Chapter 197 Invitation and Rejection
As the head coach of the US team expected, when the news of Chen Qiang came back to the United States, American media found that among the seven championships Chen Qiang won, six of them were the runner-ups, which means that if Chen Qiang had not, these six gold medals would have been taken away by American athletes.
So the title similar to "Defeat American Track and Field with One Person" really appeared in the American media.
Many Americans can't help but think of the Los Angeles Olympics four years ago. At that time, Chen Qiang won five gold medals and broke the world record of five events. It was a miracle. Now Chen Qiang has gone to the next level, won seven gold medals and broke the world record of seven events.
Moreover, four years ago, the US team won the runner-up in four of the five events that Chen Qiang won. In this year's Berlin Olympics, the US team won the runner-up in six of the seven events that Chen Qiang won the championship, which sounds like the US team won two more silver medals.
But in fact, at the Los Angeles Olympics four years ago, the discus and 110-meter hurdles were both American players, which means that the two gold medals of the US team turned into silver medals, and the US team suffered a huge loss!
At the Los Angeles Olympics four years ago, Chen Qiang stole four gold medals that should belong to Americans at the door of the Americans, which made the American people very unhappy. They all hoped that the American team could avenge their previous shame at the Berlin Olympics and regain the lost gold medals. However, Chen Qiang became more and more powerful. It was not enough to steal four gold medals this time, and he snatched two more gold medals from the American team.
The United States is the world's number one sports power, and track and field is the strongest of Americans. It lost to Chen Qiang for two consecutive Olympics, and the more it defeated, which hit the self-esteem of many Americans.
The American Athletics Association and the education department in charge of sports are naturally criticized. American politicians have also begun to use this to seek political benefits for themselves.
In 1936, the US election coincided with the US election. At this time, candidates from both parties in the United States also took this opportunity to promote their respective policies or attack their opponents.
The Democratic candidate is the current US President Roosevelt, while the Republican candidate is Alf Langton, Kansas.
Roosevelt's new policy saved the US economy and allowed the United States to emerge from the Great Depression. Therefore, at this time, Roosevelt's call for re-election was naturally very high, and victory was almost a foregone conclusion. Republicans also realized this. As the election approached, they were just struggling more dyingly.
Although it was the critical time for the election, President Roosevelt still stayed in the White House and did not run around to engage in some campaign activities. After all, legs and feet are inconvenient, and traveling far is troublesome, so Roosevelt still prefers to give speeches to Americans through radio rather than "going to the grassroots" one by one and interacting with voters at close distance.
At this time, Roosevelt's campaign officer was reporting on the campaign situation.
"Mr. President, the Republican Party has used new tricks. They attacked you with the failure of the Berlin Olympics as an excuse, saying that the large number of sports facilities built over the years are useless. Not only has the sports in the United States not improved, but has regressed, so those sports facilities are all wasteful." The campaign officer said.
"Those guys from the Republican Party are exhausted. They actually think that such naive excuses will cause me trouble?" Roosevelt shook his head with disdain.
"Mr. President, I know you know Chen Qiang, so we have already figured out a countermeasure. I arranged a reporter in Berlin who will interview Chen Qiang, and during the interview, Chen Qiang will express sufficient admiration for you." The campaign officer said.
Roosevelt nodded: "Okay, just do what you want."
The Roosevelt campaign hopes that Chen Qiang will then get to know Roosevelt and portray Chen Qiang as Roosevelt's admirer. This will naturally help Roosevelt's election, and most of the Republican accusations against Roosevelt will be offset.
Many times, releasing friendship is better than showing toughness to win the support of voters. For example, a future US president said during the campaign: I am a good friend to the Russian president. When the American people heard this news, they instinctively felt that since they have such a strong relationship with the Russian president, they would definitely be able to handle the US-Russian relationship well, so this sentence will win him a lot of votes.
As for whether he really has a strong relationship with the Russian president, it is unknown. If someone asks the Russian president, are you a good friend with the US president? Even if the two don’t know each other at all, the Russian president is embarrassed to deny that they are not friends. The US president is releasing friendship. No matter how reluctant the Russian president is, he has to take this matter off.
Back to the topic, after the campaign officer left after reporting the matter, Roosevelt rubbed his temples with some fatigue.
Roosevelt doesn’t have to worry too much about the campaign matters. After all, he has huge advantages now, and as long as there is no scandal, it is impossible to fail.
