NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 304



Only Krnovel

Episode 304

Homecoming? (7)

Usually, a strike in this era was closer to workers struggling to the brink of death due to poor treatment.

As I have explained several times, in this era, for workers to go on strike was tantamount to calling themselves communists.

The treatment of socialists has not changed much in the past or present.

Rather, in modern times, they are treated as somewhat lacking or are looked at with disapproving eyes, but in this era, there was a strong tendency to view them as something literally on the edge of humanity.

It was similar everywhere you went in the world.

Communists were considered to be people who could be stoned to death in self-defense, and the public’s perception of them was not very kind.

In this day and age, being labeled a communist meant having your daily life shattered.

Since the birth of the Soviet Union, people have viewed communists as a cancerous presence in society.

This means that they were plagued by the fear that if they gained power, they would overthrow the country.

The sense of insecurity felt by the privileged class, who had a lot to protect, was especially more severe than that of the general public.

They had so much to lose that they hated the communists so much that they tried to crush their heads whenever they saw them, like a game of whack-a-mole.

Of course, not everyone was like that, but a few particularly bad people did the work of dozens or hundreds of others, so it seemed like everyone was like that.

So much so.

In this day and age, going on strike was tantamount to declaring to your employer that he had the legal right to exploit you.

At least that’s what it meant in the English-speaking world.

Even in the United States alone, there have been several instances where the military was called in and wiped out miners on strike, and even several instances where entire villages were burned down.

It is now a joke that the mounted police made a dent in the heads of all the workers in Britain when they took collective action.

Those were the times.

Even the most ‘civilized’ countries in the world are like this.

What about the less ‘civilized’ East?

* * *

“Okay, everyone, you can all take plenty, so line up! Line up!”

“Don’t cut in line there. I’m going to take it all anyway. So don’t get embarrassed trying to go first and just stand in line.”

“But do you really get food if you stand in line here?”

“That’s right. The miners’ union provides three meals a day to help fellow miners, so don’t be sad at home and come out and eat with your family.”

“Miners’ Union?”

As all attempts by the capitalists to break the strike failed, the solidarity of the striking workers became as strong as a rock.

As their solidarity grew stronger, the number of workers joining their strike march also gradually increased.

Taking things a step further, the miners’ union formed by Dongyang Mining, the largest mining company in the East, has become more active in supporting the striking workers.

The miners’ union not only provided free meals for the striking workers, but also helped them pay for hospital bills for the sick and even the school fees for their children, allowing them to focus solely on the strike.

“Wow… … What kind of person is the owner of the miners’ union that he spends money like water?”

“He is truly a great gentleman.”

“He must be an honest and upright scholar who carries great ambitions in his heart.”

“Really… … I’m always so grateful.”

The workers praised and lauded the anonymous union leader who had been so generous to them.

But no one knew that the union leader they praised was the very man they terribly detested.

Well, knowing it didn’t make any difference.

* * *

A free cafeteria in Pyongyang.

As usual, hungry people were flocking to the free cafeteria run by the miners’ union to get a meal.

Among them were striking workers and their families, but most were poor people living in difficult circumstances in various parts of Pyongyang.

And there were those who watched this scene from afar with sinister eyes… … .

“Kuk ku… … .”

“What do you like so much?”

“How could I not be happy when I see those guys who used to point their fingers at me, calling me a traitor who sold out the country and a money-mad rascal, accepting the rice I give them and eating it?”

“It’s not like I’m going to show it to people anyway.”

“That’s true, why would I stand in front of those guys? Even if I did, it would be useless.”

Daegal Daegam had no intention of appearing in front of people.

Even if he comes forward, people won’t like it anyway.

“Then why do you help those people?”

“Why? Of course it’s because it makes money.”

“?”

The great lord thought.

“Do you know why it is hard to make money in Joseon?”

“Isn’t that because the Government-General has no money?”

“Why doesn’t the Government-General have money?”

“Well, I guess the governor didn’t manage his money well.”

The brow of the Great Commander of the Righteous Army immediately furrowed at the words of the member of the Righteous Army who had come along as a guard and surveillance unit.

“Oh my… … I feel a little bad saying this, but that means people like you won’t be able to do it.”

“… … ?”

“You guys are so ignorant of the ways of the world that you can’t even see money.”

The Uiyoldan members refuted Daegal Daegam’s words as if they were shocked.

“Your Majesty, it’s just because everyone is easygoing and honest. Not all people in the world are as greedy as you, my lord.”

Then, the great lord Daegal smiled and answered.

“That’s why you’re being called ignorant of the world. Where in the world is there anyone who isn’t greedy? To put it bluntly, isn’t your independence movement part of your greed to reclaim a country that has completely fallen into ruin?”

“… … No one but you would call that greed.”

“Really? Then just think of it as the words of a money-obsessed Susanna and listen with one ear and let it go out the other.”

