Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 66



Only Krnovel

#66. Daily trilogy, one day without eating (一日不作一日不食)!

June 10, 1945, 6:30 p.m.

On the Battleship Missouri, a banquet commemorating the signing of the surrender agreement was held hosted by the U.S. government.

However, Lee Kang-cheol was truly embarrassed.

A mysterious country that emerged out of nowhere at the end of World War II, quickly reclaimed the Korean Peninsula, and quickly occupied Manchuria.

In addition, President Roosevelt of the United States, which has clearly established itself as the world’s only superpower, treats the country like a shrine and introduces it as America’s best ally.

A country where MacArthur, who has such strong pride, and Chester Nimitz, the greatest hero of the Pacific War, are in awe because they cannot pretend to be friends.

As a result, the Allied representatives attending the banquet were eager to greet Lee Kang-cheol and obtain information whenever they had the opportunity.

“General!”

“General! “Our France…”

“hey! General Leclerc! I’m talking to you right now, but why do you keep interrupting me? And what does France have to do with Asia?”

“Why are you like this? Admiral Fraser? “There’s Vietnam?”

“General!”

“General!”

“haha···.”

Lee Kang-cheol slowly began to lose his temper.

Are you going to suffer this much? I didn’t know it was going to happen.

I was fortunate to have Kim Gyu-sik, a linguistic genius.

Since he had a lot of diplomatic experience and could speak the languages ​​of all the Allied countries here fluently, he was able to appropriately handle much of the attention paid to him.

Moreover, since he knew the identity of the expeditionary force, he was as adept at avoiding questions that were difficult to answer as a snake.

“Hwiyu! “I survived thanks to teacher Kim Gyu-sik.”

While Kim Gyu-sik was marking, Lee Kang-cheol slipped back, took out a handkerchief, wiped his forehead, and said.

“That’s right. “I think the vacant position of Minister of Foreign Affairs has been confirmed?”

“So, that’s right. Wouldn’t it be nice if we appointed a secretary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”

“There is no need to look for anyone else.”

“I decide to do so.”

“yes.”

Originally, people in the 1940s did not even think about participating in government.

Because there were so many differences in time, there was no room for people from this era to intervene, but the story is different for someone like Kim Gyu-sik who was outside the standard.

“What are you doing here? General?”

“Ah, Admiral Nimitz. What do you do? “He ran away.”

“ha ha ha! It’s worth it. “Everyone is curious about Korea.”

I was the first person to communicate with Marshal Chester Nimitz, and we became quite close with him because he stayed and rested in Hawaii during his two visits to the United States.

“The problem is that I have nothing to say. “Thank goodness we have Teacher Kim.”

“Oh, you mean that person? “I saw it earlier. How many languages ​​do you speak?”

“They say they speak 9 languages, including Korean. And that too fluently…”

“Huh, you’re a language genius.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

At that time, someone came up next to me.

It was MacArthur.

“Oh oh! General!”

“Ah, Marshal MacArthur.”

“Now we have a space to talk properly. Thank you, Nimitz. “For creating this space for MacArthur.”

“That’s not it?”

“ha ha ha! “Isn’t it all like that?”

“Keuung!”

Although they were the same enemy, Nimitz could not defeat MacArthur.

“General, see you later.”

“You may do so.”

As Nimitz shook his head and retreated, MacArthur approached Lee Kang-cheol.

“General!”

“Are you a little off?”

“Haha! “Aren’t we like comrades who fought together in the Pacific?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“ruler! Then tell me. How on earth did this surprise MacArthur? “How did you know the enemy’s location as if you were looking at it from the sky?”

“…”

It’s true that I saw it from the sky.

But that could not be said, and Lee Kang-cheol was released after being tormented by MacArthur for a while.

Anyway, MacArthur was going to rule Japan as usual, so he had to see him often, so there was no rush.

However, a scene that was disturbing to Lee Kang-cheol was captured.

Someone was seen speaking harshly to Kim Gu and Kim Gyu-sik.

“what? that?”

“This is Xu Yongchang, the Chinese representative.”

“however?”

“I think they’re protesting over the Manchurian issue?”

