Chapter 331 – Chinese Army Moves South (6)
Seongbong Lee briefly repeated opening and closing his mouth. It’s like he’s about to tell a story that’s very uncomfortable to talk about.
[I have lived as a soldier my whole life, so I don’t have much to say. Especially when I have such complicated thoughts in my head… I don’t know how to say it.]
A strong face that always showed a firm belief. It was full of difficulties I had never seen before.
“Other people here have also been soldiers their entire lives. Although I am not comparable to you, I served for nearly 10 years. These are the people who will understand any misunderstandings that may arise from the soldier’s language better than anyone else in Korea. Please speak comfortably.”
Everyone on video communication nodded.
Everyone will feel the same about this, regardless of their individual inclinations or positions.
Seongbong Lee opened her mouth with a more relaxed look.
[The reason I cannot agree is not because of the success rate of the operation or the nuclear threat. Ownership of North Korea’s land and materials is not a matter of winning.]
“That’s right. That’s not negotiable. “No matter what anyone says, it’s just ours.”
[Furthermore, according to the data you sent, their belligerence and viciousness are already in the abnormal category. If you have to fight someday, it is better to force losses at a fortified base without handing over a single piece of material.]
Up to this point, our understanding was consistent. Perhaps that’s why Lee Seong-bong also confessed it without hesitation.
[No, you know very well, so why are you opposing it?]
The hardliner commander said as if he couldn’t understand.
Lee Seong-bong looked at him with a bitter face and then turned his gaze to me.
[Whether this operation succeeds or fails, it means an official declaration of war with China.]
“I don’t know if they inherited the Chinese government. Besides, if it’s a war, hasn’t it already broken out? At the time when nuclear weapons were dropped on our country.”
[But it is also true that there have been no problems at all over the past few years. I think it would be more correct to see it as a kind of tacit truce.]
Some hard-line commanders looked angry, but did not open their mouths.
[What I’m trying to say is this. We are temporarily wielding great authority and power, but that does not mean we can arbitrarily decide on a war between nations.]
This is Lee Seong-bong, who has lived his entire life upright without worrying about what anyone thinks.
However, for now, I am very cautious as I listen quietly and look at my facial expression.
[Other commanders, including me, are just soldiers. As an extension of the martial law declared in the past, we are in charge of public protection and security, but our authority extends only to that.]
I was so nervous that I chewed my tongue near the word ‘authority.’ He continued, wincing in pain.
[We were not elected. In the face of an unprecedented disaster, we are wielding unprecedented power in constitutional history… But that does not mean that we have become monarchs.]
“Now I know what you want to say.”
I saw that the other commanders’ dissatisfaction was gradually increasing, so I took action.
“An act of war against not just a plunderer, but a foreign regular army, even one that may have nuclear weapons. “Can we decide this on our own without the consent of the people?”
[Yes.]
“I don’t believe you are talking about getting permission from Jeju Island across the water.”
[Of course.]
Lee Seong-bong said as if it were something unexpected.
After the Chinese military’s official statement, the troops stationed in South Korea, including me, are not dealing with them at all.
On the other hand, the Jeju Island government enthusiastically attempted exchanges.
Did they want to make a nation-to-nation deal with not a handful, but a pinch, of legitimacy?
Or did they want to surround the rebel South Korean warlords from above and below?
-Now is the time to do everything we can to survive. Let’s shake off past conflicts and join forces. We recognize your temporary residence in North Korean territory.
They treated us favorably, giving us all the rights we did not have. Thanks to this, the commanders in the interior harbored so much ill will that they could no longer be disgusted.
“Then what do you want? We can’t let the Chinese take over our secret bomb shelter like this. If that happens, they will establish themselves stably in North Korea. It’s like people who are worse than North Korea of old are moving in next door.”
[That’s why I hesitated.]
Seongbong Lee sighed.
[Because it is cowardly to wait until an important event without being able to come up with an alternative. However, as a soldier, contributing to the end of democracy is…]
He held his face several times with both hands and remained silent.
In a situation where reality and ideals clash so sharply, you can’t just blindly oppose it.
[I understand what you are saying, but it is not possible to hold a referendum now.]
[How much help and support did we receive from the manager? Shall I take it all and at least pay it back?]
The moderate commanders said.
