Chapter 67: A Mathematician Who Can Debate—are You Scared?
“Sorry, we don’t need evidence.
Professor Lin publicly stated during an interview with Hong Kong Radio that he is still emotionally a Chinese person, meaning he is still spiritually a Chinese person, which is a very significant risk.
Combined with the leap forward in China’s missile technology after Professor Lin returned to China in July last year.
This combination means that appointing him as Special Assistant for Aerospace Affairs would seriously impact America’s security.
Such a risk is sufficient for us to exclude Professor Lin from this position.
Additionally, I don’t believe that with the existence of NASA and the Space Committee, we need to establish another so-called Special Assistant for Aerospace Affairs position.”
After Barry Goldwater finished speaking, the Elephant Party congressmen present erupted in thunderous applause.
Fortunately, as a Chinese person who experienced the information explosion era of later years, Lin Ran was no stranger to verbal sparring on the Chinese Internet, making such occasions effortless for him.
Lin Ran thought to himself, I thought you had dug up Chen Jingrun’s real identity, but that’s it?
Additionally, with testimony from Thomas, the senior inspector of Hong Kong Special Branch, Thomas’s report is probably still sitting in the offices of MI6 and some IA.
With Thomas’s confession, even if they dug up Chen Jingrun’s real identity, Lin Ran wouldn’t panic.
When it was Lin Ran’s turn to speak, he tapped the microphone in front of him and then calmly said:
“Sorry, I have to say that the congressmen raising doubts haven’t done enough homework; the reasons they brought up are, as Director Webber said, completely based on speculation.
What I said during my interview with Hong Kong media was that I still have the core of classical Chinese culture culturally. America, from its founding, from legal design to political concepts to various architectural designs in Washington, has largely inherited the legacy of Ancient Rome.
From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams to Alexander Hamilton, these three early American founding fathers all indicated to varying degrees that America is the heir to Rome.
Jefferson wrote in his book: The history of the Roman Republic is our best textbook. When he designed the Virginia parliament building, he imitated Roman architecture.
John Adams quoted the Roman historian Polybius in ‘A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States,’ calling Rome’s mixed government the legal template for America.
Alexander Hamilton directly used the Roman pen name Tully to publish articles, implying that America inherits Rome’s civic responsibility.
Now, there are also plenty of bureaucrats and congressmen in the White House and Congress who consider themselves heirs to Rome, while Rome’s true heir—Romania—is a communist state.
If being a cultural Chinese person poses a risk, then from past to present, from Congress to the White House, shouldn’t the risk from so many spiritual Romanians be far greater than mine?
If these heirs to Rome are not spiritual Romanians, then on what basis does this congressman say I am a spiritual Chinese person?
From America to Europe, there are countless people of Chinese descent globally; everyone is inseparably connected spiritually and culturally to ancient China—does that make them all spiritual Chinese people?
Cultural ties cannot change one’s real nationality; the other’s doubts simply don’t hold water.”
After Lin Ran finished speaking, the applause was even more intense, mainly because his words hit the excitement point of the media present.
It is well known that America, or rather most Western countries, follow the common law system, whose biggest feature is case law, using prior judgments as references for subsequent case judgments.
Lin Ran’s rebuttal cited sources extensively, even dragging out America’s sages for a spin, which naturally carries persuasiveness from the American common law mindset.
More importantly, in previous hearings, like Oppenheimer’s, they would either say ‘I don’t have it’ or ‘I don’t know,’ remaining passive throughout.
The veteran Washington reporters present had never seen a mathematician who cited sources so extensively and spoke so eloquently; one might think he was a senior lawyer or veteran politician.
Plus, people of Chinese descent are traditionally seen as mild-mannered, so rarely seeing one counterattack so directly created an even stronger contrast.
This contrast excited the reporters, making them feel like they had gained new insights.
“Additionally, I need to emphasize that appointing me as Special Assistant for Aerospace Affairs, though it may not have a huge impact or make great contributions, can at least avoid many problems at the source.
On December 6, 1957, Vanguard TV-3 launch failed, with the rocket exploding on the launch pad.
On March 5, 1958, Explorer 2 launch failed, third stage rocket did not ignite.
On August 17, 1958, Pioneer 0 launch failed, upper stage malfunction, did not reach escape velocity.
On January 21, 1959, Discoverer 1 launch failed, second stage malfunction, did not enter orbit.
On April 13, 1959, Discoverer 2 launch failed, similar second stage malfunction.
On September 17, 1959, Transit 1A launch failed, second stage did not ignite, did not enter orbit.
Over the past five years, the news about NASA in you reporters’ articles has been one failure after another.
These failures caused NASA and America high financial costs and project delays, with the Vanguard TV-3 explosion even occurring during a nationwide live television broadcast.
This also caused a crisis of public trust in NASA’s and America’s technological strength.
With my involvement, I can mitigate unnecessary risks from rocket design, test programs, quality control, and personnel management.
Make NASA great again.”
After Lin Ran’s passionate statement, the reporters looked baffled, whispering among themselves in the audience:
“When was NASA ever great?”
“Wasn’t NASA only established a couple of years ago? Since its founding, it’s made all sorts of jokes—how does that relate even slightly to being great?”
“Is Professor Lin talking about NASA?”
The congressmen also exchanged glances; they didn’t realize until they heard it, but when NASA’s rocket failures were laid out together, it felt like NASA only had failures and no successes.
After the verbal sparring between both sides, host Vice President Lyndon announced the end:
“Alright, the hearing is concluded. The Security Committee will soon provide our conclusion through a closed-door meeting. Thank you to colleagues from all sectors for your participation.”
“Randolph, don’t worry too much; this hearing is just going through the motions.
You said one thing very well just now: we need to make NASA great again!”
After the meeting, James Webb specifically hosted a banquet for Lin Ran. While others questioned this, he had no doubts, because making NASA great again was also his goal.
As for whether it was great before, that doesn’t matter.
“You know, this hearing was convened by Lyndon, and the director of the Security Committee is also Lyndon; he won’t make things difficult for you.
But Randolph, do you know what your task as Special Assistant for Aerospace Affairs is?”
