Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Disarmament (2)
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Korea's large-scale disarmament drew the attention of the great powers.
First off, the Soviet Union welcomed Korea's disarmament.
"It's a sign that Yi Seong-jun plans to stay on the sidelines no matter what happens in Europe—what else could it be?"
The United States and Britain also took a welcoming stance, at least for the moment.
The pressure from Korea's bloated navy had been overwhelming anyway.
Now that Korea was scaling it back of its own accord, the Anglo-Americans could breathe a little easier.
"Let's cut back our navy too. The Korean militarists have trimmed their fleet—how long can we sustain that massive force?"
The Soviets were the weakest among the great powers when it came to naval power anyway.
Maintaining their excessive navy just to counter the reds was draining the national treasury dry.
Britain and the United States decided to reduce their naval forces this time around.
"Attlee, has that apple-flavored red bastard lost his mind for real?"
Mosley and Churchill were foaming at the mouth, but Attlee wouldn't budge.
"The empire's excessive maintenance costs need to be cut. What the empire needs isn't battleships—it's milk for the kids' mouths."
Britain's public opinion became even more divided over this naval disarmament issue.
The United States didn't suffer as much backlash as Britain, but the mood in the navy—now the target of cuts—was restless.
"Isn't this all because of those air power fanatics in the White House, the staff and the president?"
"We'll endure it this time, but if they make the navy the sacrificial lamb again, we'll take action."
The U.S. Navy harbored resentment toward the president and the government over this.
In the end, the Anglo-American naval disarmament served to justify Korea's own cuts.
"See? We're reducing our navy, and they're following suit."
The Korean government didn't slacken the reins on disarmament.
They scrapped the battleships and sold off outdated weapons to buyers like the Kingdom of South Italy and the warlords of the Republic of China.
The savings went toward economic development and new weaponry.
The Korean government demonstrated these new weapons to the military.
"This, gentlemen, is what's called a jet aircraft."
One air force general lit up at the weapon introduced by Eunseong's engineer.
"Oh, is this the Me 262 jet from Messerschmitt? It looks more unusual than I expected."
"It's even more advanced than that. There was a German prototype called the P.1101 that we retrieved from a factory and brought back. We've newly produced this one ourselves."
Isn't a Schwabe or whatever the same thing?
The high-ranking officials showed little reaction even to the news that they'd stolen the P.1101.
"This is the Wasserfall surface-to-air missile. German-made, of course. We've taken over their prototype and are developing it."
Other weapons were introduced to the generals as well: the X-4 air-to-air missile, the X-7 anti-tank missile, and various other missiles.
"This is the German-developed V-2. It flies at supersonic speeds to strike enemy positions."
The generals grew interested as missiles kept being introduced.
"Aren't missiles consumables? Using them instead of shells would cost a fortune."
"But they're far more precise than guns or cannons. With a weapon that can finish the enemy in one shot, you don't need to fire multiple rounds."
"You don't mean warships too, do you?"
"If the warhead's big enough, battleships are possible too."
The generals were stunned by that.
So what the hell had the battleship main battery advocates been spouting in front of His Excellency?
Seeing the new weapons prepared by the corporations and research institutes, the generals thought that the disarmament had been the right call.
"His Excellency had it all figured out, as expected."
What good was hoarding obsolete battleships and cannons?
In future wars, one button press and those battleships would go up in smoke.
With that in mind, they even felt sorry for the admirals pushing outdated battleships.
"Why are you looking at us like that? We didn't do anything wrong."
The battleship main battery advocates cleared their throats awkwardly under the sudden stares.
The new weapons demonstration was enough to silence the opposition to disarmament.
Using this achievement as leverage, the Korean government pushed for reductions in the Chinese and Japanese forces too.
"Your Excellency, won't that cause problems with maintaining public order?"
"The tributary states and Chen Gongbo can keep their armies for that."
His Excellency wouldn't tolerate the Japanese and Chinese puppet states sucking up under Korea's umbrella.
The peace dividend had to go to Daehan, not ZhongRi—that was His Excellency's will.
"Is that really a reason to let them have armies?"
Kim Seong-ju couldn't understand it, but he decided to carry out His Excellency's orders.
Chen Gongbo despaired upon hearing the news.
"Ha, what am I supposed to do if the Korean army pulls out?"
Chen Gongbo stubbornly refused to accept the Korean troop reductions.
"No matter what His Excellency says, this is a decision from the home country. It'd be best for you to prepare in advance."
