I Will Stage A Coup D’état

"That bastard Lee Sung Joon has gone mad."

Even if the military of the Korean Empire reigns above the law, openly disappearing people is going too far.

This was something only the northern red empire, the Soviet Union, would do.

After signing a non-aggression pact with those Reds, he's following in their footsteps.

At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if something like the Gulags¹ appeared.

Truly, this country was becoming a place unimaginable before.

And he claims he'll westernize this country? Even the uncivilized Chinese would laugh.

The general sneered at Lee Sung Joon's attitude, but couldn't ignore the efficiency of his actions.

Already, a couple of organization members were taken during the disappearances.

As a result, it was uncertain when the reality of the "organization" would be exposed.

The general concluded that if the operation was delayed further, someone among the anxious members might inform them.

The general decided to swiftly execute the operation at this point.

Although they couldn't recruit personnel to assassinate Lee Sung Joon, it didn't matter.

If the assassination wasn't possible, a suicide bomb attack would do.

"April 9th seems good for the execution date."

"Is there a specific reason for the 9th?"

"It's the day of the Army Command Conference. Surely that bastard won't miss the entire army command meeting. The problem is moving the bomb. Colonel Bae, can you handle it?"

The general's gaze fell on a one-armed officer in civilian clothes.

He was a wounded veteran who had lost an arm in the recent Chinese-Korean War.

His name was Bae Jun-hwa.

Bae Jun-hwa was furious that despite dedicating himself to the country's victory to the point of becoming disabled, Lee Sung Joon had only brought "half a victory".

In his view, this Chinese-Korean peace treaty was a "crippled victory" itself.

How could he forgive that?

This was the background for Bae Jun-hwa volunteering for the suicide bombing.

Bae Jun-hwa nodded with a determined expression.

"What can't I do for the country and people? Just leave it to me. I will surely punish the traitor Lee Sung Joon who betrayed our country."

"I'll trust you, Colonel Bae. Lieutenant Colonel Lee!"

"Yes, General."

"What about the procured explosives?"

"They're right here."

Lieutenant Colonel Lee laid out the stick-shaped bomb he had brought.

It was an item obtained with difficulty from Hong Kong for this operation.

If this bomb were detonated near the target, anyone in the vicinity would surely be reduced to rags.

"Here's how to use it. After bending the time fuse, insert it into the bomb. It will detonate in 10 minutes."

"Seems perfect for sending Lee Sung Joon to the afterlife."

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The general also expressed satisfaction.

"The problem is the security check. To get close to Lee Sung Joon, you must go through a search."

"Yes, that's the difficult part. Any clever ideas?"

"We'll create a space in Colonel Bae's bag. Hide the bomb there, then move it to the waist or chest when changing clothes."

"The issue seems to be that Colonel Bae needs to touch the bomb's time fuse while undressing and then attach it to his belt. Is that possible? With one hand?"

"Since Colonel Bae's aide isn't trustworthy, he'll have to do it alone."

The general stroked his chin.

It was an absurd level of difficulty, but there weren't any better options.

Eliminating Lee Sung Joon would leave the National Salvation Military Committee headless and confused, opening a path for the organization's survival.

"General. I can do it."

As Bae Jun-hwa showed confidence again, the general nodded.

"No need to discuss further what's already been decided. Colonel Bae. Our fate rests in your hands."

"Don't worry."

The organization members exchanged determined looks while trying to hide their anxiety.

The fateful hour was approaching.

On April 9, 1938, the day of the Army general meeting, Colonel Bae Jun-hwa underwent a security check.

Even core members of the National Salvation Military Committee were being checked, so there was no leniency for a wounded veteran.

Bae Jun-hwa showed everything in his bag, including clothes.

The bomb was hidden in a space created in the bottom of the bag as a precaution.

The military police officer searched Bae Jun-hwa's body but found nothing suspicious.

More accurately, he only checked the obvious places, given that Bae was a high-ranking officer and a wounded veteran.

"Sir, the security check seems especially strict today."

"Of course, His Excellency is attending. Watch what you say."

Bae Jun-hwa cautioned his aide.

The aide quickly shut his mouth.

The two headed straight for the Army conference room.

Several generals were seated in the conference room, but Lee Sung Joon was nowhere to be seen.

Bae Jun-hwa casually asked a passing officer about Lee Sung Joon.

"When will the Chief arrive? I have a presentation later, and I'm wondering if I'll be late if I change clothes before then."

"He'll be here soon. You'd better change within 5 minutes."

Bae Jun-hwa nodded and went to the changing room.

Fortunately, the changing room was empty.

"Aide, I'm going to change quickly. Make sure no one comes in."

"Understood."

