Chapter 938: Gentle Bribery

Regarding the report that Lance had submitted to Congress, many people had actually already seen it.

It was just that it was very difficult for most people to imagine that this report had actually come from a gangster boss.

In their traditional impression, a gangster boss should be the kind of person who might not have even attended high school, had dropped out in the third or fourth grade of elementary school, and then had entered society, engaging in some criminal work, the lowest level of society.

That's why people were shocked that such a report, which had a huge guiding role for the expansion of the Federation, had actually come from a person in their stereotype.

When they had seen Lance in person, Lance could clearly feel their disbelief.

This time, Senator Cleveland had very formally introduced him to everyone here, unlike in the past, where it was just a casual mention.

This had also made them observe Lance with a brand new attitude and perspective.

And no longer just regarded him as a gangster boss.

A gangster boss, how could he possibly be so solemnly introduced by a real "powerful and noble" person like Senator Cleveland?

People's gazes were all focused, including Senator Cleveland. People's gazes were full of scrutiny, which was actually also a kind of a test.

A smart person's friends are mostly still smart people, just as a rich person's friends are often rich people.

It's not that they are unwilling to get to know the poor and the stupid, but just that these two types of people are of no use to their own improvement.

If Lance could not show something that could convince them all, even with Senator Cleveland's introduction, it would be very difficult for him to truly integrate into this circle.

Lance did not answer immediately. After a simple thought and sorting out his thoughts, he said in a slightly deliberative tone—

"To annex Yalan is not a complicated matter. The simplest and most direct is to use force, or to use the plan I am currently doing, to let them have a referendum."

"A military annexation might be faster and more convenient, but for a long-term rule, it is not the best choice."

The person who had asked the question couldn't help but ask, "Then what is the best?"

Lance, almost without thinking, had provided him with an answer, "Just as I said, let them be more proactive in joining us, rather than being annexed by us."

This answer had made many people fall into a deep thought. They couldn't think of any reason for such a situation and possibility to occur on the Yalan side.

Senator Cleveland also looked at Lance.

Lance continued to explain, "We have a comprehensive advantage in the 'comparison' with Yalan."

"Whether it's culture, economy, military, politics, social system..."

"No matter what it is, we are far ahead!"

"We know that the most basic unit that makes up a country is the person. As long as we have control of these people, the majority of the people, and to cut them off from their ruling group, and then to pull them over, to let them compare their current life with their past,"

"As long as their brains don't have too big of a problem, and no one is willing to always be a slave to others, then they will be more inclined to take the initiative to join us."

"To do these, we need to start from multiple aspects."

"Economy, culture, military, all aspects."

Senator Cleveland nodded slightly. "Tell me in detail, about the economy, and the culture."

Lance did not have any stage fright. He raised his wine glass and took a sip. The gentlemen around him, whom he could usually only see in the newspapers, but he did not feel nervous at all.

Just to be able to do this was enough to make some people look at him in a new light.

"Let's talk about the economy first," he explained in order.

"The Federation, as one of the few economic powers in the world, our economic effect on the surrounding radiation is very broad and important."

"Whether it's the north or the Yalan region, they are actually all within our range of economic radiation and influence, and to a certain extent, they rely on our economy and production capacity."

"The economic changes in our country will also affect the surrounding areas, which shows our value and influence in the economy."

"What we need is to mobilize all these."

"I'll take Rapa as an example. I plan to promote some of the high-value agricultural crops for the Federation in the local area, for example..."

He had mentioned some of the raw materials for agricultural products that needed to be finely processed. "These things cannot be processed locally, and must be sent to the Federation."

"In other words, these things are waste to them, and are useless. Then their planting and output will be completely dependent on us."

"The ones in charge of planting are often the bottom of society. This is related to their lives. The more income they get from the process of planting these cash crops, the more serious their dependence on us will be!"

"Once we adjust the local cash crop structure, for them, it will be the difference between heaven and hell."

"Besides this, we can also, through cultural means, to carry out a deeper level of infiltration of the local area."

"To help them with literacy, to have their children read the textbooks we have compiled, to let the young Yalan children, from the bottom of their hearts, to think that they are federal people, not Yalan people."