The great lord Daegal moved his mouth like a flowing stream from a green mountain.

“There is no one in the world who is not greedy. The level of greed varies from person to person. You may be united as one now and are having a good time, but do you think that will last forever? Do you think that will be the case even after you get your country back?”

“Huh, it almost sounds like you’re saying that you wish it could happen that way.”

“I told you, listen with one ear and let it out the other.”

The great lord laughed and put his backpack on his back.

Then he continued talking, looking back at the cafeteria in the distance that was crowded with people.

“You and the people of Shanghai far away are accustomed to struggle, but are infinitely weak when it comes to politics and economics.”

“Huh, everyone in Shanghai is well-educated enough to learn.”

“That’s why I’m saying it can’t be done. What would you do if you learned enough? Do you think the people who eat there will appreciate the hard work of the elderly in Shanghai?”

Those who were hastily filling their hungry stomachs at the cafeteria were all focused on the food in front of them.

Their shabby and disheveled appearance spoke of how difficult the past years had been for them.

“that…….”

“What’s important to them isn’t justice or righteousness, but food to fill their hungry stomachs, clothes to protect them from the wind and rain, and a home to shelter them. Can you provide that for them?”

“… … .”

Daegal Daegam snickered and teased the Uiyoldan members.

“You may be better at handling guns and swords, but I seem to be better at wagging my tongue.”

“… … .”

When Daegal saw the serious face of the Uiyoldan member, he belatedly felt sorry and changed the subject.

“Oh my, you! When you hear something like that, don’t you know that the moment you try to refute it, the other person will immediately get involved?”

“… … I see. I guess you could think of it that way.”

“Well, that’s true… … But isn’t that the case with all political ideologies in the world? Everyone studies how to make people eat well, sleep well, and dress well, but in the end, everyone compromises with reality.”

Daegal Daegam slowly looked around and quietly whistled.

But the expressions on the faces of the Uiyeoldan members were still serious.

Should I say that it’s as if he’s thinking deeply about something?

When Daegal saw him like that, he sighed inwardly.

‘This is a mess.’

He instinctively realized that he had shaken the person’s heart with useless words.

Since we were so close, should I say that I forgot for a moment what kind of person he was?

The Uiyoldan member in front of him now was someone who had the power and authority to kill him at any moment if necessary.

Speaking so rudely in front of such a person was tantamount to begging to be killed immediately.

‘What should I do with this… … .’

At that moment, when the atmosphere suddenly became heavy, Daegal Daegam was slowly taking notice.

-Bam!

“Ouch!”

Someone hit the back of the head of the great squire hard.

The blow was so strong that the great squire fell to the floor with a thud.

“Huh? Your Majesty?!”

The Uiyoldan member, who had been lost in thought for a moment, quickly tried to pull out his gun upon seeing the sight, but was quickly subdued by the assailant.

“Oh my… … .”

“Your Majesty, are you still fooling children with such nonsense?”

“No, that’s not it… … Huh?”

Daegal Daegam got up from his seat, clutching the back of his head and feeling bitter pride, but suddenly he trembled at the sound of a familiar voice that made his body and mind become polite without him knowing it.

The feeling of fear that had been buried deep in his heart rose to the surface again.

“Hey, Mr. Lee? Are you Mr. Lee?”

Daegal Daegam saw the young man in front of him for the first time.

With his slightly hunched back, grim features, slightly jutting chin, and calluses on his hands, anyone could tell that he was a factory worker.

Although it was clearly the first time he had seen him, Daegal Daegam immediately recognized who he was.

“Your Majesty, didn’t you say that if I kept talking nonsense you would tear out my tongue?”

“Ugh!”

The great sage immediately covered his own mouth and made an excuse to the teacher.

“T-This is all a misunderstanding. Teacher! First, calm down and listen to what I say… .”

“I think I heard everything just now.”

“That, that’s not it. First, listen to what I have to say… … .”

“Why me? When did you ever listen to me?”

“Huh? No, when did I say that?”

In an instant, the grim-looking worker who had laid the Uiyoldan members on the floor thrust his face right in front of the Great Leader’s nose.

Then a pungent smell sharply stung the Great Lord Daegal’s nose.

Daegal, who would normally have grimaced and covered his nose, was now just trembling with a frightened face.

“I guess I’ll have to get scolded for a while?”

“No, sir! That’s not it… … .”

“teacher?”

The suppressed Uiyoldan member turned his head and looked at the fierce worker and asked him.

“Is this teacher by any chance?”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

“Are you really this teacher?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“Ah, no… … Why is someone who should be in Shanghai here… …?”

In response to the question from the Uiyoldan member, this teacher smiled awkwardly and lightly kicked Daegal Daegam’s buttocks.

“Eww!”

“I came here to give this idiot a push because he’s been doing useless things.”

“yes?”