The French Expeditionary Force was largely withdrawn, and there were no military advisers left to train the Nationalist Army.

The purge of the Viet Minh elements has been victorious one victory after another. The Geneva Accords came into force, and after the retreat of the Viet Minh elements in South Vietnam, there were approximately 35,000 members of the Workers' Party in the Quang Nam-Da Nang area. According to the latest intelligence analysis, there are now less than 100 left, all party branches have been destroyed, and many of the county's labor party organizations have disappeared.

Ngo Dinh Diem believes that if he persists for another two years, he will no longer have to worry about domestic security.

Lansdale was proud of what he had achieved during this time, and Ngo Dinh Dieh's suppression of the opposition and the "little misunderstanding" of arresting people everywhere were nothing compared to it, and he became a frequent visitor to the Independence Palace, almost every day.

"According to reliable information, there are 9 branches in Meidi, 7 in Zhoucheng, 2 in Jibei, no more than 200 Vietminh elements in provinces and counties, and no more than 30 peasant associations organized by Vietminh."

He got his wish to gain the trust and friendship of Ngo Dinh Diem, and became "his own person" like Li Weimin.

As soon as he came, he teased Chen Lishui, often attended the dinner of the Wu family, and discussed the situation and formulated policies at the dinner table with Ng Dinh Yen and Ng Dinh Yao. I just don't know Vietnamese or French, so I always have to bring a translator.

It is not known how many people were executed, nor how many were arrested, only that all prisons were overcrowded.

You have to take care of the food when you are locked up, and you need money to take care of the food.

Wu Tingyan didn't want to feed the political prisoners in vain, so he raised his head and asked: "Tingyan, does the infrastructure construction of the industrial village need people?" ”

Of course, Wu Tingjiao knew what he wanted to say, and said casually: "I asked Chen Shiguo and Liu Jiachang, and all the projects have been contracted. The investor's project is not suitable for criminals. ”

Criminals are sent to work in industrial villages, although they do not have to pay a salary. But it will rob ordinary workers of their jobs.

The industrial village plan is meant to solve the problem of employment. Wu Tingyan did not mention it again. Thinking of Li Weimin, whom he hadn't seen for more than half a year, Lansdale asked curiously: "Mr. President, what is Li doing now, and when does he plan to come back?" ”

"There should be in the newspaper, where is he?"

Although Li Weimin is not in Saigon, his influence is still there, and newspapers and radio stations have news about him in three days.

Chen Lichun was most concerned and blurted out: "In London." I went there the day before a week and stayed at the embassy, and my uncle (Ngo Dinh Lien, ambassador to the United Kingdom) was busy with his business. ”

The year before last, going abroad was "crying poor", last year going abroad was mainly to attract investment, and this year going abroad was to gamble.

Financial speculation has put all the money on the industrial investment company and his personal net worth, and even Ngo Dinh Ngai has tried every means to help him raise more than 5 million US dollars in foreign exchange, which is the top secret of the industrial investment company and even the government, and no more than 20 people in Saigon know about this matter. Of course, Ngo Dinh Diem will not tell the truth.

Chen Lichun was also kept in the dark, got up and found a copy of the "Saigon Daily" and said, "The afternoon before yesterday." British bankers, entrepreneurs, and investors were invited to hold economic and technological cooperation exchange meetings, the day before yesterday they held the Vietnam Commodity Fair, and yesterday they were invited to give a speech at Cambridge University. ”

Lansdale had no choice but to accept the magical young man, shrugged his shoulders and smiled bitterly: "Musicians, you are welcome everywhere." ”

Just as the British welcome it now does not mean that it will welcome it in the future. Because he had bad intentions and went for the pound.

But then again, he wouldn't be so stupid as to let the British know what he was doing, and even if he left any clues, it wouldn't be involved with him personally, let alone the Vietnamese government.

Desperate, Wu Tingyan really sweated for him, and at the same time looked forward to it.

If he succeeds, the industrial investment company will not have to worry about not having the money to repay the maturing bonds, and the several industrial villages that are being planned will be developed a year ahead of schedule, and there will be funds to invest in the military industry to produce and manufacture weapons and equipment that are urgently needed, and more people will be able to work in the industrial villages.

There are so many benefits that it's worth betting.

Returning to China to become prime minister, forcing Nguyen Van Thanh away, and eradicating the warlords of the Binh Trum faction were all gambling, and even their lives were gambled.

Others say that Li Weimin is an "independent kingdom" and a "new warlord". What are you kidding, if you can't even trust the people, then who in this world can trust?

For those slanders, Diem laughed at them.

After he finished his last bite of food, he suddenly asked, "Colonel, have you ever paid attention to the situation in Egypt?" ”

"Egypt?"

"The Middle East, there seems to be a lot of tension there."

Lansdale was stunned for a moment, and said with a puzzled expression: "Nasser ran for president, and it seems that he was elected with an absolute majority of 99% in the referendum and reached the pinnacle of power. ”

"He's a nationalist."

"There's no doubt about it."

As soon as he finished speaking, a secretary who was specially concerned about the situation in Egypt walked in quickly, opened the document and reported: "Mr. President, Mr. Yao, Egyptian President Nasser delivered a speech to the people at Tahrir Square in Alexandria to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the 'July Revolution', officially announcing the Order of the President of the Republic on the Nationalization of the Suez Canal Company, ordering the resumption of the Suez Canal and the construction of a dam by collecting navigation fees. ”

How could Lansdale not know what that meant, put down his knife and fork and muttered, "Oh my God, he's declaring war!" ”

Egypt nationalized the canal, and Britain and France were hit hardest.

