Chapter 126
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Age of the Gold Rush (2)
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Shanghai, French Concession.
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
The Provisional Government brimmed with a sense of crisis more than ever before.
The grand plan to establish underground networks across the Three Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains had crumbled in just a few years under Japan's insidious dual strategy of cultural rule as the carrot and relentless suppression as the stick.
With the liaison networks and transportation bureau in ruins, and efforts to promote commerce and industry or establish universities gone up in smoke, the Provisional Government now had to confront the monumental question: "What must we do to seize independence?"
The armed independence groups in Manchuria and the Maritime Province cooperated with the Provisional Government but flatly refused any command or control. At least the influx of money and supplies had made them somewhat amenable, if only out of financial necessity—a small mercy.
The communists, flush with massive funds from Moscow's Lenin, were scheming to turn the Provisional Government into their own playground. Meanwhile, the Manchurian and Maritime factions eyed Syngman Rhee with suspicion, convinced he was colluding with Kim Eugene to bolster only the overseas faction's power in his power games.
In this precarious moment, the movements of Kim Eugene—the nation's hero—were enough to unsettle some or provide ammunition for others.
"That guy's just an autonomist at heart, isn't he? If not, tell him to come to Shanghai right now and take command as the Independence Army Marshal!"
"You mad bastard! Hey! I raised Kim Eugene on my back! Call me an autonomist if you dare!"
"If General Kim Eugene comes to Shanghai... who'll bring in the funds?"
"The Provisional Government's influence is fading because of him! He won't submit to its control, so why would anyone else join? If Kim Eugene came, even the Manchurian independence forces would obey without a peep!"
A young man who had been watching rose from his seat and launched into a passionate speech.
"Everyone. Do you know where Kim Eugene is right now? The Philippines! The Philippines!"
"So?"
"Whether it's the Japanese Empire we despise so much or the United States he pledges undying loyalty to, they're both imperialist powers in the end—the same old slop! He's probably over there massacring Filipino independence activists like us!"
"You son of a bitch! You done talking?!"
Park Yong-man, who had been defending Kim Eugene more fiercely than anyone, spat curses and lunged forward, but was held back by those around him.
The man didn't even blink.
"We must recognize the true nature of these imperialist nations. Diplomacy and such against them is utterly futile! There's only one country on this earth that vows to aid oppressed minorities: the Soviet Union!"
"Woooaaah!"
"Comrade Park Heon-yeong is right!"
As the communists in the room cheered, the man—Park Heon-yeong—pressed on with even greater fervor.
"Our Korean Communist Party has watched the Provisional Government wage the ethnic independence struggle as part of the socialist revolution. But we're deeply disappointed by its recent conduct. Why are we so flustered by the actions of one man? Kim Eugene is American! A capitalist, an imperialist, and an enemy of the revolution!"
"Right! How can someone who's not even Korean represent the Korean people?!"
"We must decisively reject Kim Eugene and strengthen our revolutionary spirit—that's the only way the Provisional Government survives!"
"You crazy commie bastards! Those Lenin and Trotsky pricks you suck up to till your asses fall off—where are they Korean?! Be honest: you'd latch onto the Soviets or the Japs if it meant pushing your socialist revolution!"
As the Provisional Government's situation grew ever more dire, Syngman Rhee was holding a secret meeting with the envoy he had sent to the Philippines.
"So, So-ang. Did you enjoy sightseeing in the Philippines?"
"When we found him, General Kim Eugene had unfortunately come down with malaria and was bedridden."
"His health? Was his health okay?"
"Yes. Thankfully, he recovered enough to get out of bed. I'd heard Luzon's malaria claims even sturdy white men's lives without mercy, but as expected of our nation's hero—even the malaria demon couldn't touch him."
Syngman Rhee sighed in relief, patting his chest.
'It'd be trouble if that guy died. Of course. What kind of man is he? Even the grim reaper would get a bullet in the face before taking him.'
If Kim Eugene actually dropped dead, it would be the end for him—and the Provisional Government.
Jo So-ang recounted his meeting with Kim Eugene in detail, and the more Syngman Rhee heard, the darker his expression grew.
"Whew. I'd be annoyed too. Feeding him three square meals a day, and he still complains right to your face..."
"Did we disappoint him?"
"No, no. He—er, General Kim—knows full well from the start that achieving independence through the Provisional Government's strength alone would be a long, arduous path. So why does he pour his personal fortune into supporting us without hesitation? Because he believes in us."
A man of Kim Eugene's caliber wouldn't rage without reason. He must have laid out his demands point by point or offered alternatives.
This strange faith—was it respect for a worthy rival?
"I think... first off, he was probably just worn out, making him a bit sharp. Or maybe it's a nudge for us to step up."
If he truly harbored resentment toward the Provisional Government, Jo So-ang wouldn't have returned so leisurely. He'd have tugged the leash lightly to remind everyone who held whom—just enough to cause a stir.
Of course, that would inevitably spark chaos in the Provisional Government.
"That's a relief, then. General Kim asked me to deliver these letters."
Jo So-ang handed over a bundle of letters from his pocket. Syngman Rhee broke the seals and skimmed them quickly.
