Chapter 107: In High Spirits
Lin Ran appeared exceptionally young among the group of representatives.
At just over twenty years old, he was already renowned globally.
None of the representatives of the Chinese delegation dared to openly discuss Lin Ran on the special plane they took to come.
After all, Lin Ran was working for the White House.
At the current point in time, this was not something worthy of affirmation.
Plus, you couldn’t go against your conscience and say the other party wasn’t anything special—just proving Fermat’s Last Theorem? Just launching a probe to the Moon? Just winning the Nobel Peace Prize?
Whether it was his title as a great mathematician, or his actual power as NASA shadow director, or the halo of the Nobel Peace Prize, these achievements that ordinary people could hardly reach in a lifetime, Lin Ran had already gathered them all in one body.
But when everyone privately talked about Lin Ran with close colleagues, they were full of praise:
“Professor Lin in ancient times would be Gan Luo, who became a minister at twelve.”
“Although I also don’t hope to see Professor Lin working for the White House—such an outstanding Chinese person working for the White House is a loss for us—but Professor Lin’s abilities demonstrated in various aspects are beyond doubt.”
“Do you think Professor Lin could be elected president? After all, he is only twenty-three, and there are still decades ahead.”
Lin Ran undoubtedly became the hottest private topic in the Chinese delegation.
Lin Ran was also the only one in the America delegation wearing a black Zhongshan suit.
The representatives of the Chinese delegation looked at Lin Ran, dressed in a black Zhongshan suit, sitting among a group of white people in suits, and associating it with the Cultural China concept proposed by Lin Ran, they felt a mixture of emotions.
Lin Ran’s expression was confident but slightly cautious, his sitting posture upright, holding documents in his hand, and sitting across from him was Andrei Gromyko, who was wearing a gray suit, with a firm yet reserved expression, hands crossed on the table, gaze sharp.
Lin Ran said: “Foreign Minister Gromyko, ***, thank you for coming to Geneva today.
The recent Berlin Crisis has made us all profoundly realize how important a direct and quick communication channel is. I hope we can reach a consensus on establishing a hotline to avoid misunderstandings escalating into irreparable conflicts.”
During this negotiation process, Lin Ran’s identity was presidential special representative.
Gromyko’s tone was low and slightly vigilant: “Randolph, we agree this is a topic worth discussing. But the Soviet Union’s position is very clear: this hotline must not become a tool for America to conduct illegal activities or interfere in our internal affairs.”
The Chinese representative then added: “Gentlemen, I understand both sides’ concerns. As a neutral party, China hopes to assist you in finding consensus.
The establishment of the hotline can indeed reduce the risk of misjudgment, but the premise is to establish mechanisms of mutual trust and transparency.”
The negotiation scene initially seemed very peaceful.
At least regarding the hotline, everyone quickly reached a consensus.
There needs to be something like a hotline to prevent the world from entering an uncontrollable crisis of nuclear war.
Under the joint efforts of the three parties, the hotline concept began moving toward substantive discussions on details that very day.
“My suggestion is to have two lines: one through teletypewriter, generating printed text via telegraph.
Ensuring accurate written records to avoid misunderstandings or post-event disputes from verbal dialogue.
The written form of the telegraph is also more calm and objective—after all, President Kennedy doesn’t speak Russian, and Mister Nikita doesn’t speak English, so verbal dialogue between both sides still requires real-time translation.
Information passed through translation may be distorted.
Additionally, the teletype system is technically harder to intercept with encryption equipment, while telephone voice encryption technology is not as reliable.
Plus, there is already a transatlantic cable between America and the Soviet Union, which only needs slight modification to be used for teletypewriter information transmission.
But I don’t think we can’t have a telephone line between us.
In some cases where neither side is willing to compromise, a telephone might ease emotions between the two sides.
At such times, a telephone might be a better idea.”
“Using the Model 28 ASR teletypewriter produced by ITT Company, the main line would be set from Washington to London then to Copenhagen, passing through Stockholm and Helsinki, finally reaching Moscow.
Along this route, it can send 66 words per minute, sufficient for communication in emergencies.”
“Regarding the telephone, I suggest using satellite communication to replace the undersea cable.
Although we don’t have the corresponding technology now, isn’t it interesting to use this as an opportunity to start a new content in the space race?”
Historically, in 1971, the previous hotline method was upgraded; America used Intelsat, while the Soviet Union used Molniya satellite to replace part of the undersea cables.
It wasn’t until 1986 that telephone functionality was introduced from the teletypewriter.
During the midway break, in the outside aisle, he got the opportunity to bump into and greet the Chinese representative—just that little time was enough.
