Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 17



Only Krnovel

#17. as soon as possible

November 20, 1943.

Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands was surrounded by massive steel walls.

Finally, at 06:10, around dawn.

The 16-inch main guns of the battleships USS Colorado and USS Maryland began firing with flashes and roars that brightened the dawn.

bang! bang! bang! Quawang!

In response, numerous battleships, heavy cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers fired frantic gunfire at Tarawa, which was nothing more than a small atoll, while fighter jets taking off from numerous regular aircraft carriers, light carriers, and escort aircraft carriers of the aircraft carrier task force also flew in like bees and launched air strikes. was added.

A situation where there is literally no other hell.

5 hours later.

“General Holland Smith’s dissatisfaction is great. “They say they’re going on a rampage, asking what this is?”

“That person would be like that. Could it be that he’s a crazy person who cries for no reason (Howlin’ Mad)? Actually, Nimitz’s instructions were a bit unexpected to me.”

Heavy cruiser CA-35 Indianapolis.

Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commander of the Central Pacific Ocean Forces, answered his staff’s words while maintaining his characteristic expressionless expression.

“So did I. I don’t know what’s happening all of a sudden. “You want to bombard an atoll the size of a booger for at least two days?”

“It may seem a bit excessive, but Nimitz probably wants to keep the sacrifice of his troops to a minimum. “It’s safe and there’s nothing bad, so follow the instructions and pour as much as you can over the next two days.”

“That is true. As for the water depth issue, it was confirmed that Commander Nimitz’s instructions were correct.”

“It was almost a big sacrifice for our children. “I don’t know how the intelligence agencies work.”

Fierce shelling and air strikes continued for two days.

U.S. Pacific Fleet Command, November 23, 1943.

“The Battle of Tarawa is virtually over. Fortunately, our casualties were fewer than expected.”

Colonel Rochefort reported to Nimitz.

“I’m so glad”

“I’m so glad. “If Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s descendants had not given us information, a catastrophe would have occurred.”

“Huh! “That’s right!”

The reports of Admiral Spruance and the commander of the landing force, the 5th Amphibious Corps, a howling madman, were identical.

If there had not been a warning from the Fleet Command, they would have made a huge sacrifice.

And from the future landing wars, a new landing war doctrine should be developed by taking lessons from the Tarawa Battle.

“If our troops had suffered significant damage, domestic public opinion would not have remained silent.”

“I guess so. “I owe a lot to Koreans for this.”

“At this rate, at least they are not enemies. “I don’t know how they obtained that information.”

“You should not consider us enemies, but rather friends. “I should thank my friends.”

– Uncle Sam of Hawaii to the descendants of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

Thank you, friends.

Thanks to you, I survived.

However, Korean workers confirmed that despite their efforts, about 400 people have survived to date. I’m sorry.

A reply came in less than 30 minutes.

– A descendant of Admiral Yi Sun-sin to Uncle Sam in Hawaii.

It’s a shame, but that would have taken a lot of effort.

Thank you.

And three hours later, another communication was delivered.

– Admiral Yi Sun-sin descends from Uncle Sam in Hawaii.

I believe we are friends now.

As a friend, I give you my first piece of advice.

If possible, please give this to FDR in Cairo.

Churchill is absolutely correct about Georgia’s human butchers.

We will verify this as soon as possible.

“…”

“…”

Admiral Nimitz and Colonel Rochefort forgot what to say.

Colonel Rochefort was the first to break the long silence.

“Admiral, what do you think? “Do you believe what they say?”

“It’s absurd, but it’s not something to be taken lightly.”

“then?”

“This is not for me to judge. All I have to do is relay the words of my new friends to Washington. “It’s up to them to decide.”

“Whew! All right.”

Nimitz immediately sent a message to Admiral Ernest King.

Cairo, November 24, 1943, 08:30.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s residence.

smart!

“What’s going on?”

“Admiral Ernest King is requesting to see you.”

“now?”

“Yes, it is.”

“What time is the US-British Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting?”

“It’s 11 a.m.”

“Then I guess we’ll have a moment. “Tell them to come in.”

It may be a bit unexpected, but I couldn’t let this old and eccentric Chief of Naval Staff, who had been serving in the military for 43 years, go away.

“Mr President!”

“What’s going on so early?”

“It’s related to the Battle of Tarawa.”

“The victory in the Battle of Tarawa has already been reported. It was a great battle. Congratulations, Admiral.”

“I didn’t ask to meet you to congratulate you.”

“then?”

“This goes back to September. “A communication was received from the Pacific Fleet Command that broke through our naval code…”

Admiral King began to explain in detail what had happened since September.

And about 20 minutes later.

“Huh! What on earth… “Is this true?”

“Nimitz is not a man who talks nonsense.”

“That’s not what you’re saying, is it?”

“It’s completely true.”

“…”

Roosevelt was dumbfounded.

Korea is a country we often hear about recently and is a country that is also mentioned at this meeting.

No, it was a country.

Because it was a country that failed and was taken over by Japan.

