Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 18
Only Krnovel
#18. First purpose.
In December, the hunter agents, who had been retrained for almost four weeks, were back in action, and their performance in this harsh winter was no joke.
“What on earth are those guys? “Did you do some kind of pyramid business in your past life?”
“Iknow, right? They don’t seem to be hunters, but rather people who were part of a sales organization. In particular, the sales performance of the three Kim brothers is outstanding. At that level, sooner or later I will surpass diamonds and become crowns…”
“Did you do multi-level marketing when you were unemployed?”
“Huh…”
The first round of hunting for hunter agents in mid-December? Among the people who were affected, 50 people who completed the verification and completed the first 5 weeks of education and training were selected as new agents and expanded the sales stage to not only Ganggye-gun but also nearby Huchang-gun, Jangjin-gun, Yeongwon-gun, and Wiwon-gun.
And as the number of agents increased, they were also named the Special Recruiting Unit. The first hunter agents were named the 101st Special Recruiting Unit, and the second unit was named the 102nd Special Recruiting Unit.
“Special recruitment unit? Isn’t there a better name? “Isn’t this a too insincere name?”
“Originally, you were going to call it a special supplementary unit, but you ended up with it?”
“That’s a bit like that. Strictly speaking, it is more of a recruiting corps than a replenishment corps…”
“It is a temporary organization anyway. We cannot continue to use such excellent resources for recruiting missions. Just move on. They are also satisfied.”
“I get it. By the way, will it be okay in this cold? “The clothes were worn so poorly.”
“They say they are fine. And although I couldn’t wear outerwear because it was conspicuous, I made sure to wear underwear and provided a hot pack. “They’re so well-trained in the cold that they’ll be fine.”
“But don’t overdo it. “I come back to the camp regularly and rest unconditionally.”
“I knew.”
By mid-January 1944, about 1,000 Korean men were rolling around in the snow at the outside camp.
This is because as the number of special recruitment units increases, the recruitment area also increases, and the speed of recruitment accelerates.
“Tell the special recruiters to be careful. “Now the nerves of the nearby Japanese have become incredibly sharp.”
More than 1,000 young men disappeared.
Unless the Japanese military was stupid, there was no way they wouldn’t think it was strange.
In particular, they reacted more sensitively because conscription was scheduled to be implemented for Koreans starting in the spring.
“Even if you don’t, we are warning you. Even when I leave home, I make sure to tell my family that I am going across the Yalu River to do business.”
“The Japanese think there is a den of independence fighters beyond the Yalu River.”
“Maybe that’s why the security in the Yalu River area is being further strengthened.”
“For now, it’s fortunate that their attention is focused on the Yalu River, but it’s time to step on their tail.”
“Well, it’s not unreasonable.”
“There are only a few days left before Lunar New Year, right?”
“It’s January 26th, so there are only 10 days left.”
“Then call in all the special recruits. Let’s feed them some rice cake soup on New Year’s Day to recharge them and then send them out when the cold subsides. “It’s to soothe the nerves of Japanese kids.”
“All right.”
Chuseok and Lunar New Year.
Both are said to be the nation’s greatest holidays.
There was even a sad public opinion poll that asked which holiday was the biggest, Chuseok or Lunar New Year, but considering the scale of movement and the traditional meaning of the harvest season, Lunar New Year was a bit behind Chuseok.
Anyway, there is no doubt that Lunar New Year is one of our people’s greatest holidays.
Lee Kang-cheol declared Lunar New Year’s Day and the next two days as a holiday and ordered everyone to rest except for essential personnel such as situation and security personnel.
“Look at the beef in the rice cake soup!”
“Wow, it’s delicious!”
“Hehehe!”
Life of Koreans at the end of the Japanese colonial period.
It was so devastated that there was nothing to see.
Moreover, this was even more so since it was originally a cold and hungry neighborhood.
