Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 269



Only Krnovel

#269. What are the conditions?

After being welcomed by Kim Kyu-sik, Zhou Enlai went to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Welcome, Mr. Zhou. Welcome to Korea.”

“It’s been a long time, Prime Minister Koh Seok-man. Although it’s late, congratulations on your promotion to the Prime Minister.”

“Hahaha! Thank you.”

Originally, it was Goh Seok-man who was known as the second-highest power and the real power in the South Korean government.

I’ve met him several times since he was the Minister of Defense, and now he’s the Prime Minister.

But, strangely enough, Zhou Enlai felt intimidated whenever he met this person.

If Lee Kang-cheol had a strong charisma that made people feel overwhelmed, then Go Seok-man seemed so cold-hearted that he gave off an aura that made it seem like not even a single needle would go in.

From my experience so far, it’s been like that, but now that I’m older, it feels like it’s become a little more harmful.

Still a difficult opponent though.

“Yes, what brings you to Korea so suddenly?”

“Let me just get straight to the point without any diplomatic rhetoric.”

Since I knew everything about the situation in the People’s Republic of China anyway, there was no need to go back.

Empirically, these people hate that kind of thing.

“Yes, it’s easier for me to do that. Feel free to speak.”

“As you know, the Great Leap Forward, which we ambitiously carried out in the People’s Republic of China, has failed.”

“I know. And that’s why there was such a disaster. Oh! Because of that, our farmland adjacent to the border also suffered severe damage. And because of the refugees from our country trying to cross the border, our border is on high alert every day. This is why we need to be good neighbors… … .”

“Oh, I’m sorry. That was definitely not my intention.”

“I admit that. What kind of crazy government would starve tens of millions of its own citizens to death?”

“… … .”

As expected, I knew it well.

The media in northern China never reported a single line about it.

“So that’s it? I don’t suppose you came here to apologize for the damage you caused to our country?”

“No. Of course I should apologize. I sincerely apologize on behalf of the People’s Republic of China.”

“And?”

“I will be honest with you, since you all know. Our people have suffered greatly from the Great Leap Forward in the past few years. As you said, there was a great disaster where tens of millions starved to death. And this year, there was also a great crop failure, so there is absolutely not enough food to feed our people.”

“So?”

“If we continue like this, tens of millions of precious lives will be lost again this winter. So I beg you. We desperately need food. I beg you, please help us by providing us with food. Here is a personal letter from our new president, Liu Shaoqi.”

Zhou Enlai carefully handed the letter to Gao Shiman.

“A personal letter from the new president? I need to call Vice Prime Minister Kim Kyu-sik again… … .”

“No. For your convenience, I have translated the text into Korean below what our commentator wrote. Just read it.”

“Huh? That sounds good. Where should we look then?”

Only Gao Shiman read the personal letter Zhou Enlai handed him, and the content was, as expected, obvious.

They talked about humanitarianism and such, but the conclusion was that they desperately needed food, so they asked for support.

“So the content is a request for food?”

“Yes, please. Please.”

“But why did you come to us? I am very sorry about the tragedy that occurred in your country, but honestly, isn’t your country and ours not close enough to make such a request? We did establish diplomatic relations to mediate the end of the Chinese Civil War.”

“No, that’s… … .”

“Usually, in diplomatic cases like this, isn’t it common to offer a small amount of food along with a statement of regret at a formal level?”

“… … .”

What Ko Seok-man said is right.

Normally, unless there is a war, even if it is an enemy country, when a natural disaster or man-made disaster of this magnitude occurs, it is common to issue a statement of regret and provide money, food, or supplies as a small token of goodwill.

So, for South Korea and the People’s Republic of China, who are practically potential enemies, that was just enough to save face.

But that didn’t mean it was time to back down.

It was an unpleasant position, but if Zhou Enlai himself failed to obtain food from South Korea, another catastrophe would occur in which tens of millions of people would starve to death.

If you refuse to give it to me, I will have to beg you, even if it means holding onto Go Seok-man’s trouser leg.

“I know it’s shameless, but I still ask you this. I’ll pay for the food somehow. Please sell the food.”

“No, our country is not a food exporting country. Why are you doing this to us?”

“Please, I beg you. Please don’t say that. We must have tried everything to get food. But I know that there is no way to get food without going back to your country, and you know that too, Prime Minister. I really bow my head and ask you to do this.”

“No, when you say it like that, it makes us look like the bad guys.”

“ha…….”

Currently, there are only two countries on Earth that can supply North China’s food shortage: the United States and Argentina, both in the international grain market.

However, the grain market was already preempted by South Korea, which anticipated the food crisis, several years ago.

So, they supplied some of it to South Korea, Burma and Vietnam, which were also severely affected by pests and diseases, and some were sent to the Republic of China.

Even though there is still plenty of room left, there is no reason to return it to North China.

The second way was to secure food by interfering with South American countries such as the United States and Argentina, but the United States, of course, would not sell food without South Korea’s consent, and Argentina had also become a country that was completely attached to South Korea at some point, making it difficult.

Other areas?

The Soviet Union was still at the level of being self-sufficient, and Europe also had a large population, so it was a time when people were satisfied with being self-sufficient.

India was no exception.

In conclusion, it is a fact that everyone knows, you know it, and I know it, that the only country that can solve North China’s food problem is South Korea.

