Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 2498 Shut Up

Before World War I, Europeans preferred to immigrate to the United States.

This is a helpless choice. Europeans actually don't like the United States. This can be clearly seen from the attitude of the French towards Americans.

But where can we go without immigrating to the United States? Asia is too far away, Africa is too backward, and America is a new continent full of opportunities. Everyone wants to try their luck.

Until the birth of Southern Africa.

The performance of the Southern African Expeditionary Force in the First World War was so outstanding that Europeans also had a new understanding of the prosperity of Southern Africa. Southern Africa has leapt from a poor country to an immigrant paradise no less than the United States. The emergence of Saint Roque The icing on the cake is to always remind Europeans that there are better options than the United States.

Biers' meaning is also very clear. The United States seems to need a display window similar to that of St. Roch, so that people can better understand the United States.

Eisenhower was so intrigued by the proposal that he cabled Washington to inquire about the possibility.

Washington is busy with elections and has no time to find French enclaves.

De Gaulle was not in the mood to deal with these matters. He was so busy every day. Governing a country like France was much more difficult than Free France.

In Free France, de Gaulle covered the sky with one hand, and all orders would be carried out without compromise. De Gaulle fully enjoyed the happiness brought by power.

After regaining Paris, de Gaulle finally realized what it means to be constrained, which made him want to quit for a while.

"If I can't establish a united and efficient government, I would rather resign than join them in the wrong—" De Gaulle only dared to say this privately to his secretary, Claude Modric. Personal image takes a huge hit.

In France in 1944, the situation was very bad. Compared with 1938, industrial production was only one-third, coal production fell by 50%, grain production fell by half, and prices soared six times compared to last year.

In order to reduce expenses, de Gaulle transferred some Free French troops back to North Africa, but this was not enough. De Gaulle also wanted some members of the resistance army to retire and return home. This decision aroused strong opposition from the resistance army.

When Normandy landed, there were 30 resistance troops in France.

By October, the French Resistance had surpassed 10 men.

There were only 70 defense forces in France before the war. It is conceivable how big the current 70 is. I don’t know how many of them joined the resistance army in a hurry in the past two months. They undoubtedly wanted to sneak into the resistance army to gain benefits. , and those leaders of the resistance army who completely ignored France's financial affordability in order to expand their own strength actually accepted them all.

Everyone knows that within two years, or even next year, France will hold general elections.

At that time, every vote is very important. With the votes of the resistance army and their families, many leaders of the resistance army can at least get into the local parliament.

So at this time, de Gaulle let the resistance army retire, which is tantamount to mobilizing a lot of cakes.

The current situation of the provisional government is not second.

De Gaulle's close comrade-in-arms in North Africa, Renard, has quickly grown into his main opponent.

On the other side is the French Labor Party. Fortunately, the members of the Labor Party are still busy with the liquidation and have not launched a frontal attack on de Gaulle for the time being.

Otherwise, just Pétain and de Gaulle pardoning each other can make a lot of articles.

The liquidation has begun since the recovery of Paris. Many ministers of the Vichy government were found in prisons or country houses, or executed on the spot, or executed after the trial. In short, they could not escape death.

They were lucky. About [-] women who had a special relationship with the Germans during the German Occupation were dragged into the street to parade. Their heads were shaved, their clothes were stripped to their waists, and their bodies were covered in asphalt. Humiliated and beaten by people.

It was even worse for those special workers who had close contact with the Germans. Many of them were beaten to death, and even their family members did not dare to speak for them.

In France now, the most likely scenario is to establish a multi-party coalition government like Italy.

And this is absolutely unacceptable to de Gaulle.

"It's very difficult to unite the French." Claude was more tactful. In fact, it is not difficult, but impossible at all.

"Why do they always fail to understand that only when we are united can we restore a strong France, otherwise we can only become a second-rate country." De Gaulle was heartbroken. For the sake of France's strength, De Gaulle could do anything.

In the past two months, de Gaulle finally realized the feelings of Renault and Petain.

