Taking advantage of the celebrity effect of the "Freedom Road" documentary and concert, Li Weimin is confidently fooling Americans into investing in Vietnam, while Lonsdale, a U.S. Air Force Colonel in Saigon, is increasingly less and less confident about Vietnam's prospects.

The "Hsin Yen incident" intensified, and Nguyen Van Xin, with the covert support of the French, was aggressive, and just ended his scolding on the radio under the interference of the US military advisory group in Vietnam, and yesterday afternoon publicly announced that he would launch a coup d'état today.

He has been busy co-opting Zheng Mingshi and other warlords, big and small, and he doesn't know much about the situation.

In the morning, Ambassador Heath approached him with a heavy face, telling him that it would be better to go to the Independence Palace to see if Ngo Dinh Diem was still alive, only to realize how far the situation had deteriorated.

He rushed to the Independence Palace with an interpreter and a few Filipino guards, and was shocked to find that a single figure was out of sight, all the officials and staff had run away, even the guards had disappeared without a trace, and the entire Prime Minister's Office was empty as if it had been abandoned.

Landsdale was taken aback, wondering if it was too late, and hurried to the prime minister's office. Thankfully, Diem is still alive, sitting behind his desk with glasses on his glasses to review documents.

"Mr. Prime Minister, are you alright?"

Wu Tingyan looked up, and actually laughed self-deprecatingly: "Oh, there are still people in this world who care about my safety." ”

"It's too dangerous here, you have to change your office."

Undaunted by danger, the Vietnamese interpreter admired the prime minister in front of him, and after the translation, he kindly added: "Mr. Prime Minister, everyone has run away, you can't stay here alone." ”

Wu Tingyan took off his glasses and smiled casually: "I'm not the only one, my younger brothers, younger siblings and children are all behind." ”

Nguyen Van Nin said that he was reluctant to leave when the coup d'état was launched today, so Landsdale could only sit down and say, "Mr. Prime Minister, I will accompany you and wait for them to come and see if they dare to shoot us." ”

"Is this a personal decision, or is it a request from the U.S. government?"

Lansdale shook his head and smiled bitterly, "A personal decision." ”

Deeply moved, Ngo Dinh Diem pulled out a telegram he had just received and sighed: "Colonel, I have two trusted friends, one is you, and the other is for the people who are trying to raise money in the United States. ”

Through the window, you can see soldiers with loaded guns wandering around the Independence Palace, they are all sent by Nguyen Van Xin, and no one knows when they will rush in, the atmosphere is extremely tense, and even the air seems to be filled with a strong smell of gunpowder.

Now that he can't leave if he wants to, Lansdale simply changed the topic and asked with interest: "How is Lee doing in the United States?" ”

Speaking of that talented young man with a lot of ideas, Ngo Dinh Yen couldn't help but laugh and said: "He became famous, became a well-respected musician, took the Chicago Symphony Orchestra around Europe, and then returned to the United States to tour, causing a sensation everywhere he went." His film about the evacuation of refugees was released in the United States, and many people were moved to tears.

As of yesterday afternoon, more than $6 million in donations and more than $10 million worth of medicines, biscuits, milk powder, clothes and other materials have been raised. More than $18 million of industrial investment bonds have been sold, and more than 70 joint ventures and cooperation intentions have been reached with the US business community. In addition, more than 20 American universities are willing to accept Vietnamese students and provide scholarships and grants.

It is even expected to establish a comprehensive university, with the industrial investment company providing land and responsible for the construction of school buildings, several universities in the United States sending professors to teach, several education foundations in the United States providing operating funds, and some American companies donating teaching and equipment. ”

It's really surprising, Lansdale pretended to smile lightly: "I know he can write songs, and the most popular song "Love Fights to Win" was written by him, but I didn't expect it to be as popular in the United States." ”

"It's different for the movie, it's very classic, he asked someone to bring back a few records, do you want to listen to it?"