The Chinese representative exchanged pleasantries with Lin Ran for a couple of sentences; as the other returned to the meeting room and Lin Ran continued to the restroom, in that moment of passing by sideways, the Chinese representative felt a sudden added weight in the lower pocket of his Zhongshan suit.
Besides the Chinese representative, he had experienced far greater storms, and he was also aware of the vague relationship between Lin Ran and China, so he didn’t think the other would harm him.
Even if encountering an accident, the Chinese representative remained unflustered, returning to the venue as if nothing had happened.
Only before pushing open the meeting room door, he casually brushed his hand over the Zhongshan suit pocket, covering the slight gap that had unintentionally opened.
“Vice Chairman Mikoyan, I think the America representative’s proposal is quite pragmatic and practical, based on.”
After the Chinese representative returned to the venue, the first thing he did was have a brief dialogue with the Soviet representative Mikoyan; he wasn’t curious at all about what Lin Ran had stuffed into his pocket.
As the proposer of the hotline concept, his suggestions on the specific design of the hotline received agreement from all three parties.
Almost on the first day in Geneva, both sides reached agreement on the hotline in many fields.
But for Lin Ran, how the talks went didn’t matter; his own desired purpose had already been achieved.
Coming to Geneva this time, if not for the Chinese delegation coming, he wouldn’t have wanted to take this job at all.
Because at the end of December, he had to make another trip to Europe for the Nobel Prize award ceremony.
The frequent flyer treatment he didn’t enjoy in 2020, unexpectedly he got to enjoy in advance in 1961.
Working for the world’s largest organization is like this.
Outside the Palais des Nations, reporters who had been waiting for a long time saw the representatives leaving one after another and surged forward like crazy, trying to get the latest negotiation results from the representatives’ mouths.
“I’m Associated Press reporter Jenny, Professor Lin, may I ask how the first day of talks went?”
The blonde, blue-eyed female reporter squeezed to the front; her appearance was clearly more eye-catching than her question.
Lin Ran smiled and leaned toward the microphone she held out, saying: “We talked great today.
We reached some wonderful consensuses around the hotline between us; these wonderful consensuses will help us bring peace to Europe as soon as possible.
I believe the hotline will become a historic symbol of humanity’s pursuit of peace.
At the same time, today’s consensus also lays a very good foundation for subsequent Berlin Crisis negotiations.”
Lin Ran was very patient, giving more interviews than the other representatives; Jenny even thought it was her charm at work, captivating the young Chinese person in front of her.
She somewhat hated this damn weather, forcing her to wear a cashmere coat instead of a low-neck short sleeve to better show her charm.
After Lin Ran finished answering and saw the other not asking the next question, thinking it was over and preparing to turn and leave—who would have thought she had so much inner activity.
His good mood was entirely because he had successfully provided the Raspberry Pi to the Chinese representative.
Lin Ran’s mind had already flown back from Geneva to New York; he was single-mindedly thinking about how to provide the remaining important materials to Chen Jingrun.
Lin Ran’s plan was in two parts.
Once the other party gets the Raspberry Pi and takes it back, they will definitely research it without destroying its structure.
If relying purely on the other side to slowly replicate it, who knows when they would figure out how to use this thing.
If not knowing what’s inside or where it came from, they might spend a few years with no achievements, then stall research a few years later.
Only restarting research after 1978.
Although restarting in 1978 would still have value, could the value then compare to now?
Plus, how to use the simulation software inside the Raspberry Pi, how to perform specific fluid mechanics calculations.
All of that needs a tutorial.
Rather than letting China figure it out slowly on their own.
At such a time, Chen Jingrun can come into play.
The equipment is given directly to the Chinese representative in Geneva; the explanatory documents rely on Chen Jingrun in New York—might even need to be shipped back by sea.
However, even for the explanatory documents, Lin Ran worried about accidents; if discovered by America, it would all be over.
Lin Ran was certain the Chinese representative would have no issues, but sending paper explanatory documents all the way from New York back to Yanjing—the accident factors in between were really too great.
So after much thought, he planned to pass it back in a special way.
The usage instructions for the simulation software are in the Raspberry Pi; what Lin Ran needs to send back is only the usage instructions for the Raspberry Pi and what exactly is in the Raspberry Pi.
Returning to the door outside the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Lin Ran thought it was over and prepared to turn and leave when Jenny hurriedly asked:
“Professor Lin, what do you think about the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to you?”
Lin Ran smiled and said: “I hope to bring true peace to the world.”
Jenny continued: “Professor Lin, can I invite you for a drink tonight?”
Lin Ran raised his hand in a toasting gesture: “Madam Jenny, wish you an unforgettable night.”
After saying that, he turned and left; the straight figure under the Zhongshan suit appeared exceptionally charming, and Jenny murmured: “Professor, after returning to America, I want to apply to become the White House’s resident news reporter.”
