Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1585: Warning from an Old Friend (First Update, Please Subscribe)
If Li Yian heard the complaints of the military attachés at the US Mission, he would definitely say that there are still talented people in the United States.

It was only ten years in advance that we could see that Da Piaoliang would fail!

In fact, not only professional soldiers saw it, but even old friends saw it.

"Either don't fight, or go all out! We can't win the war by taking the path of limited war and gradual escalation as we are now."

The person who spoke was none other than Li Yian's oldest friend, Harry Truman. Truman, who was already 79 years old, had come all the way across the Pacific Ocean to attend the 20th anniversary celebration of the founding of Chang'an.

Although Truman had left office long ago, he had always been an old friend of Li Yian. However, this old friend was not living a very happy life.

After serving two terms as president, although he led the United States to its peak, Truman was unable to continue his reelection, so he began his retirement. However, after Truman, his life became impoverished.

The reason for this is mainly related to his background. Truman came from a poor family. When he was young, he dropped out of junior high school because his family could not afford the tuition. Later, he failed in many business ventures and owed a lot of debts. Although he later became a state legislator and president, he still had no surplus due to high expenses and the need to pay off old debts.

In order to pay off his debts after retirement, Truman not only sold his land, but also had to live with his father-in-law, which was really embarrassing. He only received a government pension of 120 yuan a month, which was not enough to support himself and his wife, so he had to borrow money from others.

In fact, this is normal. Truman should be grateful to Roosevelt. If he hadn't established the pension system, he wouldn't even get the $120. You know, there is an extremely disgraceful statistic in the United States. Among dozens of presidents, no less than 10 died in poverty, such as President Monroe, President Taylor, President Pierce, President Grant, etc., all of whom were so poor that they had to beg for food.

It was not until a few years later that the media revealed Truman's difficult life. People were shocked to see that the president who led the country to victory in World War II was still living a hard life. So Eisenhower signed the "Former Presidents Act" to give old presidents a "dignity".

This is simply a savior for former presidents. It specifies in detail the treatment and treatment standards of former U.S. presidents and stipulates a number of rights. The first is the pension, which is 2 U.S. dollars per year. This is really a lot of money.

As a result, Truman received his pension, his living standard improved greatly, and he was able to enjoy his old age.

In fact, Li Yian never forgot his old friend. When Truman was in financial difficulty, he personally asked someone to send him 5000 US dollars to help him through the difficult times. Later, he sent him 10000 US dollars every year.

This was a private loan, which did not need to be repaid. And every year he would send all kinds of gifts, everything that old friends had, he also had, and things that old friends did not have, he also had.

Truman was naturally grateful for this. After all, it was a timely help at that time.

Because of this, they have always maintained an extremely close relationship.

"Indeed."

Li Yian nodded and said:
"Harry, we have all been through war, and we all know what we must do to win."

Truman nodded in agreement.

"Yes, but you know. The experience of the last Peninsula War has made everyone so restrained. How can we possibly go all out?"

Then, he said:
"Is this the reason why you don't want to get involved? It was like this last time, and it's the same this time. Because you know we can't go all out."

“Who can go all out under nuclear weapons conditions?”

Although he did not answer Truman's question, Li Yian's answer explained many of his doubts.

"Yes, this is the helplessness of modern warfare. Under the conditions of nuclear war, all countries must consider this issue when going to war - whether it will trigger a major war."

Truman said as he and Li Yian were walking in the garden, looking at the beautiful garden in front.

"Faced with such beautiful scenery, who would have the heart to destroy it all? So, peace, peace is the best."

Then he continued in a serious tone.

“The reason why we went all out back then was so that we could enjoy peace.”

"Yes, Harry, that's why this generation is called the Greatest Generation, because they created the longest peace in the world."

Li Yian looked at his old friend beside him with a sincere gaze. Over the years, he no longer had the initial utilitarianism towards him, and only the purest friendship remained.

“And all of this was created by you!”

No matter how you evaluate Truman, Churchill and Steel, it was these giants of World War II who built the world order. And the longest period of peace in human history in the future was also built on this world order.

