All-Out War and the Junkies #1
The Supreme Leader's liquor is perfected with high-purity alcohol and a dash of cocaine. So in a way, it's booze made to be mixed with other drinks from the start. But the Supreme Leader designed it with wartime conditions in mind—meant to sell during war.
"Should've held onto it after all."
In wartime, Supreme Leader's liquor is damn near a miracle drug. In field hospitals short on everything, it's used to sterilize surgical tools (skip it, and infection kills you on average). Soak cotton in it, shove it up the nose for quick absorption to anesthetize the gunshot wounded (do it wrong, and they bleed out, but usually shock gets them first). It's even doled out to console soldiers whose lives feel utterly pointless and who expect to die tomorrow (no liquor, and either the officer or the grunt dies—or both). A true miracle drug, you see.
The Korean military's low casualties owed a lot not just to field hospitals but to this miracle drug too. The problem? Once word got out, they couldn't export it anymore. And that was the real issue.
When the Korean forces in the Balkans used this miracle drug everywhere, the pragmatic Brits saw the clinical trials were done and wanted it for themselves. They knew manpower was precious too. But Korea slammed the export door shut. Meanwhile, the Germans kicked off chemical warfare. Yeah, they unleashed that horrific mustard gas.
Of course, we hit back with our own gas, but that wasn't the point. What mattered was British casualties climbing day by day. We had to cut those numbers somehow, and that meant getting our hands on Supreme Leader's liquor.
"You're asking us to dispatch medical units, right?"
"Yes, exactly. The southern front has stabilized now, so we'd like to pull medical teams from there and attach them to the western front."
We hadn't even landed at Gallipoli yet, Romania was still occupied, Bulgaria hadn't joined—stabilized? Well, with the Ottomans dead and the Germans crushed, yeah, it checks out. Austria-Hungary? Soon to be just Austria and Hungary separately? The Korean military was already telling the Hungarians to jump ship since their spot was sunk.
Korea never liked Serbia much. A war sparked by assassinating some other country's crown prince, just to achieve Greater Serbia? That kind of history shouldn't exist. 'We're not saying surrender like cowards—just don't bow to the Germans when we roll in. Your nation stays intact, Bosnia-Herzegovina included.'
'...'
'We'll negotiate with Russia to snag you some Galician oil rights too. For real. Keep fighting like this, and every inch of your land breaks into ethnic states, your rail network in ruins. That what you want?'
Austria-Hungary's a no-go. They've swallowed too much from Germany to be swayed by Korea. Hell, they can't. It's a matter of national credibility. War started after their declaration—bail now? But Hungary? Hungary was anti-war from the jump, as far as I knew. Plenty of reason to slack off.
'Keep this up, and even Serbia carves you up. For real.'
Anyway, Hungary needed convincing. In the Supreme Leader's eyes, the key to collapsing the Eastern Front wasn't Germany, Russia, or Korea—it was those Hungarians.
America was in chaos like no other. The West had effectively slipped control. But the real mess wasn't that backwater West—it was the political balance shattered by losing the West.
First off, beef exports ground to a halt. Not just halted—they'd pocketed the deposits but were now breaching the contracts.
'But honoring them brings its own problems.'
Post-war, beef prices skyrocketed. For America, locked into 40 years of cheap exports, it was a disaster. And not just for the Republicans—it hit Theodore Roosevelt too.
Taft was rallying the Republican right, the conservative East, to impeach President Theodore. Ahead of those Southern Democrats! It worsened with Korean weapons flowing via Japan and Russia to Alaska, and American blacks heading to Haiti instead of Sudan. Korea wasn't staying friendly with the US anymore, and that meant pro-Korea Roosevelt losing clout.
'Korea, can't you sort out the arms exports?'
'Looks like some of the Trans-Siberian shipments are being siphoned. How's your rebel pals buying that diverted gear, anyway?'
'How the hell should I know?'
Korea promised tight munitions control, but Theodore knew it'd fail. If it worked, those black rebels wouldn't be so armed. The key point: Western secession broke rapport with Korea, shaking rural sentiment, which fueled Eastern attacks on him.
He had to do something. Find a way out, no matter what.
Then came the rumor: 'Britain's begging America for aid.'
'Not payment exactly, but they'll free Ireland and the Irish, let America lead.'
Tabloid trash, but perfect bait for so-called realpolitik types and geopolitics hacks.
"If Ireland falls under US influence, sure, help Britain a bit."
"Of course. The new era's America's. Those commie n*ggers out West? Just a matter of time."
Americans craved good news, and this was it. Britain denied it, of course—loudly ignored. Problem: America, especially the East, was packed with ex-Brits, Germans, and tons of Irish. And those ex-Brits weren't pro-Britain either. So the bait kept burning.
Germans feared US jumping to Britain's side? No way. Irish wanted liberation. Even Brits enjoyed seeing rival Brits schooled.
Theodore Roosevelt thought: Taft the pig wants to buddy up with Britain for world management. So what about him? US President him?
The answer was clear: America's world management. America's world order.
"As President of the United States, I say: Britain begs foreign aid? Free the exploited Irish first!"
"""Waaaaaaaaah!!!"""
The Supreme Leader, who'd split Britain and America like breathing, moved to the next task. The issue wasn't just expansionist America this era—America eyed South America and Africa, but Korea had to "liberate" Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Otherwise, those factories churning consumer goods would shutter post-war. That could spark the Great Depression right here.
But slamming brakes or loosening reins now? No way they'd buy it. Isolationism talk? Falls on deaf ears.
Time to spread Korea's way worldwide. Give what they want.
'Buy resources from our colonies? Trade for military gear? Fully welcome.'
Korea first secured access to Anglo-French colonies. Buying resources? Big deal. The trick's in the payment.
Back when silver standard tempted their colonies, I paid premium silver. Now, continental scale.
He knew payment didn't have to be gold.
'It's a miracle! Water!!'
Korea's battleship-sized freighters, especially power plant ones, all had permanent seawater desalination. They hauled those to Arabia, burned their gushing oil to make drinking water.
'We'll take some crude. Payment: electricity, water, oil, engines.'
'Thank you!! Take it all!'
Korea, first to boom agriculture in the Middle East, turned elsewhere. Middle East was just the spark.
Too many places lacked water, power, steel, coal, oil, engines. Without US, Soviet, or Korean intervention, eternal colonial slaves.
No peaceful era where oil money let you strut. Before Anglo-French realized colonies were imploding, ignite sparks everywhere. That's how latecomer Korea carves a niche.
Yeah, America "saved" the world from Anglo-French not out of morality—just as latecomers. No independence, no markets. But they never freed South America—their turf.
Just light the fires once. Even if Anglo-French extinguish, embers remain. Victory goes not to oppressors Anglo-French, but Prometheus Korea.
'Ah, this is modular construction—fresh modern housing straight from Korea.'
'Ooh, amazing!'
The coming Great Depression? Bet it'll be your Great Depression.