Today is the most sensitive and accident-prone day, the country is divided, the masses are excited, and France, which has played a decisive role in the negotiations over the past two months, has become the "enemy of the people".

At the time of the national crisis, Emperor Baoda, as the head of state, not only did not make a speech to strongly oppose it, but even stayed in Paris to spend all day drinking. He has confirmed the name of "puppet" and completely lost the support of the people.

Chief of the General Staff Nguyen Van Thanh has dual French and Vietnamese citizenship, is married to a French wife, has always been proud of being French, and his relationship with the French Expeditionary Force is well known, so he behaved very low-key today, did not show his head again, and did not dare to make those remarks about a coup d'état and the overthrow of the government.

The Binh Chuan faction was another important force supported by the French and Bao Da in Saigon, and its reputation was already bad, and Le Van Yuan was also worried about being affected by the pond fish. Today, the low-key could not be more low-key, and in the face of the endless procession of demonstrations, the soldiers and police of Pingchuan faction exercised the utmost restraint, and no one did anything, let alone dare to shoot at the procession.

Ngo Dinh Diem has always regarded himself as a nationalist patriot, and has always been indeed anti-French, coupled with the act of ordering the flag to be lowered at half-mast to mourn the country's secession and designating today as a "day of national shame", won the support of many people, and added a point to himself.

However, rising support alone is not enough.

The Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference and the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Viet Nam, announced this morning and entered into force in four and a half hours, not only do not solve the series of problems he faces, but also create a series of new ones.

In the small conference room on the second floor of Jialong Palace, there was smoke, and Wu Tingyan and three other middle-aged people who had never seen him sat on the sofa with a sad brow.

Huang Shi Liliu, secretary of the Prime Minister's Office and press officer in charge of liaising with foreign correspondents, met Li Weimin and knew about his relationship with the Prime Minister's family, invited him into the conference room, and cautiously reported: "Premier Yan, Mr. Li has arrived. ”

"Oh."

Wu Tingyan was stunned for a moment, then raised his arm and motioned for him to sit.

It's too choked in the room, it's really not a place for people. Li Weimin didn't sit directly, but nodded slightly to the three people opposite him, counted as saying hello, and immediately walked to the window and pushed open the window, picked up the teapot easily, and asked in a low voice while helping them refill the cup of tea: "Mr. Yan, is it troublesome?" ”

"Trouble? There's never a shortage of trouble here. ”

Wu Tingyan sighed lightly, took the cup and introduced: "Minister Zhen, Minister Cheng, this is Li Weimin, chairman of the Industrial Village Investment Company I mentioned to you. ”

I guessed that it was him, and only he was here that he would not treat himself as an outsider.

The short, thin middle-aged man got up and straightened his suit, stretched out his right hand and greeted: "Minister of Defense Li Yuzhen, Mr. Li, Premier Yan often mentions you." ”

"Hello Minister Zhen, it's an honor to meet Minister Zhen."

"Minister of Information Chen Zhengcheng, Mr. Li, I am also a member of the Refugee Committee."

"It turned out to be Minister Cheng, fortunately."

The last Chen Jinxuan to introduce himself, Li Weimin was the most impressed. He was about thirty years old, he looked very capable, he was not very high-level, he had just been appointed director of the political, cultural and social investigation bureau, but his power was not small at all, and he was the head of the whole secret police.

As soon as the greetings were over, Wu Tingyao put down the phone and turned around and asked, "For the people, the board of directors has finished?" ”

"It's over, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m."

"How's it going?"

"It was a success."

Li Weimin smiled, sat down and said, "Knowing that the government is now short of funds, the board of directors unanimously agreed to guarantee a temporary loan of 150 million Piast to the Refugee Committee for the Bank of East Asia. The term is three months, no interest is paid, and only a little bank fee is paid. ”

The U.S. government has pledged aid, and both military and non-military aid programs have been formulated, but it is not so easy to implement them, because people are needed to do everything.

The government is in a mess, and many personnel are not in place, and after the personnel are in place, they have to set up counterpart agencies and communicate with the management team and the directors of the aid projects. From the time the aid plan was decided, the only aid that the government really received was the 210 million local currency that it had exchanged for from the Bank of East Asia.

It is necessary to co-opt the warlords, to train cadres, to organize political parties, to form secret police forces, to maintain the operation of the newly taken over government departments, and to provide relief to the refugees gathered in the suburbs...... Even a part of it must be allocated to Nguyen Van Thanh and Le Van Yuan, otherwise the soldiers and police under them will rebel.

Give a little here, dial a little there, 210 million will be gone in a few days, and now is the time to run out of money. Young Master Li sent charcoal in the snow, Wu Tingyan was moved, held his hand tightly and said, "For the people, I bothered you again." ”

"Mr. Yan, this is what we should do."

Le Ngoc Zhen finally understood why Ngo Dinh Diem valued the young Vietnamese Chinese in front of him, and couldn't help but say: "Premier Yan, Mr. Li is sending charcoal in the snow, it seems that we can consider withdrawing some government officials, soldiers of the national army and their families from the south first." If conditions permit, some of the students, political and religious groups may also be withdrawn. ”

As soon as the French army withdrew, South Vietnam was left alone to defend itself against the Vietminh.

Ngo Dinh Diem was in mixed moods at the moment, happy that the country had finally gained independence, but angry that the country was divided, and at the same time worried that the French would take advantage of the opportunity to go south as soon as they left Vietminh. All treaties and agreements were meant to be torn apart, and he did not believe that the Vietminh would honestly abide by the Geneva agreements.

