Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2553 My Closest Old Friend (First Update, Please Subscribe)
Where are they aiming their swords?

That day, after Ye Lingyun finished speaking, the whole world was focused on SEA, because after so many years, everyone knew their personalities well.

"They don't speak without reason!"

Washington, White House. Secretary of State Vance looked at President Carter and said:
"I believe they will definitely take action, targeting a certain country."

Which country could it be?

Carter countered:
"They are planning an offensive in northern Lebanon. Syria has not yet shown any intention of withdrawing its troops. Under these circumstances, a large number of their forces will definitely be tied down there. In which direction will they launch another major offensive?"

When the topic of large-scale fighting came up, Carter frowned. In the past few years, he had followed the retrenchment strategy established during the Nixon era, shrinking the economy worldwide. This had given the United States a breather in its dire financial situation and allowed the economy to recover.

On the other hand, the United States' retrenchment strategy has aroused dissatisfaction among many people, with some even describing him as "the worst president in American history."

Because of his weakness, the American people have never liked cowards; they prefer offense and toughness. But all of this clearly has nothing to do with Carter.

Therefore, the public is very dissatisfied with it.

In contrast, the current SEA is more in line with American tastes.

However, once a strategy is set, it will not be easily changed. In Carter's view, the United States still needs time to recover.

"Could it be Zhenla?"

When Carter made this judgment, Vance stated directly:
"No, that's impossible. If they wanted to interfere, they did it years ago when Chijin occupied Phnom Penh, just like they did in Saigon."

Vance's assessment is essentially a global one.

Because from the perspective of the whole world, SEA intervention was the best option before these two places fell, not now, not a few years later, and their help to the former government forces was only "morally".

Even the Saigon government forces were used as cannon fodder by the SEA in Ethiopia, instead of conserving their strength for a potential counterattack.

Their judgment seems to have some merit.

"The SEA is not the United States. We can see that they never proactively challenge the Soviet Union, but they will never allow the Soviet Union to infringe upon their interests. Over the past few decades, the SEA has always played the role of 'the right hand of the free world'—that is, engaging in limited confrontation with the Soviet Union while safeguarding the interests of the free world. Therefore, most of the time, Moscow has regarded Chang'an as a friend, not an enemy..."

Looking at the international relations expert eloquently speaking on the television screen, Reagan said in a dismissive tone:

"What an idiot! They have no idea that Chang'an is the Soviet Union's most formidable enemy!"

As he made this comment, Michael Deaver, sitting next to him, said with some curiosity:
"Ronald, it seems you have a different opinion of Lee than anyone else. Isn't he your best friend?"

Michael, Reagan’s closest and longest-serving aide, was certainly aware of his relationship with Li Yi’an, which is why he said that.

“I understand him because he is a friend. You know, Li is a different kind of person from most politicians. He has the perseverance of a warrior, the pragmatism of a businessman, and the cunning of a politician. Most importantly, he is a patient guy.”

When Reagan mentioned "patience," he emphasized it, saying:

"Four years ago, during the internal nomination process, I lost to Ford. Lee called me and told me... A person's character is not determined by how they enjoy victory, but by how they endure defeat. Politicians must learn to be patient and wait for the right opportunity. When the time is right, victory will naturally follow."

He paused briefly, then continued:
"Just like now!"

When he said "now," Ronald stood up, went to the window, looked out at the yard, and then said in a calm tone:
“If we look back at four years ago, what can we see? We can see more than just the panic and disarray of our withdrawal from Saigon. We also need to see that at that time, whether in Phnom Penh or Saigon, almost everyone… except for a few officials and military officers, almost all the people, intellectuals, lawyers, doctors, students, officials, and even some businessmen, were not on our side. They all regarded us, and the United States, which had spent hundreds of billions of dollars to protect them for more than a decade, as invaders, and the Saigon authorities as “foreign puppets.” The Hanoi government in the north didn’t even need propaganda; it was enough to just say one sentence: “Overthrow the foreign puppet regime in the south.”

