1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 5
Only Krnovel
Episode 5
“Martial law..”
Just then the door kicks open and someone comes in shouting.
“We should declare martial law! How can we not declare martial law in a national emergency like this?”
The person who burst through the door was none other than the commander of the Security Command, Jeon Dae-hwan. Although he was not yet 50 years old, his hair was already bald.
“General! Where are you, raising your voice!”
Chief of Staff Lee Hwa-seong, who had been sitting quietly, shouts at Jeon Dae-hwan. However, Jeon Dae-hwan shouts at the chief of staff in an even louder voice.
“Mr. President! In such a precarious national emergency, we should declare martial law! Isn’t that right?”
“I told you to lower your voice!”
bang!!
The atmosphere becomes increasingly tense as the president bangs on the desk.
‘They say we don’t usually get along well…’
“I apologize, Ministers. However, even if I am to be disciplined, I must say what I have to say as a proud Major General of the Republic of Korea Army. Martial law must be declared immediately!”
Although Jeon Dae-hwan was only a minor general, the reason he could shout so loudly in front of the cabinet members was because everyone knew that President Lee Jung-hwan had had considerable trust in him in the past.
President Lee Jung-hwan was especially fond of Jeon Dae-hwan, to the point that he personally gave him a foreign car when he was promoted to major general. Also, Jeon Dae-hwan was the head of the Hanahoe, the highest faction in the military.
“General Jeon Dae-hwan is right. Prime Minister Choi. Director Kim. Wouldn’t it be better to expand martial law to the entire country?”
At this time, the Minister of National Defense agrees with Jeon Dae-hwan.
‘If martial law is declared, the military’s power will be expanded, and naturally, his power as the Minister of National Defense will also increase, so that’s why he’s doing that.’
The other ministers were just looking at my mouth. Even though Prime Minister Choi was the acting prime minister, it seemed like everyone knew that the real power lay with me.
Giving power to the military is suicide. Kim Jong-guk, who was a lieutenant general, was already a civilian who had been discharged from the military a long time ago. The moment I give power to the military, the arrows will turn back to me.
‘Am I crazy? Hand power over to the military.’
I looked at Jeon Dae-hwan and said.
“General Jeon. I’m sorry, but martial law should not be expanded. The citizens are already anxious, and if martial law is declared on top of that, public sentiment will fall to its worst. And… you are not qualified to say such things in the first place.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
I gave an order to Youngho, who was standing in front of the door.
“Youngho. Arrest Jeon Daehwan.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Young-ho and the National Intelligence Service agents restrained Jeon Dae-hwan’s hands and arrested him immediately.
“What the heck! Don’t let go of this! What are you trying to do now!!”
“Jeon Dae-hwan, you are under arrest on charges of treason.”
The cabinet members start to murmur in confusion at the sudden turn of events.
“Chief Kim. What are you talking about? A former general is being accused of treason!”
The Minister of Defense protests loudly.
“Please look here for a moment, Ministers.”
I put a photo of Chief of Security Choi Cheol-gi and Jeon Dae-hwan meeting on my desk.
“This is..”
“Jeon Dae-hwan had been secretly meeting with Choi Cheol-gi for several months before he assassinated His Excellency.”
“How could that be considered treason? Isn’t it just a matter of being personally acquainted?”
The Minister of National Defense somehow defends Jeon Dae-hwan.
“We have been investigating these two for a long time in our investigation. These two are not only close personal friends, but also support and pull each other, maintaining a relationship like a crocodile and a crocodile bird. That is why we believe that Jeon Dae-hwan is closely related to this incident.”
“Well… shouldn’t you have told Your Majesty about this before this situation occurred!”
“Doesn’t the Minister of National Defense know? How much His Excellency trusted Choi Cheol-gi and Jeon Dae-hwan. I’ve told you this several times in the past, but it was no use.”
Of course, it was all a blatant lie. No, it could have been true, but there was no way to confirm it in the first place. After all, President Lee Jung-hwan, the person involved, had died. I needed a reason to arrest Jeon Dae-hwan now.
The Minister of Defense protests again in a smaller voice.
“But Jeon Dae-hwan… is a soldier. If there’s a problem, we should handle it within our military.”
“Minister, the highest level agency in the investigation of sedition is our Central Intelligence Agency. Even if they are soldiers, if the charge is sedition, our Central Intelligence Agency must investigate them.”
Jeon Dae-hwan continues to struggle to break free from his bonds.
“Don’t let this go!!!”
I looked at Youngho and spoke in a firm voice.
“General. We will investigate and if you are found not guilty, we will release you.”
“What.. what did you say..!! You really are going to act like this when you become a senior!”
“Youngho. Take him to the investigation room quickly.”
“yes!”
Young-ho and the staff grab Jeon Dae-hwan from both sides and take him to the counterintelligence office.
The State Council members all sat with dumbfounded expressions. They must have felt in their heads how strong the Central Intelligence Agency’s power is at this time when President Lee Jung-hwan and the Chief of Security Service are not present.
“Well… Then shall we end it here for today? First, let’s announce the fact that His Majesty has passed away as a breaking news tomorrow morning.”
Prime Minister Choi is trying to quickly wrap up the meeting, which is in a tense atmosphere.
“We will notify the embassy from our side.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs says.
