Chapter 28: Ok Jinseo’s Diplomatic Negotiation

Jordan Gongsa’s face turned red, like a freshly ripened strawberry, as he glared at Ok Jinseo, who was inspecting the weapons taken from the Japanese army.

His gaze seemed like it could kill her.

“You dare break the promise? Aren’t you afraid of the British Empire? Do you think the British Empire, which rules over the five oceans, won’t be able to do anything about a mere Korean Peninsula?”

“Then come if you want.”

‘What kind of woman was this? Was she not afraid of the British Empire? To say such a thing so shamelessly’—”come if you want.”

She had killed tens of thousands of unarmed Japanese soldiers.

Even though the emperor’s country was gone, it could still cause an international problem.

“Just because you killed unarmed Japanese soldiers, do you think the British Empire won’t be able to do anything if we come to the Korean Peninsula?”

“Twenty million of the Korean people will fight back against any invasion. If that invading country was one involved in the assassination of our emperor, so much the worse.”

Jordan Gongsa frowned.

The woman in front of him was crazy in many ways.

Her eyes… They didn’t look human.

Her gaze was one of despair, as if she were consumed by the thought that her country could fall any moment.

But she showed no intention of fixing things, no will to resist foreign powers.

Her eyes weren’t those of a Korean.

They were eyes closest to death.

Something devoid of a soul.

‘A death god?’ It felt like a death god had descended into the body of a Korean woman.

Jordan quickly snapped back to reality.

‘Didn’t Ito Hirobumi once say that when the country is in danger, a superhuman would appear to save it?’

‘But even so, if she bared her teeth at the British Empire, she would be crushed miserably.’

‘And she was going to accuse them of false charges. Was she going to stay quiet about it?’

“We didn’t help with the assassination of your emperor! You are the ones who massacred an unarmed army. What about that?”

It was an army of 250,000.

Even though they used all kinds of firepower, with such a number, some Japanese soldiers might have survived, but not for long.

However, Ok Jinseo just grinned.

“The negotiations were originally between Russia and Japan,” she said casually.

“What did you say?”

“Unfortunately, the main force of this operation was the army of the Bongcheon warlord Ok Jinseo, not the Korean Empire.”

The Korean Empire was just a bystander.

Ok Jinseo spoke leisurely.

“Do you think such a trick will work?”

“The emperor has been assassinated. The government responsible for the country’s affairs has long been destroyed. There is no government that accepts the decision of the British. You, too, never saw us as a part of the Korean Empire, did you? And now you say we’re an ‘optional diplomatic entity’?”

‘Wasn’t that the meaning of the negotiation in the first place?’ No matter how you look at it, I’m a woman in my early twenties.

‘Trying to negotiate with a woman like that was a mistake on the part of the British Empire, wasn’t it?’

“Heh. You want to put the blame on us?”

“Sorry, but behind me is Tsar of Russia. If I ask the Tsar, he will create some reasonable excuse for me.”

The fact that Ok Jinseo had saved Alexei, didn’t it go beyond just a little interest in Manchuria or other regions?

Now was the time to use it.

Ok Jinseo taunted Jordan, speaking with confidence.

“This war had shown Russia that Japan could launch surprise attacks, and if the Japanese soldiers were annihilated, Russia would certainly be pleased.”

“Heh, you’re quite something.”

“Let me ask you. What is the reason you’re trying to save those bastards?”

“Japan had already lost its army and navy. They had failed as Britain’s Far East gendarme, so what reason was there to protect them until the end? Wouldn’t it be better to pull the Korean Empire from Russia’s influence and make it a British protectorate instead?”

Jordan closed his mouth tightly, but Ok Jinseo continued to speak.

“You can’t answer, can you? The reason is obvious. No matter what, it’s better for Britain to have that scoundrel, Japan, under control. After tying Japan’s leash tightly, they will try to check Russia again, right? But…”

Ok Jinseo lowered her head and looked straight at Jordan.

Her eyes were empty, without a hint of emotion, and they sent chills down Jordan’s spine.

Despite the cold and surreal look, he found himself momentarily entranced.

Feeling a shiver all over his body, he couldn’t help but feel strange.

Ok Jinseo shrugged and sat back casually.

“From Britain’s standpoint, isn’t it better to deal with a nation we can at least communicate with, rather than a barbaric country that can’t distinguish between friend and foe?”

Whether Jordan was surprised or not, Ok Jinseo smiled softly, enjoying the moment.

At times like this, it was better to be proactive than passive.

***

“Since the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, we, the Korean Empire, have continuously tried to show the British Empire that we are actively participating in civilization and modernization. So, I just can’t understand why you’re so obsessed with protecting Japan.”

“Did you not know that?”

“It was all to maintain balance. Both the Korean Empire and the Japanese Empire had to rely on the British Empire, making them incapable of standing alone.”

“By ensuring Japan’s safe withdrawal, the Korean Empire was made independent by Britain, unable to be pro-Japanese or pro-Russian, and was forced to depend on the British Empire against the threats of Japan and Russia. At the same time, Japan would be completely turned into a puppet of the British Empire.”

That was the home country’s directive, and it had already been discussed with the British Ambassador to Japan, McDonald.

Of course, Jordan could never speak this aloud, so he sealed his lips.

“Let’s go back to the beginning. These Japanese dogs are the ones going around, spitting on everything. Do you truly believe that Britain won’t touch Asia’s interests in the future?”

“Do you think the British Empire will be played by Japan?”

“For example, if a war breaks out in Europe and Britain can’t focus on Asia for a while, there’s a good chance Japan could take advantage. Russia may have won, but the damage wasn’t small. In this situation, eating Japan wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

It was a reasonable point.

