I Became Park Jeong-ui’s Nephew - Chapter 160



Only Krnovel

He became Park Jeong-ui’s nephew. – (160)

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“It’s okay.”

This is Gyeongseong, and Hu Yaobang, who once ruled Andong Province, lived here as a prisoner of war, not a prisoner of war.

The Korean government does not treat prisoners like that.

There is nothing particularly inconvenient about attaching people.

But it is true that one side of my heart feels empty. How did I, who dreamed of a new China and promoted reforms, end up in this situation?

Hu Yaobang continued his question-and-answer session.

“I don’t know what I did wrong. Let’s say I failed to control the Chinese people. But isn’t it not wrong to choose people’s wealth over national wealth, and people’s character over party character?”

Isn’t a country where the people live better than the country and where the people’s thoughts come before the interests of the party a proper system?

But the Chinese people gave up on that country and tried to cross the Yalu River to Korea.

While I was wondering what the reason was, an unexpected guest came to visit.

“A guest has arrived.”

“Who is that?”

“Hello, Mr. Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.”

Hu Yaobang was shocked.

Ji Cheong-cheon is a figure who fought for Korean independence in Manchuria in the past, and is currently a powerful figure leading the Korean National Assembly.

Why did such a big shot come to me while I was a prisoner?

Hu Yaobang first greeted the guest politely.

The first impression I got when I saw the guest was that he was a ‘giant’. Ji Cheong-cheon boasted a tall height of 178 cm when he was young and his size was comparable to that of Baekbeom Kim Gu.

For Hu Yaobang, who is only 155cm tall, his physique felt like a giant, and he was already overwhelmed.

“How is life here?”

“I’m doing pretty well.”

“Hehehe~ How could that be? You must be upset since you were dragged here. I also feel bad that the leader of an ally is in a place like this.”

Ji Qingtian felt sorry for Hu Yaobang’s situation.

Is this person naive or stupid?

Ji Cheong-cheon, who devoted his life to the independence movement and witnessed countless power struggles, brought out the words he had kept buried in his heart.

“I honestly believe that your way is right. But when I think about my life, I cannot support democracy.”

“You can’t support democracy?”

“Yes… it took me a long time to realize that.”

Ji Cheong-cheon worked as an officer of the Western Military Government in Manchuria.

Afterwards, he organized the Korean Independence Army with Seo Il and Kim Jwa-jin and fought against the Japanese, but was forced to retreat to Jayu City due to heavy losses.

The tragedy that occurred during the process,

Wasn’t the movement of the independence army to Jayu City a step back for a second advance?

However, some executives tried to absorb the independence army into the Soviet army, and Ji Cheong-cheon resisted this, and was eventually arrested and imprisoned.

“How could this be!! How could they sell out our military to the Soviet Union?!!”

At this time, Ji Cheong-cheon felt a great sense of betrayal from his fellow executives.

Just because they are officers, they contact the Soviet Union on their own. If officers decide to do so, will all soldiers become part of the Soviet army?

They are the ones fighting on the front lines, but you don’t care about their wishes?

Even a three-year-old child knows that this is wrong, but the reality is cruel.

The independence army was disarmed and subordinated to the Soviet army. Although the independence army suffered a fatal blow, Ji Cheong-cheon did not give up and returned to Manchuria.

He organized the Korean Independence Army and fought in a joint operation with the Chinese Horo Army, achieving victory at Ssangseongbo and Sadohaja, but was unable to stop the spread of Japanese influence like a plague. Furthermore, as the Communist Party’s influence grew stronger within the Horo Army, he could no longer remain in Manchuria.

“Even if I die, I will never shake hands with those communists!! You can’t trust them!!”

Ji Qingtian refused to collaborate with the Chinese Communist Party.

I moved to Free City and got stabbed in the back by communists. How can I trust those guys and carry out the operation?

However, he could not wander the world alone, so he eventually joined hands with the provisional government led by Kim Gu.

So what was different about the provisional government?

Ji Cheong-cheon also witnessed the endless factional fighting here.

A representative example is the Nammok Hall incident, where provisional government officials discussed the merger of the Joseon Revolutionary Party, the Korean Independence Party, and the Korean National Joseon Revolutionary Party.

However, this incident was exposed to the Japanese when the Korean National Party betrayed them, and Kim Gu was almost shot to death.

So was this the end?

In 1941, he adopted Cho So-ang’s Samgyunism and declared the establishment of a democratic republic through universal suffrage, but the socialist nature of its contents became a problem.

“Why is this included?!! Isn’t this something only communists would say?!!”

“If we are to achieve independence from Japan, we need to cooperate with socialism. Why don’t you understand that?”

“No matter what, you’re cooperating with the communists?!! I still tremble when I think about how we got stabbed in the back by those guys!!”

“You can’t trust those guys!! They only act according to their own interests!!”

In fact, the reason why Kim Won-bong threw himself into the provisional government was clear.

Kim Won-bong and Choi Chang-ik, who fought for power in the Korean Volunteer Corps

During this process, an incident occurred where Choi Chang-ik led two of the three battalions and surrendered to China.

How could Kim Won-bong, with only one battalion, conduct any anti-Japanese movement in Manchuria?

The only option was the provisional government. To the outside world, it seemed like Kim Won-bong joined the Korean Liberation Army at the recommendation of Ji Cheong-cheon, the commander-in-chief of the Korean Liberation Army, but that was not the case.

In fact, even after joining the Korean Liberation Army, Kim Won-bong opposed Kim Gu’s opinions on every issue.

Even in an urgent situation where national independence was the top priority, he was eager to build his own power.

“You guys, come to us. Honestly, you don’t trust Kim Gu either, right?”

