Panic and War #2
The Korean Empire is a nation that started with free trade and successfully settled as a great power under the gold standard. He'd have a fit if he heard it, but that was the view of the Korean Empire held by countries around the world. They bought goods from Japan without tariffs, sold them in the Qing to kick off their development, and ultimately formed their own faction with the gold standard. In the current situation, even the Supreme Leader was annoyed, but there was no way to refute it.
"Just go with it like this?"
"Yes."
This intel from Britain spread across the world like a textbook—no, like the Bible—convincing everyone: Ah, to succeed like the Korean Empire, we need free trade. We have to go gold standard, even if we borrow the gold. They all thought that way. The Korean Empire was living proof.
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
"That's right."
That was exactly how Britain wielded the Korean Empire's rise like a blade, not out of fear, but to subjugate—or rather, incorporate—the world's uncivilized nations into their free trade regime and gold standard. They expanded the market, so to speak. While the rest of Europe obsessed over CDOs and hyping their own real estate markets, Britain steadily grew its economic colonies.
"It's the Great Depression!!"
Arthur Balfour had foreseen this very moment. He faced a yellow-skinned man stepping onto British soil after a long absence.
That guy really doesn't age.
"Thank you for coming in person."
"I considered him a friend, though I'm not sure if he felt the same."
"His Majesty surely thought the same of you."
The fat Edward VII—a man who'd given everyone headaches in so many ways—had died. Now war was inevitable. The final obstacle was gone, so the Supreme Leader quietly laid flowers, along with a cigarette.
"Then I'll take my leave. I came by express, so I've got work piling up."
"Already?"
"Truth is, there's this mustachioed guy here I absolutely hate."
"Haha, he doesn't hate you, Supreme Leader. If anything, he's curious how you developed the Korean Empire so thoroughly."
The Supreme Leader had no interest in discussing the mustache, so he raised a hand.
"I brought what you mentioned. Seemed like you needed gold."
"Thank you. And for siding with us on the Hong Kong issue last time— that's what friends are for. We'll concede on the oil. We've got plenty left."
Britain faced America's full-on naval challenge with the Great White Fleet last year, the Southeast Asian economic panic this year, and now the passing of their rotund king—money was flowing out everywhere. So Britain decided to squeeze gold from its colonial heads, starting with the Korean Empire.
That's why, even amid the real estate boom, they'd expanded economic colonies. Britain needed gold now, so they had to redeem—or wring it—from foreign powers. Let the others obsess over building skyscrapers; Britain would handle itself.
"We'll use this gold for good."
Their king had died screaming, but Britain was a constitutional monarchy. No matter if the king croaked, the British Empire must endure—even if it meant burning the world.
"Your Excellency, preparations for total war are complete."
"Finally ditching the gold standard?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, Britain's in crisis, isn't it?"
"True."
"So now's the moment for our rise."
"Our rise is what we've been doing all along. Britain in crisis means abandoning gold is a gamble."
Why else would I meticulously prepare for colonial independence struggles and even a British redemption scandal to exit gold? Because that's how the odds go up. A clean getaway.
But just because their house is on fire, we bail now? They'd come charging to set ours ablaze too. Even crazy North Korea bowed its head after 9/11, comrades.
But total war had a nice ring. We actually needed it around now.
"If it's total war, it's not against Britain—it's against ourselves."
"Total war, total war, total war."
The Supreme Leader rolled the words slowly in his mouth, then gave his answer.
"Preparations for total war are done? Then..."
"Prepare the grand military parade we've only talked about."
"The 'grand military parade'?"
"Mobilize all divisions except those deployed to the Qing. Polish the rifles to a shine, ready the planes and airships for immediate takeoff."
"Finally! With Britain sinking, we can finally wield hegemony!"
What the hell? Better not to wield hegemony forever. It's goddamn expensive. Even America agonizes over it.
"Timing... say mid-1912 when the battleships commission, or mid-1913."
"...?"
It's 1910 now.
"Hm? So confident? You know the scale I want?"
