NOVPUB
Chapter 8: Opportunity (1)
In early May 1937, I received a new assignment as soon as I returned to Pyongyang.
My new position was Army Policy Researcher.
It was said to be a role researching and verifying new doctrines, but the real significance of this position was different.
A dead-end job.
It was a fitting position for me, who had been blacklisted by the Army Ministry.
It’s certainly a sinecure.
The Army Policy Research Office had exactly three people on it, including an executive secretary.
But I wasn’t disappointed.
While a position can certainly define someone, a person could also define the position.
Depending on who sits in which seat, a sinecure can turn into a position of real power.
A prime example is Stalin.
Looking at the position of General Secretary that Stalin occupied, was initially treated as a role for handling the aftermath of the party’s central decisions.
But through the ‘Stalin’ era, it was elevated to the position of head of state representing the entire ‘communist Party’.
There was no reason I couldn’t do the same.
In any department, what matters is producing results.
So, this Policy Research department could be an ‘opportunity’.
At any rate, this position offered me a lot of leeway to comfortably write both ‘The Legend Of The Galatic Heroes’ and my editorials.
And while I wrote them, I also thought about the things I could achieve as a Policy Researcher for the army.
This would be perfect for the Korean military in this world.
Armored trains.
It might sound strange, but such weapons exist.
Simply put it’s the love child of a tank and a train. Basically a quasi-tank on rails.
One might think - What is even the point of having a ‘tank’ that can only run along railroads? - However, this weapon is capable of considerable results in actual warfare.
During World War I and II the armored train was a terror on the battlefield.
Most major powers, even middle powers like Poland or Czechoslovakia, were operating armored trains.
Right now, even China, our main enemy, was operating these armored trains.
Of course, the Korean military also possessed armored trains.
However, most of the Korean military’s armored trains were focused on troop transport.
I proposed the deployment of new armored trains focused on independent combat and mobile warfare, in preparation for the upcoming Korean-Chinese war.
In a situation where we didn’t even have decent tanks, we’d need proper armored trains at least for defending occupied territories, wouldn’t we?
Unexpectedly, my proposal was seriously considered.
Sigh...Of course, when the matter is about ‘China’ these bastards’ eyes and ears become strangely sharp.
Following my first proposal I continued with a series of ideas for future wars.
All of this was an effort to not end my military career in this dead-end position.
“It would be good if Air Force officers were assigned to the army units as liaisons in the future.”
“Why would that be beneficial?”
“Sometimes when the ground forces advance too much, the artillery would keep up. Therefore, if we want the Air Forces acting as bombers, close coordination between the army and air force is essential.”
I demonstrated these doctrine improvement proposals to high-ranking military officials through training exercises.
My suggestions were effective.
Well...Of course, they were, that was a ‘successful methodology’ that the Nazis loved to use in World War II.
Heh-.
Contrary to the Army Ministry’s intention of relegating me to a sinecure, the Army Policy Director had no choice but to give me a good evaluation.
As long as I could get good evaluations, this Policy Researcher position was sweet as honey.
Because I could frequently contact one of the core combat units in the capital, the training unit, without suspicion.
In fact, I often visited the training unit under the pretext of doctrine research.
“General. I’ve seen your recent article. What a bright might you have...Every time I read your editorials I can confidently see the road our nation should tread.”
“Thank you, for your kind words.”
Even famous Generals now were trying to butter me up.
And of course, My followers began to increase among the young officers of the training unit.
My influence in the military reached a level that couldn’t be ignored.
While not enough to stage a coup immediately, it had long since surpassed the level where the Army Ministry could treat me carelessly.
Now, this Lee Sung Joon had become the junior officer’s ‘Daddy’.
It feels like I’ve become the leader of a pseudo-Imperial Way Faction rather than a pseudo-Young Turk Party.
I was starting to feel the need to gradually build an organization.
I should prepare to recruit officers in key positions.
Of course, doing it right now was dangerous.
The right time for recruitment would be after Korea started the war against China.
As of now, the tensions between the two nations are growing larger.
Even if one were to look purely at the economic aspect,
“Fellow countrymen! We must not buy, wear, or eat goods from those filthy Gaoli bangzi Every coin we give to those Bangzi will become bullets and shells used against our sons and daughters!”
The Chinese were conducting large-scale boycotts, enraged by the Korean government’s aggressive behavior of continuously invading the border.
And for Korea, which had 40% of its export revenue derived from China, these boycotts were infuriating.
On the political front of things,
“The Northeast is the Great Ming’s land!This ancestral land was forcibly stolen by the Koreans! We must gather our strength and reclaim Manchuria from them!”
The Han Nationalists fervently advocated for the recovery of Manchuria, grating on Korea’s ears.
From a military perspective, Korea viewed China’s military buildup with concern.
“Over the past 10 years, the Kuomintang has quintupled its military power. Why on earth do those Ching Chongs, who should be busy dealing with the savage warlords or communist bandits, need such an army? The reason, gentleman is obvious! We are their target.”
