The Independence Palace was badly damaged and in shambles.

Hundreds of military and police officers are under martial law outside, firefighters are still searching inside, and the staff who survived the robbery are busy packing up documents and planning to move the presidential palace to Jialong Palace.

There is no place to sit, so it is obviously not appropriate to talk here.

Li Weimin was able to come as soon as possible, which in a sense represented the attitude of the "industrial investment department" towards the incident. Ngo Dinh Diem urgently needs to stabilize the situation, how can he live up to his kindness.

The two briefly exchanged pleasantries, and together with Yang Wenming and Chen Shanqian, who arrived close behind, they rushed to the hospital by car under the escort of many military and police officers to comfort the injured in the air raid.

Hoang Thi Li-liu, press officer of the presidential office, had already prepared that before the plane on which Li Weimin was flying had landed, he contacted domestic and foreign media reporters in Saigon in advance, invited them to the hospital for interviews, and planned to hold a press conference in the conference room of the army hospital.

The motorcade drove into the compound, and reporters swarmed up.

Many shrewd reporters found that the "Wu-Li relationship" was not as tense as rumored to be, and that Li Weimin not only came uncharacteristically, but also sat in the same car with President Ngo Dinh Diem.

The status of politicians, especially their proximity to the president, can be seen from the position they appear in public. When entering the door, Li Weimin followed Wu Tingyan closely, walked in front of Yang Wenming, Chen Shanqian and other high-ranking military officials, and even Liu Jiachang, former general manager of the Industrial Investment Company and current minister of economic affairs of the government, came.

After Wu Tingyan finished his condolences one by one, Li Weimin said with a sincere face amid the sound of clicking pictures: "You are all heroes, you have behaved heroically, and you have faithfully performed your duties as soldiers. As a close friend of Mr. President. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for all that you have done. As an ordinary citizen, I am proud that the country has warriors like you......"

Chen Lichun was also injured and was treated in the same hospital. But because his identity is too sensitive, he can't enjoy such a high-level condolence.

It was not until he attended the press conference, expressed his position as the chairman of the industrial investment company, and witnessed Yang Wenming and other generals reaffirm their loyalty to the government and the president, that they came to a luxurious ward on the third floor.

Wu Lijun and Tian Tian came in through the side door of the hospital, avoiding the reporter's gaze and did not appear in public. I've been talking to Chen Lichun for a while.

Facing Wu Tingjiao, Li Weimin didn't know how to greet him, believing that the other party was also very embarrassed. He simply smiled at Chen Lichun, who was half-lying on the bed, and pretended to look back easily: "Mr. Yao, this is a hospital, and there are not only patients in the ward. And children. ”

Wu Tingyao was stunned. Hurriedly snuffed out the cigarette and said, "I'll go outside to smoke, you can talk." ”

"Where to go, just let the kids out."

Chen Lichun always wanted to ease the relationship between her husband and Li Weimin, glared at him fiercely, and forced a bitter smile: "Lishui, Tingxuan, take Tiantian out to play, and Mom and Dad will talk to Uncle Min for a while." ”

What happened in the morning really scared the children. Wu Ting Lishui, who has become a big girl, reacted and gave Li Weimin a very reluctant smile. Holding his younger brother in one hand, and preparing to go out every day with the other.

Wu Lijun knew that it was not easy to meet, and they must have a lot to say, so she immediately got up and said, "Mr. Yao, you sit, I will accompany the children out for a walk." ”

Politics belongs to politics, and personal relations belong to personal relations.

Wu Tingyao had a good impression of Wu Lijun, a gentle and skillful "brother and sister" who never asked about politics, and reminded with a smile: "It's full of people outside, don't go far." ”

"We're outside, not downstairs."

As soon as her husband opened the door, Chen Lichun stretched out her uninjured left arm and said to Li Weimin: "For the people, help me get a cigarette, it's on the table." ”

"Isn't it painful, did the doctor get numb-drunk?"

"I hit it, but it still hurts a little."

Li Weimin stuffed the cigarette into her hand, Wu Tingjiao took out a lighter and lit it for her, and the two men sat on both sides of the hospital bed, one left and one right, and cooperated very well in this room, but as soon as they left this room, they would become political opponents.

Chen Lichun took a sharp puff of cigarette, choked with tears and said: "For the people, if that bomb was not a dud, you wouldn't be able to see the president and Ting Yao now, maybe Lishui and Ting Yu would be buried in the rubble." ”

It's really dangerous, just a little bit close.

Although in Li Weimin's mind, Wu Tingyan and the person opposite him were already "dead people", he still said with palpitations: "It is indeed dangerous, fortunately, God bless." ”

"If we die, will you help us get a decent funeral, will you help us get revenge?"

His wife was injured and his children were frightened, and Ngo Dinh Yao felt guilty, hanging his head and smoking a cigarette, not saying a word.

Woe to parents and sin to wives and children.

Li Weimin watched Lishui and Tinghui grow up, and he didn't want the children to encounter any more dangers, so he also lit a cigarette and said: "If you don't die in a big disaster, you will have a blessing." Kids outside, don't be cranky. But when it comes to Lishui and Tingxuan, I do have an idea. There are many foreign children in Phu Quoc, and I have set up a school for foreign Chinese, or let them go with me, the conditions are really good, and it can cultivate the children's ability to live independently. ”

Chen Lichun knew that this was his kindness, and believed that he and Wu Lijun would treat the children like every day.