"The invasion of culture is silent, but it is also the most important."

"A sense of cultural identity will make them ignore the things that their region has brought them, and will make them, in their thoughts, get closer to us."

"The military aspect is also the same. We need to let them see our 'muscles,' to let them understand that an armed conquest is not a difficult matter for us."

"We need to formulate a series of rules that are beneficial to us, and then, under our rules and framework, to defeat their ruling class, and to win over their middle and lower social classes."

"With the cooperation of the economy, culture, and military in many aspects, in many fields, the people of the Yalan region will be more inclined to move closer to us. In the end, they will take the initiative to want to be incorporated into the Federation, to become federal people."

After a while, the people around had fallen into a serious thought. This was not a particularly complicated matter. To explain it from the three most superficial, but also the most effective aspects, had indeed given people a very special feeling.

It was not until a while after Lance had finished speaking that they had begun to applaud his speech. Soon, the applause had become a continuous wave!

Senator Cleveland had even taken the initiative to say, "What you said has given me a lot of inspiration. In fact, we have also discussed some of the problems in Yalan."

"If we are to actually occupy the entire Yalan region, we will inevitably have to establish a new ruling class locally."

"If their society is full of resistance to our rule, it is very likely to be a long-lasting confrontation."

"We don't have so much energy to invest in this confrontation that has no standard for victory, which is also the reason why a part of the people are resistant to the Yalan plan."

"But what you said has given me some new ideas, and also some new ways of thinking."

"Sometimes we don't necessarily need to use force to gain rule."

"Peace, sometimes, is also a means of gaining rule!"

Lance quite agreed with his point of view. "Yes, people all long for a stable and prosperous life, so we will give them stability and prosperity."

"Whoever destroys this stability, and destroys their prosperous life, is their enemy, but it is definitely not us!"

These speeches had indeed played a role, and the atmosphere at the scene had also become more enthusiastic. They had begun to accept Lance, and not to continue to treat him as a "symbol," or just a "name."

Although he might just be on the very edge of this circle, this was already an achievement that many people could not achieve in their lifetime.

For example... Bandy (the head of one of the five major families of Golden Port City). He had wanted to complete his whitewashing and to mix into the real upper class all his life.

But after having experienced so much, he couldn't even become an outer member. In the eyes of many, he was just an ATM, not a person.

If he were still alive, and knew of Lance's current achievements, he might be so ashamed that he would die again!

Next was some small talk. It was no longer just Lance speaking, and others listening, but everyone chatting together, discussing together. The atmosphere was very relaxed.

At this time, Lance was mainly listening. They had talked about some of the matters concerning the Jede Republic.

The sudden appearance of the Yalan League had indeed disrupted some of the federal government's layout and its arrangements for the future. The purpose of the Jede Republic was no secret in their eyes.

They, around the topic of whether it was possible that one day in the future, the Federation would have to go to war with the Jede Republic, had started a new discussion.

However, these had nothing to do with Lance. He was chatting with Edward about some matters concerning Rapa.

This was his first time meeting Lance. He could see that Senator Cleveland had shown an extraordinary importance to Lance, so he didn't mind having a good relationship with a person from the bottom of society.

"You have chosen a very correct project, and also at a very correct time!"

"You have the sense of smell of a financial practitioner, Lance."

Edward and Lance had clinked their glasses and had each taken a sip of their wine. He had begun a relatively more in-depth topic.

"Now the economy is on the rise. People have money in their hands, and some are more willing to invest at a time like this."

"If it's an economic downturn, and people can't make money, they will cherish the wealth in their hands more, and will not invest."

"So you have chosen a very good time. We just need the stock broker to help us to promote it, and people will buy up our stock!"

His face seemed to be glowing!

Lance observed carefully. There was a layer of oil on his face. Was it because he was a little fat?

It was also possible that it was because it was a little hot. These oils were reflecting a 'bling-bling' luster.

Lance agreed with his point of view. "You're right. I can imagine people's madness."

"The senator said you are a professional, so I'll leave the next work to you."