Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Northern Tour Reinforcement (2)
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Shortly after our brief vacation in the German village, we resumed our packed itinerary.
"North Manchuria's average farmland is 10 hectares."
What?
That's more than double South Manchuria's target.
Even so, they said yields weren't that high.
Insufficient sunlight and harsh climate were to blame.
In any case, Manchuria's rural situation was generally solid.
Farmers were earning over $2,000 a year in dollar terms on average.
It was peanuts compared to urban incomes, but compared to the premodern society of old, it was massive progress.
'Raising agricultural productivity further will make it even better.'
I'll make that happen.
That wrapped up the farmland inspection tour.
Our final stop was the Daqing Oilfield, which supplied the empire's petroleum needs.
The Daqing Oilfield pumped out 30 million tons of crude a year on average, covering half of Korea's oil demand.
And that wasn't even peak production.
Considering the impending Middle East situation, I ordered an expansion of the Daqing facilities.
"We need at least 40 million tons annually. Can you handle it?"
"We'll make it happen."
Chairman Hujing, who rushed over upon hearing I'd come to Daqing, bowed repeatedly.
Truth be told, it wasn't an unreasonable demand.
Daqing had once hit 56 million tons annually.
With that, the Northern Tour Reinforcement in Beiseun was over.
At the wrap-up ceremony, I laid out my vision for Korea's future.
"If the Korea so far has been Phase 1 of the Lee Seong-jun regime, what's ahead is Phase 2. First, we'll aggressively push sewer and water systems into underserved rural areas."
Sewer and water access was crucial, directly tied to life expectancy.
No matter the cost, it had to be done.
"Also, we'll build schools even in remote outposts where people live. We won't leave any citizens in ignorance without education."
One thing I'd noticed on the tour: many new villages lacked schools.
Education was non-negotiable.
Korea had reformed to a 6-3-3-4 system, but in practice, it only went up to middle school.
High school and beyond was a privilege for the few.
For now, I'd ensure middle school everywhere nationwide, expand high schools, and aim for 90% high school enrollment long-term.
"We'll address economic inequality too. We'll extend Peninsula-level incomes to Manchuria."
Build hub cities like Pyongyang or Hansong on the Peninsula—in Manchuria.
Giant cities there would ripple benefits to surroundings.
Corporate HQs would relocate to Manchuria.
That way, locals get more big-company jobs.
"We'll release more undeveloped land to private hands than before. Nature preserves will shrink to half their current size."
Not great for endangered tigers or leopards, but Korea's growth came first.
"Vast land, ample opportunity—Manchuria will be Korea's 'Wild West.'"
Up to here, it was standard promises and blueprints I'd pitched countless times.
But the real aim of this Northern Tour Reinforcement wasn't just these obvious points.
After rattling off economic plans, I got to the heart.
"Finally, Phase 2 of the Lee Seong-jun regime begins with abolishing Yushin."
My declaration stunned them—mouths agape.
But abolishing Yushin was no empty words; it was sincere.
I wielded more power than any emperor, sparking successor drama nationwide.
So, time to dial it back.
Even post-Yushin, my power wouldn't vanish overnight.
An 85% approval democratic regime could do anything.
Plus, I had safeguards.
Top generals were mostly my people, bureaucrats and chaebols too.
No one could rebel against my ironclad system.
Abolishing Yushin just signaled I was prepping to step down.
Once the Northern Tour Reinforcement ended, aides rushed in.
"Your Excellency, you said it, but declaring Yushin abolition here?"
"You all think I should cling to this seat forever?"
I was nearing sixty.
Even staying put, sane rule time was limited.
Not like Putin doddering into disaster—I needed to exit within 20 years.
Or die first, of course.
I watched my health somewhat, but bad habits piled up.
Occasional booze, smokes, too many late nights with the wife.
Thinking about it embarrassed me a bit.
"Still, if Your Excellency doesn't hold firm, who leads this Daehan nation?"
"A fitting successor will emerge. Don't worry too much."
Subtly, I signaled one was in the works.
Under Kim Jeong-gil, candidates were being groomed.
One decent pick might turn up eventually—like endless gacha pulls.
That was my bet.
"Your Excellency, may I offer a word of caution?"
Security Commander Park Jun spoke carefully.
"Go ahead."
"Power invites hyenas the moment it shows weakness. We've shown ours now."
Fair point.
Dormant groups like Hangjun Mountain Society would spring up.
Communists too.
But it was inevitable someday.
Better I oversee it while still strong.
"Think they'll dare a coup?"
Impossible.
My military grip was unmatched in Korean Empire history.
Coup against me? Better off shooting themselves.
They'd fail and face the firing squad anyway.
Park Jun bowed his head.
"Of course, they won't dream of it."
"Good enough."
If they can't touch me physically, it's politics—and I rigged that game.
Media, chaebols, legislator counts—all mine.
Why fear a board they can't win?
The Northern Tour Reinforcement rocked the empire.
Public and press eyes shifted from my wife's pregnancy.
Yushin abolition packed that punch.
The Daehan Empire's system was changing.
I summoned legal experts to study maximizing my power while scrapping Yushin.
Result: scrap the military-nominated Yurehhoe, tweak political rules instead.
"Money politics, huh."
Classic: buy meals, booze, votes from locals.
Might seem no better than Yushin, but democracy started that way.
Korea had rubber-shoe elections, makgeolli politics eras.
"We've gerrymandered districts to reflect public sentiment maximally. Election commissions handle boundaries."
Our people, naturally.
Aides pitched legal gerrymandering.
"Black propaganda nonstop too."
Drown opponents in mud via our candidates' foes.
Mid-Intel and Security would handle it.
Illegal, obviously.
"Tamper with ballots too."
"Hey, hey, no."
True to Yushin aides, dirty ideas flowed.
Rig turnout, spark fraud scandals, ruin our edge.
Syngman Rhee had massive support—yet 3.15 fraud sent him packing.
No intent to lose all over small greed.
Thanks to predecessors' sacrificial warnings.
"It might get risky."
"With this setup? Can't guarantee even that?"
"My apologies."
"Just hold constitutional lines. Nothing more."
That kept Yushin-level power post-abolition.
"We'll brainstorm more."
I smoothly prepped Yushin handover.
Long-planned before successor talk, so seamless.
Northern Tour Reinforcement wasn't flawless, though.
"Korea abolishing Yushin? What of Korean democracy? Tossing this great system?"
Chaos abroad, not just home.
After successors, Korean democracy next.
But I wasn't worried.
Our dictator pals never loyally followed Korean democracy anyway.
They'd tweak it to fit—legal dictatorship if desperate.
The world adapts.
Thus ended the K-Yushin era today.
Tomorrow: K-Legal Dictatorship era.