00046 --- The Little Prince in the Ossuary-------------------------=
# Intentional Actions (有所作爲) (4), Camp Roberts
Having returned from the 「Triad」, Gyeo-ul sought the opinions of his two deputies.
"I think it's best to lie low for a while," suggested Min Wan-gi.
"You need to be mindful of the attention from other groups. Ahem! The rapidly growing 「Gyeo-ul Alliance」 has now even joined hands with the 「Triad」. Even if it's a dispute with a Chinese group, other organizations will feel a significant threat. Now is the time, hm! to strengthen our internal affairs."
"Are you alright?"
Gyeo-ul asked, to which the middle-aged scholar nodded.
"Do not worry. Thanks to you, little leader, everyone is receiving enough medication. It's just, cough, a matter of age and strength. When you reach my age, you'll understand."
If Min Wan-gi said he was fine, then it probably was true, given he wasn't one to push himself overly hard.
Yun-cheol then added, "I agree, too. It's not just the other organizations we need to worry about. Suddenly there are many unfamiliar faces, and people are getting anxious. While eradicating the drug problem is urgent, internal turmoil in the alliance will be enormous if a conflict arises."
Gyeo-ul nodded in agreement.
"If the two of you say so, it must be right. I spend a lot of time outside, so I'm not as aware of the alliance's mood as you are."
This was a half-truth. Gyeo-ul was consistently receiving notes from Lee Hoon-tae through the elder Kang Young-sun. However, he didn't trust them entirely.
"But Captain, do you have a strategy in mind?"
"What do you mean?"
"A way to tackle the 'Anliang Commercial Association.'"
Despite coughing continuously, Min Wan-gi seemed curious about the little leader's thoughts. Gyeo-ul admitted, "I have an idea, but I'm uncertain if it will work."
Feeling uneasy, Yun-cheol chimed in, "You're not planning to go alone at night, are you?"
The idea was so naive that Gyeo-ul couldn't help but let out an uncontrived laugh. "No, it's not like that. I plan to involve a third party."
"A third party? Is there someone in this camp who isn't scared of the Commerce's Chinese members or Captain Markert's protection?"
"Police."
Gyeo-ul's answer left Yun-cheol perplexed. The same went for Min Wan-gi. Both attempted to gauge Gyeo-ul's intentions but found it challenging. Gyeo-ul clarified, "It's their job, after all. They should get involved."
The military and police didn't mesh well. For various reasons, police often stayed subordinate. The differences in roles, size, and armament contributed to that. Sharing law enforcement duties was essentially a facade.
Police only intervened to prevent refugees from invading citizen territories, planning a coup, or causing uncontrollable riots. The frequent murders stood as proof of police neglect.
"They wouldn't outright ignore the little leader but will undoubtedly avoid unpleasant tasks. They won't be eager to help."
Yun-cheol's words hinted at a deeper meaning. He worried Gyeo-ul might be overly confident, considering his young age and rightful achievements. Gyeo-ul felt more explanation was needed.
"It's the opposite," he corrected.
"Pardon?"
"I'm not asking them to help me, but I'll end up helping them."
Yun-cheol was confused, but Min Wan-gi seemed to catch onto something. "Ah! You intend to make the Chinese take on the police first."
"Correct."
"Would the police move unless it's a substantial case?"
"It'll be hard for them to ignore. They react sensitively to refugees possessing weapons."
"Weapons? Surely you're not talking about knives and clubs?"
"Based on highly probable assumptions, they seem to be crafting weaponry like bows or sling bows. If they use such lethal weapons against police, would police stand idle?"
Min Wan-gi chuckled amidst a coughing spasm. "Ha ha! I'm very curious about how you plan to lead them into it. You must be quite confident if you're saying this, though... I'll just keep it under pleasant anticipation for now. But what will you do if the police still don't act? After all, doesn't the military carry more weight than the police?"
"There's a state senator I met when I received the Distinguished Service Medal. Should it come to needing more influence, I intend to involve him."
Gyeo-ul recalled the bothersome California state senator from the recent award ceremony. Gyeo-ul couldn't remember his name, but figured he might be useful. A politician starving for attention would eagerly respond to the war hero's request to stand for the police. He was likely oblivious to the stake surrounding the refugee zones.
Two lines of barbed wire were all that separated citizens and refugees, entirely different worlds.
"A state senator... Good, good. They are under federal control at the moment, but state guard officials wouldn't want to fall out of favor with a state senator. Ah, cough!"
