Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

He asked directly:

Which high school did you graduate from?

Busan High School.

Li Xinghe turned to look at Zhao Lieshu. How could this kid get into such a good school?

Zhao Lieshu whispered a reminder:

“My dad got me in through connections, but I got in on my own merit.”

listen

When his cousin exposed his shortcomings, Zhao Guhuan became even more embarrassed. Busan High School had a very high entrance threshold, and he, an academically weak student, obviously managed to get in by virtue of his parents' influence in the diplomatic system.

Li Xinghe sat down and threatened Zhao Juhuan:

"I'll go ask the National Intelligence Service right now which of your high school classmates are in the military. There aren't many in the senior or middle ranks, are there? I remember you graduated from the Army War College, right? Who were your classmates?"

In any country that has adopted a modern system, checking the high school and university classmates of someone who has entered the public service system is a very quick and clear way to investigate.

For South Korean generals, the answer is simpler. Did they graduate from the regular military academies (All three branches of the armed forces) or through accelerated training programs at their respective service schools? Was it the Army NCO School or the Army's 3rd NCO School? If they've reached a high rank, did they obtain their master's degree from the National Defense University or the Joint Chiefs of Staff College? Did they pursue a doctorate at a college directly under the General Staff?

By pulling out a list of backgrounds, this person's factional affiliations within the military become as easy to discern as a light bulb in the dark.

"What exactly do you want me to do? That's an independent gate..."

Zhao Guhuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, wondering if he had just escaped one wolf's mouth only to fall into another.

Li Xinghe made no attempt to hide his true feelings, using reality to torture Zhao Juhuan:

"In 2017, Park Geun-hye almost pulled off a coup in Seoul by using the military, didn't she? By 2024, Yoon Seok-youl had already begun mobilizing the military to prepare for a coup. Now, four years later, who do you think will be the next to stage a coup? Who will be the next Park Chung-hee or Chun Doo-hwan? Without my money and intelligence resources, you'd probably be sitting in a military court dungeon by now, wouldn't you?"

Will he stage a coup and become the next head of the military government?

This was something Zhao Juhuan had never imagined, but when Li Xinghe had already molded him into a national hero, everything seemed to fall into place naturally.

For those accustomed to enjoying modern life, the so-called modernity, freedom, and city are all so fragile and easily broken. Only by tearing away the various veils of appearance will the new generation of people, lacking political training, discover that human political organizations rooted in violence are not as warm and compassionate as they seem.

Power hates a vacuum. The more paralyzed the central government is in South Korea, the more it will call for ambitious figures to take the stage.

"Brother, be a good boy."

Zhao Lieshu stood beside him, glaring sharply at Zhao Juhuan.

Zhao Juhuan lowered his head:

"Okay, I'll do it... but I need the money."

"Money is not the problem; the problem is whether things can be accomplished. Blow open the gate of independence, rebuild the gate of grace, and ask your contemporaries for their opinions and insights."

Li Xinghe skillfully pulled out an envelope stuffed with banknotes and tossed it to Zhao Juhuan.

……

During his studies at the sergeant school, Zhao Juhuan did participate in a military organization similar to the Yixin Society, but it no longer uses that name.

Faced with Li Xinghe's urging, he gathered his comrades-in-arms in the ward to discuss the Dokdo crisis.

During the conversation, he brought up the issue of the 'independent gate being vandalized'.

The argument was lively and noisy:

"Ah, actually everyone is very resentful. When did the independence of the Republic of Korea have to be questioned? But in the end, those people are dissatisfied with the status quo and have no other way out, so they do all sorts of despicable things."

Yes, I'm extremely dissatisfied with reality!

Zhao Juhuan suddenly experienced a breakthrough in his spirituality after his Ren and Du meridians were opened.

Whether it's the abstract idea of ​​rebuilding Yeongeunmun Gate or blowing up Independence Gate, the key issue isn't the gate itself, but the National Assembly Building on Yeouido Island. It's that building, where arguments rage daily, and the noisy, self-serving political parties within, that bind endless conflicts to this small land, leaving too many people dissatisfied and yearning for solutions.

Desire that cannot be obtained will drive one to madness.

The citizens of Ukraine, Syria, and Georgia, facing countless intractable and helpless predicaments, have each embarked on various paths—color revolutions, terrorism, and extreme anti-Russian sentiment—ultimately heading towards the same collapse. Israel and Egypt, already teetering on the brink of collapse, are preparing to repeat the same mistakes.

He suddenly stood up from his hospital bed:

"We cannot allow South Korea to become the next Ukraine. Only through radical destruction can we build something new. Yes, we will use this slogan to unite the nation."

His friends were bewildered and asked him:

What are you going to do?

Zhao Juhuan immediately took out US dollars and threw them on the bed, then pulled out his service pistol:

“There is a big shot, a big shot who can make phone calls to the United States and Japan, who asked us to organize an anti-American and pro-China group to support the people who oppose the independence movement.”

The officers immediately understood that this was a public show of taking sides.

Since Zhao Juhuan has already decided to go there, his classmates must go with him, otherwise they will all suffer if something happens to them.

