31: Fang Le's negotiation conditions were so high that the US military commander was so angry that he fainted!

Just as Fang Le was about to leave the City Hall building, he received another call from Political Commissar Zhao Gang, so Fang Le had the car turn back.

As the commander of the Security Regiment, Ouyang's duty compelled him to ask, "Chief, what happened?"

Fang Le explained, "Zhao Gang told me that Australia's official mediator has arrived in Darwin City, probably to mediate for peace or surrender."

"So I want to go and see for myself."

—

In the reception room of the City Hall building.

A white-skinned man in his fifties sat with his legs crossed, smoking a cigar.

His name was Pearson, a member of the Australian Parliament from the capital, Canberra.

He appeared relaxed on the surface, but inwardly he was anxious.

He had been waiting for nearly half an hour, and Acting Mayor Simpson had not yet appeared.

Was this a deliberate snub?

Finally, the door was pushed open.

A man in his forties walked in.

Judging by his skin tone, he was of Chinese descent, with an elegant yet resolute demeanor, clearly not an ordinary person.

The Chinese man extended his hand.

"Hello, Senator Pearson."

"My name is Zhao Gang, a staff member of the City Hall. I am here to meet with you in place of Mayor Simpson."

Pearson was immediately displeased.

"What? You're just a staff member? What a joke! Where is Simpson himself? Why isn't he coming to see me?!"

Zhao Gang's expression remained calm: "I can fully represent the City Hall and make all decisions."

Ah?

Pearson heard the unusual meaning in these words and couldn't help but ask,

"Who exactly are you?"

Zhao Gang: "Besides being an employee of the City Hall, I am also a senior administrative advisor to the Indigenous Party."

Ah?

Pearson quickly understood the underlying meaning.

Currently, Darwin City was ostensibly led by Deputy Mayor Simpson, but anyone with a bit of intelligence knew that Mazhaha and his group from the Indigenous Party were the true controllers of the city.

This Zhao Gang was not actually representing Simpson, but rather the Indigenous Party, to negotiate.

Pearson had no time to ponder how a Chinese person became a high-ranking member of the Indigenous Party. Thinking of his mission, he stated directly:

"Mr. Zhao, I'll be frank. I am here on behalf of the Australian Federal Government to mediate for peace."

Zhao Gang: "Please elaborate."

Pearson: "The Federal Government believes that your city's impending military rule policy is an unwise move that will further worsen the situation."

"The Federal Government orders... no, it advises you to cease implementing the military rule policy."

Zhao Gang immediately rejected the proposal.

"I'm sorry, Pearson, military rule is a necessary means for us to defend the city. It is impossible to abandon it."

Pearson grew anxious: "But what good will military rule do you? Will you be able to resist the powerful U.S. Military if you implement military rule?"

Zhao Gang: "Even so, we will not give up resistance... As for the Federal Government, as the nominal protector of Darwin City, what substantial efforts has it made for us?"

Upon hearing this, Pearson became agitated.

"How have we not made efforts?"

"Shortly after Darwin Base fell, the U.S. Military informed our country of its intention to attack Darwin City. However, in the parliamentary meeting, the U.S. Military's request was not passed by vote, because most senators disagreed with the U.S. Military attacking a city under federal jurisdiction, even though the United States is our closest ally."

"But then Darwin City made a foolish move. Your Indigenous Party's controller, Mazhaha, actually held a public trial, disregarding legal procedures and allowing the victims' families to execute those U.S. Military soldiers privately. In such a situation, how can you still expect us to obstruct the U.S. Military's decision?"

Pearson fully expressed his grievances, and Zhao Gang did not find fault, stating: "We don't need to discuss past rights and wrongs; that's meaningless. Before discussing peace, can you first guarantee that the U.S. Military will stop its deployment and that the number of U.S. Military personnel at Darwin Base will not increase further?"

"As far as I know, at this very moment, while we are arguing, more than ten thousand U.S. Military troops from various sources have already gathered at the base, which is only a dozen kilometers north of Darwin City's main urban area."

This—

Pearson was speechless, then stated: "As long as your side first shows sincerity, ends the military rule policy, and then releases the captured U.S. Military soldiers, then I can—"

Zhao Gang interrupted him: "Pearson, I don't care what you think, I care what I think."

"I believe the order of precedence here cannot be changed. The U.S. Military should act first, stop deploying troops, withdraw, return the forces at Darwin Base to their pre-conflict levels, and the U.S. Military must publicly state that they will not attack Darwin City."

"Only then will we announce the suspension of the military rule plan."

Pearson shook his head sharply.

"No, no, no, Mr. Zhao, the order should be for Darwin City to show goodwill first, otherwise I can't persuade the U.S. Military to do what you're asking."

Zhao Gang spread his hands: "Then there's nothing to talk about."

Pearson thought for a moment and said, "How about this, Mr. Zhao, you first summarize all your conditions and tell them to me. This way, when I go to Darwin Base later to negotiate with their military generals, I can specifically speak on your behalf."

Zhao Gang nodded and said, "Alright."

Soon, Zhao Gang listed all the demands one by one.

"Our side demands to abandon the previous debate about who was right or wrong."

"Our side will not pursue responsibility for the death of Mayor Cohen and other matters."

"The United States Military must not pursue issues with any person or organization in Darwin City. Remember, any person or organization!"

"If the United States agrees to the aforementioned conditions, it must immediately cease troop movements and publicly declare to the world that it will not attack Darwin City."

"Darwin City temporarily needs self-preservation, so the newly established Darwin City Defense Army will not be immediately disbanded, but the total number can be controlled to no more than ten thousand."

"At the same time, we will not return the weapons we obtained from the U.S. military base."

"Of course, to show goodwill, we will release all captured U.S. Military soldiers."

Pearson's face turned red.

"Your, your demands are simply outlandish!"

"The United States will never agree."

Zhao Gang stood up directly: "Then there's nothing to talk about, Pearson, goodbye."

Zhao Gang stood up to see him out.

Pearson shouted angrily.

"Stupid, you are utterly stupid—"

"Darwin City will be destroyed by your hands—"

The grumbling Pearson departed, and the Masked Man Fang Le emerged from the inner room, praising, "Old Zhao, well done."

An hour later, inside Darwin Military Base, after hearing Pearson's relayed peace terms, the newly arrived U.S. Military commander Aris, in a fit of rage, smashed his coffee cup on the table.

It seemed this war was unavoidable.