Father of France

Chapter 142 Donating to Become a Student
"France has Total, and it was the first country in the world to establish oil reserves." Eva Gardner has been in France for some time and knows that France is by no means a weak country in the oil sector. She doesn't understand why they would choose to go to such lengths instead of focusing on oil.

“Total is a 35% government-owned company, and it has virtually no experience in marine exploration,” Admiral Dragon replied. “The United States has accumulated a wealth of experience in exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, which Total does not possess.”

The United States began marine exploration in the Gulf of Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century, and the Gulf Coast era coincided with the rise of the United States to become the world's leading economic power. In terms of energy content per unit mass and volume, oil is approximately twice that of coal.

Given that liquefied petroleum is easier to extract and transport than solid coal, its energy efficiency is higher.

From coastal areas to shallow waters, the United States has extensive experience in offshore oil extraction, a technology that other countries lack.

In Saigon, Coman received a telegram from Eva Gardner that she was willing to give him a try. Relieved, he began to attend to his own affairs. While he was reporting to the Governor's Palace, two officials arrived in Saigon. These officials were sent by the current left-wing government and were still discussing the issue of reclaiming North Vietnam.

Unlike Dassanio, the Director of the Asia and Oceania Department, Baudet, and the diplomats appointed as the French Ambassador to China, Béchiguez, advocated for further dialogue with Chang Gong in exchange for his support in the French takeover of northern Vietnam.

After the Eastern superpower established a presence in northern Vietnam, Bode suggested that France should cooperate with China to promote the development of Franco-Chinese relations.

He believes that cooperation has three benefits: first, it can help French troops return to northern Vietnam; second, it can resolve the conflict between the two countries caused by Japan's entry into Vietnam during World War II; and third, it can help France rebuild its influence in the Far East.

Based on these understandings, Bode proposed that France should offer new conditions to the Permanente in order to sign the agreement as soon as possible.

Specifically, France could make further compromises on the treatment of overseas Chinese, while upholding its rights regarding compensation for losses, particularly the handling of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway.

The two men believed that if France insisted on forcibly taking over northern Vietnam by military means, then French troops were very likely to clash with the Nationalist troops stationed there.

Even if Chiang Kai-shek chose to retreat, the French army would encounter armed resistance from the Vietnamese, thus becoming embroiled in a bloody war that would consume vast resources, something that would not be tolerated by public opinion in France or internationally.

France needs to sow discord between China and Vietnam and prevent Vietnam from completely siding with Chang Chuan. France can make appropriate concessions on the handling of the Yunnan-Vietnam railway and the issue of compensation for losses.

When Corman came to submit the documents for the establishment of the French Indochina Forestry Authority, several officials were still communicating about the new government's change of attitude. He waited on the side, knowing that given the speed at which French governments changed, their attitudes would change as well. He figured that nothing could be accomplished by talking about it now, so he might as well focus on his own business.

In terms of Chiang Kai-shek's basic operations, he wouldn't hold a grudge against France. As soon as the civil war started, the troops in French Indochina would naturally withdraw.

After the officials finished their discussions, Koeman took out the documents from the French Indochina Forestry Authority to report, "Because the urban construction in the overseas departments is very urgent, we can consider pushing forward the logging immediately. The Chinese clans on the embankment have already responded, and I will have a dialogue with them tomorrow."

Koeman was preparing to engage in a very old practice of selling official positions. Currently, the highest-ranking Chinese official in French Indochina was Chen Zhongjin, the Education Commissioner. As the Education Commissioner, he was one of the highest-ranking Chinese officials in the entire French Indochina education administration system.

Being able to enter the core decision-making and execution levels of the colonial government as a local meant their status far exceeded that of ordinary bureaucrats.

However, there were no Chinese holding senior ministerial positions in French Indochina. Coman submitted a plan to Dachanliu for the establishment of the French Indochina Forestry Administration, which would be directly subordinate to the military.

“This department will directly liaise with urban construction projects in overseas provinces,” Koman explained as he showed the plan to Dashan. “In the short term, this will be a permanent department, expected to exist for more than two years.”

Koeman felt his calculations were correct. In the two years that had passed, the fighting on Chiang Kai-shek's side should have been intense, leaving him no time to affect the Chinese in French Indochina. France didn't need to worry about infiltration; the safety level was very high.

Seeing that Dassant was somewhat interested, Coman added fuel to the fire, saying, "There will be some economic ties, and there will also be support from the overseas provincial troops stationed in French Indochina."

