Ch.255The Korean Independence War

# The Constantinople Treaty Organization

The Constantinople Treaty Organization had to deliver its declaration of war to Togo Shigenori, who was waiting in Moscow for the Tsar’s response.

Foreign Minister Litvinov, who received the contents of the Constantinople Treaty Organization’s declaration of war, summoned Togo Shigenori of the Japanese delegation, who had been virtually confined and unaware of the outside situation.

Togo Shigenori had noticed the presence of White Army soldiers monitoring the delegation for some time now.

Even that alone had been hinting at some bad news.

Being summoned like this surely meant nothing good.

Feeling extremely tense, when Togo Shigenori met with Russian Foreign Minister Litvinov, he sensed something was wrong from Litvinov’s coldly hardened expression.

After staring at Togo for a long while, Litvinov carefully began to speak.

“Japan has committed barbaric acts by invading China under the pretext of being Asia’s elder brother, massacring countless Chinese people by falsely labeling them as communists to deceive the eyes of the Anti-Comintern Pact nations, claiming revenge for the Emperor’s death. Despite protests from Britain and France, under the pretext of protecting the south from communists, they’ve invaded Southeast Asian colon- Ah. Anyway.”

Togo Shigenori momentarily had to doubt his own ears.

He hoped it was just an auditory hallucination born from anxiety that a new front might open.

But Litvinov, as if mocking Togo’s hopes, continued his words with a rather cold face.

This time with genuine annoyance.

His face contorted as if looking down on the other country in diplomatic relations.

“I’ll be frank. Since you have repeatedly ignored our Tsar’s gracious proposals, our Constantinople Treaty Organization finds it difficult to treat Japan as a civilized nation any longer. So I won’t waste breath adding flourishes or making grandiose declarations of war. I’ll simply deliver this treaty organization’s declaration of war for you to relay to ‘Chief’ Tojo Hideki at Imperial Headquarters. As of this moment, the Constantinople Treaty Organization and Japan have entered a state of war.”

“The Constantinople Treaty Organization’s declaration of war? I’ve heard that Europe formed an international organization, but why declare war on us? Even if you don’t accept the mediation proposal, to go as far as war—”

Togo stopped mid-sentence, unable to help feeling intimidated.

Litvinov’s face bore an expression as if looking at something repulsive rather than human.

Of course, he understood to some extent given his country’s rampaging actions. But still, was Europe really jumping back into war?

“Well, they’re probably already advancing southward. Just as your country did in the Russo-Japanese War, we’re simply attacking first and declaring war afterward.”

“!!”

They had already begun attacking?

This couldn’t be happening. If so, the China Expeditionary Army, which was Japan’s main land force, would be doomed.

“Tsk.”

Litvinov, seemingly deciding Togo wasn’t even worth talking to anymore, left the embassy.

It meant they would no longer treat Japan as a civilized nation or its people as civilized. And from now on, Japan would have to fight all of Europe.

It was already difficult enough fighting against America, and now Europe was joining in too.

And rumors suggested that Russian forces, armed with weapons that could erase cities, would pour in via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The mere thought was chilling.

Japan didn’t even have proper tanks yet. Though they had received some Russian tank technology through technical exchanges, these were outdated compared to European tanks.

Considering all of Europe, how many tanks would they face?

Togo Shigenori had to give up trying to calculate.

* * *

Provisional Government of the Balhae Republic in Harbin

The Balhae Republic’s provisional government also heard the news of Europe’s declaration of war against Japan.

When Yi U and the provisional government heard that Russia—and the entire European continent including former colonial empires—had declared war on Japan, they finally felt the moment had arrived.

The time to reclaim their homeland, to finally recapture the Korean peninsula with the army they had built through years of bitter determination and patient preparation.

There was no need to hide anymore.

“The time has finally come.”

Yi U, who had inherited the position as the Korean focal point of the Balhae Republic from his father Yi Kang, declared war on Japan alongside Prime Minister Ahn Changho with the Balhae Republic’s provisional government army.

