Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 208



Only Krnovel

#208 The Great Spirit of France

From the day after the inauguration ceremony, Lee Kang-cheol, as usual, was busy greeting the inauguration congratulatory delegations from all over the world.

Given the current status of the Republic of Korea, most of them were top-level figures, so it was impossible to neglect any one of them.

But among them, there was a special guest.

“Mr. President, former President Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle, special envoy of the French Republic, is waiting for you.”

“Hurry and take you there.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

A moment later, a tall old gentleman, almost 2 meters tall, strode in.

“Welcome, General de Gaulle.”

“Thank you for your welcome. Monsieur Président!”

Leader of Free France during World War II.

Liberator of Paris.

A hero of French national salvation.

Head of cabinet after the end of the war.

All these modifiers were referring to this old gentleman.

Currently, he has retired from politics a little earlier than in history and is living in seclusion, but no matter what anyone says, he is a big man who can be said to be France itself, enough to make the current French president, Vincent Jules Auriol, a nobody.

When it was announced that de Gaulle would come as a special envoy representing the congratulatory delegation, all the current government ministers, including Lee Kang-cheol, were taken aback.

This is because it was thought that if a congratulatory envoy was to be sent, it would naturally be Marshal Philippe Leclerc, who has many ties to the Republic of Korea.

But what about De Gaulle?

De Gaulle’s personality was known to be extremely self-righteous and arrogant, to the point that Churchill and Roosevelt broke up with each other, and in addition, France and Korea did not have a very good relationship as history changed, so it was secretly uncomfortable.

In a way, the Republic of Korea appeared like a comet and took over the position that France had occupied, and there was friction over the independence issue in Indochina and other places.

“Please sit down, general. ah! “The title for a general is a bit ambiguous, so I called him General, but if you want, I can call you something else.”

De Gaulle seemed too short to be called simply a special envoy.

“no. “I am now a barbarian, so it would be better if you call me general.”

“haha! If so, I’m glad.”

“… … .”

To be honest, I did let this tall giant sit down, but honestly, Lee Kang-cheol had nothing more to say.

It would have been nice if he could just say some good things like a congratulatory envoy and then go back, but De Gaulle just stared at Lee Kang-cheol with an expressionless face.

Lee Kang-cheol, who became uncomfortable, finally opened his mouth first.

“Hmm! Why do you look at it that way?”

“I’m just curious.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was wondering just how special our General Leclerc is that he praises the President so much that his mouth is dry. And the same goes for this country called Korea. One day, it appeared like a comet and became the loser of East Asia, and then eventually defeated the Soviet Union and became the loser of the North. “I was very curious about that.”

“So you came in person?”

“Yes, it is. Originally, as you might have guessed, Leclerc was supposed to come. But I decided to go.”

“I’m curious?”

“There’s a reason for that, but it’s because I have something to check for myself.”

“What is that?”

“I heard you advised Leclerc. “France should not be involved in not only Indochina but also its North African colonies such as Algeria.”

“Yes, I did.”

“May I know why?”

“This is not advice to the general, but to General Leclerc personally?”

“Even if it was personal, Philippe is a man at the backbone of our France. He did not give such a person personal advice; he gave advice about national ambassadors. So wouldn’t it be hard to see that as personal advice?”

“… … .”

You could see it that way.

“When I heard those words from Philip, I was very offended, to be honest. “At that time, I thought that a country I had never heard of was interfering with our French policies, not only because it was occupying the place of our great France.”

“Ugh! I’m sorry. “It is because of interference from a shabby country that I have never heard or seen anywhere.”

“you’re right. That’s it.”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol increasingly seemed to understand why Churchill and Roosevelt shook their heads whenever the topic of De Gaulle was mentioned.

Lee Kang-cheol’s uncomfortable feelings were revealed when he said he was sorry for the intervention of an unsophisticated country.

I mean it sarcastically.

However, these people who think that only their own country is great just say that, so they are left with nothing to say.

“What a adventure! “What are you so curious about?”

“Why wouldn’t you be curious? Monsieur President is one of the most influential leaders in the world today. He is perhaps comparable to President Truman of the United States. “There’s no way a person like that would say anything like that, right?”

“Even so, I don’t think there’s any reason for me to tell you. I certainly gave this advice to General Leclerc, but it was advice I gave very kindly. With that in mind, I don’t think there is any reason for me to be harassed by the general who came as a special envoy to congratulate me on my inauguration.”

“It’s not a brush moon, is it?”

“The listener listens intently?”

“… … .”

