Secret Society #1: 1919 Was More Satisfying Than Expected
1919 turned out more satisfying than I'd imagined. Who would've thought the colonial war between Italy and France would turn into a blessing in disguise? Italy screwing up so badly that both Germany and Austria let their guards down. The world really is unpredictable. I'd figured the best outcome was France making some concessions and backing off.
And the decapitation operation I'd dusted off for the occasion? That went off without a hitch too. I'd hammered out decapitation plans dozens, hundreds of times—they were practically a mountain by now. For the first time, maybe, I'd gotten to test one against a great power. Sure, tech limitations meant no armored landing craft or anything fancy, but we still pulled off the scorched-earth landing and pushed straight to the capital. It was a ridiculous gamble in my book, but Austria-Hungary was in even worse shape, so it worked. If we'd half-assed it with some compromise landing in Italy or the Balkans, we'd have been the ones bleeding out. No fun in that.
'Stabbing straight into the deepest heart made it possible.' Overall assessment.
'Luck was on our side all around...!'
The rail networks and maps handed over by the German communists inside were a big help too—I wasn't about to forget them. Time to funnel them more operating funds. With Austria voluntarily joining the German Federation 100%. Germany half-voluntarily switching to a constitutional monarchy. Hungary holding its first democratic election, with the reds and blacks seizing the government. And amid the chaos of France and Italy's desert showdown ballooning out of control.
Sadly, the Korean Empire—true to 1919 form—was finally getting demands for an armistice. More precisely, bills for participation.
"Hmm, we did take some losses."
A decapitation op is inherently aggressive. You stab the knife deep into the skull, and the blade dulls a bit. The reorganized southern army group for the landing had plenty of Chinese, Japanese, and foreigners who weren't either. So yeah, we threw them in without much hesitation.
"Couldn't a lump-sum payout for survivors' pensions or disabled vets have settled it?"
"Money? If you've got two legs and two arms, there's nothing you can't earn."
True enough. But that's not how the world works. Even with all limbs intact, most folks just squander what they have—that's the norm. The gold standard system locked wealth flows in place anyway.
"The Chinese want to see the Son of Heaven's face?"
"More like they want you to ascend as the Son of Heaven."
"Hmm, that's a bit much."
Show my face in the Forbidden City? I'm no Son of Heaven. Emperor? Even less. I'd love to send Gojong, but he's too iffy these days.
"The Japanese want us not to abandon them?"
"I have no idea what they're even asking for."
Yeah, me neither. That's for Wilson to answer, not me. Speaking of, how the hell does that guy handle intel? Ascension as Son of Heaven and guarantees on Japan's economic integration—neither was something I could grant. The good news? Other groups' demands were easier. The Jews, including Rothschild who'd helped secure British cooperation for the thrust, were content with our Sinai and Sudan concessions. The Indians, who'd suffered the most casualties, were happy with a big temple in India. Even the toughest nuts, the Soviets and communists, were pleased I'd kept my word and avoided the Eastern Front. From their view, it was a war where victory meant a Polish independence anyway, and defeat meant facing an even bigger Poland. Add proximity to Germany, and the German-Soviet war was pure loss. I'd sidestepped it.
With Germans unifying, Hungary and Poland independent or half-so, barring sandwiched Czechs—Germany just needed a democratic government to check Wilson's boxes: 1. Democratic government. 2. Renounce colonies. 3. Give up occupied lands. The US sending troops to Europe but not going full hardline had reasons. Italy's trolling and France's freakouts were issues, but Germany's "save us" pleas were softening the US. A war without victors? If America could end it with decolonization, that was their best shot. Me recognizing Poland's independence from German occupation and personally liberating Hungary? Blessing in disguise for Germany. Future Germany would thank me. Ever since the Soviets rose and America intervened, I'd openly backed Germany. Curing their imperialist fever with big money. Hell, I'd even carve out Poland and Prussia later to fix their militarism for good. Britain demanded it, after all.
But what lay before me now surpassed my wildest imaginings. Not gratitude, but demands—and not from Germany. I hadn't even considered them the type to demand anything, let alone this.
Egypt. With Wilson's influence growing. Jewish state in Sinai all but certain, Christian state in Palestine too. Egypt wanted their own independent state under his self-determination. And they chose the Korean Empire as their conduit. Absurd.
Go to Wilson. Sure, he'd side with Britain on India and Egypt!!
