Chapter 21: Battle of Wits

The road to Manchuria was not particularly difficult.

I did get hit by a truck and died at the end, but until then, I had roamed the entire country trying to survive in my previous world.

So, escaping to Fengcheng wasn’t too hard.

***

“What kind of woman moves so quickly, east and west like the wind? And how on earth did you shake off the Japanese pursuit?”

Choi Jaehyung, who had been waiting for me in Fengcheng, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“What’s so hard about moving around?”

“Well, I didn’t want to provoke the entire Korean Peninsula just yet, so I moved cautiously. And, of course, the consulates were watching, which made it harder for them to act rashly.”

“To be honest, some of them were desperate to chase me down.”

“Let’s be real—if a soldier wearing a Daehan Empire military uniform fled from Hanseong during a time when the emperor had died and the city was under Japanese control, any army that didn’t try to hunt him down would be completely incompetent.”

“But if they find out you escaped, won’t they assume the Korean army knows?”

“Logically, would they really believe that a single soldier escaped on his own while taking down dozens of their so-called invincible Imperial Army?”

“Probably not. Their pride wouldn’t allow it. If I were Kuroki, I wouldn’t believe it either.”

“That’s true. It would be hard for them to accept…”

“There’s no way they’d believe that a mere soldier from the supposedly weak Daehan Imperial Army wiped out an entire Japanese pursuit squad. Honestly, it wouldn’t make sense in any country.”

“And even if it’s not me, if the Daehan Empire falls to the Japanese, word will eventually reach Manchuria. Of course, the Japanese will do everything they can to prevent that information from spreading.”

“They plan to use the Daehan Empire’s army?”

“They have the numbers. It wouldn’t be easy to subdue them entirely. If I were the Japanese, I’d focus on blocking communication and forcing them to fight on the front lines against Russia, ensuring their deaths.”

“So now that you’re back, what do you plan to do?”

At some point, Choi Jaehyung had settled comfortably into his chair, as if enjoying this situation.

In the original history, he would have had no choice but to desperately hope for a Russian victory.

But now, because of my presence, he seemed much more relaxed.

“The Japanese don’t know I exist. As far as they’re concerned, the emperor went on a personal campaign and died there.”

“By now, people like Min Yeonghwan and Lee Yongik—those desperate reformists—must have spread the story far and wide.”

“Even if I had inadvertently pushed them into action, those men had no other option if they wanted to save the country.”

“Even if I had completely disregarded proper mourning etiquette for the late emperor, they understood that following my lead was the only way to rally the militias and sway public opinion—both domestically and internationally—toward sympathy for our cause.”

“That makes sense.”

“We need to establish contact with Park Seo Sangmu, the Korean military commander in the coalition forces. If we time things well, we can end the Russo-Japanese War a little earlier.”

“This wretched country needs to be overturned, and to do that, we have to eliminate the Japanese obstacles in our way.”

“That means the Japanese army must be beaten down in Manchuria.”

“Before that, though, we need to stir things up.”

So, I went to see Lee Beomyun.

The role of the Sapo in this war had to be significant.

***

“General, it’s time to move.”

“Me? Are you talking about me?”

‘Of course. If not you, then who?’

Surprisingly, I was only here as a count.

“Yes. We need to issue a full mobilization order for Gando and southern Manchuria.”

A full mobilization order.

Most of the people here were of Korean descent, but still—this alone would be enough to gather tens of thousands.

At minimum, we could form three full divisions.

If we struck while the Japanese were preoccupied with the Russian army, we could launch surprise attacks and defeat them in separate engagements.

“Can we really annihilate the Japanese army?”

The Daehan Imperial Army might have been incompetent, but the northern forces were different.

Historically, northern Korea had always been a military stronghold.

It was the land of Goguryeo, the ancient kingdom every Korean took pride in.

It was where Yi Seonggye’s private army had risen, and where, during the Joseon dynasty, the four counties and six garrisons had absorbed and trained the fierce Jurchens.

And now, their descendants had crossed into Gando and Manchuria, defeating the Qing army.

“Among the Daehan Imperial forces, these troops were considered the elite.”

“That’s right. The same Manchu lands that had once conquered the Ming Dynasty were now ours.”

“For Koreans—for the Han people—the dream of reclaiming old Goguryeo, the deep-seated desire for Manchuria, was ingrained in our very DNA. And the Sapo was the army that had partially realized that dream. Of course, the situation was complex, with many internal struggles.”

“But regardless, they were a force filled with unmatched pride, boasting the strongest combat power. Even though they had relied on surprise attacks, they had still managed to take control of Shenyang, avenging the humiliation of Samjeondo.”

‘Why am I speaking so highly of the Sapo?’

Because compared to the despair-ridden forces in the mainland, constantly manipulated by Japan, these men had unshakable morale.

They were not inferior to the Japanese army.

“Most of our three divisions consisted of new recruits, but when we had first invaded Gando, the elite troops were just former soldiers who had fought against the Yihetuan (Boxer Rebellion) or suppressed domestic uprisings.”

“If it worked before, it could work again.”

“But what about the Han and Manchu troops?”

“Right. There were still Han and Manchu soldiers to consider.”

“But that didn’t matter.”

“Leave that to me.”

“In fact, having an external enemy could actually help us unify them.”

***

“Long ago, this land of Manchuria was home to Buyeo and Jolbon. It was here that King Jumong founded Goguryeo, and Goguryeo ruled over the Jurchens—who were the ancestors of the Manchus. They were our brethren. After Goguryeo fell, its general Dae Joyeong led the Goguryeo and Mohe people to establish Balhae.”