“No, how dare that bastard…”

As Lee Kang-cheol walked away in a feverish manner, Go Seok-man hurriedly followed him.

This is because I was well aware of Lee Kang-cheol’s temperament, which is usually gentle, but once the lid is opened, he goes on a rampage without hesitation.

“If you have a mouth, speak! “How could Korea do this to us?”

“What are you?”

“Oh! you are···.”

“Who dares to shout at the elders?”

“This is Xu Yongchang, former representative of the Republic of China. He is also the head of the Military Command Department of the Military Commission.”

Xu Yongchang, who was in high spirits, became discouraged when Lee Gangcheol growled and took a step back.

The opponent was, in any case, a loser who had recovered the Korean Peninsula, defeated the Kwantung Army, and occupied Manchuria, and was a person whom U.S. President Roosevelt treated with the greatest respect that even President Chiang Kai-shek had never received.

He is not a person who will do anything carelessly.

“however? “Why is someone who is the representative of a country yelling at us?”

“That’s not it, we were protesting over the Manchurian issue.”

“The Manchurian problem? What’s wrong with Manchuria? No, and you are saying that there is a problem with someone else’s territory?”

“Manchuria is the territory of our Republic of China! “Historically, it was also clearly declared at the Cairo Conference with the United States and the United Kingdom.”

“You’re laughing. Historically? “If you look at it historically, Manchuria is our Goguryeo territory. What are you talking about?”

“Go, Goguryeo? “When did that happen?”

“Then what about China?”

“yes?”

“Manchuria was clearly Japanese-controlled territory when we occupied it. What are you talking about?”

“Such unreasonableness…”

“Let’s stop. “I’m not in a position to argue with you, am I?”

“…”

“And I warn you. Our Provisional Government keeps campaigning on small debts owed to China. Please do not act carelessly. Who are these people that they dare make such a big fuss about a mere minister? Does Korea still look funny?”

“Now, what about the minister? “I will report it to the President!”

“Do it or don’t. Okay, go away. “If you bother me again, I won’t leave you alone.”

“This is profit…”

Xu Yongchang gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do here.

When Xu Yongchang and his group withdrew, Lee Kang-cheol opened his mouth to Kim Gu.

“Teacher Baekbeom, please refrain from dealing with Chinese people in the future. “I guess you feel like you are indebted to President Jang, so you bow down and go in, right?”

“Hey, that’s it. Anyway, it is true that I am indebted to you.”

“Sir, it is true that President Chiang Kai-shek supported the Provisional Government in a small way, but it was not because he liked the Provisional Government. The Chinese basically perceive our country as having a relationship of tribute and investiture during the Ming or Qing dynasties. This means that I applied because I wanted to go back to the past after the war. So there is no need to feel that you are too indebted to me.”

“Hmm, we roughly guessed that too.”

“Anyway, you don’t need to deal with China. It’s just embarrassing for no reason, right? Teacher Baekbeom may not have a position right now, but he is still a symbol of our country. “No one can do anything wrong to you, teacher.”

“Hehehe! Thank you.”

“now! Now that they’re gone, you can enjoy the banquet properly. Mr. Usa thinks of himself as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and enjoys conversations with representatives from various countries.”

“yes? “Minister of Foreign Affairs?”

“Then, with all your outstanding abilities, did you intend to rest?”

“ha ha ha!”

“Hehehe!”

The next day, after spending a day aboard the battleship Missouri, Lee Kang-cheol returned to Seoul with Roosevelt.

On June 11, President Chiang Kai-shek visited Korea and decided to hold three-party talks with Roosevelt, so Roosevelt also attended only the surrender signing ceremony and returned immediately.

June 11th at 11am.

Chiang Kai-shek arrived at Yeouido Airport in Seoul aboard a C-54 transport plane donated by the United States, and unlike Roosevelt, there were only simple protocols.

And at 3 p.m.

Expeditionary Force Headquarters, currently the conference room of the General Government Complex.

Sitting at the round table were Lee Kang-cheol, Roosevelt, and a middle-aged bald man in military uniform.

It was President Chiang Kai-shek.

However, Chiang Kai-shek’s expression was not very good.

