European Tour Phase 2: Visit to France

[Triyun]

The plane had crossed from Greece to Bordeaux international airport carrying the Vice Chairman. His visit to France was expected to be somewhat less friendly than the one in Greece where they found exceptionally eager friends and allies.

Stepping off the plane, the field marshall affixed his cap to his head. His towering figure moved down the plane followed by uniformed guards of the Whampao Brotherhood.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Triyun

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Madame Prime Minister?" Pierre looked back from the driver's seat back where Therese sat in the limousine. "The Chinese plane is arriving now and the guards are lined up just as you asked them."

"Lovely." Therese closed her blush mirror after rouging her cheeks and flushing out her blonde hair a bit more. The suddenness of the Chinese arrival had caught her off guard, only a few days ago she had received correspondence that they would be arriving an considering that France until this point had never had even the most minor of contact with the Chinese, she wasn't sure exactly how to prepare besides the normal welcoming ceremony of course. Arriving at the airport early Friday morning, the sun was bright in the sky and cloudless as well. A large lunch was being prepared back at Roquetaillade and she hoped that these negotiations would begin France's diplomatic push onto the other continents besides Europe. She smiled at her driver and opened the car door, straightening her skirt and business suit, along with with the small hat resting on her head, she approached the red carpet rolled out towards the Chinese plane.

As the Field Marshal would step off the plane, he would be greeted by a line of the Knights of France, rapiers drawn held above his head as he would be directed to walk forward where Therese Zelle stood at the end of the carpet a bright smile on her face and her hand outstretched. "Marshal. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I was surprised when I heard that your people wanted a meeting with my own, but I think this meeting will do a lot for us. Please, follow me if you will, my driver will take us to my residence,the Chateau de Roquetaillade, I have a lunch prepared for us both." She led him towards the limousine, his guards of course would be allowed to ride in armored cars that would follow Therese's car and beyond that the French guards. After getting inside, she uncorked a bottle of champagne and took two glasses, filing them both and giving one to the Marshal. "So, before we get to the heavy political stuff. What brings China to France?"

[Triyun]

"Madame Prime Minister." the Vice Chairman said, taking her hand and giving it a firm hand shake.

"As you wish." he said following her. "We are here to get a better sense of your nation and others in Europe. Our foreign policy thus far has focused on securing friends in our near abroad. As China moves forward we seek to have friends across the world."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Ah I see. Pierre, to the Chateau if you please." The driver nodded at Therese's words and began to head off into the French countryside. "Well." She said turning back to the Field Marshal. "I think that is a wonderful idea for China to want to reach out to the world, it shows your progressive nature as well. I have been watching your nation since its conception and to make good your promises of peace and prosperity would be a great step in the right direction and if France is a nation you seek friendship with, we will definitely consider the addition of new diplomatic partners. You, after all, can never have too many friends."

The limousine drove for a good hour before entering the rolling hills outside of Bordeaux, the countryside will filled with rich greens and farmland, vast vineyards, and fine forests for hunting. In the middle of the natural wonder sat the Chateau de Roquetaillade, Therese's personal residence, an ancient medieval castle, small, but with a quaintness and beauty to it. Parking the limousine, the Knights of France escorted both the Marshal and Prime Minister out of the car as she linked arms with him and walked into the castle. "Are you a man of Western tastes at all Marshal? If so I think you'll love what I've done with my home." Entering the foyer, the castle was decorated with tapestries, busts, statues, and paintings of the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras, a blazing fire glowed from the parlor where Therese took him and gestured to a velvet couch for them to sit on. Cups of coffee were brought out as the sun danced through the windows into the dark parlor room.

"Now." Therese said with a sip of her coffee. "Friendship proposals are never as simple as two leaders sitting down for a bit of chit-chat, I'm sure you have something to add here."

