Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 87



Only Krnovel

#87. I will take that as a compliment.

After Vietnam gained independence, the remaining French colonies, Laos and Cambodia, simply became automatic.

This was because France recognized Vietnam’s independence following its defeat in the Battle of Haiphong and decided to completely withdraw from the rest of Indochina, so there were no obstacles.

France requested mediation from the United States, Britain, and South Korea to safely evacuate its citizens from Vietnam, but in fact, the key to mediation was South Korea.

Although they hated the Republic of Korea, Vietnam actually became independent with Korea’s support, so they took this opportunity to realize that the Republic of Korea was the new leader in Asia.

Therefore, naturally, Korea was in charge of independence negotiations between Laos and Cambodia at France’s request.

Of course it’s not free.

In the first place, after losing the Battle of Haiphong, France desperately clung to Korea to ensure the safety of the Cochinchina region, but they asked for arbitration fees? What was put on display was the cultural property that had been looted during the Byeongin Yangyo period.

It was a bit comical to ask for arbitration while handing over looted cultural assets as a fee, but it was an expression of good faith on the part of France.

Like Britain, France had a policy of never returning cultural assets or treasures looted from overseas.

Because, in fact, almost all art objects, cultural assets, and treasures on display in their museums are looted items.

So once you start giving these away, there will be no end to it, and it is only a matter of time before the entire museum is robbed.

For this reason, requests for return were ignored even in modern times, and there was no way that it would be returned in this era.

There were very few countries that were properly targeted for plunder.

Since they said they would return such cultural assets, you could guess how urgent the situation in France was.

In any case, France’s request to intervene in Laos and Cambodia was not bad for the Republic of Korea.

Although their presence is low, Laos and Cambodia are representative pro-China countries in modern times.

“Is there a force capable of taking power in Laos or Cambodia?”

“there is. Laos organized a preparatory committee for the establishment of a nation called ‘Lao Issara,’ and a royal family named Phetsarat Rattanawongssa led the independence movement and is highly respected by the people.”

“Royalty? “If we try to restore the monarchy, it would be a bit difficult, right?”

Lee Kang-cheol felt repulsed when it came to the term monarchy.

“haha! This is not a person who would attempt a monarchy. Moreover, he is a staunch anti-communist.”

“Then that would be fine. Teacher Woosa will support you on your own. Please warn me not to even dream of becoming a monarchy, just in case. “Then what about Cambodia?”

“The guy named Son Nok Tan looks fine. Although they were friendly towards Japan, it seems that they joined hands with Japan as a lesser evil to resist France rather than because they liked Japan.”

“What is your disposition?”

“It is a nationalist tendency.”

“Then you do it. “Sihanouk will try to establish a monarchy there, but you must strictly crack down on that person.”

“All right.”

“So, what’s going on with Laos and Cambodia, what’s going on with Burma? In fact, Vietnam and Burma are the key countries in Southeast Asia.”

No matter what anyone says, South Korea’s key allies in Southeast Asia were Vietnam and Burma.

Although they are supporting Indonesia’s Sukarno, it is more likely that their neighborhood is actually acting as an investment for future economic benefits rather than an anti-China alliance.

They will try to bring them in as part of the anti-China alliance, but it is difficult to get closer to them beyond a certain level geographically, culturally, or emotionally.

In the end, it was right to make Vietnam and Burma, which were larger in size and emotionally similar, as key allies in the South.

“We are continuing to talk with the UK.”

“Well, we can’t pretend to be with England.”

“haha! you’re right. Fortunately, Britain is willing to let go of its Asian colonies. It is said that there are also good discussions with Aung San.”

No matter how big Korea was, it could not compete with Britain, so Burma was approaching it very cautiously.

To put it bluntly, the United States is also a child of Britain.

Although it is a case that is a bit harsh.

Therefore, it was inevitable to be cautious about ignoring Britain and dealing directly with Burma.

“I hope you will have a good conversation with Prime Minister Attlee when you meet him in person this time. “I’m thinking of letting them go anyway, but it will still show favor to Burma.”

“Well, it’s a bit like putting a spoon on a table that’s already been prepared, but I do it because it’s helpful to the national interest.”

“ha ha ha! “Isn’t that what diplomacy is all about?”

“Hehehe! “At times, Teacher Woosa seems to be more open-minded than me.”

“It’s because I’ve been rolling on the bottom for a long time. “She always had to be on the lookout.”

“….”

Kim Gyu-sik’s skills were not accumulated overnight.

Having spent his entire life wandering around and noticing things, he had naturally reached that level, but Lee Kang-cheol was embarrassed to hear that pain.

“Hum hum, I always tell you, from now on, don’t pay attention. “For us, that’s not enough anymore.”

“haha! I guess I said something useless. “I have never been happier working than I am these days.”

“You should do that. Oh, by the way, you know that well, right? The centerpiece of Burma is Aung San. “You must think of that friend as Burma.”

“I know very well. “How on earth did a country like Burma end up in such a state?”

“He is a hero who encompasses the nation. Only that friend can lead Burma into a proper country. Please be generous with your support.”

“All right.”

Aung San is Burma.

This is an assessment that even Ho Chi Minh had not heard, but in the end, it had no choice but to be so.

Aung San is the only person who is treated as a hero by all ethnic groups in Burma, including the Kachin, Karen, and Shan.

Only he can achieve the unification of Burma.

“It would be better to separate the Rohingya if possible. Even if it works for other ethnic groups, it won’t work for the Rohingya. “Rather than dragging it out clumsily and causing trouble, it would be better to give up the land on the Indian side or hand it over to India altogether.”

“All right. I think so too. “I hate the horseradish more than the original owner.”

“That’s a perfect analogy. “I will also meet Prime Minister Attlee and talk separately.”

