Chapter 16: Something Different About the Outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War (feat. Korean Empire)

Since I’ve already made some contributions, Emperor Gojong must know that I am not an ordinary woman.

“Then what should we do?”

I tapped the desk with my fingers.

It’s a habit I have when I’m deep in thought.

Eventually, I think raising an army would be the right choice.

The number of troops is the key, after all.

“What’s the situation with the forces in Manchuria?”

If the worst-case scenario happens, we have to rise up.

Convincing Lee Beomyun is a problem, but for now, I need to assess the situation.

“If we count the northern army and the new recruits from Korea, it’s about 15,000. Adding in the Manchu and Han Chinese forces, it’s roughly 30,000.”

No matter how we’ve built them up, integration is still the problem.

Putting that aside, if we turn the army back and attack Hanseong with 30,000, will we win?

No, in fact, Japan or Britain might intervene and make this an opportunity for them.

And even if we wanted a quick victory, that’s not entirely realistic.

Anyway, the forces in our homeland are enough to block us.

Gojong might request support from Japan.

If we take Hanseong, will we have legitimacy? No, not really.

To gain legitimacy by establishing a military government, the royal family must be overthrown, and Korea must be in such chaos that someone other than the emperor must appear to restore order.

This matter requires Lee Beomyun’s permission.

***

“I can’t decide what to do. If war breaks out, we must bring His Majesty the Emperor to our side.”

“Do you understand the meaning of that?”

‘How could I not understand?’

Now that we’ve formed the Korea-Japan alliance, taking the emperor to Manchuria on our own would go against the emperor’s orders.

“I understand well. But it’s necessary. Russia is a powerful nation. They’ve already stationed troops and built fortresses to counter Japan. We are on the front lines.”

Japan has already planned to swallow Korea.

But Tsar Nicholas II won’t try to conquer Korea like Japan did, since he owes me a favor.

I didn’t make Russia weak for nothing.

‘If I couldn’t weaken them, I’d have to make Russia and Japan destroy each other. But that’s nearly impossible, so that’s out.’

“This is treason!”

Lee Beomyun jumped up from his seat after hearing my words.

No matter how good our relationship has been, Lee Beomyun wouldn’t ignore what I just said.

“What’s the point of treason when the country is already gone? Whether we win this war or not, the Korean Empire will either be swallowed by Japan or Russia. So, we should at least choose the side that benefits us.”

Tsar Nicholas II favors me.

At the very least, if I openly side with him, we could use that to our advantage during the war.

“Is there really no other way?”

“General, we must make a decision. We just need to enter the war later.”

“Do you think it will go exactly as you plan?”

Even if it doesn’t go exactly as I wish, I will make it happen.

No matter which side we fight for, the Sapo Army will suffer losses—it’s inevitable.

I need to use that to my advantage.

“Japan and Britain are treating us like cannon fodder, disregarding us completely. The proof is that they’re supporting us through the Rothschilds.”

In the actual history, the Rothschilds officially supported Japan’s war effort with 40% of the funds and unofficially helped with financial backing.

But here, the Rothschilds are helping militarily develop Manchuria.

This means they intend to make us their pawns.

‘If you really think about it, this also means our value has risen.’

“Is all of this just to destroy our Korean Empire?”

“Yes. We’ll just eat up what they give us, get stronger, and end up fighting the Russian army. Isn’t it so obvious? It’s so obvious that it almost seems like they’re genuinely helping us.”

But in the end, these are the people who plan to swallow Korea.

The battlefield will be in Manchuria, and Japan will use Korea to further its plans.

“So, what about His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Eventually, the autocratic monarchy will collapse. So, shouldn’t we serve him well? A constitutional monarchy isn’t a bad idea.”

As long as Gojong is in power, even if by some miracle we win the Russo-Japanese War, it’s still a problem.

The social class system will remain intact until modern times.

Even if it’s officially abolished, it will still exist in practice.

“In the end, even if we establish a military regime, the people won’t follow us.”

“We must create a situation where they have no choice but to follow. That’s why I’m suggesting a constitutional monarchy.”

