freenovelworld #288 - Smoothly control the country (2 in 1 order)
#288 - Smoothly control the country (2 in 1 order)
The game played a cutscene.
Upon seeing the request for aid, Charles de Gaulle, far away in France, frowned.
He sighed:
"Although that scoundrel Tombalbaye's death would be no great loss, one must consider the owner when beating a dog. Chad is French territory, and if we ignore this, what will England and America think of us?
How else can we establish authority in front of other nations?
After all, Africa has been France's backyard since ancient times!"
Seeing Tombalbaye barely clinging to life, De Gaulle devised a plan.
He called Tombalbaye:
"I will first send an advance force of 1,500 French troops to the Chadian capital.
I'll guarantee for now that you, you incompetent fool, won't collapse, so I can give some account to my other adopted sons in Africa.
After the French troops were stationed in the capital, Tombalbaye finally felt relieved.
However!
Within a few days, the situation changed because another hero from Tongliao entered the scene.
The game popped up a notification:
[The player 'Gaddafi' of 'Libya' has used a strong claim in the world sandbox, claiming ownership of the Aouzou Strip in northern Chad].
The game continued with background information:
"The Aouzou Strip is a narrow strip of land 1,100 kilometers long and 110,000 square kilometers in area on the border between Libya and Chad.
After World War I, Italy, as a victorious nation, did not receive any substantial benefits.
To appease Italy, France offered a piece of land in northern Chad to Libya.
However, in 1935, Mussolini was promoting 'Mohist thought' within Italy, dallying with a failed art student, so France never handed it over.
After the war, Colonel Gaddafi always coveted this land, his heart itching for it.
Besides Colonel Gaddafi's penchant for stirring up trouble, there was another important reason—uranium deposits were discovered in this wasteland!"
...
Seeing the Libyan army on the northern border poised to move, about to tear Chad to pieces.
The magician was shocked and asked in the livestream: "What to do?"
The chat suggested: "What else can you do but continue to have the president go to Paris for reinforcements? Although Colonel Gaddafi is a bit abstract in his actions, his army is not a joke."
The magician: "Didn't we just get 1,500 reinforcements?"
Chat audience: "Don't be shy, what's face worth? Just lick it. You and the president don't want the capital to be captured and yourselves strung up by the people, right?"
So, the magician pleaded with President Tombalbaye to go to Paris again.
"You have to save your child, Father!!!!!!!"
In the French presidential office, Tombalbaye hugged De Gaulle's leg, weeping bitterly.
The chat was amused by this scene:
"Hahaha, this President Tombalbaye knows how to lick."
"A small country must learn to recognize its daddy to survive in the cracks."
"It's the same between countries as it is between people. Now, when you go to a new unit, who doesn't find a backer to join a faction first? Once you misjudge and join the wrong faction, it's all over."
De Gaulle kicked Tombalbaye away with a look of disgust:
"Hey, enough, don't wipe your snot on my pants!"
The change in the situation made De Gaulle determined to send troops north to suppress the Chad National Liberation Front.
After giving Tombalbaye a reassurance, De Gaulle said earnestly to this rebellious son:
"I'm helping you, but you should also reflect on yourself, give the people a way to live, don't exploit them so harshly.
Even an old ox in the field needs to be fed some grass and allowed to rest. Can you do something human?
Otherwise, press down the gourd and another floats up, this will never end."
Tombalbaye wiped his snot: "Father, don't worry, I'll reduce taxes when I get back, lowering the tax base from 80% to 79.99999%"
He looked heartbroken, as if he had cut off a large piece of his heart.
De Gaulle: "..."
This rebellious son is beyond saving.
...
Under De Gaulle's orders, the French army went directly north to continue the operation. After several months of action, the northern rebels were defeated and retreated.
Gaddafi's army, due to French intervention, also lingered in place, watching secretly.
The magician complained in the livestream:
"This won't do. I have to encourage Tombalbaye to court death, or when will I be able to gain control of the country?"
So, he said to Tombalbaye in the governor's mansion:
"Mr. President, Chad shouldn't always be dependent on others! Those measures you promised De Gaulle to reduce the burden on the people are completely unnecessary."