“Japan has colonized and invaded neighboring countries, committing violent acts without hesitation. The Chinese mainland is stained with blood, and they are consuming themselves by countless battles with America at sea. However, unable to stand by any longer, many European powers have finally declared war on Japan, so it’s time for us to reclaim our country! We will quickly advance south through Manchuria and cross the Yalu River to recapture the Korean homeland! We will not be shameful ancestors who pass down the pain of losing our country to our descendants! We will save thirty million Koreans suffering under Japanese oppression!”

The soldiers of Balhae, who had been trained by Russian advisors and established as the regular army of the Balhae Republic, shed hot tears at Yi U’s declaration.

With declarations of war from the world’s leading nations, Japan found itself at war with the entire world.

If not now, when would they ever reclaim their country?

The Balhae Army, which had long been part of the Russian Far Eastern Army in Northern Manchuria, finally became independent and raised the Balhae Taegeuk flag high.

“Now let’s return to our homeland! Our land! Our home!”

Waaaaaah!

With a thunderous cheer in Harbin Square, the Balhae Republic formally declared war.

We, representing thirty million Koreans and their government, respectfully congratulate Russia, the United States, Great Britain, the Danube Federation, and other empires on their declaration of war against Japan. This is the most effective means of crushing Japan and recreating East Asia. We hereby issue the following statement:

1. The entire Korean people have already joined the anti-aggression front and, as a combat unit, declare war on Japan.

2. We reaffirm that the 1910 Annexation Treaty and all unequal treaties are invalid. We also respect the legitimate vested interests of anti-aggression nations in Korea.

3. We will fight to the death to achieve final victory in completely expelling the Japanese from Korea, China, and the Western Pacific.

4. We solemnly refuse to recognize any Chinese regime created and protected by Japan.

5. We firmly assert each article of the Rome Declaration (the Treaty Organization’s decolonization declaration) and apply it to realize Korean independence, thereby anticipating the final victory of the democratic front.

Yi U, Head of the Korean Imperial Family, Ahn Changho, Prime Minister of the Balhae Republic Provisional Government, Cho So-ang, Foreign Minister.

Simultaneously with Balhae’s declaration of war against Japan, the Balhae Republic was formally recognized as a sovereign state by the Tsar of Russia. With Russia’s recognition, all member states of the Constantinople Treaty Organization also recognized Balhae, allowing it to join the Treaty nations specifically for the war against Japan.

Finally, as the Russian White Army, which had crossed over on the Trans-Siberian Railway, began advancing south after joining the Far Eastern Army in Mongolia and Northern Manchuria, the 80,000-strong Balhae Army also mobilized.

The Balhae Army moved quickly southward under the command of Commander-in-Chief Ji Cheong-cheon, led by Lee Beom-seok, Kim Jwa-jin, and Kim Kyung-cheon.

“China is like hell, but it’s nice and peaceful here~ Huh? Hey. Hey hey. What’s that?”

“What? Oh. Ohh? Why are Russian troops…? And what’s that Korean flag?”

“Pre-prepare for battle! Damn it, where are the weapons?”

Uraaaaaaah!

Mutaguchi Renya’s Southern Manchurian Army, which had been idle for some time playing the role of shogun in Southern Manchuria, couldn’t properly resist when the combined forces of the White Army and Balhae Army suddenly poured in.

The reasons for the Southern Manchurian Army’s neutralization were quite complex.

Although their training level wasn’t particularly low despite being idle, as they were the main force that had defeated the 2 million-strong Chinese Warlord Coalition Army, the Russian declaration of war hadn’t yet reached Japan, so they were caught by surprise from what they thought was an ally. Additionally, the China Expeditionary Army had taken all weapons from Southern Manchuria to finish operations across China, leaving them poorly armed.

Claims that the China Expeditionary Army’s Southern Manchurian forces had the latest Russian weapons became meaningless as even those weapons had been transferred to the China Expeditionary Army.