To ensure loyalty to the organization, Zhao Juhuan took out all the US dollars he received and distributed them:

"We will name ourselves the Chungmu Society. Like the hero Yi Sun-sin, we will protect our country, break free from the constraints of the United States, rely on China's aid, and oppose Japanese aggression."

This time, it wasn't Li Xinghe instructing Zhao Juhuan to do anything, but rather Zhao Juhuan beginning to learn to adapt to the trends of the times and spontaneously strive for even greater heights.

The small organization he created, named after Yi Sun-sin's posthumous title, ostensibly aimed to be anti-American, anti-Japanese, and pro-China.

Of course, what he said was the opposite of reality. Cho Koo-hwan was not pro-China, and he knew that he was actually receiving funding from the United States and Japan. His verbal opposition was merely an excuse to unite the people.

In Seoul, this group began operating through connections within the logistics department.

Three hours later, a decommissioned military vehicle with fake license plates, carrying a retired M114 155mm howitzer in its cargo bed, and dozens of Zhao Juhuan's close comrades from the same period, approached the Independence Gate Square at dusk.

The place is still packed with people, and there is a lot of noise. The vast majority of people are protesting against the pandemic and opposing the government's compromises with Japan and the United States, but they are also arguing endlessly about whether to take a pro-China or pro-American stance.

As the truck reversed to align with the 14.28-meter-high independent gate, Zhao Juhuan continued to encourage everyone:

"Right now we're just blowing up a useless gate; later we can blow up that dilapidated building on Yeouido. We'll all become high-ranking officials together."

Even the officer in charge probably didn't expect that he was just there to do his job after receiving US dollars, and that he would end up blowing up a symbol of Korean independence.

This surreal, unreal feeling drove them to wildly pull the trigger.

boom!

The cannon exploded, the recoil smashing the cargo bed of a wrecked truck, and a burst of fire and thick smoke shot toward the independent gate.

After a startling cannon blast that shook the sky, the boulder collapsed, and smoke and dust filled the air.

When the fog cleared, people were shocked to discover that the Korean Independence Gate, which was planned by a group of pro-Japanese intellectuals, built by a large number of Chinese workers, and modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in France, had collapsed amidst the sound of artillery fire.

"We actually blew up the independent gate..."

The act of firing the cannon felt effortless, but for the junior officers of the Chungmu Society who were involved in creating the crisis, it evoked an indescribable feeling. Like the scholar-officials who toppled Ying'en Gate years ago, they were filled with uncertainty about the future.

The Koreans were stunned when the gate collapsed.

Although the gate was built by pro-Japanese elements, it has in some ways become a symbol of Korean independence.

Now, it has been so easily blown apart by the pro-China faction, and the national consciousness of South Koreans has been severely damaged.

Upon discovering that the gate had been blown up, most of the Koreans at the scene were enraged and instantly went on a rampage to chase and beat up the Koreans who had built Yeongeunmun.

"Oh! It was these pro-China elements who blew up the Independence Gate."

"Defeat them!"

The first round of fighting quickly ended in defeat.

Those satirical groups who attempted to build the Ying'en Gate to awaken the nation through performance art quickly failed amidst the angry mob of public controversy.

And they collapsed. The cosplay groups dressed in Ming and Qing dynasty costumes were never very committed to their work, and those who came to create abstract art all fled home.

But while most people scattered and fled, Zhao Juhuan, masked, and his comrades-in-arms continued to recruit them:

"We are the Chungbu Association. Our goal is to drive out the greedy American troops stationed here and oppose Japanese aggression and expansion. Anyone willing to support us, please come and report!"

What exactly is the connection between anti-American and anti-Japanese sentiments and the construction of Ying'en Gate?

To the naked eye, it seemed harmless, but for those who had long been dissatisfied, it was merely a pretext, a reason to overthrow the status quo. Many people found their leader and flocked back to Zhao Guhuan's side.

And so, a group of ambitious South Korean military officers began their journey, all centered around a bald, middle-aged man who indulged in drinking, gambling, and womanizing.

Late at night, Zhao Juhuan, along with his brothers and a cosplay team—temporarily reorganized from a satirical group into one truly dedicated to anti-American and anti-Japanese movements, dressed in Ming and Qing dynasty attire—reappeared on stage. They carried wood back to the scene and used iron bars to beat up the opposing group who were stationed there repairing the independent gate.

"This gate was built by pro-Japanese intellectuals; you are all sycophants!"

"With the Dokdo crisis looming, how dare you still defend the lackeys of the Japanese?"

With officers in command, the militia split into two wings, called "Great Army" and "Iron Cavalry," and, by flanking from both sides, defeated the enemy with fewer troops.

On the stone foundation of the independent gate that had been blown open, they rebuilt the tall Ying'en Gate. Because the incident happened so suddenly, it was difficult to build a proper archway, so they simply wrote a few words in Chinese characters and Yanwen and hung them up.

Then they skillfully pulled out their phones and began uploading abstract videos on various social media platforms, claiming that "the Chungmu Society will establish Ying'en Gate and overthrow the pro-Japanese faction."

