I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 45



Only Noblemtl

EP.45 Our Style of Democracy (1)

In August 1940, when Italy was suffering through repeated defeats, Korea was still noisy and turbulent.

“A murderer who killed 20 people for no reason is walking around the streets. The public safety of this country has fallen to the ground.”

“It’s the end of the world. The 20th century is the end of the world.”

Sudden, powerful incidents filled the newspaper pages.

People turned their attention from political issues to events directly related to their daily lives.

The world’s attention was focused on the ‘war on crime’ in the colonies.

I published the personal histories of violent criminals arrested every day.

“Now people will forget about the colonies and the Southeast for a while.”

“I hope it turns out as you said, Master.”

I didn’t really have any expectations for this one.

From the beginning, the DNA of the Korean Empire was geared toward militarism.

Even I, who had to get rid of this poison, was in a situation where I allowed military culture like drills.

There was no choice because survival was the issue at the time.

Well, even so, I intended to push ahead with the modernization of my country without wavering.

This tractor that turned the battlefield upside down was also part of the country’s modernization project.

I toured the T-34 production line, which was in collaboration with the Soviet Union, and even touched the machines.

Although the tanks were not in production, I got the impression that the factory was well-prepared overall.

The factory manager spoke confidently.

“Starting in 1941, we plan to aim for monthly production of 300 units.”

Since it’s monthly, it’s 3,600 units per year.

Considering the Soviet tank production in 1940, this was a significant number.

Of course, it is not comparable to the amount of Federation production that went into exhibition production.

Because the Soviet Union during the war was producing more than 2,000 tanks per month.

Well, we also thought that once we got used to it, we could catch up with the production volume to some extent.

“It’s definitely a great tank.”

The generals who followed the factory inspection confirmed the specifications of the prototype T-34 sent by the Soviet Union and were full of admiration for what a good deal this was.

After looking at similar 37mm caliber guns, it was no wonder that I fell in love with the tank after seeing the 76mm gun.

“Sir, we need to deploy these tanks to our armored units as soon as possible.”

I’d like to do that too, but I’m not sure I’d have the luxury because of Hitler.

By the way, this tank, does it seat two people in the turret?

I climbed into a prototype T-34.

I looked around the inside a few times, but I still didn’t get the feel of it, so I asked a Soviet technician.

“For two, sir.”

After hearing the interpreter’s remarks, I asked if it could be modified for three people.

In fact, Germany proved that a five-man tank crew with three in the turret was ideal.

If we know the correct answer, is there any reason to go with the wrong 4-person system?

“It is possible, but it would take a long time because the design would have to be changed. I will inquire with my home country.”

First of all, since it is a request from a ‘higher power,’ the Soviet Union will not ignore it.

Anyway, I was quite satisfied with the T-34 tank.

Should we say that Korea’s ‘pseudo-tank’ and the proper tanks of the great powers are on a different level?

After inspecting the tank factory, the next stop was the countryside.

It was one of the ‘Lee Seong-jun Villages’ that were established as a model across the country, and was a place to test a model of rural modernization.

“Oh my, the high person has arrived.”

Most people didn’t know my face.

Even though the portrait was stuck on the wall, I still wondered if it was my real face.

The reason was this.

I ‘edited’ the photo to some extent and made the face look more like a leader, but the gap with the original became very big.

Still, some people recognized me.

It was because he remembered my voice from hearing it on the radio a few times.

“Are you, by any chance, General Lee Seong-jun?”

“is it so.”

“Oh my, the highest figure in the country has arrived.”

It’s not like rural people were completely ignorant of the ways of the world.

To them, a high person was someone whose voice was often heard and who had a direct influence on their lives.

His Majesty the Holy Emperor is above the clouds, and the Prime Minister has no presence.

So, to them, the highest one had to be me.

“Haha. You can be at ease, Father.”

I deliberately greeted the farmers in a friendly manner.

I even took the time to help pull out weeds.

At first, the farmers were embarrassed, but after some time, they started to feel comfortable with me.

“Oh my, why did I ask you to do this, General?”

“No. This is also a matter of state.”

I sat around with the farmers, ate some snacks, and talked about what was going on in the world.

