Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 166 Six strikes per second is the limit of the stick, not the limit of loyalty!!!
"A mutiny and assassination? Martial law declared in Seoul?!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Taijian gasped and stared at Quan Douguang in astonishment.

Other South Korean officers in the same group also felt their hearts pounding, and a sense of tension filled the air.

"Everyone, stop having any illusions about stability!"

"When we left our weakness at the Watergate Bridge and returned to Seoul, it was all already destined!"

"Of course, if anyone wants to leave, I won't stop them; they can just push open the door and leave."

"But I must warn you, even if you report it, you might not survive."

Quan Douguang swept his cold gaze across the crowd and spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, the members of the Yixin Society exchanged glances. No one dared to get up or even move, for fear of being misunderstood as having ulterior motives.

As the plan to coordinate with the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's surprise attack on Seoul has progressed to this point, the South Korean officers present not only have incriminating evidence against Wu Wanli, but also against Chun Doo-kwang.

In other words, even if Quan Douguang didn't care, the others wouldn't let the traitor leave this door for their own sake.

"Forever loyal to Kaka!"

Seeing that the time was almost right, Lu Taijian was the first to stand up and salute.

"loyalty!!!"

Upon seeing this, all the South Korean military officers stood up and saluted.

"Since there are no objections, then everyone present is on the same boat."

"Gentlemen, the Winter in Seoul Plan is about to begin in full swing!"

"Sometimes I really admire that Chinese man named Wu Wanli; he could think so far ahead..."

Quan Douguang smiled and sighed.

"Whatever your orders are, we will do them!"

Lu Taijian quickly replied.

"The first step is to improve the soldiers' treatment."

"Tell the soldiers of the First Division in the capital to come and collect their year's salary, and thereafter double it every month!!!"

"And I guarantee that from now on, the soldiers will be able to eat officer-level food every day!"

Quan Douguang thought for a moment and then said.

"This……"

"General, isn't this a bit too much?"

"If we follow this standard, then all the wealth you've worked so hard to accumulate will be..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Taijian immediately offered his advice.

"I told you, 90% of my assets will be used for distribution, and you will all have a share, so don't worry."

"True wealth is never money in the present, but the loyalty of your subordinates!"

"That's settled then. Now let's move on to the next question: are there any other military units around Seoul?"

Upon hearing this, Quan Kaka nonchalantly took a puff of his cigar and said...

"General, there is a guard artillery unit at the entrance of Zi Niu Gu near Seoul."

"If the Chinese army tries to enter from there, they will likely be bombarded and overwhelmed by artillery fire. Do we need to do anything to help?"

"I am asking the intelligence officer, Kim Jae-myung."

"The guard artillery unit?"

"I remember, their commander's name was Li Taichen, right?"

"Didn't I already tell you to send people to infiltrate him and his troops? And what was the result?"

Quan Douguang frowned slightly and asked.

"Yes, General. This man is stubborn and has few friends. He is not someone to be trifled with."

“We tried many methods, including money, women, and promises of power and official positions, but he remained unmoved…”

Upon hearing this, intelligence officer Kim Jae-myung lowered his head in shame and said...

"Unmoved?"

"I just don't believe that a person is without weaknesses..."

Quan Douguang snorted coldly and said.

"General, I heard that Lee Tae-shin's family is all in Seoul. Should we go and take them under control now, and then threaten him to cooperate with us?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Taijian said...

"No, at least not now."

"Once we make this move, everyone will know that something is wrong with us."

Quan Douguang took a small sip of red wine, shook his head, and said.

"Then let's see how strong the Chinese army is."

Kim Jae-myung thought for a moment, then looked at Jeon Doo-kwang and said.

"Looking at the strength of the Chinese military? What do you mean?"

Lu Taijian was slightly taken aback and asked.

"General, in the end, we risked our lives to fight for the Chinese army to capture Seoul."

"If Seoul is captured, the entire course of the battle will be changed."

"If, under these circumstances, the Chinese army cannot even take down an artillery unit, it means they don't take it seriously at all."

Kim Jae-myung said.

"But we're already tied to the Chinese army's chariot, there's no turning back."

Lu Taijian said.

"Of course we still side with the Chinese army, but the surprise attack plan is to make us the main force and fight to the death."

"If we wait until the main force of the Chinese army breaks through the defense line before we defect, the risk will be much smaller."

Kim Jae-myung shook his head and said.

"If I'm not mistaken, the one carrying out this important mission must be the Chinese Steel Seventh Company."

"At the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the Chinese Iron Seventh Company single-handedly defeated a battalion of the US 1st Marine Regiment at Xiaogaoling."

"As for those South Korean artillery units? No need to say more."

Quan Douguang said.

"If that's the case, then things will be much easier."

"General, our infiltrators can inform us of the situation there at any time via radio."

