Reverting to President as a Chaebol President 1967 – Episode 224 (224/225)
224. A New Tiger
Presidential Office.
The Chairman [Deng Xiaoping, the leader of China] was anxiously awaiting news of the suppression.
As the intelligence officer rushed in, Deng Xiaoping urgently asked,
“Has the dispersal operation been completed?”
“Chairman, it… it hasn’t gone as planned.”
“What do you mean? The dispersal isn’t over yet?”
“That’s correct.”
“Does it really take half a day to push unarmed civilians with tanks?”
“It’s not that, but we are currently engaged in fierce combat with the protesters. The square has been recovered, but the protesters have occupied the Forbidden City and are in confrontation.”
Tiananmen was the entrance to the Forbidden City.
“Combat? I thought it was a peaceful protest, and they were unarmed?”
“That’s what we thought, but they ambushed our forces with automatic rifles, grenades, and even RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades].”
“RPGs?”
He was a master of the poker face, but this news left his face stained with joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, completely disarming him.
“They even hijacked our tanks and armored vehicles to engage in combat, causing damage to half of our armored and infantry forces.”
“I, I can’t believe it! Civilians are heavily armed!”
“It seems that separatist rebels have joined the protesters.”
“Separatist rebels?”
“Yes. Reactionaries have entered the Forbidden City and are currently in confrontation. Without destroying the Forbidden City, it is impossible to suppress them with the current armored forces!”
“Ah, no! No!”
“Shall we enter the Forbidden City, Chairman?”
“Ah, are you saying we have to abandon the Forbidden City!”
If the Forbidden City, the symbol of Chinese culture, were to burn down, it would be the worst-case scenario for Deng Xiaoping.
However, he couldn’t just leave the armed protesters alone.
Deng Xiaoping couldn’t decide what to do and convened an emergency Standing Committee meeting.
*
The scene of government armored forces and protesters facing off with Tiananmen, where Mao Zedong’s portrait hung, in between was the headline of foreign news outlets around the world.
Along with this, photos of the atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist forces in Tiananmen Square spread throughout China, and the people who heard this news were furious.
“Deng Xiaoping must take responsibility and step down immediately!”
“We must also take up arms and drive out the corrupt communists!”
“Let’s rescue our people fighting in Tiananmen!”
The 16 autonomous regions that had been carrying out separatist movements simultaneously launched armed resistance, attacking and burning down local Communist Party offices.
In other regions as well, peaceful protests quickly turned into violent demonstrations.
The public security officers, surprised by the armed people, were overwhelmed and fled, but where military units stood in their way, bloody incidents invariably occurred.
The entire continent was caught up in a whirlwind of civil war.
*
Standing Committee meeting.
The security officer reported.
“Currently, armed rebellions have broken out in 16 autonomous regions, and arson, looting, and bloodshed have occurred in 75 locations.”
The Vice-Chairman said.
“Chairman, we have effectively entered a state of civil war.”
“Civil war….”
Deng Xiaoping’s lips were parched.
The Chairman of the Military Commission said.
“Thousands of protesters are joining Tiananmen every day, and 50,000 people are occupying it.”
Deng Xiaoping, with his pipe in his mouth, said.
“If they don’t voluntarily disperse, we must take care of it as soon as possible.”
“Are you saying to kill 50,000 people?”
“Is 50,000 a big deal to save 1 billion? We must eliminate 100,000, 1 million, even 10 million.”
The Vice-Chairman said.
“Chairman, it’s not about 10 million right now. Everyone, from rural areas to cities, is rising up, and it could become 100 million, 500 million.”
“So, are you saying we should just recognize these separatist rebels? Our Communist Party has a glorious history of winning the cooperation between the Kuomintang [Nationalist Party] and the Communist Party with our bare hands. We are facing a second cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party to eliminate all the impure elements!”
“Instead of sacrificing the people, the Communist Party should declare innovation, and the leadership should resign en masse to resolve the situation. We must admit our failure, Chairman!”
“Are you telling me to resign now?”
“We all have to resign together.”
“Didn’t you see what they’re shouting? Dissolve the Communist Party, democratic elections! They’re not demanding innovation, they’re aiming to overthrow the system. Separatist forces and Western forces are carrying out a plot to overthrow the continent!”
“Although some radicals exist, most people are calling for anti-corruption and anti-bureaucracy. If the leadership does not resign now, it will turn from a rectification movement into an anti-establishment movement!”
“The rectification and innovation must be led by the Communist Party. If we resign en masse and create a state of anarchy, we will have the country taken away by powerful rebels! Suppress the armed rebels in Tiananmen first, and then it’s not too late to innovate the leadership! Push into the Forbidden City!”
*
Tiananmen Square.
Corpses were scattered everywhere in the square, and black smoke was rising from the destroyed armored vehicles, trucks, and tanks.
Thousands of newly arrived tanks and armored vehicles were lined up in the square.
About 50 helicopters were preparing to take off from the capital command to airlift special forces.
Tension was running high in the square, where protesters and government forces were facing off across the square.
Whoosh~
Dozens of fighter-bombers flew in the sky, threatening the armed protesters.
Trucks carrying troops were arriving in the square one after another.
*
The President’s office in South Korea.