At the same time, the achievements of modernization were examined.

Are the newly paved roads in the village in good condition? Are the water supplies in good condition? Are the houses neatly roofed with slate?

Every time I asked, the farmers were grateful.

“Thanks to the general’s care, we can eat and live.”

“Is there anything else that is inconvenient?”

“I don’t know if I can tell that to the general.”

“I will listen.”

“The thing is, I applied for cement to build a levee, but the county office said there was no response. Can I tell you this?”

“Yes, of course. It can be done.”

I solved the cement problem on the spot.

He called the military commander’s office on the radio and yelled at them on the spot.

The farmers were surprised to see this, so he said there was no need to panic, as he would severely scold the ‘guilty one’.

In fact, this was an intentional action.

The reason he acted friendly to the farmers was to show his humanity.

The purpose of scolding the military commander was to remind them that I was a different person from them in power.

Because those in power in an authoritarian country should never give up their authority under any circumstances.

The farmers were confused about how to treat me.

“That, General.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

I put away the expression that had been scolding the military commander and smiled again.

A friendly and humane person, but difficult to deal with.

This is exactly the image I wanted to show to the people of the Korean Empire.

On the way to Pyongyang after finishing the schedule.

I asked Jeong Gil.

“owner.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you think the task of modernizing the country is progressing well?”

Jeong Gil said without hesitation.

“Of course. Who on this earth can achieve such feats as yours, sir?”

That’s not it.

“Stalin would have done better.”

“Are you talking about the Secretary General of the Soviet Union?”

“okay.”

Stalin had to begin modernization under conditions that were, frankly, more difficult than mine.

Although the country’s weight class was large, it was not necessarily an advantageous condition.

Rather, there was the side effect of creating areas where the country’s administrative power could not reach because the weight class was large.

Stalin instantly brought the serfs and workers of the old Imperial Russian Empire, who were living in the 19th century, into the 20th century.

From a modern perspective, it is impossible to understand the primitive customs, the poor laws, the complex regional interests, and the politicized factions within the military.

Stalin did it all at once.

Although there were enormous side effects, it transformed the Soviet Union into a proper great power in just over a decade.

Even taking into account his human nature, he was one of the greatest figures in Russian history.

“But Mr. Chancellor, you have not even been in power for three years. Compared to Stalin, isn’t that a long time to rule?”

“That’s true.”

I admit that if I had enough time to devote to development dictatorship, I would have achieved achievements no less than Stalin.

Because I’m great?

No, because I know the future of industrialization.

‘Come to think of it, we also need a proper ideology.’

Up until now, the country has been led by authoritarianism under the vague pretext of development dictatorship.

However, in order to create a proper country, a clear ideology was needed to present the ideal state.

America was a liberal democracy, the Soviet Union was communist.

So, what about us?

There was only a mishmash of authoritarianism, a variant of rationalism, that was neither dictatorship, democracy, nor Juche ideology.

Is rationalism really an ideology?

That was a fact that no one except our similar zodiac friends would admit.

So, there was a need to present a more solid ideology that was easy to explain to others.

‘Democracy cannot be given up in the end.’

Because we know that democracy is the ideology that will win in the long run.

Democracy was absolutely necessary for the country’s vision.

But it was not possible to immediately transition to liberal democracy.

So what we need is an intermediate step.

In other words, it is a customized democracy based on the reality of the Korean Empire.

If we were to give this a name, it would be a variation of democracy, ‘Korean-style democracy’ or ‘our-style democracy.’

This is also the path shown by our seniors in Korea.

“owner.”

“Yes, sir.”

“When I go to Pyongyang, I need to find some constitutional scholars.”

“Are you talking about constitutional scholars?”

Jeong Gil tilted his head.

“okay.”

The reason for seeking out constitutional scholars was simple.

In order to establish our own democratic ideology, shouldn’t we first reform the structure of the country to make it closer to a democratic country?

Ultimately, in order to bring about a soft landing from the authoritarian military government to civilian power, a framework for transitioning to democracy, like Franco, had to be prepared.

Of course, in a form where my power is unchallenged.

I started to organize these ideas in my head.