“That’s true, then it would be better for you to go to the 1st District of the Korean Liberation Army under your jurisdiction.”

The fact that he brought under his command a unit that had refused to join the Korean Liberation Army is evidence of this, and from this time on, the Provisional Government officials began to view Kim Won-bong as a cunning person.

Ji Cheong-cheon, the commander-in-chief of the Korean Liberation Army, who had to lead this rabble.

What would Ji Cheong-cheon, who has watched this process for decades, feel?

This is the reason why the establishment of a separate government in South Korea was advocated when the country was liberated from Japanese rule.

“Unification with the Communists? Absolutely not!!”

If a separate government is established here in South Korea, the country will be divided, but if we discuss a unified government with the communists, the country will become a mess.

I’ve seen and felt it for decades already, what more do you want me to do?

Only when South Korea establishes an independent government can we discuss proper national development, so we joined hands with Park Sang-geun, the leader of the Korean People’s Party.

‘Democracy? Dictatorship is better.’

I also knew that if Park Sang-geun became the president of Korea, a dictatorship would begin.

But is this wrong? Do you think the country will run well if a bunch of idiots gather in one place and discuss democracy?

Kim Gu, who was shot by the Japanese just because he had gathered national leaders in one place, continued to recruit communists, which caused divisions within the Korean Liberation Army.

This is why Ji Cheong-cheon gave up being a democratic leader and chose a dictator.

That’s why Ji Qingtian felt sorry for Hu Yaobang.

“I also wanted to establish a democratic republic like you once did. But as I lived through the world, I realized that humans ultimately prioritize their own greed. There can be no unification through democracy. In this world, who can blame you for giving up your privileges and choosing policies for the people? The world is wrong. Don’t blame yourself too much.”

“You flatter me. I am just a failed politician.”

Hu Yaobang bowed his head.

In fact, he knew it too.

They call it the Communist Party, but in reality it is a group that pursues a one-party dictatorship. Does a person who is part of such a group have the right to advocate liberal democracy?

However, democracy was promoted with the hope that it might work, but this also ended up as an idealist’s delusion.

So now is the time to change his mind, Hu Yaobang has abandoned his goal of setting China straight.

The scales of East Asia are already tilted toward Korea.

If we can’t democratize China, wouldn’t it be better to climb up on the dictatorship of South Korea and pitch in realistic politics?

Ji Cheong-cheon also recommended that.

“How long can you live like this as a prisoner of war? You should naturalize in Korea and join the Korean People’s Republican Party. Korea has chosen dictatorship, but it has the driving force to push through its policies without wavering. It’s not an ideal world… but I still think there is no country better than this.”

“If you say so, I will do as you say.”

On this day, Hu Yaobang formally requested naturalization from the Korean government.

He also abandoned his name, Hu Yaobang, and changed his name to Hu Geun-de (胡根德). He abandoned his civil service examination and was reborn as a Korean.

***

“Thank you for your hard work this time too.”

“Hehehe~ You don’t have to say that. I just did it because I was bored.”

“I see? Then I guess I should give you more work to do so you won’t be bored.”

“Haha~ I’m 80 years old now. Are you satisfied with taking advantage of an old person who won’t live long?”

This is Changgyeonggung Palace,

I had a conversation with National Assembly Speaker Ji Cheong-cheon.

He is a veteran who made Hu Yaobang join the People’s Republican Party of Korea without being asked to do so. But wouldn’t it look a bit odd to keep that person captive?

No matter how many times I thought about it, this was the best. While we were chatting like that, these words came out of my mouth without me realizing it.

“Mr. Speaker, don’t you regret choosing me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I eventually turned my back on democracy, didn’t I? I’m still not satisfied with being a dictator for 20 years, and I’m wielding my power like this… I’m sure there are times when you think I’m a monster, Mr. Chairman.”

The Speaker of the National Assembly smiled awkwardly.

Do you really think so or are you just looking for an excuse?

The old man, who had been thinking for a moment, revealed his true feelings.

“Your Majesty, do you know what I felt while I was fighting for independence?”

“What is that?”

“There is a saying that when there are too many captains, the ship will end up in the mountains. It was the same with the Jayu City Massacre and the Nammokcheong Incident… In any case, when many people gather together, fights will break out. That is why I chose you, my enemy.”

“Haha~ Is that so?”

“Yes, but I have never regretted choosing you. Of course, if dictatorship had gone wrong, the country would have been in shambles like China, but Korea is doing pretty well right now. It’s not the ideal I had in mind, though.”

“Then, what is the ideal society in your opinion, Chairman?”

“Haa~ Well… I want a society where many people gather together, sincerely discuss the affairs of the country, and find the best solution. But since that is impossible, I have no choice but to choose the second best option. I am so tainted by the world that I cannot dream of such idealism.”

I smiled awkwardly.

Does this mean that I have the legitimacy to become a dictator?

Still, I interpreted Chairman Ji Cheong-cheon’s words according to my own standards.

Adults like us are too tainted by the world to realize our idealism, so shouldn’t young people with pure hearts who won’t betray us be involved in politics?

However, because such young people do not know reality, they may perish by making idealistic claims like Hu Yaobang.

This is why democracy is difficult.

Do you think humans, with their strong selfish desires, wouldn’t engage in factional fighting?

To think that is possible is to not know reality. Even in a democratic system, the winner ultimately takes all.

However, we just need a safety device to prevent that runaway.

Isn’t that why we vote?

I don’t know about anything else, but if the elections are clean, even a dictatorship will gain legitimacy, so I put my heart and soul into this general election.

This time, we plan to elect Chairman Ji Cheong-cheon and make him a 6-term member of the National Assembly.

He mobilized the Korean People’s Republican Party and made strategic nominations in Seongdong-gu, Gyeongseong.