Now is not the time to be proud.

“You can say whatever you want. Please! I beg you to sell me food! If you tell me to kneel, I will boil!”

“Huh! Right!”

If he came out like this, throwing away all his pride and everything, even Go Seok-man couldn’t act shamelessly anymore.

“Even if you ask for a high price, I will somehow pay it. Please just sell it!”

“Oh, really! Now I have nothing to receive… … .”

“… … .”

North China had nothing to offer.

earth?

Now, even if you give it to me, I can’t eat it.

There won’t be any land to give.

And above all, if we try to expand our territory by taking advantage of another country’s disaster, the international community will not look kindly on us, so we cannot do that.

In a word, we know each other.

I am saying that there is no other way than for South Korea to take pity on the people of northern China and allow them to sell food.

“What is Chairman Mao doing?”

“yes?”

“What is the current status of former Chairman Mao? From what we understand, he has stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Central Military Commission and is now completely excluded from real power?”

“Oh, yes. That happened because I took responsibility for the Great Leap Forward.”

“Then what is the possibility of falling into a state of complete inability to recover from there?”

“… … .”

Even Zhou Enlai doesn’t know that.

Before coming to South Korea, I had heard that it might be completely eliminated, but I just thought that even if it was difficult right away, there was a high chance that it would happen.

For those who had newly seized power, such as Liu Shaoqi and Peng Dehuai, the most fearful scenario was Chairman Mao’s comeback, so they naturally did so.

“Excuse me, why do you ask that?”

Actually, there was nothing to be sorry about.

Because it was actually strange to ask about the real power holders of another country.

“Do you want food? Then you had better answer me.”

“To be honest, I don’t know what will happen in the future. However, I think the new chairman will not leave it alone because the Great Leap Forward caused so much damage.”

“Hmm, does that seem right to you, Mr. Zhou?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then let’s do it like this.”

“How do you say that?”

“Please convey my message to your country’s Chairman Liu Shaoqi. I tell him that our Republic of Korea does not want any more problems to arise for Chairman Mao.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean it literally. I don’t want Chairman Mao to have any trouble.”

“No, why… … .”

Zhou Enlai, who was about to ask why, closed his mouth.

It was because I thought that these South Korean government guys had wanted Chairman Mao to rule China all along.

“Don’t ask me why. If I had to tell you, it would be that we don’t want to see a sudden political upheaval in our neighboring country.”

“… … .”

That won’t be it.

These guys must have thought that it would be beneficial for the Republic of Korea if Chairman Mao ruled.

In the end, this meant that his own thoughts that the republic would not develop if Chairman Mao ruled it were correct.

This has actually been proven by this incident.

“If you promise so, I will sell you food.”

“Then please write it down in writing.”

“Are we crazy?”

“yes?”

“What kind of crazy person would write something like that down in a document? Interfering in another country’s internal affairs? And you want me to leave that as evidence?”

“Oh, no, just words?”

“Yes, they are just shoes.”

“I’m sorry, but if I do that, the new government won’t believe me. As you may know, I’m not a member of this new government.”

“I know. But that doesn’t mean there’s no way. You’re not alone this time, are you?”

“… … .”

Of course, I didn’t come alone.

There’s no fool who sends away someone who has been on good terms without attaching a watchman.

“Are you outside? Call me. I’ll tell you exactly what’s going on.”

“Oh, I understand.”

“Then the food selling price is… … .”

“I will give you the current international price.”

“Ah! Oh, thank you.”

The current international grain prices are skyrocketing, but in reality, we have to admit that even if the price were several times higher, it would be unacceptable.

So, saying that they would give it at the international market price meant that South Korea would hardly gain any benefit.

“Do you know why we show this favor?”

“… … .”

“I really advise you. If you go on like this, don’t you know? President Chiang Kai-shek’s movements these days are not simple.”

“Yes, I know.”

“How can people not be moderate? They should do something moderate… … .”

“… … .”

Zhou Enlai could not raise his head in shame.

It is a well-known fact that South Korea does not want unification with China.

In the end, it was said that they were selling food because they did not want Northern China to be absorbed into Southern China.

***

That afternoon in Beijing, China.

“What? No, what are the conditions?”

“That’s right! This is interference in internal affairs! No, before that, is Comrade Zhou’s words certain? Is it possible that Zhou is lying for Chairman Mao?”

“That’s not true. I heard that the Prime Minister of South Korea called our entourage at the end of the meeting and confirmed it.”

“Why on earth!”

When the conditions in South Korea became known, chaos broke out.

In particular, Peng Dehuai, who was intent on eliminating Mao Zedong, could not contain his anger.

“This is ridiculous! Why are they talking about Chairman Mao? I can’t accept it!”

“If you don’t admit it? Then what are you going to do?”

“… … .”

“Are you going to watch tens of millions of people starve to death again?”

“… … .”

“There is no way. There is no way. You have to accept it unconditionally.”

“… … .”

It was only after Liu Shaoqi’s memorandum guaranteeing Mao Zedong’s safe political activities was delivered to Seoul that food was finally secured.

This is because the South Koreans set conditions in terms of their own structure, while demanding a written promise from us.

Thus, food sales were permitted, and under Liu Shaoqi’s brilliant leadership, the People’s Republic of China began to find stability again.