Because the VR device's microphone has voice recording function, which can affect the outcome of the conversation, the streamer tried to make his tone sincere.
Tombalbaye was stunned: "Mr. Deputy, weren't you the one who told me to ask De Gaulle for help?"
"That was then, this is now."
The magician stood outside the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the vast African continent, the sunlight shining on his bald head like a halogen egg.
"Mr. President, you are handsome and full of vigor, while De Gaulle is old and weak. Compared with the real powers, his France is not worth mentioning.
Why should Mr. President be so humble to De Gaulle?
His France was outflanked by the German army during World War II, bypassing the Maginot Line, and Paris was directly taken without resistance or defense.
Where was De Gaulle then? Wasn't he hiding in England, watching Churchill's face?
So, at best, he's just a French White Banner. (derogatory term for traitor)
Compared with him, Mr. President is a true hero. How can such a great man be content to be subordinate to others?"
Being praised by the magician, Tombalbaye also felt a little carried away.
"Only after Mr. Deputy said so did I understand. Fortunately, I met you, otherwise I would have almost ruined my great cause!"
After the rebellion was quelled, those measures to ease the conflict that Tombalbaye had promised De Gaulle were all abandoned by him.
He even began to levy taxes more severely. On top of the original 200-plus taxes, Tombalbaye, on the magician's advice, added a new tax: the existence tax.
The so-called existence tax is based on a very philosophical saying: "Existence is everything, everything for existence."
This tax is even harsher than the poll tax. This tax stipulates that as long as a person has existed in a physical and philosophical sense, then he has an obligation to pay taxes to the Chadian governor's mansion!
Even if the taxpayer has died and is no longer in this world, this tax will still be attached to him, because he has existed in this world after all.
But after all, dead people can't pay taxes, so the tax burden will be transferred to all the children and descendants.
Some families with many elders already have more than a dozen existence taxes of deceased elders attached to their children.
That is to say, theoretically, as long as a family continues, the existence tax inherited by the children will increase.
The chat was shocked: "Good heavens, is this stacking debuffs?!"
Seeing that the operational information panel showed that the people were seething with resentment and the people's loyalty was continuously declining, the magician was very satisfied.
He decided to add fuel to the fire and instigated:
"Mr. President, in order to eliminate French influence, it is not enough to just do these things.
Mr. President, don't forget that many of Chad's current officers and soldiers are deeply influenced by the French army,
We must find a way to eliminate the poison of these influences, otherwise one day De Gaulle will dislike you and secretly collude with the army to do things, and we will be finished."
Tombalbaye nodded heavily: "You're right. If it weren't for your reminder, I would have almost missed a major event!"
So, on the day the French army withdrew, Tombalbaye carried out a thorough purge of the Chadian army. Officers related to the French army were all purged and replaced with the president's own Sara tribesmen.
De Gaulle, far away in Paris, was so angry that his beard bristled and he slammed the table: "Ungrateful rebellious son!"
Based on the principle that if you're going to court death, then do it to the fullest, the magician continued to instigate:
"We must also find a way to drive out those French missionaries!
Our Chad is now strong and powerful, a true hero. How many divisions does his God have?
We must carry out cultural development. Chad's culture must show African characteristics!"
He began to promote a new sacrificial activity among the people.
The magician carefully designed five parts for this ritual:
Ritual of Stepping on a Hot Pot Bottom: The primary step of the sacrifice, requiring all participants to step on a hot pot on the altar with their feet to show their fiery enthusiasm for life.
Ritual of Carrying a Giant Stone up the Mountain: Participants need to carry a huge stone and climb a small mountain with difficulty to express their commitment to the burdens of life.
Chili Juice Drinking Race Ritual: During the sacrificial ceremony, a race is held to drink strong chili juice to test the participants' tolerance for pain.
Durian Fencing Ritual: Two participants use durians as swords to conduct a special fencing match to express tolerance for odors.
Ritual of Praising Ants: Participants need to sing hymns praising the unity and cooperation of ants during the sacrifice, regarding ants as models of hard work.
"Citizens transformed by these five rituals will surely be filled with happiness and grateful for the wise and martial rule of His Excellency Tombalbaye," the magician praised.
"Very good!"
