Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Toward Africa (1)
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With America's entry into the war entering the final countdown, the picture had become incomparably clearer than before.
It was time to start preparing for intervention in Europe while also reinforcing our troops.
'The problem is manpower.'
Conscripting a large number of workers to secure young recruits would obviously disrupt munitions production.
I racked my brain for a solution.
Among the WWII belligerents, Germany and Japan had relied heavily on so-called slave labor to bolster their domestic production.
Germany mainly used Western European POWs and Eastern European civilians, while Japan exploited Koreans and Chinese.
They were villains, sure, but still useful examples.
'When you get right down to it, we're no different.'
If we sourced manpower from outside like they did, maybe we could squeeze out even more people.
I immediately summoned Army Minister Kim Seong-ju and Minister of Resources and Industry Kim Su-sin.
"You called for us, Your Excellency."
"My dear subject, it's about time we increased the number of divisions in our army. We need at least thirty more to intervene in Europe on time, don't you think?"
This wasn't just idle talk.
It was the minimum number of divisions required for our future European intervention plans.
"You're right, Your Excellency. We must expand the army now to deploy troops for operations when needed. I agree completely."
Kim Seong-ju clearly wanted to do it.
On the other hand, Kim Su-sin from the Resources and Industry Ministry was opposed.
As a civilian bureaucrat, he had always been negative about the military devouring human resources.
But that wasn't a bad thing.
Having one opinion meant we needed the counterpoint to make sound judgments.
"Your Excellency, conscripting large numbers of industrial workers will crush laborers already burdened to their limits. How do you plan to handle the drop in munitions production capacity?"
That was exactly the main point I was about to make.
"My dear subject, here's what I'm thinking."
I suggested bringing in three million workers from China and Japan to fill simple labor needs in farms and mines.
Kim Su-sin expressed concern.
"There will be strong backlash. There'll be noise from the conscription stage onward—what do you plan to do?"
"Start with Nationalist Army POWs, and for the rest, offer them generous wages, no?"
Generous by Chinese and Japanese standards, anyway—they'd still be dirt cheap.
Of course, importing such low-wage labor could disrupt our domestic wage structure.
That's why we hadn't brought in Chinese or Japanese workers before.
But now we had no choice.
We couldn't abandon the war just to protect workers' rights.
"If we fill three million simple production jobs with foreign laborers, a rough calculation says we could uniform another three million men. But factoring in management personnel and the lower productivity of foreigners, the actual convertible combat manpower would be around 1.5 million at best. And deploying all three million would take considerable time."
Kim Su-sin's analysis made sense.
Foreign conscription wouldn't help immediately as much as I'd hoped.
Still, what about it?
Even long-term, 1.5 million was a massive pool of manpower.
That could form 75 divisions of 20,000 men each.
Of course, adding corps-level, field army combat support units, we'd realistically get about 50 divisions—but for us, where every division counted, that was still enormous power.
"My dear subject, even that limited manpower is precious to us. You know that as well as I do."
"Th-that's true."
"So prepare the conscription procedures and notify the Japanese Residency-General and Nanjing. Our future hangs on this—see it through without a hitch. Understood?"
"Leave it to me, Your Excellency."
I dismissed Kim Su-sin first after assigning him the task.
Kim Seong-ju stood at attention, awaiting my words.
"Put together a clean plan for training, locations, and costs, and place it on my desk."
"Understood."
"And one more thing."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"Regarding our troops stationed in Indochina—we need to send those boys to Africa."
"Yes?"
Unexpected, was it?
But Africa's battlefield, where ground forces clashed in small engagements, was the perfect place to rack up merits.
"My dear subject, we can't send massive armies to Europe anyway. You know that."
"Of course."
Sending large-scale ground forces over distances like to Europe was a luxury only America could afford.
We weren't in a position to throw money around like that, so we needed realistic investments scaled to our national power.
"So we send the Indochina Army to build up merits in advance."
Indochina's occupation had already satisfied public opinion—no need to cling to it anymore.
Leaving a token garrison for show would fool the masses, so pulling out troops posed no issue.
"But, Your Excellency, pulling large numbers from Indochina would make security difficult."
Did we have to worry about that?
The reds might stir up trouble, but the local French forces could handle it.
When we occupied Indochina, we'd disarmed the French colonial troops—then handed their weapons back.
Simple reason.
'Maintaining order is your job.'
We'd left the colonial administration intact, so Indochina was France's responsibility.
In that context, I planned to wash my hands of Indochina.
Why tie myself to something that wasn't even mine?
"Don't worry about it, my dear subject. It's not worth our spit."
If the reds multiplied unchecked, it'd turn into a horrific green hell.
Let the French manage that nightmare.
"Understood. Then I'll instruct General Baek to prepare for the Africa expedition."
"Do that."
With this, preparations for full intervention in the Western war were set.
No—one thing left.
Prior coordination.
We needed to settle who our troops in Africa would be under when deployed.
To be clear upfront: I didn't dislike British 8th Army commander Richard O'Connor.
O'Connor was a battle-hardened field soldier and one of the British Army's top desert warfare experts.
A commander like that? Entrusting our troops to him wouldn't be bad.
But that was just personal.
For the upcoming merit competition, we needed to push hard on command authority.
What, you think fighting political battles mid-war loses the war?
Sure, sometimes—but we had enough advantage to afford some leeway.
Letting the Nazis have a move or two wouldn't hurt us.
Africa especially—no need for such worries.
Why?
Germany was pouring everything into the Soviet front, with no spare forces for Africa.
In other words, Africa crawled with 'Italians' only.
Merit-dispensing vending machines that puked out victories the more you hit them—how could we yield command of such a golden opportunity?
I strongly asserted to the British that Korean forces must exercise independent command.
"In Korea's history, our troops have never served under allied command."
A lie.
Of course, the British weren't pushovers either.
"For allied operational efficiency, a single commander must hold authority. This is a basic principle of warfare."
Who didn't know that?
I knew—but I was making a fuss precisely to fight for merits.
"Prime Minister, Your Excellency. Britain and Korea have disparate cultures and military systems. Coordinating properly in such an environment won't be easy. Better to operate separately while maintaining close liaison—that would aid mutual cooperation."
Sophistry.
In this modern age, who bought that?
Even the physiologically mismatched Germans and Italians had surged in combat efficiency once Rommel sorted the hierarchy.
With us and the British, it'd be even better.
"No, Prime Minister."
I repeated my points like talking to a wall.
"Prime Minister, Your Excellency. Korea's position is this."
The human tape recorder strategy worked.
Anthony Eden, the gentleman, had apparently never faced such brazen foot-stamping; he conditionally accepted my terms.
"Then let's do this. Instead of the British 8th Army and Korean 5th Army (Africa Expeditionary Force) acting on equal footing, agree to nominal command under the British Middle East Command."
"Thank you for your concession, Prime Minister."
The Middle East Command had its hands full beyond Egypt: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Arabia, everywhere.
So in reality, Rommel's rival in the desert wasn't Middle East Command but the 8th Army.
This was practically equal rights—not an exaggeration.
'Man, I'm stuffed.'
Hadn't even eaten, but Italian merits filled me up nicely.
'If the British attack Libya before we arrive, though—that could be a problem.'
On that note, I sent an additional wire.
"In case Britain takes independent action and suffers losses, why not wait for Korean reinforcements before committing?"
"That was our plan too. Ethiopia needs sorting first."
Ah, Ethiopia and Italian Somalia.
Fair enough—Britain had to clear those first.
Then no issue.
Only then could I relax.