“Later, Wang Geon founded Goguryeo and maintained brotherly relations with the Jurchens. Even after the Jurchens grew stronger and established the Jin Dynasty, this relationship persisted. Though Joseon and the Later Jin had conflicts, now the descendants of Goguryeo have returned to reclaim their homeland. Manchuria shall once again live as the brother of Goguryeo!”

“The Manchus should be convinced now. Now, onto the Han people.”

“The Han people are the same. You, the northern Han, have long mingled with the northern tribes like the Jurchens. You are fundamentally different in identity and origin from the southern dregs of Han, those swine whose blood has been mixed with the people of Vietnam long ago. You are a people worthy of standing with us!”

“Long ago, the Ming dynasty fell, and Joseon inherited the mantle of civilization. Today, we have risen as Daehan. So how can anyone deny that the relationship between the northern Han and the Hanminjok is one of brotherhood? The Qing have lost their Mandate of Heaven, and the Hanminjok have inherited the mandate over Manchuria. You, too, should join the new Manchuria!”

A few agitators are placed among the crowd.

“Woaaaah! Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Manchuria! Long live the Korean Empire!”

Some Manchu and Han among the crowd stir up excitement.

“Long live His Majesty! Long live Manchuria! Long live the Korean Empire!”

As a few people shout, others, who had been hesitating, follow suit.

People always need something—or someone—to rely on in difficult times.

“Right now, Manchuria is being encroached upon by Russia and Japan. So, which nation can be trusted? The Qing? The Qing have already become a colony of foreign powers. They are not even worth mentioning.”

“And that is why it must be the Korean Empire.”

“A pitiful empire, no doubt, but with Russia and Japan closing in, the only choice for the Han and Manchu people is the Korean Empire, which at least shares some ties with them.”

“Of course, minor incidents have occurred in this process, but compared to the external threats we face, those unfortunate events are insignificant.”

This is how multiple ethnic groups unite under external threats.

***

“But now, outsiders have entered Manchuria. Yes, the damned Japanese! These islander pirates dare to invade this sacred land and claim it as their own. Will we stand by and watch? No! Let us drive out these foreign invaders and protect our homeland, Manchuria!”

“WOOOOOOOAH!”

“For now, unity has been secured under the pressure of an external enemy. At least during the war, there will be no internal divisions.”

“I already know all the languages here, so whether they are Manchu or Han, they will all fall under my single chain of command.”

“Wow, but Count, when did you learn both Chinese and Manchu?”

A man standing next to me clicks his tongue in amazement.

His name is Kim Insu.

In real history, he was an officer of the Korean Empire’s army but was dismissed during the Russo-Japanese War and later joined the Russian forces.

I heard he originally worked as an interpreter for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Now, he serves as a senior officer under my command.

“I already know Russian and French too.”

“Ah, so that’s why you were entrusted with Sapo’s diplomacy.”

I can’t fully trust this man.

He could be a spy sent by Gojong to monitor me, or he might be working for the Russians, keeping an eye on my domain.

Either way, it’s not ideal.

“Now, we must advance, with General Lee Beomyun leading the charge. But before that—”

I need to recruit Commander Park Seo Sangmu.

I have already laid the groundwork for integration, so I’ll leave the military unification to Lee Beomyun for now. Meanwhile, I must seek out Park Seo Sangmu.

The Japanese-Korean allied forces are stationed a little away from Shenyang.

I don’t know if the Japanese are looking for assistance, but any fool would sense the impending crisis.

On the way here, Japanese scouts tried to interfere with us.

They are trying to cut us off from our homeland.

I eliminate one of the Japanese soldiers, take his uniform, and slip into the Korean Empire’s military headquarters.

“Who are you?”

If asked, it is only right to answer.

“I am Ok Jinseo, the magistrate of Shenyang, Commander.”

At my words, Park Seo Sangmu widens his eyes.

He must already know who I am.

It must be strange for someone like me to be casually wandering around here.

“A woman bearing the seal of the Shenyang magistrate? Then what brings you here? Why aren’t you mobilizing your troops to help?”

There is no reason to help.

With the war between Japan and Russia intensifying, there must be a growing demand for the Korean army to intervene.

“The military is under the command of the governor of Gando. More importantly, His Majesty has been assassinated by the Japanese.”

Park Seo Sangmu and his staff freeze, their expressions turning blank.

The death of Gojong.

In this country, the significance of the monarch is absolute.

And if the perpetrator is Japan, the reaction is predictable.

After standing in stunned silence, Park Seo Sangmu suddenly leaps to his feet.

“What do you mean?! His Majesty has been assassinated?!”

“Stop shouting.”

“Shh. Keep your voice down. Who knows where the Japanese have ears?”

I raise a finger to my lips, scanning the surroundings.

The Japanese wouldn’t just sit idly by.

They must be constantly monitoring us to see if any information is leaking.

But the fact that they haven’t attacked yet likely means they are too preoccupied with the Russian army.

At least for now, the Japanese cannot act against us before we discover the truth.

Seeing Park Seo Sangmu nod at my words, I lean in and whisper what has happened in Hanseong.

“Is this true?”

“Just look at how the Japanese are using our Korean Imperial Army as cannon fodder. They are trying to exhaust us before their involvement is exposed. If you still doubt me, send someone to Hanseong. You will find that Hanseong has already been seized, and foreign envoys have learned of His Majesty’s demise.”

‘Japan is about to be despised worldwide. They stabbed the queen to death with swords, and now they’ve killed the emperor. How utterly disgusting.’