“Yes.. Oh.. And the Minister of Defense, please keep a close eye on the North Korean military.”
“.. .. .. all right.”
The Minister of Defense reluctantly accepts, looking as if he had just chewed shit.
“Oh, and Director Kim. What are you going to do with His Excellency’s body now?”
“I will contact Youngae when the sun rises and discuss it with her before deciding.”
“Well… that’s not something we can decide among ourselves. Okay. Then let’s end the meeting here. Oh… and the emergency cabinet meeting tomorrow morning will be at the Prime Minister’s residence…”
‘That’s difficult.’
It’s ridiculous to call it the Prime Minister’s residence. In order to seize power, all meetings had to be held in this courtyard until the state of emergency was over.
I interrupted the Prime Minister.
“Prime Minister. For the time being, how about holding the State Council meetings in the main court instead of the Prime Minister’s official residence?”
“In the courtyard?”
“Yes. Since it is an emergency, isn’t information more important than anything else? In a time like this, is there a place where information comes in faster and is harder to get out of than the central government?”
“Umm.. what do other people think?”
It was absurd to say that the State Council would be held in the central government, but in this situation, there was no one here who would oppose Kim Jong-guk’s opinion.
“It seems there are no other opinions, so starting tomorrow, the State Council meeting will be held here in the central conference room. Now, let’s disband.”
After the meeting, everyone is in a hurry to go home. It will be a busy time for a while, so there will probably be a lot of work to prepare at home.
I caught Prime Minister Choi and Chief of Staff Lee Hwa-seong, who were about to leave.
‘You can’t go yet, because there’s still one greeting left.’
“Prime Minister. President. I have something to say to you both.”
“yes?”
“What’s going on?”
Prime Minister Choi and President Lee stop walking.
“This way for a moment.”
I led them into a small room inside the conference room.
“What’s going on, Manager Kim?”
“Well, Prime Minister, I actually have something to tell you.”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
I looked at Prime Minister Choi first and said.
“In fact, the Minister of National Defense is also one of the parties involved in the investigation into the assassination of His Excellency. Of course, I do not think that Minister Do Jae-woo is involved in this matter, but the investigation should be conducted. And… I think it is absurd for the party involved in the investigation into His Excellency’s assassination to be in the position of Minister of National Defense, who is in charge of a country’s national defense.”
Prime Minister Choi’s eyes widen.
“Is it true that Minister of National Defense Do Jae-woo is really involved in the assassination of His Excellency? It is widely known that former generals are people with a strong desire for power, but Minister Do Jae-woo is not that kind of person.”
“It’s still just a prediction, but it’s clear that Minister Do Jae-woo has had ongoing meetings with Choi Cheol-gi before. And Minister Do Jae-woo and the former general also have a close relationship.”
“That’s right.”
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had been listening, interrupts me.
“Hmm.. No matter what, the Minister of National Defense at this time..”
“I understand the Prime Minister’s feelings, but I don’t think it makes sense for someone who may be involved in His Excellency’s death to be the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea.”
They are using the assassination of President Lee Jung-hwan to eliminate those who oppose him. They are simply reusing the methods used by the military junta on December 12.
Prime Minister Choi hesitates for a moment, then nods.
“Yes.. I understand. That makes sense. It is dangerous for one to be in the position of Minister of Defense in connection with His Excellency’s death. I will recommend to the President… no, I will dismiss the Minister of Defense.”
“Thank you, Prime Minister.”
I bowed my head to show him that I respected him the most. Prime Minister Choi smiled slightly at that sight and then asked me again.
“But we can’t leave the position of Minister of Defense vacant. Shouldn’t someone else fill the position, even if only temporarily? Who would be a good person?”
“So, what do you think of Chief of Staff Lee Hwa-seong who is here?”
“This president?”
“Yes. I think Prime Minister Choi knows very well what kind of person this president is.”
Chief of Staff Lee Hwa-seong is someone who has historically been talked about as a person of great character and such. Prime Minister Choi would also be convinced by this Chief of Staff.
Prime Minister Choi asks Chief of Staff Lee Hwa-seong.
“What do you think, Mr. President? Would you be willing to take on the role of Minister of Defense?”
“I want to be the Minister of Defense..”
The president was lost in thought for a moment. I held his hands tightly and asked him a favor.
“Please, Mr. President. In a crisis like this, someone like you must take on a big role.”
“Oh.. This is true.. I understand. I may be lacking, but I will do my best.”
Prime Minister Choi looks at President Lee and says:
“Then, I will announce the dismissal of the Minister of National Defense and the appointment of General Lee as Minister of National Defense at the meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, I understand. I will accept it. But, Mr. Prime Minister, if I go as Minister of Defense, there is one problem.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Then my position as Chief of Staff will become vacant.”
“Hmm… I see. It would be a problem if the position of Army Chief of Staff were to be vacant in an emergency situation like this.”
The two people’s eyes naturally turn towards me.
In fact, in these times, the position of Army Chief of Staff may be more powerful than the Minister of National Defense. That is why this position should be occupied by someone who has no desire for power and is faithful to his duty as a soldier.
And crucially, the person sitting must not be from the Hanahwe.
‘There is one person who is perfect for the position of Chief of Staff right now. He is someone who has no desire for power, has a strong military spirit, and is not a member of the Hanahui.’
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