Idle is idle, Lansdale agreed, "Of course." ”

As if to express his determination not to back down, Ngo Dinh Diem put his voice at the highest, ignoring the first few songs, and directly playing his favorite "Exodus". Impassioned music sounded at the Independence Palace, and the soldiers outside looked at each other, wondering what the prime minister inside wanted to do.

The music is great, but safety is more important.

Lansdale glanced back out the window and asked loudly, "Mr. Prime Minister, why don't you order the foreigner management police brigade to come over?" ”

"In order to avoid a conflict with the Pingchuan faction, the several squadrons that were transferred back after the last arrest operation have all gone back, and Saigon is the brigade headquarters and a squadron, what is the difference between transferring and not transferring?"

There are tens of thousands of national troops stationed in the city and around Saigon, and if Nguyen Van Xin really wants to do it, it really won't be of much use to transfer them.

Lansdale reacted and simply returned to the previous topic: "Mr. Prime Minister, when is Lee going to come back?" ”

"He's going to be in the U.S. for at least a month and a half, and then he's going to Europe and Australia. With so many refugees in need of resettlement, the government can alleviate the pressure by raising a little more money. Don't say that he doesn't know the situation in Saigon, he won't come back for the time being, and even if he knows, he won't let him come back. ”

"You're worried about his safety?"

Doing such a thing for the people, but he can't even guarantee his safety, Wu Dinh Yan said sincerely: "Ruan Wenxin shouldn't do anything to him, but I have to guard against it." In addition, he presided over the evacuation of refugees to the south, and now he is in the United States to raise funds for government propaganda, and the Vietminh has regarded him as a thorn in the side, and no one dares to guarantee that the Vietminh elements will not take advantage of the chaos to commit murder. ”

I don't know if it was the music that played a role, or if Nguyen Van Xin finally didn't make up her mind, and after chatting for a while, the army outside the Independence Palace miraculously withdrew.

Lansdale finally breathed a sigh of relief and put on his hat: "Mr. Prime Minister, the danger here is only temporarily lifted, I need to go to the General Staff and ask him what he wants?" ”

Wu Tingyan also wanted to know if Ruan Wenxin had the courage, got up and said, "Go ahead, wait for your good news." ”

Rushing to the General Staff Headquarters, Nguyen Van Thanh was in the operational command room, officers at the rank of colonel were coming in and out, the phones were ringing one after another, and several staff officers did not know what to mark on the map, and then pointed and pointed on the map.

What is ironic is that as soon as Ruan Wenxin saw him, she smiled triumphantly: "Colonel, just now I rode a motorcycle around the Independence Palace several times inside and out, scaring everyone away, did you see it?" ”

Lansdale laughed and said, "I didn't see you, I didn't hear the motorcycle." ”

"Was Dinh Diem frightened?"

"General, you did frighten a lot of people and scared a lot of people away, but not including Prime Minister Diem."

"Really, he's not afraid at all?" Nguyen Van Xin will be skeptical.

Lansdale confirmed earnestly: "Mr. Chancellor is very calm, even if you put a gun to his chest. ”

Although Nguyen Van Xin did not speak and act in tune, he knew very well that if he really launched the government, the Americans would definitely not support him, and only the French and Bao Da would not be able to support this prime minister, so he wanted to scare Ngo Dinh Diem away without blood.

How did he meet such a person who was not afraid of death, he scratched his head and bluffed: "Today's preparations are not sufficient, and the coup will be postponed for a few days." ”

Lansdale clearly understood that as long as the French did not leave, they would continue to make small moves behind their backs, and the chief of the general staff in front of him was ready to make a move.

All that should be said has been said, all those who should be persuaded have been persuaded, and it is useless to persuade again.

He patted Nguyen Van Thanh on the arm and said half-jokingly: "General, remember to remind me before the official coup d'état, so as to provide political asylum to Mr. Ngo Dinh Diem, I believe that you do not want to see bloodshed like me." ”

"Colonel, I can't guarantee you, you'd better take him away now."

This guy thought about good things, and Lansdale was completely convinced, and after a while, he went back to the consulate to report to Ambassador Heath.

………