I Became Park Jeong-ui’s Nephew - Chapter 69



Only Krnovel

He became Park Jeong-ui’s nephew. – (69)

“Your Majesty, what makes you think so?”

“I’m thinking about how we can control the military.”

“…yes?”

The same routine that repeats itself today,

I invited Prime Minister Lee Beom-seok and had lunch with him.

Shouldn’t the President personally go out and welcome the Korean soldiers who are returning home soon, who fought and sacrificed their lives to protect liberal democracy?

But I’m not so keen on welcoming the military.

Many of the people around me now are from the general ranks, and they will soon become the core of this country.

Right now, my uncle is a graduate of the Japanese Military Academy, a general in the Korean Army, and the political director of the Korean People’s Party. It doesn’t matter if we leave him alone, but we must definitely control him.

Why did Song Dynasty founder Zhao Guangyin and Joseon Dynasty founder Yi Seonggye oppress soldiers so much when they themselves were soldiers?

Even if we just look at American history, it is deeply connected to military coups.

“Are you really going to give us a pension?”

“You’re not even paying me a salary, so how can you give me a pension? Come to your senses.”

In 1783, American soldiers were dissatisfied with their government.

It had already been eight years since the war of independence against the world’s most powerful country, Britain, began. Although the situation was turning in America’s favor, the soldiers’ hearts were filled with discontent.

A government that doesn’t even pay salaries to those who risk their lives fighting. Will these people ever give them the pensions they promised?

Why on earth do we have to do this on a war zone, hungry and naked?

At that time, the American army had captured 240 cannons and tens of thousands of rifles from the British army, so they had the power to overthrow the government.

Now, the situation is on the verge of a real coup.

The officers ran to General George Washington and declared a coup.

“I believe that a monarchy would be far more effective in this country today than a democracy. I ask that you, Commander-in-Chief, become the first monarch of the United States.”

Why did the soldiers ask Washington to become king?

That’s because Washington was trying to negotiate with the government to pay the soldiers, so wouldn’t this guy represent the soldiers’ interests?

To the soldiers, whether it be democracy or not, our priority is to eat well and live well, but Washington rejected the coup, and because of this, a counter-coup was almost committed.

“Because he is pro-Washington, he cannot represent the interests of the soldiers!!”

“Let’s change it!!”

Even elite officers are in this state, so it is abnormal that a coup does not occur. So, did the US congressmen make an effort to console the soldiers?

It’s impossible.

“The army is mutinying?”

“Then we should also gather our troops and respond!!”

Hardliners called in yet another army to suppress the coup, what would the army think when it saw this?

Of course, they would have tried to overthrow the government.

Even at this time, Washington continued to appeal to the soldiers for recognition.

“I know your dedication and sacrifice for the country. But it is a very emotional act to point a gun at the country now, and even if the coup succeeds, America will lose its freedom. It is true that the government cannot solve the salary problem, but if you give it time, it will definitely solve it.”

According to one account, American soldiers shed tears of repentance after hearing this speech.

He was fighting for democracy, but did he shed tears because he was so pathetic that he staged a coup for a small salary?

No one would believe that outright, what kind of historical drama are they making?

The soldiers who were causing trouble because they didn’t get their pay fell for that kind of propaganda?

Anyone can see that it was created later.

What is clear is that George Washington’s failure to unite the military resulted in a coup that did not occur, but did slightly roll back the ticking time bomb.

“Hey!! Turn it over!!”

“This government must disappear!!”

“Let’s go back to the days when Britain colonized America!!”

This is reality,

When the pensions were not paid, the rebels trying to overthrow the U.S. government quickly grew to 1,800 men.

Now that the military has rebelled, the government has no choice but to become anxious.

The 13 states, which had been a loose confederation, joined forces as a federal state after this incident and eventually suppressed the rebellion.

This is the history of the founding of the United States.

The troops fighting the British army revolted because they were not receiving pensions, and 13 states formed a federal state to suppress this.

Is the United States really a nation that was founded on democracy? Or was it simply a federal state that was formed at the expense of military sacrifices?

If you think about it, George Washington also became president thanks to the sacrifice of the military.

He was a great man who could have staged a coup with the support of the military, but he refused and drew a line with the rebels, so the people in power could not help but look favorably on Washington.

If Washington had chosen a coup back then, would the United States have existed?

If you think about it, Washington is the benefactor of the congressmen. Because Washington did not stage a coup, the congressmen continued to serve as members of the National Assembly under a democratic system.

So, it’s just a case of bringing in a retired person and putting him in the president’s seat.

After all, the fact remains that the United States is a country founded on the blood and sacrifice of innocent soldiers.

So the question here is, do Korean soldiers have the patriotism to sacrifice themselves for their country and people even without receiving a single penny in pay?

I know that the 5.16 – 12.12 incident happened in Korea.

‘My uncle is not George Washington. He would stage a coup if you didn’t treat him well. Does that mean George Washington was great? He was just a weirdo. He’s going to keep forcing his soldiers to endure and sacrifice?’

Koreans have strange standards for patriotism.

Is it normal to be enthusiastic about Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who fought the Japanese army even though he was tortured and hated by the government and only had 13 ships left in his fleet?

Anyone can see that it is abnormal,

Some people say they don’t understand why Yi Sun-sin didn’t stage a coup and overthrow Joseon, but if you look at the flow of history, that’s normal.

