I Will Stage A Coup D’état

I began to improvise my coup plan.

The entire operation centered around a surprise attack.

We would deal a single decisive blow to Park Han-Jin's regime.

Cutting the head of the snake, the rest would follow shortly.

Wasn't the coup of December 12 decided the moment they kidnapped the Chief of Staff Jeong Seung-hwa?¹

Our situation wasn't much different.

However, there was one fact to keep in mind.

The Empire's military is certainly stronger than the Korean government during the coup of December 12.

Our opponent was the Korean Empire, a nation extremely different than the fledging Republic of Korea hastily formed amid the chaos of liberation and the Korean War.

To overthrow a properly structured state, there were many more targets to neutralize.

Yet, it was unlikely a fool like Roh Tae-woo² would in the Capital.

After planning for a bit, I created a list of targets to be dealt with in advance:

0. Prime Minister, Roh Jae-Woo.

1. Army Minister and Army Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal, Park Han-jin.

2. Army Chief of Staff, Senior General Cho Beom-Seok.

3. Army Vice Chief of Staff, Hae Young-geun.

4. Defense Security Commander, General Lee Jeong Ju.

5. Capital Defense Commander, General Jin Gyeong Chae.

These were just the key military-related personnel.

Additionally, we had to occupy the Imperial Palace, the Prime Minister's Residence, the broadcasting stations, and the Army Ministry.

Also, we needed to neutralize all these targets, including the core loyalist forces, and the 1st Guards Division, within 6 hours.

It was already a daunting task, and now we were racing against time.

Should that time limit be exceeded, the 12th and 33rd infantry divisions stationed close to the Capital would arrive, and by daybreak, the Navy, Air Force, and Marines would intervene.

Looking at the map of the Capital and surrounding regions, I pondered on how to best allocate my forces.

Once the coup begins, Ilwonhwa members will start seizing control of their units, so we won't lack forces to fight the Guards Division.

The problem was the troops needed for the preparation stage of the coup.

We needed forces to capture the individuals who must be neutralized in advance.

Moving troops without authorization would alert the Security Command and expose the coup.

That would be the end of everything.

We needed to move without drawing the eye of the Defense Security Command.

And there was only one force who could do such a thing.

The Military Police.

Come to think of it, the guys who kidnapped Jeong Seung-hwa during the Coup of December 12, were also from the Military Police.

According to the original plan, we wouldn't even need the Military Police's assistance, since we would acquire some sympathizers in the Guards Division and DSC to strike at the regime's weak points.

However, with the state of things, the old plan was scrapped, and now I needed help from high-ranking Military Police officers beyond my reach.

I had Jong-Gil bring me profiles of key Military Police officers.

"Hmm. I only know most of them by name."

Usually, in the small world of the military, you at least recognize high-ranking officers at the colonel level as you pass by.

Even if you don't know their faces, you can recall them when you hear their names.

But if you ask whether that's enough of a relationship to persuade them to our side, it certainly wasn't.

From the start, peers and seniors in the military were competitors vying for the few available positions and posts.

Wasn't that how factions and lines were formed?

I had no connections with high-ranking Military Police officers.

No, I didn't have time to make connections.

Even if I did, the DSC wouldn't stand by idly.

What should I do?

As I was pondering, Jong-Gil spoke up.

"General."

"What is it."

"Is it really necessary to bring in high-ranking officers from the Military Police?"

"What do you mean, Capitan."

"For the arrest operation, it should be enough to mobilize junior officers in charge of mundane affairs. Some of them support you in the Military Police, don't they?"

The 'Junior Officers' were generally young ones.

And many of them were reformists who agreed with my 'views for the future'.

"We'll use them."

I mulled over Jong-Gil's suggestion.

Without senior officers, there would be difficulties in disguising our movements.

However, choosing young officers meant there were several candidates we could immediately recruit.

I had turned various officers to my side while sharing meals as a Division Commander, and there are those connections I built as an Army Policy Researcher.

There's no other option.

I had Jong-Gil compile a list of officers to recruit and then call them to the Army Policy Research Office.

The pretext was that I wanted to understand the Military Police's duties during military operations.

Three hours later, six Military Police officers sat side by side in the usually deserted office.

All these fellows were reformists who showed some support for my 'views', showing me deep goodwill and respect.

Everything, from the smallest gesture to the starry look in their eyes felt different.

