Chapter 11 chapter Ten

Fort Riley was built in 1853 and is the oldest military fortress of the U.S. Army.At that time, the name of Kansas was still: Indian Territory.The purpose of building this fort is to protect the logistics of troops fighting against the Indians.Today, it serves primarily as a base for helicopters, but also serves as a landing pad for other small military aircraft. Once the DC-7 in which Stanton Rogers was flying landed, he was greeted by the commander of the garrison and other officers.A sleeper car has long been waiting at the airport, ready to drive to Ashley's home.Stanton called Mary after the president finished speaking.

"My visit, Mrs. Ashley, will not take you much time. I intend to fly in on Monday. Is that appropriate?" He is a big man and so polite.Why did the president send him to talk to me? "Great." She agreed immediately, and then invited: "Can you join us for dinner?" Stanton hesitated again and again, and then Fang said: "The hospitality is hard to turn down." It seemed that this night was no fun.he thinks. Florence was very excited when he heard the news. "The president's diplomatic adviser is really coming? That means, you have to accept the appointment!"

"Florence, don't think so, I just promised the president to meet with the person he sent." Florence hugged Mary tightly: "As long as it makes you happy, you can do anything." Mary's Stanton Rogers was a hero.She had seen him perform on the "Meet the Press" TV feature, and he was photographed in Time magazine.Their eyes met, and Mary thought that this person really looked good.He's polite, but awe-inspiring. "Mrs. Ashley, allow me to convey once again the President's sincerest condolences on your misfortune." "thanks." Mary introduced him to Beth and Tim, and went into the kitchen to help Lucinda prepare dinner.

"It's ready," said Lucinda, "but he despises it." Mary had told Lucinda that Stanton Rogers was coming to dinner and asked her to make stew."People like Rogers don't eat stew," said Lucinda. "So, what do they eat?" “Grilled steak and pancakes.” "It's better to make stew." "Okay," said Lucinda firmly, "but this meal is for the wrong person." As well as stew, she makes creamy mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables and salads, and pumpkin pie for dessert.Stans Rogers' appetite soared and he ate all the food on his plate.During the meal, he also talked with Mary about his views on peasant issues.

"Farmers in the Midwest suffer from low prices and overproduction," Mary said earnestly. "For example, you can't afford to buy paint, and it's too cheap to buy white ash." They also talked about the fascinating history of Jiang Kexin City.Finally, Stans Rogers brought the topic to Country A. "What do you think of the government of country A?" he asked Mary. "Country A has no government, in the true sense of the word government," Mary replied. "The president has everything all by himself, that's why he's called the government."

"Do you think there will be a coup there?" "In the current situation, there will be no coup. The only actor capable of carrying out a coup is Marin Grossa, but he is in exile in Paris." Mary answered fluently in this way.She is indeed an expert on Eastern European countries, and Stanton Rogers greatly appreciated it.Mary was not so comfortable in her heart. She felt that she was being looked at under a microscope.Little did she know, her score was way beyond expectations. Paul has real eyesight.Stanton Rogers thought.She is worthy of being an authority on country A affairs.Another point.We need images that are the opposite of "Ugly Americans."She is beautiful.She, along with her children, happens to market America as a whole.Stanton grew more and more excited about the prospect.She didn't know that she was useful.

At the end of the evening's meeting, Stanton Rogers said: "Mrs. Ashley, frankly speaking, I initially opposed the president's appointment of you as an ambassador in a sensitive country like country A. I told the president directly. Now , I announce to you that I have changed my mind. I think you will make an excellent ambassador." Mary shook her head: "I'm sorry, Mr. Rogers. I'm not a political person, and I have no intention of becoming an official career." "As the President told me, some of our outstanding diplomatic ambassadors are amateurs, that is, they have no experience in diplomacy. Our ambassador to Britain, Walter Annenberg, was originally a publisher."

"I'm not……" "Our country's former ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Arthur Burns, was an associate professor. The former ambassador to India, John Kenneth Galbraith, was a professor. Mike Mansfield first worked as a reporter, then as a senator, and finally as a Ambassador to Japan. I can name a group of people, these people are amateurs, Mrs. Ashley, what they have is intelligence, they love their country, and they are full of goodwill to the people in the country they are stationed in." "From your point of view, the matter is very simple."

"You may know that we have a comprehensive understanding of you. You are politically reliable, have no tax evasion and debt problems, and have no entanglements in economic interests. According to Dean Hunter, you are an excellent teacher. You are on the starting line. Last but not least, you are exactly what the President wants to be seen by the people of Eastern Europe, where people have accepted a lot of one-sided propaganda about our country." Mary listened in silence with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Mr. Rogers, I'm very grateful for everything you said, but I still can't accept the appointment. I have to think about my Beth and Tim, I can't let them move, like..."

"In the capital of country A, there is a very good school for the children of diplomats." Rogers told her. "Beth and Tim can still receive a good education in a foreign country, and they can also learn knowledge that they cannot learn at home." In the end Mary had nothing to say. "I can't...let me think about it." "I'm staying in town tonight," said Stanton Rogers, "at the Four Seasons. Believe me, Mrs. Ashley, I know this decision means a lot to you, but the President's program is What matters to a whole nation! Think of that."

Mary went upstairs as soon as Stanton Rogers had left.The children were all waiting for her, their eyes wide open and excited. "You intend to accept the appointment?" asked Beth impatiently. "We have to discuss it carefully. Once I decide to accept the appointment, it means that you will leave the school here, leave your friends behind, live in a country with a language barrier, and enter a strange school." "We've talked it over," said Beth, "and you know what we've come to?" "What's the conclusion?" "Which country has you as an ambassador, that country will benefit. Mom." That night, she met Edward again: dear, did you hear what he said?He said the president couldn't do without me.There are a million people who know better than me, but the President wants me.remember?When we talked about it at the time, we were all very excited.Now, the opportunity came to me again, and I really didn't know what to do.Let me tell you, I'm terrified.This is our home, your voice and smile are everywhere, how can I bear to leave?she cried.Help me, how should I decide? She was sitting by the window in her pajamas.Staring out the window, the wind shakes the shadows of the trees, weeping like people complaining. At dawn, she made a decision. At nine o'clock in the morning, Mary called the Four Seasons Motel and asked for Stanton Rogers to pick it up. He picked up the receiver and heard her say these words: "Mr. Rogers, please tell the President that I am honored to accept his appointment as ambassador."