If you were in Yi Sun-sin’s position, would you have fought for Joseon until the end?

So I have no intention of forcing one-sided loyalty on the soldiers.

If you go out and fight, you just have to pay the price.

Are you going to hype me up like some great historical figure?

If we idolize the military in that way, they will only cause more problems under the guise of heroes, and I made that point clear to Prime Minister Lee Beom-seok.

“Captain Park Jeong-ui, take off your clothes.”

“Yes? Ha… But Your Majesty, isn’t General Park Jeong-ui someone who has made great contributions in Shanghai? How can you strip him of his clothes?”

“Uncle, your service is over now. Pay your pension and discharge him.”

Prime Minister Lee Beom-seok was left speechless.

You probably think I’ve turned my uncle into a scapegoat, but I have no intention of making my uncle a hero of the country and the people.

If my uncle becomes a national hero, what will the soldiers who sucked honey under him think?

I guess I’ll have a position in the government by now,

But that’s nonsense.

Everyone can enjoy a comfortable life while receiving a pension, and retire at the age of 30 or 40 and live off the government’s money for the rest of their lives. What more could you ask for?

He discharged not only my uncle but also many other generals.

***

“You… are telling me to get discharged?!!”

“Yes, the President has given the order.”

“Hey, wait a minute!! Where is this law?!! What did I do wrong?!!”

“Are you really not feeling any pain? Put your hand on your heart and think about it.”

This is Shanghai, a bolt from the blue struck the Korean army camp that was preparing to return home.

Numerous generals have been discharged under the President’s direction.

I had planned to proudly salute the president after returning home, but that dream was shattered overnight.

Haven’t Korean generals been playing a power game to keep in check the officers who received modern education in the United States, who have been causing factional strife since long ago?

Then, they fell out of favor with the President and were all discharged, but miraculously, they returned to the field thanks to the war that broke out in Shanghai.

It would be a mistake to say that it restored the president’s trust.

The president retired outdated generals and guaranteed them a secure retirement.

It was a decent punishment, but it was an absurd punishment for generals who had hoped for promotion. However, the crime of causing factional strife within the military did not disappear.

But the president who promised to pay pensions by showing recognition,

How did the generals react to this? Some of the dissatisfied generals even plotted a coup.

“Isn’t this too much?!! After all the hardships we’ve endured so far!!”

“Your Majesty, you have thrown us away!! You are just throwing us away!!”

“We can’t back down like this!! Let’s return to the country immediately and confront His Majesty!!”

“No, are you even talking about that now?!! Are you going to point a gun at His Majesty?!!”

“I’m saying this because I feel wronged!! I’m asking why we were discharged!!”

“This is treason!! Do you all really want to be purged?!!”

“The President has the shield of the people’s support!! Behind him is the United States!! Challenging His Excellency means turning the United States into an enemy!!”

The Korean army camp was literally turned upside down.

You’re going to the President’s office to question him? Is this a coup d’etat protest?

Besides, the current president enjoys the support of the entire nation, so if he starts a rebellion, everyone will be branded a traitor and not only will he not be given a pension, he will go to hell that very day.

The bigger problem is that the military is not on the generals’ side.

As promised, the president set aside 100 billion won for soldiers and paid their salaries on time.

Only the elders are leaving,

Would soldiers join a rebellion led by their generals when there was no disadvantage to them?

In a situation where there was neither cause nor benefit, the generals in crisis clung to Commander-in-Chief Park Jeong-ui.

“What are you going to do, Captain? Are you really going to accept the discharge?”

“Hmm~.”

Park Jeong-ui was lost in thought.

The person in power is most concerned about the number two person, and unfortunately, that person is himself.

To be honest, I’m angry that he’s being used and abandoned by his nephew, but he’s still got power as the political director of the Korean People’s Party, even though he was discharged as an army general.

This means that the political life will continue in the future, and if the Korean People’s Party continues to maintain power, soldiers will also have the opportunity to participate in politics.

But if you shake the military, it will only threaten the president’s authority.

The military must continue to move according to the president’s will. If soldiers act collectively, they will be destroyed in that moment.

Which way is the only way for us to survive?

General Park Jeong-ui encouraged the generals.

“The military must continue to move according to the will of His Excellency the President. If we accept the discharge here, His Excellency’s authority will be enhanced.”

“Ha… but… .”

“Think of it as two steps back to take one step forward. If we don’t displease His Majesty here, we will have a chance to recover.”

The generals eventually accepted General Park Jeong’s wishes.

No matter how I thought about it, a head-on collision with the government was suicidal, so they all returned to their country as civilians.

Those who participated in the welcoming parade were just soldiers, all of them without any connections or power, but weren’t they heroes who gave their lives for their country?

The president’s authority was not tarnished by the cheers and praise he received from them.

No, rather, the president’s prestige is increasing.

The news has been full of propaganda about what the president has done for the soldiers so far.

[The President consoled the soldiers and, as promised, set aside 100 billion won for the fallen soldiers and their bereaved families. He also erected a memorial to commemorate the fallen soldiers in honor of their patriotism and spirit of sacrifice.]

A president who treats his soldiers well even when he beats up his generals. Who would throw stones at such a president?

Public support remains strong, with polls showing the president’s approval rating rising from 83.8% to 88.6% over the past five years.

The president’s authority was unrivaled by anyone, and even generals who had served in the military but were discharged did not dare to express their dissatisfaction.