Tate, Uetaru Monoyo! Imazo Hiwa Chikashi!
Sameyo Waga Harakara! Akatsukiwa Kinu!
Bogyakuno Kusari Tatsu Hi, Hatawa Chini Moete!
Umiwo Hedatsu Warewa, Kaina Musubi Yuku!
Iza Tatakawan Huruitate Iza!
Aa INTERNATIONALE Wareraga Mono!
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The Japanese Emperor had declared an end to the bloody Civil War. But the winds of war were just beginning to blow across the world.
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Two men sat across each other in a dimly lit room. A giant white cake sat atop the table between them, with a single candle lit on top.
"What is this?" the man wearing glasses snarled.
"A celebration," the man sitting opposite answered. He had a gruff voice and a face worn from countless battles, despite the obviously youthful features. He leaned back in his chair and began smoking a cigarette.
The man wearing glasses, now unable to see across the table with the cake so large, tried to slightly lift himself from the chair to no avail. He angrily got to his feet and pointed a finger.
"You brought a Western capitalist confectionary to celebrate a Proletariat victory. Did you expect this to be funny?"
"There wasn't anything else to buy from the bakery, and for Chrissakes, how is a cake a 'western confectionary'? We had one at your wedding, a bigger one, at that."
The man with glasses felt his face redden. "Let's not bring personal matters into this, Song-ju. Youngsters like you can't even make jokes properly." He sat back down at his chair.
He began speaking again. It was now business. "As you may already be aware, this meeting is strictly confidential, and with the recent developments surrounding Katayama we must keep it that way at all costs. The capitulation by the Provisional Imperial Government was all but unexpected and should not come as a surprise, with our soldiers constantly blowing up their factories and severely reducing their industrial capacity. Hell, we should've been expecting it ever since the Soviets recognised us and began supplying our Japanese comrades. All thanks to Chairman Zhukov, of course."
The man with glasses drew a sharp breath and began speaking in a stronger voice. Kim amusingly noted its similarity to when the former was on the podium, leading millions of workers and farmers to overthrow their Capitalist overlords and beginning the greatest Socialist movement since 1917.
"It is almost three years since we began the steps towards independence - no, towards liberation. Three years since the strikes in Hamhung and riots in Kwangju. Three years since we began an armed struggle against the strongest empire of the Far East, a revolution of the lowest possibilities of success. And yet see where we are now - with the fall of British and American Capitalism, Japan no longer has allies to borrow its money and obtain its resources from, and is forced to negotiate with the worst of the worst - with us, the Communists. The People's Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of Manchuria, and the People's Republic of Japan, hand in hand, stand firmly as victors in the struggle while the Empire of Japan straggles with what's left of itself."
For dramatic emphasis, the man again stood from his chair and leaned over to Kim. "As we know, unlike Korea or Japan, Manchuria still remains vastly open, a land void from military power as the Kwantung Army hastily retreated into Korea as soon as revolution began and the CPC is still stuck in Yan'an. Various warlords and bandit groups exist, of course, but they have little strength. We also know that Manchuria is comprised of various races, one of them being none other than our own brethren - the Koreans. They comprise a significant minority of the total population and, in the mountainous regions east of Harbin, are a strong majority.
"This is where you come in, Kim - you, whose home sits deep in the Manchurian hinterlands, who made numerous guerrilla raids along the border even before the Revolution, who now commands an Army of five divisions just south of the Yalu River - you are the most fitting general to lead a campaign to occupy southern Manchuria and cut the CPC off from Manchuria, while proving to the Soviets of our capabilities in spreading Socialism; furthermore, any territory you do come to occupy in China, you may use it to test not only your military capabilities but also your administrative strength as a leader of a country during peacetime. As my most trusted comrade-in-arms, I hope you take up such a task."
During the long and boring monologue, Kim slowly recounted his past and laughed at the man sitting opposite, a man who believes he is a friend. There were no border raids - how could a ten-year old boy lead a raid? - and only through blackmailing and coercion did he so quickly reach the role as commander. This however was only possible from his days at the Moscow Military School and his connections in the Soviet High Command, something the man opposite doesn't know of, of course: every step of the way the Soviets helped him, changed his identity, spread fantastical rumours of him, made a living legend out of him. The ultimate goal, of course, was to bring Korea under Russian control, but the more the merrier.
"I am deeply grateful of your appraisal, and could only say I probably meet less than half of what you say of me," Kim replied in a faked-shaky voice. "But if it is indeed your wish I will do my utmost to do so. I will order my troops to move into Manchuria."
The man with glasses blinked, and looked quite shocked. "So a definite yes? You can do it?"
Kim solemnly nodded. "Of course. You have brought me to this position, and I would be more than honoured to do as you ask."
The man laughed. "Excellent! Excellent, excellent. We'll first have to deal with figuring out a justification for you to be promoted as Field Commander of the Northern Front, but that can be done later. So, a toast, then?"
Both cut a piece of the cake, and in a mock toast, raised the small plates with pinkies out, and shouted:
"Down with the Capitalists! Long live the Revolution! Long live the Proletariat! Long live the People!"
And Kim Song-ju, also known as Kim Il-sung, thought to himself with utmost glee: The Russian people, of course! In your face, Kim Gu! Long live the Soviet Union!
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Hope everyone enjoyed that. It was fun writing it.
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