The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 199

199. The Mainland’s Gambit

Deng Xiaoping adopted a conciliatory tone.

“Now, let’s dispense with the pretense and speak frankly.”

“…….”

“If China halts the war now, it will be a profound humiliation. We’ll be branded as a paper tiger! We need an exit strategy that allows us to conclude with a sense of victory, regardless of the actual outcome. I need political maneuvering, pure and simple!”

Deng Xiaoping, seemingly energized by the term ‘exit strategy,’ betrayed his impatience.

However, the Kremlin’s special envoy lacked the authority to make any decisions.

He tersely reiterated his mission.

“Devise your own exit strategy within China. I have delivered Comrade Secretary-General Brezhnev’s message clearly, Comrade Chairman!”

“…….”

Deng Xiaoping felt a profound sense of frustration.

*

After the special envoy departed, Deng Xiaoping gazed out the window, chain-smoking.

He had resumed smoking after a decade-long hiatus.

“Hoo~”

Having ignited a war atmosphere by inciting the Red Guards [a mass student-led paramilitary social movement mobilized and guided by Chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 through 1968], he couldn’t simply back down, nor could China proceed alone. He was in a genuine bind.

Yet, as the leader of one billion Chinese, his sharp mind began to work.

He stubbed out his cigarette and muttered, as if reaching a decision.

“If you draw your sword, you must strike something, even if it’s just a radish!” [idiom meaning one must achieve some result, however small, after committing to an action]

He sought a loophole and conceived a cunning plan.

*

Mao Zedong summoned the Chairman of the Central Military Commission for a private discussion.

“Is it possible to achieve the effect of war without actually engaging in combat?”

“That’s a valid point, but is there such a method?”

“Without resorting to nuclear weapons or invading North Korean territory, we can encircle the North with naval, land, and air forces, applying pressure through a show of force. In essence, let’s create the impression of war without war itself.”

“A show of force without war… what difference does it make?”

“If we receive even a token expression of regret from the North, even short of surrender, the mainland can generously withdraw as a communist ally. In other words, while we may have suffered setbacks in battle, we can still claim victory in the larger conflict by demonstrating magnanimity.”

“Hmm….”

Deng Xiaoping further tilted the already precarious balance.

“Currently, Red Guards are demonstrating in the streets, volunteering for military service. If the military retreats now, it will undoubtedly face public backlash. If these protests escalate, a civil war could erupt. While justification is important, we must avoid a course that plunges the mainland into chaos. The only way to reconcile the military and political imperatives is to achieve a perceived victory!”

It was a veiled threat, but with no better alternative, there was little choice.

In the realm of politics, Deng Xiaoping was a step ahead of the Chairman of the Military Commission.

“I understand, Comrade Chairman. I will present this as an agenda item before the Military Commission!”

*

Central Military Commission.

A large-scale show of force, excluding nuclear weapons and invasion of North Korean territory, was formally proposed.

“It’s a brilliant maneuver that simultaneously serves the interests of the Party and the military, avoids antagonizing the Soviet Union, and exerts pressure on North Korea!”

“I concur, as it allows us to maintain the narrative of a victorious war!”

“I also agree!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Deng Xiaoping’s proposal received unanimous approval from the Central Military Commission.

However, the military remained unaware of Mao Zedong’s expansionist motive concealed within the ‘show of force.’

*

Pyongyang.

Burnt corpses lay decaying, emitting a sickening stench.

A swarm of crows should have darkened the sky, circling to scavenge the flesh, but the relentless bombing had driven away every bird and rat.

Survivors sought treatment at makeshift clinics in Sinuiju and the outskirts of Pyongyang.

Medical aid from South Korea and the West continued to arrive.

*

Gaeseong.

A meeting of the Party Central Committee convened.

The purges had decimated not only the rebels but also the North Korean leadership and the families of officials residing in Pyongyang. Consequently, the political bureau, secretariat, inspection committee, and Central Military Commission were now filled with officials handpicked by Jang Seong-taek and Kim Dae.

With the elimination of the Juche faction [North Korean ideology of self-reliance] (conservatives) who had opposed Jang Seong-taek’s reforms, Jang Seong-taek proceeded unimpeded.

The Director of the Political Department reported to Jang Seong-taek.

“The cadres of the National Provincial Party have been completely replaced and reorganized. We have fully restored the party’s command structure!”

“Thank you for your dedication. How is the war damage recovery progressing?”

“The bodies are being cremated, and the bombing victims are receiving treatment with medical supplies from South Korea and the West, but the death toll continues to rise. There is a critical shortage of food and essential supplies.”

“Hmm, I will request additional relief supplies, recovery equipment, and manpower from the President of South Korea.”

With the capital reduced to irreparable ruin, North Korea was critically dependent on South Korea’s support.

The Foreign Minister then reported.

“The Soviet Union has used its influence to restrain China’s expansionist ambitions. There are no further provocative actions from China. Now is the time to dedicate ourselves to reconstruction, Comrade Premier!”

“That’s a relief. We will accelerate reform and opening up, seizing this opportunity. If we fail to diversify our diplomatic relationships, China will inevitably resort to provocations. We must establish diplomatic safeguards.”

However, the primary agenda for the day was a shift in the power structure.

The Deputy Director of the Political Department addressed the assembly, following a pre-arranged script.

“We are currently operating under a wartime emergency system, demanding unprecedented speed and clarity in political decision-making. We must abolish the Premier system and adopt a Chairman system, with the Chairman concurrently holding supreme decision-making authority over the Political Bureau, Secretariat, Inspection Committee, and Central Military Commission, thereby establishing a strong, centralized leadership!”

