The two-month Peking Opera tour has once again made the American people crazy. Its popularity is no less than that of pandas coming to the United States in the 21st century.
Mei Lanfang has firmly established himself as a great drama artist, and the fame of Meng Xiaodong and Vivien Leigh have also risen sharply.
Meng Xiaodong has conquered the audience with her own strength, has made friends with Hollywood stars such as Chaplin, and is very popular in the American theater and film circles. Vivien Leigh's influence among the American public has even surpassed that of Mei Lanfang and Meng Xiaodong.
As far as Peking Opera performance skills are concerned, Vivien Leigh has just graduated and can barely perform on the stage. But there is no way, she is a Westerner, and she is a beautiful woman, and she is also the only white person who is "proficient" in Peking Opera.
The accumulation of these advantages caused the media to unconsciously regard Vivien Leigh as the protagonist when reporting. In order to sell sales and capture readers, major American newspapers frantically promoted Vivien Leigh, and her limelight completely overshadowed Meng Xiaodong.
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"The Great Oriental Theater Performing Artist", this is Vivien Leigh's current title.
New York, Broadway.
When Vivien Leigh walked onto the stage, nearly half of the audience suddenly stood up and cheered: "Vivian! Vivian!"
After Vivien Leigh finished reading a part of her speech, she waved her sleeves lightly, and the American audience immediately cheered: "Okay!"
Well, the word "good" is pronounced in Chinese, and the Americans have learned it.
Song Ziwen sat in the audience and applauded, and whispered to Zhou Hexuan: "Brother Mingcheng, as you expected, the Chairman has made up his mind to cooperate with the United States."
Zhou Hexuan asked: "Didn't you advise him to be prepared?"
"Being prepared is useless," Song Ziwen couldn't help but swore, "Roosevelt doesn't need to be a swindler at all. He only needs to use the word 'drag' to delay the silver transaction for half a year, and then everything will be over. I guess that over there in Nanjing
It will take at least three or four months before you realize you have been deceived and you can actually start substantive negotiations with the UK."
Zhou Hexuan asked again: "How prepared is the Nanjing government for its currency reform?"
Song Ziwen said: "It was prepared a few years ago, but it's a pity that the national treasury is empty and has never been able to provide enough reserves. In fact, I prepared currency reform in 1929, when the national treasury was the richest, but the result was a
The war in the Central Plains is over. I can only do it piecemeal and slowly. The 'abolition of the two reforms and the reform of the Yuan' in the past two years was just me preparing for the currency reform."
Zhou Hexuan said: "In other words, as long as there are reserves, China can immediately carry out currency reform?"
"That's what I mean." Song Ziwen nodded.
Zhou Hexuan asked with a smile: "Are you interested in taking a trip to England with me?"
Song Ziwen was surprised and said: "Are you sure you can convince the British?"
Zhou Hexuan nodded and said: "Judging from the current situation, the United Kingdom and China have too many common interests. It is estimated that they have come up with substantive plans. However, the United Kingdom must take into account the feelings of Japan and the United States, so they also want to
Drag it."
"Delay?" Song Ziwen was a little confused.
Zhou Hexuan said: "Just delay it until China's economy deteriorates further. Then Japan and the United States can't say anything. Especially now that Japan and the United States are at war. Although the United States is deceiving China, at the same time
It also offended Japan. When the situation reaches a stalemate, it will be the time for the British to enter the situation. The British will appear as a savior, which can not only win the friendship of China, but also ease the conflicts between the United States and Japan."
Song Ziwen looked at Zhou Hexuan in surprise. Thinking about it carefully, this was really the case. He was convinced: "Mingcheng is really a diplomatic genius. You have analyzed such a complicated situation thoroughly."
"I know, I know, but it's a pity that I can't make the decision," Zhou Hexuan shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Although Chairman Chiang and Kong Xiangxi made a bad move, the overall situation has not completely deviated from the track, and it is not much different from our original plan. Roosevelt wanted to delay
Time, the British also want to delay time. Chairman Chiang agreed to the silver transaction, which is in line with the strategies of the United States and the United Kingdom. China is willing to be deceived. Only Japan is suffering. I guess the most anxious one now is Japan.
You can send a telegram to Chairman Chiang and ask him to take this opportunity to blackmail the Japanese."
Song Ziwen smiled and said: "The chairman of the committee will definitely be willing to do such a good thing."
Zhou Hexuan said it so coolly, but he was actually very bitter in his heart. If everything goes according to his plan, China can solve the silver crisis at least six months earlier than in history. Now that Chiang Kai-shek is fooling around like this, it will be a big deal if it can be done three months ahead of schedule.
Already.
Zhou Hexuan cannot just ignore it, but at least try his best. Even if it is only one month earlier than in history, he can save many Chinese factories and reduce China's losses.
Song Ziwen said with a smile: "Since Mingcheng is sure to convince Britain, then I will go to London with you."
"Haha, with Brother Song here, things will be easier to handle." Zhou Hexuan told the truth, he needed Song Ziwen's professional knowledge.
At the end of the Peking Opera performance, the audience burst into warm applause.
When the actors took their curtain call, the respectable audience lined up one by one to shake hands with Mei Lanfang, Meng Xiaodong and Vivien Leigh. They took pictures, presented flowers, and asked for autographs. The three of them were treated like international superstars.
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Song Ziwen left quietly on his own. He wanted to go back and send a telegram to Chiang Kai-shek, urging Chiang Kai-shek to take the opportunity to blackmail the Japanese.
Zhou Hexuan sat silently in the car, thinking about how to make trouble in the UK. Well, this time he didn't want to make trouble. He went directly to persuade the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, and persuaded the UK, which had been waiting and watching, to get involved early.
At the entrance of the theater, Mei Lanfang, Meng Xiaodong and Vivien Leigh were surrounded by reporters. The shutters kept clicking and the spotlights flashed so hard that people could not open their eyes.
Vivien Leigh has long since gotten rid of postpartum depression and no longer needs to see a psychiatrist. In the past two months, she has attracted much attention in the United States and attended various upper-class cocktail parties. She really enjoys the feeling of being surrounded by stars.
During the performance, Vivien Leigh and Meng Xiaodong always slept in the same room, and tonight was no exception.
It's just that now there is an extra Zhou Hexuan. This guy came in and never left. He dragged Meng Xiaodong and Vivien Leigh to chat. Regardless of the two women's objections, they finally experienced the feeling of being slept together.
After the blushing madness, Zhou Hexuan hugged him and leaned against the bedside, saying, "I'm going to London in two days, do you want to go together?"
Meng Xiaodong leaned on Zhou Hexuan: "I don't care."
Vivien Leigh coyly said: "Someone in Hollywood asked me to make a movie, and I want to give it a try."
"It's up to you. If you need help, just tell me." Zhou Hexuan could only follow her wishes to avoid getting sick again.
After New Year's Day, Zhou Hexuan set off for England, canceling his original plan to visit Roosevelt. He knew that his empty words were of no use, and at most he could only have a meal with Roosevelt as a friend.