Naturally, Southern Manchuria was subdued by the White Army and Balhae Army without resistance, and Southern Manchurian forces everywhere became prisoners without even putting up a proper fight.

And then…

“Wh-what! Why are Russians here!”

Mutaguchi Renya, as usual sleeping with women on both arms, was captured naked.

* * *

Gyeongseong, Korean Government-General

The declaration of war against Japan by the Balhae Republic government, which could be considered Korea’s provisional government.

“Wh-when did those Korean bastards raise such an army!”

“Damn it, we can’t stop them!”

“Kill the Japanese bastards and liberate our homeland!”

The Japanese forces that should have stopped the Balhae Army at the Yalu River were too few in number to prevent their crossing.

This news was enough to incite Koreans living under Japanese oppression throughout the peninsula.

Although Japan had somewhat relaxed its policy of “Japan and Korea as One Body” to integrate Korea into Japan, as the war intensified, oppression in Korea increased again, and friction between Koreans and Japanese grew.

In the midst of this, the Balhae Republic’s Korean independence war and declaration of war against Japan, appearing like an oasis in the desert, stimulated various intellectual classes and even scholars who had been fading into nostalgia for the past.

Among them, the first to move were scholars who longed for the former Korean Empire, which hadn’t even resembled a proper empire.

Seeing newspaper front pages with photos of Yi U declaring war in Harbin and properly equipped soldiers in Harbin Square, scholars planned an uprising underground.

“The true master of Korea has finally raised an army in Russia, so we as loyal subjects must rightfully support him. Let’s gather righteous armies to welcome the Emperor.”

“Let’s do that!”

The scholars, who were already old and waiting for death, tried to gather righteous armies to welcome the Emperor who had raised foreign troops to reclaim the country. However, as Japanese surveillance intensified, they were arrested by Japanese police.

They were executed in the streets by the Korean Government-General as an example.

“These crazy Josenjings! How dare they plot rebellion!”

“Hahahahaha! The world powers like Russia, Austria, and England are already coming by sea and land to capture you Japanese bastards! Our Emperor has also raised a great army in response, and now he will reclaim our country and sweep away all you Japanese bastards!”

Despite being arrested for planning an uprising and facing death, the scholars laughed maniacally, which provoked the military police.

“These crazy Josenjing bastards! We need to show what happens when you resist the Empire. Kill them all!”

“May Heaven help our Emperor! Long live Emperor! Long live the Korean Empire!”

Even as their bodies became riddled with bullets from the military police, the scholars died envisioning the future of their homeland that would someday be liberated.

“Long live the Emperor…”

Finally, after the last scholar died, the Japanese police turned their guns on the Korean people.

“Did you see! If you Korean people refuse to become subjects of the Empire, you will die like these crazy old men! Like those Chinese bastards!”

The Japanese military police and regular police tried to intimidate the Koreans, but somehow the Koreans’ eyes were different from before.

Koreans who had been living in despair and darkness after losing their country gained hope from the news that their compatriots were coming to liberate their homeland. They were enraged seeing the scholars who died attempting an uprising.

Although the scholars who dreamed of restoring the Yi Dynasty empire didn’t gain much support from Koreans who had abandoned their attachment to the imperial family, their public execution and the Balhae Republic’s declaration of war against Japan ignited the dying embers of anti-Japanese struggle in Korean hearts.

“Do they still think it’s their world? I can’t take it anymore!”

“Comrades, our army is coming to liberate our homeland! Let’s recapture Seoul to welcome them!”

Uprisings broke out across the Korean peninsula, starting in Seoul, led mainly by intellectuals excluding pro-Japanese intellectuals who had advocated for autonomy.

And the same thing happened in Qing China.

“How dare you be disrespectful to the Son of Heaven! The Son of Heaven does not bow his head to mere Japanese administrators!”

“Gack!”

Aisin Gioro Puyi, the king of Qing China who called himself the Son of Heaven, killed a disrespectful Japanese administrator by striking him with his cane and started an independence war.

