Chapter 142
Chapter 142
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Middle East War (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In 1918, a boy was born in Alexandria, Egypt.
His name was Gamal Abdel Nasser.
The son of a postmaster, the boy soon realized that something was wrong with the world.
"Why does our country have to suffer under British interference?"
The first image of his homeland that dawned on the sharp-minded boy was that of a pitiful weak nation that had lost its sovereignty and become a protectorate of the British Empire.
Just two or three generations earlier, Egypt had been a regional power dominating East Africa and the Middle East, but its current reality was utterly miserable.
Nasser thought to himself.
To make this country great again, it needed to reclaim its sovereignty.
Then World War II broke out.
Nasser believed this war could bring independence to Egypt.
"The answer is a coup."
Hadn't Korea's Lee Seong-jun straightened out his messed-up country with a single coup?
Nasser wanted to become like Korea's power brokers, who had seized control by toppling the great powers.
"But can we really pull it off on our own?"
"We can."
Nasser meticulously plotted a coup with his military academy classmate Sadat.
They prepared a pro-Axis coup, but Berlin showed no interest in Egypt.
The Italians, who had at least brought an army, only disgraced themselves and suffered total defeat.
There was no way such incompetents could liberate Egypt.
Egyptians would have to do it on their own.
Nasser joined the Free Officers Movement, which opposed Britain.
The Free Officers harbored intense hostility not just toward Britain, but also toward the royal house of Farouk, which reveled in luxury under British protection.
Nasser agreed with their views.
"The monarchy does nothing whatsoever for the Egyptian people. Better off without a king who serves as a tool for foreign powers."
Before long, Nasser emerged as the leader of the Free Officers.
Young, intelligent, ambitious, and charismatic, Nasser commanded the loyalty of many officers.
"Comrade Nasser has a vision."
Nasser mimicked Lee Seong-jun's policies, presenting his comrades with a vision of a new nation.
A developmental dictatorship based on Korean-style democracy.
To transform Egypt, still steeped in feudalism, into a proper nation, Lee Seong-jun's methods were ideal.
Crush them with force and make them obey.
Only then could the ignorant masses be enlightened and the country properly led.
The Free Officers, frustrated with Egypt's realities, embraced Nasser's vision.
At some point, Nasser began calling them the National Salvation Officers' Corps, modeling it after Korea's National Salvation Military Committee.
They built their power base within the military, biding their time for a chance to topple the king.
Then the Middle East War erupted.
With most Arab states joining in, everyone predicted victory for the Arab coalition forces.
Officers like Sadat proposed the following.
"If we win this war, it'll just bolster the House of Farouk's prestige. What if we deliberately sabotage it?"
They meant openly undermining the war effort to make it fail.
Nasser exploded in anger at the suggestion.
"You're willing to sabotage Egypt's national interests for the sake of one lousy king? Does that even make sense?"
"C-Comrade Nasser, why are you getting so worked up?"
"Lee Seong-jun achieved results in the Spanish Civil War because he knew victory would benefit the Korean military. And you're talking about throwing a winnable war? I can't believe this."
Of course, Lee Seong-jun hadn't won for the military's benefit.
He'd won for his own position.
But to Nasser, Lee Seong-jun was a patriot who had triumphed in tough fights out of pure love for his country.
"Comrade, if we win this war, it'll make toppling the House of Farouk much harder."
Sadat said persuasively.
"We'll have to deal with that. If we only take the easy path, how can we claim to serve the greater cause of the Egyptian people?"
Nasser declared that even if they won this war, the House of Farouk wouldn't hold on to power.
"Everyone knows how decadent that bastard is. Opportunities will come eventually. Just follow my lead this time."
Convinced by Nasser, the National Salvation Officers' Corps changed their minds.
"If we're set on winning, we need to maneuver so our people rack up the merits."
"Leave that coordination to you, Comrade Sadat."
The reason for the Egyptian military's change of heart ultimately came down to Lee Seong-jun.
With the National Salvation Officers' Corps, led by Nasser, stepping up, Israel was pushed back with astonishing ease.
The gap in military tradition and experience between Egypt—which had maintained a modern army even before becoming a protectorate—and Israel, which had only recently converted paramilitary groups into a formal army, was vast.
Even if the Egyptian army's quality wasn't top-tier among regular armies, it was still overwhelming violence to Israel's militia-level forces.
"Hahaha. Victory after victory. As expected of my army."
