209: Chapter 209 A Three-Hundred-Million-Dollar Pledge of Allegiance! An Audience with the President!

The next morning, the atmosphere at the Department of State's negotiation table was worlds apart from the previous day.

The professional distance in Anthony Thompson's smile was gone, replaced by a touch of genuine warmth. The deputy secretaries from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Defense, and Department of Energy also reined in the arrogance and pressure they had displayed yesterday.

After a night of deliberation, the proposal Lin Zhou had put forward had reached a consensus within the upper echelons of the U.S. government.

Using a letter of intent for military purchases totaling three hundred million dollars, to be executed in installments over several years, in exchange for a sovereign nation's alignment within their military system—while also clearing out backlogged inventory of trainer jets and paving the way for future fighter jet orders. For the outgoing Thompson, this deal was a beautiful political legacy; for the military-industrial complex, it was the opening of a brand-new market; and for the White House, it was a crucial strategic layout achieved at minimal cost.

"Lord Lin Zhou, regarding the suggestion you made yesterday, we have conducted a prudent study," Thompson cleared his throat, his tone becoming solemn. "In principle, we agree to use the procurement of trainer jets as the beginning of the first phase of cooperation."

He pushed a document toward Lin Zhou.

"This is a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation. It stipulates that the Cyber Freedom Republic will purchase air force equipment and supporting services from the United States with a total value of no less than three hundred million dollars over the next five years. The specific quantity and delivery schedule for the first batch of T-7A trainer jets will be negotiated by military delegations from both sides in the future."

Lin Zhou took the document and reviewed the terms along with Qin Yue and Zhang Zhe.

The clauses were written very broadly, only confirming the total amount and general direction; all specific execution details were left for "subsequent negotiations." This kind of vague room for delay was exactly what he needed.

As for the other two conditions, the memorandum had also applied a "softened" treatment.

Regarding the data center, the American side no longer mentioned "data backup." Instead, it was changed to "recommending that the Cyber Freedom Republic invite a top-tier American tech company with international credibility to serve as a data security consultant, assisting in the establishment of a data privacy protection system that meets the highest international standards."

This turned a direct robbery into the appointment of a "supervisor." Although still ill-intentioned, the initiative had returned to Lin Zhou's hands. He could easily make this "consultant" position a mere formality, letting them take the money without doing any work, or only giving them responsibility over some trivial peripheral business.

Regarding diplomatic alignment, the wording had also become: "Both parties agree to maintain close communication and coordination on international and regional hotspots of common concern, jointly maintaining global peace and stability."

This kind of catch-all diplomatic jargon was essentially saying nothing at all.

"I've finished reading; there are no problems." Lin Zhou set the document down and looked up at Thompson. "Our side agrees to sign this memorandum."

Chen Yuan, watching from the side, felt his heart pounding. Three hundred million US dollars—that was over two billion RMB! Just like that? But seeing Lin Zhou's steady expression, he swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue. He knew in his heart that every cent the Lord spent would be earned back tenfold or a hundredfold elsewhere.

Half an hour later, before the lenses of dozens of media outlets, Lin Zhou and Thompson formally signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Strategic Partnership and Deepening Bilateral Cooperation" on behalf of their respective nations.

Under the camera flashes, Thompson shook Lin Zhou's hand firmly and announced to the reporters, "Today is a historic moment! The United States of America and the Cyber Freedom Republic will join hands to open a new chapter of win-win cooperation!"

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Zhou's group took a private car and arrived at the White House.

Unlike the banquet last night, today's meeting atmosphere was more formal and solemn. In the Oval Office, Lin Zhou met the The President of the United States, whom he had only ever seen on television.

The entire meeting was less of a state talk and more of a carefully choreographed political show.

The The President welcomed Lin Zhou's arrival with exaggerated body language and highly praised the "outstanding contributions" the Cyber Freedom Republic had made to food security and regional stability.

Then, under the gaze of the whole world, the two jointly signed the "Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the United States of America and the Cyber Freedom Republic."

From the moment this communiqué was signed, the Cyber Freedom Republic officially gained recognition from the world's only superpower.

"Congratulations, The President Lin Zhou," the The President smiled as he shook his hand, the camera shutters clicking in a continuous wave.

The other party's use of "The President" instead of "Lord" allowed Lin Zhou to immediately catch the signal. In an official context, the United States wanted to frame him as the elected leader of a modern state rather than a monarch with feudal overtones.

Lin Zhou simply responded with a smile: "Thank you, Mr. The President."

Simple pleasantries, formulaic Q&A—the entire process took no more than fifteen minutes. The The President surely had more important matters to attend to; this meeting was, for him, merely a matter of following procedure.

But in Lin Zhou's heart, the weight of those fifteen minutes was incomparable. The last and most fortified door leading to the United Nations headquarters had been cracked open.

With the endorsement of the United States, the United Kingdom and France would follow suit immediately, and Russia's process would also be greatly accelerated.

After concluding the White House itinerary, Lin Zhou and his group did not linger. They drove directly to Andrews Air Force Base and boarded their return flight.

Once the plane reached a steady altitude, Chen Yuan finally asked the question he had been holding back the whole way: "Lord, what are you thinking? Three hundred million isn't much to us, but this ties us to the American warship!"

Qin Yue said from the side, "The Lord is using that three hundred million to buy a ticket to the United Nations and a guarantee of national security for the next few decades. Moreover, we are currently in no position to say no to the United States."

Lin Zhou leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed to rest, speaking without opening them: "Some things can only be considered after you've made it to the gambling table. This is a necessary price."

He paused for a moment and opened his eyes: "Besides, I don't intend to spend a single cent of that three hundred million from our national treasury."

Chen Yuan and Qin Yue looked at each other, momentarily speechless.

"Then where will it come from?"

"Isn't Thompson's family foundation planning to move to our place for tax avoidance?" A calculating light glinted in Lin Zhou's eyes. "If he wants to avoid taxes, he has to invest first. I will establish a 'National Strategic Development Fund' and have his multi-billion dollar 'charitable foundation' serve as the first 'angel investment.' From now on, the payments for the three hundred million in arms will come from the returns of this fund."

Using an American politician's money to buy American weapons.

It was late at night when the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Lin Zhou declined the official vehicles provided, parting ways with Qin Yue and the others to board a black business van that had been waiting there for some time.

The driver was an agent under Jack's command.

"Lord, back to the hotel?"

"No, back to the headquarters in the Beijing Suburbs," Lin Zhou instructed.

He needed to find a quiet place to properly review this Washington trip and plan his next moves.

Just as the car pulled onto the airport expressway, his encrypted phone vibrated.

On the screen was a message from Qin Yue, consisting of only one sentence.

"Lord, Su Wanqing and Lin Xi just contacted me. They said they are waiting for you in your hotel lobby with 'urgent business.'"

Lin Zhou stared at the message, feeling his temples throb twice.

These two really were persistent.

The card game in Washington might be over, but the game beneath the table had only just begun.