Chapter 302: I’m Back!
Fred’s voice came through, giving Lin Ran a feeling as if a lifetime had passed.
He was on a remote island in Hawaii. To the outside world, it was truly seclusion—no television, no radio, only books, paper and pens, and some basic living facilities. The only entertainment was a fishing rod and newspapers delivered daily by the America Navy.
It seemed like he had only been in seclusion for a month, but in reality, it had been over a thousand days since he last heard Fred’s voice.
“Fred, take your time,” Lin Ran said calmly, his tone slow.
He was still wondering if Fred was speaking ironically.
Had Fred discovered his mischief and was deliberately saying this to test his attitude?
The telephone at the Hawaii military base was the one he had left for the outside world for any emergencies, to contact him urgently.
Fred naturally knew that.
1960 and 2020 were completely different. In 2020, if a phone call couldn’t reach someone, people would suspect an accident, but in the 1960 spacetime, it was normal for most ordinary people to be unreachable for ten days, half a month, or even longer.
“The army on the Vietnam front carried out Operation Cedar Falls from the 8th to the 26th of this month. Professor, do you know about it?” Fred said.
“Did big T have an accident?” Lin Ran asked. Big T referred to Fred’s eldest son.
“No, Professor. Precisely because you insisted he receive training, he wasn’t harmed at all, not even a little bit.”
(Schematic diagram of Operation Cedar Falls in January 1967)
In the words of ancient China, this is called the good man being protected by heaven. I didn’t actually help much; it’s all because he himself is excellent enough. Fred, congratulations on having an outstanding son!” Lin Ran said.
The purpose of Operation Cedar Falls was to conduct large-scale searches and destroy the Iron Triangle area northwest of Saigon, which was a main base for Vietnam-North Vietnam.
This was also America’s largest ground operation in the Vietnam War, involving a total of two Army divisions, one infantry brigade, one airborne brigade, and one armored cavalry regiment.
It involved a total of 30,000 America soldiers as well as Vietnam-South Vietnam troops.
This special operation was brutal. To prevent Vietnam-North Vietnam forces from making a comeback here, they even involved civilians, expelling all civilians from the area to villages controlled by Vietnam-South Vietnam.
After the civilians were expelled, the area was declared a free-fire zone, meaning any Vietnamese appearing there could be shot dead at will, regardless of whether they were soldiers or not—they would all be considered soldiers.
In America’s official narrative, the relocation of civilians was peaceful, but in reality, the relocation of civilians was forced and brutal.
The operation resulted in 72 America soldiers killed in action, hundreds injured. For big T to emerge unscathed from this operation still required some luck, or ability.
After hearing this, Lin Ran recalled the photo of big T he had seen in the newspaper, and he grew even more curious about how far big T could go in this spacetime.
After all, big T’s father was no longer a New York upstart or local tycoon, but had transformed into a congressman, and in the future, it was not impossible for him to be elected to a more powerful position like senator, or even president.
As someone who mastered public opinion tactics ahead of time and possessed cross-era public opinion skills, Fred had tremendous development potential in American politics, in Lin Ran’s view.
Moreover, big T himself had gained resume experience in the Vietnam War—solid resume experience as an Army participant in frontline warfare, a bona fide second-generation power player.
Lin Ran felt that even at the 2008 time node, he might not lose an election to Obama.
A faint smile flashed across Lin Ran’s face as he thought, I want to see at this spacetime’s New York celebrity gatherings whether it’s Obama humiliating big T or big T humiliating Obama.
Fred said: “No, Professor, you’ve already done your utmost to help me. After all, I offended Lyndon Johnson, and he will definitely use my son as a target, targeting him as much as possible, wanting him to perish in the Vietnam jungle. If not for you delaying his deployment to the battlefield and giving him more time for training, I can hardly imagine big T’s fate now.
But Professor, I have one more reluctant request. I hope that after you return to Washington this time, you can act as an intermediary to introduce me to McNamara. Please forgive a father’s heart in considering his son.”
After thinking for a moment, Lin Ran agreed: “Alright, wait for my notice.”
While Lin Ran was on the phone with Fred, Humphrey was also chatting with Jenny on his way to Oahu Island.
