Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 12.8 Military Coup (2)
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On the night of December 7, I rode in Captain Kim Jeong-gil's car toward the safe house that Chairman Jo Tae-su had prepared.
Leech-like Security Command bastards tailed us, but midway we switched cars with Chairman Jo's subordinates and shook off all pursuers.
At the safe house, I exchanged greetings one by one with the core members of the Resolution Council who had arrived after shaking off the Security Command.
They were as follows.
Guard Corps operations staff Colonel Baek Dong-seok.
16th Reserve Division chief of staff Colonel Gil Tae-hwan.
17th Reserve Division operations staff Colonel Lee Jeong-yoon.
In truth, they were the top commanders of the major combat units to be mobilized for this uprising.
If the people gathered here gave the order, the Guard Corps, 16th and 17th Reserve Divisions could be deployed.
Before calling them together, I explained the coup plan we had prepared in advance to the members.
The officers nodded at the part about striking the enemy command with military police, then launching the uprising all at once and moving into operational action.
Even so, they actively voiced opinions on any parts that seemed lacking.
"The forces to be deployed for the arrests seem severely insufficient. That's why I'm suggesting this—how about pulling plainclothes teams from our Guard Corps?"
"Plainclothes teams?"
"The Guard Corps has received orders for loyalty training, so we'll use that as a pretext to form plainclothes arrest teams and move the troops. We'll give them a justification our officers can understand, have them stand by, then move out with the military police. Wouldn't that work?"
"That makes sense."
Even I thought the number of military police for the arrests was too small.
"Don't worry about the unit commander. He's away from the unit for promotion review, and the chief of staff has an official trip scheduled at Army Headquarters."
At Colonel Baek Dong-seok's advice, I decided to modify the plan somewhat.
"Then, have your plainclothes teams ready by 1900 hours and position them in front of Park Han-gil's place, the Army Chief of Staff's residence, the Security Commander's residence, and the Capital Defense Commander's residence. If they hold up the oak leaf markers, our military police heading that way will cooperate."
"Understood."
Colonel Gil Tae-hwan also offered advice.
"General, I looked into the Guard Division issue. It turns out an officer who had ties to Your Excellency in Spain recently took command of a regiment in the Guard Division."
"Ah, Park Jun, you mean. That guy's still got the right ideas. Why Park Jun?"
"Once we start mobilizing forces, the nearby Guard Division will deploy first. Park Jun will be the commander of the first combat unit to move out."
"Hmm."
"It seems safest if you handle Park Jun personally and win him over."
"Win over Park Jun."
That had been the original plan.
But advancing the timeline had seriously tangled our recruitment efforts for the Guard Division.
"It'll carry some risk, but to neutralize the Guard Division by the deadline, we need to at least turn Park Jun into a bystander."
"I get what you mean. We'll do as you say."
I'd wandered front lines riddled with bullets to gain popularity.
Standing before an old subordinate was hardly beyond me.
Colonel Lee Jeong-yoon added his spice.
"General, the manifesto seems lacking in the most crucial part. It doesn't convincingly explain to the public why we're rising up and what vision we're acting on."
"The justification is as written there. Is there something to improve?"
"If they can't elevate us, drag the enemy down to rock bottom. Make up lies if you have to and pin them on. If Park Han-jin has no chance to refute, it'll become the truth the people believe."
He was right.
Games are always relative.
Even if I don't get stronger, weakening the opponent widens the gap.
If we shove the Park Han-jin regime's morality into the sewer depths, our coup gains that much legitimacy.
True or false, if it builds the foundation of power, it was worth doing.
'Win, and we can bend the game's rules to our will.'
I'd been naive in that regard too.
Trying to win with facts alone.
"You're right."
The officers debated operations until the early dawn hours, then returned to their units.
And the new morning of December 8 dawned.
Was this what they called the morning of revolution?
I went to Army Headquarters with a calm face.
In the morning, I handled routine work as always, then called the 1st Guard Division commander.
Generals mostly knew each other, so field commanders often used first names without formality.
Of course, as royalty, I didn't get that treatment.
"Ah, General Oh? This is Lee Sung-jun. I heard talk of your promotion while passing by, so I thought I'd call. Yes. Haha. You're treating? No. I should be the one buying. Yes. Let's meet at 7 p.m. tonight at the 'Jinwol Pavilion' in Daebang-dong. Oh, no need. Yes. See you this evening then."