What Roosevelt really was a top-secret document placed on his desk.
Roosevelt opened the file and found a survey report. In addition, there were some photos that seemed to be taken secretly. There was a man and a woman in the photo, which looked like she was having a tryst.
If a British politician is present, he will definitely be able to recognize that the man in the photo is King Edward VIII of England.
And that woman is the famous Duchess of Wensha, who will be called her now.
"I am indeed a very charming lady. No wonder I can let the King of England worship under her pomegranate skirt! I hope that His Majesty the King of England is just playing around, don't take it seriously!" Roosevelt sighed.
It is not new to European nobles to find lovers. Although it is immoral for the British king to find a married American girl to be a mistress, it is not a big problem by the standards at that time. Perhaps many people will still think that this British king is suave.
However, if it rises to the point of talking about marriage, things will really be a big deal!
The key is that based on the information Roosevelt had, the British king and the married Mrs. Simpson seemed to have a chance to talk about marriage.
"It's a headache!" Roosevelt put down the report. He did not intend to show these things to the British. The US government would rather not mix things up in such matters. Even if you know them, you have to pretend not to know them.
Roosevelt then picked up another report, which also wrote the word "top secret".
"It was new information sent by the spy lurking in Germany!" Roosevelt looked serious and opened the report.
"The Germans are working on a 'super soldier' project, which has two hosts, Professor Abra and Professor Anime. However, since Professor Abra is Jewish, he has withdrawn from the 'super soldier' project and has also fled to the United States for refuge..."
Roosevelt frowned, then he picked up the phone on the table and called a number.
"General, I have read your report. Is Professor Abra in the United States? Is it under our control? That's great..."
"About that 'super soldier' plan, since the Germans are doing it, we can't fall behind. Yes, if it is really feasible, of course we have to do it. If the Germans have it, we also have it in the United States..."
"I hope to meet Professor Abra and listen to him personally about the feasibility of this 'Super Soldier' plan..."
...
Berlin is another Olympic dance, and Chen Qiang is still a star at the dance.
Or rather, Chen Qiang today is more dazzling than the previous few days, because there is a badge hanging on his chest!
This is the "Peace and Friendship Badge" issued to Chen Qiang by the German Prime Minister himself.
Countless people cast envious eyes at Chen Qiang. People looked at the badge with respect on their faces. In Germany at that time, being able to receive the personal award from the German head of state would indeed make everyone envious.
Chen Qiang also felt like he was pretending to be a tiger's power, enjoying the respect and compliment of the people around him.
In addition to the Germans, there were many Italians at the banquet.
The German-Italy axis has been quietly formed, and the two sides are still negotiating some details, so at this time, there were many Italian officials in Berlin.
The Japanese are still fiercely controversial about whether to join the Axis Group. Japan is divided into two factions. One faction believes that it should join the Axis Powers and divide the world with Germany; the other faction is worried about offending the British and advocates not to join the Axis Powers.
A scholarly person came to Chen Qiang near him. Chen Qiang vaguely remembered that he seemed to be an official of the German Ministry of Education, but Chen Qiang could not remember the other party's name.
Fortunately, the other party introduced himself: "Mr. Chen, do you still remember me? I am Cross!"
"Mr. Kros of the German Ministry of Education, of course I remember you!" Chen Qiang said quickly.
Cross smiled on his face: "Mr. Chen, first congratulations on your receipt of the great prime minister's personal medal of peace and friendship!"
Chen Qiang has heard of Cross's opening remarks many times today.
Cross talked a few more nonsense before he got to the point: "Mr. Chen, the Olympics are about to end. Do you know what your plans are next?"
"Of course I've returned to China. I've been away from my hometown for more than a month." Chen Qiang said.
"Mr. Chen is interested in staying in Germany?" Cross asked.
Chen Qiang was slightly stunned: "Stay in Germany? Mr. Cruise, what are you referring to?"
"If Mr. Chen is willing to stay in Germany, German universities will welcome you very much. In addition to food and accommodation, we will also provide you with a scholarship of 5,000 marks." Cross said.
5,000 mark is also a considerable number. Before World War II, the ratio of German mark to US dollar was about 2.5:1, which means 1 mark is equivalent to 0.4 US dollars, and 5,000 mark is equivalent to 2,000 US dollars.