There is no hope for such a country where everyone only cares about their own interests and never thinks of others.

Complaining in private is nothing but complaints. During working hours, de Gaulle still arrived at the parliament building on time, ready to start today's work.

When he walked into the parliament building, de Gaulle was in a slightly irritable mood.

In the past two months, the parliament has been like a vegetable market. Every day, as soon as the meeting is held, there will be quarrels. Sometimes it is just for the sake of opposition, but no one cares about the real work.

Winter has come, and it has begun to snow in northern France. This winter is colder than usual, and millions of homeless French people can only live in tents. This winter will be very difficult for them.

Members of the parliament, at least they will not be hungry, and there is a warm stove at night.

The guards on duty salute de Gaulle, they are the most loyal group to de Gaulle.

De Gaulle's return gesture was a little perfunctory, and Claude reported in a low voice beside De Gaulle: "——Today, Your Excellency the Prime Minister will submit his package plan. I just received the news that Mr. Prime Minister won a loan of [-] million rand from Southern Africa. This billion rand will be used for subsidies for poor families, as well as for buying food from southern Africa, cotton clothes and so on.”

De Gaulle was expressionless. Leonard's relationship with southern Africa was obviously better than his own. Who made Leonard have a sister who was the finance minister in southern Africa.

"Mr. Felix came back from Russia, and he also brought back a large amount of food and supplies, many of which were aided by southern Africa and the United States to Russia—" Claude continued to report.

De Gaulle took a deep breath, both of them have backgrounds.

"Mr. Pidur went to Marseille and will not attend today's meeting. The leader of the Resistance Army has a meeting in Marseille these days." Claude's news is very well-informed.

Like the recent political situation in Paris, the atmosphere in the parliament building is a bit tense, everyone is hurrying, and there is little communication with each other.

When he came to the door of the parliament hall, de Gaulle took a deep breath, straightened his collar, and raised his hand to open the door.

The huge noise was mixed with the pungent smell of tobacco and the faint smell of alcohol.

Nima, it’s fine to smoke in the parliament hall, who brought the wine to the parliament hall?Would you like to order two dishes for you?

"Disarmament, disarmament, the war is not over yet, disband all the troops, do you rely on you fat man to protect Paris?"

"If you don't disarm, you don't need the Germans. Our finances will be eaten up by our army. Where were you when I was fighting the Germans in North Africa? Are you in a woman's crotch?"

The two councilors at the door were arguing fiercely, and obscenities poured out, but no one paid attention to them, because other people were also arguing.

Leonard did not quarrel, and sat on the seat closest to the podium with his eyes closed.

Felix Guin was whispering to several acquaintances. The bearskin coat on his body was eye-catching. It seemed that he had gained a lot in Russia.

When de Gaulle walked into the venue, the noise finally subsided, and several people were applauding. They all supported de Gaulle and were affectionately called "de Gaullists" by the newspapers.

"Gentlemen, please be quiet—" Vincent Auriol, the chairman of the Constituent Assembly who presided over the meeting, maintained order, but few people paid attention to him after the hammer was broken.

De Gaulle came to sit opposite Leonard.

Leonard took out the pocket watch on his chest to check the time, and got up slowly.

The quarrel suddenly became much quieter.

Then it got smaller and smaller, and the venue finally returned to silence.

"Thank you for your support, honorable representatives—" Vincent Auriol showed his humor at the right time.

Vincent Auriol was a famous politician, worked as a lawyer, and ran a newspaper. He was elected as a member of Parliament in 1914 and served as Minister of State in the Provisional Government.

Vincent Auriol was known for his ability to mediate contradictions, and he had good relations with the Gaullists, the Resistance, and the Comintern.

As soon as the meeting came up, it got down to business. Leonard submitted his package for discussion in Parliament, and the part about disarmament was of particular interest.

Not long ago, Leonard had just topped up the retirement pension for the veterans of World War I, and gained a lot of prestige. Now Leonard actually attacked the army again. Some people attributed Leonard's behavior to a contradiction in personality.