When Lee Kang-cheol clearly expressed his displeasure, De Gaulle became silent for a moment.

Even if he thought about it, it didn’t seem like something he should say as a congratulatory envoy.

Then he opened his mouth again.

“I apologize if you thought that way. “I had no intention of causing any inconvenience.”

“it’s okay.”

“I’ll ask again if you’re okay. Why does France have to give up its colonies? … .”

“No, this guy?”

“yes?”

“ha… … .”

When he apologized and said it was okay, Lee Kang-cheol got really sick of people asking questions again, thinking he was really okay.

“That’s not really okay, is it? “Why are you doing this?”

“Song, I apologize. “It’s because I’m a very misunderstood person.”

“Please stop talking about that.”

“excuse me… … .”

“Oh, why?”

“I heard it from Prime Minister Churchill.”

“What?”

“He advised me not to listen to anything Monsieur Presidant says. “I heard that what Monsieur Lee says is never wrong.”

“driving me crazy? No, why did that guy talk nonsense? What kind of fortune teller am I? Do you think you can see the future by holding up some kind of crystal ball? Or even card fortune telling?”

“Prime Minister Churchill said so… … .”

“… … .”

It seems that Churchill had been in Korea too long.

And it seemed like today’s meeting would not end until Lee Kang-cheol said something.

This is a person who flew from far away Europe with great determination.

However, it is impossible to bring down a man as big as De Gaulle.

“Look, General.”

“Yes, Monsieur President.”

“I am not some kind of fortune teller. “It’s just that I understand the flow of the world a little better than others.”

“So, if you could tell me the flow you understood well… … .”

“Ugh! General de Gaulle, what do you think about Algeria? “How do you view the Algerian War of Independence that is taking place now?”

Algeria is currently in a war of independence.

Almost two years earlier than its original history, Algeria’s National Liberation Front (Front de Libération Nationale. FLA) was waging a fierce war of independence against the French army.

Accordingly, French public opinion was divided and the country was in a state of disrepair.

And as far as Lee Kang-cheol knew, De Gaulle also held views opposing Algerian independence, at least until now.

Only later did they recognize Algerian independence, half voluntarily.

But, it was too late by then.

This is after countless lives were sacrificed on both sides, and France only incurs Algeria’s animosity.

“We, France, lost so much in World War II. We cannot afford to lose Algeria. “For the glory of great France.”

“I thought so.”

“yes?”

“Look, General de Gaulle. The world no longer allows colonial rule by imperialist countries. That is the river that flows through the world today. But why do you force yourself to go against the grain and keep people who don’t like you? “Are we in a situation where even the British Empire, the country where the sun never sets, is making its colonies independent?”

“… … .”

“I assure you…” … .”

“oh! “It came out!”

“Well, what comes out?”

“It’s a joke, a joke! said Lord Churchill. “If Monsieur Lee assures you, it will definitely happen!”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol was dumbfounded.

Now I can guess what Churchill is talking about in Europe.

He seems to be talking about himself as some kind of prophet.

On the other hand, I thought this would be better.

It was because I didn’t feel like I had to make excuses that didn’t even make sense.

“Ha, General de Gaulle. What on earth is the glory of France? No, what makes France great?”

“yes?”

“As the general said, France is a great country. I completely agree. But what made France great? Does the world view France as great because of its colonies in Indochina? Do you see France as a glorious country because of its vast colonies in North Africa? Is that so? “Do you really think that?”

“… … .”

“no! Why do many civilized countries think France is great? Because the idea is great! freedom! Equality! philanthropy! And France is great because of Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo! France was great because there was Montesquieu, there was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and there was Voltaire! “It is great because it created the metric system and created a world standard!”

“… … .”

“But you just can’t let go of the land in North Africa and commit massacre? Did you massacre so many citizens in Setif and Guelma for the land that you had to give up anyway? Is that the glory of France? Is that great France!”

“… … .”

De Gaulle had no answer to Lee Kang-cheol’s sharp words.

“I assure you, the massacre will happen again many times. Even so, France will not be able to break the Algerian people’s will for independence. Because we, the Republic of Korea, also fought against the Japanese imperialists like that. In short, France will eventually give up on Algeria while suffering as it deserves and receiving criticism as it deserves.”

“… … .”

“That’s how the world goes. This means that colonial rule will no longer be permitted. And the United States, the world’s most powerful country, hates you. The same goes for our Republic of Korea. France, which only speaks of freedom, equality, and fraternity, seems abominable. Where on earth has the great spirit of France gone?”

“ha… … .”

De Gaulle sighed deeply.