"He said if anyone might snoop, just burn them."
"Got it. Anything else? Nothing special?"
"He said he'd put anything he wanted to tell me directly in the letters."
"Oh, right—the letter I gave you? Did you deliver it?"
"On the way, the Japs tailed us, so..."
"Good call. As long as it wasn't compromised."
For those few years in Japan, communication between the Provisional Government, Syngman Rhee, and Kim Eugene had been severed.
Closing that information gap was top priority, but it couldn't be helped.
Yet as he read the letters, Syngman Rhee's worries melted away like snow.
Classic Kim Eugene.
Syngman Rhee nodded as he read.
Much of the letters analyzed the Provisional Government's current landscape and proposed countermeasures. Not knowing the full details, he'd simply laid it all out bluntly.
'The man who bested the great Unam—his mind couldn't turn any slower than this.'
"Fetch the Security Bureau Chief."
"Yes, sir."
Moments later, Security Bureau Chief Kim Gu entered the room.
"You wanted me?"
"Perfect timing, Baekbeom. I called you because the envoy I sent to General Kim Eugene has returned."
He pulled out one letter and showed it to Kim Gu.
"Hmm."
"As it says, General Kim only made that choice out of necessity to prevent the massacre of Koreans. The Japanese brass decided to use Koreans as scapegoats, and he temporarily played along to stop it—how could that be collusion with the enemy?"
"With General Kim's firm testimony, no more objections will arise. What a relief."
"There's more. General Kim hasn't abandoned Korea. Since we couldn't build universities on Korean soil, he devised the overseas study plan as the next best thing. And since we couldn't protect Koreans on the peninsula, he stepped up."
The letters echoed what Syngman Rhee had been arguing in the Provisional Government.
Kim Gu nodded at Syngman Rhee's explanation and adjusted his glasses.
"So why show this to me alone?"
"Baekbeom. Should we call those slandering General Kim—who's more devoted to Korean independence than anyone—true independence fighters?"
As Security Bureau Chief, dealing most with Japanese spies, Kim Gu grasped the intent immediately.
"Even a dog won't bite the hand that feeds it, but some bark like mad at every footstep without sharing their own bowl."
"Exactly. At this rate, the commies will gun us all down soon. They're secretly building up arms while linking up with their Chinese commie pals under the guise of international solidarity!"
He couldn't hand the entire Provisional Government over like this.
The Korean Communist Party was already hinting at a showdown from their mouths, and their relentless attacks on Kim Eugene screamed they were manufacturing their own pretext.
'Kim Eugene's a collaborator with the Japanese. Thus, the Provisional Government's key figures relying on him are collaborators too. So we'll pure-hearted ones take it all.' Obvious.
"If the commies seize the Provisional Government, it'll spark the communist revolution they crave. Commies are wired to stab fellow revolutionaries in the back until their beloved communist regime is born. We've got the perfect excuse to oust them now—time to strike first."
"Not fighting the Japs, but slandering our greatest contributor to the Korean people, eyes only on absorbing the Provisional Government instead of contributing... Got it. Let's prepare."
"Park Heon-yeong must be taken out this time, no matter what. Tell Dosan to come at once too. No one else fits the bill."
One lifetime experience of underestimating an opponent and losing was enough.
Now, Syngman Rhee was resolved never to yield to anyone.
No one could drive him from this seat.
The Liberation Army under the Provisional Government was Park Yong-man's domain, so no betrayal there. Security had Kim Gu, who frothed at commies. Safe for now.
But how many of their vaunted "People's Army" had the commies stockpiled? That uncertainty gnawed at the core of all worries.
Putting everything else aside, if the Liberation Army and People's Army ever turned guns on each other in Shanghai, it would be straight to ruin.
"We should have seized those funds Lenin gave them. Them gobbling it all up caused this mess."
"If they'd taken that money, the commies would hold even more top Provisional posts. They'd have demanded military command, no doubt. Anyway... General Kim asked about gun factories."
"Pardon?"
Their troubles deepened.
―No need to come all the way.
I lit the paper with my cigarette ember.
I'd half-thought about heading to Shanghai myself for another round of cat-and-mouse if things got tricky, but it seemed unnecessary.
Yeah. Gotta do at least this much. I didn't shove him across the Pacific instead of the presidential seat for nothing—if the money man has to move personally, how embarrassing.
Until Japan goes berserk anyway, the Provisional Government's public image is, at best, an anti-Japanese minority group; at worst, a terrorist outfit. With all the world-shakers being colonial empires, what can you do? Hilarious.
So if a shady terrorist group prints some illegal guns and sells them off, who'll complain? Pair up with the warlords, and it's win-win.
Maybe because of me—this irregular absent from original history—weapons tech worldwide is advancing a tad faster. If selling guns to the Japs makes Japan win the Sino-Japanese War! that'd be ridiculous.
The Guardian of the Rift, Professor Kassadin, once said balance of power must be maintained.
In that vein, wouldn't it warm the heart if warlords rampaging across the vast heartland swapped swords for Grease Guns? The Japanese officers invading China would feel their hearts blaze too—literally.
Of course. Balance of power must be preserved.
Except for mine.