I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 8



Only Noblemtl

EP.8 Opportunity (1)

In early May 1937, as soon as I returned to Pyongyang, I received a personnel order.

His new position is Army Policy Research Officer.

It is said that the position was responsible for researching and verifying new doctrines, but in reality, the significance of this position was different.

‘The Grave of the Stars.’

It was a position that was perfect for me, as I was stamped on the Army Corps.

‘It’s definitely a difficult job.’

In the Army Policy Research Office, there were exactly three people working hand and foot, including the executive secretary.

But I wasn’t disappointed.

A place can make a person, but people can also make a place.

Depending on who sits where, a low-ranking position can become a powerful position.

A representative example is Stalin.

Looking at the position of Secretary General that Stalin held at the time, it was initially treated as a position that processed the decisions of the party’s central committee.

However, during the Stalin era, the status was elevated to that of head of state representing the entire ‘communist country’.

There was no reason why I couldn’t do it.

It’s the same in any department, as long as you produce results.

I thought of the policy research position as an ‘opportunity’.

Anyway, since I have ample time, I have been able to consistently write about the Legend of the Galactic Heroes and editorials.

As I was writing, I thought about what kind of achievements would be appropriate for a policy researcher position.

‘If it’s the Korean military in this world, this is the right fit.’

Armored train.

It may sound a bit strange, but there is such a weapon.

Simply put, it is a weapon system that uses armored trains to create a tank-like effect.

You might wonder what the point of just running along the railroad tracks would be, but surprisingly, he achieved considerable results in actual combat.

This armored train was a weapon that was active from the American Civil War all the way up to World War II.

Most major powers, even middle-sized countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, are operating armored trains.

Even our main enemy, China, was operating these armored trains at the time.

Of course, the South Korean military also had armored trains.

However, most of the Korean military’s armored trains were focused on transporting troops.

I proposed the deployment of a new type of armored train with an emphasis on single combat and shooting while moving in preparation for the coming Sino-Korean war.

Since we don’t have any usable tanks anyway, wouldn’t it be possible to defend the occupied territory if we had a proper armored train?

The proposal I submitted was unexpectedly taken seriously.

As expected, when the premise of ‘China’ is attached, these guys’ eyes and ears strangely brighten.

I have been providing a steady stream of ideas for future warfare, starting with the armored train.

It was a desperate effort to avoid ending my military career in the position of policy researcher.

“I would like to see Air Force liaison officers assigned to Army units in the future.”

“What is the reason?”

“If the Army advances quickly, the artillery will not be able to keep up. If the bombers are to act as air artillery at that time, a close link between the Army and the Air Force is essential.”

I demonstrated the doctrine reform proposal I had come up with in front of high-ranking military officials through the training unit.

In fact, my improvement plan worked.

It was a ‘successful method’ used by the Nazis in World War II, so of course it should work.

Haha.

Contrary to the Army Department’s intention of relegating me to this lowly position, the Army Policy Bureau chief had no choice but to give me a good performance evaluation.

If I could just get a good performance evaluation, this policy researcher position was a really sweet position.

Because they can frequently come into contact with the training units, one of the key combat units in the capital, without arousing suspicion.

In fact, I often visited the prison camp under the pretext of studying doctrine.

“General. I enjoyed reading your recent contribution. Really, every time I read your article, I feel like I can see the path this country is headed toward.”

“Thank you for seeing it that way.”

A famous general who frequently appears in the newspaper pretends to know me and listens to me.

My following began to grow among the young officers of the training corps.

My influence within the military has reached a level that cannot be ignored.

Although it may not be at the level of an immediate coup, it has long since passed the point where the Army can act recklessly.

Now, this Lee Seong-jun was the ‘godfather’ of the young officers of the Imperial Army, representing the young officers of the Imperial Army.

‘I feel like I’ve become the leader of a pseudo-Zodiac faction rather than a pseudo-Young Turk Party.’

I gradually felt the need to become more organized.

‘I guess I need to prepare to recruit officers who are in key positions.’

Of course, it was dangerous to do it right now.

It would have been right to start the engagement after Korea and China started the war.

Friction between Korea and China was already growing worse.