He complained: “Miss Hearst, you’ve gone a bit too far in what you wrote.”
Jenny raised an eyebrow: “Uncle Humphrey, where did I go too far? Isn’t that exactly what the White House, especially Johnson, is thinking? Wanting to claim all the merit of the moon landing for himself, to salvage his precarious polls and the reality of having no achievements even in the third year of his four-year term.
The moon landing was a great gift from the professor to him, yet he developed resentment toward the professor. Even if the professor can tolerate it, I can’t!”
Jenny said righteously.
Humphrey gave a wry smile: “Jenny, I don’t think criticizing the White House is wrong. What I mean is that your criticism needs to be realistic.”
Humphrey casually picked up the newspaper on the special plane’s table and read: “Look at this sentence: ‘The professor’s talent is indispensable, but his history is a footnote that needs to be folded and tucked into a file cabinet.’ Come on, let alone President Johnson—even if President Roosevelt were in the White House, he couldn’t hide the professor’s history in a file cabinet!
Tomorrow morning, the White House press will hold a press conference, and the White House Press Secretary will definitely hammer this point hard.
Your description is too exaggerated, disconnected from reality, which is not good for the purpose you want to achieve.”
Humphrey’s staff nearby all glanced sideways: Are you speaking for the White House or giving advice to Jenny Hearst and the professor?
Telling them how to write news reports to inflict the maximum damage on Lyndon Johnson.
But on second thought, it made sense. Would Humphrey be content as Vice President? They were all Humphrey’s confidants and knew well that the good guy Humphrey, nicknamed the “Happy Warrior,” was privately an ambitious fellow.
No one who could establish a foothold in Washington and climb step by step to high positions lacked ambition.
As for Humphrey advising Jenny, would they tell Lyndon Johnson? Of course not—they were Humphrey’s staff, not Lyndon Johnson’s. If Humphrey became president, would they still worry about rewards?
In the American election system, the relationship between staff and the boss is very close, with extremely high loyalty.
They are highly bound by interests.
It is extremely difficult for staff to switch allegiances.
Moreover, the current Lyndon Johnson was clearly a sinking ship.
“Isn’t it because I’ve recently been reading Robert Steven’s ‘Historical Footnote: Eight Years of Turmoil in Samoa,’ and there was a similar passage that I felt resembled the professor’s situation, so I adapted it?” Jenny explained.
Eight Years of Turmoil in Samoa is a historical fiction novel, somewhat similar in theme to The Lychees of Chang’an—fabricating one’s own story within real historical events, finding creative space in the gaps of history.
At the same time, this book is also the backstory for Steven’s later works, Faleasa Beach and Ebb Tide.
“Jenny, I absolutely have no intention of criticizing you. What I mean is you can do even better,” Humphrey added.
Jenny smiled: “Uncle Humphrey, I know your longing for the White House Oval Office, but I think the professor isn’t prepared to break with Lyndon Johnson, let alone prepared to support you instead.”
Humphrey shook his head: “Jenny, you don’t understand. I don’t necessarily need his support. I just need him not to support my competitors.
It’s best if he supports the professor, but if not, I hope the professor remains neutral. I have confidence to defeat any opponent, whether Johnson, Nixon, or that damned Fred.”
Humphrey also disliked Fred. Because he was Vice President, he got caught in the crossfire—Fred had insulted his appearance as stupid along with others. Happy Warrior? More like brainless and forced to pretend to be happy.
This deeply offended Humphrey.
In the days of flattering Lyndon Johnson at the White House, most were insincere, but cursing Fred together had some genuine feeling.
If possible, Humphrey also wished Fred would get lost quickly. Don’t cling to the Washington circle and scheme for the presidential seat? Do you even think you’re worthy?
Even Humphrey and Lyndon Johnson at the White House hadn’t held back mocking Nixon, because Nixon had let the wolf in, creating a powerful intraparty competitor for himself.
“Uncle Humphrey, I can’t give the professor’s answer for you, but I can say the professor isn’t enthusiastic about Fred,” Jenny said.
This felt expected yet surprising to Humphrey. Fred had repeatedly promoted his relationship with the professor in newspapers, but on second thought, how could a Chinese person like a former KKK member?