Bae Jun-hwa locked the door and opened his bag.

From the bottom of the bag, he retrieved the bomb prepared for this operation.

There were no interruptions from outside as he made his preparations.

Bae Jun-hwa readied the bomb and fastened it to his belt.

My Luck isn't so bad after all.

Bae Jun-hwa checked his watch as he entered the conference room.

However, Lee Sung Joon, his target, was nowhere to be seen.

Anxiously, Bae Jun-hwa kept glancing at his watch, waiting for Lee Sung Joon to arrive.

"When will the Chief arrive?"

A general conveniently voiced the question Bae Jun-hwa wanted to ask.

"The Chief has an urgent matter and will not be attending the meeting."

What?

Bae Jun-hwa was shocked by this news.

But it wasn't surprising.

Sung Joon, conscious of assassination threats, often changed his official schedule at the last minute.

The organization's mistake was in not imagining that Lee Sung Joon would skip an event as important as the entire army command conference.

Bae Jun-hwa's face turned deathly pale.

If the bomb goes off now, it's all over.

If the bomb exploded, it would start sweeping through the people around Bae Jun-hwa like a dragnet.

Then, the organization would be finished.

Bae Jun-hwa rushed to the bathroom.

He hurriedly tried to remove the bomb's time fuse.

But then,

BOOM!

The bomb exploded.

The explosion in the third-floor bathroom of the Army building resulted in one fatality but caused no other damage.

The problem was the very fact that the bomb had exploded.

Frightened by the bomb's detonation without even attempting the assassination, one organization member confessed to the entire coup plot.

The National Salvation Military Committee agonized over how to interpret this incident.

"This is clearly an attempt on His Excellency's life! We already have a confession!"

"Treating it as an attempted coup would burden His Excellency."

"Surely you're not suggesting we cover this up?"

"Let's transfer the case to the Defense Security Command. They'll handle it quietly."

After much debate, the incident was buried as a simple gas explosion caused by a cigarette igniting gas from the bathroom plumbing.

Not many believed it, but if the regime said so, that's how it was.

On the surface, the incident ended there.

But behind the scenes, it was different.

"Round them all up."

Those who had contact with Bae Jun-hwa were brought to the DSC safehouse.

The 'General', leader of the coup forces, was no exception.

"Name."

"Army Lieutenant General Im Tae-sung of the Korean Empire."

"Our dear Political Affairs Director, life must have been too comfortable for you. Planning treason right under His Excellency's nose?"

The general was enraged at the word 'treason'.

How dare these lowly beings, who became victors, spout such nonsense?

"Treason? How is it treason to correct a world where you lowlifes run amok! This was a righteous revolution."

"Revolution or treason, it doesn't matter. What's important is that you failed, Director. You know the consequences of a failed rebellion, don't you?"

"I'm prepared. Will you put me on trial? Go ahead. I've done nothing to shame the Korean Empire under heaven."

"Heh look at this. You’re very naive for a General.."

"What?"

"Who said you'd get a formal trial? That's troublesome. For a soldier, a summary court-martial is enough."

The general was shocked by this unexpected turn.

"I-I am a military official and Lieutenant General of the Korean Empire. I have the right to a fair trial. If you're going to kill me, execute me by firing squad after a proper trial!"

The investigator ignored him and read from the army regulations in a businesslike tone.

"Defendant Im Tae-sung, you are found guilty of organizing a rebel group and terrorizing the Army. Under Article 11 of the Military Criminal Code, treason against the state, you are sentenced to death. Execution will be by firing squad."

"This isn't even a summary trial!"

The general protested, but it was futile.

"Take him away."

The end for those involved in the coup against Lee Sung Joon was execution by firing squad after summary trials.

*

"Your Excellency. We've disposed of all participants. Those individuals will never see the light of day again."

"Good work."

I sat in my office chair, receiving the cold report of executions from the Defense Security Commander.

Usually, summary court-martials resulting in executions occurred during wartime.

Then, there was no choice as conditions didn't allow for proper trials.

But carrying out executions by firing squad after summary trials in peacetime, without special cause, wasn't a trial—it was judicial murder.

It wasn't something a leader of a proper nation should do.

Yet, I ordered this judicial murder.

It was better to commit extrajudicial killings than to acknowledge a challenge to the regime.

I didn't care if it was dirty.

After all, I'd abandoned any hope for a clean name or reputation the moment I staged the coup.

If I had to state just one thing I desired, it was to survive in this world.

To do that, I had to survive as a person in power and keep winning in the Game of Thrones.

Creating a true Korean Empire was ultimately a story for after I survived.

So, until then, I had no choice but to temporarily forget that dream.

1. Soviet forced labor camps known for harsh conditions and high mortality rates