The president waved his hand:
"Spread it out. I want to promote this ritual throughout Chad. Anyone who dares to escape or disobey will be executed!
In addition, all heretics will be expelled from the country."
After giving the order, Tombalbaye looked at the vibrant and thriving scene throughout the country and sighed in his heart:
"I really regret not meeting you sooner. Now I understand that I was mistaken in the past!"
The magician continued to add fuel to the fire, speaking sincerely into the VR microphone:
"Mr. President is right. What's more, why should France claim its oil interests in Chad? After market research, I found that the Americans are offering a higher price."
Tombalbaye scolded in anguish:
"I've been scammed. The French are not righteous!"
The magician said: "I suggest you visit Congo and meet Mr. Mobutu. Mobutu is diligent and loves the people, is honest throughout his life, and is a true benevolent ruler."
Tombalbaye listened to the advice and met Mobutu, a veteran from Tongliao, in Congo. He admired Mobutu's excellent revenue generation (harvesting leeks) ability and his adherence to African culture.
The magician thought to himself that if he wanted to bring down the president, he would have to rely on external forces.
He looked at the map sandbox and set his sights on Gaddafi.
After all, Colonel Gaddafi and Tombalbaye should be enemies because Libya claims territory in Chad.
He could sow discord and use Gaddafi's hand to get rid of Tombalbaye.
Recently, while Chad was busy promoting virtue throughout the country, Colonel Gaddafi was not idle either.
Gaddafi contacted the exiled rebels in northern Chad—the National Liberation Front—and gave the newly defeated National Liberation Front weapons aid from the Soviet Union and East Germany.
He calculated in his heart: "You counterattack Chad and overthrow Old Tom. When the time comes, you will split the land and reward me, and it is right to give me the Aouzou Strip, right?"
On the other side, Gaddafi also instigated some officers in Chad who did not obey Tombalbaye's rule to launch a coup, but it was eventually crushed by the military police.
Based on the spirit of not being afraid of big things when stirring up trouble, the magician instigated Tombalbaye:
"Mr. President, you should declare to the outside world that the masterminds behind the coup are Libya and Egypt."
"Why?"
"Because Libya is supported by the Soviet Union, and Egypt is also supported by the Soviet Union, so they are not good people."
After Tombalbaye announced the above statement, Egyptian President Sadat was dumbfounded.
He was fully preparing for the next Middle East war, not provoking anyone, so why is Chad going against me? Good heavens, does diplomacy also involve guilt by association?!
The chat went crazy:
"Hahahaha, this feeling of personally participating in and influencing historical events is so interesting."
The magician continued to instigate Tombalbaye to take countermeasures against Colonel Gaddafi.
Tombalbaye immediately invited all Libyan opposition parties who were dissatisfied with Colonel Gaddafi to Chad to join the grand event.
In addition, Chad also claimed sovereignty over the Fezzan region in southwestern Libya.
Seeing this news, Gaddafi was furious, Aminos!
For so many years, it was I, Colonel Gaddafi, who disgusted others. When did it become someone else's turn to disgust me?
Even the five permanent members of the UN Security Council have to give me face. What is Chad?
So, the Libyan army and the Chadian army immediately prepared to gather on their respective borders, ready to fight!
On one side are millions of soldiers, with weapons all provided by the Soviet Union,
On the other side are thousands of generals, with military expenses still hoping for France and others.
Faced with the conflict between the two African heroes, North African countries came out to mediate, mainly because the refugee problem could not be solved if there was another war.
The President of Niger came out to smooth things over, preparing to hold talks in Niger to mediate the conflict.
The magician said happily in the livestream:
"With the deep hatred between Gaddafi and our president, Gaddafi will definitely find a way to assassinate Tombalbaye. When the time comes, I will inherit the throne, hahaha..."
Unexpectedly, when the talks began, everyone was dumbfounded.
The mediation script prepared by the President of Niger was useless. Gaddafi and Tombalbaye hit it off at first sight. The two, whose three views were highly compatible, expressed that they had accidentally found their soulmate!
Tombalbaye: "Colonel Gaddafi, you are my biological brother from another mother!"
Gaddafi: "Indeed, I didn't expect we'd have so much in common when it comes to exploiting our citizens and engaging in unsustainable resource depletion!"
