George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 103

There’s no need for long words.

Because the United States released its accumulated silver reserves all at once, the price of silver, which had been soaring, crashed back to its pre-surge level in a single day. Although the context is slightly different, the market interpreted it as a ‘bubble bursting’.

Normally, the price ratio between gold and silver is 60 to 70 times, but the Chinese had gradually depleted the silver circulating in the market, narrowing the gap to about 32 times, an undeniably abnormal situation.

This was still a term known only to insiders, but it was considered an unusual bubble created by China releasing large quantities of gold into the global market and using that money to hoard silver, hence the name ‘Silver Bubble’.

Thanks to the U.S. action, this silver bubble burst. Reports surfaced worldwide of people jumping into rivers or committing suicide, but these were mostly individuals who had invested late in the game. The price of silver didn’t plummet below a certain level, seemingly proving the adage that even scrap silver has value.

Consequently, many hesitated to commit suicide, the ultimate act of despair. A blind faith arose that ‘silver will rise again!’ fueled by denial. In reality, if the United States hadn’t intervened, silver prices were expected to continue climbing. Of course, the massive amount of silver released by China would have driven the price even lower than it currently was. It might be sophistry, but it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the United States had averted a greater disaster.

Some invested in gold, seizing the crisis as an opportunity. Although the price of gold temporarily dipped due to China’s gold release, it was predicted to rebound. These investors typically fell into two categories: those who intuitively chose gold and those who had access to valuable information leaked from the CIA.

Regardless of the joys and sorrows of gold and silver investors, the ‘silver-shining monster’ that China envisioned ultimately transformed into a frail old man in his twilight years, poisoned by mercury. The ventilator provided by the gold collection and gold robbery movement had been disconnected.

North Korea, seemingly uninvolved, was unknowingly affected. More precisely, it was Kim Jong-il personally who suffered, not North Korea as a whole, but wasn’t Kim Jong-il synonymous with North Korea and its Juche [self-reliance] ideology? Therefore, a blow to Kim Jong-il’s personal finances was effectively a blow to North Korea’s financial stability.

Kim Jong-il, enticed by information from Hu Jintao, recklessly used his slush fund to hoard silver at the last minute. However, due to Kim Jong-il’s inherent distrust, only a portion of his personal assets were affected.

The Supreme Leader’s investment failure was a closely guarded secret, known only to high-ranking North Korean officials and those involved in the deal.

Except for Santa Claus, who knows everything, and the President of the United States.

“I never imagined I’d be siphoning off the wealth of high-ranking Chinese officials.”

Bush rotated the silver globe, larger than a person, and intuitively sensed that it would soon become a relic of a bygone era. The silver globe was a souvenir Bush had commissioned, and he also possessed a gold globe the size of his palm.

Each globe was crafted from gold and silver, using personal funds. Beyond the precious metals, the globes commemorated the silver bubble. Instead of marking China with its name, a question mark (?) was inscribed.

This symbolized the uncertainty surrounding China’s future. Perhaps the China with the Five-Starred Red Flag (People’s Republic of China) would transform into the China with the Blue Sky with a White Sun (Republic of China).

Even with U.S. support, the possibility was slim unless Taiwan’s limited population and military strength were addressed. But who knew? Just 50 years ago, the Nationalist government of the Republic of China had been driven out by the Communist Party.

There is no ‘absolute’ in this world, and there is no ‘perfection’.

“Perhaps a civil war will erupt, with bloodshed on a massive scale.”

Caused by the Chinese people shaped by the Communist Party, with the United States merely assisting as a ‘barbarian empire’ in the historical context.

‘History is just repeating itself.’

Indeed, history repeats itself. The Central Plains [historical region of China] is a land with a peculiar fate, prone to fragmentation after unification. The time and season have arrived, and the cycle of division has returned to the Central Plains.

“Anyway, it’s really cool.”

Bush said, leaning his weight on the globe and spinning it vigorously. Thanks to the skilled craftsman, it rotated smoothly and silently, showcasing its silver sheen.

It was truly beautiful, but unfortunately, the globe was not open to the public. Politicians were an exception, and many, including Republican figures, requested to see it. The Neoconservatives, in particular, seemed deeply impressed and vowed to commission similar silver globes for their homes.