Ronald turned to look at Michael and asked:

"Why is this happening?"

"This is the shortsightedness of the people."

Michael thought for a moment, then added:

"Another reason is that French colonial rule had just ended, so they had a natural aversion to foreigners. Coupled with various problems within the Saigon authorities and the deliberate propaganda of northern spies and nationalists, this is why the people of Saigon developed this idea." "Exactly!"

Ronald nodded seriously and said:

"That was the situation we faced in Vietnam at the time. We were helping them protect their country almost against the opposition of the Saigon people, Michael. Was it possible for us to win a war under such circumstances?"

Faced with this question, Michael frowned and said:
"In other words, Li Yi'an saw this back then, so he kept waiting, waiting for the unification of Hanoi, waiting for Hanoi to suppress and purge the south, and Phnom Penh, and now Phnom Penh... just like it is now..."

Michael looked up, his heart skipped a beat, and he said:
"How...how is this possible? How could he possibly see the future?"

Only those who can see the future can see the present situation, but who can see the future?

"Michael."

Reagan smiled and said:

“You don’t understand Li. He can’t see the future, but he understands history. He understands the Soviet Union even better. Just look at what the Soviet Union did, and you’ll know what will happen to those countries. Then we saw it—those Saigon intellectuals, students, and lawyers who once supported unification were imprisoned in re-education camps, and those half-hearted soldiers were imprisoned. After they completed unification, they put a third of the southerners in prison… As for Phnom Penh, they did it even more decisively.”

When the topic turned to decisiveness, Reagan frowned. After the Hanoi army captured Phnom Penh, in order to justify their offensive, they invited journalists from all over the world into Phnom Penh, into the concentration camps, and freely interviewed the Zhenla people in their controlled areas.

Then, the events that had occurred in Zhenla over the past four years were revealed by journalists. The reports from journalists around the world shocked the entire world, and when the images of the mass graves being excavated appeared on television screens, everyone was stunned.

Humanity never imagined that such a tragedy would occur after World War II.

"In any case, those locals who once opposed Phnom Penh and Saigon have finally tasted the iron fist they longed for. So the question is, what are they thinking now? Will they still stand on the side of the North and, under its propaganda, stand against the government army?"

Ronald's question silenced Michael for a moment. He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then said:

“They must regret the choice they made back then, but Ronald, they’re in prison now.”

"So what?"

Ronald said in a calm tone:
"When the Hanoi army entered Zhenla, what did these invaders receive? They were welcomed by the people who had come out of the concentration camps. Even though Chijin sent everyone into the camp, so what?"

When they suffer military defeat, the people will naturally emerge from prison and side with the liberators.

"Ronald, are you saying—the SEA is very likely to target Saigon?"

Michael's tone carried a hint of anticipation, because his nephew had died there.

"I do not know."

Ronald shook his head and then said:

"However, it can be seen that the opportunity could not be better now. The rule of the North over the South has turned the entire South into a powder keg, with hostility and hatred towards the North everywhere. On the other hand, the elite of the Hanoi army is now in Zhenla, and they are at war with their northern neighbor. You know, for the past ten years or so, it was with the support of that neighbor that they were able to continue the war."

But now, they have completely broken with them. Although they have Moscow's support, since Moscow couldn't hold onto Bangkok or Jakarta, they can't hold onto Hanoi either. What Hanoi faces is…

Suddenly, Reagan frowned, as if he had thought of something, and said:

"No, this is impossible..."

Michael was taken aback at first, then followed suit and said:

“That’s impossible, Ronald. I’ve been to the peninsula, and they would never accept any country occupying Hanoi. If that were to happen, it would very likely trigger a new war.”

External pressure will allow them to rekindle their relationship, Ronald. After all, the whole world is full of realists; they won't accept this.

Reagan nodded slightly and said:
“That’s true. Besides, for Chang’an, Saigon is enough for them. Well, that’s a bit of a distant question. I think we should be more concerned about the present!”

(End of this chapter)