I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 20



Only Noblemtl

EP.20 12. 8 Military Coup (8)

It was almost 8:45 PM when we arrived at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jong-dong, Pyongyang.

As we reached the intersection leading to the main gate, Colonel Kim Seong-ju and Major Lee Je-dong saluted.

“Is there anything special?”

“A car was pulled out and there was gunfire. It looks like there were people inside injured, but I don’t know who was inside.”

“Okay, I got it.”

I ordered the commander of the motorized infantry battalion to dismount.

“Everyone get off.”

As hundreds of armed men appeared in an instant, the 11th Military Police Brigade, with the help of reinforcements from the surrounding military police and marines, pushed their way toward the entrance of the official residence, losing momentum and running back into the official residence.

The situation was no different for the support troops from the embassy.

We acted confidently, as we were outnumbered by the military police and marines.

I picked up the megaphone and shouted.

“I am General Lee Seong-jun. As you all know, the tanks will be arriving soon. I do not want to force you into an unreasonable situation. Let’s resolve this through humane dialogue before we use tank guns. Who is the commander there?”

At my shout, a young officer from the embassy came out from behind the main gate and answered loudly.

“I am Captain Baek Ha-jin, commander of the 2nd Platoon of the 11th Military Police Company. I am the most senior officer in the official residence guard.”

“Where is the chief of security?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Then, I will speak as if Captain Baek is the commander. Captain Baek. The situation has come to this point, is there any need for our own forces to shed more blood?”

“General, we have been ordered by the Chief of the Military Police to hold this place. We will not retreat until the order is rescinded.”

“Captain Baek. Listen carefully. Neither the military police at the Daedong River Bridge nor the Guard Infantry Regiment could stop us. That pitiful security service knew about our movements but couldn’t do anything about it. The situation is so clear as day, so why are you shedding the blood of your men?”

“General. I am a soldier.”

‘This is difficult.’

I understand after talking to you.

Baek Ha-jin was a different type of person than Park Jun.

Park Jun is a person who values ​​the lives of his subordinates more than his beliefs, but Baek Ha Jin is the complete opposite.

He was a typical man of conviction, for whom duty overpowered the weight of life.

There’s nothing I can do.

I have no choice but to see blood.

This isn’t a situation where you can come here and innocently say, ‘Oh, I respect the captain’s beliefs. Then let’s just confront each other.’ and back down.

I have to see it through to the end, whether it be death or life.

“Colonel Kim.”

“Yes, General.”

“Shoot the mortars first.”

I could have waited for the train to come, but right now every second counts.

I gave the order to deploy heavy weapons without any hesitation.

“yes.”

Kim Seong-ju, a member of the union, also understood that our lives depended on this incident.

Yes. If you can’t win, you’ll be beheaded as a traitor, but is a mortar the answer?

We need to mobilize even more than that.

The infantry set up the mortars and one minute later.

Wind. Wind.

There was a cute-sounding popping sound, and then an explosion rang out from inside the building.

Judging by the screams heard, there seemed to be casualties.

I paused the shelling and picked up the loudspeaker.

“Captain Baek. Listen carefully. The artillery fire won’t stop next time. If you hold out, they’ll bring in the tank guns. Think carefully. You’ve already learned your lesson.”

There was silence in the public hall for a moment.

How many more shots do I have to fire?

At that moment, an officer wearing the rank of second lieutenant came out of the official residence and shouted at me.

“General, I surrender.”

“What about Captain Baek? Are you talking about surrender?”

“Captain Baek was killed in action.”

Hmm.

There were already many people who died on my orders in this coup, but this was the first time I saw someone die in front of my eyes.

But it was something I had planned from the beginning.

In the drama ‘Sima Yi’, which I liked, the main character Sima Yi says this.

“Leaving one’s name in history is the ambition of scholars. From the day I raised an army, I decided not to care about empty fame, whether I live or die.”

Me too.

At the point when you stage a coup, it’s greedy to hope for a clean reputation or fame.

It is enough to achieve the original goal of surviving by steering this country, what more could one wish for?

“Colonel Kim. Go and disarm him.”

“yes.”

I left the suppression of the 11th Military Police Division to Kim Seong-ju, and then I entered the main building of the Prime Minister’s residence with Major Lee Je-dong and a platoon of military police.

