Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Scott retreated to his private study, leaving only his most trusted chief of staff, Hamilton.

&34;Close the door. &34;Scott said in a low voice, sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace.

Hamilton checked the room carefully to make sure there were no listening devices before walking over to Scott.

"It was a success, sir," Hamilton said quietly.

Scott lit a cigar: "Yes, those retired SEALs worked very well together. There were no casualties and the scene was well controlled."

&34;Your intention in planning this &39;assassination&39;...&34;

"Three purposes." Scott blew out a puff of smoke, his eyes sharp, "First, to divert attention. From today on, no one will pay attention to my son's scandal. Everyone is speculating who wants to kill the president."

Hamilton nodded. "Indeed, the media's attention has completely turned to this attack."

"Secondly," Scott continued, "it will make the opposition afraid to take any action. Now anyone who continues to attack me will be suspected of having something to do with the assassination. They will have to hold back."

&34;A brilliant move.&34;

&34;Third, and most importantly,&34; Scott stood up and walked to the window,&34; this will unite the military and conservatives around me. In this time of crisis, they need a strong leader.&34;

&34;That's why you're so calm tonight...&34;

&34；当然，&34；斯科特冷笑，&34；我怎么会害怕自己安排的戏码？那些&39；袭击者&39；都是最可靠的人，子弹也是空包弹。&34；

Hamilton pondered: "But sir, the risks of doing so..."

"It's worth it," Scott said firmly, "Politics is a play. Sometimes you have to direct your own play to control the situation."

He turned around and said, "Remember, only the two of us knew about this. The enforcement officers also thought it was a counter-terrorism exercise."

&34;Understood, sir.&34;

"From now on," Scott's eyes darkened, "I'm a president who survived an assassination attempt. This will make me look even more impressive."

&34;Those separatists...&34;

"Let them continue to make trouble," Scott said with a sly smile, "the situation is more favorable to us now."

After seeing Hamilton off, Scott stood alone at the window, looking at the night view of Washington.

This carefully designed drama will make his political position more solid.

In the following week, major American media reported this "assassination" incident extensively.

The New York Times front page: "Attempted Assassination of the President: Challenge to American Democracy"

&34;President Scott showed extraordinary courage in the face of death threats. This reminds us of President Lincoln...&34;

The Washington Post editorial: "Who wants to kill the president?"

"The professionalism of these assassins is shocking. Are they foreign forces or domestic opposition groups?"

Chicago Tribune: The Iron-Blooded President: A Legend from the Battlefield to the White House

&34;Vietnam War hero, successful entrepreneur, strong-fisted politician, and now showing amazing courage in an assassination...&34;

Dark Phoenix sat in his office, looking at various reports, and had to admit that Scott's reputation was soaring.

In the streets and alleys, people were talking a lot.

"Did you see that? The president didn't even hide when the bullets were flying!"

&34;Yeah, I heard he comforted frightened Secret Service agents.&34;

&34;This is a true leader!&34;

On the radio, the commentator was passionate:

&34;In this critical moment, we need to unite around the president. Any divisive voices are a blasphemy to democracy! &34;

The TV news kept replaying the scene:

The presidential car remained motionless in the smoke, the Secret Service agents bravely fought back, and Scott's calm speech afterwards.

Governors of various states issued statements in support of the president:

&34;This is a challenge to American democracy! &34;

&34;We have to unite around the president!&34;

Even some opposition groups have had to change their tune:

&34;While we may differ politically, at a time like this, we must support the president.&34;

Polls show Scott's approval rating has risen 15 points in a week. His son's scandal has been forgotten.

Black Phoenix sent a message to Yan Shuangying:

"Public opinion was completely dominated by the 'assassination' incident. Scott's image rose instead of falling. His prestige among the military and conservatives reached a new high."

Yan Shuangying replied:

"This is exactly what we want. Let him be at a high point so that he will fall harder. Continue to observe and pay close attention to the reactions of all parties."

Portraits of Scott began to appear on the streets.

People call him the "Iron President" and the "Defender of Democracy".

But amidst the praise, some subtle changes are taking place.

Politicians in some states began to worry that the president had too much power.

Some military leaders have expressed unease about the cult of personality.

Wall Street financiers are privately discussing what an unconstrained president would mean.

Beneath the apparent unity, there are undercurrents.

And this is exactly the effect some people want.

For the next month, Scott traveled non-stop across the country.

In front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, he spoke passionately:

&34;Two hundred years ago, our ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence here. Today, we must protect the democracy they paid for with their blood! &34;

Tens of thousands of people waved national flags and chanted "Scott! Scott!"

At the Chicago Veterans Association:

&34;As a veteran, I know what sacrifice is. But as long as America needs me, I am willing to give everything! &34;

The veterans in the audience were in tears; they saw a president who truly understood the battlefield.

At the Boston Chamber of Commerce:

"America's strength comes from unity. Any division will give our enemies an opportunity to take advantage!"

Business leaders stood up and applauded, reassured by the battle-hardened president.

Dark Phoenix followed the interview team and witnessed every performance of Scott.

At a Texas farmers rally:

"I understand your difficulties, but division is not the way out. Let us build a stronger America together!"

The farmers who were originally dissatisfied with the federal government were also moved by his sincerity.

At California Tech Park:

&34;Innovation is the soul of America. We must unite and lead the world forward! &34;

Silicon Valley elites were surprised to find that this iron-blooded president had such a deep understanding of technology.

Wherever he went, Scott was able to grasp the pain points of the local people. He was sometimes passionate, sometimes tender, and sometimes humorous, showing his extraordinary talent for political performance.

"See?" a senior reporter exclaimed, "This is a true politician. He knows what every place needs to hear."

Black Phoenix sent a message to Yan Shuangying:

&34;Scott is touring the country. He is a master of his art, winning hearts and minds at nearly every show. The independence movement is waning.&34;

Yan Shuangying replied:

"Don't be in a hurry. Let him show his abilities. The more a person shows his abilities, the more some people will get restless."

Indeed, Scott's performance was nearly perfect.

He was a battlefield veteran before the veterans;

In the business world, he is a shrewd entrepreneur;

In front of the farmers, he is a simple uncle next door;

In front of intellectuals, he is a wise thinker.

But as one political commentator put it:

&34;When a politician acts too perfect, it often means there is a bigger conspiracy.&34;

While Scott was on the road, some subtle changes were taking place:

Bosses of military enterprises gather privately

Politicians from the Southern states secretly communicated

Wall Street financiers confer in a back room

Some Pentagon generals meet frequently

Will this wonderful national tour be Scott's peak moment or the beginning of tragedy?

No one knows the answer.

But the center of the storm is often the calmest place.