I Will Stage A Coup D’état

As the news spread that the Axis powers were struggling, the Korean intellectuals who had been advocating for joining the Axis and expanding territory felt mixed emotions.

To them, the fascists who had rapidly expanded their empires with a string of successes were a model they definitely wanted to follow.

“Look at Germany, steadily expanding its empire without wavering under the Fuhrer’s orderly leadership. What an ideal nation this is.”

“If we can’t do as well as Germany, we should at least do as well as Italy. Look at Duce. At least that man knows how to bet boldly and take big bites.”

They clearly believed so.

But now, Italy, the second-in-command of the Axis that they had endlessly praised, was shaken, and Germany was facing the danger of a two-front war, let alone conquering the Soviet Union.

Was fascism really not the right path?

They felt confused.

Was Lee Sung Joon, who had desperately opposed expansion, arguing that fascism would ruin the country, right?

The intellectuals didn’t want to admit that fact.

They immediately engaged in self-rationalization.

“The Axis powers seem to be at a disadvantage not because their strategy is wrong, but because Korea is on the opposite side of the scale. If Korea had sided with the Axis, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

That wasn’t entirely wrong either.

Without Korea, could the Soviet Union have endured 1941 so well?

Without Korea, could Britain have so easily gained naval supremacy in the Mediterranean?

It sounded plausible.

“So, Lee Sung Joon is wrong. How does it make sense to join hands with the West, who are trying to take away what we have, instead of the Axis powers who can give us many things?”

Of course, they didn’t openly make such remarks.

They only quietly talked about it in their own gatherings or places like teahouses.

It was a clear change from the early days of Lee Sung Joon’s regime.

The Defense Security Command sent me a trend report compiling the sentiments of these intellectuals.

“These guys are still far from coming to their senses. Tsk tsk.”

The Korean Empire also has a long way to go.

Despite using such excellent examples to explain that fascism ruins a country, they still couldn’t understand, which was beyond frustrating.

“How can you not see the flow of the times!”

“Pardon?”

The words slipped out.

Ahem.

I made an embarrassed expression.

Anyway, I felt the need to teach those scholars who couldn’t see the flow of the times.

“You there.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“I don’t think this will do. Every morning broadcast, movie screening, and workplace training session insert a 10-minute propaganda broadcast explaining how Germany was ruined by fascism and make them listen to it.”

“I will obey.”

This is the good thing about dictatorial power.

If they don’t understand, you have the power to shove it into their ears until they do.

“Come to think of it, how are the radio music broadcasts these days? I heard they’re very popular even within our empire.”

“Ah, yes. Originally, we were broadcasting for 1 hour 5 times a week, but now we’ve increased it to 2 hours 7 times a week.”

“Is that so? Is it broadcasting now?”

“Ah, I’ll tune it in for you.”

Captain Kim Jong-Gil manipulated the radio.

Soon, along with lively background music, the singing voices of young girls could be heard.

This song isn’t familiar?

Where did that song I used to listen to go?

“Isn’t this a march song?”

“Well, it is a rather catchy song…”

These days, they said they sing love songs.

As expected, love songs are the ultimate form of songs in this era too.

Hmm.

Soldiers and love stories.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind.

Come to think of it, the Korean Empire was lacking in that.

“Maxim. We need that.”

“Ma, Maxim? Are you talking about the machine gun?”

Ha. Have you ever seen such an ignorant person?

A sigh of pity came out naturally.

Maxim is the alpha and omega of soldiers, their soul and lifeblood.

To not know such a great civilization.

I decided to bestow the blessings of civilization upon this sad empire.

After all, I can provide that much welfare to the soldiers I dragged to the battlefield.

“Anyway, there’s something like that. You can go now.”

I called for the quick-witted civilian official Lee Kyung-ho.

“Did you call for me, Your Excellency?”

“I need you to do something.”

“Just give me the order, and I will handle anything.”

“I’d like to create a magazine.”

“I will acquire a magazine company.”

“You can handle that, but the content is important. We need a lot of photographers and female models.”

“Well, what kind of magazine is it?”

I explained to Lee Kyung-ho about Maxim, the symbol of the great civilization I know.

Lee Kyung-ho made a perplexed expression for a moment, then nodded.

“I will prepare it. However, Your Excellency, I think it will be difficult to hire models in their 20s.”

