I Became Park Jeong-ui’s Nephew - Chapter 20



Only Krnovel

He became Park Jeong-ui’s nephew. – (20)

“The Chinese Communist Party requested aid from the Soviet Union. The amount was approximately 300 million dollars.”

“So, the Soviet Union decided to support the Chinese Communist Party?”

“Not yet confirmed.”

“Wow… Things are getting complicated here.”

This is the United States, and President Truman was deeply troubled by the situation in Asia.

The Chinese Communists, having replenished their forces and resources in Manchuria, launched a large-scale counteroffensive, which resulted in the Chinese Nationalists being driven back to Nanjing.

Still, we are holding on somehow thanks to support from the United States, but we cannot be sure how long we can hold on.

What is clear is that the Communist Party is not in a good position either, and that it needs Soviet support to secure victory, but whose name is $300 million?

The Soviet Union is also currently in a state of financial chaos and is running wild in the occupied territories.

The Soviet Army was financing itself by issuing military bonds. However, these military bonds were literally just printed money, so they had no value.

80% of the currency circulating in North Korea is military notes printed by the Soviet Union. How could the Soviet Union have so much money to provide $300 million to the Chinese Communist Party?

The possibility of the Soviet Union supporting the Chinese Communist Party is virtually zero.

So does that mean the US can just sit back and watch?

China also needs to be concerned, as there has been turmoil in Indochina recently.

“We can’t give up our colonies!!”

“It’s all mine!!”

The Allies agreed to sign a contract to give up their colonies at the end of World War II.

The problem is that France broke that promise.

France continued to exert influence over the Indochina peninsula, resulting in rebellions throughout the region.

The problem is that the independence movement to push out imperialism has turned into a confrontation between liberalism and communism.

What will happen to the world if communism continues to expand like this?

Opinions were divided even within the United States.

“Even if Asia becomes communist, America is safe!! Stop supporting Asia and focus on Europe!!”

“That’s nonsense!! If Asia becomes communist, America will also be in danger!! We absolutely cannot afford to be pushed back!!”

Eastern Europe has already become communist.

If Western Europe is pushed back, it is only a matter of time before the Eurasian continent falls under Soviet rule, and China is also on the verge of that fate.

The Korean peninsula is somehow holding on, but if the United States takes even one step back, communism will dominate the world like a cancer cell.

That’s why America can’t let go of Asia.

The problem is that too much money is being spent to prevent communism in Asia.

Not long ago, the Far East Command requested assistance from the US Federal Reserve Bank.

The content was that the South Korean autonomous government needed 1 million dollars to reform the currency.

‘Watch out, we’re having a blast here and there right now.’

The U.S. government has been diligent in ignoring this request.

There are more than one or two places where money needs to go, so they are asking for a million dollars.

Of course, the United States has promised to provide $200 million if South Korea establishes an autonomous government, but that is not money that can be paid right now.

Who knows if it will be 10 years or 20 years before the money is deposited in your bank account.

The United States is fighting communism around the world,

The share returning to Korea was small.

***

“Still no news?”

“Yes, it seems like you have no intention of applying.”

“You idiots, this could be done for just $1 million!!”

This is the US Far East Command in Japan.

MacArthur was furious at the U.S. government’s attitude.

America is pouring money into the Chinese Nationalist Party, so what have they done?

Far from counterattacking, we are barely holding on. How much more do we have to pour in to drive out communism?

It’s literally pouring water into a bottomless pit, but the South Korean government’s demands are clear.

Is it really that much to ask for a million dollars for currency reform?

MacArthur was furious, saying that the U.S. government was doing this on purpose.

“Those guys don’t like me. They’re doing this on purpose!!”

“Please calm down. Do you think the government would ignore your words, Commander?”

“You don’t know anything so you’re saying such things!! I know everything!!”

It is natural for factions to form where people live.

While serving as superintendent of West Point (the U.S. Military Academy), MacArthur carried out extensive reforms to the educational system.

Learning is only possible if you have the time.

It is possible to take a short leave of absence for family reasons, but West Point has not allowed that so far.

So MacArthur implemented a leave of absence system, gave cadets pocket money to boost their morale, and allowed them to participate in sports activities freely.

“Are you building a playground for kids now?!! Huh?!!”

“I don’t want to hear that from a brat who forces his soldiers to follow him like you!! I’m the principal here!! Shut up!!”

The problem was that MacArthur’s reforms were too radical.

At that time, America was in the midst of a world war, and it was a time when soldiers were taught to fight bravely and die.

MacArthur was not pleased with this and began to treat the cadets humanely, which resulted in him making many enemies.

“That MacArthur kid is not a soldier, he’s raising a kindergartener!!”

“We need to fire him immediately!!”

When there are enemies on all sides, who would be able to say anything good to the government?

Even in this situation, MacArthur steadily fostered a force that followed him, and now he has grown into a powerful figure who forms a faction within the US military.

In addition, how do the US government and military, who are currently in charge of the Far East Command and the Asia-Pacific region, view MacArthur?

Just as they didn’t trust MacArthur, MacArthur didn’t trust them either.

A relationship that could have easily deteriorated if left unchecked, MacArthur made a hasty move.

