Damn the World, Ride a Submarine - Chapter 144



Only Krnovel

Episode 144 – Three Finger Salute

I could feel that Cha Min-soo’s position was also changing. It seemed as if the North Korean military was shedding its blind belligerence.

“We were taught to treat prisoners of war as surrendered warriors, not as enemies.”

I felt something strange about what he said. I stood up, tapped him on the shoulder, and spoke to him.

“Commander Cha Min-soo. You did a great job. And thank you for your hard work.”

Commander Cha Min-soo straightened his back and brought his heels together.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

…

The Myanmar military’s Sittwe offensive effectively came to an end after just two days.

On the third day, it was clear that they were preparing to retreat. We proposed a ceasefire to allow for the recovery of the dead and the evacuation of the wounded.

The Miyama Army also agreed to a ceasefire for a safe retreat, but they were more concerned with the retreat of the headquarters than with recovering the wounded.

We had no choice but to mobilize surrendered prisoners to collect the wounded and dead.

However, mass burials could not be carried out arbitrarily.

Even though it took time, they buried them individually, made small tombstones out of stones, and tied their military ID tags tightly to them.

So that the bereaved family can find them at any time.

The open space in front of the Sittwe defense line became a huge cemetery.

As the Sittwe defense battle ended, the world’s media reported the results of their investigations one after another.

As post-war recovery was nearing completion, good news arrived.

One of the warlords in the Yangon region declared that he would refuse to fight and then declared that he would fight on the side of the civilian army.

This became a trigger for the number of units throughout the Myanmar military declaring a refusal to fight to increase. Such movements were prominent at the battalion and regiment levels.

According to OSSIA’s intelligence report, the Myanmar military’s order to mobilize additional troops despite the great failure of the Sittwe offensive was the trigger for the disobedience of the field commanders.

Moreover, since disobeying orders is considered treason, given the nature of the military, they had no choice but to choose to fight on the side of the militia, rather than simply refusing to fight.

That is understandable, as the Battle of Sittwe was broadcast live on CNN and other media outlets around the world. It became an opportunity to publicize the fighting power and capabilities of the OSS.

And our recovery of enemy corpses and humane treatment of prisoners of war were also broadcast.

The Burmese military realized that fighting on the side of the militia would result in a small-scale guerrilla war, but fighting the OSS meant death.

The Myanmar military was mobilized by the dictatorial military to deal with the OSS, and the perception spread throughout the military that it would be a complete disaster.

They began to surrender to the militia.

And OSS? It would have been less psychologically repulsive to side with one’s own militia than to surrender to a foreign military.

As a result, the militia spread across Myanmar’s entire territory was transformed into an army with actual combat capabilities.

There were even incidents where entire battalions and regiments of the Myanmar Army tore off their uniforms and transformed themselves into militias.

All they had to do was put down their guns and give the three-finger salute, a symbol of Myanmar’s democracy movement.

While receiving information reports from this manager over the phone, Director Kim Jun-myeong rushed into the office.

“Sir, it’s over.”

“yes?”

“It is said that some members of the Myanmar military have revolted within the military. Their commander-in-chief and key figures have been detained.”

“really?”

“Yes. They say they are handing over to us most of the new recruits from the military core who had been offered a bounty on their heads.”

“Whew~”

The Myanmar military’s Sittwe offensive was as dramatic in its repercussions as it was disastrous.

They also realized how pointless it was to attack the OSS when they had lost their air supremacy and artillery power.

The OSS understood that Myanmar’s military command was not being dismantled, but rather that a voluntary regime change was needed.

Even those who were not leading the rebellion surrendered and surrendered one after another.

For officers below the rank of regiment, converting to the militia or democratic forces was a rational choice.

The method of conversion was simple: tie a red ribbon around your shoulder and give the three-finger salute, a symbol of Myanmar’s democracy.

In addition, the Myanmar military, which had not defected, was also a tremendous force as a civilian army, as it avoided engaging in combat with its own army, which had been on the same side until yesterday.

Meanwhile, a group of high-ranking military officers started a rebellion within the Myanmar military, leading to the arrest of key military figures.

They have expressed their willingness to hand over their recruits to the OSS. We have received recruits from the military core, including the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military.

At the same time, contact was made with Myanmar’s democratic forces to discuss the aftermath.

Before that, I gave a special mission to Director Lee of the Information Department.

“Sir, please speak.”

“Sir, I want to return the assets and interests of the Myanmar military to the Myanmar people.”

“Yes. We have already figured out most of it. We will make sure to investigate to make sure there are no missing parts.”

“It may be difficult for Myanmar’s domestic forces to grasp the overseas escaped assets, so please pay attention to that.”

