I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 174



Only Noblemtl

EP.174 Will to Power (1)

The end of 1951 was a stormy time.

While Korea was unable to pay attention to foreign affairs due to the aftermath of the abolition of Yushin, China was boasting about the achievements of the Great Leap Forward.

“The yield has increased by nearly 30%. Comrade Joo was right.”

Just the reduction in sparrows resulted in a huge increase in crop yields.

Based on this abundance of military rations, China actively launched military actions.

Although China has internal problems, its military remains strong.

This kind of offensive by the Communist Party was enough to shake the government of the Republic of China under Li Zhongren.

“You lost again? This time, you were completely wiped out?”

“Anyway, Li Zhongren, this idiot doesn’t know how to win.”

Within the Kuomintang, there was discontent with Li Zhongren, who was suffering defeat after defeat.

The discontent that has been building up since hyperinflation has now passed the critical point.

Chiang Kai-shek, who was living a quiet life in seclusion in Hong Kong, was quick to detect this atmosphere through his close associates.

‘The opportunity has finally come. It is time for Jang Joong-jeong to rise up.’

Chiang Kai-shek, a giant who once led all of China, suffered a huge political blow from two defeats and was forced to step down from power.

People thought it was impossible for Chiang Kai-shek, who was so wounded, to return to power.

But, the world was unpredictable.

No one could have imagined that Li Zhongren would be driven to the Communist Party like this.

“Honestly, Chairman Jang was a bit pushed back by Korea, but what is worse than those guys?”

The rule of the incompetent and corrupt Li Zongren and the warlords brought about nostalgia for Chiang Kai-shek, who wielded an iron fist but was certainly capable of overwhelming the communist forces.

“If it was Chairman Jang, he wouldn’t have been struggling like this with the guerrillas.”

Chiang Kai-shek prepared for his return by observing public opinion and manipulating his confidants behind the scenes.

“Chiang Kai-shek, that old fox is trying to take over again?”

Li Zhongren also read the ominous atmosphere.

He informed his rivals who were competing for power in the dark of this fact and proposed to revive the Squadron Leaders’ Association.

However, Li Zhongren had forgotten one thing.

The current number one person is not Chiang Kai-shek, but he.

“What, that’s nonsense. You’re the one in charge, so you should step down from your position.”

The rebel group that Li Zhongren was trying to lead failed without even being able to dig a shovel.

On January 9, 1952, a speech was made in support of Chiang Kai-shek by university students in downtown Chongqing.

“We want a strong leader. Enough with the incompetent and corrupt warlords!”

Originally, there would have been protests in support of Western democracy, but these days, the trend in Asia is Korean-style democracy.

In addition, as Lee Seong-jun went so far as to abolish the Yushin Constitution, college students’ antipathy toward Korean-style democracy had greatly decreased.

“Chongqing is like Pyongyang!”

They shouted slogans they would never have dared to utter before.

The leader most suitable for the Korean-style democracy they advocated was the giant Chiang Kai-shek, who attempted to unify China by suppressing the warlords.

Other than him, there was no one who could be the reason for this dizzying China.

“Are those guys crazy? Chiang Kai-shek is the one who oppressed your seniors.”

Li Zhongren felt embarrassed, but he could not suppress his protest.

The protests demanding Korean-style democracy received strong public support.

The masses, already disgusted with the Li Zongren regime due to inflation and the incompetence of the Chinese Civil War, longed for Chiang Kai-shek’s return.

Reflecting this atmosphere, people who were known as anti-government figures have slightly changed their attitudes.

“Actually, I have been ‘criticizing’ the chairman, not condemning him. I just wanted to let him know that he has his faults.”

“Even in my opinion, these days it looks like Chiang Kai-shek is right.”

Then, the military also rose up against Li Zhongren.

Although Li Zhongren was a powerful warlord, he was basically just one of the equals among the warlords.

Rather than bowing down to such a person, it was less humiliating to bow down to Chiang Kai-shek, who had defeated all the warlords in the Battle of Ban-Zhang.

“This is the recommendation of the Executive Council. Chairman Lee. How about you resign now?”

The moment Li Zhongren received the Executive Yuan’s recommendation, he instinctively sensed that the tide had turned.

If I held out here any longer, I would just be dragged down ugly.

“I resign.”

“That’s a wise decision.”

Not long after Li Zhongren resigned, many powerful figures from the warlord movement also resigned from their party posts.

All those positions were filled by Chiang Kai-shek’s confidants.

A week later, Chiang Kai-shek returned to Chongqing.

The citizens cheered when Chiang Kai-shek entered the city riding a white horse.

“Long live Chairman Zhang! Long live the leader of China!”

Chiang Kai-shek returned to power amid cheers from the citizens of Chongqing.

As a first step toward regaining power, Chiang Kai-shek assumed concurrent posts as Chairman of the Military Commission and President of the Executive Yuan.