“Although I’ve been called a puppet monarch, it was to prevent the hellish scenes occurring in southern China! But I can no longer endure! Expel all Japanese from Qing China!”

Although Qing was a puppet state, its government consisted of people who supported the Aisin Gioro imperial family to maintain Qing China, so they attacked the Japanese army following Puyi’s orders.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, the U.S. fleet was aiming to recapture the Philippines upon hearing news of reinforcements from the Treaty Fleet.

More precisely, the U.S. fleet planned to recapture the Philippines and lure the Japanese Combined Fleet to intercept them. They intended to join forces with the Constantinople Treaty Fleet to annihilate the Combined Fleet in a single battle.

They planned to reverse the naval war, which had been a series of small engagements gradually eroding each other’s strength, with one decisive battle.

The Japanese Combined Fleet likewise could not allow the U.S. to recapture the Philippines. If they lost the Philippines, the southern route would be cut off, causing Japan to wither away, so the Combined Fleet also intended to deal a major blow to the U.S. fleet to prevent the recapture of the Philippines.

However, the Combined Fleet was unaware that the Constantinople Treaty Fleet was coming for them.

Even if they had known, they would have had to fight through tears to prevent the recapture of the Philippines.

Thus began the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

By this time, the U.S. fleet had barely gained the upper hand in fleet battles against the Combined Fleet, but this battle would not be so easy.

The aircraft carrier Shinano, which should have had a short life in the original history, and the battleship Yamato, which should have been in the rear, both participated in the battle.

“We’re running out of oil.”

But Japan was also short on fuel, and losing the southern route would truly be the end.

In other words, they absolutely had to defeat the U.S. fleet decisively in this battle.

So despite their shortages, they brought everything they had.

In Leyte Gulf, the Japanese Combined Fleet opened fire first, and a fierce fleet battle ensued between the U.S. fleet and the Combined Fleet.

Boom! Kwang!

The battle initially proceeded evenly, but the U.S. fleet gradually began to fall back.

“Could we actually win this?”

The Combined Fleet, overconfident due to the U.S. fleet’s poor combat performance, planned to pursue the retreating U.S. fleet.

But a massive fleet appeared behind the Combined Fleet.

A force far exceeding the Japanese Combined Fleet. Of course, since the Treaty Fleet was just entering its first real battle with uncoordinated languages between countries and without unified command, they might have been vulnerable if attacked. But for a surprise attack from behind, it was a different story.

“Wh-what fleet is that! I don’t recognize the flag!”

“I don’t know, sir!”

Even during the war, the Constantinople Treaty Fleet had commissioned aircraft carriers and now had 8 regular carriers plus light carriers, battleships, cruisers, over 400 torpedo boats and submarines, and 2,000 aircraft participating in the battle. The Treaty Fleet’s surprise attack from behind signaled the collapse of the Japanese Combined Fleet, which was already reeling.

“Kill all the Japs! Don’t give them a moment’s rest!”

To prevent the Combined Fleet from having any chance to resist, the Treaty Fleet mercilessly poured fire on the Japanese.

The Combined Fleet, engaged in fierce naval battle with the U.S. fleet, collapsed instantly. As the Combined Fleet’s carriers Shinano and Zuikaku were forcibly “converted into submarines” by dive bombers from various nations and sank to the bottom of the sea, the Combined Fleet completely disintegrated.

The Yamato and some other ships that barely survived managed to escape, but the Japanese Combined Fleet was no longer capable of fighting for naval supremacy. With the Treaty Fleet added to the equation, the southern route was effectively cut off, and Japan was left to wither away.

“Wh-what is this? Why is Russia… Why is Europe… Aaaaargh!”

Imperial Headquarters had to tear their hair out at the news of the fleet’s annihilation, on top of the Qing rebellion and the Treaty Army’s southward advance.

After the fleet’s annihilation, Japan was forced to shift its strategy to homeland defense.

Japan was collapsing in real time.