This showed Humphrey’s narrow vision—plenty of American Chinese would become Trump supporters in the future.
“What about Nixon?” Humphrey pressed.
Jenny shook her head: “I’m not sure, but the professor has had little interaction with Nixon anyway.”
“Professor, long time no see. Without the professor, NASA, President Johnson and I feel uneasy every day,” Humphrey said, coming up for a hug.
While hugging Humphrey, Lin Ran’s gaze looked toward Jenny in the distance.
During his seclusion in Hawaii, Jenny had visited him once, and it had been over four hundred days since they last met.
Lin Ran thought, long time no see—during the days we were apart, I even went to the moon.
“President Humphrey, thank you for coming to pick me up back to Washington,” Lin Ran said with a smile.
Humphrey corrected: “It’s Vice President!”
He was secretly delighted inside. Hearing “President Humphrey” without the “Vice” prefix sounded so smooth. Was the professor hinting at support for his presidential run next year?
Lin Ran hadn’t expected that a casual Chinese-style remark would spark so much imagination in him. You really want to be president that badly.
They were now at the Pearl Harbor naval base, surrounded by staff and base officers. Humphrey didn’t dare expose his ambition in front of outsiders.
What if Lyndon Johnson found out and started suppressing him early?
The administrative resources in the president’s hands were enough to make him suffer.
It was just like how the 2022 president had sidelined the vice president almost completely.
Just sidelining Humphrey would make it impossible for him to explain to his supporters.
The revolving door of politics and business refers not only to people but also to resources. If you’re sidelined and your revolving door can’t turn, what kind of commissioner are you, Smith? Even Lin Ran had to collaborate with John Morgan to build his own revolving door.
“Jenny, long time no see.” Lin Ran stepped forward proactively, and the hug with Jenny carried more genuine emotion. The mathematician Patek Philippe on his wrist gleamed in the sunlight—this was the Patek Philippe that had been to the moon.
Jenny said nothing, just smiled.
On the special plane, Humphrey then said: “Professor, President Johnson sent me to greet you and hopes to communicate with you in advance to avoid any rift between you.”
If Lyndon Johnson knew, he’d be dumbfounded. When did I ask you to be this intermediary? Lyndon Johnson disliked communicating in advance through assistants or secretaries even as a congressman, preferring to chat details among congressmen after. He called it avoiding direct conflicts among congressmen.
Back then, he liked surprise attacks, showing up unannounced to confront opposing congressmen head-on, using the Johnson treatment to persuade them.
Similarly, he would never let Humphrey be this intermediary.
Lin Ran naturally knew this. After seven years in the White House, how could he not understand Johnson? Humphrey also knew Lin Ran knew he was lying.
This was a test, a mutual understanding test.
“President Humphrey, I know you’re referring to the report Jenny wrote. I read that report while waiting for you at the naval base. It’s all from Jenny’s perspective of what I encountered; I don’t see it that way.
There is no rift between me and President Johnson. We cooperated very pleasantly, and together we put America’s astronauts’ footprints on the moon.
I hope President Johnson doesn’t overthink it. Please trouble President Humphrey to relay this for me.”
After Lin Ran finished, Humphrey didn’t correct the “President Humphrey.” He understood the subtext and replied very satisfied: “Alright, I’ll make sure it’s conveyed accurately. I believe President Johnson is equally satisfied with you.”
Upon returning to Washington, the first thing wasn’t to go to the White House to see Lyndon Johnson, but to do an interview with Cronkite at NBC’s Washington studio: “In the past few days, the media has been discussing where the professor went. Today, the professor is here, appearing live in our NBC Washington studio. Let’s welcome the professor’s arrival with the warmest applause!”
Cronkite’s high-pitched voice was loud enough to pierce the ceiling, instantly igniting the atmosphere in the entire studio.
Cronkite had now jumped from Columbia Television to the National Broadcasting Company, that is, NBC.
Lin Ran walked from backstage to the studio, smiling and waving to the audience below as he went. The applause from below grew even more enthusiastic.
“Hello everyone, I’m Randolph Lin. I’m back.”