This made me certain that I could trust and use them.

So, I started talking with them while offering tea.

It started with trivial talk.

And as the dialogue deepened, I gradually moved towards dangerous waters.

There were other officers besides Jong-Gil in the Policy Research Office, but it didn't matter.

I had already thoroughly secured the support of the Policy Research officers.

"The Empire stands on the precipice, just waiting to fall towards its own doom, and that's because of a single 'person' deeds. Isn't that so?"

Even for my followers, it was difficult to answer such a direct statement.

But it didn't matter.

I decided to set an example by being the first to cross that dangerous bridge.

"I think that 'person' needs to be pulled down. Only then can we set this country right."

"!!!"

"G-General...Those words..."

"Gentleman, would you like to join me, Lee Sung Joon, in making a Revolution?"

Military revolution.

It was but a shameless wordplay.

Do the textbooks call the Coup of May 16³ a 'Military Revolution'? No Of course not.

But human perception was a funny thing.

Such a word - Revolution - makes one's heart race like they are being part of something greater than themselves.

The revolution I spoke of was the same.

A vision that this Lee Sung Joon has been talking about until now.

A blueprint for the future.

When those ideas were connected to the word 'Revolution', it was enough to make the young officers' hearts race.

From the start, the mindset of the Korean Empire's junior officers was not much different from the Imperial Way Faction⁴ of the former Japanese Empire.

The current era is called the century of ideologies, the 20th century. ⁵

In this age, those willing to risk their lives for their ideals were common.

This was especially true if it aligned with what they considered justice.

The word 'revolution' I uttered was a catalyst.

After a moment, one officer asked with a trembling tone,

"What is the meaning of this 'Revolution' you speak of, Your Excellency...?"

"In one word? Restoration. I want to shatter all the outdated notions of this Nation and rebuild the country anew. That is the Revolution I envision."

A complete reform of this country.

Just as the Meiji Restoration⁶ did for the Japanese Empire.

I would transform this Korean Empire not into the pathetic joke from the webtoon, but into a country closer to my homeland, South Korea.

"Your Excellency."

"I believe I've sufficiently demonstrated my convictions. What's your decision?"

At my words, one of the officers abruptly stood up and saluted me.

"This Lee Sung Myung will follow Your Excellency's revolution!"

The other officers followed suit, standing and saluting.

"I, Park Sang Gun, will also participate in this great cause."

Even the fellows in the Policy Research Office joined in.

"This humble Lee Han Yong also wishes to join you, Your Excellency!"

"With you all helping me, I feel as strong as if I've gained an army of thousands. Thank you. Thank you all."

Then, I had Jong-Gil distribute oak leaves, the symbol of the Ilwonhwa.

It was an homage to the Schwarze Kapelle⁷ that tried to eliminate Hitler.

"General, what is this?"

"The symbol of our organization. When the time comes, You'll see people moving with this emblem."

Thanks to the Military Police officers who pledged their loyalty, I gained the hands and feet for the execution phase.

Though their ranks ranged only from Captain to Major, what mattered was that I acquired the support of Military Police Officers.

These men were responsible for the Military Police Headquarters, the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the 11th Military Police Battalion of the 1st Guards Division, and the 22nd Military Police Battalion of the Capital Defense Command.

The number of men commanded by these officers, though small, could exert tremendous damage during the surprise attack.

Of course, we'd need a bit of luck on our side.

After hearing their pledges, I assigned them tasks on the spot.

"Capitan Lee Sung Myung."

"Yes, General."

"I'll entrust you with the Army Chief of Staff's residence."

"You can count on me, sir."

I distributed tasks to several officers in turn.

The officers saluted with flushed expressions each time they received a mission.

Now, their direct superior was no longer the nominal Military Police Chief.

It was me.

Lee Sung Joon.

"The operation starts on December 8th. Prepare thoroughly and stick to the schedule."

"Yes, General."

Dismissing the Military Police officers, I glanced at the folks from the Research Office.

Truthfully, these men didn't have notable positions, but since they agreed to follow me, I felt the need to give them something to do.

"Major Lee Han Yong."

"Yes, General."

"You and your subordinates come to my residence on December 8th. I'll need people to act as my hands and feet."

"As you wish, Sir."

I patted his shoulder lightly.

Now, all preparations were complete.

All that remained was to cross the Rubicon. ⁸

***

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