“We have to create a situation where they have no choice. In the process, Gojong might suffer an accident caused by the Japanese army. We could even threaten Gojong after bringing him here to gain legitimacy.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’ll prepare everything. You just need to focus on preparing to take Hanseong with the Sapo Army.”

“After that, we just need to capture Hanseong. Then, I’ll help Lee Beomyun become prime minister, and together we’ll reform the Korean Empire.”

“Even if it goes your way, there’s no guarantee that Russia will leave us alone.”

“Honestly, no one will believe me if I tell them that Russia’s future is grim. They’ll just say that Russia is corrupt. That’s enough for now.”

“Whatever happens, Arasa’s influence will grow stronger. But Arasa is also corrupt. The internal situation is rotting. One of the reasons Japan decided to go to war with Arasa is because of this. Also, Russia is already too big.”

That massive nation cannot control Korea, unlike Japan.

I’ll ease Lee Beomyun’s worries like this.

“So?”

“Right now, Arasa is spending a lot of money and is a backward country in Europe. A nation of 20 million people like Arasa will not be able to rule over us. Therefore, Russia will only be satisfied with turning Korea into a pro-Russian state.”

As part of the realm of possibilities.

But I exist.

The one who saved the future of the Russian Empire.

Russia will make me take control of the Korean Empire.

“Isn’t this just the result of hindsight? Isn’t it something we can’t predict?”

‘Aren’t they underestimating me too much?’

Britain and Japan, those guys don’t even know who I really am.

“Knowing the future, I can never trust Japan and Britain.”

In the end, it’s going to be war again.

Both sides have to be settled by war.

I should use the chaos of war.

I’ll need to use the money from Choi Jaehyung and head to Hanseong to bring the emperor back.

Then, to make this Korean Empire’s wheels turn, I must wait until the war breaks out.

“Before that, would it be wise to inform the Russians of Japan’s strategy?”

That day, by sheer luck, not only the Tsar family but also the nobles and military generals saw that I did not die and that Alexei was saved.

There might be a sense of betrayal toward Gojong, but Tsar Nicholas II would see this as an extension of my plan.

***

February 1906

The Korean Empire and the Japanese Empire were diligently preparing for war.

Japanese troops had entered Wonsan and Masanpo, and the Korean Empire was actively cooperating with the Japanese Empire.

At least because Gojong faithfully engaged in the alliance, there was no Korean-Japanese Agreement, and at least on the “surface,” they were allies.

“Do you think we can defeat Russia?”

“If not now, we cannot drive Russia out of Manchuria. Your country must cooperate actively.”

Ito Hirobumi, who was stationed at the joint headquarters in Hanseong, also believed that the war with Russia would happen now or never.

Originally, more preparation was needed, but to weaken the Gando region, and because Russia’s completion of the Siberian Railway or its defense preparations might become a threat, it was judged that now was the time to strike.

Thus, Ito Hirobumi, who initially considered negotiating with Russia as a way to turn the tide, shifted to supporting the war.

Of course, even though the Korean-Japanese Agreement didn’t exist, the Korean Empire still appeared to be a pro-Japanese country.

Because of this, Russia did not view the Korean Empire favorably.

However, Russia, on the other hand, was counting on Ok Jinseo.

After all, he was a Russian count.

“Damn Koreans, what does Count Ok say?”

“The count said that there will be no attack on Gando from Russia.”

“Are you sure?”

At first, I was nervous.

‘What if, as a condition for helping Alexei, I received various benefits, only for it to be a scheme to make Russia lower its guard?’

After all, Ok Jinseo was Asian.

‘Who knows what might be hidden?’

“The emperor has already decided, so there’s no stopping the war. However, the count says he won’t use Gando. Also, this is the operation plan sent by Count Ok through the Far East Governor-General.”

Since the operation plan was sent, Tsar Nicholas II’s suspicion of Count Ok faded.

“Damn those British! How dare they help those Japanese monkeys!”

“Your Majesty, Governor-General Alexeyev suggested using this to pass information to the enemies instead.”