"I hope so. If possible, I hope that war will never break out in this world, but..."

Truman sighed helplessly, then looked into the distance and said.

"This is just a fantasy. After all, war is always inevitable,"

After a pause, Truman said:
"Li, you have to be prepared. Although I know that you yearn for peace in your heart, war is always inevitable in many cases, whether you are willing to face it or not.

Although many people think that you are constantly instigating war, I know very well that deep down in your heart you reject war."

When Truman said this, he looked at his old friend and thought of how a newspaper described him when he was in the United States: "A man who can stop all kinds of scoundrels."

Although he is a gangster to a certain extent, a gangster can let other gangsters know what a real gangster is.

"The reason why you choose to be tough in many cases is essentially that you want to use this toughness to avoid war and want to stop the outbreak of war in the most cost-effective way.

But can the war really be prevented?"

Listening to Truman's judgment, Li Yian couldn't help but fall into silence.

Although the future he understood told him that there would be no war in the world for at least the next fifty or sixty years, but with so many changes in the future, who could guarantee that war would not break out?

"Harry, you know I've been preparing."

The two of them walked and chatted, of course, most of the time, they were not talking about world affairs, but reminiscing about the past, sometimes laughing, sometimes sighing.

For example, feeling sad about Churchill's death and the departure of old friends.

"Haha, Churchill was a guy who was strongly against some things at that time..."

The reason why Churchill was mentioned is because he just passed away in January this year. Thinking of the deceased Churchill, Li Yian also felt a little emotional in his heart.

However, compared to the other world, when Churchill died in this world, he should have been quite relieved, at least he did not witness the complete collapse of the empire.

When Churchill died, the British Empire he saw was still struggling tenaciously, still trying its best to save its yesterday's glory. Perhaps he died with a sense of relief.

"...I never thought that so many years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Looking at the old man beside him, Li Yian also felt emotional. Two of the three giants of World War II have passed away, and in a few years, this old friend beside him will also pass away.

But the postwar order they created will continue.

But how long can this order last?
That day, Li Yian and Truman talked for a long time, ranging from history to the future, from the relationship between the two countries to the world situation.

This is how they chatted. Although he had been retired for many years, Truman could still give Li Yian some advice on international affairs.

That day, Li Yian did not fall asleep peacefully until late at night. Instead, he was thinking about something.
"Perhaps, when the post-war order is destroyed, war will inevitably break out."

Thinking of the uncertainty of the future, Li Yian couldn't help but sigh.

This is common sense.

Every war will establish a world order. This world order is the fundamental premise for maintaining peace. When this order is destroyed, war will inevitably break out.

Just as the rise of Prussian Germany destroyed the Vienna pattern in Europe, the First World War was inevitable.

And when Germany tried to get rid of the humiliation brought by the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations became a decoration, a new round of war once again broke out in Europe and Asia.

This is the inevitability of history.

Every time, when the world order established by the war is destroyed, a new round of war is brewing.

So, when was the world order established by World War II destroyed?
"Was it marked by the collapse of the Soviet Union? Or..."

Li Yian frowned, thinking about the future he knew. In that future world, the post-war order seemed to have been in effect, and it seemed that the shadow of the war did not cover that world.

After all, in the age of nuclear weapons, any major war is impossible to break out. After all, compared with traditional wars, nuclear wars will really wipe out those who start wars from the root.

It is also for this reason that all politicians around the world appear extremely hesitant when facing war. After all, no one is willing to die with others.

"How could war break out under these circumstances?"

As Li Yian talked to himself, there was still a trace of uncertainty in his mind.
Because he knew very well in his heart that just before he came to this era, the post-war order had been seriously damaged to a certain extent, and the beginning of this destruction was marked by the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union, one of the creators of the post-war order, has collapsed, so the world order it helped to create has naturally suffered some damage.

This is also one of the fundamental reasons why the United Nations became increasingly empty talk. When the organization can no longer play a real role, how long can the post-war order last?
"It seems that, just as Harry said, some things are always unavoidable."

After sighing like this, Li Yian once again looked through the report in front of him.

This is a report on the military budget!

(End of this chapter)