"When the time is right, we will directly launch the final step of the Seoul Winter Plan."

Kim Jae-myung said.

"We still have some time, let's get started."

"By the way, after we've done all that, we can let the soldiers do some things they wouldn't normally dare to do, to see how loyal they are."

Quan Douguang said.

"You wouldn't normally dare to do that?"

Lu Taijian was slightly taken aback and asked.

"If they don't test and adapt beforehand, they might not dare to actually execute the Seoul Winter Plan, especially when facing the US military..."

"This is psychological preparation for the military."

Quan Douguang smiled slightly and said.

....................................

Seoul, Blue House, Presidential Residence
"Is everything you said true?"

Syngman Rhee frowned slightly and looked at General Jeong Sang-ho, the South Korean Chief of the General Staff.

"It's true."

“I’ve had the intelligence department confirm that Chun Doo-kwang’s banquets are not for rewarding his subordinates at all, but rather for holding intensive gatherings.”

"It's very likely that an organization is involved in this secret gathering, and I'm worried they might..."

"I'm worried," Zheng Xianghao said.

"I see……"

"I have already reported my suspicions about Jeon Doo-kwang to General Ridgway."

"General Ridgway also sent people to investigate, and even had his most loyal subordinate, Roh Tae-geon, form a special task force to fight the North Korean army."

"But the truth is that Lu Taijian killed very decisively, seemingly without any scruples."

Syngman Rhee frowned slightly and said.

“Mr. President, if that’s the case, I’m more worried that Chon Doo-kwang might rebel.”

Chief of the General Staff Jeong Sang-ho said with a furrowed brow.

"More worried?"

Syngman Rhee asked in confusion.

"Mr. President, what if he doesn't oppose the U.S. military, but opposes you alone?"

Zheng Xianghao made a surprising statement.

"He's against me alone? What...what does he want?"

Syngman Rhee's eyes widened, and suddenly a possibility occurred to him. He immediately asked in return.

"If I may be so bold, Mr. President, we are now more like a vassal state of the U.S. military, at least until this war is over."

"In other words, the U.S. military doesn't care who the president is..."

Jung Sang-ho stared at Syngman Rhee for a long time, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "How dare you!!"

Syngman Rhee flew into a rage and smashed the wine glass on the ground.

"Bang—"

The wine glass shattered on the ground, countless shards exploding, and a splash of red wine landed on Zheng Xianghao's face.

“Mr. President, I could have simply not said these things and, like everyone else, painted a rosy picture to put your mind at ease.”

“Even Quan Douguang once gave me a sum of money, only asking me not to do anything or say anything.”

Jung Sang-ho showed no fear, but instead raised his head and looked directly at Syngman Rhee.

"I'm sorry, I was too hasty..."

Syngman Rhee looked at Jung Sang-ho for a long time before sighing and apologizing.

He had considered this possibility, and it was also the possibility he feared most.

Currently, he can only mobilize one guard battalion in Seoul, plus at most the artillery unit at the Jayugu exit outside Seoul.

The greatest guarantee was Ridgway's guard regiment.

After all, given the combat capabilities of the US military, protecting him should not be a problem at all.

But what if Ridgway felt that Jeon Doo-kwang was more suitable for the position and tacitly allowed him to take advantage of the chaos to do something big...?

“You’re right, I’m not that important to the U.S. military…”

"What should I do? Please help me."

Syngman Rhee looked at Jung Sang-ho and said with a worried expression.

"Mr. President, there is no need to worry. In my opinion, the U.S. military will not allow you to die."

"However, if something happens in the city, you may temporarily lose your throne of power."

"The presidency will still be yours after the war ends, if you survive without being assassinated."

"That's what Zheng Xianghao said."

"I understand what you mean."

“During wartime, a commander-in-chief like Chun Doo-kwang would be better able to enhance the overall combat effectiveness of the South Korean military and cooperate with the US military in the Korean War.”

"But after the war, such a strongman was not what the US military wanted to see."

"But even after the war, I won't be the only one who can take over. I don't want that to happen."

"I have to do something. I've heard that Quan Douguang is corrupt and extorts money, is that right?"

"What if public opinion erupts at a crucial moment in this battle, leading to bloodshed..."

As he spoke, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and he stood up.

....................................

Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

The remaining South Korean soldiers who hadn't received their pay were lining up, waiting to receive their year's salary and today's meal.

At the front of the line
"Take it! Soldier!"

"I don't have enough US dollars. This gold jewelry is something I collected from the public. With this, it should be enough for you. You don't mind, do you?"

With a smile, Quan Douguang handed the South Korean soldier a pair of US dollars and a piece of gold jewelry, and asked softly.

"I don't mind at all!"

The thin South Korean soldier immediately stood up straight, saluted, and shouted.

"Here's today's meal, take it. It's a Chinese-style braised pork, and there's also rice cake."