“Why is that?”

“Don’t they all become married women as soon as they enter their early 20s?”

Ah!

I overlooked the specificity of this era.

“You can handle that well on your own.”

Lee Kyung-ho would handle it skillfully.

A week later, Lee Kyung-ho brought a freshly printed, lively magazine and presented it to me.

It had a tacky vibe like an adult magazine from the 80s, but it still looked decent.

“I see you recruited a lot of married women, more than I expected. You must have had a hard time.”

“Well, I brought in first-class cortesans and took pictures of them.”

What?

No, come to think of it, in this era, there was no one who would readily show their naked body other than prostitutes.

In the first place, in this era, even actresses were treated as high-class prostitutes in The Korean Empire.

“Well, you did well.”

Whether they’re prostitutes or not, that’s not what’s important.

The key is whether the photos are arousing.

The composition of the photos was tacky, but they must have selected beautiful women to shoot, as the actresses’ faces looked decent.

It was a solid 5 out of 10.

But it was a good start.

“From now on, the name of this magazine will be Maekju. Since Maekju must be supplied to the entire military, make sure there are no setbacks in the supply.”

“I will obey.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Looking at Maekju, there was a bit of a disappointing taste.

The most annoying thing was the girls’ hairstyles.

Looking at the tacky, trimmed classic hairstyles, my aroused feelings naturally cooled down.

“Try styling the girls’ hair in a more Western way. You know what I mean?”

One good thing about being a dictator is that you don’t need detailed explanations.

If you roughly say it like this, they understand perfectly.

“Yes. I will take care of it.”

I sent Lee Kyung-ho away and had Jong-Gil and the soldiers around him look at the draft of Maekju.

Sparks flew from their eyes as they looked at it.

If someone tried to turn the page on their own,

“Ah, Director. You’re still appreciating it, aren’t you?”

Rank or whatever didn’t matter.

I was convinced this would be effective.

Wait a minute.

Do we really need to use only Korean actresses?

Can’t our Maekju become a big brand like Maxim in the world?

“Connect me to the Defense Security Command.”

I had Colonel Lee Jeong-yun find out if there were any Jewish or Russian girls in the country who could be recruited as call girls.

“Well, if the First Lady finds out…”

No.

I’m telling you, it’s not something I’m trying to do to get them in my bed.

“First, find out.”

And three days later, a list arrived on my desk.

“Oh, oh.”

There were prettier girls than I expected.

There were quite a few who looked better than our geishas.

“You.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Contact these girls and find out if they can start working.”

“Your Excellency. Are you sure it’s really okay?”

Ah, you bastard.

Really, I’m telling you it’s not.

Instead of answering, I kicked Colonel Lee Jeong-yun’s shin.

“You. Just do what you’re told to do.”

“I, I will obey.”

And the photos taken by the new girls arrived on my desk.

Now…This is what I was talking about!

“From now on, make sure to print 200,000 copies per month.”

I presented an ambitious goal.

Since we started anyway, my goal was to dominate the Asian adult magazine market.

Yes, this was war.

Click click click click.

The first edition of Maekju was supplied to the military as soon as it was printed.

The military’s reaction was absurdly positive, as expected.

“Long live the great Your Excellency Lee Sung Joon!”

“Ah, Maekju!. I’m choked up by Your Excellency’s passionate love.”

“Sob sob.”

As the soldiers’ reactions were so passionate, the military requested to quickly increase the supply of Maekju.

“I think we can give incentives to our actresses. Make sure to pay them generously.”

“I will do so.”

Maekju began to rise rapidly.

Eventually, there were even cases of Korean soldiers dispatched overseas sharing it with foreign soldiers.

“Your Excellency. I had no idea Maekju would be this popular.”

That was the same for me.

Even though we increased it to 200,000 copies, they were screaming at the site that there weren’t enough copies.

Now, there were friends in the civilian sector who were secretly taking Maekju, they said.

“Well, can’t we just increase the number of printers?”

“There are restrictions on hiring personnel in unnecessary occupations such as printing under the wartime employment law.”

“Is that so?”

I immediately revised the regulations.

“Maekju is now part of the military supply.”

Now that Maekju was designated as a military supply, there would be no setbacks in production.

The era of erotic paintings is over now.

It was now the Era of Porn mags!

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