1953 Bare-handed Tycoon - Chapter 402



Only Krnovel

402 – The Lonely Man

After entering the official residence, Chairman Kijo and Chairman Park sat down at a table with only snacks left and shared drinks.

The residence was quiet with only the two of them left. The ticking of the pocket clock hanging on the living room wall was the loudest sound, and the occasional laughter of children could be heard outside.

Chairman Park, who had emptied the glass filled by Kijo, opened his mouth.

“Yesterday, I called Jang Kyung-soon to the Blue House and met with her.”

“Have you talked about it?”

“He said he would do it right away when I asked him to step down from his position as a member of the National Assembly and help me out.”

Kijo was secretly relieved, but he didn’t show it.

“Will the new head of the intelligence agency be Jang Gyeong-sun?”

“Yeah, I think he’ll do well.”

After saying that, Chairman Park held out an empty glass.

The keynote speaker filled Chairman Park’s glass with alcohol.

Chairman Park, who had drunk half of his glass, wiped his mouth and said.

“That legal issue you told me about… … .”

The keynote speaker waited to hear what Chairman Park would say.

“I called my Daegu teacher’s classmate and told him about it. There was a guy named Seo Jeong-Gwi who was a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly.”

“I know.”

The keynote speaker was aware of Jeong Jeong-gwi, whom Chairman Park had met and consulted with frequently in the early days of his administration.

Seong Jeong-Gwi graduated from Daegu Normal School during the Japanese colonial period and entered Gyeongseong Law School to major in law.

“When I asked that friend about the presidential impeachment law, he immediately said, ‘Jeong-hee, didn’t you make the law like that on purpose?’”

Chairman Park smiled bitterly and continued speaking.

“So I didn’t know either. I’m not a legal expert, so what do I know about the law? I left the constitution to the experts and subordinates, so I said I didn’t know either… … .”

Chairman Park took out a cigarette and lit it.

“Then he said this. Jeong-hee, are you Lee Seong-gye?”

After saying that, Chairman Park put a cigarette in his mouth.

“I talked to him and thought about it a lot. I understand why he said that.”

The keynote speaker thought about the meaning of what Chairman Park’s friend had said.

Next to Yi Seong-gye, who founded the Joseon Dynasty, there was Jeong Do-jeon who assisted him.

In reality, Lee Seong-gye only served as a figurehead, while it was Jeong Do-jeon who designed the new country and established its institutions.

The country that Jeong Do-jeon dreamed of was one where the country could run properly even if a fool ascended to the throne.

Jeong Do-jeon’s dream of Joseon was to create a country that would operate normally regardless of who the king was by tightly binding the king with laws and strengthening the power of the subjects.

“I thought I was at the level of Yi Bang-won. But Yi Seong-gye… … .”

Chairman Park laughed in vain.

“Master, did I seem like a puppet to you? Did I seem like someone who should just succeed in the revolution and then step down?”

Kijo shook his head in response to Chairman Park’s question.

“No.”

Then Chairman Park also shook his head and said.

“No, I can step down. But I can’t step down after creating a country where the parliament suppresses the president. Haven’t you seen what happened when you had a parliamentary cabinet system? I didn’t start a revolution to see that.”

“I know.”

Chairman Park let out a deep sigh.

“There were two attempts to bring me down. The first was that Kim Jong-pil had made a mistake in creating the party, so the Republican Party should be disbanded and Kim Jong-pil should be kicked out.”

The keynote speaker nodded.

“The second was to tell me not to participate in civil affairs and to return to the military.”

This time too, Kijo nodded silently.

“I thought both were advice, but now that I think about it, I guess they weren’t. They never had faith in me in the first place… … .”

Looking at Chairman Park, who was looking dispirited, Kijo seemed to understand why he only wanted to keep those who showed blind loyalty by his side as his term in office progressed.

Chairman Park looked lonely.

The keynote speech was to prevent Chairman Park from becoming too one-sided in his thinking.

I soothed him gently.

“Mr. Chairman, don’t think too deeply about it. The first argument could be a power struggle within the revolutionary forces. It could be that they made that suggestion because they felt resentful that Mr. Kim Jong-pil seemed to be acting too unilaterally.”

