studiobondurri Chapter 55: Yu Ji-ha’s Value
Chapter 55: Yu Ji-ha’s Value
Chapter 55: Yu Ji-ha’s Value
In June of 2027, a huge amount of minerals was floating in the space between Earth and the Sun.
It was the result of the mining ships controlled by Arma, who had been extracting them from the asteroid belt.
They could have used the Lagrange points, but they were monitored by humanity’s telescopes and other devices, so they had no choice but to use this place.
Exploration ships equipped with ether receivers were flying around, pulling and pushing the mineral cubes to organize them.
Then, a new message was inputted into an exploration ship.
[Arrival at the space construction plant in 10 minutes.]
Exactly 10 minutes later, a gigantic space plant approached the exploration ship rapidly.
The small exploration ship did not flinch and transformed its nozzle to attach itself to the plant.
[Propulsion starts.]
A golden light burst out and the plant’s speed decreased sharply until it finally stopped.
Now it was time to build a mining ship.
Workers poured out of the plant and carried the necessary mineral cubes.
[Outputting blueprint of mining ship. Block formation start.]
Black metal particles were scattered in space and blocks for the mining ship began to form.
It was like shaping a lump of clay into a figure.
The construction speed was very fast, and it would take only a month to complete a mining ship.
It was possible because it was unmanned and almost empty inside.
A manned spaceship would take more than six months, and the Settler-class, along with the battleship-class, would take the longest with about two years.
While a new mining ship was being built, Yu Ji-ha was eating lunch with Arma at the cafeteria.
Despite being the chairman, he ate at the cafeteria because it was close to his office.
When he first appeared at the cafeteria, some executives who were startled by his presence joined him.
“Oh my, Chairman Yu, you should have called us.”
“The food here is decent, but I don’t know if it suits your taste.”
But Yu Ji-ha did not have much conversation with them and just ate his food and left.
The executives who were expecting some serious discussion about various issues were dumbfounded.
After that, they realized that Yu Ji-ha just came to the cafeteria to eat and did not bother him again.
It was not good for their dignity to eat at the cafeteria on a regular day as executives.
Anyway, Yu Ji-ha ate with Arma.
On the TV installed on the wall, an ominous news was playing.
“...We report that China’s movements are suspicious. Currently, a strict alert has been spread at Guangzhou Base, which is the home port of China’s South Sea Fleet. Hundreds of trucks have entered the base and cargo planes are landing and taking off dozens of times a day at nearby airports.”
“Also, a large-scale exercise involving aircraft carriers and landing ships is being conducted in front of Shengzhen. Military experts from the US warn that the risk of armed conflict is higher than ever.”
“In this situation, Beijing’s silence is one of the reasons why they think there is a high possibility of attacking Taiwan.”
The news repeated showing footage taken by US Navy satellites.
The people who saw it complained one by one.Gêtt the latest chapters on
“They always say they’re going to fight but they never do.”
“It’s hard for China to attack Taiwan anyway. There’s also the US.”
“Anyway, we don’t have anything to do with it, right? The battle will be in the Taiwan Strait.”
“The Taiwanese people think we’ll help them if China attacks them.”
“How can we help Taiwan? We’re busy enough with North Korea.”
“I hope we don’t do anything like that. War is scary.”
Sorry, but we’re preparing too...
Yu Jiha silently ate his food and received a phone call without a number.
This was from a foreign high-ranking politician.
He went outside to answer it and heard the familiar voice of President McKinley.
“Chairman Yu, long time no see. I’ll get straight to the point. Can you provide railguns to other countries?”
“That would be Taiwan, right? I told you when I supplied them to the US Navy that this benefit was only for the US.”
Currently, only Korea and the US could use railguns.
“I know. You don’t want to leak railguns to foreign countries. But the situation is urgent. China is seriously preparing for war.”
There were thick layers of defense facilities on Taiwan’s west coast, including anti-ship missiles.