“Hey, what do you plan on doing about Thailand? Are you going to keep leaving me alone? “I keep getting calls from you?”

“Hey, leave those bats alone. “Anyway, all we have to do is later act as an ally and turn it into our economic colony.”

“haha! “You really hate it.”

“Yes, I don’t like it. “That Bhumibol has become king this time, right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“That man is really a bat, bat. From now on, they will collude with the military and suck the blood of the people for the next 70 years. “Leave it alone…”

“ha ha ha!”

Lee Kang-cheol really hated Thailand.

No, rather than hating Thailand, I hate Thailand’s shitty monarchy.

September 18, 1946, 4:00 PM Western Standard Time.

LA Airport.

Wooooow!

Purr!

Three C-27J Spartan transport planes with the Korean national flag clearly displayed landed on the runway, and senior government officials, including Lee Kang-cheol, and civilian engineers disembarked from the rear ramp.

“Aaaah! “I should make a really good airliner myself…”

“It is, after all, an arduous march. hardship···.”

Colonel Hong Jin-taek also received the words with an exhausted expression.

From Seoul to LA, USA, it is about 10,000 km by Pacific route.

A modern jet can be flipped over in less than 12 hours.

However, when going on a turboprop transport, the range was short and the speed was slow, so we had to stopover three times, and as a result, the distance increased significantly, so it naturally became a three-day, two-night course.

If you try too hard, you can do it for 2 days and 1 night, but then people will be too tired.

“Gogo!”

“Oh my gosh, I’m dying.”

During Lee Kang-cheol’s visit to the U.S., cries naturally erupted among those who were practicing for the first time.

“Hey, should you have just kept pushing towards Hawaii?”

“It would be okay if we only met President Roosevelt, but didn’t this happen because we also met British Prime Minister Attlee?”

“There will be no problem from next time. “It’s definitely in the middle!”

Lee Kang-cheol visited the United States at Roosevelt’s request.

It was to deal with pending issues such as the United Nations, and the idea was to discuss them before discussing them in earnest.

In addition, Prime Minister Attlee of the United Kingdom, representing Europe, also decided to join a day later, which is why Lee Kang-cheol could not insist on holding a meeting in Hawaii.

Atley was also in his mid-60s, quite old by the standards of his time, so coming to Hawaii was burdensome.

In the end, LA, which is exactly halfway between Seoul and London, was chosen as the meeting location.

At that time, a group of gentlemen in suits approached Lee Kang-cheol.

“Thank you for your hard work on the long journey, General.”

“ah! President Marshall! “You became the Minister of State this time, right?”

“ha ha ha! “It just so happened that it happened that way.”

“Congratulations. “The suit suits you well.”

“Oops! Don’t say things like that. “I want to finish the spectacle quickly and put on my military uniform again.”

George Marshall became Secretary of State a few months earlier than usual, but he looked quite out of place in a suit.

A marshal was the rank of marshal, and a marshal was a lifelong position, so he would wear military uniform again after he finished serving as minister.

It might take a while to get there, though.

It was also a problem even if the ability was outstanding.

Because subsequent presidents also did not want to let go.

I rested that evening to relieve my travel fatigue, and the next afternoon I met with Roosevelt, who had arrived a day earlier.

“It’s been a while, General! ha ha ha!”

“ha ha ha! “It’s good to see you’re still healthy.”

“The medicine must be good, right? haha!”

Roosevelt, who regained his health thanks to the medicine given by the expeditionary force, was still full of vitality and enjoyed a light glass of wine at dinner.

“Are you okay? “Can I drink alcohol?”

“haha! “I like the medicine, so this is okay.”

“Ouch! Don’t be too fond of medicine. “No matter how good modern medicine is, ultimately you have to take care of your own health.”

“Oh my, don’t say too much. Still, I exercised hard and was able to walk short distances. Of course, I use a cane.”

“oh! “That went really well.”

“haha! Thank you.”

After the dinner, Lee Kang-cheol and Roosevelt met separately.

Only two people each attended the meeting. Roosevelt was attended by Marshall and Admiral King, while Lee Kang-cheol was joined by Kim Kyu-sik and Hong Jin-taek.

Unexpectedly, when Kim Gyu-sik followed him in, Roosevelt asked with a strange expression.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay. “They know our identities.”

“Hoo?”

“He was the Vice President of the Provisional Government, which you should have known in the first place, and he was so talented that if we wanted to work together, I had no choice but to tell him everything.”

“You seem to be amazing.”

“Yes, he is a great person.”

When Roosevelt looked at Kim Kyu-sik with goodwill, Kim Kyu-sik slightly bowed his head and said hello.

“Anyway, it’s good. I have very high expectations for the Korean engineers who came with me this time. “All the technicians in the fields we requested have arrived, right?”

“Everyone came except for a few areas. “We may not be able to open all of them, but if you look at it at this time, it is revolutionary, so you can look forward to it.”

“Hahaha! Let’s live well together, America and Korea!”

“Hahaha! “Of course, but you know it’s expensive, right?”

“…”

The technology that South Korea provides to the United States is ahead of its time by just 5 to 10 years, and even that excludes everything that is considered sensitive.

However, even at this level, you will be able to chew up the entire world with profane words.

So Roosevelt was very happy, but Lee Kang-cheol was upset by citing the price.

“Ugh! “Please sing moderately.”

“Why are you doing this? These technologies could split the entire world between us? “I think it’s okay to charge a little more, don’t you?”

“Anyway, General never loses.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

“Do you really think I can’t win? ha ha ha!”

“ha ha ha!”

It was a fun time.

However, Lee Kang-cheol thought to himself that it was a good thing that he was far away from the United States. This is because only by being far away can we continue to cooperate like this.