Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Grand Declaration of War (2)
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Korea’s bold declaration of war drew an official response from the Soviet Union.
“Over the past several hundred years, a nation that has never once been defeated has now joined the front against fascist Germany. The outcome is clear. The fascist beasts’ good days are over.”
Britain and America also chimed in, mocking Germany.
“The Germans said they’d teach Korea some manners, but the Kriegsmarine lacks the ability. Berlin’s bluster works in Europe, not Asia—that’s what they need to remember.”
Germany, rather than addressing the declaration itself, condemned Korea’s conduct during the expulsion of their diplomats.
“The yellow-faced inferior race—mongrel scum not even worthy of the name human—unleashed dogs on our embassy to drive out our diplomats in humiliation. Can a nation built by such barbarians, ignorant of even basic etiquette between states, truly be called a proper country?”
Korea fired back at Germany’s response.
“The white-faced Germanic pigs are always going on about race. If the Germanic race is so superior, how do you explain their savagery in failing to unify until modern times? Great Asia has had unified nations since antiquity.”
In newspaper columns and on radio broadcasts, the two sides unleashed a barrage of sharp barbs at each other.
Frankly speaking, none of it was pleasant.
Thanks to that, the Korean public was thoroughly riled up.
“Revenge on the Germans!”
“Crush the Germanic lapdog France!”
Now voices were rising to send troops to Southeast Asia and topple the German puppet French Indochina regime.
Frankly, I’d seen it coming.
If such demands didn’t surface, it wouldn’t be the Empire of Korea.
“But France is legally neutral right now, so attacking them...”
Though occupied by the Axis, France had signed a formal armistice with Germany, restoring its neutral status under international law.
Attacking France was thus utter nonsense legally.
“Tell them to shut their mouths.”
Even if the German navy established a base in French Indochina, it wouldn’t threaten us.
The moment they tried, our proud Daehan United Fleet would turn it into a sea of fire.
I ordered a sweeping censorship campaign from the Security Command.
“You. From now on, I don’t want to see so much as the ‘I’ in Indochina in any newspaper.”
“Understood.”
Security Commander Lee Jung-yoon handled it flawlessly.
Starting the next day, Indochina stories vanished like ghosts.
Then the Navy Ministry came complaining to me.
“Prime Minister Lee. I didn’t want to say this, but I have to speak up.”
“Go ahead, sir.”
“Our navy wants a shot at an Indochina expedition to prove our value—why keep blocking coverage?”
No, I’d already crushed the Korean Junkers, and now the navy was acting up?
The Empire of Korea’s sheer vitality left me in awe.
I couldn’t help but give a standing ovation.
Leading these people toward making Daehan a normal nation made me feel like the crazy one.
“Sir, it’s illegal under international law. Declaring war on France is absurd.”
“Who doesn’t know that? We just need a garrison agreement, right?”
Oh, you fool.
To the Anglo-Americans, it’s all the same.
Sneaking in what original Japan pulled off.
“Absolutely not.”
“Even if it’s the navy’s collective will?”
No helping it.
Treat people nicely, but if they keep pushing, time to drop the courtesy.
“Sir, who holds command of the military in this country?”
“You do, Prime Minister Lee.”
“Who heads the cabinet?”
“You do, Prime Minister Lee.”
Navy Minister Won Young-guk’s face darkened slightly.
He caught my drift.
“Do I strike you as a figurehead, sir?”
“N-no, Prime Minister Lee. That’s a misunderstanding.”
The navy minister’s voice grew softer.
“Sir, let me be blunt. I’m no pushover like Noh Jae-woo. I wield real power. Yet you keep defying me, citing the navy’s position.”
“Prime Minister Lee, no. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“I’ll make it clear right here: political decisions are mine. The military obeys orders. Understood? If not, give some thought to the mubus.”
“U-understood.”
The navy’s petulance seemed quelled that simply.
But things didn’t end smoothly.