Bush tried to stop the globe with his palm, but it only halted after a moment of friction. It was already heavy due to the metal, but the solid silver construction made it even more so.

The weight felt in his palm seemed to represent the burden Bush himself carried. But what could he do? To occupy this position, one had to endure the weight, whether they liked it or not. What wouldn’t he do to guide the United States in a slightly better direction?

Not a grand or righteous direction, but a slightly improved one.

‘It’s okay. So far, I’m doing well.’

There were occasional setbacks, but they remained within the scope of correction or adjustment. Everything was progressing as Bush anticipated.

‘But how long will I be able to influence the world as I desire?’

Suddenly, a capable leader might emerge in China and mitigate the damage. At the very least, a moratorium or default declaration would be necessary, but the People’s Republic of China might survive. If that happened, Bush’s grand plan would be significantly disrupted.

‘I have no choice but to try and prevent that from happening.’

Direct U.S. intervention was out of the question. External invasion might foster unity. Moreover, attempting to conquer a country the size of China single-handedly could provoke a conflict with the ‘entire world’. It was better to support ethnic minorities and pro-American warlords through indirect means like funding and weapons.

Of course, the United States could compete with the whole world in grand strategy if it chose to, but what was the point of a pyrrhic victory? As Einstein said, if we don’t want World War IV to be fought with stones and sticks, we must avoid a world war that yields no benefit.

The notion that war drives technological development is outdated. What development is possible when all that remains after a nuclear holocaust is radioactive ash? What about nuclear fission development on Earth?

Who claims Russia possesses the most nuclear missiles? Has any treaty ever been consistently honored in human history? Examining CIA intelligence reports and the 2002 U.S. nuclear stockpile report, even a layman could deduce that a nuclear war would annihilate all life on Earth. And if anything survived, it wouldn’t be humanity, but something as resilient as a cockroach.

Bush wanted to spend his retirement indulging in eccentricities and enjoying life, not dying in a dark, damp underground bunker somewhere in the United States.

“Now that the dragon in the lower house has collapsed, the bear [Russia] will surely try to intervene in some way.”

Isn’t an alliance a diplomatic tool formed when interests align? If those interests diverge or the alliance loses its purpose, how will the allies react?

“What do you think, Chief of Staff?”

“I don’t know. If I did, I’d be sitting in your chair.”

“What? Is this a mutiny?”

“If you want to avoid a mutiny of paperwork, please return to the President’s office promptly. Reports are piling up while you’re playing with that house-sized globe.”

“Heh heh, you can say anything to the man who controls the world.”

“Please control the reports with that same power.”

There’s barely time to savor the accomplishment of orchestrating a country’s downfall from start to finish! Being the President of the United States must be a demanding job. Bush gazed at the silver globe one last time, then turned away, seemingly satisfied.

However, in national leadership, satisfaction is a sin, and ambition is the companion of those who shape destiny. Middle-aged, have ambition. Become a myth!

* * *

An indelible curse has been cast upon the vast amount of silver stored in the state-run warehouse.

‘Everything is over.’

Having received the anointing oil extracted from the seeds sprouted from one person’s arrogance, it has completely lost its essence and divinity.

‘It’s all over. Jiang Zemin, you son of a bitch.’

Even if it wasn’t Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao would have been ruined in some way as long as he was associated with a madman who blasphemed even God. But Hu Jintao, unaware of this, cursed Jiang Zemin repeatedly.

‘I was stupid too. I should have bolstered domestic demand with that gold, even if it meant watching my country wither and die.’

The gold and foreign currency collected almost through robbery from across the country were all poured into silver, leaving behind only silver with normalized prices. Of course, there are still places where the price of silver is high, but if you wait a little longer, you will be able to buy silver at a very cheap price reasonably, so there is no way that there will be a place to buy this cursed silver unless you are very stupid.

“The end of the Chinese dream.”

Is it courage or recklessness to face the heavy responsibility arising from failure head-on without even a little rationalization?

“It’s time to wake up from the dream.”

Unlike Hu Jintao’s determination, the trigger of the Type 92 pistol was too light.

Destruction has come to China, so silver has become our family.