Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 158



Only Krnovel

#158 That friend is a bit loud-mouthed, right?

December 14, 1949.

VIPs from all over the world began to flock to Korea.

As Minister of Political Affairs Kim Ho-jin said, countries around the world saw Lee Kang-cheol’s wedding as an opportunity to use it as a diplomatic forum to improve diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea, which has established itself as a superpower in name and reality.

And the sight of the congratulatory delegates coming in was amazing.

In the United States, our immediate greatest ally, former President Roosevelt entered the country with Admiral Ernest King, and on the day of the wedding, MacArthur also received word that he would attend.

In addition, Britain’s Ambassador to Korea Winston Churchill, who was scheduled to resign, decided to postpone his resignation until after the wedding and attend as a representative, while France sent Leclerc, who is still acquainted with Lee Kang-cheol.

Philippe Leclerc must have taken Lee Kang-cheol’s advice correctly and was still alive because he never went near Algeria.

Additionally, in Asia, President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam, our top ally, decided to attend in person, and Aung San of Burma also led an economic delegation to the country.

Other countries were also entering the country one after another with congratulatory delegations made up of prominent figures from their countries.

“What on earth happened to my wedding…” … .”

Lee Kang-cheol sighed with a bewildered expression.

We were just planning to have a small wedding with only close friends invited, but it turned into such a mammoth international event that we were told to go away from the modern-day G20 summit.

“I made it clear, right? Even if the world did not, we were hoping to establish good relations with our country. But there is no way you can miss this great opportunity. ha ha ha!”

“That’s right, Secretary General. “Hehehe!”

Even Kim Gyu-sik responded to Kim Ho-jin’s words with a smile.

“Now just accept it. “It’s easier if you give up.”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol’s dissatisfied mouth came out, but as Kim Ho-jin said, it seemed easier to just give up and accept it.

“Ha, okay. By the way, President Chiang Kai-shek is coming too?”

“Yes, it seems there was a great shock when the United States said last month that we would stop supporting it. “I plan to enter the country tomorrow.”

“Of course. It’s the same as saying I’m going to cut off the food chain. “Is this bothering you?”

“You don’t have to worry too much. Chiang Kai-shek will cling to President Roosevelt. He said he also asked to see Churchill separately.”

“Of course, on the National Party side, Roosevelt and Churchill were close.”

“That’s right. “In particular, since he is acquainted with Roosevelt, he will do whatever he can to prevent the withdrawal of support.”

“Tsk! It won’t be of any use… … .”

“you’re right. Chiang Kai-shek wasted too many opportunities. How many years has it been since you clearly ruled the south of the Yangtze River? If he had developed the country in the meantime, he would have had no reason to open his hands to others. But instead of progressing, the country became a complete mess. It’s so amazing how everything he did was so foolish… … .”

“That’s right.”

Chiang Kai-shek had so many opportunities, but he blew them all.

Of course, that doesn’t mean there weren’t some good times.

Even in the mid-1930s, there was a time when the country was doing quite well by reforming the unification of the currency that was overused by each warlord and promoting industry.

It was the so-called golden decade.

However, whatever achievements were achieved were completely reduced to ashes during the Sino-Japanese War.

After that, I just kept digging.

The National Revolutionary Army was still in disarray as its command and orders were still not unified and the central army under Chiang Kai-shek and the armies of each warlord were mixed together. Discipline was not correct, so looting and frequent incidents were common.

Moreover, their morale was much lower than that of the Communist Red Army.

Meanwhile, Wong Wen-hao’s cabinet attempted to control the economy by issuing an emergency fiscal and economic order to control extreme inflation, but the results were disastrous.

Rather, a situation occurred that only reduced the middle class, the foundation of the National Party, to beggars.

In addition, extreme corruption caused public sentiment to turn against each day, and in this situation, Chiang Kai-shek had to exhaust his mental energy by confronting Li Zongren (李宗仁), a former Guangxi warlord and vice-president, at every turn.

In short, a total mess.

Five minutes after this crap, the United States and South Korea cut off support?

In fact, it is no different from a death sentence.

“I heard you plan to meet with President Roosevelt later?”

“Yes, we decided to have dinner together. “I don’t think I’ll have time if it’s today.”

“He is not that kind of person, but if Chiang Kai-shek cries and hangs on, he may become weak. “It would be better to keep a close eye on them while eating together.”

“All right.”

“But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is having a hard time. “Hehehe!”

“Oh my gosh, don’t even talk. Starting with the VIP guests’ accommodations, there is no fuss. “There are a lot of complaints asking why they are giving us good accommodations and we are being given poor accommodations.”

“haha! “It is fortunate that the guesthouse has been completed and several luxury hotels have been opened.”

“It’s still not enough. “If this continues, we are in a situation where even our house will be offered as accommodation.”

The problem begins with accommodations for VIPs from dozens of countries.

Although Korea has developed at an incredible rate in a short period of time, it was not enough to hold such a large-scale event in a short period of preparation.

Thanks to this, it was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees who died.

“After this wedding, let’s give them plenty of vacation time.”

“That will have to do.”

Kim Gyu-sik also wanted to rest a bit.

In the evening, Roosevelt visited with Admiral King.

“Welcome, Frank!”

“ha ha ha! “I really congratulate you on this.”

“Thank you. But I’m a little embarrassed. This is all getting old… … .”

“Why are you embarrassed? And I’m so glad I did. “The General will still be president for some time, and it is not a good look for him to continue without a First Lady.”