Egypt's King Farouk I, intoxicated by the triumphs, awarded promotions and decorations to the National Salvation Officers' Corps that had led the victories.
"What a fucking moron."
Naturally, the officers weren't particularly grateful.
Egypt's unexpected strong showing very nearly rewrote Middle Eastern history entirely.
But Korea and the United States intervened to broker a ceasefire, blunting the Arab coalition's sharp momentum.
During those 60 days, Israel received massive infusions of cash from Jews worldwide—like vital energy pellets restoring their strength.
"Can't lose Zionism. Can't lose Israel."
America's Jewish community alone raised over $100 million overnight and wired it to Israel.
Young Jews hurried to Israel to aid their spiritual homeland.
While the Jews rallied, the Arab coalition remained complacent.
"Ah, we can just steamroll them once the ceasefire ends."
It wasn't one or two countries—it was a coalition of five.
Even outside Arab groups were quietly lending support.
If they lost a war like this, they'd deserve the ridicule.
"If we lose this fight, it's over for us."
In contrast, Israel's leadership prepared for battle with grim resolve.
Under David Ben-Gurion's command, Israel first reorganized its army.
"We've got plenty of cash, lads."
They bought weapons outright—German, Soviet, British, American, Korean, whatever—and armed their troops.
They conscripted men, women, young, and old alike.
Israel knew defeat meant annihilation, but the Arabs didn't feel that desperation.
In no time, Jewish troop numbers caught up to the Arabs.
One side waged total war; the other didn't. The outcome was inevitable.
"The fate of our nation hangs on this one shot."
Israel maxed out its strength before the ceasefire ended.
Then came the second round.
"Wh-what? Why are there so many of those damn Jews?"
The Arabs panicked at Israel's flood-like counterattack.
Israel's arsenal was no slouch either.
The Arab coalition began crumbling in moments.
Even Egypt's elite forces fought Israel on equal footing, but with their ragtag allies routing, Egypt couldn't hold out.
"No way... This is how it ends?"
"The Arab coalition is the stuff of legends. Truly the most pathetic bunch in history."
Unable to withstand Israel's onslaught, the Arabs retreated from the Levant.
Israel, on the brink of destruction, let out a roar of victory.
"Now this land is ours."
No sooner had Israel secured victory than it launched ethnic cleansing in the Levant.
"If you get it, then get the hell out."
The Arabs fled their homes in tears.
In the end, the First Middle East War concluded with Israel's total, unblemished victory.
The result was similar to original history.
But the process differed.
In this war, while all the other Arab allies floundered, Egypt fought respectably and saved face.
To preserve his own dignity, King Farouk I had no choice but to lavish even greater rewards on the officers who had earned merits.
"You've all done well. Those who serve the nation deserve commendations."
Thus, Farouk I massively promoted Nasser and the National Salvation Officers' Corps.
Nasser, who had the greatest achievements, was bumped up several ranks to major.
In return, the National Salvation Officers' Corps immediately launched a coup.
"The best reward we can give is stopping your bullshit and making your reputation shine."
"Th-those bastards."
Nasser, the war's top hero and now a major, seized the palace and forced King Farouk I to abdicate.
"Who the hell is that guy? Where'd this nobody come from?"
The world was ablaze with conflict, but this happened right by the Suez Canal, so the great powers were startled by Nasser's takeover.
As if to strongly signal his admiration for Lee Seong-jun, Nasser openly dubbed his group the "National Salvation Military Committee."
"The Arab world must change now. We must discard fragmented, outdated feudal rule and build orderly modern nations through 'Arab-style democracy.'"
In his first speech to the people, Nasser boldly proclaimed Korean-style democracy and developmental dictatorship ideology.
Israel felt acute anxiety at Nasser's platform.
"Listening to him, that guy's a die-hard Lee Seong-jun follower."
"We can't take him lightly."
What kind of man was Lee Seong-jun?
A highly aggressive leader who had guided militaristic Korea to invade China and pick fights with ascending Germany.
It wasn't polite to say among allies, but to Israel, the Republic of Korea under Lee Seong-jun deserved its nickname as the Prussia of the Far East.
And now a man faithfully following that warmonger's playbook had taken charge in Egypt?
This was no laughing matter.
"Egypt will be our primary enemy from here on."
Israel began watching Egypt with even greater vigilance than in original history.
This unexpected turn gave profound lessons to nations across Asia, Africa, and South America.
"Lee Seong-jun's way really is the best for seizing power in the name of reform."
Ambitious leaders etched this unwelcome lesson into their hearts.