Chapter 1180 Our Agent (Third update, please subscribe)
The bright sunshine bathes Chang'an.
The Daming Palace, located in the northwest of the city, is like a paradise. The majestic palace is hidden among the green trees, and the lush grass stretches into the distance like a carpet, ending with the blue sea and sky.
In terms of scenery, Li Yian's study is definitely first-rate. Perhaps this is why he likes to stand at the window and stare out the window and think about problems.
However, now he is sitting in a chair, and his chair is a high-backed swivel chair produced by a factory, the kind of chair that senior directors of Nanyang enterprises might sit on. Because "Olympia" is the best office chair - as he insists on repeatedly emphasizing in promotional advertisements,
"Olympia" is a typewriter brand that originated from Germany. It is the most famous typewriter company in Southeast Asia, but its products are not limited to typewriters. Ten years ago, it launched its first office chair. Reclining headrest, lifting seat and pulleys, simple and solid shape, bright colors.
This chair with wheels and a pneumatic lift rod was welcomed by the American and European office markets as soon as it was launched. Of course, its air pressure rod is not only filled with nitrogen, but also has a protective steel plate underneath. The reason for being so cautious is that it is worried that it will become an "explosion chair."
Yes, this epoch-making chair was designed by Li Yian. Although Li Yian's requirements for clothing, food and other material comforts have always been simple and popular. But that doesn't stop him from doing what he can to make himself more comfortable.
This chair, nicknamed the "Boss Chair", is one of them.
Now, he was leaning on the back of the chair, with his legs supported by the leg rests, half-lying, looking through the documents in his hands, while Cheng Pengan and Berlin were sitting opposite.
"On June 30 this year, Congo officially became independent. Less than a week after independence, Congo was in chaos. The trouble was caused by the Congolese army. This team directly inherited Congo's colonial army composed of African soldiers. The officers of this army were all It didn't matter that they were Belgians and the soldiers were Africans, but it changed after independence.
Suddenly, those clerks and even salesmen in the past became politicians. The ministers and congressmen of the new government drive luxury cars and spend money lavishly. In the army, Africans still have no chance of promotion because according to the agreement with the Belgian government before independence, the army is still composed of Belgian officers. The highest ranking among the people was only the sergeant major.
This inequality led to a mutiny in the army. Although the rioting soldiers were quickly dispersed, the soldiers who left the military camp ran to the city of Leopoldville. They attacked Europeans. The riots spread and everyone in Europe was in danger. Later, President Lumumba announced the complete Africanization of the army, dismissed all Belgian officers in the Congolese army, and replaced all officer positions with Congolese. . ”
It is indeed very African. In fact, when Belgium decided to grant Congo independence, the Belgians were worried that they would not be able to safeguard the country, and they even gave special advice. But what was the result?
Those African young people in their twenties and thirties felt that you looked down on Africans, so as soon as they came to power, they immediately governed the country according to their own way.
Li Yian looked at the report and raised his lips slightly, thinking - this is Africa!
They entered the civilized world so quickly that they didn’t even know how to survive in the civilized world!
“But Lumumba’s emergency measures did not work. In fact, the army replaced all its officers at once, causing the army to completely lose its command, and causing the Lumumba government to completely lose its solution. Violent means of crisis.
And local riots continued to expand, and Europeans continued to be abused, beaten, raped, and raped. Europeans fled in large numbers, leaving all levels of government that were originally controlled by Europeans. The entire new Congolese government, with only a few people around Lumumba remaining, was completely unable to function. The Belgian government tried to persuade Lumumba to allow Belgian troops stationed in Congo to intervene to restore order, but Lumumba refused. .
However, the Belgian government still ordered the army to take action under the pretext of protecting Belgian citizens, taking control of key facilities such as the airport in Leopoldville, and organizing the evacuation of Belgian expatriates. This action was interpreted by Lumumba. Because the Belgian government wanted to overthrow the new Congolese government, it immediately announced a severance of diplomatic relations with Belgium and declared a state of war with it. ”
This is the ability of Africans to govern - less than two weeks after independence, Congo fell into crisis: the national security mechanism collapsed; the army was almost disbanded, becoming the source of chaos; a large number of white people left management positions, paralyzing national management; Katanga Split; the original suzerain Belgian government was busy overthrowing Lumumba.
“With the support of the Belgian government and mining companies, Katanga’s regional leader Tshombe declared Katanga’s independence on the pretext of chaos. However, Belgium still held out hope for Congo’s unification and did not immediately recognize Katanga. The main purpose of the Belgian side should be to safeguard their huge commercial interests in Katanga Province and protect the investment of Western countries in this major mining province. Katanga has the largest mineral resources in Congo, which is already important at this time. The origin of copper, gold and uranium. The Belgian government also hopes to support Tshombe and hopes that Tshombe can establish a unified government in Leopoldville.