The hardliners surprisingly remained silent, and it seems they had nothing to say in front of Lee Seong-bong, who spoke the truth as he possessed a passionate military spirit.
[I know. We are always grateful to the administrator and the shelter for their contributions. The support we have provided so far and the efforts we have made to normalize the world are amazing.]
Seongbong Lee said.
The reason why the current warlords on the Korean Peninsula, especially military commanders, are cooperative and cautious with me is not simply because of power or materials.
It was decisive to turn around the fight that was heading toward destruction through securing, mass-producing, and distributing vaccines.
In addition, because the vaccine is incomplete, continued research is needed in the future. We are the only ones who can do this best in the world.
Power is power, but they respect my authority so much because I have an overwhelming justification for the past and future.
“Let me ask you one thing. “If I go ahead with it, will you not participate in this operation?”
[That’s not true.]
Seongbong Lee answered immediately.
[The command system must be unified. If you deviate from your private opinion ahead of the big day, everyone will be in danger.]
“You don’t have to force yourself to do it if you don’t feel like it. Although the Yeosu garrison is a large force, it is not irreplaceable.”
[The request for reconsideration will be cancelled. I can’t find a better alternative in the face of reality.]
The afterword, ‘It’s both justification and shame.’ Was so small that it was barely audible.
The grizzled sports head that had been pushed to the barricade tilted politely towards me.
[Sorry for delaying the meeting for no reason.]
“No. It was a reasonable and justifiable statement. Please don’t hesitate to tell me in the future.”
I just rolled my eyes and looked at Artemis.
He is sitting on the sofa with his knees up and checking to see if he has finished trimming his toenails.
Her fingers are white, and she moves, pinching each of her long toes one after the other.
Even though she doesn’t seem to be interested in the meeting at all, you can see that her expression and eyes have become subtly cold.
I got the feeling that her evaluation of Lee Seong-bong was sharply tilted in a certain direction.
For no reason is her headache bothering me.
[Then, about the deployment of troops…]
The meeting that had been paused was resumed when the colonel, former chief of staff, brought a new agenda.
[It’s tight, but we’ll be able to form a defensive line somehow.]
[We have quite a few mobile vehicles. If you provide only oil support, we can take charge of the support strike force.]
While everyone was going back and forth about their division of duties, there were some who raised questions about the size of the troops to advance north.
[The enemies have the minimum regimental strength.]
“That is also an elite force competing for supremacy in today’s era, right? Whether in equipment, technology, or experience.”
[… No matter how strong the machine army is, can it be defended with just two companies?
“Because there is so much to prepare for. There is a possibility that they will turn south and launch a large-scale offensive. We must always keep nuclear weapons in mind,”
No matter how strong a secret bomb shelter is taken and fortified, a nuclear attack is bound to cause great damage.
It is also difficult to deploy too many troops.
While we are capable of seizing and protecting air raid shelters, we also need to be able to defend against a major offensive in South Korea.
It was the two companies that coordinated and organized all of that.
* * *
The last meeting is over. Now is the time to wait.
All military units under my influence were ready for battle. As soon as a signal is given, they will rush to the truce line and establish a defense line.
-As always, we will focus on Jeju Island.
The garrison facing the southwest sea was in charge of the Jeju Island government forces that might attack at this time.
Predator robots that completed their mission also withdrew from North Korean territory.
Prisoners who had completed interrogation were also brought in, and some died and were injured as they could not withstand the inhumane retreat operation.
But it is something that cannot be helped. I can’t release them, and it would be better than getting them shot.
One day passes, and another day passes.
A very tense yet seemingly peaceful time passed in silence.
Artemis cracked the Chinese military’s communication code through continuous decoding, but they responded by switching to a new encryption system.
Just like we sent special forces, they also sent armed air force.
Those who came by sea sank and became food for fish, and those who came by land stepped on a landmine or were discovered by a drone and returned.
The nervousness continues as if my skin is tingling.
At a time when I was becoming increasingly annoyed by the voices of the Chinese military in the intercepted radio.
[Ouch, military commander! This! Is this correct?!]
[When did the Joseon labor bastards do something like this while starving?]
A voice full of surprise and joy spread across the Korean Peninsula via radio waves.
The Chinese who landed in North Korea heard it, and we who were waiting in the shelter also heard it.
The time for the decisive battle has arrived.