“President Roosevelt! Where on earth are cases like this? Didn’t Cairo clearly recognize that Manchuria is the territory of our Republic of China?”

“It certainly was.”

“But what are you saying now? Why do you say you recognize Manchuria as Korean territory?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Roosevelt stared blankly at Chiang Kai-shek, whom he had once considered an Asian hero.

A person so dark about the world’s principles is leading China…

I felt like I could understand why China’s Nationalist forces were defeated by Mao Zedong’s Red Army as well as Japan, despite so many troops and support from the United States.

“Can you tell me?”

“Look, President Jiang.”

“yes.”

“There is nothing free in this world.”

“yes? What do you mean?”

“You keep bringing up the Cairo Declaration, but the reason we agreed on Cairo at the time was because we expected China to take charge of Japan and play a certain role. But what on earth has China done?”

“Oh, no…”

“Isn’t it true that despite our support from the United States, we were busy being chased away? “Even Chongqing was almost in danger last year, right?”

“…”

“Then what on earth are you asking for? Are you saying you can’t fulfill your obligations and only seek your rights? Sorry, but there is no such law in this world. On the other hand, let’s look at South Korea. Meanwhile, South Korea made a tremendous contribution to the Pacific War. It frequently provided the Pacific theater with information that would determine the direction of the war, reclaimed the Korean Peninsula, cut off Japan’s main logistics, and prevented many of the Kwantung Army from heading south. From there, we went further and defeated the Kwantung Army! But are we now forcing the United States to give up the territory that the Republic of Korea acquired through blood and sweat? All generals in our army and navy unanimously recognize this. “If it weren’t for the Republic of Korea, our country would have lost hundreds of thousands more sons.”

“…”

“ah! Of course, this is not to say that China had no role at all. but! “Compared to the Republic of Korea, their contributions are incomparable.”

“So what do you plan to do?”

“We still consider the Republic of China an ally of the United States. However, the Republic of Korea is also our core ally, even if it appeared a little late. It is our American principle not to get involved in territorial disputes between allies. “If you have anything to say about Manchuria in the future, please do not say it to me, but to President Lee Kang-cheol of the Republic of Korea.”

“ha···.”

Chiang Kai-shek realized that there was no use clinging to Roosevelt any longer.

Although the United States said it would not get involved, it was clear that it was in fact taking South Korea’s side.

“Look, this tin.”

“Please speak, President Jiang.”

“Where is President Kim Gu? “Why can’t I see it when I come?”

“Teacher Baekbeom went down to the countryside because he had very, very important work to do.”

“What is that important thing?”

“It’s a state secret. “You’re not asking me to tell you about someone else’s country’s national secrets, are you?”

“…”

“And it is true that Mr. Baekbeom was the president of the Provisional Government, and is still a great elder in our country, but he is currently the president of the Republic of Korea. “If you have anything to say, say it to me.”

“Ha, damn it…”

“What did you say?”

“no. Then let me ask you. “Why are you occupying Manchuria, the inherent territory of our Republic of China, and not giving it up?”

“her! Oh my! The representative said something like that last time, but why are you doing this?”

“what?”

“Manchuria was clearly the territory of Manchukuo, a Japanese puppet state. In fact, it was Japanese territory, and we, the Republic of Korea, defeated the Kwantung Army and gained Manchuria to fulfill our obligations as a member of the Allied Powers. “I don’t know why you keep insisting it’s Chinese territory?”

“What are you talking about! Manchuria is historically our Chinese land!”

“People like to be ignorant of history, but historically Manchuria was our Goguryeo land! Even now, ruins have been discovered or are being discovered everywhere!”

“No, when did that happen?”

“Whether it was a few decades ago or a thousand years ago, the past is the same, right? So please don’t bring up past history. Manchuria is a land we gained with blood, so it is clearly our land.”

“What kind of law is that?”

“He who does not work! Don’t even eat it! Daily trilogy, one day without eating (一日不作一日不食)! It is a rule that applies regardless of time and place. “Why are you trying to eat raw instead of working?”

“…”

Chiang Kai-shek ripped out hair that wasn’t even there.