As a mother, how can she not think about her children, considering that the situation in Saigon is so chaotic, she is really a little tempted for a while, and she can't help but turn around and ask: "Tingjiao, what do you say?" ”

Maybe it was because of his self-esteem, or maybe he wanted to show some position with this, Wu Tingjiao said lightly: "Lishui is big and has its own ideas, so I have to ask for her opinion if I want to go." Tingqiu is too young to leave us well. ”

"If you don't go to Phu Quoc, you can go abroad."

Wu Tingyao was anxious, and suddenly got up and said: "For the people, as long as you don't object, it's useless for others to oppose it, our situation has not reached the point where we have to send our children out to take refuge." We have been through so many things together, we have overcome one difficulty after another, can you have a little bit of confidence in the government, in the president, in me, why can't you face it as before, and overcome it as before? ”

Here it is again, and I know that he will say this.

Li Weimin sighed secretly. "Mr. Yao, a country that relies on foreign aid to maintain its power will inevitably be subject to its diplomatic and political interference. The same is true of North Vietnam. It's just that it hasn't been spoken, it's not made public. The Government's acceptance of aid but its reluctance to accept the constraints and oversight of the mechanism is a matter of safeguarding national sovereignty and dignity, but at the same time it is also a concern of abuse of power.

Once this happens, it will arouse the suspicion of all strata of society, and then dissatisfaction and resistance to the government will appear. So much so that there were internal strife and even bloodshed. To put it mildly, the government has fallen into such a political abyss that it is not an exaggeration to describe it as a matter of hard return. ”

He dared to say this to his face. However, in Wu Tingjiao's view, it is a good thing, and he is afraid that he will not say anything in his heart.

"Is it that serious?"

"It's worse than you think."

Li Weimin took a deep breath and continued: "Look around you, it's all flattery. The staff is full of good news and not bad news. All Mr. Yan heard was praise of the government. Unconsciously detached from the people. As for you, you have left a mysterious impression on the outside world, and the people only know that you hold the power of the country's public security, control the special forces and the huge national youth organization, and are the person who holds the real power behind the scenes, but they do not know what you have done for the country.

Over the years, you have never managed to bridge the gap between you and the Western media, and you have never been willing to change your attitude or attach importance to the people's observation of the government. Never come into contact with a social group that disagrees. He always goes his own way, and is particularly sensitive to criticism from Western public opinion. They do not attach importance to explaining the government's measures through various channels, and do not take the initiative to improve the government's image. ”

Although he never thought he was at fault, in order to repair the relationship between them, Diem still nodded, signaling him to speak freely and spit out as soon as possible.

Without the support of their brothers, there would be no "industrial investment department" today.

People are emotional animals, and Li Weimin really didn't want their family to go to a dead end, so he continued: "Due to the arrogance and unconsciousness of the government, even the high-level members of the national army and some cabinet staff have adopted an attitude of 'respecting and staying away, fearing and not convincing' to Mr. Yan. If there is no compromise, no reform, and no coalition government, the consequences will be unimaginable. ”

Chen Lichun had already been carried away by power, and he couldn't listen to these things at all, but asked eagerly: "For the people, have you received any rumors?" ”

"I don't know what's going on, I just know that allegiance isn't just about paying lip service. As for the diplomatic news, Washington believes that the reports submitted by Ambassador Notting, General Huggins, and CIA Richardson are far less weighty than those written by young journalists who lack experience in Vietnam, and even that the report of the Saigon representative is misleading Washington and is too biased towards President Yan. If nothing else, Ambassador Notting's term is coming to an end. ”

His sister is a regular visitor to the White House, and there is little doubt about the veracity of the news.

Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Ngo Dinh Dieh couldn't help asking, "Do you know who will take over?" ”

"I don't know, but one thing is certain, the United States has provided us with a lot of assistance, but after all these years, they have seen neither a reversal nor any signs of improvement in the outlook, and Washington dignitaries, including President Kennedy, are impatient with the current administration."

Looking at his solemn expression, Li Weimin added: "Mr. Yao, although President Kennedy and Mr. Yan are both Catholics, the same religious beliefs cannot withstand the conflict of interests of realpolitik. ”

Very explicit hint that there is not much time left for them.

Wu Tingjiao was silent for a while, stared at him closely, and said with expectation: "For the people, you can play a role, as long as you support the government and stand on the side of the government, no matter how big the difficulties can be overcome." Stay, stay in Saigon to help the third brother. ”

Li Weimin shook his head: "I'm sorry, the only people who can help Mr. Yan now are you and Mr. Yan yourself." ”

Chen Lichun grabbed his arm and asked, "For the people, do you really want to see death and not save it?" ”

"Sister-in-law, if I were that kind of person, I wouldn't have come today, let alone told you what I just said."

Li Weimin weighed it up, made one last effort, and said with a serious face: "If the two of you trust me, then retreat as advance and mobilize Mr. Yan to rest for a while." Whoever likes to do this president will do it, and when they can't do it anymore and make a mess of the country, the people who don't know the truth will know how good Mr. Yan is.

Mr. Yan has been up and down a few times, and has experienced so many winds and waves, why can't he go down again? I can assure that when the time comes, the industrial investment company and the business community will give full support to Mr. Yan to clean up the situation. ”

The power is in hand, and who will give it up easily.

All efforts proved to be futile, and Ngo did not even think about it, so the meeting was likely to be the last conversation between the two. (To be continued.) )