The Russian royal family and aristocrats had no choice but to believe Count Ok’s words.

She was the one who had shown the mysticism of the East and even demonstrated magic in front of them.

The authority of Russia could pierce the heavens, but seeing her who didn’t die from a bullet and who saved Alexei, they concluded that they shouldn’t touch the count recklessly.

The reason she was appointed as a count was to keep her under Russian influence rather than making her part of the Korean Empire.

“Even so, it’s dangerous if the count stabs us in the back.”

“Didn’t the Far East Governor-General receive Japan’s operation plan? I saw it that day. The desperation to protect that country. Also, Ok Jinseo is an anti-Japanese nationalist, so there’s no way he’ll attack us.”

By saving Alexei, Nicholas II showed boundless affection, and reluctantly, the Russian military had to follow the tsar’s orders.

“What about marrying her to one of us Russians?”

“Marry?”

Tsar Nicholas II pondered for a moment but soon shook his head.

There was no suitable member of the royal family, and his son Alexei was still young and the heir to the throne.

Marrying her off to an aristocrat would raise the status of the marrying aristocrat, and Tsar Nicholas II didn’t like the idea of any aristocrat surpassing him in authority.

Thus, the status quo prevailed.

“Kurovpatkin. It seems that Japan and Korea are showing signs of attack. As the commander of the ground forces, lead the army and defeat Japan in Manchuria.”

As signs of war began to appear, Tsar Nicholas II gave the position of ground forces commander to Kurovpatkin.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then, what about the count’s estate?”

“It seems the count has his own plans, so let him proceed as he wishes and focus on defense.”

Unlike the Russo-Japanese War in history, since parts of Manchuria and Gando were influenced by the Japanese-allied Korean Empire, Russia’s tactics were focused on defense.

“Understood.”

Kurovpatkin didn’t favor the defensive strategy but had to follow the tsar’s orders.

Then, soon after, on February 8, 1906.

The Japanese fleet tried to attack two Russian battleships at Jemulpo.

In history, they succeeded in attacking the two battleships, but unfortunately, by night, the two Russian battleships had moved to the Russian port of Lushun.

“It’s unfortunate that there are no battleships at Jemulpo, but we can attack Lushun instead!”

However, the siege of Lushun didn’t go as planned.

Wilhelm Wittgeft, the chief of staff of Alexeyev, suggested attacking first based on information, unlike in history where the fleet had held its ground after the siege of Lushun.

The Lushun fleet slipped out during the night.

In contrast to the original history, where the Russian fleet at Lushun was struck first by a Japanese declaration of war, the combined fleet commander, Togo Heihachiro, had to face a surprise attack from the Russian Lushun fleet that had already left due to erroneous information sent to Britain.

“Do you think we are weak? Damn monkeys!”

“The fleet that should have been at Lushun was nowhere to be seen, and instead, Togo Heihachiro’s fleet was attacked from behind, marking the first defeat. Although the Japanese fleet, equipped with the latest British-range gauges, was impressive, they could not handle the surprise attack.”

“They should have been docked at the harbor, shouldn’t they!”

“Sir! We need to withdraw the fleet!”

Togo Heihachiro failed to gain naval supremacy in the early stages due to the surprise attack and was criticized for using such a cowardly method.

Meanwhile, Russia managed to maintain control of the seas, and as Ok Jinseo had predicted, the surprise attack on Lushun by Japan was confirmed, making Tsar Nicholas II even angrier.

Upon receiving Japan’s declaration of war, Russia declared war on Japan, entering a state of conflict with the “monkey nation” of the Far East.

“Send the Baltic Fleet immediately! Crush the damn Japanese fleet and show who controls the seas of the Far East!”

The commander of the Baltic Fleet, Zinovy Rozhestvensky, followed the tsar’s orders, taking the Baltic Fleet and heading toward the Far East.

Unfortunately, as the naval battle didn’t go smoothly, Japan had no choice but to rely on ground forces, and they united to cross the Amnok River.

The Korean Imperial Army and Russian forces fought together.