But the resistance fighters of that country broke through the U.S. Navy’s code, foreshadowed the major event of Duce’s escape, and even provided decisive help in the Battle of Tarawa?

It made absolutely no sense.

Just yesterday, Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek said about Korea that there was no significant resistance.

He said that he has organized something similar to a government-in-exile in Chongqing, where he is located, but that it is merely a government organization created by one political party and is not representative.

“What do you think, Admiral? “Do you really think these admiral descendants have the ability to do that?”

“This is Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Anyway, that’s not the important thing, it’s beyond the point of thinking about whether they have the ability or not. “I don’t know how they have that ability, but they have definitely proven to have extraordinary ability.”

“okay.”

“Also, it should be said that it has been proven to this extent that we are not enemies. So the question is what to do with the information they convey going forward. “Let’s start with the human butcher issue in Georgia.”

“If you were a human butcher from Georgia…”

“Without a doubt, it is Stalin.”

“Hmm…”

He said that Churchill’s opinion was completely correct about the human butchers in Georgia.

So, this means that the pro-Soviet stance that he has maintained for the sake of victory in the war against Germany and stability in the post-war world order is wrong…

“Those Koreans.”

“Yes, President.”

“Did you say you were also proving that what Churchill said was correct?”

“Yes, it is. There was no mention of when or how to do it. “We just said we would prove it as soon as possible.”

“That’s right… Anyway, I understand. “If you receive any contact from them in the future, please report it to me immediately.”

“All right.”

“And what kind of descendant…”

“This is Admiral Yi Sun-sin.”

“Yes, please keep the story about those people a complete secret.”

“All right.”

In the afternoon, Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, Song Meiling, who served as interpreter, paid an unofficial visit to Roosevelt.

Chiang Kai-shek tried to make Roosevelt realize on the spot how much he and the Kuomintang army had done and would do their best in the future, but Roosevelt’s heart had already cooled the day before and yesterday when he first met him.

This is because Chiang Kai-shek was not the warrior or hero of the anti-Japanese struggle that he thought.

“Wait a minute, I also have something to ask.”

“Please feel free to ask questions, President.”

“What kind of country was Korea?”

“yes? “You mean Korea?”

“Yes, Korea. “It seemed like you both knew a lot about Korea, right?”

“…”

“…”

Embarrassment appeared on Chiang Kai-shek and Song Meiling’s faces.

When they talked about Joseon, they didn’t seem to be very interested, so why are they suddenly asking?

“Why are you suddenly talking about Korea?”

“It’s no big deal. “I’m just curious.”

“Hmm, it’s a small country. It has been a country protected by China since ancient times. “He had to be appointed king by our Chinese emperor.”

“So you’re saying it’s part of China?”

“It’s a bit hard to say it was part of it, but it was a kind of vassal state that paid tribute to China. That’s part of the reason we care about Korea. “Korea is a country that China must continue to care for and care about even after independence.”

“okay. So, among Korea’s resistance forces, is there a strong group that can represent Korea? Very competent and has excellent technical skills…”

“ha ha ha! Is that possible? There are many organizations involved in the independence movement, but they are all at odds and have a lot of antagonism. That is why we do not recognize the Independence Party government in Chongqing as our representative.”

“Well sir. “It was very helpful.”

“ha ha ha!”

Roosevelt was now convinced.

Chiang Kai-shek is not friendly to Korea; he just wants to keep Korea under Chinese influence after the war.

Historical dominance, just like in the past when China was ruled by an emperor.

Expeditionary Force Headquarters, December 1, 1943.

“The Cairo Declaration is being announced on the radio!”

“Let’s hear it.”

– …Their purpose is to confiscate all Pacific islands that Japan has seized or occupied since the outbreak of World War I in 1914, as well as all territories Japan has seized from China, such as Manchuria. , Taiwan, and the Penghu Islands, etc. to China. Japan will also be expelled from all other territories seized by violence and greed. These three powers mentioned above recall that the Korean people are in a slave state and firmly pledge to make Korea a free and independent country as soon as possible.

In order to realize this purpose…

“I think it’s the same?”

“wait for a sec! “Play it again”

“Yes, Commander.”

The signal soldier played back the Cairo Declaration that he had recorded.

“hmm? ha ha ha! “There is another place!”

“Somewhere else? “Where do you mean?”

“Exactly here, ‘at the earliest possible moment’! This part!”

“Why is that? ah! “It originally meant ‘in due course’, that is, ‘at the right time,’ right?”

“that’s right. When Roosevelt’s confidant Harry Hopkins wrote it, it was ‘as soon as possible’, but Roosevelt himself changed it to ‘at the proper moment’, but Churchill thought the expression was awkward, so he changed it to ‘in due course’, which is almost the same word. “It was changed to .”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that Roosevelt is at least starting to be aware of us! ha ha ha!”

“ha ha ha!”

Lee Kang-cheol felt really good.

Although it was only a small part, it was the first time the expeditionary force came over and changed history.