Chapter 556: Lansing

"I am telling you, each country will make choices based on its own interests," Chen Feng said, "and at present, Lanfang's interest lies in maintaining the status quo, in letting the war continue at a moderate level without expanding, in letting Europe exhaust itself while we develop. Meilika's participation will break this balance and will force us to recalculate everything."

He walked back to the table, but this time did not sit down.

"Mr. President, I am not threatening, I am pleading—pleading that you reconsider. Not for Lanfang, but for Meilika itself, for the future of the world. An expanded war benefits no one, except those merchants who sell weapons and death."

Wilson also walked back to the table. The two faced each other across a three‑meter‑wide tabletop, like two chess players looking at a game already in the middle stage.

"Mr. Chen," Wilson's voice was soft, "I hope you can understand my situation. As President of Meilika, my primary duty is to protect Meilika's citizens. When they are T‑killed on the high seas, I must respond. When Congress and the public demand action, I must act. This is not an ideal choice, but may be the only choice."

"So you have already decided."

"I must submit a memorandum to Congress within 48 hours." Wilson did not answer directly, but the meaning was clear.

Chen Feng nodded. He knew it was over. All the debate, all the logic, all the visions could not outweigh the weight of forty‑three lives, could not overcome the iron law of political reality.

"Then," he said, "I have only one final request."

"Please speak."

"Whatever decision you make, remember today's conversation. Remember the consequences of an expanded war, remember the possibility of peace. If one day, when enough blood has been shed, when reason returns, please give peace a chance."

Wilson looked at Chen Feng, his eyes complex—respect, regret, helplessness, and a deep fatigue.

"I will remember," he said, "and I must thank you, Mr. Chen. Thank you for the candid exchange, thank you for the different perspective you provided. In a time when everyone is shouting for war, hearing a voice of reason… is precious."

He extended his hand.

Chen Feng grasped it. This time, the handshake lasted longer than any before.

"Mr. President," Chen Feng said finally, "Meilika's decision will expand a war that was previously limited to Europe to the whole world. That is a regret for all humanity."

"I understand," Wilson whispered, "but sometimes regret is unavoidable."

The handshake loosened.

The talks ended.

But just as Chen Feng and Wang Wenwu were about to leave, Lansing suddenly spoke.

"Mr. Chen, before we finish, there is one more question."

Chen Feng turned: "Secretary of State?"

Lansing pulled a document from the folder and placed it on the table: "This is an intelligence summary. About Lanfang's troop shipments to Europe via the Sakura Nation over the past two years."

The air in the room, which had just slightly eased, solidified again.

Wang Wenwu subconsciously glanced at Chen Feng, but Chen Feng's expression did not change.

"According to our intelligence," Lansing continued, "Lanfang reached an agreement with the Sakura Nation government: Lanfang provides funding and equipment, the Sakura Nation recruits soldiers, forming the 'Far‑East Zhi Y Army' to be sent to the European front. Over three hundred thousand Sakura Nation soldiers are already fighting on the Western Front, nominally employed by Germany, but in fact… organized and funded by Lanfang."

He lifted his head, staring at Chen Feng: "Mr. Chen, you just said Lanfang is a neutral country hoping to maintain the status quo. Yet sending eighty thousand soldiers to the battlefield does not seem like a neutral country's action."

The question was sharp and dangerous.

Chen Feng was silent for a few seconds, then slowly walked back to the table, but did not sit down.

"Secretary of State, what official status do those soldiers have?" he asked.

"They are 'International Laborers', employed by the German government, performing logistical and support work. But according to battlefield reports, they actually undertake combat missions."

"Then, do they wear Sakura Nation uniforms? Or Lanfang uniforms? Are they incorporated into Lanfang's army order of battle? Do they receive direct orders from Lanfang commanders?"

Lansing hesitated: "…No. They wear German uniforms, with their own command structure."

"Then they are not soldiers, they are mercenaries," Chen Feng said, "and mercenaries are legal under international law. Meilika hired German Hesse soldiers during its war of independence, and Britain employed Swiss mercenaries in the Crimean War. This does not violate the principle of neutrality."

"But the scale and nature…"

"The scale is decided by the Sakura Nation government, the nature is defined by the mercenary contract," Chen Feng interrupted, "What Lanfang did was merely provide a commercial opportunity: Europe needed labor, Sakura Nation had surplus labor, we acted as middlemen to facilitate the deal. It is like Meilika Company selling steel to Britain—normal commercial activity."

He looked at Wilson: "Mr. President, if you think this breaches neutrality, then the billions of dollars in loans that Meilika provided to Britain, does that also influence the war? Those loans let Britain purchase more weapons, hire more soldiers, prolong the war. By that logic, Meilika is not truly neutral either."

The counter‑argument was sharp and accurate.

Wilson gave no answer. He knew Chen Feng was right—under international law, mercenaries and commercial loans occupy a gray area. As long as no regular troops are directly dispatched, it is hard to define as participation.

Lansing would not give up: "But Mr. Chen, those 'mercenaries' use weapons, equipment, training that all come from Lanfang. Their organizational structure, logistics, command chain are closely linked to Lanfang's military. In substance this already constitutes indirect participation."

"Where is the evidence?" Chen Feng asked directly.

Lansing stopped. He had intelligence, but no concrete evidence. Lanfang's operations in this regard were very careful, all financial flows went through third‑party banks, all equipment was labeled as 'civilian supplies', all contacts were mediated by intermediaries.

"We have reason to believe…" he tried to continue.

"Belief is not evidence," Chen Feng said, "Secretary of State, in international politics we can guess, we can suspect, but ultimately we must act based on facts and rules. Lanfang complied with every literal provision of international law and the neutrality principle. As for spirit… each country has its own interpretation."

He paused, his tone slightly softened: "But I must tell you the truth. Yes, Lanfang cooperates with the Sakura Nation. Not to help Germany win the war, but to solve Sakura Nation's economic and social problems. Sakura Nation has many unemployed youths; if they have no work, no income, they become an unstable social factor. We provide a channel for them to work in Europe, earn foreign exchange, learn skills, while also relieving internal pressure in Sakura Nation. It is a win‑win."

"But they kill on the battlefield," Lansing said.