house of cards 1

Chapter 10

It seems to be dear Clausewitz [Karl Philip Gottfried von Clausewitz (1780-1831), German military theorist and military historian, major general of the Prussian army. In 1792, he joined the Prussian army. He was promoted to officer in 1795 and studied strategy, tactics and military history by himself.Author of the book "On War". ] once said that war is a continuation of politics in another way.Of course, he was wrong, very wrong.politics?war?My dear wife, Mortimer, always reminds me that there is no difference at all.

Sunday, June [-]

Urquhart's official car turned around from Whitehall and turned into Downing Street. A policeman gave a stiff salute, and hundreds of flashing lights flickered wildly.Today is Sunday, a little after four in the afternoon.He asked Mortima to entertain guests at his home in Pimlico.With eight guests at home, it was busier than usual on a Sunday.Today is the anniversary of his father's death, so he invited many guests to divert attention.Some male and female reporters from the media are gathering behind the cordon on the other side of the street, looking at the most famous door in the world.After Urquhart’s car stopped, the door opened. Urquhart always felt that this was a political black hole. The new prime minister always disappeared behind the door, and when he reappeared, he was basically surrounded and protected by a group of civil servants.In fact, this group of people is just trying to suck the life out of the prime minister.

Urquhart purposely sat on the left side of the back seat so that when he disembarked in front of Number [-] Downing Street, he could be seen by TV and print media cameras.He straightened his back, trying to look stalwart.People in the reporter group kept shouting various questions, which gave him an excuse to say a few words while walking.He keenly spotted Manny Goodchild, a legend from the Associated Press, wearing a battered fedora and a gritty face, moving with ease through the filming crew of the ITV News and Broadcasting Corporation. between.

"Hello, Manny, did you pay for the bet?" he asked.

"You know, Mr. Urquhart, that my editor doesn't want to pay me for my dinner."

"That's two different things." Urquhart raised an eyebrow.

The "old fritters" reporter's two lips fluttered up and down, like two unrelated caterpillars. "Let's put it this way, Mrs. Goodman has booked a vacation to Mallorca, and thanks to Mr. Collingridge, I will accompany her."

Urquhart sighed theatrically, and joked ironically, "Unlucky?"

"Speaking of bad luck, Mr. Urquhart"—Manny strode forward, and the surrounding colleagues gathered tighter. "Are you here to advise Mr. Prime Minister on a cabinet reshuffle? After such a disappointing result, won't there be a major clean-up? Does this also mean you will have a new job?"

"Well, I've come here to discuss a lot of things, but I think reorganization may be included." Urquhart replied veiled, "Also remember, we won, don't be such a spoiler, Manny .”

"There are rumors that you are about to assume a new and important position."

A smile appeared on Urquhart's face. "I can't comment on rumors, Manny. In any case, you and I know that this is a matter for the Prime Minister to decide. I just came to give him some moral support."

"You will be an adviser to the Prime Minister with Lord Williams, won't you?"

He tried to keep a smile on his face, "Lord Williams, has he arrived yet?"

"It was over an hour ago. We're still wondering if anyone else will show up."

It took Urquhart every sliver of his years of experience in politics to suppress the smoldering astonishment. "Then I should go in," he said loudly, "and I can't keep them waiting." He nodded politely to the crowd, and strode across the street, abandoning the doorstep of Number Ten Downing Street. He worries about looking too presumptuous before waving to the camera.

Across the black and white tiled foyer, a carpeted corridor leads to the cabinet meeting room.The prime minister's young political secretary was waiting for him at the end of the corridor.As Urquhart drew closer, he sensed that the young man was a little uncomfortable.

"Mr Prime Minister is looking forward to your arrival, Mr Party Whip."

"Yes, that's why I'm here."

The secretary flinched. "He's upstairs in the study. I'll let him know you've arrived." He did his duty, and hurried upstairs before Urquhart could taunt him.

