Diem's ​​life in a widower is not as mysterious as the legend, nor so monotonous and boring.

He is actually quite humorous and occasionally makes a joke or two; he likes to read, not only reading religious books, but also philosophy and classics, including the works of Marx and Engels.

He loves photography and has good skills.

In his spare time, he always carried his only luxury camera, asked Li Weimin to go out for a walk together, and then took photos for him. When he returned to the apartment, he washed himself with the potion. When he saw the photos appearing in the potion, he couldn't help but smile, as if he had done something very, very amazing.

As the situation in Vietnam continued to deteriorate, he went to Baoda Manor more and more times and received more letters.

From morning to night, I often work until late to reply to telegrams or letters from the United States and Saigon, and I don’t even care about eating. Life is unregular, my addiction to smoking is getting bigger and bigger, and I almost never leave my hands. I eat harder and tasteless, so that the taste becomes heavier and heavier, and I need to add more salt to the food, so that Li Weimin dares not use a knife and fork.

He was not good at English, so Li Weimin certainly could not watch him refer to the English-French dictionary, read or reply to letters from the United States word by word, and unknowingly became his translation and assistant.

"In the last few days of the battle, the weather in the rainy season was extremely harsh, with dark clouds pressing down on the top and heavy rain pouring down. The situation became increasingly serious, but the French Air Force continued to airdrop materials. On May 5, a total of 196 tons were airdropped. As the French positions continued to shrink and became smaller, a large amount of materials fell into the hands of the Vietnam League, they quickly put on French military uniforms or American steel helmets to launch a new round of attack on the French army."

French media reports on the situation in Dien Bien Phu are not very objective. In order to understand the situation more objectively, friends from the American Catholic Church send an air mail bag every day, all of which are newspapers with Indo-Schiatric News and Washington's political trends, sometimes as many as dozens of them.

Li Weimin took the initiative to be the translator and whispered in a low voice in his arms, holding the newspaper, "On May 6, the French army was forced to give up the positions of the Gate and Clodina strongholds inch by inch. The fierce hand-to-hand combat between the two sides was like returning to the barbaric era. One Vietnamese soldier fell down, and the other Vietnamese soldier rushed up with the fanaticism of his death. The French army was exhausted from ammunition and food, and the defense circle was shrinking and smaller.

On the morning of May 7, another group of Vietnamese soldiers attacked, and the last stronghold finally collapsed. On the afternoon of that day, the French defense line of Dien Bien Phu began to collapse, and only some isolated positions were fighting sporadically. In order to avoid another meaningless bloody night of battle, French commander Castry announced the cessation of the battle at 5:3 pm..."

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which lasted for several months, ended with the annihilation of the French army. The Elysee Palace (the official residence of the French president) lowered half of the flag, causing the biggest sensation since the Korean War ceasefire in the Western world.

The French army was defeated, and any Vietnamese would be excited about it. However, the strength exposed by the Vietnam League is also worrying.

Diem lit another cigarette and said expressionlessly: "Is there any?"

"have."

Li Weimin took out another newspaper and sat down and said, "There is news that the victory achieved by the Vietnam League is inseparable from China's support. They have a huge military advisory group in North Vietnam. They sent technical troops to guide and even participated in the Dien Bien Phu artillery battle, which played a decisive role in the entire battle."

"Things to be expected."

Wu Diem nodded slightly, stared at the wall clock on the wall and stopped saying a word.

He is waiting for news, waiting for news from American friends, and his American friends Cardinal Francis Sbelman and Professor Wesley Fisher are also waiting for news from Senator Mansfield, who is making his last efforts in the White House.

The French army was defeated in Dien Bishop, and Bishop Sberman gloated. In his opinion, the value of Vietnamese friends in Washington would increase.

However, the previous efforts did not work significantly, the bureaucrats and the military did not have a high evaluation of Ng Diem, and there were too many variables. I was really unsure of it. Time passed by minute by minute, and I gradually became a little anxious.

He prayed secretly, then suddenly looked up and asked, "Professor, has Mr. Yan reached a consensus with Emperor Bao?"

Professor Fisher shook his head: "My bishop, our common friend cannot tolerate military command still remaining in the hands of the low-spirited French, and that Majesty seems reluctant to give up military command, even though he has never really owned it."

Bishop Sbermann and Wu Diem's ​​second brother Wu Tingchu are classmates in the seminary school and have a certain political influence in the United States. They are Wu Diem's ​​most powerful supporter.

He cursed the abdicated emperor who was greedy for power and was about to say something when Senator Mansfield pushed open the door and walked in.

The two of them hurriedly stood up, and the senator waved his hand and smiled excitedly: "Master Bishop, Professor, although there is a certain gap between what we expected, we must admit that our previous efforts were not in vain and we finally won a good result."