“Is that so?”

“And the second suggestion seems to be because of the promise the Chairman made when he started the revolution to transfer power to the people. His subordinates must have judged that it would be better for the Chairman to withdraw before the situation became more difficult while weighing the timing of his return.”

“That’s what you meant?”

“That’s how I see it.”

“Hmm… … .”

Chairman Park was lost in thought.

“Listening to you, that makes sense. Then why do you think impeachment was made so easy?”

“When the Constitution was being drafted, it was planned to hold the presidential election first and the general election later. The order was changed when the Speaker returned from his visit to the United States.”

“yes.”

“The aides who are concerned about the chairman must have considered the worst case scenario. Even if the chairman loses the presidential election, if he wins the general election, he can be re-elected as president. I think that was their intention.”

The keynote speech was to try to calm Chairman Park’s mind.

It is not good for someone with great power to be too suspicious of his subordinates or to have a victim mentality.

Power originally makes people’s hearts sick.

It makes people distrustful of their surroundings, makes them sensitive, and causes them to exert unnecessary power.

The keynote speech was that Chairman Park did not want to become that kind of person.

“hmm…….”

Chairman Park nodded slowly.

“Listening to you, that sounds plausible. Now… , take my drink.”

Kijo drank the wine in his glass and received Chairman Park’s drink with his empty glass.

Chairman Park’s expression brightened even more after he toasted and drank.

During that time, he must have been unable to sleep at the official residence, suspicious of his subordinates, and feeling alienated from them.

The keynote speech emphasized Chairman Park’s mental balance above all else.

He has a grand plan to develop Korea, and he has the courage and power to pursue it.

His national development direction was so excellent that it needed no further revision, so I just hoped he would maintain his sanity until he retired.

Chairman Park, who had been talking seriously, changed the conversation to a lighter topic.

“I have solved the problem of growing sorghum. If you need more, ask the agricultural cooperative.”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

“What about gratitude? Wouldn’t it be nice to earn dollars even in the countryside?”

While Kijo was talking with Chairman Park about economic issues, Youngjun and Jiman burst open the front door and rushed inside.

“Dad, Youngjun gave this to me.”

Jiman, who was very excited, showed the pine cone in his hand to Chairman Park and said.

“It’s a grenade. I threw it and killed the enemy.”

“Was it? That’s great.”

Chairman Park smiled brightly and patted Jiman’s head.

“Dad, take this.”

Youngjun handed two pine cones covered in dirt to Gijo.

“Thank you, Youngjun.”

Kijo also patted Youngjun’s head.

“Have you finished talking?”

Yuk Young-soo, who came in afterward, asked.

When the whole family, including Yuk Young-soo, came in, Chairman Park spoke as if he was slightly dissatisfied.

“We’re not done talking yet.”

“Really?”

Yuk Young-soo came to the table, picked up a pitcher of makgeolli, and spoke.

“You’ve finished drinking. Stop drinking today and drink again next time.”

Chairman Park shouted at Jong-gyu Park, who was standing outside the door, as if he still had regrets.

“Jonggyu, go and get me another pitcher of makgeolli.”

“Yes, Mr. Chairman.”

When Park Jong-gyu approached the table and tried to get the kettle, Yuk Young-soo stopped him and said,

“You’re done for today. Just go out.”

Park Jong-gyu flinched at the cold tone of voice. When he was at a loss, Ki-jo stepped forward.

“Mr. Chairman, let’s stop here for today. Next time you come to my house, I’ll prepare a jar of makgeolli for you.”

“Yeah…? Then, okay… … .”

When Chairman Park was feeling very sorry, his eldest daughter Geun-hye held his hand and said.

“Father, let’s go outside together. Please play with us.”

As Geun-hye stood up, Chairman Park also gave up his obsession with alcohol and stood up.

Then he said something to Kijo.

“This is why I suggest we drink outside.”

Chairman Park smiled brightly and was led out by his eldest daughter’s hand.

Kijo also went out with his family.

The cool air and warm sunshine combined to make it a great day for children to run around and play.

“Father, let’s go autonomously.”

