Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 344 The Emperor's Disciple
June 5, 1965, Saigon.

The morning air was muggy, and the yard had just been watered.

The drizzle washed away the dust from the palm leaves, making their vibrant green stand out even more.

The gates of the Presidential Palace opened earlier than usual.

When Li Mingxuan rushed to the corridor, his secretary was already waiting by the window.

"Your Excellency has arrived," he said.

The curtains of the huge conference room were half-drawn.

Nguyen Van Thieu sat in the main seat, with a brand-new national emblem hanging on the wall behind him.

A telegram forwarded by the US embassy was spread out on the long table.

—The Senate Armed Services Committee's technical research team will arrive at Johor Bahru Airport on the morning of the 7th.

Li Mingxuan stood to the side and then reported softly:

"Your Excellency, the time has been set."

Nguyen Van Thieu raised an eyelid slightly: "Who's in charge of reception?"

"The Information Department and the Ministry of National Defense are working together. The guard of honor is also ready."

"Where's the venue?"

“The east wing of the Presidential Palace, plus the temporary tents on the side of the garden.”

Americans are afraid of the heat.

Nguyen Van Thieu paused for a moment, then tapped his fingertips lightly on the telegram.

"What are the backgrounds of these people?" he finally asked.

“They’re from Congress,” Li Mingxuan answered quickly.

"Senate Armed Services Committee."

"The chairman's name is Richard Russell, and he is an old friend of the president."

Nguyen Van Thieu immediately frowned.

"Advisors? Aren't they soldiers?"

“No.” Li Mingxuan paused.

"But they can decide whether U.S. troops stay or leave, and they can also control aid budgets."

"Because they represent the will of Richard Russell."

Upon hearing this, Nguyen Van Thieu frowned even more deeply:
"Can the president's 'friends' influence the war?"

“In their country, even the president has to listen to these people,” Li Mingxuan said.

"Does Your Excellency still remember the system of the French advisory group from back then?"

"The colonel must wait for a telegram from the Parisian civil servant before issuing the order."

"The Americans did the same, but it was the senators who signed it."

This time, Nguyen Van Thieu nodded, but his expression didn't relax much.

"Those are close advisors and protégés of the emperor."

Li Mingxuan smiled and spoke gently.

"Yes, Your Excellency. They are very particular about hierarchy."

"The order in which someone signs and who seconds it matters."

"In name, everyone is equal, but in reality, everyone is divided into superior and inferior."

"It sounds like the methods of a civil official," Nguyen Van Thieu commented thoughtfully.

"In 1953, in Hue, the French army wanted to transfer an artillery company to Quang Tri."

"The result was waiting for the official approval with the seal, which took a full three days."

Seeing that he was beginning to understand the concept, Li Mingxuan quickly added:
"Yes, Your Excellency. Americans and French are about the same in this respect."

"The only difference is that the seal has been replaced with a document."

"They call this a necessary procedure called Democrassi."

Nguyen Van Thieu chuckled: "That sounds even more troublesome."

“It is indeed troublesome,” Li Mingxuan echoed.

"But they believe that trouble can prevent chaos."

"So, if you want them to spend money, you have to show them order."

"what do you mean?"

"I believe we should take this rare opportunity to demonstrate the government's resolve, capability, and discipline in combating the threat of terrorism."

"The most direct way is to invite them to witness Chen Tinghe's execution."

“Good idea,” Nguyen Van Thieu said.

"If you want them to believe you, you have to give them enough evidence."

As he said this, his gaze returned to the telegram.

“But why bring this up now? These people will arrive the day after tomorrow.” Li Mingxuan sensed the dissatisfaction in Ruan Wenshao’s tone and swallowed.

"Your Excellency." He lowered his posture even further.

“We originally planned to send the invitations in advance, but the US side has been hesitant.”

"The military and intelligence agencies have differing opinions."

"The Foreign Affairs Office hopes to wait until they reach a consensus on their own before issuing a unified statement."

“Fan Wenxiong is personally following up on the situation, and he is basically responsible for conveying information about the embassy.”

"I will report to you immediately once there is any progress."

Seven kilometers north of the Independence Palace is the headquarters of the U.S. Military Assistance to Vietnam Command.

"They wanted to invite our delegation to observe the execution."

"That's what CIA Station Chief Tom Sever said."

The brigadier general representing Westmoreland shrugged, his tone nonchalant:
"Then let them go."

"What's the reason?" the political counselor asked.

“To demonstrate order,” the brigadier general explained succinctly.

"The Senate needs to see the military's control."

"Photos are more persuasive than documents."

"Control?" The CIA station chief gave a sarcastic smirk.

"Hanging a tortured cadre—that's what you call control?"

The brigadier stared at him calmly:
“We’re not moral judges, Tom.”

"If hanging hundreds of Vietnamese people can win the support of the National Assembly and the President, then let them hang hundreds of Vietnamese people."

As soon as he finished speaking, the CIA station chief took a deep breath.

“Listen, this isn’t about moral condemnation, it’s about macro strategy.”

"If the news gets back to the north, our informants will be exposed."

"At that time, we will lose our local intelligence sources."

"No one can afford such consequences."

After he finished speaking, the political counselor quickly followed up and added:
"The embassy's position remains cautious."

"If you are going, do not bring the media, and do not take any photos or videos."

"Otherwise, once leaked, the diplomatic trouble would be difficult to manage."

"Open violence will inevitably damage the United States' image in Asia, Africa and Latin America."

"Moscow will take this as evidence that we are 'condoning the law'."

The brigadier remained unmoved by the combined rebuttal from the two men.

"Without visuals, we have no persuasive power."

"Congress needs compelling visuals, not dry reports."

The CIA station chief, barely suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, advised again:
“I understand that you want short-term political results.”

"But our concerns are equally important."

"Without intelligence support, the operations of the Northern Theater Command will be severely hampered."

As soon as he finished speaking, the political counselor stood up and took two steps forward.

"Similarly, in diplomacy, a damaged image is usually very difficult to repair."

“We cannot treat ‘execution’ as some kind of one-off transaction.”

The brigadier was getting a headache from the days of continuous arguments.

So he simply looked up at the ceiling, trying to avoid seeing it.

“You care about long-term development.”

"What the military cares about is the current life-or-death situation."

"Without Russell's words, how are we supposed to explain this to you, damn it?"

"We need a quick, overwhelming victory to avoid being trapped and killed in this rainforest."

"Without the support of hundreds of thousands of people, it would all be nonsense."

"Remember, this is not just my opinion."

"This is General Westmoreland's judgment, and it is the consensus of the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

The CIA station chief's face grew increasingly grim.

He opened his mouth to try to refute, but the brigadier general did not give him another chance to speak.

"The delegation will go to observe the execution."

The man made the final decision.

“If you have any concerns, write them down in a memo and send it to Langley.”

"But this is the military's final decision, whether you agree or not."
-
The author has completely let loose.
(End of this chapter)