I wonder if Lee Kang-cheol was upset when he saw a bunch of beggars being brought in by hunter agents.
Even though it was frozen beef, the rice cake soup made with a lot of beef looked appetizing even to modern people, but the chef showed his skill and added a lot of MSG, so I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
When did they first encounter seasoning?
It was so delicious that many people shed tears.
“Damn, I’m crying over beef rice cake soup…”
“It means I haven’t lived that long. “When I first saw them, I thought they were a group of zombies.”
“Do you have enough food?”
“It’s still enough.”
“Then don’t spare it and release it.”
“I’m doing it even if I don’t have to.”
“We will have a meeting the day after the holiday, so get ready.”
“What are you going to say?”
“First of all, I plan to let you know my plans for this year. Don’t executives need to know?”
“That’s true. Should we also call civilian executives?”
“I have to call you. If you keep excluding them, dissatisfaction will build up. “How is he doing these days?”
“It seemed like he was depressed for a moment, but instead he was always smiling and working hard. “Because I work really hard to get a job done, I don’t have many followers, but I have gained quite a few.”
“Hmm…”
Lee Kang-cheol thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“Tell Director Cho Tae-hyun to monitor more thoroughly. We also monitor the people we hang out with. In particular, never allow access to communication facilities.”
“yes?”
“I would feel relieved if I had just complained or been frustrated, but you said you would persevere and work hard? And that too with a smile? That guy is really scary. “The term ‘gumilbokgeom (口蜜腹劍)’ does not exist for nothing.”
“If you are so untrustworthy, it would be better…”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Why is this guy so good at his job? You haven’t clearly committed any sins yet? We will work on you under strict supervision. If you do that, one day you will reveal your true intentions.”
“Tongue, brother… “It’s surprisingly scary…”
“…”
January 26, 10 a.m., Headquarters Conference Room.
“Did you all rest well?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“It’s been a while since I had a good rest.”
It was a really long holiday.
Ever since the expeditionary force came over here, Saturday had been a semi-communist day, and the executives never had a proper rest even on that day.
Maybe that’s why everyone’s faces were in full bloom.
“I am very sorry about this. “Just like in the other world, we should rest on the weekends, but we couldn’t because the circumstances here weren’t conducive.”
“haha! no. “Everyone came here with the intention.”
“Yes, Commander. “It’s an exhibition. Where is this?”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Lee Kang-cheol said some more good things about the Lunar New Year and then got to the point.
“The reason we have gathered you all together today is to tell you about our plans for this year. “Some of the people I consulted with may know, but I’m going to give you a rough idea because I’m sure you’re curious.”
“…”
Everyone must have been curious, so they immediately hardened their expressions and paid attention to Lee Kang-cheol’s mouth.
“It’s 1944. This means that the Japanese military will begin to melt away in earnest starting this year. First, a huge amount of people and resources were consumed in China through the continental penetration operation, and in the Pacific, a huge amount of troops were replaced in Saipan, Peleliu, and Guam. And, crucially, hundreds of thousands of people literally melt in the battle to recapture the Philippines. Would it be a bonus that the Japanese Navy was defeated by the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf? ah! Even with Burma’s Imphal Operation…”
“Oh oh! Teacher Mojeonguryeomya (牟田口廉也)!”
“ha ha ha! you’re right. “The famous independence fighter Renya Mutaguchi makes a big deal out of it.”
“ha ha ha!”
Lieutenant General Renya Mutaguchi.
In Korea, he is a strangely well-known figure.
Even people who are not interested in warriors or the military have probably heard of his name at least once, and aside from his role in starving or killing over 50,000 troops through the reckless and pathetic Operation Imphal, his bizarre actions may have also played a role.
In addition, although war crimes were suspected in some cases, he was very clean for a high-ranking Japanese military general.
“Anyway, the Japanese army virtually collapsed in 1944. Do you see why I am saying this?”
“Aren’t you trying to say that most of the Japanese troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula will be sucked south?”