"We now have 50 troops, and 70 militias. In addition, we have millions of government employees, national gendarmerie, and staff who need financial support. These expenditures overwhelm us. We have to spend our limited funds. Go to the place where it is most needed to make the most of it—" Leonard's report was interrupted by doubts from the side as soon as it started.

"The army is retired, who will protect France?"

"This is a good question. I'm only talking about retiring some soldiers, not all of them. We don't need a defense force of millions. It turns out that if there are 10 people, it will be enough to guard the border." Leonard was beaten Don't get angry when it's broken, just explain patiently.

"Is 10 men enough to fill the Maginot Line?"

Doubts continued.

"When the war is over and peace comes, do we still need the Maginot Line?" Reynard countered.

"Even if there are no Germans, there are still Russians!"

Some lawmakers reminded Leonard to face up to the threat of Russia.

"Russia was never our threat, we burned Moscow, the Russians didn't burn Paris—"

There is no need for Leonard to explain this time, and several Labor MPs jumped out to fight back.

Labor MPs can just sit back and watch the Free French fight the Resistance, don't make a fuss about Russia, it's more exciting for them than killing their parents.

"So you think the Russians won't take revenge?"

"Gentlemen, please be quiet—" Vincent Auriol tried to maintain order.

Still no one paid him any attention.

Leonard's report was not yet finished.

Looking at the noisy scene in front of them, several congressmen have already started to take off their clothes and roll up their sleeves and gear up.

"Shut the fuck up!" Leonard yelled furiously.

The venue was suddenly silent.

Members can ignore Vincent Auriol, but they can't help Leonard.

Renard is not only the prime minister of the interim government, but also the richest man in France.

There will be no consequences for offending Vincent Auriol.

Offending Leonard, the consequences are extremely serious.

Last month, a member of parliament who publicly criticized Renard's pre-war transfer of property in parliament was hacked to death on the lawn in front of his house with an axe.

The investigation by the Paris police concluded that it was a robbery.

This conclusion is not convincing.

But soon the Paris police caught the murderer, and the murderer also admitted the fact of robbery and murder.

But this has sounded the alarm for members of Congress.

Leonard doesn't know how many such dead soldiers are in his hands.

"For two whole months, we have been meeting every day, but we haven't resolved even one thing—" Leonard was very disappointed, pointing to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, with a pitiful expression: "—there are countless hungry people waiting for our help , they have no dinner, no warm house, not even a word of comfort, our country and cities have lost a lot, 80.00% of houses in Cherbourg were destroyed, Caen was razed, we have about five thousand The town is badly damaged, and many people will die of starvation and cold this winter—”

Leonard wanted to expel all these insensitive congressmen.

It's a pity that he can't do it, even if another group of people come, it's almost the same.

"I agree with the Prime Minister's suggestion that our most important task now is disaster relief so that all French people can survive this winter safely." De Gaulle finally spoke.

With both the president and the prime minister saying that, the tone is set.

At the end of the meeting, De Gaulle and Leonard walked out of the parliament hall side by side.

For a moment, de Gaulle really felt like returning to Algiers.

"Thank you for your righteous words." Leonard expressed his gratitude to de Gaulle, who did not expect that de Gaulle would be so supportive.

Switching to Leonard, it would be nice not to fan the flames.

"You're welcome, we are all for France." De Gaulle was indeed angry at Renard's betrayal, but he would not bring personal grievances to work.

"I hope you don't mind—" Leonard frowned, and paused every word: "—your character is too tough. During the war, France needs a tough leader. In peacetime, what France needs is balance. , compensation, and even temporary concessions.”

Compared with de Gaulle, Leonard is a qualified politician, and de Gaulle still needs to learn.

"You are wrong, Lei. What France needs is independence and freedom. Independence without any influence, and freedom within the rules. Balance, compensation, and concessions will only bring mediocrity, and France has never been a mediocre country." De Gaulle is not inexperienced, he is just not suitable for France now.

(End of this chapter)