…
In the early morning of the next day, Jiang Chen slept till eight.
Just after he ate the breakfast delivered by the hotel, he was about to check the day’s itinerary when Foreign Minister Kishida called.
As soon as he picked up, Kishida’s laughter entered his ear and he asked in a rather ambiguous tone.
“I wonder if Jiang Chen san was satisfied last night?”
“Of course, … not satisfied!” Halfway through, Jiang Chen suddenly changed his words and said with seriousness, “The person you sent has had a very bad attitude. I obviously asked her to stay. However, when I came back to arrange the next day’s itinerary, she left without saying a word!”
Kishida hurriedly apologized, “I’m really sorry! I’m sorry for the inadequate hospitality, but I hope Jiang Chen san will not be offended. We will immediately switch—”
“You don’t need to switch,” Jiang Chen shook his head as he resisted the urge to laugh. Then he coughed and said with the same seriousness, “She will still be my assistant during the coming days. But Kishida san, please remember that my tolerance is limited.”
“Yes! Yes!”
Kishida sweated profusely as he apologized, but in his mind, he scolded the police superintendent and Kwai countless times.
They actually messed this up.
Did they not know that Mr. Jiang was an important guest!?
“Alright, you called me not just to ask me if I was satisfied last night. Let’s talk business.”
“…Yes. Mr. Prime Minister hopes to meet with you to discuss matters related to the UA military stationed in Nippon as well as the opportunity to join the alliance. I wonder if Mr. Jiang is free now?” Kishida said quickly.
“How does this morning sound? I will go there now.” Jiang Chen glanced at the clock on the wall.
“No problem! We can do it anytime!”
After he hung up the phone, Jiang Chen looked at Qian Xia who tried to get up from the bed and help him dress. Last night’s exercise was a bit too intense for the girl who hadn’t worked out for a long time so her mind was still a little dizzy.
“Master, I will help you…”
“No, you can sleep a little longer.” Jiang Chen was not the kind of person that didn’t care for others. He grinned and buttoned up his clothes. “Miss Kwai may be here in a bit. You can buy her a drink.”
Qian Xia was slightly taken aback, then cutely opened her mouth.
After she saw Jiang Chen’s smirk, she suddenly realized what he meant as she giggled.
“Master, you are so bad.”
…
It was probably the third time Jiang Chen had visited the Nippon Prime Minister’s residence and the third time he had seen the Prime Minister.
And something more interesting was that every time he visited, the Prime Minister’s smile gave him a completely different feeling.
The first time, there seemed to be a knife hidden behind the smile. Nippon did not want to connect to the global grid. The second time it was compromising in reluctance because the Sumitomo Foundation used public opinion and Congress to force the government to make concessions on national security issues.
As for the third time, Jiang Chen didn’t know what meanings were hidden in his smile.
There was a little caution, a little attempt to flatter, as for other meanings, he couldn’t fully read him.
After some greetings, the Prime Minister invited Jiang Chen to sit, then sat down and asked the assistant next to him to make a cup of matcha for the two.
“I want to talk to you about the UA military bases and the troops stationed in Nippon.” With a warm smile, the Prime Minister said with straightforwardness, “I believe Jiang Chen san must also be very concerned about this matter.”
While he spoke, he took the map from the assistant’s hand, spread it out on the coffee table, pointed his finger at the red dot on the map, and said sincerely.
“The UA military stationed in Nippon has 88 military facilities and bases, with a total number of more than 40,000 troops. The headquarters is located at Yokota Base in Yoto. If you can find a way to get rid of them, we can sublet 44 of the military bases to you guys!”
After Jiang Chen listened to his proposal, Jiang Chen sneered in his mind.
On the surface, this proposal seemed to be great. The 44 military bases were more than sufficient for Celestial Trade’s troops, or even somewhat excessive. However, the issue was not the number of military bases, but the word “sublet”.
When were these military bases leased to the UA? In that case, how can you talk about subletting? If Celestial Trade can get rid of the UA on Nippon soil, you’re not going to pay for protection fees, and you’re going to charge rent?
I’m not here to do charity.
For a long time, Nippon shouldered the bulk of the UA military expenditure, even far higher than its own military expenditure. In this sense, it was unfortunate for the Nippon people. While they paid for protection fees, they also enjoyed the “protection” of the UA soldiers.
With the help of Celestial Trade’s knife, he could not only get rid of the UA from Nippon soil, remove the financial burden, and completely join the side of the Earth Defense Alliance. Mr. Prime Minster certainly came up with a great plan.
But would Jiang Chen really bite?
“You may have made a mistake,” Jiang Chen smiled, “Celestial Trade is the world’s largest military contractor, it is not the Red Cross.”
“Do you mean…” The Prime Minister’s expression was a bit stiff. It was obvious that they just wanted to get rid of the UA riding on their heads and did not want to pay for the military expenses of Celestial Trade.”
“Thirty military bases,” Jiang Chen raised his three fingers and said in an irrefutable tone, “You are the bridgehead of the UA in Asia, but for us, it’s our doorstep. We don’t need to station so many troops here. In addition, we don’t plan to scam your money. You paid five billion dollars in military expenses last year. From now on, you only need to pay us half, so 2 billion Xin New dollars.”
As the Prime Minister was about to throw out a counter-offer, Jiang Chen gave the last carrot before he could speak.
“If you agree to my terms, then I can also assure you that Nippon will definitely get my vote to join the Earth Defense Alliance.” Jiang Chen smiled at the Prime Minister who was not in the best mood and smiled, “Of course, you can also get rid of the UA yourself through diplomatic means. We will not use that vote to kidnap you. We have stated from the start that there is only one condition for Nippon to join the Earth Defense Alliance, that is cancel all UA military bases on your soil.”
“We don’t like countries sitting on the fence, please be more certain with your position.”
“East or west, you better decide as soon as possible.”