Promotion reviews for generals were still pending, but I roughly knew who would advance.
Even 1st Guard Division Commander Major General Oh Gwang-se had his promotion to lieutenant general confirmed.
After setting dinner with Oh Gwang-se, I told Jeong-gil.
"Go to Jinwol Pavilion at lunchtime. Make the reservation and check the room location."
I didn't even consider it might be fully booked.
Even if no seats, Madam Jeong would make a room appear.
Such was the power of an Imperial Korean Army general in a military-dominated Daehan Empire.
'I've spaced Oh Gwang-se out by about 30 minutes at the site for now. Next targets.'
The generals who would be at Army Headquarters tonight.
"General Ha? This is Lee Sung-jun. Just calling because Major General Oh Gwang-se is getting promoted, so we're setting up a celebration. If you're not too busy, please join us at 'Jinwol Pavilion' at 7 p.m. Ah, yes. I'll have someone from the research office send over the directions."
I invited the Army Operations Bureau chief, Provost Marshal, and other generals who could obstruct operations to Jinwol Pavilion.
It was modeled on Chun Doo-hwan's birthday party ploy (note: luring Security Commander Jang Tae-wan, Special Forces Commander Jeong Byeong-ju, Provost Marshal Kim Jin-gi, etc., to an entertainment house).
Time passed faster than expected.
Perhaps because a massive event like a coup loomed, making me tense.
By 5 p.m., generals began leaving Army Headquarters one by one.
Army Headquarters usually started the day at 8 a.m., so this was about time for them to end work.
I packed my bag and stood from my desk.
I instructed Jeong-gil to track the key generals' positions from my desk and report to my quarters in 30 minutes.
The other research office officers, including Major Lee Han-yong, were to come to my quarters in 30 minutes.
Of course, I had no intention of using my quarters as the command post CP.
The quarters were just a temporary space until the command post was set up.
5:30 p.m.
Jeong-gil called the quarters.
"The big duck is at the pond. The mallard is strolling by the pondside, and the field chick is in the woods."
Jeong-gil's report was metaphorical, but everyone understood.
Big duck Park Han-jin was at the residence.
The Army Chief of Staff was heading home to his residence, and the deputy chief of staff was at Army Headquarters.
No word on other generals meant Jeong-gil couldn't track them.
"Good work. Return to quarters."
"Understood."
It bothered me a bit that the targets weren't in position, but time remained.
Ring.
"Army Policy Research Officer Lee Sung-jun speaking."
"Ah, General Lee. This is the Provost Marshal. Unexpected business came up, so I have to cancel our appointment. Sorry."
"No problem, General. These things happen."
I frowned right after hanging up.
Provost Marshal Oh Jung-gu.
The most dangerous foe among Park Han-jin faction generals.
What post was Provost Marshal?
Head of the military police branch.
He could mobilize military police from Provost Marshal's office alone and arrest me in 10 minutes.
And that was just the start.
Each unit had its own military police company, so the Provost Marshal, alongside Security Command, served as the Army's eyes and ears.
Such a key figure holding position was definitely bad news.
6 p.m. Major Lee Han-yong's group and Kim Jeong-gil arrived at quarters.
I first gave Lee Han-yong's team a task.
"You know, you resemble me a bit. Stick on a mustache and it'd be perfect."
"I-Is that so?"
"That's why I'm asking—you stand in for me."
I gave Lee Han-yong my dress uniform.
From a distance, without much thought, he looked exactly like General 'Lee Sung-jun.'
Of course, I had him pull his service cap low to obscure his face.
"Aide."
"Yes, General."
"Take this Major Lee and circle the city. Keep looping until 7:30, then head to the Guard Corps headquarters that'll be the CP."
"Yes, General."
I planned to deceive Security Command with this ruse for a while.
Then I had Captain Mo, one of Lee Han-yong's subordinates, accompany me.
"We'll head to Taecheon drill field in 10 minutes, so prepare."
"Yes, General."
The military police unit was assembling at Taecheon drill field for this operation.
There, I'd issue specific instructions to them again, then go to Guard Corps headquarters to direct the coup.
"See you at Guard Corps HQ then. For the Daehan Empire."
"For the Daehan Empire."
Instead of salutes, the members raised oak leaves.
From this moment, we were no longer part of the Imperial Korean Army.
We were 'rebels.'