“We still need to control the Chinese community.” After thinking for a while, Dassanio seemed to have considered the change in the attitude of the left-wing government and finally agreed, “Then let’s talk to the Chinese on the embankment. If they do a good job and can contribute to France, it wouldn’t be bad if one of them became a high-ranking official.”

With the approval of the highest official, the matter is half successful. Now it depends on the Chinese leaders on the embankment—who can negotiate effectively and who is more patriotic. "Sir, is everything settled?" Lefèvre asked hurriedly when he saw Coman reappear. Mainland France would give some timber quotas to overseas departments, but it certainly wouldn't be much and wouldn't last long.

"It's settled. I don't want to pay the money, but I want the timber. I can only try to figure out a way to improve my position."

Koman waved the official document from the Governor's Office, which had reached a definitive conclusion, and said, "However, the value of the Chinese lies in the size of the group itself. Our biggest problem is our control over Africa, while our immigrants in North Africa do not have a population advantage."

Koeman still wanted to relocate the Chinese to disrupt the population dominance of the Algerian Arabs, rather than for a small timber shortage.

Shortly after Vietnam's reunification, it began to purge compradors and capitalists and carry out socialist transformation.

You can leave, but you have to pay the government a few gold bars and then find your own way to leave by fishing boat.

With all their property confiscated, where could they find gold bars? Many could only write to relatives and friends abroad for help, believing that only by paying gold and silver to the government could they escape death. Countless people perished at sea.

This certainly requires action, but there's no rush. Right now, Koeman is just making some minor adjustments within the framework. When it's time for practical implementation, he certainly won't hold back.

Major Thierry quickly helped Corman convene representatives from the five major clan associations on the Embankment, and these Chinese clan representatives gave a warm response.

The next day, Coman went to the embankment and visited the largest local restaurant that Gu Qing had previously visited. He had to do as the Romans do; don't Chinese people like to eat and chat at the same time?
Representatives of Chinese gangs from the embankment also flocked in, including many prominent Chinese leaders such as descendants of the Guo and Li families.

Gu Qing's restaurant was packed with people on the entire floor. Koman rarely saw such a lively scene. For a moment, he even had the illusion that he was getting married.

Fortunately, their skin was still somewhat useful. The Chinese, far from home, had to bow down to the corrupt police on the embankment, and they treated the regular French soldiers with great respect. Although there were many people, they were very quiet.

“Since you’re already here, I won’t hide my purpose. The army is currently facing a timber shortage and needs a dedicated department to manage it. This presents an opportunity for the Chinese.” Koman didn’t need to cultivate relationships with the Chinese; he believed that mutual benefit was far more reliable than personal connections.

Then, Coman changed the subject and said that the French Indochinese government was in financial difficulty and that this department might need the Chinese to contribute their initiative. In fact, the French Indochinese government did not want to spend the money and wanted to use the labor and wealth of the Chinese to do French things.

Koeman's intention to achieve a win-win situation was so obvious that the Chinese people present looked at each other with a question mark in their minds: was the Frenchman in front of them blackmailing them?

However, Koeman quickly dispelled the doubts of the representatives of various clans and gangs, stating that the department was of a very high level and would enhance the influence of the Chinese community in terms of social status. Currently, there was no Chinese official at the ministerial level in French Indochina, not even the school administrator Chen Zhongjin. However, the officials in the new department were indeed ministerial-level officials, which was a historic breakthrough for the Chinese community on the embankment.

At this point, many clan and gang representatives understood. They had heard of this practice before. It was just about buying an official position. Such things were not uncommon in this great Eastern country. The most common practice was to buy a "student of the Imperial Academy" qualification.

With this qualification, one is no longer a commoner, can wear Confucian scholar's clothing, does not have to kneel before officials, and is qualified to participate in the provincial examination to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination).

Alternatively, one could purchase an honorary title higher than their current position, such as a candidate for Daotai, to enjoy the corresponding rank and privileges, but without actual power.

Even under Chiang Kai-shek's rule, such things were common, and the number of honorary major generals and other such titles among the artillery party was not small.

"Sir, what does the government want us to do?" With this greeting, the atmosphere suddenly became unprecedentedly enthusiastic. The wealthy but powerless Chinese had long been trapped here, to the point that even corrupt police officers could boss them around. When Koman threw out a ministerial-level position, it directly stirred the hearts of the Chinese community on the embankment.

"I have high expectations for you. Perhaps we can help each other out, provided that you can get things done for me." Coman didn't think there was anything wrong with donating official positions, a common practice at the end of dynasties. Whether French Indochina could survive for ten years depended on luck. Why would he care about giving away two official positions?

(End of this chapter)