"Egypt did help in various ways. Though I chalk that up to Britain."
No arguing with the bill. Supplies stacked in Egypt for the first wave—Suez restrictions demanded it. Debt? Yeah, there was debt. But to Britain. And I'd paid it—by promising true Polish liberation. Not the puppet Germany freed, but an independent Poland open to the Baltic. I'd committed to that. Gallipoli's nightmare made my decapitation op impressive to Britain. Knowing that, I'd agreed readily. Owing Britain felt off. But Egypt bringing it up? Sure, reports mentioned Arabic-fluent "British" troops, but what am I supposed to do? I'd already paid Britain for the disabled vets and fallen.
Still...
"In some cases, I wouldn't mind helping."
It's the double-dipping. Not the first such demand either. When not cash, only the Korean Empire could deliver. Ignore even apathetic Korea, and the world ignores you. Suez nationalization loomed someday.
'They'd try that anyway.'
I'm no fan of imperialists or nationalists. Independence fighters and self-determinists even less. Imperialists manipulate middle classes for concessions; nationalists—aka "freedom fighters"—extort the poor violently without that base. Requisitions on requisitions. Rationally, it's understandable. Independence needs cash, not from heaven, but squeezed from colonial-taxed underclass. Average everywhere. Hard to judge individuals morally. Telling them no extortion is like saying don't seek independence. Not something to throw at pissed-off folks. Pointless. Futile.
Most "freedom fighters" claim reclaiming sovereignty abroad, but the world boils down to hegemony, dominance—who gets the privileges. Independence included. Fighters differ from imperialists only in weakness: they cosplay victims before strong empires, but play imperialist against weaker states.
How could I like them? Self-styled patriots were just weak imperialists. Worse, even—they failed at it. That's why the Soviets are better. They failed. Everyone says so. But they tried to end imperialism. The world testifies, ganging up on them. If Soviets had been plain red imperialism, they'd thrive like us now. Korea proves it. Had Soviets compromised like other fighters or dictators, diplomatic isolation comes later. I'm sure.
But debts exist. My past-life Korea rode that nationalist wave to independence. As a reincarnate from there, I owe. So for years, I'd backed global independence fighters from the shadows. London markets recouped it, but we'd funded "local partners" for joint ventures. Regardless of my tastes or ideology—to screw colonialists and imperialists. Bought time for Korea's growth—no loss.
Truth: Much of Korea's hidden gold laundered through them into secret societies worldwide. Britain, always nagging for gold, would faint knowing. Korea was the godfather of fighters who didn't know it. Though I didn't see myself that way.
'Telling fighters not to exploit weak kin falls on deaf ears, but slipping them 1 billion through channels to stop and start legit businesses like newspapers or milk delivery? Then they nod. Can't do much about it.'
Like giving India mints—our demands were always like that. But long tails get caught. Humans dig for money sources. Even blind drops snag eventually. So we cut channels. But they didn't forget us. Like a distant dad slipping lunch money when sons were weakest.
Thus, Korea became godfather to colonial secret societies, apathy and all. Made us seem more paternal. Quietly focused, tossing work their way, no humiliating demands. Unlike America's banana republics, we weren't making rice republics. "Grow up yourselves."
So Egypt petitioned us directly. Britain would rage. But Wilson, promising self-determination, backs Britain on Egypt—they had only us. "Pay your debt" meant SOS. Rational. Problem?
"They seek help from me, who expelled Arabs—Egyptians—from British Sudan?"
Cold rationality. Ignores humanity. Pure British flavor.
'Egypt or Korea—Britain's fishing line is out.'
Wondering if we're truly allying for global free trade with Great Britain. Our British friends. Looks like tighter corsets needed. Or they'll poke Soviet/US spheres, asking whose side we're on—tough questions. Yet without clarity, they cry national interests breached.
"Gonna include carriers and destroyers, tighten cruiser tonnage limits too."
Make refits impossible, suffocate tonnage. Our concessions? Korea's already yielded plenty. Make excuses. On treaty day, nitpick Anglo-American worries—what'll they do? Funny: US agrees quick. Britain sinks. Vast colonies mean vast coverage—even light-cruiser compromises. Corset that? They abandon seas. Likely Pacific. Korea joined naval treaty matching Britain—US agreed. 'Cause British Pacific exit hurts us. Need them there so US watches them, not just us.
'Britain will freak.'
For now, that sufficed.