Youngsoo said to Kijo.

Then, Chairman Park agreed and instructed Jong-gyu Park to bring some wood.

After a while, a self-defense tool was found somewhere and the guards dug a small hole in the yard.

Chairman Park, who won the game of rock-paper-scissors and the keynote, took the right to attack.

Chairman Park placed a short pole obliquely in the pit.

Then he held up a stick and said:

“Okay, I’ll send the egg (small stick) far away, so try to catch it.”

Chairman Park hit the egg with his usual technique, lifted it into the air, and then kicked it far away.

It wasn’t a skill that had been done once or twice.

It was Kijo’s job to catch the egg that Chairman Park had dropped.

The keynote speaker ran hard and barely managed to catch the egg.

Then, the children of the chairman of the committee cheered and jumped up and down. On the other hand, the children of the chairman of the committee were dispirited when they saw that the eggs their father had hit were easily caught.

In order to save Chairman Park’s reputation, Kijo brought the egg to Chairman Park and said:

“Just now was practice. Let’s get into the actual game.”

“Okay.”

Chairman Park smiled and winked at Kijo.

This time, Chairman Park used all his might to kick the egg far away.

The keynote showed a scene where the bird ran to catch it, but at the last moment, it slowed down slightly and narrowly missed the egg.

Then, this time, cheers erupted from Chairman Park’s family.

The two families laughed and gave each other love.

* * *

On the way home after finishing a family gathering at the Blue House.

The children fell asleep as soon as they got into the car because they were exhausted.

Pilgrimage seemed comfortable, unlike when he first entered the Blue House.

“Did you talk a lot with Mrs. Yuk?”

When asked about the keynote, Pilgrimage smiled and said.

“yes.”

“Are you both okay?”

“Yes, I didn’t know the chairman was such a cheerful person. It was so nice to see him smiling brightly and being affectionate to the children even when he rolled around while catching eggs during the self-government period.”

“Yes, I did that too.”

The keynote speaker agreed with Pilgrimage’s words.

Then, Kijo glanced at Youngjun, who was in Pilgrimage’s arms.

The one who ran the most and had the most fun today was Youngjun.

Pilgrimage looked down at Youngjun and spoke while sweeping back the bangs covering Youngjun’s forehead.

“I don’t know if Young-jun will remember what happened today. When he grows up, he’ll probably believe me if I tell him that you went into the Blue House and beat the president’s only son… .”

Laughter erupted at the words of the pilgrim.

As Kijo laughed, Pilgrimage said.

“I thought my heart sank when Youngjun hit Jiman.”

“Was it? I was surprised when Youngjun said he would become a soldier with Jiman….”

Pilgrimage asked at the keynote speech.

“Why soldiers? It’s good. It’s a manly and courageous thing to do. The chairman was also very happy when the two of you said you wanted to become soldiers. You even said that you two could enter the military academy together.”

“Well… that’s true, but… … .”

In the original history, Park Ji-man showed serious deviation and rebellion after entering the Korea Military Academy. Knowing this fact, Ki-jo had no way of explaining his complicated feelings.

“I have a feeling that Youngjun will never become a soldier.”

“why?”

Pilgrimage asked Gijo with curious eyes.

Kijo recalled Youngjun’s dream.

I had a dream where a large, wounded tiger opened the gate and came in, licked its wounds, and sat down next to the helm.

For some reason, Youngjun seemed more interested in something else than becoming a career soldier.

But he didn’t tell the story of the dream, but told it to Pil-seom.

“I think Youngjun would hate taking orders from others because he’s so stubborn. Soldiers need to learn how to obey before they can give orders to others, but I think that might not work for Youngjun…

“It’s true that Youngjun is stubborn and has a tendency to want to be the leader. But I think that if Youngjun becomes a soldier, he’ll be a great general.”

The keynote speaker did not particularly object to the pilgrimage.

I thought that might be the case.

But I thought that when Youngjun became an adult, the world wouldn’t be like it is now, where soldiers rule the country.

When they arrived at the house, Youngsoo woke up and Kijo and Seolmae carried Youngeun and Youngjun, who were sleeping, into the house.