At this time, the Chungmu Society was officially established.

However, most South Korean residents could not accept this, and a large number of citizens flooded into Independence Gate Square. After driving them away, Yeongeun Gate was demolished.

Zhao Juhuan then spent money to mobilize more soldiers and supporters to return and rebuild Ying'en Gate.

And so it went, one tearing down, the other building; one building, the other tearing down. Was it an independent gate or a welcoming gate? Seoul's police covered their ears, not wanting to get involved, but the crowd was already engaged in a chaotic brawl. Due to universal conscription, tactics like staggered attacks and rotating assaults were employed, with new recruits, veterans, and retired soldiers all getting younger with each battle.

"The people on the other side are all pro-American and pro-Japanese lackeys!"

"Pro-China elements, get out of South Korea!"

The attitudes surrounding this gate have evolved from 'expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo' to a rift between two national ideologies: 'pro-American and pro-Japanese' and 'anti-American and anti-Japanese'.

Surprisingly, yet logically, after the military learned of Cho Gu-hwan's involvement and personal participation in boxing, the entire South Korean army, from top to bottom, unanimously chose to pretend ignorance. Furthermore, a significant number of officers and soldiers proactively joined the anti-American and anti-Japanese movement. Therefore, despite being outnumbered, they possessed greater fighting power.

Just as Cho Gu-hwan realized, the South Korean military is also eagerly pursuing change.

Whether they were high-ranking military officials or mid- to low-ranking officers, everyone saw the collusion between the US and Japan and wanted to change it. Zhao Juhuan's earth-shattering cannon shot gave everyone a choice: to start by blowing up Independence Gate and rebuilding Yeongeun Gate, a radical ideological overhaul.

TikTok, Kakao, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube—all media outlets and social media platforms capable of mobilizing the public are inevitably facing the dilemma of ideological censorship. If the South Korean government were still functioning normally, they would certainly immediately use their iron fist to suppress the rioting 'anti-American and anti-Japanese' groups, label them 'non-citizens,' and then trample them underfoot in condemnation.

However, the current South Korean government is inoperable, the National Assembly has been abandoned by the people, and the Dokdo sovereignty crisis continues to erupt, leaving these media platforms at a loss. At the most critical moment, the military bigwigs behind Cho Gu-hwan quietly sent people to take over, using the 'Dokdo sovereignty crisis' as a pretext, but secretly condoning the Chungmu Party's ideological propaganda, which quickly attracted a large number of supporters dissatisfied with the status quo in the Seoul metropolitan area.

On her way to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee Ju-yeon looked at the news with concern:

"I really don't understand these people."

Li Xinghe patted his cute little sister's head:

"The vast majority of people who joined the Cho Gu-hwan Chung-mu Association were anti-Japanese, not pro-China. What they wanted was to change the status quo."

In the past, being pro-American and anti-Japanese was a common social ideology shared by both sides.

The problem lies in the fact that the Dokdo sovereignty crisis created by Lee Sung-ha shattered the excuses commonly used by South Korean left and right wings to avoid real-world issues. The US is clearly the culprit behind the Dokdo crisis, and is in cahoots with Japan. How could anyone remain pro-American and anti-Japanese at this point? This ideological divide with the status quo meant that pro-American groups were unable to maintain stability and were ultimately overwhelmed by newly established civilian groups like the Chungmu-kai.

Therefore, many ordinary South Koreans, with a strong history of colonial humiliation, chose to join anti-Japanese groups. They did not really want to rebuild Yeongeunmun Gate, but rather to overthrow the pro-Japanese gate.

In the era of the self-media war, a small, localized conflict can be amplified into a nationwide ideological test through media propaganda.

"Do you support the Independent Gate or the Welcome Grace Gate?"

"Is independence really the best option?"

“That was built by the pro-Japanese faction. We should tear it down and rebuild a new, independent gate.”

"But isn't he still pro-American after all?"

"You can't kiss anyone."

One question can cause a family to argue.

South Korean media outlets unanimously described the stalemate near Independence Gate as a "battle to retake it."

"The Dokdo sovereignty crisis is not over yet, but the battle to reclaim Yeongeun-mon and Independence Gate has already begun."

Many people on social media are predicting that the Dokdo sovereignty crisis has entered the third stage of national division in the battle to retake Yeongeunmon-Independencemono.

All citizens of East Asia must answer one question: "Are you pro-America? Is America pro-you?"

……

When street brawls erupted and cannon fodder fought on Dokdo, and South Korea's national ideology crumbled under Lee Sung-ha's invisible hand, Lee Sung-ha's main mission began.

He was going to meet with Kim Hong-kyun, the First Vice Foreign Minister of South Korea.

Kim Hong-kyun, however, invited Lee Sung-ha and his wife, along with Lee Jo-yeon and her daughter, to a high-end club in Itaewon.

The room was filled with daughters of wealthy chaebols, including Lee Gu-jung and Choi Shin-geum, a large group of pampered young ladies. Many of the hottest female celebrities from the Korean entertainment industry were also present, leaving Lee Sung-ha speechless.

What are you doing?