Volume 2: The crown and the hat are all over the capital, and the spirit is full of energy and enter the foggy city Chapter 82: Mahjong House (Part 1)
Subtitle of this chapter: If anyone thinks the next few chapters are exaggerated... then you should go read the history books yourself, or at least search on Baidu.
"Hahaha, I win this hand!"
"Damn, this guy is so lucky."
"Okay, this round is yours, Mr. President..."
Our Master Yuan must have some idea of what he was doing when he was invited to meet the current President of the United States, otherwise he would not have brought such a big box with him.
But he heard such a noise before he even reached the Oval Office, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart, thinking, this term of American people is amazing.
They are so lucky to have elected such a blowhard president, who has assembled such a blowhard cabinet and ushered in such a blowhard era in American politics.
"Mr. President, Mr. Yuan is here."
Master Yuan followed the staff member who led the way into the Oval Office, and the scene before him was exactly what he expected... well, a little different.
In fact, the presidential office he saw later was renovated and rebuilt during FDR's term in 1934, and the design style is naturally very different. The current office was severely damaged in a fire in 1929 in the original timeline.
Therefore, the furnishings and layout of this office were somewhat different from the impression he had in his mind.
However, the scene in the office was pretty much what he had imagined.
Because the heating was turned on high and the atmosphere was very hot, these gentlemen, whether familiar or unfamiliar, not only did not wear outer clothes, but it was so hot that they even opened their vests and rolled up their shirt sleeves, revealing their hairy arms and shiny gold watches.
They gathered around a square table, on which were not only playing cards and green paper, but also a wide variety of wine glasses and smoking cigars.
The smell of smoke, alcohol, popularity... and wealth make the "center of the world" exceptionally masculine and simple.
Those who know of course know that this is the office of the President of the United States, while those who don’t would think they have arrived at a not-so-high-end pub when seeing the scene before them.
Even though our Master Yuan had already prepared himself mentally, he still took a breath.
Damn, the 1921 Americana was really, really, really, really awesome!
"Hahaha, Mr. Yuan, you're here." A tall figure beside the table immediately stood up, took the initiative to come forward and said enthusiastically: "Welcome, Mr. Yuan, welcome. By the way, do you recognize me?"
Nonsense, of course I recognized you. Why am I here if you can’t recognize me?
But before Yuan Yan could speak, the uncle introduced himself: "I am... Warren Gamelier Harding!"
If Master Yuan had not personally experienced this scene, but had heard it relayed by others, he would definitely not believe that the great President of the United States would take the initiative to stand up and greet a young man, a young yellow man, a young yellow man who had only written a few books...
Yet it did happen, and the reason for that was that Warren Gambler Harding was a delightful, wonderful man.
He has two great advantages that make him a great commander:
The first is handsome.
After seeing the real person, Yuan Yan suddenly felt that what the newspapers said was true. The tall man in front of her "had a face and posture that revealed Washington-like nobility and dignity, and his eyes were full of pope-like kindness and gentleness."
In short, President Harding looked like a big shot.
The second is kindness.
Later history books were not wrong either. He seemed to like everyone, he seemed to want to do something for everyone, and he seemed to wish everyone happiness.
No, it doesn't seem so!
Our Master Yuan truly felt this feeling. The American president who was holding out his hand to him was truly amiable. This amiability was not a disguise put on by politicians to please voters, but a true kindness that came from the heart and moved people.
In other words, President Harding gave people the impression of being a kind and enthusiastic uncle next door.
Yuan Yanshu thought to himself, if this guy had a good brain and couldn't even miscalculate the tax rate, he would definitely be very successful in the insurance industry.
He complained in his heart but did not dare to neglect it outwardly. He shook the other person's hand with great trepidation and said, "Mr. President, I am so glad to meet you!"
However, he still underestimated the enthusiasm of the president in front of him. President Harding took the opportunity to put his arm around his shoulders and shouted to the people at the table: "Gentlemen, look who's here?"
"Neo Yuan, a Chinese. But he is our American miracle! He is also a warrior who defeated the British!"
"Hahaha……"
“Da da da… ”
Everyone at the table laughed heartily and tapped their wine glasses on the table instead of clapping.
"Come, let me introduce him to you." President Harding took Master Yuan's arm and walked towards his poker friends, his cabinet, with the attitude of treating a close son or nephew.
That’s right, the nickname of this cabinet is... the Poker Cabinet.
"This is Harry M. Doherty, my old friend and my Attorney General."
There is no need to introduce Mr. Dougherty. The leader of the Ohio Republican Party is not only Harding's political agent, but also his long-time personal lawyer.
The old man was not only bold but also had a strange sexual orientation. He lived in an apartment in Washington with a "friend" named Jesse Smith.
Smith seemed to have been a prostitute and certainly a con man. During his time in Washington, he became a contact person for "bribing officials on behalf of others." After the incident, Smith "committed suicide" in Doherty's apartment.
"Oh, this is Mr. Albert B. Fall."
Well, this interior minister was the protagonist of the "Teapot Dove Scandal" that almost brought down the Republican Party.
In 1912, in order to ensure the navy's oil supply, the US government set aside 3 million acres (about 1.214 million hectares) of federally owned land to establish an oil reserve for the navy. Private companies were prohibited from engaging in oil exploration and exploitation in the reserve .
These reserves are concentrated in the Central Valley of California. Reserve 1 is in Buena Vista, and Reserve 2 is in Elk Hills. In 1915, Reserve 3 was established in a place called Teapot Mountain, south of the Salt Creek Oil Field discovered in Wyoming in 1909.
In a few months, President Harding will sign an executive order to transfer these oil fields to the Department of the Interior. And then...
"This is Harry Sinclair, my personal advisor."
Then, the big boss of Sinclair Petroleum will contract the Teapot Hill Oil Field.
