Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 369



Only Krnovel

#369. They say you shouldn’t be afraid of blood.

December 9, 1966.

Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

Mao Zedong’s residence.

“What is this?”

“I would like Comrade Zhou to read this at the expanded meeting of the Central Politburo around the middle of next week.”

“Hey, this is what you mean?”

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

“… … .”

Zhou Enlai couldn’t help but feel astonished.

Former South Korean Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Kyu-sik passed away on December 1, and Zhou Enlai also visited as a mourner at the request of Acting President Chen Yun.

It was a country that had brought him the humiliation of being unilaterally slaughtered just a few months ago, but it was judged that it was right to pay condolences to the death of a great figure like Kim Kyu-sik, even for the sake of the future, and Zhou Enlai had been close to Kim Kyu-sik from the beginning, so he visited quietly.

However, as soon as I returned to China, I received a call from Mao Zedong and visited his residence. The faces of the people already gathered there were unusual.

Lin Biao was sitting next to Mao Zedong, and Mao Zedong’s wife Jiang Qing was also there.

And the rest of the trash.

There were also children like Kang Sheng, who was called Mao Zedong’s executioner, Chen Boda, who theorized and wrote Mao Zedong’s thought while still alive, and Yao Wenyuan, who was supported by Zhang Chunqiao, Wang Hongwen, and Zhang Qing.

The people gathered were either long-time confidants of Mao Zedong or those who had recently ascended to the throne, and Zhou Enlai had a bad feeling about this from that time on.

And that premonition came true.

As soon as Zhou Enlai sat down on the chair Mao Zedong offered him, he held out a document in front of his nose.

“What is this?”

“Read it. You will understand when you read it.”

“… … .”

Zhou Enlai read it slowly and was astonished.

This was because it was nothing more than a declaration that the world would be turned upside down once again.

In a word, the smell of blood was strong.

It’s the smell of blood, like the Great Leap Forward or the last war with South Korea.

Zhou Enlai felt that this had to be stopped at all costs.

But, as always, he could not stand up to Mao Zedong.

“Look, Zhou Enlai. I asked you if you liked it.”

In the end, something different came out of Zhou Enlai’s mouth.

“Oh, no. I totally agree with that.”

“Hahaha! Right? Yes, I have always believed in Comrade Zhou. I will continue to believe in him in the future.”

“Thank you. But… … .”

“but?”

“If things go as planned, our People’s Republic of China will once again shed a lot of blood. So, it would be better to just tone down the content a little bit… … .”

“Oh my! Comrade Zhou! What are you talking about!”

“What? No, look, Lin Biao… … .”

“That document was organized by Cheonbo, but it was written with great care and dedication by Chairman Mao himself, who was concerned about the future of the Republic! And now, Comrade Zhou Enlai dares to say that Chairman Mao’s thoughts are wrong! Huh? Speak up, speak up!”

“That’s not what I’m saying! If this is just implemented as is, the suffering of the people of the Republic, which is already in ruins… … .”

“Stop it, stop it.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Zhou Enlai realized that he had made a mistake.

Lin Biao’s son kept nagging him so much that he got excited without realizing it, but at least at this point, it was clearly a mistake.

The fact that Chairman Mao’s eyes, which had seemed as if he was about to embrace him just a moment ago, were now looking at him fiercely proved this fact.

“Comrade Zhou.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What’s so unpleasant about it? Tell me more freely.”

You have to do well here.

If you twist it, it’s just a cliff.

Now, Chen Yun is barely holding on to his position as interim chairman with the support of the military, including Ye Jianying, Xu Xiangqian, and Nie Longzhen, but the People’s Liberation Army, which has been reduced to rags by the war, is leaning towards Lin Biao, who opposed the war and even lost his son.

Naturally, Mao Zedong, who had been out of power, was gradually gaining support as rumors spread that he had opposed the war from the beginning.

But these two joined hands.

In other words, it is only a matter of time before Mao Zedong takes power again.

Already, many party cadres were openly pledging their loyalty to Mao Zedong.

If you want to survive, you must follow it unconditionally.

“No, Comrade Joo. How could that be? I guess I misspoke since I just got on the plane, but that’s not what I said at all.”

“Really?”

“It’s true.”

“Hahaha! Yes, I believe in Comrade Zhou.”

“Go, thank you.”

“Yes, I trust Comrade Zhou, but take my words to heart. Sometimes I see Comrade Zhou as a somewhat indecisive person.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s how I see it. But you know, when people have to be strong-willed, that’s how they can accomplish great things. I’ve been thinking long and hard about how I can complete our revolution after I step down.”

“As expected, you are amazing.”

“There was only one conclusion that came out of that. Politics, society, culture, ideology? They all had to be overhauled. How should we do that?”

“… … .”

Zhou Enlai was afraid to answer Mao Zedong’s questions, which were asked with dazzling eyes.

