Chapter 75 Key Questions

Of course, you are lying to yourself if you say you are not nervous. Allen Wilson wants to find a church, and uphold the spirit of sharpening his guns before the battle, and talk to God, the old man. After all, in this part of Europe, he should still have a three-point face. Ask the pope how many divisions the steel comrades cut off a piece.

Nervousness is a normal emotion, and it will not disappear because of people’s different classes and wealth, but it is reflected in different aspects. London’s Whitehall, in the eyes of outsiders, is the political center of the British Empire, where every move affects the world situation. , also in the midst of intense busyness.

The Soviet victory parade and the subsequent Potsdam Conference also made all departments feel like they were facing a formidable enemy. The standing deputy ministers of all departments were in the process of intense preparations, and the tension was not worse than that in Berlin.

The door of the cabinet secretary's office was pushed open, and Norman Brooke said as he walked, "Edward, give me the procedures of the Potsdam meeting. By the way, you should go to Berlin before the prime minister."

"If there is no accident, it should be like this." Edward Bridges held a cigar between his fingers, his eyes behind the lens showed approval, and pointed to the seat in front of him, "Norman, in fact, there are people who work hard in various departments. Civil servants, you don’t need to worry about this kind of thing. Of course, out of a prudent attitude, I will go to Berlin first, faster than the Prime Minister, but? I’m not actually troubled by this matter..."

Norman Brook was taken aback. There were more important matters than the Potsdam Conference. He asked, "Is there any movement from the Soviet Union?"

"The affairs of the Soviet Union are very important, but not the most important. Norman!" Edward Bridges said with a meaningful expression on his face, "For the British Empire, the war is over. Eastern affairs It is more about the colonies than the imminent Germany at the time, and now the greatest danger has disappeared, so there is no need for a wartime cabinet, and elections are coming soon."

During the war, of course, stability is more important than anything else, and defeating aggressive Germany is the most important thing. For this reason, the status of Prime Minister Churchill and the wartime cabinet was unshakable, but now that the war is over, everything has changed again.

Who will win the upcoming general election will become a criterion for Edward Bridges to judge the next situation. And judging from the current feedback, in fact Attlee's hope is not small, but it was overshadowed by Prime Minister Churchill under the great victory over Germany.

Attlee was the leader of the Labor Party. He was born in a middle-class family in Putney, London. In his early years, he attended Nove Hall School, Haileybury and Imperial Service College and Oxford University College, and became a lawyer after graduation.

Attlee was the private secretary of the former Labor Party leader, Prime Minister MacDonald. During the war, he was the British Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Seal, Secretary of the Dominions, and President of the Privy Council.

"In times of war, some rules can be broken, but in times of peace, we have to follow certain rules, Norman?" Edward Bridges called softly to the Chief of Staff, "If Attlee came to power, I would Consider early retirement."

"Early retirement?" Norman Brook looked astonished, leaning forward involuntarily.

"It's not so fast. I will hand over the power of cabinet secretary to my successor to ensure that everything goes smoothly." Pressing out the cigar at his fingertips, Edward Bridges stepped back tactically, "I will be in two years. Time for the next Cabinet Secretary to grow up and leave Whitehall."

"Wow!" Norman Brooke's face was very exciting, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

"My successors must stand firm in the face of politicians. Both you and I know that the life of politicians lies in elections. What they can call professional is to maintain exposure. As for the level of governance of the country, we do not comment .” Edward Bridges got up and opened the window, his back to Norman Brook.

"you're right,

Edward, there is no ambiguity about this. " Norman Brook agreed with Edward Bridges' back.

"We also need to pay attention to strategy. We help politicians fulfill their grand long-cherished wishes. Although most of them are childish and ridiculous, we can't show it." Turning his head, Edward Bridges looked at Norman Brook expectantly.

"Your heir must be gentle, charming, sophisticated, and have sufficient experience." Following Edward Bridges' thoughts, Norman Brooke already felt in his heart that this was not a temptation.

"Especially reliable." Edward Bridges added with a smile, "I have the responsibility to make this transition stable. This is my mission to the British Empire. Therefore, I have found a company that fully meets these conditions. Successor candidate!"

"So Edward, do you already have this candidate?" Norman Brook asked expectantly.

"You see, the true meaning of our business is not to find the answer, but to find the right question. Let's see who can find the key question!" Edward Bridgess laughed dumbfounded, apparently talking to smart people made him The mood is also very comfortable.

It was not by chance that Edward Bridges decided to leave, as he was personally bound to Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the war. This history is actually quite early. In fact, he became a cabinet secretary and had a huge relationship with Churchill, who was not even the prime minister at the time.

When becoming a cabinet secretary, it is not completely in line with the traditional habits of civil servants. Of course, in the tense moments during the war, these are no problems, and it is logical.

But now that the war is over, some problems will return to the original place, and the broken rules should be amended. Edward Bridges took the initiative to return to tradition, so that the initiative can still be in his own hands.

When the two came out of the cabinet secretary's office, their amiable appearance made all the civil servants in Whitehall look sideways.

Alan Wilson, who was in a state of tension, was waiting in line for the military plane that had landed by the Permanent Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, Alexander Cadogan, like other Berlin diplomats.

"People who don't know think that the Prime Minister has come?" Eifel whispered weakly.

"It's more important than the prime minister. Mr. Edward is more senior than us." Alan Wilson looked ahead, maintaining the quality of a young diplomat, watching the military plane slowly stop.

The permanent undersecretary of the cabinet, also known as the current cabinet secretary, Edward Bridges, got off the military plane with ease.