Realizing his pleas to Pyongyang were falling on deaf ears, Chen Gongbo had no choice but to establish the "National Army of the Republic of China."
If Chen Gongbo, who had succeeded Wang Jingwei, had only the image of a traitorous sellout, a coup would've toppled him immediately—but the Nanjing regime now had some legitimacy among the people of Jiangnan.
It was the psychology of preferring shit-flavored curry over curry-flavored shit, but for a traitor, even that was a godsend.
In contrast, Japan's tributary states gladly accepted permission to form armies.
"All right! Does this mean the Japanese army is finally reviving?"
However, Japan was not allowed to call it the "National Defense Force."
The tributaries had to use the name "Self-Defense Forces."
"Out of all the names, why Self-Defense Forces?"
"That's the policy from the home country."
Well, if that was the home country's policy, they had no intention of defying it.
The rearmament of Japan and China immediately created demand for weapons.
"Sell them."
Korea dumped its stockpiled surplus weapons at bargain prices.
This move by Korea caught the eye of the Chinese Communists, who were locked in struggle with Li Zongren's Republic of China forces on the mainland.
"Seeing Korea disarm so thoroughly and keep pulling back from China, it must be that the war debt from the world war was a real burden."
Mao Zedong and the Communist Party cadres saw their chance.
"There's talk of sending a small military advisory group, but that's just a bluff. If they really had spare strength, they wouldn't send a token team—they'd maintain influence in North China and keep pressuring us."
"That makes sense."
"If Korea's definitely withdrawing from the mainland, we need Moscow's support right away. If we topple the Republic of China before Korea recovers, crushing Chen Zhongbo or the North China warlords will be easier than eating cold porridge. This is our golden opportunity."
"Getting support from Moscow—possible?"
"The General Secretary wants a reliable communist ally in the East too."
Even to Mao Zedong's ears, it sounded plausible.
Mao Zedong first sent Zhou Enlai to Moscow to test the waters.
Moscow showed a lukewarm response to the visit from a high-ranking Chinese Communist.
Korea was an obstacle to fully welcoming a communist comrade, but ignoring them would harm the international communist prestige.
Zhou Enlai sensed this delicate atmosphere.
"The Russian comrades are more wary of Korea than I thought."
This wasn't good.
Still, the Soviets didn't outright snub the Chinese Communists.
No. 2 in the hierarchy, Molotov, granted Zhou Enlai several hours of audience time.
Zhou Enlai seized the chance to argue why the Soviet Union must support the Chinese Communists.
"Comrade, Yan'an fully understands why the Soviet Union wants to use Korea as a partner. But comrade, they're fascists at heart. How long can you trust them?"
"Our party doesn't blindly trust Korea either."
Even the Soviets didn't exactly like Korea.
Korea certainly leaned too much toward the other side to be firmly in the federation's camp.
So even with the alliance with Pyongyang, the relationship couldn't be eternal.
"But diplomacy is reality. We can't afford to make an enemy of Korea."
It wasn't easy for Molotov to say such things.
To convey Soviet intentions without offending the Chinese Communists, he had to lay out the facts plainly.
"Comrade Molotov, that's why now is the time. This moment when the Korean imperialists are temporarily retreating from China is the last chance to reshape the Far East balance."
"What do you mean by chance?"
"If the federation just supports us, we'll destroy the Republic of China and topple the Chen Zhongbo puppet regime. I promise. It won't take much time."
Molotov was appalled by Zhou Enlai's request.
With the General Secretary focused on Europe, playing with fire in Asia?
What if that pushed Korea fully into the Anglo-American camp?
With cracks already forming in the West, stirring up the balance of power would do the Soviets no favors.
Molotov stated his position bluntly.
"Moscow cannot comply with that request. We will not intervene in the Far East."
"Comrade."
"That's the end of the discussion."
The audience was over.
Zhou Enlai reported this disappointing outcome to Mao Zedong.
"The Soviet imperialists being like that, of course."
Mao Zedong said as much, but he felt deep disappointment.
Toppling the Republic of China without Soviet aid wouldn't be easy.
The Nationalists, who had been routed at first, had now regrouped and were fighting credibly.
Crushing them quickly wasn't simple.
"Without Moscow's support, no choice. We have to try anyway. The opportunity is now."
Mao Zedong agreed with Lin Biao's hawkish stance.
"True, Korea's never pulled back from the mainland like this before. Launch the offensive."
With the Communist offensive, the Chinese mainland was once again swept into waves of fierce civil war.
The tragedy brought by Korea's disarmament.