If railguns were added there, it would be very difficult for China to land from their perspective.
They could even attack China’s naval bases directly from Taiwan.
“Do you know what China would think if railguns were installed in Taiwan?”
“We’ll make them look like they’re ours.”
“I don’t think China’s intelligence agencies would be unaware of that...”
“We promise to keep it a secret.”
Actually, Yu Ji-ha also did not want Taiwan to surrender too soon.
He had to drag it out as long as possible to exhaust China’s national power and give him some leeway for his northward advance.
It would be better to pretend to be generous and accept it here.
“Then you’ll have to grant me one request next time.”
“As long as you don’t ask for the US, I’ll do anything.”
He must have been really desperate.
On a day in August, when the summer heat had subsided a bit.
A US military C-5 Galaxy transport plane flew into the tense Taoyuan Airport in Taiwan.
Everyone knew that the cargo carried by this huge transport plane was not ordinary.
China’s media reacted fiercely.
—It is a provocation by the US to land the largest transport plane, not a C-130, at Taoyuan Airport. They must immediately reveal what the cargo is and leave Chinese territory. If this measure is not taken, we may shoot down the transport plane.
The US did not care and started unloading at night, avoiding the surveillance of satellites.
And camouflage buildings were erected on Taiwan’s west coast to build a railgun system.
But they could not hide it forever.
China mobilized all kinds of assets, such as Y-9 reconnaissance planes and reconnaissance satellites, and obtained a few photos.
Guo Hongshan, the state councilor who had occupied Beijing and had two army group commanders as his patrons, confirmed the identity of the cargo and was furious.
Bang!
“How dare they install railguns!”
The cargo was obviously railguns.
The long black barrel, the power supply cables and generators hanging from it, and the huge cooling system proved it.
The US and Taiwan had tried all kinds of camouflage operations to hide it, but it did not work.
Railguns were being installed on Taiwan’s west coast!
Guo Hongshan grumbled to himself and then asked a soldier with a short haircut.
“Major General Wei, can we remove this worthless thing?”
“We can use Dongfeng missiles from the Rocket Force, but that would be an immediate war.”
“Hmm...”
War.
The scale of Korea’s submarine fleet was small, but if it used the long submergence time and low noise of the black metal battery, it could be a headache for China.
Meanwhile, North Korea was not idle either.
The nuclear tests that had been quiet for a few years resumed.
A magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, and a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Jagang Province.
The direction was the East Sea, or more precisely, Tokyo’s airspace. Japan was shocked.
—After China, now North Korea is threatening us with nuclear weapons. This is intolerable.
—We can’t rely on the US anymore. Japan must have its own nuclear power.
But how?
The US had turned a blind eye to some experiments due to recent lobbying, but it did not allow Japan to possess nuclear weapons.
The US hated nuclear proliferation more than anything else, and Japan was no exception as an ally.
—If one more thing happens in the current situation where China is threatening us with nuclear weapons, we might have no choice but to allow it.
That one thing was Korea’s attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons.
Japan was threatened by nuclear weapons, but Korea was really nervous.
South Korea had Yu Ji-ha.
He was already suspected of supplying railguns to Taiwan, and his relationship with China was at its worst.
In this situation, who could guarantee that China would not launch a nuclear missile during the war?
In fact, there were some lawmakers in Korea who seriously argued for nuclear armament for this reason.
The Korean government also showed interest in this idea, and the US looked at them with displeasure.
The White House issued an unusual statement.
—We are deeply concerned about the claims of nuclear possession that are going on among our allies. All countries must abide by the NPT and accept IAEA inspections.
—The US is willing to provide a nuclear umbrella for our allies, and this does not change in the current situation.
The confirmation of providing a nuclear umbrella was a compliment, but the anxiety of both countries did not subside easily.
As a last resort, Humphrey, the US security adviser, visited Japan and Korea in turn with a letter from the president.