“If we want to start over, we have to start by completely destroying the old, wrong things. Don’t you think so?”

“you’re right.”

“And the same goes for people. Why did I have to lose power and live as a wild man? Huh? The failure of the Great Leap Forward? Let’s say a few people got hungry and died. So what do you want me to do?”

Zhou Enlai seemed to be going crazy over this part.

Just a few people?

How can tens of millions disguise themselves as a few people?

“I’m saying that I have no intention of completing the revolution by appeasing the revisionists and Khrushchevites like I did last time. We have to weed out the rascals in the party, the military, and all areas of government. To do that, of course, we’ll have to shed blood. That can’t be helped, and we shouldn’t be afraid of that kind of blood.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Yes, our Comrade Zhou is good in every way, but I think he lacks some eloquence in that regard.”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t look like that again.”

“Hahaha! It’s always been like this, but Comrade Zhou is the only one who reports to me accurately and faithfully carries out my instructions.”

“… … .”

For now, I lived.

To be honest, Mao Zedong knew it, and Zhou Enlai knew it too.

In the end, this is what will happen.

That may be why Mao Zedong trusted Zhou Enlai so much.

Because Zhou Enlai could never defy Mao Zedong.

“Don’t feel too burdened. Comrade Lin Biao will be the one to open the gate first.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, if Lin Biao acts a little harshly, you just need to read this letter quietly and express your agreement.”

“All right.”

“Haha! Smile a little. If someone saw me, they’d think I was going to eat them.”

“No, Comrade Commentator. I’m just a little tired. Excuse me, but may I ask why you want me to read?”

“Huh? Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“Yes, I really don’t know… … .”

“Hahahaha! Sometimes, even the smartest people can look stupid when they see themselves.”

“yes?”

“Friend Zhou, don’t you know how valuable you are?”

“What do you mean… … .”

“Hey Zhou, don’t you really know that not only the Party but also the general public has great trust in you? Hahaha!”

“… … .”

Zhou Enlai thought to himself.

Mao Zedong is more venomous than before he fell from power.

Even before, when things were still mild, tens of millions died.

But how many will die this time?

I couldn’t get the hang of it at all.

I just hope there is as little bloodshed as possible.

December 12, 1966.

Enlarged meeting of the Politburo.

As Mao Zedong said, Lin Biao opened the door first.

“Our republic is now in a desperate situation! In the previous war with the Republic of Korea, we lost the northern and eastern parts of Beijing, and Shandong! And the most painful fact of all! We lost over 10 million of our sons, husbands, and fathers! How could such a tragedy happen?”

“… … .”

“It’s all because of the fact that the revisionists who follow capitalism are secretly active within the party! Isn’t that right? Those damn Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping! Look at how those reactionaries have ruined our republic!”

“… … .”

“Those hypocrites bided their time, and seized power by nitpicking on the trivial points of the Great Leap Forward personally instructed by our great leader Comrade Mao Zedong! They are fake revolutionaries and fake Marxists who wanted our deaths! They always wanted to betray Chairman Mao, and they did! What was the result? The miserable deaths of the people! The miserable deaths of our great People’s Liberation Army!”

“Some might say to me, ‘You who say such things are a defeated general as the leader of the Northeast Army!’ But I dare say it. I was against the war with South Korea from the beginning, but I took the position even though it was clear that I would be defeated in order to save at least one more son, husband, and father.”

“… … .”

“Yes, I lost. But! I won again! I dare say it! If not for me, who could have defended Beijing?”

“… … .”

“I sent my son on a fighter jet to the enemy’s territory, knowing full well that he would die to protect Beijing! That’s how I lost my son. Who can blame me?”

“No one can criticize Comrade Lin Biao!”

“That’s right! Because of Comrade Lin Biao, we were able to save Beijing!”

Cadres who had previous contacts with Mao Zedong’s faction enthusiastically protected and supported Lin Biao, and this enthusiasm gradually spread to party cadres who had nothing to do with this farce.

“Yes! I saved Beijing from those evil hordes of Khrushchev’s revisionists. So what should we do now? Shouldn’t we save the republic from the brink of collapse?”

“Right!”

“Who can save our People’s Republic from crisis?”

“Only Chairman Mao Zedong can do this!”

“That’s right! Only our great leader, Chairman Mao Zedong, can save us. Isn’t that right, Comrade Zhou?”

Zhou Enlai looked at Lin Biao in surprise.

Because the question you just asked was something that had no prior discussion whatsoever.

But I had to answer anyway.

“Comrade Lin Biao’s words are absolutely correct! Only Chairman Mao can save the Republic from its crisis!”

“Well said, Comrade Zhou!”

“… … .”

Zhou Enlai gnashed his teeth at Lin Biao inwardly, but there was not much he could do.

And now, we must slowly begin to carry out Mao Zedong’s instructions.

As I was leaving the meeting, the sky over Beijing seemed to have turned blood red.