War to End All Wars #5: Schlieffen Plan Fizzles with "We're Screwed" in Belgium, Korean Truckers Ferry Russians to the Balkans
In September, as Germany's Schlieffen Plan wrapped up in Belgium's desperate last stand with a collective "this is fucked," and Korean truck drivers numbering 100,000 courteously shuttled Russian troops to the Balkans, Koreans—and especially the Chinese in Korea—had no clue, but Korea was in the midst of a full-scale total war.
"Double the lines?"
"Yeah."
Korea kept churning out tractor factories like mad, and engines were being upgraded right that very moment. No one noticed because it had always been this way. If you really broke it down, Korea had been running a total war up to this point. The only difference before and after the war was longer working hours.
"Switch to shifts?"
"Run 'em at night too—power's coming in now."
As the Supreme Leader himself knew, this would've been impossible in a normal capitalist country. In capitalism, goods are produced only as much as they can sell for—maybe even less—so slashing prices to boost sales? The guy pitching that usually gets fired. Only a rare breed like Ford could push it.
He got it. Just look at why there'd never been a Ford until now. Conveyor-belt mass production? Really never invented? They had windmills and waterwheels for power. Yeah, everyone knew. They just didn't do it. Why bother? Sell cheap and everyone's happy? Complaints roll in from competitors: "Why are you undercutting us?" If you're gonna price that low, just buy ours instead.
That's why dumping milk down sewers or culling egg-laying hens was peak market economics. Countries preaching pure capitalism either call it capitalist anyway or squint and say it's not. If that's not capitalist, then one-party dictatorship isn't communist either. Bullshit.
"It's just market players rebelling against authoritarian price controls, right?" "What rebellion when goods are rotting everywhere?" That's what happens when everyone makes just enough to rot—blame the bosses, not their intent. Even without state controls, economic actors did it anyway. Always have, always will. Cartels, monopolies, maxing margins for insiders, hiking tariffs. That's the constant.
Capitalism birthed the Great Depression, sadly—it's no perfect system. Just closest-to-perfect states mimic it. Realizing this, he ditched capitalism for a bit. Impossible in Joseon. Had to crush political pushes for tariffs, check margins via supply chains and logistics dominance, compromise on cartels and monopolies institutionally. Only then could capitalism even form—sustainably. Accumulating capital for most citizens.
He learned it the hard way. So he quit. Makes sense—that's dismantling every entrenched interest worldwide. Possible someday, but why not wait post-world war? Sadly, from his experience, uniting under capitalism meant capital for everyone first. Otherwise, the have-nots turn reactionary. Like feudalism crumbling under the discriminated, capitalism falls to those without capital.
For cooperatives to hold, every member gets a cut—cash or networks. Otherwise, unsustainable; must oppress someone. He knew. Communism hits era limits—not because capitalism's superior, but dictatorships do. Economy booms upward, but one dictator steering? Good luck.
Korea's capitalization wasn't just his dream anymore. Had to happen. Make a country where everyone can get rich, or it crumbles. Now Korea's dream too. To become that capitalist state, it's revolutionarily pumping out tanks now, tweaking imperialism and elites—not holing up in isolation like before, but diving into the storm to survive.
"The Asura prototype is complete, sir. Sized and weighted perfectly for winter ops, mud, and craters—fully mobile."
Korea's first combat-deployed tank. Not an armored car.
Thinking how Korea poured national might into engines alone, this was monumental. A perfectly sized four-man tank usable anywhere. Sure, ahead-of-its-time limits: weak engine forced pricey composites and light weight; stubby turret only 120 degrees; chronic breakdowns despite cost, low volume, middling power.
Mobility tank goal made power shortfall fatal. But easy powerpack swaps, thicker upper armor where turret couldn't aim, and—crucially—reloading on the move. No slowing or stopping to reload? Massive leap. Survival skyrockets if you don't halt.
I teared up a bit.
"That lightning-rod bump on the main turret—two 360-degree MGs? Really necessary? Not even 360—can't hit in front of its nose."
"Without those turrets, infantry digs in with shovels from all sides. Can't shoot front, but everywhere else. Keep 'em—they're essential."
In war, exposed MGs deter charges even if one jams. Wide elevation: anti-air, trench fire. Decent firepower-to-weight. While others chase light/heavy tanks, trench/maneuver war, we bulldoze fronts with this jack-of-all-trades.
No oil? Can't pierce armor? Tough luck.
The Supreme Leader's gaze shifted to ongoing plane, ship, sub engines. Korea stole/bought other tech, but engines got total focus. Exported intermediates and precision machining? All from this engine R&D hell.
Hoo, hoo, hoo.
"Sir, one more report."
"What?"
"Remember the 1912 Titanic sinking?"
"Yeah. Snagged tech and gear from bankrupt firms—profitable."
Very. Korea knew displacement; lacked big-ship knowhow. Now, shipping goods (not blacks) pays, but soon people. Passenger biz next.
"Post that, the International Maritime Safety Convention asked us to safety-up black-hauler ships."
"Yeah? Didn't it fizzle?"
War trumps safety.
"Fizzled, but now they're begging us to meet standards anyway."
"Sunk owners won't, but us? Sure, why not."
Korea's learned hauling blacks. No liners now, but later? Salvage something.
"And in exchange... build passenger liners to those specs. Er, probably the real ask. Yeah, that's it."
"In wartime?"
"They can't."
Makes sense—warships only, or treason. But... really?
He took the order form.
"Yanks got cash. War orders like this."
"Residuals collectible? World's chaos..."
"America? Yeah, they'll pay. Probably!"
Korea has big-ship yards for Aussie ore to Korea, processed to China. Cargoes dwarf warships. Yanks want same-size passengers. Perfect chance to use Titanic-acquired knowhow.
"Hauling blacks vs. customers? Big difference."
No cruise interest, but mega-ferries? Tempting. As Atlantic turns U-boat hell, Pacific liner empire? Money printer. People flow opens markets.
For Korea, not just winning well—profiting well. Franz Ferdinand cares about glory. World ain't 100-point test; war heroism means zilch if isolated like Soviets.
Key now: what Korea must do, achieve mid-war. No Soviet fate for us.
Brain's Goguryeo militarism quiets, yellow-peril victimhood fades. Just silence, fog, darkness—and beyond, battlefield heat that tempted moments ago.
Don't mistake the enemy.
Korea's foe ain't perennial losers like Germany. To outpace capitalism, punch holes in world's dam or build bigger to drown it. Bluntly: Britain, then America.
WW1? Korea ditched isolation—perma-war with this bloc-economy world.
Never planned stylish wins. No role reversal.
Ditching my flawless success formula? Dumb. Never gone all-in recklessly—sinful thrill, no paradise.
Always dealt with reasonable foes. Stabbed backs, sure—but front-facing handshakes.
Early? Maybe not.
"Swap the British PM."
Prep war lips now. War wins, losses—meaningless. I knew. Britain never dreamed India independent post-victory.