“Is that so?”

“haha! sure. I just didn’t say it. “It was probably the same for people in other countries.”

“This is so… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol didn’t know it himself, but it seems that a single president was not a good look at this time.

Eventually, we moved to the banquet hall and had a pleasant meal.

“You know, right? They say President Chiang Kai-shek is coming tomorrow. “I believe you have been contacted?”

“Yes, it is. “I couldn’t just ignore him at the door when he said he was coming, so I decided to meet him at the hotel for now.”

“Do you know why President Chiang Kai-shek is coming and why he wants to meet Frank?”

“Well, could there be another purpose? It’s not like I’m in a position to have a chat with that person right now. Of course, we will appeal to stop the suspension of support.”

“I’m just telling you, just in case, if you become weak, you’ll be in trouble.”

“I feel weak and have nothing to do or sleep. I am not a sitting president. How can I influence something that has already been decided?”

“Oh, honestly, it’s possible if you put your mind to it, right?”

“That’s not necessarily true. “Public opinion in America is not very good.”

“is it so?”

“Yes, it is. “Public opinion is boiling over as to how long we will have to hand it out.”

“Hoo? Is it that much?”

“Of course. How many years have you been supporting Chiang Kai-shek? I applied for almost my entire term, so who’s to say it’s good because it looks like that? If the Soviet Union were still alive, there would be a justification for preventing communism, but that’s not the case now, right? “We are in a situation where criticism is pouring in, asking why we can’t stop the Chinese Communist Party, which lost support from the Soviet Union.”

“… … .”

As expected, the collapse of the Soviet Union had a significant impact.

Because communist aid was stolen, the original anti-communist fervor in the United States did not last and died down.

Thanks to this, the issue of China becoming communist also escaped the attention of public opinion, and people began to grow tired of the Kuomintang government’s endless intervention.

“I talked to Harry before I came, and he said that since the Soviet Union was destroyed by General, it would have been difficult to support the Chinese Nationalist Party for long anyway. “It would have been the same even if I were president.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“This is a story that ended from the beginning. “Since the General did not want the National Party to continue.”

“okay. “Then, I think our meeting tomorrow will be quite difficult?”

“ha ha ha! So I asked for support.”

“A request for support? To whom?”

“I decided to ask Winston to watch it with me.”

“Like Ambassador Churchill?”

“Yes, Winston, that guy is a bit loud-mouthed, isn’t he?”

“It’s very strong.”

If the original vitriolic language is anything to go by, the second most pitiful person is Winston Churchill.

He has a great personality, and although there was a lot of talk about receiving the award, he is a great person who will receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

So, is it really a bad thing to say?

Even if Chiang Kai-shek’s team attacked, he probably wouldn’t have been able to defeat him.

“In the end, the Cairo Conference members were reunited.”

“That’s the way it is. “Even though each person’s position and circumstances are completely different.”

“… … .”

Even at the time of the Cairo Conference, they all met as heads of the allied powers.

But now Roosevelt has retired, and Churchill is the British ambassador to Korea.

And although Chiang Kai-shek is still the president of the Republic of China, he is now in a new position.

It felt like the passage of time was so fleeting that neither Roosevelt nor Lee Kang-cheol spoke for a moment.

The next afternoon.

“Welcome, President Jiang.”

“It’s been a while, Mr. President. And Lord Churchill.”

“It’s been a while.”

Chiang Kai-shek was not happy with Churchill’s presence, but he could not continue to insist that they see each other alone.

Because right now I was a completely uninvited guest.

“You look much healthier than before.”

“ha ha ha! Medicine has advanced a lot, right? “I especially benefited greatly from that.”

“okay.”

“President Jiang.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“I know why you came to see me. “Please speak comfortably.”

“Whoa! Since you know, I will tell you comfortably. Please stop cutting off American aid. As you know, if support from the United States is cut off, our National Party government will not be able to survive. And mainland China will become communist. Shouldn’t this situation be prevented?”

“Keep talking.”

“And America can’t do this to us. Aren’t we comrades who fought together, shedding blood against Japan, and who are now fighting at the forefront of the anti-communist front? You really shouldn’t do this. Our Republic of China… … .”

Chiang Kai-shek spoke the words he had prepared with all his might.

For me, this is the last time.

If even Roosevelt abandoned himself, he would truly be standing on a cliff.

And Roosevelt left Chiang Kai-shek talking for a while with a pitiful look on his face.

In his mind, he was thinking about the last consideration he could give to his former comrade.

“… … .So Mr. President, please help! please!”

“Have you said everything you wanted to say?”

“yes? Yes, for now… … .”

“Whoa! President Chang. “Listen to me carefully.”

“Yes, I will listen.”

“I am now a retired president. “We have no power to block or delay the current government’s policies.”

“No, Mr. President! “Your influence is still strong, right?”

“Even if I have influence, I need public support and some justification to make a move. But there is no justification in this case.”

“Why not? We are the Republic of China! This is a country that shed blood together with the United States! And as a vanguard against communism… … .”

“Please stop it.”

“… … .”

“We, the United States, have provided President Jang with many opportunities. The one who blew that opportunity was President Jang himself. It’s no longer difficult. “American public opinion is extremely unfavorable.”

“No, what do you mean! Why is America now trying to abandon us? This is abandoning trust… … .”

“faith? God likes it! “You lost all those weapons and all that money?”

“What? Lord Churchill?”

Churchill’s bitter mouth opened.