Seeing how enthusiastically they were chatting, Gaddafi quietly pulled him aside into a corner:
"I'm willing to deposit twenty million pounds into your private account in exchange for the land in the Aouzou Strip of your country."
"This..." Babaye hesitated.
Gaddafi earnestly persuaded:
"It's just a matter of selling out your country for personal gain, something every benevolent ruler in Africa is doing. Mr. Babaye, what's holding you back..."
Babaye gritted his teeth and said:
"Alright, I like your straightforwardness. Let's swear an oath of brotherhood right here and now. As long as you transfer forty million pounds into my account, the Aouzou Strip is yours."
Seeing that the other party had doubled the price, Gaddafi chuckled and nodded in agreement.
Afterward, Chad and Libya established diplomatic relations, and Gaddafi withdrew all support for the United Front.
Libyan troops occupied the Aouzou Strip, and forty million pounds were deposited into Babaye's personal slush fund.
...
Soon, news came from Paris that President Babaye's recent actions had greatly displeased Papa De Gaulle!
The Magician encouraged Babaye:
"Mr. President, we don't need to fear France at all now.
You now have brothers all over the world. To the south, there's Mobutu dominating Congo, and to the north, there's Gaddafi marching his horses in North Africa.
As long as you reconcile Bokassa and Mobutu, the four of you can form an alliance from south to north,
Wouldn't that unify the entire African continent?
When that happens, who needs to recognize any father figure? We'll be the big daddies ourselves!
Although, compared to the United States and the Soviet Union, which ordinary countries choose as their backers, Congo and Libya are slightly inferior in strength, they are bound to achieve great things in the future."
The audience commented: "God, this 'slightly inferior' is truly abstract, hahaha."
...
As the game progressed, droughts began to appear on the African continent, and food was in short supply in various countries.
In this year of near starvation, Tom Babaye, in order to earn more foreign exchange, began to force the people to grow cotton instead of food.
But the people were already starving and resisted, secretly planting food on their own land.
Babaye sat in the presidential palace, eating delicacies and embracing beauties, lamenting:
"Changing wheat to cotton benefits the president and the president's relatives. Why can't such a good thing be promoted?"
Unable to rely on Gaddafi, the Magician came up with another trick to kill with a borrowed knife:
"Mr. President, it must be that the soldiers are not loyal. I heard that many soldiers have come forward to prevent us from promoting the change from wheat to cotton."
"Is that so?"
Babaye slammed the table in anger and launched another purge.
This time, the unlucky ones were the 1,200-member presidential guard.
After the purge, the Magician quietly came to the military camp, met with senior military officials, and fueled the flames:
"General, you should be able to conclude that if he doesn't die, you will all die."
The general was silent for a moment and finally made up his mind.
...
A few days later.
A unit gathered in a camp fifty kilometers outside the capital of Chad,
At five o'clock in the morning, this unit arrived outside the walls of the presidential palace. This group of sneaking troops was very noisy due to poor discipline.
As soon as they arrived, they were discovered by the presidential guard.
A sneak attack turned into a siege, and both sides became equally matched noobs.
Tom Babaye was awakened. At this time, the presidential palace was not surrounded, and he could have escaped completely.
The Magician, who had heard the news, advised:
"Mr. President is wise and mighty. What are mere rebels worth mentioning? In order to show your presidential demeanor, you should personally go down to the battlefield, command the guards to fight back, stabilize the morale of the army, and promote our national prestige!"
Being flattered so much that he was floating, Babaye gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and immediately joined the battle in his pajamas.
Then, after several rounds of submachine gun fire, Tom Babaye was riddled with bullets, ending his sinful life.
At 8:30 a.m., the Magician announced on the radio that he had led his troops to kill Tom Babaye!
Hundreds of thousands of Chadian people poured into the streets, and everyone excitedly sang praises to the Magician.
The Magician sighed in the live broadcast room: "If everyone knew that those new policies promoted by Babaye were all from my pen, what would they think?"
The audience laughed: "Satan would have to tattoo you on his body."
But these are no longer important, because the Chadian people, who were kept in the dark, have smoothly elected the Magician as the new President of Chad.
The historical trajectory of the African continent has begun to change.