"The ingredients for this meat and rice cakes came from livestock I had stolen from villages outside the city. So many people are cursing me for oppressing the people and committing all sorts of evil deeds..."

"Would...you mind?"

Jeon Doo-kwang handed a plate full of braised pork, rice cakes, and kimchi to the South Korean soldier with a smile.

"If they investigate later, I'll say I did it all by myself and it has nothing to do with the general!"

The South Korean soldier, Park Jong-kyu, paused for a moment, then shouted loudly, thinking he understood.

"Fool, can you handle this all by yourself?"

"I did all those things. I went and robbed them all by myself. I forced them to do it at gunpoint. It has nothing to do with you!!"

"You can ask anyone who came back from the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. In the most dangerous moment, I shared my food with my soldiers, one bite each!"

"I would even smoke my last cigarette with the soldiers."

"How could I... possibly use you as scapegoats?!"

Quan Douguang looked at the group of South Korean soldiers nearby and shouted loudly.

"General..."

South Korean soldier Park Jong-kyu, looking at the gold jewelry, US dollars, and braised pork, choked up with emotion and shouted.

"What are you crying for?! Stop crying!"

"I didn't care what you were like before, but now you are all my soldiers who will be wiped out!"

"With me here, I will never let you be sucked blood again, and I will never let you be bullied and shed tears again!"

"Remember, all the money was embezzled and spent by me, and all the meat was eaten by me alone. It has nothing to do with you!!!"

Quan Douguang looked at the South Korean soldiers with sincere eyes and shouted loudly.

"loyalty!"

Park Jong-kyu straightened his back and roared with all his might.

"loyalty!!"

The nearby South Korean soldiers also cheered with emotion.

"loyalty!!!!!"

All the South Korean soldiers stood up straight, saluted, and shouted in response.

The shouts rose higher and higher, and the South Korean soldiers looked at Jeon Doo-kwang with tears in their eyes.

South Korea in this era is not like it was later; there are many more people who have frozen to death and starved to death.

Moreover, corruption is rampant in the South Korean military, and although the soldiers are able to eat their fill, it is mostly canned food and dry rations.

Freshly made braised pork like this, along with a year's salary in US dollars—those were benefits reserved for military officers.

In particular, the attitude of "all the benefits are yours, but I'll take the blame" inspired these South Korean soldiers to the point of wanting to die for those who understood them.

"General, General, something terrible has happened!"

“A large crowd has gathered outside, accusing you of extortion and robbing them of their money. They want to kill you!”

At this moment, Lu Taijian rushed in and shouted loudly.

"Gentlemen, I thought it would be later, but I didn't expect this day to come so soon."

"I still have over ten thousand US dollars at home, you can take it and divide it among yourselves. Please take good care of my parents, I beg you!"

"I did all of this, and I keep my word!"

Quan Kaka was slightly taken aback at first, then a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes. After speaking to the soldiers, he walked outside.

"General!!!"

"You can't go!"

Park Jong-kyu stopped Jeon Doo-kwang first and loudly advised him.

Seeing this, many of the other South Korean soldiers wiped away their tears and blocked Jeon Doo-kwang's way out, unwilling to let him leave.

At this moment, Kim Jae-myung, who was below, suddenly remembered what Jeon Doo-kwang had said about the need for special events to prepare mentally, and winked at Roh Tae-geon.

"General! Those people are definitely spies from the Chinese army, deliberately trying to frame you!"

"Brothers, go and suppress these damn spies who want to kill the general!!!"

Lu Taijian immediately understood and raised his arms to shout.

"Suppress spies! Protect the general!"

Kim Jae-myung then joined in the shouting.

"Suppress the spies! Protect the general!!"

The officers of the Yixin Society joined in the commotion.

"Suppress the spies! Protect the general!!!"

All the South Korean soldiers who had just received the favor were roused and shouted loudly.

"Come with me, use your guns like clubs to smash things, but don't shoot!!"

Seeing that it was about time, Lu Taijian shouted and rushed out first.

Other South Korean soldiers also rushed out, each one shouting fiercely.

"What...what are you doing?!"

"Let me out! I'll go out and take the blame!"

"You've really made my life miserable..."

Quan Douguang shouted as he watched the South Korean soldiers rush out.

Outside the military camp

The civilians, who had been instigated by Syngman Rhee to riot, were stunned when they saw the South Korean troops rushing out.

"It's alright, this is Seoul! They won't dare to cause trouble... Ah!"

As the leader watched the approaching South Korean troops, he was about to cheer them on when he suddenly felt a sharp pain on his head.

Park Jong-kyu, who was at the forefront, turned his gun into a club and, with tears in his eyes, fiercely and quickly smashed it at the South Korean people.

At its fastest speed, it even reached six strikes per second!!!
However, six strikes per second is only the limit of the stick, not the limit of loyalty!

(End of this chapter)