“Yes, I understand. But sir!”

“Please speak.”

“Well… wouldn’t you like to try them inside Myanmar?”

“Of course we should do that. But it would be foolish to just execute a few without recovering their vested interests and assets.”

“…”

“I just want to create an option for the new Myanmar regime to plea bargain.”

– Plea bargaining: A system of plea bargaining. The defendant admits guilt and negotiates a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony or other conditions. There is no legal basis in South Korea.

“I understand what you mean, sir.”

“And I’m worried about what happens after we withdraw.”

“Ah… that’s right.”

“Please investigate and report on the possibility, causes, and preventive measures of the military that has now converted to a private organization or power again.”

“all right.”

A significant number of Myanmar soldiers have defected to the militia, although they were part of the military until just a few days ago.

Even though the upper head was cut off, there was no law that prevented it from being organized again. The Myanmar military still had close to 500,000 troops in the army alone.

While pondering ways to check the Myanmar military, Director Kim Jun-myeong made a suggestion.

“Sir, let’s create an OSS Southern Army here in Myanmar.”

“Like the Crimean Brigade or the Far East Army?”

“Yes. There are already quite a few people among the militia or defectors from the Burmese army who are applying to join the OSS.”

“hmm ···.”

“And Myanmar shares a border with China. It is important to keep the Myanmar military in check, but if we get them on our side, it will put a lot of pressure on China.”

“Wow, Director. You’ve felt it a lot.”

“Thanks to being with you, sir. Haha.”

“Where would be a good place to base your garrison?”

“This place, Sittwe, is important, but I think it would be better to take control of Naypyidaw, where the Myanmar military has moved its capital.”

“Okay. I understand. The new Myanmar government’s opinion on the garrison in the capital is also important, so let’s discuss it.”

The OSS Southern Forces officially began recruiting in Myanmar.

Citizens and students from Yangon and Sittwe provided massive support, as did a significant number of former Myanmar military soldiers who defected.

The political situation in Myanmar quickly stabilized.

The National Unity Government of Myanmar, established in 2021, took over power as an interim government.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been under house arrest, was elected interim president. It was decided to maintain the interim government system until the next general election and presidential election.

The Myanmar interim government proposed a private meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss the ambiguous political and military situation.

Although they recognized the OSS as a liberation force, they could not hide their anxious eyes. Interim President Aung San Suu Kyi opened her mouth.

“…What are your plans for withdrawal?”

“Withdrawal is possible at any time. But our OSS has made great sacrifices to drive out the military.”

“I am deeply grateful for their sacrifice and hard work.”

“Yes. I think we can plan a withdrawal only if we are sure that the sacrifice will not be in vain.”

“OSS is recruiting soldiers from Burma…”

“It means to reinforce the troops. We will station troops in Myanmar only if your country allows us to do so.”

“…”

“If that is not permitted, we will create separate garrisons in the OSS and ESSO countries.”

“Oh, I hope there is no misunderstanding. We hope that the OSS will continue to be stationed in Myanmar to check the remaining forces of the military.”

“Yes, I understand. If there is a place you would like to station, please let me know.”

“Security and military tensions are higher in Naypyidaw, the capital, than in Yangon. I hope that OSS troops will remain to defend the capital for the time being.”

“Okay, I understand. However, we would like to use Yangon as a supply base and a port of call for our ships passing through the Burmese Sea.”

“If it’s a problem like that, it’s possible. And I know that a subsidiary of OSS has had great success developing oil fields in the Far East Republic.”

“Yes.”

“We in Myanmar also have a lot of natural gas. There are still many undeveloped areas. If OSS takes charge of that, it will be a small return. It will also help our economic development.”

“Okay. And Mr. President!”

“Yes, go ahead, Mr. Chairman.”

She treated me more as the president of ESSO, an international organization, than as a representative of the OSS.

“I hope that the promise of eliminating discrimination against ethnic minorities and ensuring autonomy made when the national unity government was formed will be fulfilled.”

“Ah… I understand. I also regret my past decisions regarding the Rohingya.”

“That’s fortunate. This is my personal opinion. I think that Myanmar needs to ease tribalism in order to develop.”

“I agree. I feel this deeply, having experienced 60 years of military dictatorship.”

“And I hope that you will quickly reorganize the existing military. If it becomes powerful again, it will be a long-term obstacle for Myanmar.”

President Aung San Suu Kyi paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Then she raised her head and looked into my eyes, continuing to speak.

“Um… I don’t know much about the military. I hope the chairman will take the lead in that area.”

“I understand how you feel, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to step forward.”

“No. I have studied a lot about OSS, ESSO, and you, Mr. Chairman, before I came to this position.”

“…?”

…