Chiang Kai-shek was determined to solidify his power base when the masses gave him strength.

‘It’s right to make the most of the opportunity that has been given.’

On this occasion, it would not be a bad idea to imitate the Korean-style democracy (Yushin) that Lee Seong-jun showed.

Chiang Kai-shek took out the sword he had been holding in his chest.

*

“Chiang Kai-shek is back in power? Didn’t Chairman Jiang completely lose power?”

Hearing that unexpected name, I felt confused.

“He has returned to power with the support of the Chinese people. Both the warlords and the bureaucrats are firmly supporting Chairman Zhang.”

I calculated whether Chiang Kai-shek’s rise to power would be beneficial to Korea.

‘There are gains and losses.’

First of all, given Chiang Kai-shek’s charisma and leadership, he will not be easily defeated by the Communist Party.

The problem was that Chiang Kai-shek was not a person who would be satisfied with maintaining the status quo.

Chiang Kai-shek was a man who would have tried to overthrow the Nanjing government if given the chance.

First, I decided to find out what Chiang Kai-shek was thinking.

“Dear Chairman Chang, we would like to confirm whether the anti-communist alliance established between Chongqing and Pyongyang in the past is still valid. We hope for your prompt response.”

Chiang Kai-shek answered this question surprisingly coolly.

“Chongqing has no intention of breaking the anti-communist alliance. If Pyongyang’s will is firm, I hope we can continue the alliance in the future.”

First of all, Chongqing is a communist-first country.

I understood the position Chiang Kai-shek took.

It was certainly impossible for Chiang Kai-shek to do anything without subduing the communists.

Because it was impossible to stand against Korea when there was a huge enemy behind it.

That was a fact proven during the Second Sino-Korean War.

There is no way Chiang Kai-shek could have forgotten the painful lesson of that time.

“Your Majesty, do you intend to maintain the aid to Chongqing? The aid we gave to Chairman Zhang may come back to threaten us in the future.”

Foreign Minister Kim Seong-su viewed Chiang Kai-shek as a dangerous person and was reluctant to provide aid to him.

I thought the same thing, but in order to deal with the immediate enemy, the Communist Party, it was necessary to maintain adequate support for Chiang Kai-shek.

Of course, there was no intention of continuing to provide public aid indefinitely.

“Let’s maintain support for Chongqing only until this year.”

“Will there be any special changes in the situation next year?”

Yes, of course.

How much work has been done in the hollow?

I predicted that when the contradictions of the Great Leap Forward exploded, the CCP would not be able to easily withstand the blow.

Perhaps the hollow space could have been shaken in the process.

Because the current Chinese Communist Party size will be unable to withstand the side effects of the Great Leap Forward.

“If you wait, the master will know.”

I did not explain the operation designed to make China advance forward.

Is that something to be proud of?

Only a few people knew about the darkness in Korea.

Wouldn’t it be a headache if something like a memoir were left behind for future generations to prove the cancer of Korea?

‘At this point, I guess I should prepare for Mao Zedong’s downfall.’

If the side effects were as severe as the Great Leap Forward, even an absolute leader like Mao Zedong would have had to take responsibility.

I could have just stepped away from the original position.

Of course, Mao Zedong was not a man who would give up power even if he had to step down like that.

In the original text, it was Mao Zedong who launched the ‘Cultural Revolution’ against the government he had established and overthrew it.

This time it couldn’t be any different.

Human nature does not change that easily.

I didn’t intend to be so ugly in front of power as Mao Zedong.

You have to put down what you have to put down.

Does it make sense to try to do whatever you want with something you set up?

“Your Majesty, please find out the situation in the Chinese side and report back.”

I was asked to find out about the situation around Mao Zedong.

There were quite a few spies in China who infiltrated the country by converting illegal immigrants and others.

Through them, we were able to read the situation in China quite accurately from a distance.

Of course, it wasn’t to the extent of reading the minds of China’s highest officials.

“Mao Zedong’s side also appears to be bewildered by Chiang Kai-shek’s return to power. There is evidence that the Communist army’s movements have slowed down.”

yes?

Even the world’s Mao Zedong would not be able to ignore Chiang Kai-shek.

The situation on the continent seemed likely to remain balanced for the time being.

Or the picture could change to one where the KMT is dominant.

I found this picture a little frustrating.

I would like to split China up a bit more, but I am afraid that if I tamper with this structure carelessly, I will ruin the picture.

If I had enough time, I would take my time, but the problem was that I didn’t have time.

I had been thinking about the China issue for 10 or 15 years, but I wasn’t sure if my body would be able to last that long.

I was aging quickly.

The place where I felt that fact most keenly was on the bed.

When I first started dealing with my wife, I could easily do it two or three times a day, but recently, I have had trouble even doing it once.

It was the same when my wife was pregnant and we were only doing light wrestling.

Really, even this Lee Seong-jun couldn’t help but be affected by the power of time.

I was really sad about that fact.