*

Although the rebels were said to be approaching the official residence, the Prime Minister’s residence was nominally the residence of the highest-ranking official in the country.

The ministers took this into account and believed that the rebels would not dare do anything that would endanger the Prime Minister’s safety.

Even if you just look at the customs of the time, it was like that.

Even though the Prime Minister at the time gave up his position to Noh Jae-woo, who was nominated by Park Han-jin, he did not feel any threat to his personal safety.

Sure, that’s what it should have been, but these crazy rebels fired a cannon at the embassy.

The sudden sound of gunfire brought a fear of a different level than that of gunfire.

The ministers could not hide their pale faces in fear that the building might collapse at any moment.

Noh Jae-woo, known for being as calm as water, also couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

Soon, there was a commotion outside, and soldiers in combat boots rushed into the Prime Minister’s office.

The military police officer in the lead looked around, then stepped aside and bowed politely.

“There is no danger, General.”

General?

So, does that mean the author is Lieutenant General Lee Seong-jun, the only general-ranking member of the rebels?

No Jae-woo looked at Lee Seong-jun, who appeared in front of him, with complex eyes filled with curiosity and fear.

Lee Seong-jun is tall, looks to be about 180cm, has a stocky physique, and has a manly, thick facial features.

At first glance, he was a typical, likeable figure, but there was one thing that set him apart from other field soldiers who had no lust for power.

‘twinkle.’

Noh Jae-woo, who has experience in politics, read an ambition that cannot be hidden in Lee Seong-jun’s eyes. He is a self-confident person who will do anything for his beliefs.

There was a shadow of a monster in Lee Seong-jun’s eyes.

I couldn’t understand how a person like this could wear a military uniform and rise to the rank of general quietly.

At that moment, when Noh Jae-woo and the ministers were overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Lee Seong-jun spoke.

“Your Excellency the Prime Minister. And distinguished ministers. I apologize for the unpleasant experience you have had today.”

The ministers wanted to ask if that was a good idea, but they kept their mouths shut when they saw the guns of the military police entering the office.

People need to be perceptive.

Even the most stubborn person had no choice but to bend his knees at this moment.

Noh Jae-woo spoke on behalf of the terrified ministers.

“To describe it as an unpleasant event, it feels like a major incident that has turned the entire country upside down.”

No Jae-woo expressed his displeasure toward Lee Seong-jun in an impolite tone.

“Nothing has changed, Prime Minister.”

“So, is this general going to go back like this?”

“No. Only one place will change, and the rest will be quiet.”

“No way. A general would sit in the position of Minister of the Army?”

“How can I sit there?”

Lee Seong-jun also had that much insight.

Instead, he intended to create a separate position for those with power like Chun Doo-hwan and control the puppet army minister.

No Jae-woo also knew Lee Seong-jun’s true intentions.

“Instead of the army, the general will put whoever he wants in his place.”

“Then who else but me can handle this situation?”

It was sophistry, but it wasn’t wrong.

The only person with the authority to subdue the coup forces was Lee Seong-jun.

Lee Seong-jun rolled on the floor in his combat boots as he watched the cabinet members overcome by complex emotions of fear, discontent, and anxiety.

Everyone flinched at the sound.

“Choose. If you don’t take my side, your political career ends here.”

“Even if I take the general’s side, won’t my political career be over?”

“Why do you think I would dismiss the Prime Minister?”

Lee Seong-jun didn’t think so.

If you dismiss the Prime Minister, who is the ostensible head of state, it only sends the signal that something big has happened.

That wasn’t good for Seongjun, who would rule the country in the future.

“So, you’re saying you’ll keep me?”

“Is there a need to search for people with the experience to run a country?”

Seongjun also subtly persuaded the cabinet members.

If you take my side now, your seat is guaranteed.

until when?

Until Sungjun wants to change.

No Jae-woo did not easily fall for Lee Seong-jun’s sweet offer.

It’s not the first or second time that a rebel leader has deceived his opponents with sweet talk.

Sungjun decided to give time to Noh Jaewoo and his ministers.

“Sit here and think about it slowly. You may be feeling a little like that, but once you close your eyes, aren’t your seats guaranteed? I expect you to give me an answer when I return from the Army. Major, go.”

Seongjun gestured to Lee Je-dong and then walked away.

Now, Dong-i and the military police followed Sung-jun as if they were escorting him from both sides.

It was as if they were taking the king with them.