Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1180 Our Agent (rd 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 lush green trees, and the green grass stretches into the distance like a carpet, with the blue sea and sky at the end.

In terms of scenery, Li Yian's study is absolutely first-rate. Perhaps this is why he likes to stand by the window and gaze out of it while thinking about problems.

But now he was sitting in a chair, a high-back swivel chair from a factory, the kind that senior directors of Nanyang Enterprises might sit in. Because the Olympia was the best office chair—as he insisted on repeating in his advertising.

Olympia is a typewriter brand that originated in 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, which has a reclining headrest, a liftable seat and wheels, a simple and solid shape, and bright colors.

This chair with wheels and gas pressure lifting rod has been welcomed by the American and European office markets since its launch. Of course, its gas pressure rod is not only filled with nitrogen, but also has a protective steel plate underneath. The reason for such caution is that it is worried that it will become an "anal explosion chair".

Yes, this epoch-making chair was designed by Li Yian. Although Li Yian's requirements for clothing, food and other material enjoyment have always been simple and popular, it does not prevent him from making himself more comfortable within his ability.

This chair, jokingly called the "boss chair", is one of them.

Now, he was leaning against the back of the chair, half lying down with his legs supported by the leg pads, flipping through the documents in his hands, while Cheng Pengan and Berlin were sitting opposite him.

"On June 6 this year, Congo officially gained independence, but within a week of independence, chaos broke out in Congo. The troublemakers were the Congolese army, which was a direct successor to Congo's colonial army, which was composed of African soldiers. The officers of this army were all Belgians, and the soldiers were Africans. This was not a big deal, but it was different after independence.

Suddenly, those former clerks and even salesmen became politicians, ministers and parliamentarians of the new government, drove luxury cars and spent money lavishly. In the army, however, Africans still had no chance of promotion. Because according to the agreement with the Belgian government before independence, the army was still staffed by Belgians, and the highest position among Congolese was only a sergeant major.

This inequality led to a mutiny in the army. Although the rioting soldiers were quickly dispersed, the soldiers who left the barracks ran to the city of Leopoldville to attack Europeans. The riots spread, and Europeans were in danger. Subsequently, President Lumumba announced that the army would be completely Africanized, expelling all Belgian officers in the Congolese army and replacing 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 maintain the country and even made special warnings, but what was the result?
Those African youths in their twenties and thirties felt that you were looking down on Africans, so once they came to power, they immediately began to govern the country according to their own way.

Li Yian smiled slightly as he looked at the report, thinking - this is Africa!
They entered the civilized world too quickly, so quickly that they don’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, leaving the army without a commander and the Lumumba government without any violent means to resolve the crisis.

The local riots continued to expand, and Europeans continued to be abused, beaten, raped, and raped. The large-scale exodus of Europeans left the government departments at all levels originally controlled by Europeans in a state of no management. The entire new Congolese government, with only a few people around Lumumba left, was completely unable to function. The Belgian government tried to persuade Lumumba to allow the Belgian army stationed in Congo to intervene to restore order, but was rejected by Lumumba.

However, the Belgian government still ordered the army to take action, under the pretext of protecting Belgian citizens, to control the airport and other key facilities in Leopoldville and organize the evacuation of Belgian expatriates. This action was interpreted by Lumumba as the Belgian government's intention to overthrow the new Congolese government. He immediately announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Belgium and declared a state of war with it.

This is the governing ability of Africans - 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 state management; Katanga was divided; and the former colonial master, the Belgian government, was busy overthrowing Lumumba.

"With the support of the Belgian government and mining companies, Katanga's regional leader Tshombe declared Katanga independent on the pretext of chaos. However, Belgium still held out hope for the unification of the Congo and did not immediately recognize the Katangan regime. The main purpose of the Belgian side should be to maintain their huge commercial interests in Katanga Province and protect the investment of Western countries in this major mining province. Katanga has the most mineral resources in Congo and is now an important source 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 all countries, and Lumumba asked the United Nations for help, but because India invaded the state, the attention of all countries is now on India, and almost no one is paying attention to Congo. "

It seems a bit weird!

Almost subconsciously, Li Yian smelled a hint of conspiracy. In another world, the "Congo Crisis" was very famous. The reason why it was famous was not only because the United Nations organized the "United Nations Army" to directly participate in the attack on Katanga, but also because the plane that UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold and his entourage took to Congo to mediate a ceasefire crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia. He and 15 entourage and crew members died at the same time.