The Korean military argued that China’s military buildup was aimed at the Empire insisting on the need for a preemptive war.
As the tensions continued to build up, the Empire was gradually losing patience with the Nanjing government.
“Those fucking bastards...If we just get the chance...”
Given this atmosphere, the conditions were ripe for war to break out at the slightest spark.
And within our Empire, some troublemakers loved to play with fire.
Of course, they were mostly in the Military.
During the initial Chapters of the Webtoon, the Korean Empire sunk a warship to justify the Korean-Chinese War.
And, what would they do now?
Honestly, even considering my presence, I don’t think things would change.
Sure enough,
On August 15, 1937 - which would be a joyful day in my old world, where Korea celebrated its independence - The Korean patrol ship ‘Ryujin’ that had entered port in Tianjin. mysteriously sunk.
115 people died.
The Korean military immediately urged the government to take action.
The military rejected China’s investigation results and ignored the proposal to send a Korean government investigation team for a joint probe.
An attack on a Korean warship is an attack on Korean territory!
Therefore, we must punish China!
The Korean military parroted only these words like a mantra.
So it’s war, huh.
I patiently observed the situation unfold.
Just because war broke out in the webtoon, didn’t necessarily guarantee it would ‘definitely’ happen now.
However, while I was unsure of the future, the Military quickly crushed my doubts.
“March!”
Before the cabinet could even decide on waging war or not, the Military simply began its invasion of China.
As expected of those bastards, their collective brain cell is doing well, I see.
On August 21, 1937, the Korean Army crossed the Liao River and launched a swift campaign.
Once the offensive began, the Chinese Army was pushed back.
By August 29, they crossed the Daling River and advanced to the doorstep of Beijing, China’s old capital.
“Heh! Breakfast in Beijing, lunch in Shijiazhuang, dinner in Jinan!”
The troops of the Korean Army continue to chant nonsense like this.
Newspapers were all abuzz that the ‘Punitive War against China’ would end in 6 weeks.
Crazy bastards.
Do they think China is such a small country?
Even France....Fucking France! A mere speck compared to China’s size took 6 weeks to fall...And that was only because of dumb luck and the enemy’s incompetence combined!
Even then, the German army had only occupied 3% of French territory when they secured victory.
But now, the Empire’s opponent is China.
A continental-scale country easily over 10 times the size of France in the mainland area alone.
The idea of toppling such a country in 6 weeks was absurd.
Regardless, this war presented lots of opportunities for me.
As the frontline expanded, units loyal to the current regime like the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division, 2nd Guards Division, and the 7th Mountain Division stationed in Pyongyang moved to the front en masse.
Only one regiment remained in the Capital, the 1st Guards Division.
Also, two newly mobilized regiments were stationed around Pyongyang.
These reserve divisions were units teeming with my followers, so to speak, mobilized from rural areas.
Of course, from a coup perspective, these reserve divisions located far from the capital were still no match for the Guards Division.
They had territorial and equipment disadvantages.
However, because I could exert my influence over these units, they were priceless.
“It’s finally time to make a move.”
The mask of Lee Sung Joon, the loyal general of the Korean Empire fell.
From now on it was time for Lee Sung Joon, the ambitious General who would stage a coup to take its place.
Footnotes
1. Gaoli bangzi is a Chinese slang term, with a long history of being used as an ethnic slur for Koreans. The term gaoli refers to the ancient Korean dynasty Goryeo, while bangzi means 'Stick'. It is used synonymously with han bangzi or simply bangzi2. officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China ruled by the Han people, the majority ethnic group in China. 3. Manchuria is a term that refers to a region in Northeast Asia encompassing the entirety of present-day Northeast China, and historically parts of the modern-day Russian Far East, often referred to as Outer Manchuria.4. The Kuomintang, also referred to as the Guomindang, the Nationalist Party of China or the Chinese Nationalist Party, is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially based on the Chinese mainland and then in Taiwan since 1949.5. Nanjing, capital of China’s eastern Jiangsu province, is roughly 300km up the Yangtze River from the city of Shanghai. It was the national capital during part of the Ming dynasty. Many monuments and landmarks remain, including Zhonghua Gate (Gate of China), a preserved 14th-century section of the massive wall that contained the old city’s southern entrance.6. Tianjin is a municipality and metropolis in Northern China on the shore of the Bohai Sea7. The Liao River is the principal river in southern Northeast China, and one of the seven main river systems in China.8. The Daling River is a river in Northeast China. With a length of 435 kilometres, it is the main river in the arid western part of Liaoning. Its drainage basin covers 23,837 square kilometres, 85% of which is located in Liaoning, 13% in Inner Mongolia and the remaining 2% in Hebei.9. It's joke saying that their conquest is being so 'easy and fast' that they will be able to eat in three different regions of China in a single day.