“you’re right. As early as 1942, most of the 20th Division’s troops, numbering 25,000, were wiped out after going to New Guinea. And the 30th Division, which is in charge of North and South Pyongan Provinces where we are located, will also go to Mindanao, Philippines by May of this year, and the 49th Division, which will be newly formed in February, will go to the Burma front in June.”
“What happens to the 19th Division?”
“They will go to the Philippines in November.”
“What do you mean, just for now?”
“well? “I don’t know what will happen.”
“yes? Those words…”
“Because we might have to deal with it.”
“…”
For the first time since the meeting began, there was a heavy silence.
Most of those who attended the meeting would have looked up the records, so they know that there was a vacuum in the Japanese military on the Korean Peninsula in 1944.
However, Commander Lee Kang-cheol says that the expeditionary force may now have to deal with the 19th Division.
It is one of the 17 permanent divisions representing the Japanese Army and is a powerful division with the important task of stopping the Soviet Union.
“Commander, may I ask a question?”
Lieutenant Colonel Hong Jin-taek, one of Lee Kang-cheol’s hand-picked staff, raised his hand.
“Oh, Colonel Hong. “Speak comfortably.”
“If you follow what the commander said, wouldn’t we be able to take over more easily if we wait a little longer and start working in earnest after the 19th Division leaves for the Philippine front?”
“That’s right.”
“But why…”
“Hmm, there are many reasons, but the first and most important reason is that we must also contribute to the war effort. You said the 19th Division was going to the Philippines, right? More than 17,000 casualties were shed by the Allied Forces in the battle to recapture the Philippines. Of course, it can be said that it is much less than the Japanese army’s 320,000, but it means that a lot of blood was shed. But would the Allied Forces feel good if our expeditionary force waited for them to leave and then robbed an empty house? “You’ll find out later that we were more than capable of dealing with them, right?”
“ah···.”
“Colonel Hong, what was the President’s first purpose in sending us here?”
“He told me to become a proud member of the victorious nation.”
“Yes, that’s right. A proud country of victory. In order to become a proudly victorious country, you must take responsibility for it and establish a major that matches it. Do you understand? None of us want the blood of our expeditionary forces or our locally replenished troops shed. But this is war, war. “If you want to make your voice heard after the war, you have no choice but to shed blood.”
“Understood, Commander.”
Hong Jin-taek nodded vigorously as if he understood, and the others did the same.
And Go Seok-man was swearing inwardly towards Hong Jin-taek.
‘What kind of acting does that kid do so well?’
“There is another reason. There is a reason why we must occupy those places quickly, and that is because of Heungnam and Wonsan. “You all know why that place is important, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“There is a reason why we need to quickly take over Heungnam, the largest industrial city in Joseon at the time, but Wonsan is more important to us than that. Wonsan is a heavy chemical industrial complex, and this is where Chosun Petroleum Co., Ltd., the only oil refinery on the Korean Peninsula with an annual capacity of 300,000 tons, is located.”
“ah···.”
“okay.”
“Yes, that is why we have no choice but to enter war in the middle of 1944. “I’m sure you understood everything I said, right?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Um, Commander…”
At that time, Chief Administrative Officer Kim In-ho quietly raised his hand and opened his mouth.
“hmm? Chief Administrative Officer? I have questions?”
“Okay, do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“sure? From now on, you don’t have to raise your hand.”
“…”
“So what’s your question?”
“Yes, then when do you plan to start working in earnest?”
“We are going to discuss it in earnest from now on.”
“Ah yes···.”
When Kim In-ho shook his head as if relieved, Chief of Staff Go Seok-man opened his mouth this time.
“From now on we will discuss military operations. “I would appreciate it if civilians would leave their seats.”
“…”
At Go Seok-man’s words, Chief Administrative Officer Kim In-ho’s face turned downward, and his expression, which others could not see, was horribly distorted.
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