Ch.115Yi Kang and Tsarina

“You’re looking at that distant future.”

Baron Ungern is expressing admiration.

This isn’t something to admire. If we don’t prepare for the future right now, Africa and the Middle East will be destroyed just like in the original history.

I need to envision everything one by one in advance.

And prepare for when things don’t go according to plan.

“We must prepare everything in advance. Of course, I won’t just wait for them to make contact. We have our own schedule. The Korean Provisional Government is just one of my cards to make things less troublesome. Even without them, we could liberate the Korean peninsula and form a new government with locals.”

Sometimes I wonder.

What if we formed a government with locals who lived under Japanese oppression, rather than the provisional government that remained in history?

That would be an interesting twist in this grand role.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

“Above all, I need to return to Moscow according to schedule.”

People have feelings.

I’m playing the role of a teacher who only grades papers.

I suspect they’ve piled up documents in my office at the Duma during the few days I’ve been away.

I do have my staff at the Kremlin Palace. But they don’t have the authority to grade in my place.

If it’s urgent, the provisional government can follow me to Moscow by train.

* * *

The Empress of Russia has arrived.

Now the Provisional Government in Harbin had to make a decision.

“I will go myself.”

“Your Highness. How can you meet the Russian Empress alone? I will follow behind you.”

Ahn Changho decided to follow Prince Uichin, who was going alone.

Prince Uichin had come from Japan to Southern Manchuria, and from there to Northern Manchuria, prepared to die at the hands of the Japanese.

Wouldn’t it be futile to be captured in a place like this?

“Wouldn’t it be better for Prime Minister Ahn to remain behind in case something happens?”

“We have the Chairman here, and Woonam (Syngman Rhee) is in America.”

Even if something went wrong here, Syngman Rhee in America would gather Koreans living there and continue the independence movement.

So neither Ahn Changho nor Prince Uichin had anything to fear.

“Very well. Let’s go see this European emperor ourselves.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As dusk fell, Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho secretly left the provisional government building and headed toward the Governor-General’s building.

Unlike Korea under Japanese rule, this place had been developing rapidly with European capitalists pouring in money, despite only being under their control for a few years.

The Governor-General’s building, at the center of this development, was illuminated even at night.

Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho, arriving in front of it, were secretly amazed.

They had been in hiding and hadn’t had a chance to see the Governor-General’s building, so this was their first time.

“I heard the Russian Empress is in the Governor-General’s building.”

“It’s truly magnificent. Is the Korean Governor-General’s building like this too?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve heard Northern Manchuria developed rapidly with foreign capital. We should enter the Governor-General’s building under the pretext of supporting oil exploration and try to meet the governor.”

“Let’s do that.”

Just then.

Suddenly, three or four strong men surrounded Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho.

“Damn it. Did they know about us already?”

Prince Uichin clicked his tongue.

No, he had expected this. The Northern Manchurian Governor would certainly have known about the provisional government’s existence. But why act now after leaving them alone all this time?

Could it be because of the Tsarina?

“You two, you’ll need to come with us quietly.”

From what they could understand with their recently learned Russian, it seemed they weren’t going to be killed, at least.

“It seems we should follow them for now.”

So the two men were taken somewhere with their eyes covered.

And then.

When they arrived at their destination, forcibly brought there, the cloth covering their eyes fell away helplessly.

With their vision restored, Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho saw a woman with Russian soldiers standing on either side of her.

A woman with pale, almost white skin, brilliant blonde hair, and blue eyes that held the calm of a quiet lake.

With an expressionless face, devoid of emotion, smoking a cigarette, she seemed to have already noticed the presence of Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho.

‘So this is the Russian Empress.’

As if she thought they weren’t even worth considering, but would see them once.

Prince Uichin decided to show off the Russian he had practiced, moving his trembling lips with effort.

“It is an honor to meet the Russian Tsar.”

After staring at him and Prime Minister Ahn with a blank expression for a while, the Empress carefully crushed her cigarette in an ashtray and opened her mouth.

“Are you Prince Uichin of Korea? You still have a long way to go in learning Russian.”

That was Korean, with a slightly different accent.

* * *

Hmm, it feels strange to speak Korean after so long.

I’ve been speaking only Russian lately, so this is the first time I’ve spoken directly to a Korean.

To be precise, a historical figure, but a conversation with a Korean for the first time in years.