Just looking at the economic aspect,

“Compatriots! Let’s not buy, wear, or eat the stuff of the dirty Gaori Bangts. We must not forget that the stuff of Bangts that we buy is becoming bullets and shells and harming our sons and daughters!”

The Chinese people were launching a large-scale boycott movement in anger at the Korean government’s aggressive behavior of continuously invading Chinese territory and plundering its interests.

For Korea, which relies on China for 40% of its export market, this boycott was bound to be irritating.

From a political standpoint too,

“The northeast is the inherent territory of the Great Ming, and it has been illegally taken away by the Koreans. We must build up our strength and definitely reclaim Manchuria from the Koreans.”

Han Chinese nationalists domestically called for the restoration of Manchuria, which irritated Korean nerves.

From a military perspective, South Korea also viewed China’s military buildup with concern.

“In the past ten years, the KMT has increased its military budget by nearly five times. Why on earth would the Chinese, who are sufficiently equipped to deal with warlords or communist bandits, need such military equipment? The reason is obvious. We are the target.”

The South Korean military claimed that China’s military buildup was aimed at Pyongyang and preached the need to wage a preventive war.

As these conflicts accumulated, Pyongyang gradually lost patience with the Nanjing government.

“If only I could catch them.”

In this kind of atmosphere, the atmosphere was set for war to break out even if only a spark was caught.

And within our empire there were troublemakers who loved to play with fire.

I mean the military.

In the webtoon, the military caused the sinking of a warship and used it as a pretext for the Sino-Korean War.

How about here?

I figured I’d do something similar here.

As expected.

On August 15, 1937, the joyous day of Korea’s independence, the Korean corvette ‘Ryujin’, which had entered Tianjin, sank for unknown reasons.

There were a whopping 115 deaths.

The South Korean military immediately called on the government to take action.

“War, never again war!”

The military rejected the results of China’s investigation and rejected a proposal by the South Korean government to send an investigation team to conduct a joint investigation.

An attack on a South Korean warship is an attack on South Korean territory!

Therefore, punish China!

The Korean military simply repeated these words like a parrot.

‘It’s war.’

I just watched the situation for a while.

Just because a war broke out in a webtoon, there was no guarantee that a war would ‘definitely’ break out now.

I maintained a cautious attitude, but the military resolved my concerns.

“Advance!”

Even before the cabinet reached a conclusion on the war, the Korean military began a war of aggression against China.

As expected, these guys had the potential to replace the Imperial Army.

Oh, I’m sorry if I said “replacement”.

Because they are stronger than the Imperial Army.

On August 21, 1937, the Korean army crossed the Liao River and launched a lightning attack.

Once the offensive was launched, the Chinese army was pushed back helplessly.

On August 29, they crossed the Daling River and advanced to the very front of Beijing, the ancient capital of China.

“I eat breakfast in Beijing, lunch in Shijiazhuang, and dinner in Jinan.”

The South Korean army shouted confident slogans.

The newspapers were all abuzz with talk that the great ‘war against China’ would be over in six weeks.

Those crazy guys.

Did you know that China is such a small country?

Even France, which is as tiny as China, could only be defeated in six weeks with a combination of luck and the opponent’s incompetence.

At the point when the German army secured its victory, the territory it occupied in France was only 3% of the entire country.

Moreover, the opponent is China.

A continental country whose mainland area is easily more than ten times that of France.

The idea that a country like this could be brought down in six weeks was astounding.

Anyway, the war was an opportunity for me.

As the front expanded, loyalist units stationed in Pyongyang, such as the Capital Armored Division, the 2nd Guards Division, and the 7th Mountain Division, were moved to the front in large numbers.

The remaining regime protection unit is the 1st Guards Division.

Instead, two reserve divisions, just mobilized around Pyongyang, were brought in.

These reserve divisions were units mobilized from the countryside, so to speak, filled with my followers.

Of course, in terms of a coup, the reserve divisions located far from the capital were still inferior to the guard divisions.

The location was unfavorable and the division was inferior in terms of organization and combat power.

However, their value was not small in that they were units that I had the possibility of completely taking control of.

“It’s finally time to get moving.”

I took off the mask of Lee Seong-jun, a general loyal to the imperial army.

From now on, it was the time of Lee Seong-jun, the ambitious man who would seize power.