Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Nanjing's Double Tenth
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Nanjing, Republic of China National Government.
The regime under Chen Gongbo—what ordinary folk called the Nanjing puppet government—enjoyed surprisingly solid popularity.
“Look at the mess under Chongqing or Mao Zedong. Inflation or the Great Leap Forward—they’re just itching to kill off people. Isn’t Chen Gongbo at least halfway decent, clinging to Korea’s coattails just to run the country right?”
“Traitor, traitor—curse him all you want, but it’s a fact that the traitor’s doing the most humane governing of the lot. Hold a vote for leader, and Chen Gongbo takes first place hands down.”
People figured Han Jian Chen Gongbo’s rule beat out his rivals by a mile.
The reasons the Chen Gongbo regime managed such stability came down to two simple things.
One was holding the fertile East China plains.
“Sichuan as heaven’s storehouse? That’s pre-Song dynasty talk. China’s biggest granary’s right here in the East.”
The other was Korea’s protection keeping them clear of the war’s flames.
“Yeah, jealous? Come on over. Pyongyang’s got our back.”
That’s why the Chen Gongbo regime kept growing steady while others toppled and wept.
The whole world knew it now.
“Chairman, refugees are pouring in from ‘Communist bandit’ lands and ‘Baldy’ territory. The masses get it now—Your Excellency and Chairman Wang Jingwei were right all along.”
“Wish Chairman Wang could’ve lived to see this day.”
Chen Gongbo felt a twinge of regret, but satisfaction with today’s National Government all the same.
To drive home their standing to the world, the National Government threw a massive military parade for Double Tenth.
Of course, it was straight out of the playbook from Korean Yi Seong-jun’s show.
“Armored division, advance.”
Korean-made tanks—unthinkable before—rolled into the city streets in perfect formation.
The crowd forgot even to clap at the sight of those hefty beasts.
“Those really our army?”
The National Government Army had long shed its ragtag startup days for something respectable.
“Substance over form! We pledge as the Chinese people’s steadfast guardians to give our all in today’s mission.”
Chen Gongbo returned the salute.
“Mission continues. That’s an order.”
“Order received.”
Mechanized infantry followed the tanks, then heliborne troops roaring overhead.
The Chen Gongbo regime’s forces lagged numerically behind its main foe, the Chongqing army, but crushed them in equipment quality.
Nanjing’s citizens saw the displayed might and felt sure their country was on the right path.
In reality, the National Government economy under Chen Gongbo was chugging along with steady growth.
35 percent of Korea’s total GNP.
Looked low factoring in the National Government’s 150 million people, but miraculous given how China’s economy had cratered.
“Substance over form!”
National Government troops bellowed the slogan marching past the dais.
That chant doubled as the rationale letting Chen Gongbo and Wang Jingwei hold power in Nanjing.
Foreign envoys watching the 40,000-strong spectacle came away deeply impressed.
‘Nanjing might actually speak for China someday.’
The Republic of China still bulked larger overall, but that was just warlord scraps added up.
Strip out the warlords, compare Chiang Kai-shek’s direct turf alone, and Nanjing dwarfed it in size and strength.
‘Chen Gongbo’s showing off to us right now.’
Reps from Chongqing and Yan’an were in the crowd too.
They eyed the flaunted firepower and felt deep wariness.
Was endless war with the reds the play?
Or stand against surging Chen Gongbo?
Sure, those thoughts might cross their minds, but they wouldn’t shift the Republic of China or CCP positions much.
Too much blood already spilled, no trust left.
KMT-CCP cooperation? Dead in the water.
“Chairman, most impressive event.”
“Glad you think so, General. Puts my mind at ease.”
Park Jun, Korea’s ambassador to China, meant it sincerely.
He marveled at Chen Gongbo—who’d always been Korea’s baggage—growing like this.
“Even so, long road ahead.”
Park Jun agreed.
The paraded National Government troops were handpicked elites.