With only Russians around me, I’ve only practiced Korean a few times orally to avoid forgetting it.

Of course, that was difficult too since this isn’t my original body but Anastasia’s. Anyway, it wasn’t bad.

“Has Your Majesty learned the Korean language?”

“The United States of Greater Russia is a multinational country. There are Koreans here too, so naturally I became interested in their language. I have a hobby of pursuing knowledge, so I learned it. Not because I think of Korea as special.”

Baron Ungern and the Governor-General’s staff, seated in two rows at the desk, are surprised.

I was planning to hide my Korean ability if possible.

But since they were brought in secretly, and it would be awkward to bring in an interpreter… We need to communicate, and Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho’s Russian is poor.

It’s better for me to speak Korean.

My pronunciation is more precise anyway.

“I see.”

“I am busy and don’t have much time to talk with you. Let’s get to the point.”

There’s no need for me to spoon-feed them.

It would be troublesome if they got the impression that I regard Korea as special.

“Please help us gain our independence.”

“You ask for help with independence without any context? Surely you don’t mean the independence of the Korean peninsula, which was formally united with Japan through a treaty signed by the imperial court itself?”

“That is correct.”

Whether embarrassed or indignant about having to ask for help, Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho frowned and gritted their teeth.

Yes. If you’ve come for help, I need to see how you ask for it.

I tilted my head slightly and asked.

“Is this what millions of Koreans living on the peninsula want?”

“Koreans have never once desired Japanese rule. The seal was pressed on the treaty document only by their bayonets and traitors.”

“I see. Yes, that can happen. That’s the position of a weak nation. But tell me, so what?”

At my words, Prince Uichin’s eyes widened.

Did he think I would help without question? Or did he expect a different reaction?

“Even in Moscow, I have ears and know. Wasn’t the Korean imperial family itself a family of traitors from the beginning?”

“!!”

The reason I knew this and still observed was because the Korea to be liberated should not become the Korean Empire again.

No matter how many times I think about it, even if Prince Uichin dedicates his life to Korean liberation.

The House of Yi is not the answer.

From the beginning, the declaration of the Korean Empire wasn’t a proper founding of an empire.

Korea didn’t defeat the Qing Dynasty with its own power and declare an empire. After Japan defeated the Qing, they fled to the Russian legation, then returned and declared an empire.

“If the imperial family itself is a family of traitors, isn’t that all the same? And it doesn’t even seem to be fabricated.”

I pressed Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho.

We need to be clear about right and wrong.

Personally, I don’t have much affection for the Korean royal family either.

The Korea we liberate should not have the Korean royal family becoming monarchs again.

“Of course we cannot deny it, but His Highness has come here to rectify all of that.”

I’m sure.

“I rose up myself and completely defeated the communists, soaking the earth with red blood fitting for their red flags. The communists I killed myself would fill trenches.”

“We’ve heard about that.”

“At least I stood against injustice. But your so-called House of Yi clings to Japan. I’ve heard that even at this very moment, they’re collaborating with Japan, which is oppressing you?”

Let’s see what comes out of his mouth.

I kept pressing.

Well, Prince Uichin. What will you say?

Since this person’s history has changed, I’m secretly expecting something.

“I am aware of that.”

“And yet you want to liberate Korea so that your Korean royal family can rule it again?”

“An independent Korea will not be an empire. Our royal family has already lost public support in Korea. Rather, after independence, I plan to personally punish the House of Yi and other traitors. This is because I want to correct the wrongs committed by the Korean imperial family, even if I have to do it alone.”

Good. That’s acceptable. Fortunately, it won’t be the empire of the House of Yi.

But that’s not enough. Russia isn’t a country where I can wage war just because I want to.

Above all, as the Tsar of this country, I cannot arbitrarily let Russians die.

While we’ve already internally discussed backstabbing Japan, from the provisional government’s perspective, they need to appeal to human sympathy.

So they need to convince me and those around me.

Not just Prince Uichin.

Ahn Changho too. Both of them fought against Japan, and they’re here because history changed due to me.

But the provisional government is still just words, with no military power and not ruling even an inch of land on the Korean peninsula.

“During the Russo-Japanese War, Russia was in turmoil and conceded victory to Japan. But this time is different. After the Great War and civil war, our elite army of millions can quickly overturn Southern Manchuria and the Korean peninsula, and liberate your Korea in no time.”