At first, this crisis attracted the attention of various countries. Lumumba asked the United Nations for help, but because of India's invasion of the princely states, the attention of all countries is currently on India, and almost no one pays attention to the Congo. "
It seems a bit weird!
Almost subconsciously, Li Yian smelled a hint of conspiracy. In another world, the "Congo Crisis" was very famous. It was famous not only because the United Nations organized the "United Nations Army" to directly participate in it. Another reason for the attack on Katanga was that the United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld went to Congo to mediate a ceasefire, and the plane he and his entourage were on crashed near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia. He died at the same time as 15 accompanying and crew members.
Investigations into Dag Hammarskjöld's death were still ongoing into the twenty-first century, and the results of the investigation showed that the crash may have been caused by an external attack or threat. There were also witnesses who witnessed Hammarskjöld's plane being shot at.
Get rid of the Secretary-General of the United Nations directly... This is too much punishment!
I have to say that people today are still very barbaric. On the surface, everyone seems civilized, but when it comes to interests, it is not normal to be ruthless.
At this point, Nanyang must learn from them. After all, good experience must be learned. To a certain extent, Li Yi'an prefers this era because everyone is so honest, unlike decades later when everyone becomes so hypocritical.
Now, the whole world is paying attention to India, but what about Congo?
It was too coincidental that it was ignored intentionally or unintentionally, but that's okay. Since no one is paying attention there, opportunities have come for Nanyang.
After finishing the report, Li Yian asked. "So, the current supporter of Tshombe is Belgium?"
Cheng Peng'an replied:
"Yes. Belgium sent troops to invade under the pretext of protecting expatriates, and Together with the mining companies, they instigated the establishment of the separatist republic of Katanga and the independent mining state of Kasai South. Katanga province has more than half of Congo’s proven mineral resources and its location is very important.”
"Indeed, the mineral resources there are indeed very important. Uranium mines, copper mines and other minerals are very important."
Under the action of air conditioning, the room seemed very warm and the chairs were very comfortable. He smiled and lost himself in the memories.
But what he recalled was not the past but the future, the future of another world. What would the future Congo look like?
Although with the help of UN forces, Tshombe was defeated and Congo's unity was preserved.
But what next?
Within a few years, Mobutu seized power, renamed Congo Zaire and implemented "Zaireization." A Western reporter once described it this way: "Mobutu, like most African presidents, is The man who rules his country as half god, half chief combines 21st century communications technology with ancient tribal symbols.”
However, this does not prevent Mobutu from carrying out what he calls. of construction. I don’t know exactly how he built the country, but in the process, he killed many people, and in the end he liked to mention the "good name" of the "Three Tyrants of Africa".
Hmm! When he was overthrown and exiled overseas, he took away tens of billions of dollars, leaving behind an extremely poor Congo - in the 1990s, the national income was less than 30% of what it was before independence!
Although he aspires to be a good friend of the "tyrant", Li Yian has no favorable impression at all of this tyrant who once "nationalized" tens of billions of dollars of foreign investment into his own pocket.
After all, the tyrant he needs is one who can maintain order and is willing to be Nanyang’s agent to ensure the safety of Nanyang’s local investments. A tyrant like Mobutu is obviously not in Nanyang’s interests, like It is impossible for such a person to bring benefits to Nanyang. Moreover, he is supported by the United States.
"It is very important for us. Now the whole world has basically been divided up. The Americans and the Soviets not only control the world, but also have large tracts of resources locally."
Sit up straight, Li Yian Said:
"As you know, Nanyang is not a big country, at least not a resource-rich country. Our economy and national life require a lot of resources. Now, in the world, there is only one place where Provide these resources - that is, Africa, and now the United States and the Soviet Union are joining forces to crush the British and French colonies in Africa. This is our opportunity! Of course, this is a tricky task, and it is a little late, but through us in East Africa. Judging from the agricultural investment in the region, it is a start. After all, this proves that we are right to do this."
When he said the word "after all", in the spacious study room, Li Yian said. Waving his hands to emphasize his tone.
“Moreover, this also proves that Africa is a place full of opportunities and opportunities, so this time, for us, it is an opportunity! An opportunity to get more returns in Africa. Through support They then control those countries.”
After his words fell, Berlin, who had been smoking a cigarette silently, said:
"Your Excellency, we do not necessarily support their people, Tshombe... is their people, if we want to control Those countries must ensure that they are ours!"
As he spoke, Berlin put the cigarette butt in his hand firmly into the ashtray and continued:
" Use our own people!”
“Our own people?”
After glancing at Berlin, Li Yian asked.
“Is there a suitable candidate?”
Indeed, using one’s own talents is the most reassuring thing, but the only question is, is there a suitable candidate?
After all, there are not many preparations in Nanyang in the Congo.
Berlin replied:
"The candidates...we have prepared some before."
(End of this chapter)