As a British diplomat, Jordan couldn’t agree with a barbarian woman’s words, but there was one thing that caught his attention: the possibility of not being able to focus on the situation.

“Hmm. A war in Europe?”

“Who can have more colonies, who can secure more privileges? Ah, that bastard over there wants to plunder colonies, it’s kind of irritating, don’t you think? How long do you think this uncomfortable, slippery international community will continue? Probably, even if a war breaks out over colonies, it’ll be a big one.”

“Say, if Japan were to be used as a hunting dog, Japan’s Okinawa could be taken to counter Russia. Well, the Korean people, 20 million of us, wouldn’t be a threat. But now, there’s no reason to support Japan, which can’t even manage to do its part, right?”

That was a reasonable point.

Even if Japan builds its navy again, there will likely be another embarrassing moment for the British Empire. After all the support given until now, Japan will soon be buried in debt. If it can’t even fulfill its role as a hunting dog, then it’s right to take a piece of it.

In the end, the Great Game in the Far East practically ended in Japan’s defeat.

So, Japan is bound to be harassed.

Then, we can’t avoid mentioning the country this woman is trying to protect—Korea’s issue.

“May I ask a few questions?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“How do you plan to lead this country, which is practically like a pseudo-nation, Korea?”

“At the very least, a country that can protect my own life would be enough.”

‘To protect her own life.’

‘Considering that she wiped out an unarmed Japanese army, her dream seems rather modest.’

From Britain’s perspective, Korea is good as long as it doesn’t cause trouble for Russia in the Far East.

“If our British Empire were to ask you to become a pro-British state, would that be possible?”

“I’m not sure. We are facing Russia head-on right now. But if this country can exist as an independent nation, and if it can proudly declare itself a civilized nation in the international community, we will not give up even an inch of land to Russia.”

She speaks frankly, saying it’s impossible, but still intends to gain her own benefits.

She may not be a brilliant diplomat, but her strangely confident attitude is oddly appealing.

Her appearance is attractive enough to catch attention in the West, but I wonder how this woman, usually consumed by youthful passion, will handle things.

What’s clear is that she’s essentially declaring her intention to make Korea a neutral zone in the Far East.

“Is this what you mean? A neutral zone between our British Empire and Russia in the Far East?”

“If both countries are willing to compromise, it’s not impossible.”

“The capital of your country is now in the hands of Japan’s First Army. If you want to establish the country you’re talking about, at least the imperial family must be overthrown, don’t you think?”

Jordan’s question was met with a shake of the head from Ok Jinseo.

“Unfortunately, the imperial family is still needed. As you know, the reason for wiping out the Japanese army was due to the assassination of His Majesty the Emperor. But we could remove the imperial authority and switch to a constitutional monarchy.”

So, we’re back to square one. Japan has become irrelevant, and Russia might simply watch as it pushes southward in the Far East. Then, perhaps it would be a good idea to at least use Korea to our advantage.

“Still, our British Empire cannot stand by and let Japan fall to Russia. A peace treaty must be signed, but as you mentioned earlier, the Manchu administrator is favored by the Tsar. Please persuade the Tsar. Then we will do our best to fulfill his wishes.”

“In that case, at the very least, I’d like Japan to be invaded. When Japan is at death’s door, if the British Empire and the United States step in as mediators, then I will persuade the Tsar.”

The idea of persuading the Tsar was just a trial balloon, but her confidence in it was remarkable.

Of course, if Jordan knew about her abilities as a traitor, it might change things.

“What does Korea want if a peace treaty is signed? At the very least, recognition as an independent state and reparations are obvious.”

“We demand the cancellation of all the unequal treaties with Japan and the dissolution of relations. Also, we were deceived by Japan regarding warships. We would like to take over Japan’s remaining warships. Oh, and if you could kindly cover up the massacre of the Japanese army, that would be appreciated. After all, wasn’t it Britain that disarmed them?”

She says, with no pretense, that neither pro-Russian nor pro-British policies are possible.

Moreover, her demands are excessive.

‘Recognition of independence, breaking treaties with Japan, reparations are expected, but now she wants warships too?’

Of course, given the situation with Japan, it’s understandable she wants to protect herself.

But she even asks Britain to cover up the massacre she caused, which is audacious, yet not entirely impossible.

“Would Tsar Nicholas accept Korea taking over Japanese warships?”

“I’ll convince him.”

It’s hard to fully believe her words.

She’s only saying what sounds good.

For her national interest, she might lean towards Russia.

But right now, Britain has little choice.

Yes, once she’s able to protect herself, she probably won’t side with Russia.

On the other hand, I wonder how this envoy, leading the small country of Korea in the Far East, will change things.

After all, no matter how much Korea struggles to increase its national power, it won’t be able to challenge the British Empire or Russia.

In that case, perhaps I should lend some power to this envoy and Korea’s Joan of Arc.

“Alright. Let’s trust the Manchu administrator’s words.”

“I am only grateful for your favor, Your Excellency.”

Meanwhile, Russia also reconsidered after the destruction of Japan’s Manchurian army.

“We’ve gained control of the seas, and as Count Ok’s words suggested, the main forces in Manchuria have been wiped out. Japan’s islands are now empty, so now’s the perfect time to land and strike!”

The fleet is destroyed, Russia has naval supremacy, and the army is gone.

This is the perfect opportunity.

Even though the Bloody Sunday incident happened, that’s a separate issue.

Now, Russia needs to secure a complete victory.

“Well then, won’t you accept Britain’s mediation?”

“No! We must land before these fools waste time with military interventions and catch that emperor of Japan alive!”

Even Tsar Nicholas II changed his mind.

‘If not now, when else would they have the chance to capture them?’

‘Even if Britain interferes, they must at least weaken their forces before then.’