"The Germans are such a big deal!" Chen Qiang said in his heart, but asked, "Mr. Cross, why do you want me to stay in Germany?"
"That's right, we Germans respect talents the most. Whether we are Germans or people from other countries, as long as we are talents, we Germany are willing to absorb them. Mr. Chen's outstanding performance at the Olympics deeply touched us, so our German Ministry of Education is willing to give you the best treatment and hope you can stay." Kroos said.
"If you believe in you, there will be ghosts!" Chen Qiang complained in his heart.
Other countries say they respect foreign talents, but Chen Qiang believed it, but in that era, Germany said they respect foreign talents, but Chen Qiang did not believe it! If Germany really respected talents so much, so many Jewish scientists would not have gone to the United States to take refuge. If Einstein stayed in Germany, maybe Germany would have created an atomic bomb first than the United States.
"This Cross is obviously fooling me! The Germans must have other plans." Chen Qiang thought of this and refused: "Mr. Cross, thank you for your invitation. Germany is a very beautiful country, and I also visit the beautiful scenery here. But I am a Chinese athlete and I represent China in the Olympics, so after the Olympics, I must go back."
"Mr. Chen, if you feel that the conditions are not satisfactory, we can discuss it again." Cross said quickly.
"It has nothing to do with the conditions, it's just that I have to go back." Chen Qiang said firmly.
"That's a pity." Cross thought for a while and then said, "I think this is better. You can return to China first, and then you can come back again. We will help you with the ticket to return to Germany."
Cross's attitude made Chen Qiang feel more and more that the Germans are not at ease.
"Let me go back to China first, and then come back? Do the Germans just want me to stay in Germany so urgently?" Chen Qiang said in his heart.
Cross then advised: "Mr. Chen, I heard that the situation in your country seems to be not very good. Japan has always wanted to launch an invasion of your country. Maybe one day, war will come to your country and Mr. Chen's life will be threatened. If Mr. Chen comes to Germany, we can at least protect Mr. Chen's personal safety."
Chen Qiang really wants to reply "Haha".
The Japanese are indeed going to fight, and China will also fall into the War of Resistance Against Japan, but Germany is not much better, and Europe is also facing the threat of war.
Although Germany was very glorious in the early stage of World War II, after the Allied forces landed in Normandy, Germany was attacked by the Soviet Union and the United States and Britain, and every inch of German land became a battlefield. The US and Soviet troops were not good at dealing with the Germans, and they were not so peaceful. Staying in Germany at this time was not a wise move. Maybe they would be shot by the United States or the Soviet Union.
In comparison, although China's War of Resistance Against Japan lasted longer, at least it had a large rear like Chongqing. Although Chongqing was often bombed by the Japanese army, after the Japanese planes arrived, it would be fine to hide in the air-raid shelter and save their lives. During World War II, staying in Chongqing would definitely be safer than staying in Berlin.
So Chen Qiang shook his head again: "Thank you very much for Germany's kindness, but I'm sorry, I really can't promise you. I am a Chinese and I don't want to leave my motherland!"
Cross persuaded Wu Hope and left with a look of disappointment, but a voice sounded behind Chen Qiang, and he was speaking in Chinese.
"I heard everything you said to the Germans just now! The young man is good! He has the integrity of us Chinese!"
Chen Qiang turned around and saw that the person coming was Wang Zhengting.
"Minister Wang!" Chen Qiang said hello immediately.
Wang Zhengting looked at Chen Qiang with a compliment and said, "I'm no longer a minister. I'm just a idle person now. You'd better call me Member Wang!"
Wang Zhengting was the first member of China's International Olympic Committee, and he was also a member of the Central Committee of the Republic of China. No matter from any perspective, it would be fine to call him "Committee Wang".
Wang Zhengting said: "Chen Qiang, this time we participated in the Olympics, in addition to the athletes, there is also an inspection team that will inspect the current sports situation of the seven European countries. You should know this?"
"I know. You, Director General Chen Siliang, and Supervisor Hao Gengsheng are all in this inspection team." Chen Qiang nodded.
"Now, we plan to join you in the inspection team." Wang Zhengting stared at Chen Qiang and continued: "So after the Olympics, you should not return to China first. Let's go back to the inspection team and wait until the visit is over."
Chen Qiang was immediately delighted. This was a free trip to Europe's seven countries!
Chapter completed!