Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 363



Only Krnovel

#363. They’re together

September 9, 1966.

As Friday evening arrived, people began to gather at a restaurant in Yongsan.

At first glance, they look like ordinary men in their late 50s to early 70s, but their appearance is anything but ordinary.

Because these were the key figures in power leading the Republic of Korea.

Minister of National Defense Nam Byung-woo, Air Force Chief of Staff Jeong Ji-woon, Navy Chief of Staff Kim Jong-woo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Jeong Seon-ho, military personnel including Choi Chung-heon, Kim Won-sik, Hong Jin-taek, and Oh Byung-moo, as well as National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-hyun.

They are the main characters who came over as part of the expedition team and virtually founded and developed the Republic of Korea.

It had been a long time since we had all gathered together like this, so everyone was happy to see each other and greeted each other.

“Hey? President Kim, your face is still so dark? I guess the southern sea water is really nice.”

“Isn’t this the face of a sea man? What’s wrong with Chief Jeong? Why are you so pale, like someone who hasn’t even eaten a single bite?”

“Well, after spending months in a dark control tower without seeing any sunlight, isn’t that normal? Do you think I’m just some guy who goes boating like you?”

“You’re playing around, why don’t you come out of the basement? You’re not some bat, are you?”

“You’re a little older now, so you should act a little quieter. You’re not like kids, are you?”

“Lee Jae-ha, this son of a bitch, how can you interfere when adults are talking?”

“Oh my, what is this, since we are both growing old together?”

“Oh! Lee Jae-ha! You’ve grown a lot?”

“Were you originally tall?”

“It’s noisy and you want to drink?”

“Oh my, when the Minister of Defense speaks, we have to listen.”

“They’re not even real kids… … .”

“ha ha ha!”

“Heh heh heh!”

It’s already been over 20 years since we’ve been through thick and thin together.

Having been through thick and thin together as the core members of the expedition force for so many years, they had become like family to each other, so they chatted away and reminisced for the first time in a long while.

“But why aren’t the large bread and the army bread coming?”

“Is it almost time to come?”

As someone spoke, the door to the special room of the restaurant opened and only Lee Kang-cheol and Ko Seok-man showed their faces.

“Are we talking about this now?”

“You’re here!”

“You are late!”

“Don’t you know that I should be saluting this?”

“What will you say if I salute you?”

“It’s noisy, everyone sit down.”

“yes.”

At Lee Kang-cheol’s one word, the place was immediately cleared.

“It’s been a really long time, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, because everyone was busy on the front lines and stuff.”

“Yes, that’s why I called you here. The war we were aiming for is over, so I wanted to vent my frustrations and discuss future plans.”

“Haha! Good job.”

“How many years has it been since we came here through the wormhole?”

“It’s been exactly 23 years since I came here in 1943.”

“Time really flies. It feels like just yesterday, but it’s already been 23 years? Back then, everyone was young, but now there’s no one who doesn’t have frost on their head.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

That’s right.

When he came here in 2027, Lee Kang-cheol was 52 years old.

But before I knew it, I was now in my mid-70s, and others were either in their 70s or at least in their late 50s.

It was inevitable that the feelings would be new.

“You’ve all been really great so far. Much better than I expected. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“No. It was the President who took the lead and led the way that led to good results.”

“Hahaha! Yeah, I had a hard time too.”

“ha ha ha!”

“ha ha ha!”

“Come on! Let’s have a toast! To the Republic of Korea!”

“For!”

“Thank you all for your hard work!”

The toasting continued for a while, with some people giving and receiving.

After about ten minutes, Lee Kang-cheol opened his mouth again.

“You’ve worked really hard for 23 years. By building up the military and developing industry, we’ve developed the country to the point where, although unofficially, our per capita national income is expected to surpass that of the United States starting this year. Above all, militarily, we’ve achieved all our goals since we ended the war with the Chinese.”

“… … .”

“And so, my term will end next year. So, it’s time for me to start preparing to step down.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The story of Lee Kang-cheol’s retirement was a very sensitive topic.

Even though they were like family and Lee Kang-cheol had given him instructions in advance, he knew what was going to happen next.

“As we stated in the Constitution from the beginning, I will serve as President until next year and then step down. And as you all know, Seok-Man Lee will take over.”

“Yes, everyone knows.”

“But I’m saying this again to properly ask for your understanding. I’m sorry to Minister Nam Byung-woo, President Jeong Ji-woon, and President Kim Jong-woo, but you won’t have the chance to become president. Is that okay?”

“Oh my! What are you talking about? In terms of seniority and in all other aspects, Prime Minister Ko should naturally take over.”

“That’s right. Minister Nam is the same, but Jong-woo and I are content to just be ghosts of the Air Force and Navy. Isn’t that right, Jong-woo?”

“Hehehe! I will die on the ship. Anyone who tries to throw me into the stuffy Blue House will be cannoned.”

“ha ha ha!”

“Poohaha!”

Kim Jong-woo’s joke caused laughter, and Lee Kang-cheol also responded with a smile.

