21st Century Goguryeo

January 4th, 2024, 10:30 (New China Time: 09:30)

X-15 bunkers, Beijing, New China (Operation Chamber)

After thinking all morning, Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao, who received President Wang Jing-wi's order to attack the Koreans with all of their plasma bombs, convened all of his staff and held a meeting about when and where to use the three remaining plasma bombs.

"Chief of Staff! Using all the plasma bombs that we have is a hasty decision given the unpredictable nature of the war situation in the future."

General Chief of Staff, Kao Wei-kwang, who has a powerful personality, took the lead in expressing his disapproval. As a result, a shadow was cast on General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao's face.

"Who doesn't know that? But isn't it the president's order?"

"Even though it is an order, if he entrusted the war to our chief of staff, shouldn't it go according to the plan we have established?" The words of General Chief of Staff Kao Wei-kwang caused Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao's brows to tremble slightly. This was because his words were not incorrect.

"The South Korean military has threatened us with large-scale retaliation attacks on various major cities in three days, but as we all know, the South Korean military will never actually carry them out. However, if we use strategic weapons first, the Korean military will launch a large-scale attack on major cities for certain. Chief of Staff! I sincerely say this. Our plasma bomb must only be used as a deterrent to the Korean military's use of strategic weapons."

Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao frowned slightly at General Chief of Staff Kao Wei-kwang's continued objections, sighed deeply, and replied quietly, "I agree with you. But there is nothing I can do about that."

"Chief of Staff! If you're a true soldier, you should not follow the wrong orders," stated General Chief of Staff Kao Wei-kwang unequivocally.

Chief of staff, Yuan Xiaoqiao, shook his head out of frustration.

"Phew! Then you should go and tell him yourself," expressed General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao as he sighed in frustration.

"Okay. I'll go and tell him by myself," replied General Chief of Staff Kao Wei-kwang as he stood up.

The chief of Staff who was taken aback, approached and stopped him. "You? Are you trying to go to the president? Stop it. Don't scratch it for nothing and just follow the order."

"Chief of Staff!" General Chief of Staff Kao Wei-kwang said again powerfully.

"Huh? What's wrong with you? Sit down right now!"

He sat helplessly as the Chief of Staff reprimanded him, admitting that he couldn't do anything about it. After that, the Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao said, looking around at the staff sitting on both sides of the long table. "Is there anyone else who thinks the same way as the General Chief of Staff?"

When the Chief of Staff asked the question, no one from the staff dared to raise their hands or express their disapproval. As so, everyone appeared to accept President Wang Jing-wi's order.

"General Chief of Staff! As you can see, the rest of the staff appears to agree with the president's order. So, rather than continuing on your own, it is better to give up and join us."

General Chief of Staff Kao Wei-kwang bowed his head slightly as a reply.

"Good! The chief of operations will be in charge of the plan for the use of plasma bombs."

Instead of choosing General Chief of Staff Kao Wei-kwang, who had shown his disapproval, he chose the chief of operations, Guo Jingfei, to create the plan.

"Yes, I will."

"The president has asked me to do it as soon as possible, so get the plan ready and report it to me by 5 p.m. today."

"Yes, I'll do that."

* * *

January 4th, 2024, 14:30 (New China Time: 13:30)

X-15 bunkers, Beijing, New China (Operation Chamber)

After lunchtime, Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao, who was in his office reviewing the documents that had been left unsettled, received a phone call on his personal smartphone.

"Hello?"

"It's Jang Yue Fung."

"Minister of Defense! Where the hell are you?"

Jang Yue Fung, the Minister of Defense, disappeared three days ago after being severely insulted by President Wang Jing-wi in the operation room where the staff were gathered.

"You don't need to worry about that. I heard that you've been ordered by the president to use all of the plasma bombs."

"Yes, that's right. I tried to discuss it with you, but I couldn't reach you."

"I'm sorry. How did it happen?"

"Where are you?"

"I'll tell you, but are you really going to use all the plasma bombs this time?"

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it, right? It is the order of the president…" General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao trailed off at the end of his sentence because he knew it was an unreasonable order.

"Chief of Staff! Do you believe that the president's mental state is stable right now?"

When he was asked that out of the blue, General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao replied, slightly surprised, "What does that mean?"

"I mean it literally. We are currently at war with Korea, so it is not normal for a country's leader to just drink all day."

"I don't think it's normal, but I believe it's due to stress."

"Stress? Who doesn't get stressed? Isn't he the country's leader? I believe his actions of drinking and speaking gibberish during the war will only endanger and jeopardize the entire New China. Am I mistaken?"

General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao stayed silent for a while before replying, "Well, I agree with you."

General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao was also quite dissatisfied with President Wang Jing-wi's recent actions. However, as a soldier, he turned a blind eye and faithfully performed his duties.

"I'm glad you think so, Chief of Staff!"

"Yes, go ahead."

The Minister of Defense Jang Yue Fung spoke in a low voice, "I want to ask you for a difficult favor."

"What? What kind of favor?"

"That's what I'm talking about…"

Jang Yue Fung, the Minister of Defense, had finally brought up the purpose of his phone call. Their phone call went on for another 30 minutes.

* * *

January 5th, 2024, 02:00 (Kurdistan time: January 4th, 2024, 20:00)

Outside Husen Abad, Republic of Kurdistan

On the outskirts of the northern tip of Husen Abad, where the thick darkness was covering the area, a dozen armored vehicles were moving with their lights turned off while dust sprayed from the wheels. They were the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Company, which had been in charge of guarding in Husen Abad for a while and were now on their way to join the battalion headquarter base according to the unit movement order received from the superior unit the day before.

<Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!>

Hahajo infantry aboard the C-23P-M basalt mobile combat armored vehicle felt like dying as they quickly maneuvered through the bumpy unpaved road with a rough engine sound.

"Oh my god!" Private Yun Ho-jin, the 312 armored vehicle's youngest infantryman, continued to vomit due to motion sickness.

"Hey! Haven't you gotten used to it yet?" said Corporal Na Han-jin, who was sitting next to him and patted him on his back.

"I'm sorry. Every time I get into a car, I get motion sickness. I'm sorry."

"Didn't you take motion sickness medication?"

"I had it before boarding."

"And you're still like this?"

"I'm sorry."

"Ya! You were the same way when you were a private. You were dying every time you rode in an armored vehicle, didn't you? Sergeant Kim?" Corporals Na Han-jin and Gwak Young-hwan teased Sergeant Kim Sung-ho, who was sitting next to them.

Sergeant Kim Sung-ho, on the other hand, remained silent with a blank expression on his face.

"Huh? Sergeant Kim! Are your thoughts somewhere else?"

Even though he patted Sergeant Kim Sung-ho on the shoulder, he couldn't get his attention. So, he waved his hand in front of Sergeant's face, and it was only then that Sergeant Kim Sung-ho came to his senses and shook his hand with a frown.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Oh! Even when we called out to you, you didn't reply. Just for God's sake, what are you thinking about?"

"Don't worry, it is just hurting my heart."

Sergeant Kim Sung-ho bowed his head and folded his arms as if everything bothered him.

"Oh! I see."

Corporal Gwak Young-hwan, who had only just noticed something, approached Sergeant Kim Sung-ho and spoke quietly, "Didn't you meet her at lunch? I assumed you went out to meet her."

"I told you not to worry about me."

"Oh! I'm only asking because I'm worried about you, but you're being so mean."

"At times like this, just being beside me is helping me. You punk!"

"Don't be like this and just tell me. Did you say goodbye?"

Sergeant Kim Sung-ho, who went out for a short while at lunchtime with the platoon leader's permission, met Sarin and said his goodbyes.

They couldn't have a deep conversation because of the language barrier, but they were able to understand each other through body language and a few English words.

When he returned to his unit after talking with her for 30 minutes, he was depressed because he knew he wouldn't be able to see her again until he was discharged from the military.

"Hey, you! I'm telling you I'm not feeling well. Will you continue to question me in this manner?"

"Ugh! Got it. I am just asking because I am worried…"

Corporal Gwak Young-hwan pouted his lips, avoiding the stare of Sergeant Kim Sung-ho, who was staring at him as if firing a laser beam. When Sergeant Kim Sung-ho felt he was being too harsh, he spoke quietly so that no one could hear him, "I told her I would be back as soon as I was discharged."

"Oh! Really?"

"Sure!"

"Then what did she say?"

"She said she would be waiting for me."

"Wow! Isn't this the birth of an international couple? Haha."

"Hey, be quiet!"

"Haha, congratulations!"

"But it just made me feel worse."

"Why?"

"I don't know why I feel this way!"

"Sergeant Kim! Cheer up! Won't you be released in five months? You'll get to meet her again soon." Corporal Kwak Young-hwan cheered him up.

"Is it just five months?" Sergeant Kim Sung-ho, who was frustrated, smiled and joked with Corporal Kwak Young-hwan.

"Oh! Isn't it better than me who has a year left?"

"How can you keep track of the months when you're still a corporal?"

Sergeant Hong Han-ho, the squad leader who was sitting across them, giggled and intervened in the conversation.

Sergeant Hong Han-ho was supposed to be discharged this month. However, his discharge had been postponed indefinitely due to troop dispatch and the transition to the wartime system.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Squad leader!"

* * *

January 5th, 2024, 09:00

National Medical Center, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Namju (VIP ward 305 Special Room)

Managers Namgoong-won and Lee Ja-sung, who were rescued within four days and moved to the National Medical Center around 5 a.m., immediately had a thorough examination to check their health condition.

The two managers, who had undergone a total of 300 detailed tests over the past two hours, were moved to the VIP special room to rest. Fortunately, the test results showed no abnormalities.

Manager Lee Ja-sung was conscious at the time of rescue and thus allowed visitors after being transferred to the VIP special room. However, Manager Namgoong-won was not allowed visitors because he had not yet regained consciousness.

Manager Lee Hye-jin, who had been waiting at the National Medical Center since the day before, was the first to visit Manager Lee Ja-sung.

"How are you doing? How do you feel?"

"Oh! I'm feeling good. I've always been strong. Haha." Manager Lee Ja-sung replied with a slightly awkward smile, feeling sorry for manager Lee Hye-jin.

"That's a relief. Get well soon."

"I'm sorry. Won is still unconscious and that it is only me who's conscious…" Manager Lee Ja-sung expressed his apologies by sweeping his hair back.

"Oh, don't say that. It's a relief that you are fine."

"But I really hoped that it was the opposite. It may have been two days after being buried—just before Won lost consciousness, he told me a lot about the things that he had done with you." Manager Lee Ja-sung told her in detail about the situation at that time. After some time, a nurse opened the door and said in an urgent voice, "Hey, Namgoong-won has regained consciousness."