“Russia is a great power, so that must be true.”

It’s just that Russia alone would have difficulty landing in Japan.

Liberating the Korean peninsula, connected by land, shouldn’t be difficult.

Can Japan handle millions of ground troops pouring down from Northern Manchuria via the Trans-Siberian Railway during the Second Sino-Japanese War?

Japan would immediately lose the Korean peninsula.

Looking at the current situation, it seems Renya Mutaguchi will defend Southern Manchuria, which means victory is practically guaranteed.

From Russia’s perspective, defeating Japan on land is much easier than for America, which needs to fight them at sea.

“Very well. Let’s say we help. If our Russian men fight Japan and shed blood for you Koreans, what do we gain? This country already has abundant resources, land, and population. What do we get for shedding blood for you?”

“The preconditions are very different, Your Majesty.”

Different preconditions?

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t Russia already considering war with Japan?”

How can he make that judgment?

How could Korea have such information?

Only a very few know that we’ll backstab Japan later.

“What are you talking about? Russia and Japan are allies now. Why do you say we’re considering war?”

“You’re allies only because you needed time to reorganize Russia internally and gain hegemony in Europe, so you accepted Japan’s extended hand, isn’t that right?”

Oh? Let’s hear what he has to say.

“Continue.”

“Above all, you supported the Zhili government under the pretext of supporting China’s rightful government.”

This time it was Ahn Changho.

He seems to be trying to supplement Prince Uichin’s shortcomings.

Looking at this, I wonder if they have a lord-vassal relationship.

“That’s just building a pretext. The major powers in the Anti-Comintern Pact are all colonial empires. Why would we support colonies?”

“That very Anti-Comintern Pact is why you must help us.”

“Why?”

I’m from the internet generation of the 21st century.

You can’t convince me with ordinary wordplay.

“Your Majesty must destroy communist countries to maintain your regime and legitimacy. Isn’t that right?”

“How dare a mere prince of a fallen nation speak so rudely to our Empress!”

Baron Ungern finally rose from his seat.

Yes. He speaks well.

Seeing our Ungern get so angry, he must have touched a nerve.

Wait. Does this person understand Korean?

Ah, it must be the influence of the Asiatic Cavalry Division.

If I were the real Anastasia, I probably would have reacted with anger too.

I raised my hand to stop Ungern from pouncing on Prince Uichin and Ahn Changho.

“That’s enough, General Ungern. Let’s hear them out.”

“Hmph.”

Ungern finally sat down. And as if he had been waiting, Prince Uichin spoke again.

“Therefore, when Germany was communized, Your Majesty created the Anti-Comintern Pact.”

“Yes. Your words are correct. But you’re still going in circles. Why should we wage war against Japan and help you?”

Try to convince me.

As the Russian Tsar, I can’t just support you freely.

“Since before the Russo-Japanese War, Japan has supported communists and revolutionaries within Russia. In other words, Japan is a communist-collaborating country that supported the Communist Party. From Russia’s perspective, isn’t Japan a country that must be dealt with, while also avenging the Russo-Japanese War?”

You know that much?

Prince Uichin. This person must have gathered quite a bit of information while in Japan.

Or perhaps he was investigating this from the beginning, thinking of receiving Russian help.

Either way, he’s no ordinary person.

If that’s true, there’s sufficient reason to strike Japan.

And a Korean prince himself has stated the justification.

But still. If you ask whether that reason leads to liberating Korea, that’s a different matter.

“You have a broad perspective. I suppose that’s why you came to meet me. Yes. So? What benefit does Russia gain from liberating you? To be frank, we could defeat Japan and then make both the Korean peninsula and Japan puppet states of Russia, or even annex them completely.”

The State Duma would think that way.

Why specifically liberate Korea? they would ask.

After defeating Japan, we could just annex both Japan and Korea together.

If Japan falls into American or British hands, we could annex Korea even more easily.

Their mindset is different from mine, who was a Korean in my previous life.

“If you wage war against Japan and liberate Korea, Korea will become a strong ally protecting Russia’s Far East in Asia.”

“You’ll become an ally protecting Russia’s Far East?”

How remarkable.

You’ve hit exactly what I want, but as Tsar, I can’t just believe those words.

Do you think you can convince the Russian Tsar with such words?