I Will Stage A Coup D'état-Chapter 62: Sino-Korean War (3)

Chapter 62: Sino-Korean War (3)

Colonel Kim Sung-Joo, the Army Minister, was born as the son of a poor dock worker in Incheon.

Kim Sung-Joo’s childhood was filled with cold, hungry, and bitter memories.

The epithet “salt-smelling beggar” always followed him.

No matter how well he studied or how outstanding he was among his peers, the contemptuous gazes never disappeared.

“Just because a salt boy studies well, you think he’ll receive different treatment? If social status could be changed that easily, who would long for upward mobility?”

The words of the instructor who guided the cadets were shocking.

Kim Sung-Joo felt disillusioned with his efforts here.

What difference would it make no matter what I do?

From then on, he no longer aspired for success.

He abandoned his fiercely honed appearance and chose the life of an ordinary officer.

Even if he shed tears of blood and worked hard, no one would acknowledge him, so why bother putting in the effort?

He spent about 20 years like that.

Then, a man appeared.

“Korea must change. It must innovate. It must wake up from its slumber!”

The man expressed his beliefs and specific vision through the newspaper.

At first, Kim Sung-Joo thought he was a madman.

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“Korea changing? What an absurd fantasy.”

However, that wasn’t the case.

The man was not just a delusional talker, but a skilled general from the royal family.

A person like this is talking about reform?

Someone whose position as a winner is guaranteed just by staying still says he will change the country.

If it were Kim Sung-Joo himself, could he have done that?

No, he couldn’t.

The moment he realized that fact, Kim Sung-Joo felt a strong respect for Lee Sung Joon.

This man is different from ordinary people.

He is someone who is truly qualified to be on top.

If such a person takes the lead, wouldn’t this country truly change?

From then on, Kim Sung-Joo started paying attention to Lee Sung Joon.

And before long, Kim Sung-Joo had the opportunity to talk with the man.

“Why did you think of reforming this country?”

Lee Sung Joon unraveled his thoughts as if it were so obvious to Kim Sung-Joo’s question.

“Because Korea is wrong. I’m trying to set it right.”

That was it.

The moment he heard those words, Kim Sung-Joo felt that all the injustices that had bound him for a lifetime were resolved.

This country is wrong.

It’s not that I did something wrong, but because this country is misguided, I’ve suffered like this.

I wasn’t acknowledged.

After several encounters, Kim Sung-Joo became a loyal subordinate of Lee Sung Joon.

And as the commander of the coup army, he took care of major tasks and rose to become Lee Sung Joon’s right-hand man.

He arrested the Army Minister and captured the Army Chief of Staff.

From that moment on, the unpleasant gazes that followed Kim Sung-Joo disappeared completely.

This is power.

This is authority.

The sweet taste of power bestowed by His Excellency Lee Sung Joon was so sweet.

But he didn’t get drunk on that taste.

It was because he thought he shouldn’t cause any trouble to His Excellency who allowed all of this.

His Excellency said.

“My friend, let’s change this country together from head to toe.”

Honestly, Kim Sung-Joo didn’t know much about the revolution that Lee Sung Joon was talking about.

He just followed what His Excellency said.

Looking back, His Excellency’s words were always right.

Because His Excellency led, this country Korea could always deal with neighboring countries from the position of a winner.

If it weren’t for His Excellency if it were an empire of old-fashioned military officers who only cared about humble origins, could this country have done so well?

That’s nonsense.

Therefore, His Excellency’s power must not be shaken.

Because Kim Sung-Joo thought so, he could take care of numerous tasks in the shadow of His Excellency.

This time was no different.

In this war, no general who can challenge His Excellency should emerge.

Even if it meant creating a somewhat unreasonable situation, it was necessary to properly check the generals for the future of the Empire.

“I understand Your Excellency’s thoughts well. But is it really necessary to deploy the Guard Corps for the follow-up? It would be better in many ways to deploy the well-trained 7th Corps troops.”

The Army Chief of Staff’s point was, of course, reasonable.

Honestly, it was a valid point.

However, the commander of the 7th Corps was a descendant of a prestigious military officer who was attached to the military.

If such a person was given too many opportunities to build up achievements, there was a risk of him becoming an obstacle to His Excellency.

“This is a decision made in consideration of military affairs and politics. I hope you, Chief of Staff, will follow without question. Do you understand?”

Under Kim Sung-Joo’s pressure, the Chief of Staff had no choice but to back down.

Even if he was a senior in the military, he was nothing in front of Lee Sung Joon’s right-hand man who held real power.