Bishop Sberman asked ecstatically: "Did Mr. President agree?"

"Agree, it is worth mentioning that Mr. Secretary of State played a big role."

“Do you have any different opinions?”

“Not only has, but also very many, with very great resistance.”

The senator threw his coat onto the chair and introduced vividly: "The ambassador to France provided a report claiming that Mr. Yuyan was a 'yoga-like mysticist', and that he was in charge of the regime was ridiculous; the State Council's agency in Saigon had contacted Mr. Yan before taking office, and his evaluation was despised, claiming that Mr. Yan's only strategy was to ask the United States to provide various assistance, and his only emotion was to blindly hate the French, believing that Mr. Yan could not cope with the extremely difficult and dangerous situation in Vietnam."

If someone supports it, someone will object. Professor Fisher was not surprised, but asked: "What else?"

"Charles Wilson (Secretary of Defense) asserted that the situation in Vietnam was hopeless and that the United States should not get involved;

He submitted a military intelligence, believing that the Vietnamese army was depressed, the Saigon military and political affairs were in chaos, and the faction was endless. In this case, no one could establish a strong and stable government, believing that the Vietnam League would sooner or later control the entire Vietnam.

"Then what?"

The senator smiled and said happily: "The Secretary of State did not refute these views, but said that the Soviet Union believed that they represent the future direction of the world and they enthusiastically promoted this concept. In Southeast Asia, we must find a leader on our side who must recognize our free lifestyle and who recognizes our lifestyle to represent the trend of the future, and he must be as strong as the leader of the Vietnam League."

The bishop was happy and couldn't help but smile: "There is no doubt that they can't find a more suitable candidate than Mr. Yan."

"So Mr. President finally had the conditions to adopt our proposal, and he believed that resistance to the expansion of the Soviet bloc must rely on native nationalist leaders, because the nationalist movement in Indochina was emerging and European colonialism was declining. He believed that all anti-Vietnam forces in Vietnam should be urged to cooperate fully with Mr. Yan in order to effectively fight against the Viet Union and build a strong and free Vietnam."

“Are there any conditions?”

"It was the French's condition to be precise. They knew very well what Mr. Yan's return to Saigon to lead the new government means to France. With the mediation of Mr. Secretary of State, they verbally agreed to support Mr. Yan, but this support is experimental. If Mr. Yan does not work within a 'reasonable time', another replacement will be chosen."

Obviously, some real power players in the State Department, the Pentagon and Capitol Hill probably hold the same view. In any case, it is already very good to have this result.

The House of Representatives is full of people who don’t show off their own eagles. If Diem wants to truly gain support, he has to do something by himself.

It was 8 a.m. the next day, Senator Mansfield tactfully reposted Eisenhower's oral message in a telegram. On the one hand, he promised to provide assistance, and on the other hand, he said that the aid from the United States depends on the reform of Ng Diem and win the will of the people.

Wu Diem was a little disappointed. He was silent for a while after holding the telegram before laughing relaxedly: "It's better to have it than not. For the people, I think we should go back."

"That's great, I'm waiting for this day!"

History has not changed because of its heavy work. Li Weimin has never been so happy as he is now. He held his hand tightly and suggested: "Mr. Yan, you are going to see the head of state. Maybe he still has a lot to discuss. You will definitely not be able to leave in the next few days. Otherwise, I will go first and go back first to prepare."

Although the United States expressed support, its attitude was not clear, let alone resolute.

At this time, it is necessary to have someone who is familiar with Vietnam and the United States, and go back to Saigon first to deal with American diplomats. After all, county officials are not as good as current management. Whether they can truly obtain support and obtain the various assistance needed to stabilize the situation is very important.

Saigon is so chaotic that a person who likes to do business and make a lot of money not only provides help again and again, but is even willing to go back and run for him.

Ng Dien-meng was obviously moved, patted his hand, and said sincerely and sincerely: "For the people, no matter how others think, in my mind you are a Vietnamese."

Vietnamese can do business and be friends with overseas Chinese, but they rarely treat overseas Chinese as their own people. How could Li Weimin not hear what he meant? He couldn't help but make a face: "Mr. Yan, then when you go back, you will have someone change my passport."

Rich overseas Chinese bribe French people and apply for French passports; ordinary overseas Chinese go through the relationship between Taiwan officials in Saigon and apply for a passport of the Republic of China; poor overseas Chinese would rather be a black household than apply for a Vietnamese passport.

Li Weimin seemed to be joking, but in fact he was expressing his determination to share hardships with him and advance and retreat together.

Wu Diem was very moved and said tacitly in a choked voice: "As long as you want, as long as your father has no objection."

…………………………………
Chapter completed!