President Park said to the president [of South Korea].
“According to U.S. intelligence analysis, military forces are gathering around Tiananmen. It seems the leadership has chosen armed suppression instead of resignation.”
“I’ve received the report as well. I’m afraid a greater tragedy than the Tiananmen Square incident is about to unfold.”
“I’m also worried. If Deng Xiaoping doesn’t step down and comes out with ruthless oppression, China will be engulfed in civil war.”
“We’ve done what we can, but in the end, their fate is up to them.”
*
Tiananmen Forbidden City.
The protest leaders were in a meeting.
“It seems the Party leadership is determined to carry out armed suppression. All ordinary citizens must leave here. Only the armed revolutionary forces should remain to minimize sacrifices!”
“That’s right! Let’s have only the armed revolutionary forces remain and fight to the death! Let’s make Tiananmen a sacred place of democracy!”
The leaders had gone one step further than simple armed resistance.
“We cannot stop them if they raze the Forbidden City to the ground with their powerful firepower. If this place becomes a sea of fire and the protests end, our sacrifices will be in vain.”
“That’s right.”
“Even if this place is suppressed, it must become a catalyst for democratization.”
“I haven’t even thought about the future. What kind of catalyst are you talking about?”
“We must organize!”
“……”
“We need to establish a platform here and establish a people’s party. Only then will we have a center of gravity to fight the government forces under one name.”
“Ah, a center of gravity! That’s a good point.”
“Foreign media are broadcasting live from here, so it will surely be known nationwide.”
They quickly agreed on the following platform and established a provisional ‘Democratic Alliance Party’ representing the people.
– The leadership that decided to use force against the people will be purged!
– The existing Communist Party leadership, bureaucratic institutions, and party members will be completely dissolved!
– Freedom of the press, assembly, and association is guaranteed!
– The autonomy and independence of ethnic minorities are respected!
.
.
.
The leaders announced the establishment and platform of the people’s party in front of domestic and foreign reporters, widely publicizing it throughout China.
They did not specify what kind of system it would be for further extensive discussion to gain more support from the people, but they clearly stated and declared the dissolution of the existing bureaucratic Communist Party.
The person who led this process was Cha Gyeong-seok, the commander of the Manchurian independence movement, who had infiltrated Tiananmen and was waging an armed struggle.
He was a pro-Korean who was receiving strong support from South Korea.
*
Beijing.
The Vice-Chairman and the Chairman of the Military Commission were secretly meeting in a certain place.
The Vice-Chairman said.
“If this continues, civil war will be inevitable throughout the country, even if we suppress the Forbidden City. They are quite organized. The Chairman must issue a statement of resignation immediately to calm the public sentiment.”
“Didn’t the Chairman say he would innovate after suppressing Tiananmen?”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes?”
“The Chairman is trying to make the Chairman of the Military Commission a scapegoat to avoid the immediate crisis.”
“Me?”
“He’s trying to put the responsibility for the bloody suppression on the Chairman of the Military Commission and cut off the tail. Haven’t you ever thought that innovation will only be carried out to the extent that it preserves his power?”
“Surely not….”
The Chairman of the Military Commission’s face turned pale.
“The Chairman invaded Afghanistan to cover up the defeat on the Yalu River. You know very well that’s why the country has become so devastated.”
“That’s right.”
“He’s trying to get through this Tiananmen crisis again by sacrificing the military.”
“Ah, that’s really true. There have been too many sacrifices in the wars that have had neither justification nor benefit, so there’s a lot of resentment towards the military.”
“So, he’s trying to show off his innovation by purging the military on charges of suppressing it with force.”
“Hmm, I now clearly understand the Chairman’s dark intentions. Thank you for your advice, Vice-Chairman!”
“I’m glad that the Chairman of the Military Commission is the only one who understands me.”
“Then I will refuse to suppress the protests immediately.”
“That level of resistance won’t change anything now.”
“What do you mean?”
“The tide has now turned to the democratic protesters. The current Communist Party leadership cannot escape the people’s purge. If the military refuses the Chairman’s order to suppress, the Democratic Alliance Party will control the political situation. Then who will be subject to the purge?”
“Well, the current leadership… Ah!”
“That’s right. We’re going to be purged anyway. The Chairman of the Military Commission only has the choice of being purged by the Chairman or being purged by the people.”
“Oh dear, this is a dilemma! If I die either way, then the only option is to push into Tiananmen!”
“Why wouldn’t there be a way?”
“Yes? Is there a way?”
“It is said that power is like riding on the back of a running tiger. Deng Xiaoping is a toothless tiger. You have to ride on the back of a new tiger to survive.”
*
Tiananmen Square.
The Chairman of the Military Commission personally visited the government forces in Tiananmen.
The appearance of the military’s top leader meant that some kind of operation was about to be carried out.
Commander Cha, who was looking at the enemy camp with binoculars in Tiananmen, said.
“It looks like the bastards are finally starting. Everyone, prepare for the final battle!”
“Long live the Democratic Alliance Party!”
Tutuutuutu-
Assault helicopters arrived in the square.
The People’s Army aimed a large speaker at Tiananmen and shouted.
“The protesters must disperse immediately! If you surrender and disperse now, you can save your lives!”