More than half of the 100,000 Nationalist troops were in North Vietnam, and they must be withdrawn to the south as soon as possible to reorganize and find ways to transform them into loyal to the government. The North Vietnamese officials had to withdraw south, and after they were evacuated, they had to be trained, otherwise there would not be so many people to take over the political vacuum after the French had withdrawn;

The refugees gathered in Hanoi and Hai Phong, especially the Catholic brothers and sisters living in North Vietnam, will be evacuated to the south, and only by withdrawing them can the basis of the new government be built.

If you want to evacuate and resettle so many people, ten fifteen million piasts are not enough, Wu Dinh Yan weighed it, shook his head and said: "This loan can't solve the big problem, now we can only put pressure on the French, and at the same time ask the United States for help." ”

Ngo Dinh Yao sat opposite Li Weimin and said with a wry smile: "Speaking of putting pressure on the French, I just received news that a regiment of the Fifth Infantry Division has just occupied the Hanoi airport and asked the expeditionary force to help the North Vietnamese Nongs retreat south. ”

The Fifth Infantry Division is the number of the Nong District Army, and Li Weimin pretended to be surprised and asked: "Mr. Yao, did they exchange fire, did they have any dead people?" ”

"Nope."

Ngo Dinh Yao picked up his cup and said with a smile: "As far as I know, the whole process went very smoothly, and the Expeditionary Force Command thought that they had the cooperation of French officers. To confirm this, I have just asked Colonel Lansdale, who inquired through a United States Air Force technician stationed at Hanoi airport that the troublesome officer was sitting in the airport headquarters drinking coffee with several French officers. ”

Li Weimin asked with tears and laughter: "A farce? ”

"Almost."

These old foxes turned out to have sympathizers within the French army.

Li Weimin was ridiculed, and just as he didn't know what to say, Li Yuzhen smiled bitterly: "Premier Yan, it can be seen from this incident that the expeditionary force is willing to help us withdraw the troops and people of North Vietnam from the south, but they have not received an order. And France is not capable of doing this now, and Paris will not easily give this order to the expeditionary force. ”

Ngo Dinh Diem muttered: "Cooperate with the French and ask the United States for help together? ”

"We have to think not only about the south, but also about resettlement, and we don't have a better choice."

"Well, call Wu Wenmu (Foreign Minister) and ask him to talk to the French."

Li Yuzhen and the three seemed to know that they had something to discuss, so they took the opportunity to call Wu Wenmu and got up and left the conference room.

Wu Tingjiao came to the door with his hand, and Li Weimin said with embarrassment: "Mr. Yan, Mr. Yao, the board of directors has doubts about lending money to the government, while Professor Anderson and Mr. Pohl believe that the funds should be earmarked, so the 150 million can only be used for refugee relief and resettlement. ”

The treasury is empty, and the decree does not leave the Jialong Palace, so it is normal to have doubts, but if there are no doubts, it is not normal. As for the earmarking, it is equally understandable, after all, Mr. Pol represents the Church, and he has only Catholic refugees in mind.

How could Ng Dinh Diem blame him for this, and said sincerely: "For the people, it is not easy to lend money to the government at this time, and the industrial village project also needs money." ”

"Long live understanding."

Li Weimin nodded and took out a list from his arms: "Mr. Yan, these tents, food and daily necessities were originally prepared for Da Nang and Vung Tau Industrial Villages to accept refugees. If you want to buy now, you may not be able to purchase so much, and it is impossible to buy at this price.

There is a matter of priority, and if the government needs it, the order can be given to the Refugee Committee for these urgently needed items. After all, I am also a member of the Refugee Committee, and the Government cannot sit idly by when it encounters difficulties. ”

It is all urgently needed materials, and the price is very fair, at least 30% cheaper than the market. Since the loan could only be used for the relief and resettlement of refugees, Ngo Dinh Diem naturally accepted it in full, and the big business of 150 million Piast was thus negotiated.

The materials that had been hoarded a few months ago were sold at one time, and the operation to dump Piast on the black market was a complete success, and Li Weimin was very happy; The industrial investment company sent charcoal in the snow, and this batch of materials can solve the urgent need, and Wu Tingyan is also happy.

Goh Dinh Tsai carefully read the list, and while thinking about how to distribute it, he asked half-jokingly: "For the people, if the government can't pay this loan back in three months, how will you explain it to the board of directors?" ”

"Mr. Yao, I want to do a favor to the government, and I also have to be responsible to the company, especially the shareholders, which I have considered for a long time. First of all, the money is lent to the Refugee Board for circulation, and if international assistance is available within three months, it is returned from the aid. Professor Anderson and Mr. Pol could testify that they believed that the government or agency providing the assistance would not object. ”

Wu Tingjiao really admired the "good money boy" in front of him, put away the list and asked: "What if the donor is against it?" ”

"That can only find the government, although the government has no money but has fixed assets, the coal mines in the central part of the country have all been occupied by the Viet Minh, and now they want to withdraw, they can completely transfer the coal mines to the industrial investment company, we will build more than a dozen power plants, and we will never be too much coal."

Looking at his eyebrows, Wu Tingyan's mood suddenly improved a lot, and he couldn't help laughing: "The idea is good, the key is that there is a Frenchman between us." ”

Li Weimin's face was straight, and he said vigorously: "Mr. Yan, as long as we take over first, we can confidently tell them that the coal mine was taken over from the Viet Minh, and it has nothing to do with you. ”