NOVPUB
Chapter 67: Declaration of War against Germany (1)
The Sino-Korean War was, as expected, turning into a prolonged war.
Perhaps conscious of national public opinion, the Chinese government came forward with a rather hardline tone, arguing for a return to the status quo.
“Unless the conditions are to return to the pre-war state, we will neither listen to nor look at Capital’s proposal.”
Of course, there was no reason for Korea, which had gained the upper hand in the war, to do so.
Even if it started with the military officers’ mischief, they couldn’t end it with ‘Tehehe!, our boys caused an accident. We’re sowwy.’
The responsibility and fault had to be borne by the Chinese side unconditionally.
If by any chance we were to bear the responsibility, let alone compensation, the people would never accept it.
The same goes for China.
So this was a guillotine match between Korea and China.
It was a contest where the one who threw in the towel saying, “I lost,” would immediately get their head cut off.
Well, what can you do?
The only option is to drag out the war until Chiang Kai-shek accepts reality.
In the end, time was on our side.
Behind Chiang Kai-shek, there was the Communist Party quietly growing in power, and on the other side of the scale, there was Wang Jingwei eagerly selling out the country to solidify his regime’s foundation.
All we had to do was actively sponsor these fellows.
So, the Sino-Korean War itself was not something to be particularly concerned about.
If there was anything bothersome...
“Your Excellency. Here’s an intelligence report that a French merchant fleet has entered the port of Singapore. It seems to be heading for China, carrying German weapons.”
It was Germany.
Germany was furious at our aid to the Soviet Union and had finally sent weapons to China.
But worried that we would block them if they sent them openly, they showed resourcefulness in borrowing the name of the ‘puppet government’ of France.
No, do those struggling to deal with the Soviet Union have such leisure?
I had such thoughts, but considering Hitler’s track record in the original history, it wasn’t strange.
Whenever politics and strategy clashed, Hitler always prioritized political judgment.
If he thought it was politically beneficial, he would ignore military losses.
For such a person, it was natural for him to make the decision to send weapons to China.
I could clearly see his shallow calculation of using weapons aid to China as leverage to cut off Korea’s weapons aid to the Soviet Union.
“Your Excellency, what would be the best way to respond?”
Certainly, it’s not a matter for uniformed experts to handle.
It was a matter that required political judgment.
Of course, there was no need for a long deliberation.
“Seize them.”
If we’re going to be hostile anyway, what’s the problem with being a bit rough?
As soon as the order was given, the South Sea Fleet, which had been stationed in Taiwan, was dispatched to the South China Sea.
And exactly three days later, a report came up that the French merchant fleet heading to China had been seized.
“France is strongly protesting. They say it’s an outrage that cannot be tolerated under international law.”
Ah? Who cares about em French faggots?
Yeah. I can’t hear the words of a ruined idiot.
I instructed them to crush France’s protest.
Then a protest flew in from Germany as well.
Since I didn’t grant them an audience, they sent a telegram to the embassy.
Out of curiosity about what nonsense they would spout, I had it brought to my desk for now.
To the esteemed Prime Minister. Your Excellency is creating an irreparable rift in the friendship between the Korean Empire and Germany.
There was this and that blathering, but it was obvious.
They were telling us to release the merchant ships right away.
Why should we?
I loaded the seized German weapons and sent them to the Soviet Union.
“Use them for analysis of enemy materials.”
“Prime Minister, I truly thank you.”
The gifts sent by Germany were usefully employed to enhance friendship with the Reds.
Naturally, Germany was furious.
We were already seizing each other’s assets and even sending aid to the other’s enemies, so we might as well have gone all the way.
“Immediately return the taken weapons and compensate for the damages from the seizure. Otherwise, we will declare war!”
The Führer came on a bit strong.
Considering the original history’s Führer, who coolly declared war on Washington when friction arose with the U.S. in the Atlantic, it was brave of him to have shown patience until now.
Then, I should send a reply.
I personally wrote the telegram to be sent to the Führer.
“To the esteemed Adolf Hitler, Führer of Germany. After careful consideration of the matter Your Excellency has demanded, I inform you that we cannot accept it.”
It wasn’t as bold as Christian X of Denmark, who responded to a long telegram with a one-line reply, but a two-line response was enough to piss off the Führer.
3 hours after the telegram was sent, the German government’s response flew in.
“Our German government has made constant efforts towards peace, but we have recognized that diplomatic efforts have reached their limit due to the Korean government’s incessant provocations. Accordingly, we notify Capital of our declaration of war as of 3 PM on September 25th, Berlin time.”
Unexpectedly, it was a polite document, unlike the Nazi thugs.
I wondered why it was so courteous, but our Foreign Ministry translators said they had smoothly edited the wording during the translation process.
Anyway, when you receive a greeting, it’s only natural to return it.
I had the National Assembly prepare for a speech to the nation.
