Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 245



Only Krnovel

#245. It really happened

Khrushchev’s image in modern times was actually not very good.

The reputation of being uneducated, ignorant, and shallow persisted throughout the Cold War, epitomized by the famous photograph of him taking off his shoe and slamming it on a table in a UN conference room.

There is some controversy over the authenticity of the photo itself.

But does it make sense that an ignorant and superficial person would become the head of a huge country like the Soviet Union?

In a word, it’s complete nonsense.

Basically, the country called the Soviet Union was not such an easy country.

No matter how good you looked to the dictator, you had to have at least some achievements to advance to the central government, and even after you advanced, in order to survive in an environment where all kinds of trickery and scheming were rampant, you had to be shallow but absolutely not stupid.

And Khrushchev is the person who has seized the highest power in history and in the present in such an environment.

However, it would be wrong to see this person as a shallow and ignorant pig.

Khrushchev was no fool, and he could immediately see that there was some truth to what Lee Kang-cheol was saying.

“Are you saying that I am pursuing some wrong policy?”

“Hahaha! How could I say something like that right in front of you, Secretary? To be honest, your Soviet Union and our country are not that close, and you and I are not close friends.”

“Well, that’s true, but I still heard there was some substance to what you said.”

“It is not a matter of having bones, but it is a very fundamental story that a country will be shaken if the leader does not implement proper policies.”

“… … .”

Annoyingly, Lee Kang-cheol avoided answering any further, saying that it was a theoretical matter, which only made Khrushchev even more impatient.

As I told Lee Kang-cheol, I saw a lot of Khrushchev on the train rides over the past 40 days.

Even if we had taken a train instead of a plane, it would have been a distance that would have taken at least two weeks.

But there was a reason why it took 40 days.

Every time I pass by and see a developed area, I get off the train and stay for a day or two to see it properly.

However, the development of South Korea was so great that the time of more than 40 days was very short.

It’s only been six years, six years.

In just six years, as if by some magic, these guys transformed Siberia from a poor and barren place into a dazzlingly developed one.

Moreover, upon entering the Korean Peninsula, I was shocked by the incredible development of the Korean Peninsula, to the point where it had reduced the prosperity of Siberia and Manchuria to a rural area.

I was so surprised that I even wondered, ‘Was the Korean Peninsula originally this developed?’, but that couldn’t be the case.

The Japanese he knew were a people who would never develop their colony like this.

But before that, this level of prosperity was not possible even with the capabilities of the Japanese.

In conclusion, this is the progress made since independence from Japan 10 years ago.

But who can achieve this kind of prosperity in just ten years?

This was an absurd feat, even for Khrushchev, considering all the rulers who were historically regarded as heroes.

If so, it would be right to assume that there was something very special about Lee Kang-cheol.

No, not in South Korea.

Anyway, these are the words of a leader who has achieved such absurd prosperity.

Khrushchev wanted to get some advice at all costs.

Anyway, while riding the train over the Ural Mountains, the idea of ​​regaining the lost eastern Urals territories was long gone.

How on earth are we going to get our lost territories back from these magicians?

Especially when they have nuclear bombs?

Khrushchev neatly threw into the trash can the longing for lost territories that he had cherished in his heart.

The problem was no longer the distant United States or the United Kingdom, which had lost all its limbs and had lost all resemblance to the former British Empire.

The real trend was South Korea.

Are you going to wage war again to get your territory back from these guys?

If that continued, it was certain that even the traditional Russian territory west of the Ural Mountains would be completely blown away.

Anyway, it’s not even a game anymore.

In that case, it would have been best to quickly forget past grudges and become friendly.

And Khrushchev was a leader who had the virtue(?) of knowing how to change positions so quickly.

Pride? Face?

Does that give you bread?

Or do you give meat?

“Hey, come on, don’t say that. Can you say something nice? Aren’t we neighboring countries that share a border?”

“Huh? Yes?”

This time, Lee Kang-cheol was embarrassed.

Because I never thought I would come out and lie down on my stomach so quickly.

“No, isn’t that right? If you think about it, is there any country that is as close as our Soviet Union and your country?”

“What are you talking about? It’s only been six years since I returned home and went to war?”

“Oh! What a shame. That damn Stalin got greedy… … .”

“Can you just say that?”

“It is possible. When I think about how our precious young people died because of that bastard, I still get goosebumps.”

“No, but that’s true. Even though it was a war that invaded your country, millions of your young people died… … .”

“No, what is the wise man saying? Isn’t it the case that affairs between nations can be good and bad, or bad and good?”

“That is true, but… … .”

“Besides, who are we?”

“Huh? Who are you?”

“Didn’t a million bachelors in your country marry our Zebushka? To that extent, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we are one family and a mother-in-law’s country? No, as far as I know, in your country, they already call our Soviet Union a mother-in-law’s country? Hahahaha!”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol was left speechless.

I even thought, “What kind of person is this?”