Min Wan-gi seemed keen to say more but fell silent due to strain.
The state guard's command is typically exercised by the governor during peace and transferred to the federal government during wars or national disasters. This is what Min Wan-gi was pointing out.
Though thinking about the future was difficult given the present reality, it was equally challenging to disregard it entirely. Even if isolated due to quarantine, a state senator could individually petition the federal government. Especially with the youngest war hero making the plea, the repercussions would be significant.
Gyeo-ul added, "If he, too, drags his feet, the citizens are next."
This brought applause and laughter from Min Wan-gi, as if he had forgotten he was ill. "That's right! That's right! You're a national hero, after all."
Yun-cheol, who had listened with a sense of futility, also changed to a look of admiration. "I hadn't thought that far. You're always looking at the bigger picture."
"I just try not to forget what I have,"
Gyeo-ul responded.
"And if possible, I'm thinking of taking down Markert for good. I don't like him."
"If anyone else had said that, I would have thought it was a joke,"
Yun-cheol commented. Min Wan-gi agreed.
"If you were to leave a mark in history, little leader... you'd be regarded as the quintessential example of Bonapartism."
"Bonapartism? Does it relate to Napoleon?"
Gyeo-ul asked, tilting his head. Min Wan-gi explained.
"Yes, it does. Many complicated stories exist, but essentially, 'a force-reliant order' simplifies it, ahem, nicely."
Intellectual insight supplemented Min Wan-gi's explanation. Gyeo-ul nodded in full comprehension and smiled lightly.
"Thanks for the compliment, but I won't end like Napoleon."
"That's precisely it. Ahem, you don't seem like someone who indulges in power alone... cough... thinking you could solve everything with just power. I really am on the right ship."
"Let's hold the flattery there. I might sink us, you know."
Yun-cheol was already turning glum again, so before it got worse, Gyeo-ul engaged him.
"All I'm saying is don't worry, deputy Jang. The methods I've thought of won't expire, so the focus should be on stabilizing the alliance. Is there anything I could help with?"
"Oh? Well, I think just showing your face more often, despite being busy, would do wonders. Tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Everyone will be delighted just to have you around."
"Do you think it won't be uncomfortable?"
"No way!"
Yun-cheol vehemently denied.
"Truthfully, were it possible, I'd love to host a massive party. Invite those other organization members we've allied with and flaunt it with vigor. It could draw out unity on a coalition scale. This is something impossible without you! You are the core for everyone! Who would possibly be uncomfortable?"
"Oh, alright... please calm down a bit."
Gyeo-ul signaled for the suddenly fervent Yun-cheol to settle down, pleased with the response.
"If circumstances allow...."
Gyeo-ul pondered.
"Honestly, I've been making a few Christmas preparations myself. I asked for some storage at the DFAC. I used the pay I got last month to buy and stash things like ham, bacon, candy, and snacks—but it feels insufficient... merely around a thousand dollars worth."
A thousand dollars was not a small sum, yet considering the expanded size of the 「Gyeo-ul Alliance」, it was paltry. Counting the members from newly allied groups, the number would well exceed a thousand, leaving less than a dollar per person.
"Well, in that case, let's keep it within the alliance... given you've already prepared,"
Yun-cheol hesitated, his eyes seeking permission unbecoming of his age. It was perhaps this aspect that garnered trust from people. Gyeo-ul consented.
"Then go ahead and set it up. I'm looking forward to it."
"I'll make it as fun a day as possible!"
Yun-cheol was suddenly full of zeal, while Min Wan-gi beside him offered a slightly exasperated smile.
Once the two deputies departed, Kang Young-sun approached. She, as always, had come to deliver a note. Gyeo-ul thanked her warmly, taking the message to read immediately. Nothing about it was worth publicizing. It required confidential reading and handling on the spot.
The saying that the disabled offered their eyes and ears was not just talk. Many, not just Lee Hoon-tae, were lending maximum support. The insights gleaned from rich informational flows from various people proved beneficial.
"Today was uneventful."
Even without significant developments, the daily conversations bore ample fruit.
'I needn't ponder the third combat team setup further.'
An Je-jeong was initially considered as a team leader, the legitimacy of his claimed marine background uncertain, but recognized as one of three courageous voices in Paso Robles when all was uncertain.
