（加密线路接通。短暂静音。）

习：

买买买！

川：

Buy or bye?

习：

B-U-Y

川:

Good spelling. 

I'm impressed. 

You're still the boss.

It's fun to boss people around.

Right?

习：

该调整的，

就要调整。

川：

Sure.

I like adjustments.

I fire people all the time.

It shows strength.

But your regional military guys

remain quiet.

Not a lot of clapping.

习：

军队不以鼓掌为职责。

以执行命令为职责。

川：

Right.

But applause is nice.

It shows enthusiasm.

In my world, no applause means trouble.

And your world?

习：

纪律比情绪可靠。

川：

Fair enough.

So let's talk about 

my upcoming visit.

Big visit.

Unlike you, 

I need to feed the media 

with nice dramas. 

习：

访问是外交行为。

不是表演。

川：

Come on.

Everything is a performance,

whether you admit it or not.

The only question is—

who controls the stage.

习：

中国不要舞台，

要的是台！

川：

Careful there.

（短暂停顿。）

川：

If I come,

I don't want surprises.

习：

台要稳定嘛。

稳定，

就是最大的确定性。

川：

Stability is good—

when it holds.

Markets love stability.

So do your generals—

until they don't.

习：

军队服从党。

这是原则问题。

川：

Principles are great.

But reality is louder.

I've seen strong systems wobble

when everyone waits

for one man to speak.

习：

中国不是靠个人运转的，

靠的是一锤一尊。

川：

Interesting.

Because everyone outside says

it looks very personal right now.

习：

吾知吾国。

川：

Wow. Classical Chinese. 

Well, the outside world

may be wrong.

But perception moves money.

And money moves politics.

习：

吾党在，吾军在。

吾军在，吾国在。

吾国在，和平在。

中国五千年，

什么没见过？

川：

I respect that.

I really do.

But let me be clear—

when I visit,

I need to see confidence.

Not tension.

习：

信心来自秩序。

不是来自展示。

川：

Sometimes display is order.

Parades, ceremonies...

You know the drill, right?

习：

你关心的，

是访问本身，

还是访问背后的信号？

川：

Both.

I don't do empty trips.

If I fly that far,

I need leverage.

Optics.

Results.

习：

结果需要耐心。

川：

Patience is a luxury.

I prefer pressure.

（线路出现轻微杂音。）

习：

你刚才提到军方。

你想表达什么？

川：

I'll be honest.

If you're the boss—

then the world needs to know it.

Clear signals.

No ambiguity.

习：

中国靠自己来证明领导。

川：

That's a risk.

Silence creates rumors.

Rumors create weakness.

习：

过度表达，

同样制造不安。

川：

So here's my question.

If I come,

am I meeting a system—

or a man?

习：

你见到的

是大国大度。

川：

Good answer.

Very careful.

But the world actually 

negotiates with faces.

习：

那是你们的习惯。

川：

And it works.

Most of the time.

习：

访问若成行，

中国欢迎。

若不……

川：

I won't come

to be used as a photo

to prove your point. 

习：

中国不需要借人立威。

川：

Nobody ever admits that.

（短暂沉默。）

川：

One last thing.

People say 

power is tightening in Beijing.

When power tightens,

mistakes get expensive.

习：

权力如果分散，

代价更高。

川：

We'll see.

History is the referee.

习：

历史不着急。

川：

My voters are.

习：

访问细节，

容后再谈。

川：

Good.

I like ongoing conversations.

They keep everyone guessing.

习：

猜不猜由你。

川：

Same here. 

Uncertainty is my brand.

习：

那就先这样。

川：

Sure.

Tell your people—

I'm watching.

Very closely.

习：

彼此彼此。

川：

Then let's make it worth watching.

Meanwhile, 

may you live in interesting times!

（通话结束。线路切断。）

作者：纫秋兰