Urquhart waited twelve minutes down there snapping his knuckles and tapping his watch before the secretary reappeared.During this time, Urquhart stared for a long time at the portraits of former prime ministers that hung in the famous stairwell in order to divert his attention.In his eyes, many people who have been in charge here over the years are particularly inappropriate, and this feeling makes him brood.These people have no inspiring ability to carry the heavy responsibility of prime minister.In contrast, Lloyd George [Lloyd George, leader of the British Liberal Party. Elected to the British House of Commons in 1890. In 1911, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, he proposed the National Insurance Act, which was recognized as the herald of the British welfare state. ] People like Churchill are born great leaders, but if they are placed today, is it possible for them to become the head of a country?One is a flamboyant woman who sells her peerage for money; the other spends too much time drinking, paying off debts and losing her temper.Both are historical giants, but neither is immune to the modern media.On the contrary, the current world is run by a group of "dwarfs", who have no heights and no ambitions.They were chosen not to be exceptional, but because they would not offend others and play by the rules rather than rewrite the rules themselves.Well... just... someone like Henry Collingridge.

The political secretary came back and interrupted his thoughts, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Party Whip. He can see you now."

The room that Collingridge used as a study is on the second floor and has a view of St James' Park from Downing Street Gardens.The room is modest.You know, this is the second most important address in the UK. It's scary in size, but it's a bit chaotic.Upon entering, Urquhart had keenly observed that, despite the efforts made to keep things in order, the enormous desk had been filled with papers and notes scribbled in the previous hour or so.An empty bottle of Bordeaux lay in the trash, there were crumbs of biscuits on the plate, and a shriveled lettuce leaf stubbornly remained on the window sill.The party chairman was sitting on the prime minister's right, wearing a dark green leather jacket, with the notes he had just written protruding from his pocket.Beside the two of them was a large stack of Manila lightweight thick paper folders, which recorded the information of the congressmen.

Urquhart grabbed an armless chair and sat in front of them, feeling like a boy called to the principal's office.Collingridge and Williams are silhouetted against the windows.Urquhart squinted at the light outside the window, uneasy sorting the folder he had brought on his knees, which contained the notes he had written.

"Francis, you are so kind, you have given me so many ideas for reorganization." The Prime Minister said.He didn't make polite opening remarks, but went straight to the point. "I appreciate, and you know, that kind of advice is a great way to help me form my point of view."

Urquhart bowed his head in silent gratitude.

"Obviously you've put a lot of thought into this. But before we get to the specifics, let's talk about the general goal. From your suggestion, um, how do you say it, you think there should be a very thorough reorganization." Collingridge squinted at the paper in front of him, his private reading glasses perched on his nose.He put his finger on the list and read it word by word: "Six new members have been added to the cabinet, and the others must be exchanged and transferred." He sighed and sat back on his chair, as if to separate himself from all these Things spaced out. "Tell me why? Why are you so ruthless? What do you think this can achieve?"

All of Urquhart's senses were on alert.He doesn't like the current situation.He hoped that he was the first to get involved, but the two people in front of him had already talked about it before him, and he didn't know what they were talking about.He didn't find any chance to find out the Prime Minister's own opinion, and he didn't have time to see what was going on in his mind.This does not bode well for the party whip.He wondered if he had been tricked.

The Prime Minister's head was blinded by the glare of sunlight, making him blink.Urquhart could read nothing from the expression on the face before him.He now wishes to turn back time and not put those thoughts on paper himself.Now the words in black and white left him no room for change, no escape route.But it was too late to regret it, and Williams stared at him like a vulture.He opened his mouth slowly, trying to relax his tone so as not to make the other party vigilant, while thinking about the words that could smooth things over for him.

"Of course, Mr. Prime Minister, those are just suggestions, but I want to remind you of things that might be done. I think that, on the whole, on the whole, it might be better to, um, take the initiative; something like Say, make more changes, don't, uh, lukewarm, that is, just show that you have strong control over the cabinet. Um, show that you want more new ideas and new thinking from senior officials. The opportunity could also be taken to retire some of our older colleagues; it is of course sad and regrettable, but it is necessary if fresh blood is to be injected."

Damn it, it occurred to him, that Williams, an old bastard, was sitting next to the Prime Minister, and it was so inappropriate to say so.But the words have been exported, and it is hard to take back the water.

"We've been in power longer than any party since the war, and that gives us a new challenge," he continued. "It's boring. We need a new look for the government team. We have to be wary of the tendency to be stale and pedantic." .”

The whole room fell silent.Then the Prime Minister began to tap the pencil slowly on the desk.

