The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 198

198. The Continental Division Theory

China.

The Central Military Commission was in session, without Deng Xiaoping present.

A heated debate erupted over the declaration of a full-scale war against North Korea.

“There’s no justification! Our misjudgment that Jang Song-thaek had completely lost power was a critical mistake from the start. We fastened the first button wrong. The UN, and even the Soviet Union, are unanimously calling for a halt to the expansion of the war, so we cannot expect support from the anti-Western communist solidarity.”

“What does justification matter! Our People’s Liberation Army has suffered over 150,000 casualties. If we retreat after suffering such enormous losses, what will become of our great nation’s reputation? We’ll be branded as paper tigers. We must show our strength! Let’s retaliate with nuclear weapons!”

“We must judge rationally, not emotionally. Let’s say we strike North Korea with nuclear weapons. What do we do afterward?”

“……”

“Have you considered that if Jang Song-thaek retaliates with nuclear weapons again, an unprecedented situation will occur where a nuclear war breaks out between communist countries, leading to the mutual destruction of both nations?”

“Mutual destruction? At best, North Korea only has tactical nuclear weapons, and only three are left. We have a vast land and a large military. A few strategic nuclear weapons can turn tiny North Korea into a sea of fire!”

“What do we gain by attacking North Korea, even if it means suffering enormous nuclear damage that kills millions?”

“We must subjugate North Korea.”

“Subjugation? The UN opposes it, so we cannot subjugate North Korea. Besides, if the United States intervenes, a devastated North Korea will eventually be taken over by South Korea, won’t it? South Korea and the US will pick it up without shedding a drop of blood. Who are we benefiting?”

“Hmm, hmm…”

They hadn’t thought that far.

“Shouldn’t we correct a wrong start, rather than causing a greater disaster with foolish revenge?”

In the end, the Central Military Commission barely leaned towards halting the war and conveyed its opposition to expanding the war to Deng Xiaoping.

In China, the Party Political Chairman’s rank preceded the Military Chairman, but the final decision was made based on the opinion of the Central Military Commission, not a unilateral command system.

*

Beijing.

Far-right youths with red headbands shouted in front of a banner that read ‘Volunteer Enlistment,’ with hundreds of photos of nuclear bomb victims attached.

“Overthrow Jang Song-thaek, who has been bought off by the American devils!”

“Volunteer to enlist and punish the invaders!”

Some youths shaved their heads and staged enlistment performances to incite war.

Their far-right patriotism, inheriting the tradition of the Red Guards [a mass student-led paramilitary social movement mobilized by Mao Zedong in the 1960s], spread rapidly like an epidemic.

The Chinese media also incited the people, saying that the sleeping tiger must awaken.

All of this was the result of Deng Xiaoping’s instructions to the state-run media and local organizations.

*

Deng Xiaoping’s office.

Deng Xiaoping slammed his desk with his palm after hearing the report from the Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Thump!

“Withdraw?”

“Yes. The survivors in North Korea are already crossing the Yalu River bridge.”

“Why are the soldiers so timid! The Soviet Union and the United States have said they won’t intervene, so we should obliterate North Korea and subjugate it this time!”

The Military Chairman explained the reasons in detail.

The perspectives of politicians and the military were clearly different.

The military feared the risk of escalating the war into a nuclear war, as there was no justification for a People’s Liberation War between communist countries.

On the other hand, Deng Xiaoping feared losing his position.

If he couldn’t do anything even after being hit by a nuclear bomb and losing so many troops as a result of invading another country’s territory, the people would not leave him in power.

Deng Xiaoping deeply regretted not holding the position of Military Chairman in addition to his other roles, due to the opposing opinions.

Deng Xiaoping had to expand the war to survive, while the military was trapped in the dilemma of a continent refusing a war without justification.

Deng Xiaoping, on the verge of losing power, tried to push through with his seniority.

*

Seoul.

The large stores were crowded with customers.

Citizens swept up ramen, snacks, candles, flour, cooking oil, sugar, and other necessities from the stores.

Essential goods were already sold out.

“Mister, do you have any canned goods left?”

“Those were all sold yesterday. Is the war really going to break out?”

“They say two nuclear bombs exploded in North Korea, so how can we be safe here? Oh, do you sell gas masks or anything like that?”

“There’s no way we’d have those. Even the cloth masks are all gone.”

Some citizens sent their families down to their hometowns in the south.

South Korea did not declare martial law but issued a state of maximum emergency and entered a quasi-war state.

All soldiers had their leave and overnight stays canceled, and rifles and live ammunition were supplied to the police.

The families of US soldiers stationed in South Korea were leaving for the United States one after another.

*

The Presidential Office.

The Director of the US CIA landed at Osan Air Base on a US military plane and was secretly meeting with the President of South Korea.

The emergency visit by the head of US intelligence meant that it was linked to a significant global strategy.

The CIA Director asked back with surprised eyes at the President’s suggestion.

“A continental division?”

“That’s right. China is in a dilemma right now. If they stop the expansion of the war, Deng Xiaoping’s position will be weakened, and China will be embroiled in a power struggle bordering on civil war. This is the time to cut China’s Achilles’ heel.”

“You’re suggesting not just a regime change, but an expansion into civil war?”

“That’s right. The Chinese leadership won’t engage in armed conflict over the chairmanship. We should take advantage of the political chaos to induce Tibet, Xinjiang, Uyghur, Mongolia, and Manchuria to declare independence. Isn’t the continental division the US’s original strategy for China?”