I knew that Khrushchev was originally a very pragmatic person, to put it nicely, but I didn’t know that he would be so brazen and prostrate.

But Khrushchev went even further.

“In the East, it is considered a virtue and a duty for older people to lead their juniors well. As far as I know, the president is much older than me… … .”

“Hey! Stop it! Look in the mirror and say something! Who would think I’m the secretary and below me?”

“Ah, no, don’t say such harsh words… …!”

“… … .”

Even if it was harsh, I had to say what I had to say.

Khrushchev had already lost most of his hair, leaving only a fringe of hair, and his style made him look unusually old.

Compared to Lee Kang-cheol, who still has thick hair and not many gray hairs, he looks more than 20 years older. Why are you talking about seniority?

“What’s so bad about it? Is it true?”

“… … .”

“Ha! I’ve heard a lot about the secretary, but he’s worse than I thought.”

“No, what did I do… … .”

“ha ha ha!”

Lee Kang-cheol was now laughing.

And anyway, it has been quite a while since Khrushchev was chosen as a partner to rule the Soviet Union.

I wanted to avoid the appearance of a sinister Brezhnev like in the original history, and considering the improving relations between the two countries after the war, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to establish friendly diplomatic relations at this time.

“Okay! Let’s stop talking nonsense. Anyway, you said you wanted to get along well with our country, right?”

“In conclusion, that’s it.”

“But are you still doing business with the People’s Republic of China without our knowledge?”

“Ugh! How about that?”

Khrushchev really thought he was going to fall off.

We conducted the transaction in the utmost secrecy, keeping an eye on the mood of the Republic of Korea, but how on earth did this ghostly person know and say such things?

“Do you think we left it alone because we didn’t know? Earlier this year, I heard that the MiG-17 design drawings and technicians that your country is only just starting to produce were transferred to Beijing?”

“That, that’s not it… … .”

“Oh, that’s okay. I know everything, so don’t even think about sticking your flippers out.”

“Song, I’m sorry. The People’s Republic of China is the only remaining communist country, so I can’t help but… … .”

“Is that because you know all about it?”

“yes?”

“Not only fighter jets, but also various weapons technologies such as tanks were transferred, right? And other heavy industry-related technicians such as iron and steelmakers were also transferred? Should I also tell you when they were transferred?”

“… … .”

Khrushchev’s once cheerful face turned pale.

It was clearly said that this would be handled in strict secrecy.

The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing… … .

Khrushchev opened his eyes tightly.

The People’s Republic of China, which I thought might be abandoned anyway.

I had no intention of going against the wishes of the Republic of Korea for their sake.

Khrushchev lowered his stance again.

In a position that cannot be lowered any further.

“I will never do that again! I swear it! I will immediately order all the engineers to return and retrieve the blueprints.”

“Okay. What good is it to retrieve something that has already passed?”

“No, but still… … .”

“I told you, it’s okay? We’re going to end up in a relationship anyway, so why bother…?”

“Huh? It’s disconnected?”

“You’re going to officially expose Stalin soon, right?”

“Daaaah! Ma, that’s ridiculous!”

“That makes sense. In any case, if that happens, Mao Zedong and the General Secretary will have crossed a river from which they cannot return. That means the Soviet Union and China are finished.”

“… … .”

Until this time, the Soviet Union and China had been dealing with each other through three countries, and South Korea had not said anything in particular.

Also, after Stalin’s brutal death, Mao Zedong protested for a while, but at the time, the Chinese Civil War was in full swing, so Mao Zedong did not act harshly.

However, sooner or later, after Khrushchev gave his speech on “The Cult of Personality and Its Consequences,” commonly referred to in history as the “Secret Speech” (секретный доклад), at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in February 1956, the river of no return was crossed.

This was not only criticizing Stalin, but it also ended up criticizing Mao Zedong.

Anyway, Khrushchev was dazed.

Is this guy a god?

How is it that there is nothing I don’t know?

All sorts of thoughts came to mind.

Still, I had to come to my senses and sort things out.

“Ugh! I apologize again. As you said, even though my speech will soon sever ties with China, I will not wait until then and immediately sever ties with China. So, please be open-minded and be generous… … .”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Please don’t do that… … .”

“No, I mean, it really is. I understand.”

“yes?”

“And you can support the People’s Republic of China as you like now.”

“Wh, what are you talking about? I don’t understand at all… … .”

“I don’t care, so just support China. Why would we stay still when we know that your country supports China?”

“uh?”

I was so flustered because of Lee Kang-cheol, who seemed to know everything, but when I thought about it, it was because of that.

But why did you just stay still when you knew that?

With the ability to stop it at any time?

However, I never thought that South Korea would be friendly to China in the future.

This is because, regardless of ideology, China and South Korea cannot maintain a close relationship even if they want to.

At that moment a thought crossed Khrushchev’s mind.

“Sir, really?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m not going to answer.”

As expected, it was Lee Kang-cheol who answered with a spiteful smile.