"That's an interesting statement, Francis. I agree with you too—to a large extent."

Oh, he hesitated, he paused for a moment, what's the point?Urquhart realized that his hands were clenched, his nails digging into the flesh.

"Teddy and I have been discussing issues like that before," the Prime Minister continued, "promoting a new generation of talent, finding new motivation, putting new people in new jobs, and I think you have a lot to say about the lower ministerial positions below cabinet. The proposals for changes are very convincing."

But people at these levels are not that important, and everyone knows that.Then the Prime Minister's tone became more sombre.

"The problem is that there are too many changes at the top, which is particularly likely to cause confusion. If most of the cabinet officials are new officials, it will take at least a year to get on the right track. Now, if there is no obvious progress in a year, That would be a waste of time. You think a cabinet change would help our new plan, but Teddy believes that doing what you suggest could cause delays.”

What new plan?Urquhart's whole mind screamed.The prime minister's words made him feel like he was in a fog, as if he was entangled in algae, a mess.

"But, Mr. Prime Minister, don't you think that the loss of our majority is the voters telling us that they want a certain amount of change?"

"It's an interesting point. But like you once said, we've never in our lifetimes been in power for as long as this party. I don't say that with complacency, Francis, but I think if voters We feel like we're exhausted, we're exhausted, and history must be rewritten. All in all, I think voters are happy with us from that point on."

It seems that it is time to show loyalty first, "You are quite right, Mr. Prime Minister."

"One more thing, at the moment it seems very relevant," Collingridge continued, "we have to avoid giving the impression of panic. It would send the completely wrong signal. Remember when Macmillan replaced Killed a third of the cabinet and then ruined his own government? It was seen as a sign of weakness, and he was gone in less than a year. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes." He tapped his pencil one last time on his desk , and set it aside. "After careful consideration, I came up with a more restrained approach."

Collingridge slid a piece of paper across the table towards his whip.There are 22 cabinet positions neatly printed on it, with the corresponding names next to them.

"As you can see, Francis, I don't think we need to make any changes to the cabinet. I hope it will show that we are strong and strong. We have urgent matters and I think we should make it clear to the public that we will immediately You can start doing it."

Urquhart quickly put the paper back on the desk, lest his trembling hands reveal his feelings. "If this is what you think, so be it, Mr. Prime Minister."

"That's really my idea." Then he paused slightly, "Of course, I think you will fully support this decision?"

"Of course, Mr Prime Minister."

Urquhart couldn't even control his voice, as if it was coming from the far side of the room.It wasn't what he wanted to say, but he had no choice.Either give full support or be immediately transferred to other positions, which is tantamount to suicide.But he couldn't just let it go, "I have to say, myself... I'm actually looking forward to a change. I think... I have a little new experience... Accept new challenges." This sentence was hemmed, Stuttering, he suddenly felt parched, "You may remember, Mr. Prime Minister, that we discussed the possibility of this matter..."

"Francis," the Prime Minister interrupted, but with no malice, "if I move you, I must move others. It will cause a domino effect. And I need you to be there. In your old position. You are a particularly good whip. You have dedicated yourself to digging deep into the heart and soul of the parliamentary party. You know the members of the party too well. We must face the fact that the majority advantage is so small, the next few days There will definitely be a difficult time or two in [-]. My chief whip must have enough strength and ability to solve the problem. I need you, Francis. You are very good at operating behind the scenes. We can leave the publicity to others .”

Urquhart lowered his eyes, not wanting them to see the turmoil of betrayal surging in them.Collingridge felt it was a sign of acceptance.

"I sincerely appreciate your understanding and support, Francis."

Urquhart felt the door slam shut behind him.He thanked the two people in front of him and said goodbye.Williams didn't say a word throughout.

He left from the back passage in the basement of No. [-] Downing Street.He passes the ruins of the Tudor tennis court where William VIII once played tennis.Then came to the Cabinet Office, which was directly opposite Whitehall, along the road extending from the entrance of Downing Street, far away from the eagerly waiting media.He couldn't face them.He spent less than half an hour with the Prime Minister, and he felt that if he had to lie to the media, he could not hide his facial expression.He asked a security guard from the Cabinet Office to call his car, and he didn't even bother to say a word of the usual pleasantries.

(End of this chapter)