He had the opportunity to meet Yu Ji-ha, who was sitting next to President Jo Hyung-geun.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Adviser.”
Who would take responsibility for China finding out that he had supplied railguns?
Humphrey adviser was flustered.
“The president promised to do his best to protect Mr. Yu.”
“Can you completely block China’s nuclear missiles with that?”
“...”
No one could answer for sure.
The technology of intercepting ballistic missiles was advancing day by day, but ballistic missiles always adopted more advanced technology.
In the fight between the spear and the shield, the spear that pierced first had the advantage.
The US ballistic missile defense system could cover Japan enough, but Korea was uncertain.
At this moment, the assets of the US forces in Korea were being withdrawn.
Thanks to this, the US Democratic Party, which had led the withdrawal of US troops from Korea, was cursed a lot.
Humphrey adviser repeatedly expressed his regret and said to Yu Ji-ha.
“Wouldn’t it be more suitable for you to be protected in the US than in Korea?”
Did he openly suggest this?
President Jo Hyung-geun was about to intervene, but barely held back.
As the relationship between the two countries had become distant, this kind of proposal was beyond common sense.
But Yu Ji-ha’s answer was unexpected.
“Koreans should live on Korean soil. So I refuse.”
“...”
While President Jo Hyung-geun was stunned, Humphrey adviser smiled inwardly and bowed slightly.
He bowed his head in respect for his patriotism and apologized for his slip of the tongue. “In any case, the United States will do everything in its power to protect President Yu.”
If they failed, they would pay a huge price.
He didn’t say the rest of his words, but he was sure that both his aide and the American president knew it.
He left, and President Jo Hyung-geun tapped his shoulder with a wistful look on his face.
“I didn’t expect Chairman Yu to say something like that.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I thought you didn’t care about your nationality. But today, I saw that you are different.”
“I am South Korean.”
He nodded his head as if he was impressed.
“I wish I could tell that to the congressmen who only think about leaving Korea. By the way, do you have any plans to become a congressman someday? If you are President Yu, you will be elected without a doubt.”
“A congressman... I have thought about it, but...”
“I knew it. There are many people who want you to be the president as soon as possible, right? It’s a bit strange to be the president without ever being elected. If you join our party, I will support you.”
“Thank you for your offer. I will think about it.”
Jo Hyung-geun smiled brightly.
“Haha, it’s time for South Korea to have a 40s president.”
He was wrong.
What Yu Ji-ha wanted was not a 40s president, but a 30s dictator.
To achieve that, he had a roadmap that included becoming a congressman before the war broke out.
He didn’t expect Humphrey’s aide to say that and Jo Hyung-geun’s invitation.
But somehow, the media got wind of it and reported it as breaking news.
The internet news and the terrestrial broadcast were dominated by Yu Ji-ha’s face that night.
―Wow... He said he is South Korean with that face. I feel patriotic.
―He is much better than those greedy and ignorant congressmen who don’t care about our country.
―I’m serious, I would support him even if he becomes a dictator with artificial intelligence.
―If he can produce Lucia cheaply, I’m in.
―Hey, come on. Dictatorship is not good.
―Do you think that’s possible? South Korea has maintained democracy for decades.
―Actually, I’m looking forward to what he will change if he becomes the president. First of all, I think he will use artificial intelligence to crack down on fraudsters in the financial network.
―Please amend the constitution quickly! How long do we have to wait until he is 40?
―We also need to amend the term limit. Let him rule for 8 years!
The atmosphere in Korea had changed quite a bit.
The voices that opposed or hated dictatorship had disappeared and were replaced by expectations for Yu Ji-ha.
It was probably because of his achievements in less than two years.
Some argued that he was great, but nothing had changed for the common people.
It was mostly said by the congressmen who were jealous of his popularity.
But they overlooked something.
The reason why people were enthusiastic about Yu Ji-ha was because he gave them hope for the future.