Britain, in particular, not only has a stake in the Canal Company, but also imports more than half of its oil through the Suez Canal, while Britain's oil reserves last only a few weeks.

Won for the people!

Wu Tingyan suppressed the excitement in his heart and said quietly: "Paris should be very lively now. ”

"Yes."

The secretary gloated: "France urgently convened a national assembly, and some radical parliamentarians demanded that the government adopt a tough policy towards Egypt. He even took a 10-minute break in protest to demand military action against Egypt and asked if the government was brave in words but actually conceded defeat. The press reacted more violently, asking why the government did not enter Egypt.

When the news reached London, British Prime Minister Eden urgently held a press conference to declare that Britain was determined to defend its interests in the region by force alone if necessary. Judging by the message sent back by the embassy in the UK. He enjoyed the general support of opposition parties and public opinion. ”

Everything is going in the expected direction.

Fight or not. Britain is unlikely to get as much cheap oil from the Middle East as it did before, at least paying high canal navigation fees.

Oil prices directly affect the British economy, and the economic situation determines the exchange rate of the pound against the US dollar. ”

At the same time, Li Weimin was sitting in the garden of the Embassy of the Republic of Vietnam in the United Kingdom, drinking afternoon tea with Ambassador to Britain Ngo Dinh Linh.

The speculative action of the pound cannot be concealed from others, and it cannot be concealed from Ngo Dinh Lian. Not only because of its status, but also because of the fact that many of the previous preparations required the help of the embassy.

Wu Tinglian was not as optimistic as his brother, and said worriedly: "For the people, if you see a good thing, you can accept it." The United States is a big variable, and we can earn less or even nothing, but we must not lose, let alone lose. ”

The United States is indeed a variable, but it will only change in favor of the "industrial investment system".

Li Weimin picked up a quick snack and said with a firm smile: "Mr. Lian, the United States is both happy and worried about the nationalization of the Suez Canal Company. The good thing is that there is finally a good opportunity to fish in troubled waters and replace Britain and France; The worry is if it is dragged into the war. would jeopardize its oil interests in the Middle East, and Nasser's order to unilaterally nationalize it. The Panama Canal may be affected. ”

"What position will the United States take?"

"Based on this mentality, the U.S. government may issue a statement that it will not cooperate with Britain and France in terms of economic sanctions and the payment of canal navigation fees."

After eating his snacks, Li Weimin continued: "More importantly, Eisenhower is facing a general election, and he is now thinking about how to sing about peace and be re-elected, unwilling to be dragged into the war by Britain and France, and if nothing else, he will take the position of not having a stalemate with Britain and France, but also avoiding getting involved in a military conflict." ”

"You really should be a diplomat like me."

"It's not my analysis, it's the conclusion of a senior political analyst in Washington."

"So fast?"

When Nasser was elected, people expected this day, and such political commentary was everywhere in Washington. It's all for my own benefit, so I don't care about it in normal times. ”

He is not a person who is keen on politics, and looking at his funny appearance, Wu Dinh Lian couldn't help but laugh.

Ngo Dinh Diem disguised his excitement by going to work, Lee Waim and Ngo Dinh Lian celebrated with afternoon tea, the headquarters of the Bank of East Asia and the Bank of Saigon and the Detroit office of the Industrial Investment Corporation had exploded, and the traders, financial experts and economic analysts involved in the speculative operation cheered as if the pound would depreciate sharply tomorrow.

The beachfront resort purchased by the Bank of East Asia in Vung Tau is now the headquarters of the Industrial Investment Company.

Liu Jiachang was not so excited, but breathed a sigh of relief. The same is true of Chen Shiguo and Wu Andong, who got together to analyze the economic situation.

"Since Nasser unilaterally announced the nationalization of the canal, crude oil has risen by $0.54 per barrel, and the Ministry of Finance has just calculated that our industrial investment company alone has made a profit of more than $6 million through oil futures, and with further tensions in the Middle East, the benefits will be even more.

But we are big oil users ourselves, and our monthly oil needs are equivalent to half of the imported oil. If the situation in the Middle East is not reversed within a year, and even directly affects the No. 1 and No. 2 refineries of the Chemical Industry Company, which will be put into operation at the end of next year, it can only be said that a little loss has been avoided, and it will not be considered profitable. ”

Chen Shiguo was more optimistic than him, lit a cigarette and said with a smile: "Mr. Liu, oil prices are not only rising for us, but also for the impact, mainly affecting investment in infrastructure, and other aspects will rise and fall, and they will be counted into the cost of products in the future." ”

"yes, and we've avoided so many losses."

Liu Jiachang was really scared, and sighed and said: "Two, if you knew this, you should have reminded the chairman to do more oil futures at that time, and you should not put heavy bets on the pound." ”

"The chairman may have the chairman's considerations."

Li Weimin does have his considerations, because he only remembers that after the outbreak of the second Middle East war, the United States will sell the pound, which will directly lead to a 15% depreciation of the pound, and he only knows that oil will rise, but he doesn't know how much.

It's better to make money with certainty than money with confidence, so spend the main money on speculating on the pound.

It is worth mentioning that the capital of the industrial investment company is a small head, and all the capital of the Bank of East Asia owned by him and the funds that he tried to save afterwards are the big head. If history does not change dramatically, in two months, personal assets will exceed $100 million! (To be continued.) )