Roughly D-365×2 days. For the prep time I envision, it's not long at all.
"Review 24 legions—not divisions. Korean Empire legions are 40,000 each, so prepare a million-strong army."
"You're joking, right?"
"Nope."
This was different from last time's million work brigade. I demanded a million soldiers. Parade-ready.
"Location: Beijing. Partial mobilization from January, full active and reserve by June—get all million troops assembled."
"Your Excellency, if I may... isn't a million too much? You couldn't see them all from Baekdu Mountain."
It's a full mobilization order.
"Only then will Britain or America flinch, like you said."
"For real?"
"Dead serious. Russia's ignored despite its army size because it lacks mobilization power."
"Form doesn't matter—set up barracks near Beijing before January if needed. I'll allow that. But no pre-reviews at unit targets, got it?"
"Not micromanaging like before. I want to see your capabilities, comrades. Am I wrong to expect that?"
"..."
"Some might think: a parade shows disciplined troops, elite soldiers armed to the teeth. Not wrong."
But that's fake. Domestic showboating. Putin-style, not Stalin asking enemy division counts.
"Foreign powers won't blink at that. Strong army? They'll just see yellow monkeys."
"Only mobilization power—short-term surge—makes them think twice. That's the external projection of a true parade."
Feel it now, what you asked for?
"Don't worry too much. It'll end quick. Goal: muster them, then send 'em home intact. Not an invasion."
"Parades are pricey as hell, so I want to test your logistics, supply, admin for a million-man army. Get it?"
"You've given us a tough exam."
"Can't avoid failing. Problems are inevitable. That's why—no deception needed. The parade fixes them in advance."
"No shame. Grader and screw-ups aren't outsiders—they're me, comrades."
My parade, its failures, incidents—they'd print cartoons mocking me nonstop, demoting me to some emperor like Qin Shi Huang.
Whatever, dumbasses. Old truth: fastest score gains from dumping past questions nonstop.
Not textbook, but we've drilled those. Exam's near—time to sweat scores.
No choice once aware. Fewer mistakes, fewer deaths.
"But farming... isn't a million for a parade too much?"
"Wanna split with Japanese troops?"
"...We'll handle it ourselves."
Think it over—issues galore. I gave comrades a break. Involving Japan means I intervene fully.
"Funds from Pyongyang."
"And invitation to observe the upcoming parade."
"Makes sense. Russian revolution creates a power vacuum—those invading Germanic tribes won't stay out."
In that vein, this Korean parade and observation reaffirmed the unspoken pact between Lenin and the Korean Empire's General Secretary.
Different lines, but the revolutionary spark endures. If he becomes the torch lighting the world, I'd be the lighthouse in the dark night.
"Revolution in Germany... tough, huh?"
"They just don't get it. I tell 'em compromise is delusion, but it doesn't sink in."
Who compromises their rice bowl? Even revisionists needed bloodbaths in Joseon.
Think more party members change the world? More MPs? Useless if no government sway. That's a "controlled opposition."
Masses alone have limits. Always will.
German comrades ignore this obvious fact. Too tamed by "civilization's" oppression.
Lead the masses then. Who? Another elite: vanguard, us.
"Panic hits, demand daily wages to avoid cuts—but they block it citing the panic. What can we even do?"
Lighthouse shows the wage system as delayed exploitation—what good?
Exposes real estate as government exploiting comrades via comrades—shadow and truth—what good?
Blows away monopoly, salt taxes, tariff sovereignty as divine-right relics—what good?
Lighthouse fails. Its presence proves it. World beyond stays dark, damp, lightless—with or without sun.
He knows it best, that lighthouse. Arrogant sun won't do. Self-aware, reclusive lighthouse won't either.
Only revolutionary blaze. Vanguard, comrades, me. We change the world. Heat it open.
"The night of revolution is ready."
We'll succeed in "revolution." Then buy lighthouse comrade a drink: I was right, you wrong. I saved the comrades you abandoned to misery.