“I agree!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The parliamentary cabinet system was abolished, replaced by a super-presidential system under the Chairman.

Jang Seong-taek had now transitioned from Premier to Chairman.

With the title of Chairman, Jang Seong-taek felt like he had become an absolute ruler.

*

Jang Seong-taek, now Chairman, promptly unveiled a series of popular initiatives.

He delivered his inaugural Chairman’s address to the nation via broadcast.

“Private ownership of one residence is recognized, and profits earned from commerce will also be recognized as private property! We will expand free travel between North and South, with full implementation within one year!”

He announced a comprehensive transitional policy, shifting from socialism towards capitalism.

In conjunction with Jang Seong-taek’s announcement, stockpiles of supplies from South Korea were distributed to the people, demonstrating a show of generosity.

Citizens receiving first aid kits, socks, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and cooking oil erupted in cheers.

“This toothpaste tastes so refreshing and amazing! Can I eat it?”

“Why would you eat toothpaste?”

“Wow, look at this first aid kit! It has digestive medicine, antipyretics, painkillers, and antiseptic. With this, I won’t have to go to the hospital!”

“Will we be able to continue using South Korean products in the future?”

“Since North-South exchange is expanding, I should become a trader, buying goods from South Korea and selling them in North Korea!”

The people enthusiastically celebrated Chairman Jang Seong-taek’s open-door policies.

Jang Seong-taek’s announcement dominated headlines worldwide.

It raised the prospect of North Korea mirroring China’s shift towards an open economy, with discussions of North-South union or unification soon to follow.

Mao Zedong grew increasingly agitated by Jang Seong-taek’s revolutionary pro-South Korea policies.

*

China, Dandong.

Krrrrrr~

A massive armored unit of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) arrived in Dandong, north of the Yalu River.

Dandong was overflowing with bombing victims from Sinuiju and newly arrived PLA soldiers.

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers, wounded in the bombing, suffered from charred or decaying flesh.

To prevent the spread of contamination, even critically ill patients were denied transfer inland. Treatment consisted of setting up tents in the field and administering emergency care without proper hospital facilities.

Corpses floated in the Yalu River estuary.

The bombing had caused so many casualties that disposal became a problem. Contaminated with radiation, the bodies were loaded onto trucks and dumped into the river.

A wounded soldier pleaded with the newly arrived Chinese general.

“Please avenge what they did to us!”

“Burn North Korea to the ground!”

However, the PLA general, under orders to simply wait, only smirked.

The Chinese ground forces were not only concentrated in Dandong.

A staggering 1.5 million troops were deployed along the entire 790km length of the Yalu River, effectively sealing the border.

Brrrrr~

The Chinese engineering corps erected pontoon bridges across the Yalu River, completing preparations for a river crossing.

In the West Sea [Yellow Sea], the Chinese Navy was fully mobilized.

Destroyers and landing ships appeared as dark silhouettes on the horizon, positioned to strike at Gaeseong, Haeju, and Nampo ports.

Jang Seong-taek, along with the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, were placed on high alert following reports of the sudden, large-scale provocative movements of the Chinese army.

China appeared to have adopted a hard-line stance, contrary to expectations.

*

Underground bunker of the Ministry of National Defense.

A ROK-US Combined National Security Council (NSC) meeting was in progress.

The Minister of National Defense reported.

“The Yalu River is swarming with troops, the West Sea is filled with naval vessels, and Chinese aircraft are patrolling the skies. Over two million Chinese soldiers have been mobilized and are poised to provoke, effectively surrounding North Korea.”

The President stated.

“During the Korean War, 310,000 Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River in a human wave attack, triggering the January 4 Retreat [a strategic withdrawal by UN forces during the Korean War]. This time, the number of troops is more than six times greater. China has fully mobilized its available military resources.”

“If they launch a coordinated invasion from all sides, China could occupy North Korea swiftly, without resorting to nuclear weapons. Diplomatic and military preparations are urgently needed!”

The President, studying the map of Chinese military deployments, said.

“We are in a war situation where an invasion could occur at any moment. However, I question China’s true intentions.”

The Commander of the US Forces in Korea inquired.

“Do you suspect an ulterior motive beyond the invasion of North Korea?”

“As the saying goes, a barking dog doesn’t bite. I don’t understand why the Chinese military, which had been arguing against the war, would suddenly decide to escalate overnight. Can China truly cross the Yalu River, defying Brezhnev?”

“Isn’t it obvious that they have completed troop deployments on the border and are counting down to the invasion?”

“No. What we see on the surface is not the whole picture.”

“I believe there is a possibility that this situation is merely a show of force.”

“A show of force?”

“There is a strong likelihood that Deng Xiaoping, pressured by the Red Guards and the anti-war faction within the military, has compromised on a show of force. Otherwise, they wouldn’t mobilize two million troops and openly telegraph their intentions for a full-scale war. They are violating the fundamental principle that war begins with surprise.”

“Even so, doesn’t the fact that two million troops have amassed at the border signify the eve of war?”

“That’s correct. If China crosses the Yalu River and invades the North, and the North Korean regime requests military intervention, our standing orders for immediate response remain unchanged. However, let’s avoid acting rashly.”

“…….”

“For example, I’m referring to avoiding accidental clashes. If North Korea or the ROK-US Allied Forces launch a preemptive strike, it would provide China with a justification for war. Then, it would be difficult for the Soviet Union to maintain its neutral stance. Deng Xiaoping seems to be aiming for precisely that!”

That’s right. Deng Xiaoping claimed it was merely a show of force to appease the military, but he secretly hoped that an accidental clash, triggered by a preemptive strike from the enemy, would escalate into a full-scale war.