Most of the 800,000 National Army still scraped by with equipment and training no better than the Republic of China’s.
Korea’s backing was vital.
“Rest easy. Pyongyang stands ready to back your vision.”
And that was just the start.
They’d also grind any threats to the National Government into dust.
“With Pyongyang holding the rear, I’m at peace.”
Chen Gongbo raised his hand toward fighters streaking past the dais.
“Pyongyang and Nanjing are allies, aren’t we.”
Chen lowered his waving hand.
“That’s why I’m asking for Korean help.”
“Name it.”
“We want in on the Indochina war.”
“Indochina, you say?”
“That’s right.”
Chen Gongbo laid out his plan: join the free world by sending troops and civilians to Indochina, snag U.S. aid—but only if it didn’t cross Korea.
‘US aid means Washington’s sway too.’
No snap decision here.
“I’ll check with home base.”
Park Jun opted to await directives from Pyongyang.
Two days on, Park Jun got Pyongyang’s word.
“Don’t block Chen Gongbo jumping into Indochina—just make clear we’ll steer the talks.”
Don’t block?
What was Pyongyang thinking?
Park Jun found the intent baffling but carried the directive to Chen Gongbo.
“Chairman, Pyongyang’s stance is this.”
Chen Gongbo lit up like he’d won the lottery as Park relayed it.
“Knew Pyongyang would see it my way.”
Meddling in negotiations?
Fine by him.
Days later, Chen Gongbo floated the idea to the U.S. envoy: China wanted in on the Indochina war.
“We want to pitch in as free world members.”
The Americans jumped at it.
South Vietnam was begging for more help anyway.
“So, how many? What kind?”
“Some troops and support staff.”
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
Manpower was exactly what the U.S. needed.
“But our troops’ gear’s in rough shape.”
“Forget it—we’ll kit them out, personal gear to rifles, everything.”
“And expedition pay’s gotta run higher.”
“We’ll tally it generously on our end.”
Money was no object for the U.S.
Chen Gongbo had sniffed the mood and jammed the straw right in.
“Then we’ll start with 100,000.”
“Done. We’ll prep too.”
Seeing Chen Gongbo volunteer, the U.S. sounded out other free nations for volunteers too.
“Any interest in this war? We’ll cover costs.”
Washington tapped the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand—even Korea.
“We’ll pay top dollar.”
Cash-strapped Philippines and Thailand signed on quick for volunteers.
Australia, New Zealand, Korea? Cool reception.
“We’re not hurting enough to whore out our citizens as mercs.”
Anyway, Indochina turned into a goldmine for Chen Gongbo.
He milked the U.S. for tech under the troop dispatch pretext.
“Hey, our soldiers gotta have fruit tins.”
“Tropical fruits everywhere—why bother supplying those?”
“Dunno, we’re the type who need Chinese canned flat peaches.”
“Fine. Take the canning tech and make your own.”
Chen Gongbo scored canning plant gear from the U.S.
On top of that, he snagged a rifle factory, pretexting local rifle and ammo self-supply.
Chen Gongbo jabbed the straw in America’s back and sucked the sweet nectar.
He’d wondered why Korea twisted itself into knots pandering to the U.S.—now tasting this sweetness, it clicked in a flash.
Pandering? He’d lick their soles clean.
‘Keep this up fifteen years, we’ll climb to world number four—overtaking Britain, West Germany.’
Chen Gongbo dreamed long-term of lifting Nanjing’s National Government to superpower status.
A China at fourth place? Korea wouldn’t boss Nanjing around like a underling then.
Better treatment, sure—but zero thought of bucking Pyongyang.
After all, defying Korea was a century off.
Irking a superpower chasing the U.S. tooth-and-nail? Just repeating Chiang Kai-shek’s blunder.
And Korea had nukes to boot.
Chen Gongbo gazed at Korea’s back, figuring the road stretched long ahead.