“Wall posters?”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
Posters straight out of the Joseon era had appeared.
Navy Ministry staff arrived in the morning to find the building’s walls plastered with calls for an Indochina dispatch.
I was incensed at their outright rebellion.
“Investigate. Rice-and-beans for those who deserve it, stripping of uniforms for the rest.”
I ordered harsh measures on the spot.
Even after tasting defiance’s bitter fruit, it wasn’t enough to curb these men’s militarist impulses.
Fine. Time for more lessons.
The probe nailed six navy officers for posting the posters and inciting the ranks.
All forcibly retired.
Only then did the navy fall silent.
That’s the beauty of power.
You just press down.
But Germany wouldn’t stay quiet.
“Hanoi route?”
Intelligence Minister Lee Kyung-ho reported via covert channels.
“The Germans leaned on France—they’re routing supplies to China through northern Vietnam.”
No, these bastards were practically begging us to hit Indochina.
The back of my head itched.
Crush them by invading Indochina, and we pull Anglo-American aggro.
Leave it be, and they flood China with war materiel.
‘Mobilize the navy for a full blockade of French Indochina?’
Pointless expense, massive costs.
Warships at sea don’t run cheap.
I was left with nothing but shitty options.
If Hitler knew what he was doing, he was a genius. If not, one lucky moron.
“Your Excellency. We’ve sealed lips for now, but this’ll spread through the ranks soon.”
I know.
Secrets never last forever.
If the military hardliners learned Germany was supplying China via Hanoi, disaster.
‘Demands for immediate dispatch would overrun the services.’
At that point, even I couldn’t intervene.
I had to find a way around this mess before then.
The key was Anglo-American aggro.
Solve that, and Indochina was ours to fry or boil.
“Got it. You’re dismissed.”
I needed a real breakthrough.
Columbus’s egg style.
Then it hit me.
‘Solo invasion pulls aggro—but joint ops? No issue.’
Their non-belligerent status? Irrelevant.
This era had volunteer forces—a perfect entry point.
Original America sidestepped direct involvement in the Sino-Japanese War by sending Claire Chennault’s Flying Tigers.
Share occupation and military government plans with the volunteers, prove Pyongyang sought no permanent hold.
We didn’t want colonies or expansion anyway.
‘Come to think of it, Roosevelt sent those Flying Tigers.’
The interventionist Roosevelt would likely bite.
Better to monitor indirectly than watch Korea “inevitably” occupy and expand unchecked.
I grabbed the phone after a quick calculation.
“Foreign Ministry.”
Exactly one day later, U.S. Ambassador Joseph C. Grew arrived with a letter from the president.
Roosevelt’s reply was beyond swift.
‘They’ve been watching us too.’
I got the sense the wheelchair man would’ve moved against us if we’d charged in blindly.
“Here is His Excellency the President’s letter, Prime Minister.”
The contents aligned with expectations.
But one part exceeded them.
Joseph Stilwell as commander of the Indochina Liberation Volunteer Force?
That racist prick.
I nearly recoiled at the name.
“Th-thank you for the President’s gracious response.”
I barely kept my composure, thanked the ambassador, and gave our reply.
The moment he left, I cracked open a cola.
“Out of everyone, why Stilwell?”
It was suffocating.
Stilwell—one name I never wanted to hear.
In the original timeline, Stilwell arrived as Allied chief of staff in China and clashed endlessly with Chiang.
How badly did Chiang get bullied? He even raged at the White House: fire the bastard or take your supplies and get out.
Stilwell topped that with coup plots against Chiang whenever things soured.
A guy like that commanding volunteers? My hairline wouldn’t survive.
‘Send him to Chiang instead.’
I agonized, but it was unavoidable.
Fine. Ultimately, it was my fault.
I’d provoked Germany into declaring war.
“Your Excellency. Shall I light one?”
Jung-gil asked shrewdly.
“Yeah. Extra one today.”
I quietly offered the cigar.