The National Assembly, convened for the first time in a while, was packed with members.
After shaking hands with the members, I took the podium.
“Respected members of the National Assembly. This is Prime Minister Lee Sung Joon. Today, the German government has declared war on the Empire under the pretext of Korea’s seizure of merchant ships. However, the merchant ships the Germans sent to China were loaded with weapons to harm our soldiers. How does it make sense to protest the seizure after sending weapons to kill our troops?”
To be fair, we picked the fight first.
We sent large-scale weapons aid to the Soviet Union and shoved Germany’s face into the ground.
When Germany launched a retaliatory merchant fleet out of frustration, we seized that too.
At least when it came to the Korean-German issue, Korea was the aggressor.
However, there was no need to mention such an uncomfortable truth.
The side of justice shown to our people always had to be us.
Of course, since the Nazis were absolutely evil, telling a few lies like this wouldn’t be a problem.
“I firmly tell you, members of the National Assembly, that our Korean Empire has no intention of succumbing to Germany’s trickery. If we kneel to Germany this time, next time we won’t be able to say anything even if they shoot our soldiers, so how could we dare do that?”
This was the justification to persuade the people.
Germany had driven us into a corner, so we had no choice but to seize their ships.
And Germany responding with a declaration of war was the fault of those German bastards.
That was the gist of it.
“I dare say, for the safety of our soldiers dispatched to China, we cannot tolerate even a single rifle or bullet entering China. If there are those who dream of it, I will declare them enemies of the Korean Empire, that’s what I’ll say.”
I poured out a hardline stance against Germany in a strong tone.
“Respected members of the National Assembly. The Korean Empire is not a weak nation that will back down from an arrogant challenge. Just because Germany is the most powerful great power in the world, does that mean we can’t even protect our own interests in our own backyard?”
Of course not.
They say even a mutt eats half in its own house, so with the difference in weight class between Germany and Korea, Berlin can’t lay a finger on us from the opposite side of the Earth.
The members knew that too, judging by their relaxed expressions.
“Our Korean Empire is a proper great power. A nation with pride. To those Germans who looked down on us and spoke of war, I will answer their arrogance like this. If you wish for death, I will gladly oblige!”
I ended the last part with a shout.
I stepped down from the podium after saying those words.
The members sent a round of applause.
It started with the Yuhyeok Party, and members of the Daejeong Party who sympathized with us followed.
And unexpectedly, even those bastards from the Korean Revolutionary Party sent applause.
I thought they couldn’t read the room, but they had some sense.
“Your Excellency. It was a magnificent speech. If Hitler heard it from Berlin, his single testicle would have shriveled up tight.”
“You’re laying it on thick too.”
“Prime Minister Lee, I heard your speech well.”
“You flatter me, Assemblyman.”
I exchanged greetings with the members and left the chamber.
And the declaration of war against Germany was printed in the national daily newspapers.
30 minutes later, Konstantin Smetanin, the Soviet ambassador, came to visit me, offering his heartfelt condolences and hinting at the possibility of a Korean-Soviet alliance.
“Your Excellency. Now Korea and the Soviet Union have a common enemy in Germany. Since things have come to this, how about Capital and Moscow join hands and jointly oppose Germany?”
A Korean-Soviet alliance, huh?
It was tempting, but not now.
Crawling into the German-Soviet War wasn’t my style.
That place was a hell on earth where tens of thousands of casualties occurred every day.
I soothed the Soviet ambassador with kind words and sent him back.
The Soviet ambassador didn’t seem to have expected an alliance to be formed from the start, so he obediently left.
“Connect me to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“Connected.”
“Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs. How are the preparations for expelling the German ambassador going? We’ll give them 24 hours, right?”
I know that’s the diplomatic convention.
But is there a need to follow convention for the Nazis?
I instructed them to use the method France employed when they expelled the Republic of China ambassador while establishing diplomatic ties with Communist China.
Even if we don’t form an alliance right away, we should put on a performance.
The Korean police unleashed dogs on the German embassy to drive out the German diplomats.
“Unbelievable! How can those who claim to be a civilized nation commit such a barbaric act!”
The German ambassador left the Capital, ranting about Korea’s barbarism.
But what can you do?
It’s the shit we learned from you European bastards.
Footnotes
1. Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 until his death in 1947, and the only King of Iceland as Kristján X, holding the title as a result of the personal union between Denmark and independent Iceland between 1918 and 1944.2. Became an advisor to the Soviet embassy in Japan in 1937. He was a member of Communist Party. Until 1937 he was a director of All-Russian Research Institute of Fishery and Oceanography and between 1937 and 1938 he was a counselor of the embassy of Soviet Union in Tokyo, Japan while between 1938 and 1939 he was charge d'affaires in the same embassy. From 21 September 1939 to 28 May 1942 he was a plenipotentiary representative of the Soviet Union in Japan, replacing Mikhail Slavutsky.