“It is true that we are secretly supporting separatist forces, but not to the point of simultaneous uprisings.”

“Now seems to be the time for that stage. We must actively support the civil wars of the separatist forces.”

“But before triggering a continental division civil war, shouldn’t we stop China’s expansion first?”

“Of course. That’s exactly what the US needs to do now.”

“……”

“Have the US contact Brezhnev to actively stop China. China won’t be able to do anything if the Soviet Union stops them.”

“Will Brezhnev really move properly?”

“He wants regional stability. He will never tolerate China’s adventures.”

“Hmm, that’s true of his political line.”

“Also, he is very unhappy about China and the US leading the détente [the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries]. Suggest that the US is switching détente partners from China to the Soviet Union. It will be an excellent bait.”

The Sino-Soviet relations, which had deteriorated since the Khrushchev era, had not improved even during Brezhnev’s reign.

In 1969, Sino-Soviet relations reached their worst point, with armed clashes and the threat of all-out war, leading the Soviet Communist Party leadership to consider a preemptive nuclear strike against China.

Fortunately, the 1969 crisis was averted through a dramatic compromise between the leaders of both countries, but Sino-Soviet relations did not improve significantly, and China had joined hands with the United States in the 1970s to contain the Soviet Union.

The alienated Soviet Union saw the rising China as a thorn in its side.

The Soviet Union, with dozens of communist satellite states, had to suppress China by any means to solidify its status as the leader of the communist bloc.

No, they wanted to place China as one of the Soviet Union’s satellite states.

The Director said.

“I am always impressed by your Excellency’s insight into the world! Moving the Soviet Union to stop China’s expansion and weaken China is highly likely to be accepted because it is in the Soviet Union’s interest.”

“Then, if we succeed in stopping the expansion, let’s immediately start the continental division operation.”

“Understood, Your Excellency!”

*

The Kremlin.

The Kremlin (кремль) [a fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, housing government offices and historically significant buildings], with its pointed watchtowers surrounding the colorful ice cream-roofed buildings, guarding the perimeter, is the headquarters of the Soviet Communist Party located in Moscow.

‘Kremlin’ originally meant fortress or citadel in Russian, and it was another axis of world power and a symbol of communism, located on the opposite side of the White House.

Secretary-General Brezhnev, with a bear-like impression, met with the US Secretary of State and said.

“Is a joint statement by the permanent member states not enough?”

“Deng Xiaoping is unable to shake off the temptation to expand the war in order to not lose his political position. He is even re-emerging the Red Guards to drive the people into a frenzy of war. For the sake of maintaining peace in the region, the Secretary-General must give special advice so that the anti-war leaders in China can gain strength.”

“Hmm, that’s not wrong, but it could be seen as interference in internal affairs, couldn’t it?”

Brezhnev wanted it anyway, but he showed his seasoned skill by throwing out a slightly negative comment to get concessions from the United States.

The United States also had a prepared gift.

“The United States has learned many lessons this time. We have expanded trade through pro-China diplomacy, but this time, their belligerent behavior has made it impossible for US-China relations to continue. The political world opposes the idea of the US supporting China’s war. The consensus of the White House and our party is that the United States will more closely expand and develop the Soviet Union as a partner instead of China.”

A smile spread across Brezhnev’s face at the proposal to be anti-China and pro-Soviet.

The tense atmosphere suddenly reversed.

Brezhnev said.

“Hmm, no matter how large the population, the Chinese are reckless. Anyone who tries to extend their power through war is a very dangerous person. Good! I will send a special envoy to China and wage a war of public opinion!”

“Thank you!”

Brezhnev contacted pro-Soviet figures in China with the aim of replacing Deng Xiaoping and replacing him with a pro-Soviet regime, and began working behind the scenes.

Brezhnev, unaware of the US-ROK continental division operation, never dreamed that he was joining the continental division.

*

Deng Xiaoping’s office.

The Soviet special envoy said to Deng Xiaoping.

“Nuclear weapons were originally created to be used against exploitative capitalist imperialist countries. A dogfight involving nuclear weapons between the same communist blocs only degrades the prestige of communism and greatly damages the revolutionary spirit!”

“If a fellow communist ally is attacked and even subjected to nuclear provocation, shouldn’t the so-called suzerain state [a state that has some control over another state that is internally autonomous], the Soviet Union, help?”

“That’s a very selfish perspective. Wasn’t North Korea the first to be invaded? According to Chairman Deng’s logic, the Soviet Union should help North Korea, which was invaded.”

“……”

“We believe that North Korea used nuclear weapons for its own defense, so we do not consider North Korea’s nuclear provocation to be such. The PRC’s additional provocations have no justification, Chairman Deng!”

“Hmm, if that’s how it is, we don’t need Soviet help! We will go our own way!”

“Chairman Deng, let me make this clear! If it leads to an expansion of the war and the West intervenes, the Soviet Union will never intervene. Keep in mind that the use of nuclear weapons will trigger a united collective action by the West!”

This was exactly what Deng Xiaoping feared most.

If North Korea used nuclear weapons, and the United States, South Korea, and the West surrounded China and fired nuclear weapons, and the Soviet Union stood by, it would be the worst-case scenario of China’s demise.

Clearly, the Soviet Union would solidify its position as the undisputed suzerain state of communism and covet the territory of the destroyed China.

Deng Xiaoping struggled to find a breakthrough.