They might be senior and junior in words, but the power relationship was the exact opposite.

“I understand, I will follow His Excellency’s will.”

In this way, Kim Sung-Joo coordinated the achievements of frontline generals.

The military officers were very dissatisfied with this.

“Kim Sung-Joo, does it make sense for that bastard to blatantly push only the pawns of the National Military Committee?”

But it made sense.

Due to the nature of the military regime, if they couldn’t control the military power, the regime was bound to be shaken.

The generals from military families were dissatisfied with this, but they didn’t even dare to think of gathering to protest or resist.

Those who could do that were either removed by the Defense Security Command’s surveillance or had taken off their uniforms long ago.

Anyway, thanks to the Korean Army putting the brakes on its own movements like this, China was able to avoid the immediate fall of Nanjing on the Western Front.

However, as the fall of the capital was only a matter of time, even Chiang Kai-shek couldn’t boast about defending Nanjing.

“Chairman. I think we need to prepare for relocation.”

“If we prepare for relocation now, what about the morale of the people?”

Chiang Kai-shek was worried about how it would look on the outside for now.

“Your Excellency. If we miss the timing for government agencies to evacuate, this country will face a disaster.”

At least the withdrawal of government agencies had to start now.

“Alright, for now.”

After consulting with Kung Hsiang-hsi, who was appointed as the head of the Executive Yuan, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to withdraw government agencies.

The problem was what came after the relocation of the capital.

When the capital falls, who will take the political responsibility?

At least Chiang Kai-shek had no intention of taking responsibility himself.

Without me, the Republic of China is finished.

Indeed, there was a story that the Reds were aiming for the gap in this war and starting to expand their liberated areas.

If he handed over his position to his incompetent rivals, would they be able to handle the Reds?

It was not even worth half a penny.

If they could beat the Reds, they would have executed Mao Zedong and his subordinates ten more times while the Communist Party was on the Long March.

Chiang Kai-shek scratched his non-existent hair.

Should we try to push for a peace treaty with Korea now?

But it was realistically impossible.

Not only did they forcefully interfere in China’s internal affairs, but how could he bow his head to those who provoked first and then shamelessly started a war?

If he did that, the approval rating of the Chiang Kai-shek regime would hit rock bottom.

Even an authoritarian regime that doesn’t care about popularity needs a minimum level of public support.

Compromise with Korea is not an option. The only thing to trust is the mediation of the great powers.

Unfortunately for China, it was difficult to expect mediation from the great powers.

The problem was that the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union looked at China with disapproval over the issue of joining the air defense agreement.

For now, we have no choice but to drag it out.

If the war dragged on, there was a possibility that the great powers would step in to mediate out of concern for the loss of their interests.

If we hold out for a year, there is some hope.

The key was how to hold out until then.

“Your Excellency. Your Excellency! We have a big problem.”

At that moment, when Chiang Kai-shek was lost in thought, the chief of staff urgently came in and delivered surprising news.

“What’s the matter, what’s the fuss?”

“Vice President Wang Jingwei flew from Hong Kong to Pyongyang.”

“What… what did you say?”

Chiang Kai-shek couldn’t hide his shock.

He didn’t have a very good feeling about Wang Jingwei, but he still had the impression that he was a comrade of the Kuomintang working for the national interest.

That’s why he readily agreed when Wang Jingwei said he would go to Hong Kong to investigate the situation of the great powers.

At that time, Wang Jingwei said this.

“Brother Zhang, you take the easy path. I will take the difficult path.”

Chiang Kai-shek thought it meant that he would work hard for the diplomacy of the Republic of China in the shadows.

It wasn’t.

The bastard, the bastard, just nicely packaged the path of a traitor who would become a dog of Pyongyang and sell out the Republic of China.

“This, this traitorous bastard worse than a dog!”

Chiang Kai-shek threw around well-crafted ornaments and utensils.

He was so angry that his rage couldn’t even come out as words.

Beast-like screams echoed in the office for a long time.

“Cha, Chairman. Calm down. Just because Vice President Wang betrayed, it doesn’t mean the entire party is shaken.”

Only then did Chiang Kai-shek’s head cool down a bit.

Yes, it’s just one traitorous bastard abandoning the country.

Just one cockroach left.

What’s the big deal?

It can’t affect the overall situation.

It can’t hinder China from enduring at all.

Wang Jingwei. You will regret what you did today. I will, definitely make sure of that.

Chiang Kai-shek gritted his teeth.