“Hey, Kim Jong-woo. Don’t worry, I’ll let you die on the ship you love.”

“Hehehe! That will do.”

“Yes, thank you for saying so. Seok-man originally declined, but I insisted on doing it just once.”

“But why once? Shouldn’t it be done twice?”

“Okay, guys!”

At the words that it had to be done twice, this time only Seok-man Ko, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“I know myself well. What should I say? I’m originally a second-in-command type. I’m satisfied with that stepping stone role, so don’t talk nonsense. Besides, I’m too old to do it twice.”

“Then, will you do it just once and then hand it over to Jin-taek?”

“That’s how it should be. In the end, a proper second term government is Jin-taek’s. If I had to be specific, I would be around the 1.5th term, so you all know that. And when that time comes… … .”

“We really need to retire too.”

“Yeah, that’s what it should be.”

“… … .”

An odd silence flowed.

Because their retirement, which they had vaguely thought about, is now starting to become visible.

“Six years from now, so I guess I’ve really done enough. Most of the people here are probably in their mid-70s. Isn’t that right, Jongwoo?”

“Then who will be Jin-taek’s successor?”

“Inma! There’s no guarantee that we’ll live until then, so why are you even thinking about a successor?”

“Is that so?”

“Jin-taek is planning to serve a proper third term, right? Then add 15 years to 6 years, and it’s 21 years, you punk. You and I are both in our 90s. But what kind of successor is Jin-taek?”

“I see. Hey, Jintaek.”

“Yes, President Kim.”

“You know what, if you tell us that you’re going to become president later, right?”

“Oh my! Mr. President, why are you like that? It’s embarrassing.”

“Hahaha! Anyway, do your best.”

“I will work hard.”

“And starting with Jin-taek’s successor, our second generation will probably come forward.”

“maybe…….”

“From then on, a truly new generation will emerge. All of us old-timers from the expeditionary force will step down.”

“As time goes by, a president will emerge from among the locals, not from the expedition team.”

“… … .”

Now, it was a story of the very near future.

“But, Mr. President.”

“Yeah, but why?”

“Is this really the end for China?”

“At least there will be no more war. As you all know, when I came here, I made a vow. It was to split China as much as possible. Isn’t this enough? I have reduced China, which was so large and powerful that it bullied its neighbors, to a level that is worse than the Ming Dynasty of old. And even that is divided into the Communist and Nationalist governments. I think this is enough.”

“That’s true.”

“And there were a lot of deaths in the war. When Mr. Baekbeom passed away, he also told me that there would be no major wars for at least 20 years. And we would remain allies with the South’s Nationalist government.”

“Then what will happen to the Communist Cultural Revolution?”

“Should I ask Director Cho Tae-hyun about that? Director Cho, can you please answer?”

“Hahaha! Is it my turn now?”

“Are you talking like some kind of adopted child?”

“ha ha ha!”

National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-hyun laughed loudly and began to open his mouth.

“First of all, the situation in the People’s Republic of China is as follows. After the defeat, President Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping committed suicide, and Chen Yun was elected as interim president and is working hard to sort things out. For now.”

“Then what about heresy?”

“Hahaha! Of course there are heretics. Tian Yun will soon announce the relocation of the capital.”

“It doesn’t make sense to still use Beijing as the capital.”

“Yes, so we will move the capital to the south. To Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province.”

“My husband? Why my husband of all people?”

“Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, was also a strong candidate.”

“But? I think it would be better to settle down?”

“As you can see, Zhengzhou has moved too far inland. As an economic expert, Tian Yun believes, it will be difficult for the economy to develop this way.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Yes, that’s why Jinan was chosen in the end. It is about 400km away from the newly established border in the north, and the coast is about 170km toward the Bohai Bay and 250km away from the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula. So even if the Bohai Bay is blocked by us in an emergency, we can go south of the Shandong Peninsula to the West Sea without much burden.”

“Huh? That sounds plausible.”

“Tian Yun is a smart person. It seems that he has considered many factors in a complex way.”

The new capital of the Republic of China certainly seemed to have been chosen after considering several factors.

It had to distance itself from the border with South Korea to the north, and it also had to distance itself from the Republic of China to the south, which was now certain to become an enemy again.

And for economic development, it is good to have a coastal port or one that is close to it if possible, but if it is too close, it becomes vulnerable to attacks from the sea, as the Republic of China suffered in this war.

Looking at it this way, there was no region as good as Jeonnam and Taean, so naturally, Jeonnam, the capital, was chosen.

“And Mao Zedong is moving in earnest. Of course, he is not moving himself.”

“Then?”

“Hahaha! They’re together.”

“What if it were them?”

“Jiang Qing, Zhang Chunqiao, Wang Hongwen, and Yao Wenyuan!”

“Oh! The Gang of Four!”

“Haha! That’s right. The four of them! They’re working hard.”

“Should we mourn China?”

“Probably. It is expected to be much longer and harsher than the original history.”

“… … .”