[Triyun]

"Your home is quite beautiful Madame Prime Minister." he said. He took in the aroma of his cup of coffee tasting it before setting it down on his saucer. "Madame Prime Minister allow me to tell you about our grand strategy. The Chinese people wish to bring about a peaceful world. We believe this must be done through the spread of culture and virtue to the nations of the world. We are taking action to bring about freedom of navigation in our surrounding waters in concert with regional partners, we also are working to make a weapon of mass destruction first strike in the Eastern Hemisphere a crime. The Chinese Nation recognizes that there have been those in the past and who even now have used the geography of China to act as a spoiler in the World Order. We believe quite the opposite, we believe that China should take its role as a middle kingdom of Asia, not to conquer it, but to lead reform along the lines that will promote global trade and the exchange of ideas. Our armed forces shall never be used to annex non-chinese territory. It shall only be used to defend the universal values of humanity and the rights of all chinese people. We are seeking partners who share a vision of the world similar to ours. We hope France can be one of those partners."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Therese smiled and nodded. "Nothing makes more sense Marshal and its good to see that China is one of the front runners of that change. I know from studying Asia as of late, the People's Republic of China is a bit more hostile to the world around it. So to see someone that actually wants change from xenophobia and aggression is like a breath of fresh air. As a Middle Kingdom, a nation that doesn't need to expand across Asia to actually complete a vision of peace, much better then the Asian hegemons of the past. History would bring up the Francos and the Dragonists, so it is good to see that China does not let the states of the past influence its policies. Though I hope your vision of peace will extend to all peoples, just as many other visions hope to do as well. I know France seeks the same type of environment in Europe and our continent has been war beaten for sometime."

"We have a great amount of division across the world there are only a few countries that still see the world as a place that can be saved. If your heart is right my dear Marshal then perhaps this will begin a friendship that will spread across the world." Therese took a sip of her coffee. "But if that is a promise you intend to keep Marshal, of course France would support you as a friend."

[Triyun]

"Confucius said a ruler should be a polestar which attracts all to him through virtue, not a military conqueror. We believe in time the will of all the Chinese people will reflect this sentiment." he said. "We do intend to advocate this vision across the globe, however, we believe that it would be fool hardy for us not to first focus on our own hemisphere. We hope that France and other countries can provide similar leadership in Europe. Same with those in the Americas. One country cannot accomplish such goals alone."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Well I believe it is more less the the work of one single person or nation, but the use of the collective thought of the world that will bring that peace that you speak of, that virtue if you will. One person's thoughts after all will always be opposed, but if you can convince the collective assortment of countries then I don't see why you wouldn't succeed. After all, all people desire peace more than war, so I'm sure that your vision so long as it doesn't go awry will be fine. But yes, I would hope that France will do the same thing in Europe, just includes a lot of mettling." Therese smiled and chuckled. "A great deal of mettling in fact, but people like to have a guiding hand in their policies, it gives them someone to blame the mistakes of their leadership on. Myself? I just think its good politics."

[Triyun]

"Hehe." he chuckled. "Well said Madame Prime Minister. I will take your words to heart and take them back to my President and Prime Minister." he said taking another sip of his coffee. "So we have told you what we would like to see from France. What would you like to see from China?" he asked.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"To be honest Marshal, I and France both do not know much of China and I believe it would be best for both of us to get to know one another much more intimately. What makes each other tick, what each side desires and how we can help one another. To be honest, I believe that both China and France have a lot of gain from one another. Both are peaceful and progressive nations, both are new and prosperous, at least our current regimes." Therese laughed. "I would like to see our relations develop, with economic development there is possibility for military development, culture exchange and a great deal more. So as to what we desire out of China. A respectable friend who can hold themselves up in the world."

[Triyun]

"That is good to hear. Perhaps you should come to Taibei sometime and we can discuss this more." he suggested. "Economic relations are not a problem, we are eager to expand our markets into your country."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Well it will definitely be something to talk about further in the future Marshal and perhaps in the future I will be able to visit Taibei and see the wonderful country that you speak of. But I don't wish you hold you up, it was a pleasure meeting with you."

[Triyun]

"Indeed Madame. Before I leave, your country, I hope you do not mind but the Prime Minister has made a request for me to visit the Chateau d'Yquem, to buy some cases of this exquisite wine." he said.