The investigation into Dag Hammarskjöld's death is still ongoing in the 21st century, and the results of the investigation indicate that the crash may have been caused by an external attack or threat. There are also witnesses who saw Hammarskjöld's plane being shot at.

Directly getting rid of the UN Secretary-General... this is too cruel!

I have to say that people nowadays are still very barbaric. They seem civilized on the surface, but when it comes to interests, it is normal for them to be ruthless.

Nanyang must learn from them on this point. After all, good experiences should be learned. To a certain extent, Li Yian likes this era more because everyone is so honest, unlike decades later when everyone becomes so hypocritical.

Now, the world is paying attention to India, but what about Congo?

Being ignored intentionally or unintentionally, this matter is too coincidental, but it is also good. Since no one is paying attention to that place, the opportunity has come for Nanyang.

After closing the report, Li Yian asked, "So, Tshombe's current supporter is Belgium?"

Cheng Pengan replied:

"Yes. Belgium sent troops to invade under the pretext of protecting its expatriates, and together with mining companies, it instigated the establishment of the separatist regime of the Republic of Katanga and the independent mining state of South Kasai. Katanga Province has more than half of the proven mineral resources in Congo, and its location is very important."

"Indeed, the mineral resources there are very important. Uranium, copper and other minerals are all very important."

The room was warm with air conditioning, and the chairs were very comfortable. He smiled as he reminisced.

But what he recalled was not the past but the future, the future of another world. What would the future Congo look like?

Although Tshombe was defeated with the help of UN forces, the unity of Congo was maintained.

But then?
A few years later, Mobutu seized power, renamed Congo Zaire and implemented "Zaireization". A Western journalist once described it this way: "Like most African presidents, Mobutu ruled his country as half god and half chief, combining 21st century communication technology with ancient tribal symbols."

However, this did not prevent Mobutu from carrying out his so-called construction. No one knows how he built the country, but in the process, he killed many people and finally earned the "honorary name" of "the three tyrants of Africa".

Well! When he was overthrown and exiled, he took away tens of billions of dollars, leaving behind an extremely poor Congo. In the 30s, Congo's national income was less than % of that before independence!

Although he aspires to be a good friend of the "tyrant", Li Yian does not have the slightest good impression of this tyrant who once "nationalized" hundreds of billions of dollars of foreign investment into his own pocket.

After all, the tyrant he needed was one who could maintain order and was willing to act as an agent of Nanyang to ensure the safety of Nanyang's local investments. A tyrant like Mobutu was obviously not in the interests of Nanyang, and such a person could not bring benefits to Nanyang. Moreover, he was supported by the United States.

"It is very important to us. Now the whole world has basically been divided up. The Americans and the Soviets not only control the world, but also have large resources in their own countries."

Sitting up straight, Li Yian said:

"As you know, Nanyang is not a big country, at least not a resource-rich country. Our economy and the lives of our people require a lot of resources. Now, in the world, there is only one place that can provide these resources - Africa. Now the United States and the Soviet Union are joining forces to smash the colonies of Britain and France in Africa. This is our opportunity! Of course, this is a difficult task. And it's a little late now, but judging from our agricultural investment in East Africa, it's a start. After all, it proves that we are right to do so."

When saying the word "after all", in the spacious study, Li Yian waved his hands to emphasize his tone.

"Moreover, this also proves that Africa is a place full of opportunities and chances. So, this time, it is an opportunity for us! An opportunity to get more returns in Africa. By supporting them, we can then take control of those countries."

After he finished speaking, Berlin, who had been smoking silently, said:
"Sir, we don't necessarily support their people. Chongbo... is their man. If we want to control those countries, we must make sure that they are our people!"

As he spoke, Berlin slammed the cigarette butt in the ashtray and extinguished it, then said:

"Let's use our own people!"

"One of our own?"

After looking at Berlin, Li Yian asked back.

"Is there a suitable candidate?"

Indeed, using one's own talents is the most reassuring, but the only problem is whether there are suitable candidates.

After all, the Nanyang people in Congo are not well prepared.

Berlin replied:
"We have already prepared some candidates."

(End of this chapter)