However, his usual demeanor proved unsuitable. The man wasn't bad, just not dependable. Notes revealed he indulged in never-ending tales of Paso Robles, often with embellishments.
Community feedback varied: initially engaged, then weary avoidance.
'He isn't a vessel to garner respect and trust.'
Lingering over a part, Gyeo-ul addressed Kang Young-sun, who communicated via notebook and pen.
「My view is that gentleman shouldn't be deployed outside.」
"Yes, unfortunately. Few possess his courage, but it's too bad."
If not a team leader, but a member? It would deeply bruise his pride. His two comrades from Paso Robles had become team leaders, after all. He'd undoubtedly harbor implicit expectations.
"I must find a suitable internal role for him."
「You have an eye for talent.」
"Enough praise; I've heard too much lately."
A simple joke elicited a smile from the elder lady. As Gyeo-ul turned the pages, he found a section highlighted: contents concerning Park Jin-seok.
"This isn't good..."
Jin-seok was physically capable, but the issue lay in casting his standards on others without temperance.
The U. S. Army mandates re-testing in PT failure. Incensed at low success rates compared to Yura's team, Jin-seok took it upon himself.
He scheduled a conditioning plan extending from Christmas Eve through the day itself.
"Direct intervention might seem distasteful; I should convey it through Deputy Jang."
The elder nodded. Indeed, Yun-cheol was well-suited to managing such matters.
「I may be overstepping," the refined handwriting drew the young leader's attention」
「I observed lengthy discussions with the deputies.」
「If you have concerns, I'd like to offer my counsel. Wisdom grows with gathered minds.」
After brief deliberation, Gyeo-ul shared only the front end. To mitigate caution among other factions, coming actions would temporarily halt, dedicating efforts toward internal consolidation.
「A wise choice by all three of you. Yet, being too quiet might not be beneficial.」
"Why's that? Concerned they may underestimate me?"
「Precisely.」
「Let me recount an old tale.」
「I was a child living in Pyongyang and survived the Korean War at sixteen.」
「With the Allied advance, I thought this war was concluding. Then, everything changed with Chinese intervention. The retreat was faster than rumors.」
Minutes passed as Kang Young-sun wrote while Gyeo-ul patiently awaited.
「I later learned the North and China were unprepared to confront the Allies again.」
「Starving and on edge, they descended only after the Allies had relinquished Pyongyang.」
Gyeo-ul perceived her intended lesson.
"You advise against flaunting weakness when vulnerable, correct?"
「Indeed.」
"It's true; the Alliance feels unsettled."
「Therefore, within acceptable and manageable boundaries, exert demands on other factions.」
「Let them conclude as follows: Now that they have yielded to this demand, surely no further asks will follow for a while. Gyeo-ul Alliance stands secure.」
「Making demands reflects a stable alliance interior.」
"That's sound. Thank you for the advice. What demands should I make? Have you any thoughts?"
The elder lady's charming smile emerged once more.
「I had proposed good-hearted individuals from other groups, didn't I?」
"That's an excellent idea."
If approached carefully, offering fair compensation and harvesting slight benefits, others would likely embrace it. Furthermore, it would stabilize relations.
'Deputy Min's workload will increase—he's still not over that cold.'
Contemplating yet another safety net, Gyeo-ul asked Kang Young-sun to compile records on potential recruits.
---------------------------= Author's Note ---------------------------=
1. As mentioned in the previous chapter, elders who've utilized their time wisely are indeed wise—although, they are rarely encountered.
2. Q&A
Q. Regarding revenue sharing rates... do they actually drop when published as paper books?
A. Yes, indeed. In paper publications, the typical split is 6 for authors and 4 for publishers, whereas, for e-books, it stands at 7 for authors and 3 for publishers. This difference arises because paper publications incur additional costs.
For my case, I've been proposed an e-book share of up to 8 for authors and 2 for publishers.
Q. Are Canada and Mexico the only countries the U. S. manages to contact currently?
A. A brief mention of Korea was in this story previously, right? Many communications with countries exist. The problem lies in those nations nearing collapse.
Q. Author, you speak so well. Surely, you've been popular with women.
A. ...?....????
Writing improves mainly when practiced solo.
A writer needs nothing from a 36.5-degree human heater.
This novel is crafted to stealthily rob your time and hinder romance.
On other planets, even with just one update a year, everyone becomes engrossed and ravaged by reading novels, but this hellish planet seems deficient even with daily updates.
Well, to a species as unique as you readers...