Chapter 298: Still Have to Pay with Money_1

Zhou Manqing's words immediately tensed the atmosphere in the entire pavilion.

Everyone knew that escapism was a crime against humanity!

Bog obviously hadn't expected Zhou Manqing to put it so stiffly.

As he pondered how to defuse the awkward atmosphere, Jiang Yu sighed and said, "When will you ever wake up?

"'Dark Forest Law' has proven the darkness of the universe, why do you only want to huddle in the Solar System and not go out?"

Bog sighed and said, "Mr. Jiang, it is the fundamental ethics of humanity that now prohibit interstellar immigration.

"If there was no threat from the Trisolarans, if there was no fear of the 'Dark Forest,' people might still support interstellar immigration out of longing and curiosity.

"But now that everyone knows the Solar System is at risk of a 'Dark Forest' strike at any time, this sense of crisis makes the public not allow anyone to leave the Solar System!

"Especially after knowing that the arrival of humanity's fleet in other star systems could put the Solar System in extreme danger, it's even less permissible for people to leave.

"We must adhere to these fundamental ethical views; otherwise, we will collapse."

Jiang Yu took two or three seconds before asking, "Can't you use the public opinion machinery to promote interstellar immigration a bit?"

With a mournful face, Bog said, "We've always been advocating equality in human rights, which naturally includes equality in the right to survive!"

These two sentences were very blunt; under normal circumstances, Bog would not engage in this kind of repartee.

The pavilion once again fell into silence.

After a dozen seconds, Jiang Yu suddenly asked, "Mr. Bog, do you believe that everything I'm doing now is for the future of humanity?"

"I believe!" Bog replied seriously, "I don't mock you in public like the former rotating chairman did. The battle at Uranus is just around the corner, and many people regret not heeding your advice."

Jiang Yu then asked, "Is there no leeway at all?"

He was referring to interstellar immigration.

"None at all!" Bog answered decisively, "Unless interstellar immigration becomes as common as traveling from Earth to the Moon, and citizens willing to immigrate can do so easily, then people might support it.

"Otherwise, in their eyes, any immigration is seen as escapism!"

The conversation between the two was very rapid, but they had already understood each other's bottom lines.

For Bog, this was the most direct political communication of his career.

Jiang Yu asked himself, "Is humanity's contact with the Trisolarans a blessing or a curse?"

He answered himself, "The appearance of the Trisolarans has taken humanity a big step into space, an undeniable fact.

"However, the Trisolarans have also prematurely exposed humanity to the cold and brutality of the universe, like casting a psychological shadow in the mind of a child, making the child become introverted!"

Bog spread his hands, "Sorry, I don't know how to evaluate your thoughts."

Since the first path was impassable, Jiang Yu began to walk the second path.

It had always been his style: If reason fails, don't blame me for playing it dirty.

He looked at Bog, "Mr. Bog, I can order the withdrawal of the Starship Fleet, but for the future of humanity, I urgently need a large amount of funds."

Bog breathed a sigh of relief internally; as long as it was about money, there was room for negotiation, "Name your price."

"Six hundred billion!"

While drinking tea, Zhou Manqing was choked by this astronomical figure and coughed for a while before recovering.

Sweat also appeared on Bog's forehead, "Are you speaking in the currency unit of the Solar System State?"

In today's human world, the currency of the Solar System State was the strongest.

Moreover, the Solar System State has always upheld that pride, just as the colonial city on Mars is called "Yinghuo," they have never given their currency an official name.

So much so that now, when numbers are spoken in a transaction, it implies the currency unit of the Solar System State.

Jiang Yu smiled, "If it's PDC currency, I would have just directly mentioned six hundred billion Credit Points."

Bog shook his head, "That condition is too harsh, everyone…"

Jiang Yu waved his hand, "I haven't finished yet. In addition to ordering the Starship Fleet to withdraw, I will also return the Moon Cities and Mars Cities that I 'borrowed' from the PDC before.

"Additionally, I will return the fortresses that had been commandeered from Fleet International, along with all the warships!

"In the areas of robotics, spaceships, gene products, agricultural produce, and so on, the prices of commodities from the Solar System State will revert to their original levels."

About two years ago, many Moon Cities and Mars Cities nearly became ownerless. At that time, to accommodate the sudden increase in population, Jiang Yu 'borrowed' some colonies from the PDC and Fleet International.

Bog said, "These things are precisely what you should be returning promptly!"

"Yes!" Jiang Yu replied with a smile, "The saying goes, 'To borrow and to return makes borrowing a pleasant turn.' Even without these negotiations, I would have returned these belongings. Only, I might need to 'borrow' them a bit longer to settle the massive population.

"My initiative in returning them is entirely different from you coming to demand their return."

In fact, political issues have always been so pragmatic: if ideals don't align, then discussions turn to money.

Bog thought for several seconds before saying, "I need to discuss this with everyone. Could you tell me what your bottom line is?"

"Five hundred and eighty billion!" Jiang Yu stated, "It really can't be less. This money might very well save the lives of your descendants!"

Bog asked, "Can't you explain your plan?"

Jiang Yu shook his head with a smile, "Mr. Bog, if you can be sure there's no Sophon around, I might just discuss it in detail with you."

Bog stood up, "I will give you an answer as quickly as possible."

"I have to start my journey back to Jupiter in three days!"

Bog immediately took his leave. Just after he'd walked a distance, Jiang Yu, who had escorted him to the pavilion's entrance, said, "Let everyone think about the Uranus battle, and ponder where the 'Dark Forest' deterrence stems from. Don't make the same mistake twice!"

Bog paused in stride, thoughtfully departing.

Whether it was Jiang Yu's last remark that played a role or not, two days later Bog replied, stating that the PDC and Fleet International were willing to pay Jiang Yu five hundred and fifty billion!

But they had to know what the money was being spent on.

This price was quite a bit higher than Jiang Yu's psychological threshold, so he happily agreed to Bog's demand.

The remaining funding issues for the Huan Mu Xing Particle Collider were essentially resolved, and the leftover five hundred billion was not too great a burden for the Solar System State.

With the negotiations concluded, Jiang Yu had achieved his main purpose for visiting Earth.

The Solar System State and the PDC and Fleet International resumed normal diplomatic relations, and Jiang Yu also took the opportunity to secure some funds.

When Jiang Yu was preparing to leave, Number Three had also acquired a new body.

This body wasn't as exquisite as the last one, but it did reclaim the Eastern appearance with black hair and black eyes.

Seeing Jiang Yu looking at him, Number Three raised his hand and examined his own arms and legs, "I'm just grateful that Jiang Shiliu didn't spitefully give me a woman's body."

Jiang Yu laughed, "Rest assured, if he dared to do that, I'd spank him."

The mere thought of Number Three changing into a woman's body felt rather unsettling.

When Jiang Yu was leaving Earth, the PDC even sent representatives to bid him farewell.

It was an embodiment of a new chapter unfolding between the two sides.