“Tell the Central Bank of North Korea to print one million dollars.”

“Yes? Hmm… But Commander, isn’t that outside our jurisdiction?”

“Only a million dollars!! What’s the big deal?!!”

If the Federal Reserve can’t provide support, we have no choice but to print our own.

In South Korea, there still remains a currency-making machine left behind by Japan.

When MacArthur said, “Just print it out and reform the currency,” even the Federal Reserve was surprised.

MacArthur was now a powerful man who no one could treat lightly, and the fact that he had many supporters also became a burden to the U.S. government.

***

“The Federal Reserve printed a million dollars?”

“Yes, it will come here soon.”

Today, as the routine continued, I received a call from the US Far East Command.

The content was that a currency reform should be carried out after printing 1 million dollars, but there was no need to be overly happy.

‘If I do this wrong, there’ll be a huge fight?’

It is commendable that MacArthur is thinking of the South Korean autonomous government, but pressuring the United States in this way will only make South Korea hate him.

There are still 200 million dollars that we have to collect from the US in the future, so are we going to incur the hatred of the US government for this 1 million dollars?

First, let’s look at American public opinion.

[US Government Provides $1 Million in Support to South Korean Autonomous Government]

[There are quite a few opposing voices]

As expected, there was an uproar over this issue in the United States.

What’s the point of providing aid to South Korea? Even $1 million is enough to cause such a fuss, so if you provide $200 million, there’s a chance of a riot.

President Truman’s approval rating also plummeted from 32% to 28%.

But the money has already been printed and is coming to the Bank of Korea.

Since it was money that had already been printed, we couldn’t throw it away, so we called in the U.S. ambassador to Korea and exchanged opinions.

“What does the President think about this? Are you also displeased?”

“That’s not the case. Commander MacArthur caused such a stir….”

“I see. Then I will not accept the million dollars.”

“Isn’t it being used for currency reform?”

“How can we spend that money when public opinion in the United States is negative? I won’t complain if you take it back.”

The U.S. ambassador to Korea relayed this news to the U.S. mainland.

President Truman, who had supported Joseon but had his approval ratings hit a wall, pretended not to be able to win and withdrew the $1 million, which caused chaos in the United States.

In this case, what would be the position of the Far East Army?

Commander MacArthur made a fuss, demanding that the money be brought in immediately, and even in the United States, there was talk that this was too fatal.

“No, it’s already been printed, so what are you talking about now…?”

“Just give it to me!! We have face to save!!”

“There’s even talk that the Soviet Union provided 300 million dollars to the Chinese Communist Party!! But if rumors spread that the US withdrew its support because it was stingy with the mere 1 million dollars, what will happen to the US’s reputation?!!”

If they had ignored them from the beginning, it would have been understandable, but taking the money they had already given was too fatal, even for them.

In addition, there are rumors that the Soviet Union provided hundreds of millions of dollars to the Chinese Communist Party, but the United States withdrew its support because it was reluctant to waste a mere $1 million?

There is also a possibility that the Soviet Union could use this for political purposes.

“Haha~ Are those Americans shaking in fear over losing even a million dollars?!!”

“We have plenty of money to support our allies!! You Americans, now that I look at you, you don’t have much?!!”

The Soviet Union was the second most powerful country economically after the United States.

What would happen to American pride if we heard things like that from those guys?

Public opinion in the United States has turned toward returning the $1 million to North Korea.

***

“You’re really amazing!! You really hit America hard, huh? Hahaha~.”

“I was just observing. Don’t overestimate me.”

“No, I have an eye for people, and you are no ordinary person. You are worthy of great things.”

This is Busan,

I shook hands with Commander MacArthur, who had flown in from a long way.

The expression on his face is so satisfying that he feels like punching his opponents in the face. Do you want to fight with fellow Americans to build up your pride?

But it is true that the South Korean government benefited from this, and maintained a humble attitude until the end.

Enough with the small talk, Commander MacArthur got to the main point.

“How was the presidential term decided?”

“We agreed with the members of the National Assembly to a single seven-year term.”

“Will 7 years be enough? How about 30 years?”

“30 years?”

“Yes, if you want Joseon to develop in the future and drive out the communist forces, you must become president.”

General MacArthur recommended dictatorship.

The U.S. government also seems to be secretly hoping for that. If the ruling party changes frequently, won’t America’s strategy waver?

Besides, it is currently a semi-wartime situation, so it is not appropriate for the leader to be replaced.

The South Korean government is destined to be under American trusteeship for the next 30 years, so wouldn’t it be better to concentrate power in one person?

Even US President Truman must have tacitly approved, and Commander MacArthur gave me wings.

‘If I do this, will I become a dictator who makes even my uncle cry?’

A chill ran down my spine for a moment.

It hasn’t happened yet, but my uncle was president for 18 years and was labeled a dictator, and I’m going to be president for 30 years.

What is clear is that the times demand it, and now that we’ve climbed onto the tiger’s back, we can’t get off.

The Far East Command tacitly approved of pressure on Congress.

[The term of office for the first president is set at 30 years. Thereafter, a single 7-year term of office is implemented.]

The South Korean National Assembly passed the issue unanimously.

Go-Stop was set up from the beginning, and everything went according to America’s intention.